Reviewlet: "Secrets of a Summer Night"

At Kel's urging, I finally picked up a Lisa Kleypas romance novel! I decided to read "Secrets of a Summer Night," the first in the Wallflowers series, mainly because it's what was at the library at the time. But I'm glad I picked it up because it was quite a delightful little book!

"Secrets of a Summer Night" follows Annabelle Payton, a beautiful, aristocratic young woman during the Victorian era who, unfortunately, has no dowery and, therefore, is pretty much destined to spinsterhood. But Annabelle is determined to avoid that fate, and to save her destitute family - her mother and brother. Annabelle and her three other wallflower friends - Evie, Daisy and Lillian - hatch a plan to get her married off to a member of the aristocracy.

However, as fate would have it, Annabelle can't help falling for exactly the wrong man - Simon Hunt, an industrialist from a firmly middle-class family.

I really enjoyed "Secrets of a Summer Night." The story was good, and I loved the way that the plot unfolded. There was a real sense of urgency in Annabelle's situation, and that helped the book clip along at a really good pace. Annabelle is a very likable character, even when I had to roll my eyes at her for constantly rejecting Simon in favor of boring old aristocrats. It really speaks to Kleypas' good writing that I always understood Annabelle's motivations, even when I vehemently disagreed with what she did. I also absolutely LOVED Simon, who was a very well-fleshed-out and interesting character. He comes across as a haughty rogue in the beginning of the book, but throughout we get to see his tender side, his passionate side, his caring side, his wounded side, his ornery side, and on and on.

"Secrets of a Summer Night" is also a very sexy, sensual book. There is a LOT of delicious sexual tension between Annabelle and Simon, and although it takes a long time for a real payoff, it doesn't matter because the buildup is so much fun! Oh, but when it pays off, it PAYS OFF. Good stuff - just what I want from a romance novel.

"Secrets of a Summer Night" was an easy, breezy, fun summer read that I really enjoyed. I'm already looking forward to reading the other three books in the series, which is always a good sign! I strongly encourage anyone who likes romance to check it out!