Girls who dare – Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen. Eleven girls – Eleven dares in a hat. Twelve passionate stories. Who will dare to risk it all?To Winter at Wildsyde.A dare to change a … Winter at Wildsyde.
A dare to change a lifetime …
Miss Ruth Stone, a wealthy heiress, is struggling to fulfil her father’s dream to marry into nobility, despite her hefty dowry. Dared by the Peculiar Ladies to “Say something outrageous to a handsome man,” Ruth outdoes herself and proposes marriage to the heir to an earldom.
A decision she may live to regret…
Before she can think better of having opened her big mouth, her gorgeous, hulking husband-to-be has hustled her into a carriage and borne her off to his remote, tumbledown castle where he intends to put her dowry to good use.
A marriage or a business affair…
Ruth has no illusions. She’s a strong, sensible woman, not a fragile beauty and she knows her husband will never fall madly in love. Their marriage is one of convenience, her children will inherit title and legitimacy among the ton and she will have the home of her own she’s dreamed of. Yet her pig-headed, obstinate husband rouses her temper and her passions like no one before.
Her first winter at Wildsyde is about to set the old castle alight.
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The author did a good job developing the characters. The book got a little tedious and I lost patience with the hero. The heroine had a lot of patience and stick-to-itiveness not to give up on him.
I really like this series – The characters are great! – but have to squint and flip past the parts that are much steamier than my preference.
A very entertaining and pleasant story. Another strong female working against what she’s been told to get her happy ending. I really liked this book.
Would suggest reading these in order as there are several chapters involving other characters and the beginning skipped how the H and h met.
A fun story…different than most romantic historicals.
Loved Ruth’s strength, determination and wisdom.
Very enjoyable read. Ruth is a determined woman, determined to make her dream of her own home true. She’s industrious and not without a good sense of humor. If she could survive the Ton, some recalcitrant Scottish servants pose no great problem.
Gordy is stubborn, and still suffering from occurrences in his childhood. Men do seem to develop a chip on their shoulder from real or perceived injustices suffered. But he’s met his match in Ruth, in more than one way. An entertaining battle of wills.
A sweet book with no surprises. Easy and fast read.
Strong female character!
A good way to spend an evening!
Laughed so hard around page 216 of so I almost fell off the couch. Loved the humor scattered throughout.
I liked this one. It had my attention.
Clearly, the author has a good sense of humor. With that being said, it was still slightly formulaic, but I enjoyed it. I recommend it.
Ruth Stone, a wealthy heiress, is struggling to fulfill her father’s dream to marry into nobility, despite her hefty dowry. Dared by the Peculiar Ladies Book Club to say something outrageous to a handsome man, Ruth outdoes herself and proposes marriage to Gordon, heir to an earldom. Before she can think better of having opened her big mouth, gorgeous and hulking Gordon hustles her into a carriage and takes her to his remote, tumbledown castle where he intends to put her dowry to good use Ruth has no illusions. She is strong and sensible, and she knows her husband will never fall madly in love with her. The marriage is one of convenience. Her children will inherit title and legitimacy among the ton, and she will have the home about which she has dreamed. Her stubborn husband rouses her temper and her passions like no one before. Her first winter at Wildsyde is about to set the old castle alight. – Ruth was remarkable – determined, caring, and loyal. I admired her strength. Gordon was a broken man because of his childhood. He was also determined, caring, and loyal. Ruth’s handling of controversy and dealing with Gordon and the staff was entertaining. The few chapters thrown in about the Peculiar Ladies Book Club were distracting and took away from the book. This would have been a better read without them.
I sure enjoyed reading this
This book was pleasant with likable main characters. However, the author added several side plots that went nowhere in this book, neither did they add tension to the main story, suggesting they were going to be main characters in a future book.
Those pages could have been used to add drama in some way to the main plot.
I liked the setting, the inner strength of the female protagonist and some of her friends, particularly her Aunt and the Butler.
This is one of a series of books about Wallflowers. Although it is a stand alone there are characters who the reader hears about in letters to and from the heroine. I think the book would have had more depth if those other characters were better known. So I think these books need to be read in order. Otherwise an enjoyable read
Lovely story with engaging characters! I wish the author had just told this story, but the main story is interrupted by other stories that pop up with no explanation? Still a very good story and well written characters!
4.5 STARS
I’ve only read book 1 of the series over 14 months ago and don’t remember it. This being book 7 I must admit when the secondary character’s were introduced and some of their stories told, I was lost. It was like coming in the middle of a story. I decided not to deduct for the secondary character’s because I enjoyed the story of the H/h. Even though I think the author should include their meeting and her proposal.
The last few stories I’ve read by other author’s this week have been somewhat lacking in character for the H. I read 1 to 1.5 books a day (love retirement) and some of the stories have the H weak and not a true hero. This author gave me exactly what I needed in a story. A strong, but somewhat flawed hero who was trying to protect his heart by not falling in love. He had an awful childhood and didn’t want to get attached to his wife. But, he was still a great character. You understood the way he acted.
The h has to be one of the best h’s I’ve read in weeks. She is smart, capable, knows how to handle any situation and especially what the H needs. I enjoyed their fights and banter and exchange of wits with each other. I laughed at what the h did to the H’s study. PRICELESS!
There is lovemaking, within marriage, heat level 4.5 out of 5 described several times. I felt a connection to them so for me it was filled with passion, but others may find it too descriptive.
No cheating, no cliffhanger for our couple, but the stories of the other friends will be unknown, HEA was not an easy road to reach, romance and steam. (ljb)
This character takes a huge risk, and the story that unfolds is both heartwarming and lighthearted while still steamy. A great continuation to the series.