Scandal in Spring

Author: Lisa Kleypas
Publication date: January 1st 2006
Series: Wallflowers #4
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical, Romance
Synopsis: After spending three London seasons searching for a husband, Daisy Bowman’s father has told her in no uncertain terms that she must find a husband. Now. And if Daisy can’t snare an appropriate suitor, she will marry the man he chooses—the ruthless and aloof Matthew Swift.

Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, and she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone . . . anyone . . . other than Matthew. But she doesn’t count on Matthew’s unexpected charm . . . or the blazing sensuality that soon flares beyond both their control. And Daisy discovers that the man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams.

But right at the moment of sweet surrender, a scandalous secret is uncovered . . . one that could destroy both Matthew and a love more passionate and irresistible than Daisy’s wildest fantasies.

Love Factor (How much I loved it):
Would I recommend it:
Would I read it again:

This book may contain explicit intimate scenes, so if you are not 18+ then I probably wouldn’t recommend it for younger readers.

My Opinion

With this book, we have the last wallflowers happy ending – Daisy Bowman. How I loved Daisy throughout the series, she was hilarious entertaining, never failing to make me laugh with her humorous remarks and her signature phrase ‘Drat!’. Since she hasn’t managed to snag a suitable peer, she is given the ultimatum by her father, find someone to marry by May, if she fails to do so, she has to marry Matthew Swift, a young man that works for Mr Bowman and whom is consider to be a stand in son for him. Daisy is applaud by this as she sees no redeeming or likable qualities about Matthew, the last time she sees him he was a tall string bean who’s clothes hangs on his shoulders and acts just like her father. Making another trip to the wishing well at Stony Cross Park, hoping the well spirits will grant her a wish – to find her a husband that suits and loves her – when she encounters a tall man with broad shoulders, closely cropped dark hair, an intense blue eyes with an American accent, no other than Matthew Swift. Surprised with him as he has changed quite a bit, no longer is he that gangly tall young man that she remembers from her family dinner parties, here stands before her an attractive man. Daisy tries her best to ignore him and to find another husband but everywhere she turns, she runs into him and can’t avoid Matthew at all – from helping her rescue a greylag goose, playing a highly competitive bowls game which turns out to be (WAR!), scandalous games which results in her being disappointed with him by kissing her hand calling it half rate. Daisy soon is finding out that she is falling for the man that she thought she didn’t want. She discovers that he has kept a button with a lock of her hair and realizes that he has secretly loved her for years and from afar but Matthew has a bigger and darker secret than that, hoping that no one will discover. Matthew wants to go along with her fathers ruse to marry Daisy but he can’t, afraid his past will come back and intervene with him and Daisy. Taking things into her own hand, him and Daisy have a little talk in private where she locks the door and takes the key and drops it down her corset. The only way to get the key back an unlock the door is for him to undress her – he doesn’t want to do as he is fighting his feelings for her and her ravishment – but ends up doing so and warns her that if they go any farther, that she will be doomed. Throw in some more ravishment, a new baby, twists,reveled secrets, and then you have a happy ending as always.

I really loved the part with the goose, it was hilariously done. I couldn’t help to giggle at that part an vividly imagine it as I have been around geese and they can be feisty creatures. The part where she calls his kiss on the hand half-rate, complaining that no man will want to kiss her after that stint as he refused to do it properly, he sees that has a challenge and gives her a real good one, leaving her breathless. Plus the game of bowls, my my were they out for blood, but I kinda see Daisy’s way, it would be competitive and WAR for me too if I played and someone deliberately knocked my ball off the path. The scene where she told Lord Llandridon (sp?) to control himself when he tried to kiss her was a bit priceless – had me snickering there too. But the one fact that I really loved was how Matthew has loved Daisy for years – since she was about 14 or 15 – secretly admiring her from affair, silently longing for her and her affection.

I really enjoyed Scandal in Spring, as I did the others. In my honest opinion, Lisa can do no wrong writing these wonderful stories filled with adventure, excitement, entertaining characters, and passion. I feel that I never will be disappointed with her novels and plan to read every single one of them.