Left standing on the side while their contemporaries marry into society, four young ladies forge a bond to guard each other from a similar fate . . . Finishing school failed to make a proper lady of Penelope Arrington. But as a Wallflower of West Lane, Poppy has a far more vital role—she and her three best friends have made a pact to protect each other from the clutches of dangerous, … the clutches of dangerous, disreputable men. So when one of them is about to be married off to a duke sight unseen, Poppy makes it her mission to divine the prospective husband’s true character. If only she didn’t require the aid of London’s most unsuitable rake.
Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, has known the headstrong Poppy since she was a young girl, naïve to the ways of men. To her eternal chagrin—and to his vague amusement—they have been at odds over the memory of their embarrassing first encounter all these years. Now, with his services in need, Rhys sees a chance to finally clear the air between them. Instead, he is surprised by the heat of their feelings. If the two do not tread carefully, they may end up in a most agreeably compromising position . . .
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Mercy, Faith, Aurora, and Poppy have been friends for years. Hoping they would receive a good education in manners and such, their parents sent the group of girls to Miss Wormbattle’s School for Young Ladies in Lucerne for 3 years. There they had a wonderful time and became even closer. Now, they called themselves the Wallflowers of West Lane.
Six Years Later
Aurora was married to the Earl of Radcliff for 3 years. He has just died and Aurora is so relieved. The man had treated her dreadfully and even beat her. She and her friends are so glad he is dead.
Now, Faith is to be married off to the Duke of Breckenridge by her family and so Poppy and their old friend, Rhys Draper, the Earl of Marsden, have decided that they want to investigate Breckenridge to be sure he is not like Aurora’s deceased husband. They are especially suspicious when they see Breckenridge receive some papers from a foreigner at a soiree. So, off they go.
Poppy is a bit of a klutz, isn’t really interested in the latest fashions, and does not having any interest in getting married. But Rhys thinks she is just beautiful and would like to marry her. What does he need to do to woo her?
Well, this book didn’t have the spark that comes with a story of two people discovering an attraction to one another. It seemed rushed and without those scenes where “petals fall from the skies”. However, there are some nice bits of humor and I really liked Rhys. Poppy is a bit of an airhead, but I think she has potential. The idea of a group of Wallflowers is intriguing, however, I hope the girls show a bit more maturity in future books in this series.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was a well-written, entertaining book. Poppy has known her friend’s brother, Rhys, for years and doesn’t trust him. Now she has to work with him to investigate a mysterious duke who intends to marry another friend without even meeting her. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more stories in this series as well as other books by this author.
I got a little aggravated by Poppy’s attitude. She didn’t seem to want to look at any other side. Rhys and Poppy got off to a bad start and it took years before they could be in the same room without arguing. Once Rhys really got to know Poppy, he realized that he wanted her to stay in his life. If only he could convince her that marriages aren’t all bad. As they join forces to help her friend, they are both having a change of heart. Will it be permanent?
A wonderful story that will evoke a strong emotional response. Poppy and her friends are a group of you g women who are trying their best to fight against society’s restrictions. Rhys has always been on the fringes of their lives. Now he has been invited in and begins to see things differently. As they spend time together things change but Poppy is still afraid. Rhys sets out to woo her with the help of their friends. It takes a lot to change her mind and accept the love that is being offered.
Finishing school failed to make a proper lady of Penelope Arrington. But as a Wallflower of West Lane, Poppy and her three best friends have made a pact to protect each other from the clutches of dangerous, disreputable men. Especially as Aurora was married to an abusive man. So when one of them is about to be married off to Nicholas Ellsworth, Duke of Breckenridge sight unseen, Poppy makes it her mission to divine the prospective husband’s true character. Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, has known the headstrong Poppy since she was a young girl. To her eternal chagrin and to his vague amusement they have been at odds over the memory of their embarrassing first encounter all these years. Now, with his services in need, Rhys sees a chance to finally clear the air between them. Instead, he is surprised by the heat of their feelings.
This is the start of a new series & I found it to be an entertaining read. I loved Rhys who fell hard for Poppy, he was so much in love, so caring & above all so very, very patient. Whilst I could understand Poppy’s point of view it did grate on me & I’m surprised Rhys stayed the course. I did enjoy their banter & verbal sparring, there was chemistry between them but Poppy was just too stubborn for words. Aurora, Faith & Mercedes were all interesting & I look forward to their stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A.S. Fenichel introduces us to the four ladies who make up the Wallflowers of West Lane in this first book of her new series. These ladies became fast friends when they were each shipped off to Miss Agatha Wormbattle’s School for Young Ladies in Lucerne, Switzerland. Their parents viewed this as punishment, but the girls were all deliriously happy to be away from their misbegotten parents and the mistreatment they endured at home. The set-up for the series and introduction of the ladies who will be featured in future books was nicely done. I came to like each of them and began to root for them to find their HEA. I do have to say though, I was not enamored of Lady Penelope (Poppy) Arrington – the heroine in this book. She just got on my very last nerve and I would have been just as happy if Rhys has just walked away from her. Her ‘issues’ just went on way, way too long for me. Poppy gives a whole new meaning to the word stubborn.
Aurora Draper – now Aurora Sherbourn, new widow of the Earl of Radcliff – was forced into marriage by her parents. It was a miserable, abusive three-year marriage and her three best friends had suffered through all of it with her. None of them were sad at the earl’s passing and Poppy said as much just after the funeral. Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, and Aurora’s brother frowned at Poppy when she made her statement. At least he did until he learned what that blackguard had put his much-loved sister through – then he felt guilt – so much guilt – because he hadn’t known and hadn’t protected her.
Poppy and Rhys had met several years ago – just before the girls left for Switzerland and they had bickered and fought ever since then. That certainly hasn’t changed since they have become adults but since Poppy, Mercy, and Faith have come to stay with Aurora to help her in her mourning, Rhys and Poppy are thrown together more and more often. When another of their group is betrothed to a stranger, they all vow – Rhys included – to find out more about the man and to assess whether he is of good character. If he isn’t, they’ll get Faith out of that betrothal one way or another. As Rhys and Poppy spend time investigating, they find that between the bickering, they actually like each other.
Poppy has some very strong views on marriage and men – and they are not favorable to either marriage or men. All she has ever seen are unhappy marriages with domineering, uncaring men who treat their wives and daughters as the chattel they are lawfully considered to be. On top of that, she nursed her friend Aurora back to health each time she was raped, beaten and often left at death’s door and that certainly didn’t endear any male to Poppy’s heart.
Rhys certainly had his work cut out for him once he realized he wanted Poppy for his own. She was unyielding in her opinion of men – even when she could see the evidence that not all men were cut from the same cloth – he was right before her eyes.
I enjoyed this read and am looking forward to the next book in the series – which will feature Faith and Nicholas. I really liked both of them in this book and can’t wait to read their story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“The Earl Not Taken” by A.S. Fenichel
I really enjoyed my time within this story. It was fun, and frustrating at times, to be with Penelope ‘Poppy’ Arrington as she must decide if beliefs she has always held as absolute, are absolutely true. And, then there is Rhys, and his side of the story. I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley with the hope that I would post a review. This is a worthy read, if I do say so myself. Happy Reading ! !
First book in the series. Steady paced story with very likable characters. Poppy was my least favorite even with being the main female character. She was too rigid in her thinking about Rhys and marriage in general. She seemed really narrow minded about marriage basing it on just a few of them that were close to her. Her contempt of Rhys was unfounded for the extreme feeling. Throughout the book he showed he wasn’t a bad person yet she still held on to the belief. If I based the book on Poppy alone it would be a 3. The other Wallflowers and Rhys pulled up the rating. Rhys especially was swoon worthy. Would love to read the next, of which we saw bits and pieces starting to develop in this book.
Historical used to be my favorite genre, so I jumped on the chance to snatch this one up.
The Earl Not Taken started well. We get introduced to this squad of wallflowers who bonded together while at a boarding school. These women/girls were supposedly so terrible that their parents sent them out of the country to this boarding school, yet it really just sounds like they were a little quirky?
I enjoyed Poppy and Rhys’s antics, watching them plot out and scheme as they work together and slowly become friends.
Our heroine Poppy is the big downfall of this novel. She’s extremely judgmental and unwilling to change her mind. She has a terrible view of marriage, which is not surprising based on her upbringing and her friend’s abusive husband. But when her frenemy Rhys becomes her lover, she still sticks to her inflexible ways.
Gah, the back and forth was constant. Poppy (and Rhys at times) was immature, even for the time period. The Wallflowers as a whole felt flat, with very little depth. I’m hoping this debut only suffers from the dreaded “first in the series” flaw, and that the rest improve.
The Earl Not Taken
The Wallflowers of West Lane Series #1
A.S. Fenichel
https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel/
Release date 03/17/2020
Publisher Kensington Lyrica
Blurb :
Left standing on the side while their contemporaries marry into society, four young ladies forge a bond to guard each other from a similar fate . . .
Finishing school failed to make a proper lady of Penelope Arrington. But as a Wallflower of West Lane, Poppy has a far more vital role—she and her three best friends have made a pact to protect each other from the clutches of dangerous, disreputable men. So when one of them is about to be married off to a duke sight unseen, Poppy makes it her mission to divine the prospective husband’s true character. If only she didn’t require the aid of London’s most unsuitable rake.
Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, has known the headstrong Poppy since she was a young girl, naïve to the ways of men. To her eternal chagrin—and to his vague amusement—they have been at odds over the memory of their embarrassing first encounter all these years. Now, with his services in need, Rhys sees a chance to finally clear the air between them. Instead, he is surprised by the heat of their feelings. If the two do not tread carefully, they may end up in a most agreeably compromising position . . .
My review :
Will a woman choose to run away and let her fears decide her future or will she faces them …
The blurb with this new style trendy cover caught immediately my eyes, so I was eager to read this first in a series.
But I must say I have had a problem with the heroine. Her will to have a different future than the one expected for her is very understandable and louable but her blindness to everything else that might sway her way of thinking had me upset.
She hold a grudge for years about an event which had occurred when she and Rhys were only youths, just out of the schoolroom.
That she swore to herself to never marry because of her father’s debauched way, why not but she uses her father’s behavior as a shield to draw all men as the same.
I can understand when she was a teenager as she has no other view of men but painting Rhys on the same colors because he was young and wild is rather a proof of a closed mind than a clever one.
The more the plot advanced, the more I distanced myself from Poppy, I understand her plea about women’s fate and lack of rights, but Rhys despite his past and present mistakes never treated her badly not threatened her security.
Her strong will seems more like an awkwardness among society. As is her clumsiness. She plays a long game of cat and mouse with Rhys, always running away instead of confronting her doubts and thoughts, she is so set on her course, she refuses to budge.
At a time I felt quite bored with the one step forward then two backward because of Poppy inability to trust, her distrust at Rhys’ every move and word.
I was very sorry for him and wondered if she in fact deserved to win him for all the pain and hurt she caused him.
Her epiphany arrives very late in the story. Rhys has the patience of a saint, and if not for him, I might have gave up this book.
4 stars as it introduces a group of friends I want to get to know and a very devoted hero only aiming to please.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, I had my own previously preordered. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/566299647292544/?d=n
This is the first book by this author that I have read and although a fairly long book it was an enjoyable read. The characters were well written and the interaction was well planned. There was a small amount of mystery and suspense, a few sex scenes that this reviewer as usual skipped. I must admit that I found Polly got a bit annoying with her unwillingness to get on with life but then that is what the book is about. There was a good set up for the next book and I will be looking forward to reading it. I received this book as an ARC and freely give my review
Four wallflowers become close friends when they find themselves in a Swiss school for ladies for three years. Another three years later one of them is now a widow of a man who was a monster. Poppy has her own fears of marriage. Her father isn’t known for his compassion or wanting a daughter in the first place. Aurora’s brother Rhys, the Earl of Draper, is deeply attracted to Poppy/Penelope, but she seems to hate him. With patience and understanding, he hopes he can convince Poppy to be his wife. A little mystery, humor, distrust and a lot of sad involved in this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
The Earl Not Taken by A.S. Fenichel was a lovely historical romance. The Wallflowers of West Lane, Penelope, Aurora, Faith and Mimi, are an amazing group of women who have been friends since they were all sent to finishing school. One of their own was married off by her father to a cruel and abusive man who was eventually killed. The women have vowed to not be forced into a marriage with an unknown man again. Penelope/Poppy is very strong willed and very forthright in her speech and attitude. So much so, that I can began to hate her frequent “men bashing”. Rhys Draper, Aurora’s brother, was arrogant at the beginning but began to grow throughout the book. His patience was infinite with Poppy.
All in all it was an engaging read and I’m looking forward to the next one in the series as it is Faith’s story with her mysterious Duke.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Feisty Poppy Arrington’s less than agreeable parents have turned her away from all thoughts of marriage and ever being “owned” by a man. Her nemesis, Rhys Draper and Earl of Marsden, has been a thorn in her side for years. However, when her friend needs intervention in an arranged marriage, Rhys realises that for Poppy’s own good, he needs to join her in her endeavours. As Rhys and Poppy become embroiled in her friend’s matters they learn a new respect for one another and soon find themselves fighting an attraction that cannot be denied. Rhys is more than willing to pursue their relationship, but Poppy has made her mind up and nothing can deter her from antagonism towards marriage. There is humour and wit in this novel, but also heartache and tense moments as Poppy has to endure the scorn of her father. It takes a dramatic turn of events to persuade Poppy that it is in fact in order for her to change her mind about her preconceived ideas. This novel is well written and leaves one with a warm romantic feeling. It is also a standalone and comes to an amusing and delightful close. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received an ARC of The Earl Not Taken from Netgalley and the fabulous author A.S. Fenichel. This is the first book in her new series and is the oh so romantic story of Rhys and Penelope. Oooooohhh … ohhhhhhhh…..both work for this spectacular romance. A.S. Fenichel does a wonderous job of depicting the perfect form of wooing. Rhys is a known rake and Penelope is the stumbling and bumbling, but oh so intelligent and brave young lady who is weary of marriage and it’s institution. They develop and fight a growing attraction for each other. The Earl Not Taken is a journey of learning to trust and accepting the possibility that people change as well as altering old beliefs that seem irreparable. Fabulous book!
Good story of long-held misconceptions, strong friendships, and a love that can not be denied. I received an ARC of this book.