Scandalous Wallflower (Ladies and Scoundrels #4)

Amanda
Mariel
Genre: 
Historical

VICTORIAN:  Lady Jane Shillington is resigned to being a spinster. However, when a stranger enters her room and her bed, Jane experiences the passion that was long-denied her. Caleb Wesley, Earl of Keery believes he has entered the room of the widow he was having an affair with. When he wakes the next morning, not only does he realize his mistake, but he is caught in Jane's room by her brother. His hand forced, Caleb does the honorable thing and marries Jane.

Being caught in flagrante delicto is not a new concept in Regency romances; enriching the protagonist’s character is. Having Jane’s life decided by men is transmitted in the way the author situates Jane in the scheme of things and clearly showed the dictates of society at that time. The time frame of the story is somewhat hurried and it does not read as though there was enough time for the Jane and Caleb's feelings to develop. Perhaps it may have been the author’s intention to literally and figuratively give the impression that this was a whirlwind romance. One might look at the immediacy of Caleb’s letting go of his wild ways with a degree of skepticism; then again, Jane might just have been Caleb’s catalyst to make that change.

Despite this, readers of Regency romances will find this a good read.

M.P. Ceja