Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)

I love this book. The story is really fun and the characters are wonderful. I love the friendships between the Wallflowers. The heroine Annabelle is strong and the relationship between Simon and herself is very entertaining as it develops.

I'm in disagreement with most of the other reviewers here- I thought this first novel in the series was the strongest. To me it had the most 'reality'. I know that sounds weird in terms of an historical romance, but Anabelle had sincere struggles to overcome her societal prejudices and a great wedding night didn't completely erase her feelings about coming down in the world. She also realized that she had a lot to learn about the world outside and where her society and the world as a whole was going. Simon took a good couple of years to come to terms with her as a person not just as a hot bod he wanted in his bed, he eventually comes to see her as a person with faults and admirable qualities who he likes for herself. I thought the ending drama was superb as something momentous was necessary to prove to them both that they had more than money at the heart of their relationship. I enjoyed all the books in the series, but thought this one was the most interesting and had the most compelling characters (though Lilian's story was very good as well).

I found "Secrets of a Summer Night" to be a great romance. It was nice to have female characters who were friends and wanted to help each other, rather than see each other as competition on the marriage mart. I did not find Annabelle snotty, I found her reactions to poverty understandable given her situation and the fear of having to survive as her mother has had to. Although Simon initially asks Annabelle to be his mistress, I find it quite clear that he wants more than a sexual connection to her. This all made from good romantic tension. I look forward to the rest of the Wallflowers books.

I'm new to the romance genre, and I hadn't found any books that really got me into it. I was close to giving up, when I read "Secrets of a Summer Night." "Secrets of a Summer Night" was utterly different from the other romance novels I'd tried to read. From what I gathered (and I'm still new to romances, so perhaps my perception is a bit off) the average romance novel consists of this perfect heroine--idealistic, spunky, good, honest...and of course, beautiful. And she and the dashing hero meet, but they can't be together for some reason. So the whole book is centered on the fight between their lust, and the thing that's keeping them apart. And then, it's magically resolved, they marry, and ride off into the sunset. This novel still has some of the same things--Annabelle the heroine is, of course, still beautiful. However, she's not at all goody-goody or idealistic. Financially hard times have made her guarded and materialistic, and she has a woefully close-minded view of the world. Having such flaws, however, actually makes her seem more realistic than the average heroine. The other thing I've hated about romance novels is how the hero and heroine meet each other, and next thing you know, they're professing their undying love. How often does that happen in real life? Kleypas doesn't do this here. Where most books end with the happy marriage, the author takes it further. It's clear that when they marry, it's probably more out of lust and the beginnings of love. They barely know each other. Annabelle even acknowledges it to herself shortly after she and Simon marry--she hardly knows him, she doesn't have a clear idea what he does for work, and she didn't even have any idea where he lived! (Their romance blossomed at a week-long party at the estate of a mutual acquaintance.) The meat of the book, instead of being how they finally marry and everything's happy, is actually about how they get to really know and care for one another after they marry, and how these two very practical, guarded characters finally acknowledge their love for each other, and this is a process that changes them both. I also liked how there's a slight bit of the political/economic issues of the time thrown in, and how it's made use of. This book is not a history lesson, but the historical context is always simmering in the background, driving what the characters are and do, in more ways than just allowing our heroine to wear pretty nineteenth-century gowns and have a houseful of servants at her beck and call. I stayed up late finishing "Secrets of a Summer Night," and the moment I read the last page, I nearly wanted to cry because there was nothing more to read. Finally, a romance novel about love instead of lust! The novel was so engaging and so satisfying that I couldn't wait to read more from Kleypas, and the very next day, I went out and bought two more of her books. If you're looking for a more realistic development of a romantic relationship betwe

Simon Hunt is a self made millionaire. But his millions can't buy him a place in the upper tiers of British society. He, and the growing number of self made commoners, are looked down upon by the aristocracy and thought of as opportunists and social climbers. Simon is only barely tolerated in "polite" society because of his friendship with the estimable Lord Westcliff (the hero of the next book in the series) and because the crumbling aristocracy can't ignore his millions try as they might. Simon doesn't care less about his pariah status in the upper circles since he disdains their boring parties and inane conversation. Only one thing keeps Simon from swearing off balls and soirees altogether and her name is Annabelle Peyton. Annabelle and her family are in desperate straits. They are living in genteel poverty and desperately trying to keep head above water. The obvious solution out of their predicament is for Annabelle to marry a peer, however, her chances of getting a proposal are virtually zero due to her lack of a dowry. As her fourth season draws to a close, Annabelle knows that it has to be now or never. To that end, she meets a group of fellow wallflowers and they strike up a friendship centered around their immediate need to catch husbands. They concoct a plan to help Annabelle trap a peer into marriage during a house party. But Annabelle's confidence and her plans are shaken by the presence of Simon Hunt. Annabelle cant't forget the day she allowed him to kiss her and she can't forgive him for making her like it. Simon makes it clear that he has only wanted one thing from Annabelle ever since that day and she will not yield regardless of his wealth or his handsome looks. As the days go by and she gets to know the real Simon and she can't help but be attracted by this tender, sweet and oh so sexy man. However, she musn't forget not only that Simon only wants her for his mistress but the fact that he is not a peer. Even if he proposed marriage she couldn't bring herself to marry a commoner since as far as she is concerned it would be social suicide. For his part, Simon is determined to make Annabelle see him for who he is instead of his lack of a social pedigree. At first he set out to charm and disarm her with the goal of making her his mistress. However, Simon didn't count on falling head over heels in love and while she is responsive to his kisses he knows that his feelings aren't reciprocated. So, Simon sets out to change matters and make Annabelle his body and soul. After finishing this book I have decided that Lisa Kleypas is virtually unbeatable in the hero department. Her heroes are an incredibly potent mix of tender, loving, sexy, arrogant bad boys that I simply can't resist and Simon is no exception. I also have to commend the author for pushing the envelope with Annabelle. She is unapologetically selfish and mercenary and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She clearly wants to marry a peer not only for the well b