Lit Wallflowers Podcast

A wallflower and a vicar hit it off in Eva Leigh’s third book of The Wicked Quills of London series, “Temptations of a Wallflower.” Jeremy Cleland returns to London and his father’s and uncle’s summons him to use his vicar identity to find The Lady of Dubious Quality author.  He must find them or else risk his father’s allowance to cease. Lady Sarah Frampton goes to great lengths to keep her doubl...

A playwright and a play lover team up in Eva Leigh’s second book of The Wicked Quills of London series, “Scandal Takes the Stage.” Cam, Viscount Marwood, can always be found watching a play.  After the play, he has access to backstage and especially to the willing actresses. Maggie Delamare has a great reason for not trusting titled men, and she makes it known in her burlettas.  However, it is her...

Aristocrats behaving questionably will make it into The Hawk’s Eye scandal sheets in Eva Leigh’s first book of The Wicked Quills of London series, “Forever Your Earl.” Daniel Balfour, the Earl of Ashford, charged into the Hawk’s Eye offices demanding to see the man behind the paper.  However, Eleanor Hawk let Ashford know she was the editor of the business. Ashford complained that the articles abo...

The town foundling is back in Maidenshop just when the Earl is in need of help in Cathy Maxwell’s “His Lessons on Love,” book three of the Logical Man’s Guide to Dangerous Women series! Miss Clarissa Taylor is no longer a companion and seek the matrons for help.  With no prospects and references, she is desperate, kind of. Mars, the Earl, received a surprise bundle from his former mistress and off...

Once upon time in a faraway land, from London, there was a tiny kingdom, town really, called Maidenshop.  Gemma Estep left her Cinderella-ish situation after discovering an opened letter addressed to her from months ago.  Feeling far from safe after making a scene when guests were present at her in-laws, she packed up her salves and tinctures, then made her way to the only place she could go. Mr....

Happy New Year!  And, happy Season four with author Cathy Maxwell who we have always wanted to cover.  We are starting with “His Secret Mistress” in preparation for the upcoming release for the Logical Man’s Guide to Dangerous Women series. Brandon Balfour, frustrated for possibly not getting a commission, left London for the country.  Actually, he was already summoned to Maidenshop by his sister,...

New-to-Us November ends with “Brazen Temptress” and Elizabeth Boyle fans, Laine and Meg of Plottrysts! To save her crew from the gallows, captain Maureen Hawthorne made a deal for freedom by finding the infamous American privateer and pirate De Ryes, someone she was married to. De Ryes cleans up well and is unrecognizable as aristocrat Julien d’Artiers, but he’s the same man Maureen blames for her...

New-to-Us November continues into December with book two of Elizabeth Boyle’s Brazen series, “Brazen Heiress!” Teenage Lily D’Artiers heard and saw her biggest crush, crush his lips on someone else.  From then on, she moved to America with her family and moved on.  She returned to England on a mission, however regardless of her smashing success at being horrible, she returned to Paris on a mission...

Elizabeth Boyle is our New-to-Us November author and we are starting from the beginning with her debut book “Brazen Angel!” The Brazen Angel loved masquerade balls!  The balls allowed her to enchant wealthy aristocrats and rob them.  When one or two of those “gentlemen” have a friend like Giles, Marquess of Trahern, who was bored and had special skills, he too was at the balls trying to catch her...

We got double the fun this week for New-to-Us November!  We read recently released  “In the Midst of Shadows” by Nicola Italia and “Once a Laird” by Mary Jo Putney. If you love a mystery and suspense in your historical fiction, “In the Midst of Shadows” is for you!  Lavinia wrote short stories and through connections, she became the next penny dreadful author for a publication and her fandom kept...

“Island Queen” by Vanessa Riley is a historical novel based on a true person, and it is definitely New-to-Us! We read about the extraordinary life of Dorothy Kirwan who was determined to be a free person and to succeed in making her family and others free too! From aged five to decades later, we followed her through the islands of the Caribbean and even through some trips to the Scotland and Engla...

It is New-to-Us November!  We are kicking off this month with a historical fiction, “The Last Season” by new-to-us authors Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood! Miss Cassandra Drayton, daughter to a viscount, saw the new stable boy, Crispin St. John, from her window while having her lessons from her governess.  They soon start a friendship in secret and he gave her forbidden lessons in horseback ridi...

It is about teamwork to avenge and protect in “One Fine Duke” by Lenora Bell! Mina Penny finally got her season in London and her mission was to look for a partner for espionage.  Who she got was the recluse Duke of Thornton, Andrew aka Drew, brother of her intended partner.  Drew’s mission was to figure out his brother’s secrets in order to protect their sister. With Mina’s knowledge from living...

Adventure time with the antiquities hunters and former best friends in “For the Duke’s Eyes Only” by Lenora Bell! Lady India Rochester and Daniel Bonds, Duke of Ravenswood were the best of friends until one day they were ripped from each other’s lives.  These two who have been betrothed since they were in leading strings and looked forward to their marriage until distance turned into secrets and D...

We are attending the School for Dukes and studying “What a Difference a Duke Makes” as our first lesson by Lenora Bell! Mari Perkins helped a child cross the street, only to have her trunk snatched, and she arrived late to her appointment for a governess position.  Superior governess and agency owner Mrs. Trilby did not care of her circumstances and threw her out of her establishment.  By chance,...

The Two Dukes of Wyndham series by Julia Quinn was a delight to read one after the other! In “The Lost Duke of Wyndham,” highwayman Jack turned out to be the true duke.  His cranky, dowager duchess grandmother just needed proof of legitimacy, but first she needed to catch him.  It was his attachment to Grace, the dowager’s companion, who he would give up the dukedom for. In “Mr. Cavendish, I Presu...

New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselling romance novelist, romance columnist, and podcaster Sarah MacLean spoke to us! This interview was full of spoilers so our fangirl selves including Natalie of @kissandletmetellyou, could ask revealing questions and get the answers that would bring joy to our heart! We dive into writing the book and touch upon topics within the genre.  We tal...

We want more Christi Caldwell in our lives especially after interviewing her for her new release “Along Came a Lady!” Etiquette instructor, Edwina Dalrymple, was hired for a different sort of charge, the adult kind.  She was to turn the Duke of Bentley’s recently known illegitimate son, Rafe Audley, into a gentleman. Rafe hated the Duke and was surprised to see a woman turn up this time to bring h...

Special guest and author Evie Dunmore has graciously allowed us to fangirl over her and her new release Portrait of a Scotsman! Hattie Greenfield went to an invite-only art gallery without her bodyguard and without a chaperone.  The gallery’s owner, Lucien Blackstone, did not know he was trying to be more charitable.  When his art restorer told him a wet woman was there for the tour, he thought it...

We finally find out how Tristan knows about Lucie’s cat in “A Rogue of One’s Own” by Evie Dunmore! Lord Tristan Ballentine was enchanted when he saw Lady Lucinda riding her horse towards him and his hiding place one summer.  He just arrived at her home and did not expect to be slapped on the face for a misunderstanding with his undone breeches.  Then for the next several summers, he would torment...

Evie Dunmore’s 2-year anniversary of “Bringing Down the Duke” is being celebrated with a giveaway bundle!  Follow her on Instagram for more details. Annabelle Archer got the opportunity of a lifetime!  She was accepted as part of the first cohort of women to take courses at Oxford University with a scholarship from the National Society for Woman’s Suffrage.  Her first task with NSWS was to hand ou...

“Bombshell” by Sarah MacLean!  What a great first book of her new series, Hell’s Belles! Caleb Calhoun finds Sesily Talbot hours after stepping onto dry land from Boston.  What he did not expect and witness from the ballroom to the garden was a devious yet just plan.  What he did not foresee was their first kiss after two years of meeting. We find out that Sesily was a part of a girl gang we would...

The kindreds look down memory lane in Sarah MacLean’s Daring and the Duke! Grace Condry rescued Ewan, Duke of Marwick, and helped him recover only to pummel him and tell him never to return to Covent Gardens.  Ewan heeds her command only to return to town in one year determined to redeem himself and win over Grace. Grace swooned when she masked herself and attended the Duke’s ball that was designe...

It is the Year of Hattie in Sarah MacLean’s Brazen and the Beast! Hattie wanted to begin her nine and twentieth year with her ruination, however Savior Whittington (aka Beast) had to be disposed of from her carriage first. From his first kiss with Hattie, Beast was ruined and, after a little tuck-and-roll, he interrupted the plans of the too perfect a lady for him.  Hattie’s ruination had to take...

We are hanging out in Covent Garden this series with Sarah MacLean’s The Bareknuckle Bastards starting with Wicked and the Wallflower! Devil leaped back over a balcony when Felicity entered the dark room to laugh and speak to the ether.  Devil intrigued, interrupts her benign harsh words about the mean girls and guys she wants to befriend again. Those she once called friends angered Felicity into...