The Wallflower

I enjoyed this. THE WALLFLOWER is America's own version of a "Regency Romance" -- ok, ok ignore the different time frames. The setting is New York City. The heroine is Texas born Persy Daltry. The hero is poverty born Jake Devlin. A self-made man and the owner of the Dusty Rose, a New York City establishment filled with dancing girls and gambling men. In Texas, on her twentieth birthday, her grandmother has given Persephone "Persy" Daltry an extraordinary gift -- `go east young lady -- east to New York City.' Persy's task? To find herself! Instead, this little Texas miss finds: all that glitters is not gold and love can be found anywhere. Linda Francis Lee does a beautiful job with this simple storyline. She draws a quiet story, resulting in a light fun read. Persy Daltry and Jake Devlin are a good couple to drift with. The author does not rely on conflict to enhance her story; instead, she uses soft humor and a gentle hand. This is just an easy story about two people, from different walks of life, who fall in love. Unfortunately, only a B+ rating because a nagging disbelief floats through the book: a): why didn't Jake ever follow Persy home? b): how come, soon to be a New York debutante, Persy has every afternoon open -- as in NO social commitments? c): and what woman could possibly cook a meal, without help, for 150 men, in less than 2 hours, in a strange kitchen, in 1879? The meal? Cornish game hens served with a cranberry sauce! Did I mention disbelief? Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.