Scandal in Spring
"I want you to do everything you've ever imagined doing with me . . ." With those scandalous words, Daisy Bowman, the sole "Wallflower" yet to be married, seals her fate with the last man she ever expected to tempt her.
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."
My Thoughts:
“Well-Spirit,” she said conversationally, “since I’ve had such bad luck in finding the kind of husband I always thought I wanted, I’m leaving it up to you. No requirements, no conditions. What I wish for is…the right man for me. I’m prepared to be open-minded.”
I didn't love this book as much as the previous books, but Matthew and Daisy did become a favorite couple. They were such a young and adorable couple and their love scenes were so beautifully written. My problem with the book was not because of Daisy and Matthew, but because of the overall tone of the book, and I was sadly a bit annoyed with Lillian. To her defense though, she was pregnant and was worried about her sister and best friend. I understood it fully. I just felt Daisy deserved better. Daisy is my favorite wallflower after Evie, so I wanted her to get more support from her sister Lillian. Wonderfully, Lillian's husband Marcus Westcliff was very supportive throughout and saw that Matthew might be the right man for her.
“Daisy,” Westcliff said gently, “most lives are not distinguished by great achievements. They are measured by an infinite number of small ones. Each time you do a kindness for someone or bring a smile to his face, it gives your life meaning. Never doubt your value, little friend. The world would be a dismal place without Daisy Bowman in it.”
I could totally understand the attraction between Matthew and Daisy. This is a man who has loved her from the moment he met her years ago. He truly loves everything about her and I liked that.
"She couldn’t imagine how she could have forgotten a man this attractive. His features were strong and decisively formed, too masculine to be called beautiful, too striking to be ordinary. And his eyes were the rich sky-blue of morning glories, even more intense against the sun-glazed color of his skin. There was something extraordinary about him, a kind of barely leashed vitality that nearly caused her to take a step backward, the force of it was so strong."
Daisy is my kind of gal. She is adventurous, bookish, and a dreamer. But most of all she went after what she wanted and that was Matthew. Without spoiling too much, I loved when she began seducing him in his bedroom, hiding his room key further down inside her corset, making it impossible for him to resist her sexually. It was also really funny. I had other favorite scenes, of course. I loved the bowling competition between them and I loved their first kiss in the library; so fitting too...
"Daisy turned the key in the lock and carefully withdrew it. The decisive click was abnormally loud in the silence of the room. Calmly Daisy tugged the top edge of her bodice away from her chest. She held the key above the narrow gap. Matthew’s eyes widened as he understood what she intended.
“You wouldn’t.” As he started around the dresser, Daisy dropped the key into her bodice, making certain it slipped beneath her corset. She sucked in her stomach and midriff until she felt the cold metal slide to her navel.
“Damn it!” Matthew reached her with startling speed. He reached out to touch her, then jerked his hands back as if he had just encountered open flame.
“Take it out,” he commanded, his face dark with outrage. “I can’t.”
“I mean it, Daisy!”
Matthew has a mysterious past I liked discovering and I was glad that he got the support from Daisy and her friends when it really mattered. Most of all from Marcus Westcliff.
A really good read overall. As mentioned above, I had some problems with the overall tone of the book. There were characters I think should have had a bit more time and focus, for example. I also felt the book ended a bit too soon. I wanted one more moment between Matthew and Daisy when they're married, as I didn't feel we got enough of them as a couple.
It was a joy seeing all the wallflowers find their HEAs.
My favorite couples in the series:
- 1. St. Vincent and Evie (from Devil in Winter)
- 2. Matthew and Daisy (from Scandal in Spring)
- 3. Simon Hunt and Annabella (from Secrets of a Summer Night)
- 4. Lord Westcliff and Lillian (from It Happened One Autumn)
My favorite books in the series:
- 1. Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3)
- 2. Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1)
- 3. It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2)
- 4. Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers, #4)
“Daisy,” he asked without heat, “where is the damn key?”
“I put it in your coat pocket,” she said helpfully. “Didn’t you see? No?…well, I suppose you were distracted at the time.” She trailed her hand over his chest, letting her palm graze the point of his nipple. “You’re probably angry with me for locking us in the bedroom.”
“Enraged,” he agreed. “I insist you do it every night after we’re married.”
“Are we going to get married?” Daisy whispered, raising her head.
