Secrets Of A Summer Night Lisa Kleypas Book Review

Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband.So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing—and persistent—admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon—and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

The thing that I love about being a new romance reader is that there’s this whole genre and world of books out there just waiting to be discovered. One could easily get lost trying to navigate the vast romance section, but luckily I have a lot of friends to guide my way. On recommendation from Allison at The Allure Of Books, my reading soul mate, I mooched Secrets Of A Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas where it promptly sat on my shelves waiting for just the right moment to be picked up.

Friends, I totally ate Secrets Of A Summer Night up. It’s the first of Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower series about four women who are on the sidelines at every ball who make a pact to help each other find husbands. This book follows Annabelle, who is a member of the impoverished gentry class. She needs to score a rich husband or else her family will be turned out onto the streets and starve to death. Annabelle catches Simon Hunt’s eye. Simon is a very rich commoner, so not exactly the genteel lord Annabelle is looking for. Also, he only wants Annabelle for a mistress and not his wife.

Ya’ll know who Annabelle is going to end up with after reading the summary as you weren’t born yesterday. However, with romance, I feel that it’s not the destination but the journey. Oh man, this journey delivers up so many swoons and awwws and just DO IT already moments. I really liked the chemistry between Annabelle and Simon. I enjoyed how they went from sort of animosity to smoldering attraction. And how there are misunderstandings but also some deep and heartfelt moments between the two, where Simon is SUPER thoughtful.

My one complaint though is that I thought the ending dragged on for a bit too long. Like there’s this trip at the end that felt so convoluted and weird and didn’t add to the story. Like, the trip happens after the central conflict was resolved and I’m like, okay, previously when the two get together that is the perfect end point, but nope, it just goes on and on. Sigh.

If you are looking to start with the pillars of the historical romance genre, you can hardly go wrong with Secrets Of A Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas. It’s filled with hilarity, headstrong characters, awesome Americans and SWOON, some toe curling kisses.

Disclosure: Obtained via Book Mooch.

Other reviews of Secrets Of A Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas:

The Incurable Bluestocking – “a solid start to a wonderful series”

Happily Ever After – “Why, why, why did I wait so long to start this series?”

Once Upon A Chapter – “This book had me in stitches! STITCHES!”

Book Chick City – “The story had my full attention until the very end, where I sighed in contentment”

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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