Name: Madi Van Houten's review of It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
Item: It Happened One Autumn
Rating: 4
Author: Madi Van Houten

Lisa Kleypas

Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal:they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born. It Happened at the Ball... Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat. It Happened in the Garden… When Marcus shockingly -- and dangerously–swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act! It Happened One Autumn... Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride?

The Wallflowers

It Happened One Autumn

Madi Van Houten

From the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes the next title in the beloved romance series The Wallflowers - perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. 'Lisa Kleypas is the best' Sarah MacLean The Wallflowers: four young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find husbands . . . no matter what it takes It happened at the ball . . . Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely 'the thing'. And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat. It happened in the garden . . . When Marcus shockingly - and dangerously - swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed. It happened one autumn . . . Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable . . . as his bride? 'Kleypas can make you laugh and cry - on the same page' Julia Quinn The Wallflowers: Secrets of a Summer Night It Happened One Autumn The Devil in Winter Scandal in Spring A Wallflower Christmas Praise for Lisa Kleypas: 'Lushly sexy and thoroughly romantic . . . superbly crafted characters and an intriguing plot blend together brilliantly in this splendid romance' Booklist 'Intricately and elegantly crafted, intensely romantic . . . from a not-to-be-missed romance author' Kirkus Reviews 'Witty, often hilarious, and delightfully passionate' Library Journal, starred review 'An unforgettable story peopled with remarkable characters and a depth of emotion that will leave you breathless' Romantic Times BOOKreviews 'Is it possible to give a book 6 stars? . . . [This] story has all of the forbidden romance, witty banter, and sigh-inducing declarations of love that you deserve' That's Normal

i don't know why but LK's books are almost always a stop and start for me 

Annabella

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

It Happened One Autumn is a story that I have loved and adored ever since it was published. This book is the second book in the  Wallflower series and one of the best historical series that has ever been written. Now I will say that there is much to love about this book, and even though I don't love it quite as much as Devil in Winter or Scandal in Spring, there is so much to adore about this book.

The Key Players of It Happened One Autumn are:
 
 	 Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible Aristocrat, full of responsibilities, domineering at times and in control. 
 	 Lillian, An American miss who is looking to marry a title....feisty, rebellious, and unconventional. 
 
The story begins when Lillian and her sister come to a house party being hosted by the Westcliff's in their country manor home. She and her sister Daisy, are both spirited and always tend to get into trouble. Lillian has no plans on even trying to pursue Westcliff because she has no desire to marry someone so stuffy and pompous and its obvious that Marcus has no interest in Lillian but they do like to argue with each other. :) Marcus protests very strongly upon the arrival of Lillian and her sister coming and its apparent that there is some strong attraction between Marcus and Lillian but they don't want to admit it to themselves. So we seem them just play around with each other at first, not admitting the attraction they have toward each other and then they share a kiss and all reservations go out the window because its way more explosive than they at first want to admit even to themselves. The phrase "she/he doth protest too much" definitely comes into play. They definitely start acting on their physical attraction to each other, but there are other factors involved that seem to cause a conflict on whether they will act on how they are feeling. Marcus especially knows that he wants a biddable wife and Lillian is way too contrary for his liking. But when his friend St.Vincent starts trying his hand at courting Lillian....all of Marcus' reserve go out the window.

What is most fun about this book is the interaction between Marcus and Lillian. They definitely have sparks going on and its so entertaining to see them banter and try to battle with their words. Even though they are very different from each other, they are also both very stubborn, strong personalities and domineering. They are way more alike than they are different as far as their personalities are concerned and its probably why they fight their attraction so much at first. But soon emotion starts to enter into their relationship and adds a bit more unique dynamic. But what is the most important element is those tender sweet moments that develop between the two that is at odds with their spirited moments together. I love how poignant this story felt so many times and it comes upon the reader unexpectedly.
 
  
    
      “Rest. You’ll need to regain your strength...because once we’re married, I won’t be able to leave you alone. I’ll want to love you every hour, every minute of the day.” He nestled her more closely against him. “There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you’re my only hope of happiness. Tell me, Lillian, dearest love...how can you have reached so far inside my heart?” He paused to kiss her damp silken skin...and smiled as the wisp of a feminine snore broke the peaceful silence.
    
  
 
Another fun aspect to the story that is prevalent through the whole series is the friendship between the four women or the "wallflowers" and I love seeing how they help each other find husbands even if it doesn't happen the way they plan on. There is so much warmth and affection these women have for each other and will do anything for each other and I adore that. Here below is two of my favorite scenes that I just had to share.
 
  “Annabelle, what happened to you?” Lillian asked the next morning. “You look dreadful. Why aren’t you wearing your riding habit? I thought you were going to try out the jumping course this morning. And why did you disappear
  

  so suddenly last night? It’s not like you to simply vanish without saying—”
 
 
  “I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” Annabelle said testily, folding her fingers around the delicate bowl of a porcelain teacup. Looking pale and exhausted, her blue eyes ringed with dark shadows, she swallowed a mouthful of heavily sweetened tea before continuing. “It was that blasted perfume of yours—as soon as he caught one whiff of it, he went berserk.”
 
 
  Shocked, Lillian tried to take in the information, her stomach plummeting. “It… it had an effect on Westcliff, then?” she managed to ask.
 
 “Good Lord, not Lord Westcliff.” Annabelle rubbed her weary eyes. “He couldn’t have cared less what I smelled like. It was my husband who went completely mad. After he caught the scent of that stuff, he dragged me up to our room and…well, suffice it to say, Mr. Hunt kept me awake all night. All night ,” she repeated in sullen emphasis, and drank deeply of the tea. 
 
  “Doing what?” Daisy asked blankly.
 
 
  Lillian, who was feeling a rush of relief that Lord Westcliff had not been attracted to Annabelle while she
  

  was wearing the perfume, gave her younger sister a derisive glance. “What do you think they were doing? Playing a few hands of Find-the-Lady?”
 

 
  
    
      “Wait a minute,” Daisy said suspiciously, coming to Lillian’s side.
“We’ve met Evie’s cousin Eustace before. Lillian, do you remember the ball at Winterbourne House?” Her eyes narrowed accusingly. “He was the one who broke the chair, wasn’t he, Evie?”
Evie confirmed Daisy’s question with an inarticulate murmur.
“Good God!” Lillian exclaimed, “you are not considering marrying him, Evie!”
Annabelle wore a puzzled expression. “How did he break the chair? Does he have a foul temper? Did he throw it?”
“He broke it by sitting on it,” Lillian said with a scowl.
“Cousin Eustace is rather l-large boned,” Evie admitted.
“Cousin Eustace has more chins than I’ve got fingers,” Lillian said impatiently. “And he was so busy filling his face during the ball that he couldn’t be bothered to make conversation.”
“When I went to shake his hand,” Daisy added, “I came away with a half-eaten wing of roast chicken.”
“He forgot that he was holding it,” Evie said apologetically. “He did say he was sorry for ruining your glove, as I recall.”
Daisy frowned. “That didn’t bother me nearly as much as the question of where he was hiding the rest of the chicken.”
    
  
 
It Happened One Autumn is a laugh out loud romance that will give you tingles and happy feels, it's a story that is packed with lively banter, boisterous characters, tender romantic moments and characters that you will fall head over heels in love with!!





[foogallery id="19066"]

Arianna M

Possibly my favourite romance in the Wallflowers series so far (I've read prequel-#3). I really enjoyed seeing how the heroine challenged the hero.

Connor 

ngl my favorite part of this was that Westcliff got to make good on his comment to Annabelle at the end of the last book. for that moment alone I'd bump this to 3.5. (Also, SISTERS EVERYWHERE. What an a+ idea.)

Audrey Vandecauter 

3/5 ✨

Not my favourite couple or book from this series, but entertaining non the less.

Becky

Well after I loved the first book I kind of had to read the second (Nick and Danya might have hurt me if I didn't). It was all that I'd hoped for after meeting Lillian and Marcus in the first book. Sparks flew everytime they were together and they had me cackling with their antics. If Lillian hadn't been so lovely she could have been annoying in her stubbornness. And if I hadn't been charmed by Marcus I would definitely have found his perfection and black and white view off putting. Together these two characters I might have disliked made me fall in love. They were adorable. Kind of couple you want popcorn to watch their arguments with. Poor entertainment.

Also cannot wait to see where the third book goes. I hope I'll like it but it's definitely a redemption book and I don't know if Sebastian can make it back in my good books after his actions in this one.

Francesca G

More like 2.5 stars but I don't mind rounding up, it wasn't anything special really, but enjoyable nonetheless. I seem to read Lisa Kleypas's novels almost compulsively, I really can't put them down

Kelly Casey

At first I did not like this book. It may have had to do with the fact that I never read the first in the series, but I just struggled to get into the story. I didn't like the characters at first or the plot. At around halfway through the book I finally was enjoying it. The first half of the book I would give like a 1 or 2 star rating, and the second half a 4 or 5 star rating so it averaged out to 3 stars. I'm not sure about the next book because it contains a character who did something unforgivable in this book as the love interest I think. So who knows. Overall, though I think I would continue to give this series another chance.

Amanda J 

This was another good one.

I thought the premise, with the added twist of the perfume to be lighthearted. I enjoyed this one immensely. The "twist" ending/climax was a little crazy, but it fit with the overall mood of the book. 

You could tell that Lillian and Westcliff really liked each other.

Samantha Emery

Check out this and my other reviews at My Blog


★Book Basics★ 


  Genre
: - Historical Romance 

  Series
: - 2nd in the series

  Love triangle?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  Cheating?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  HEA? -
 (view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)]

  Would I read more by this author/or in this series? 
- Yes

  Rating 
- 5


★Review★

Going to keep this short, but I am LOVING this series.

Have loved Marcus ever since he appeared in the prequel to this series. And again, not a conventional historical romantic hero, in that he was of average height, and not conventionally handsome.

Great chemistry between the hero and heroine. Chock full of passion and great dialogue, and overall a great friendship, which is almost as much of a joy to see develop between the four women, as the romantic relationships are.

This series and this author is making me realise why I used to love historicals and renewing my passion for a well written historical romance.

b.andherbooks

And I though St. Vincent was an alpha-hole. Whew. So, Lillian is a doll and she deserved better than having Westcliffe take her virginity while she was tanked on pear brandy spirits. And the way he treated her after she woke up with a hangover? Not cool.

Honestly St. Vincent was more gentlemanly to Lillian until that whole kidnapping thing which I'm still aghast about.

Also, I found this pretty dull. Poor Lillian and her sister and her friends are at Westcliffe's estate and there's not a lot going on but girls putting on aphrodisiac perfume and getting man handled in the hedge maze. 

I'm struggling with these older Kleypas titles and this may be my least favorite of all.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
.

If you read my review for Again the Magic or Secrets of a Summer Night, you know just how much I love love loved the Wallflowers series and that I binged the hell out of them a week or so ago. I'd originally planned on writing long reviews for each of them, but they're older books and honestly, it just didn't seem necessary. I can say what I want to about each of them in a few sentences. Starting with: READ THEM. Seriously.

Historical romance is a new genre for me and I'm happy to say I've absolutely loved each book I've read thus far, in its own way. After reading five of Lisa Kleypas' books in a week's time, I totally understand why all my HR girls were all "YOU HAVE TO READ HER ASAP" as soon as I mentioned my interest in historical romance. Her ladies are strong, sassy and amazing. Her men are flawed, but sweet and sexy. I love the dialogue, characterization, sexy times and friendships. They're seriously everything I could possibly want in a romance novel. (Or any book with kissing, honestly.)

It Happened One Autumn definitely put me through the ringer. I mean, all's well that ends well, but I was a little worried there for awhile. I adored Lillian's sassy, stubborn self and I felt like I'd been waiting on Marcus' story forever (or, you know, two books...). I'd hoped all along those two would wind up together, so I was excited to read what would happen when these two – and all their chemistry – collided. They were so different in their upbringing and behavior, yet so similar in their stubbornness, that I knew it would be an interesting ride. Add in another possible suitor with Viscount St. Vincent and interesting was an understatement.

I can't recommend the Wallflowers series highly enough.

Lacey

God, I loved Lillian and Marcus so much! 4.5 stars. Their chemistry is fabulous and I loved how perfect they were for each other! I can't decide whether I love this or Devil in Winter more.

Janet Doré

Lisa Kleypas is my favorite romance author...the perfect writer to accompany me on a sunny Hawaiian beach. She has a formula (that works) for her books, and this one followed it to a "T". Whenever I need a little romantic boost delivered in an intelligent manner, I pick up one of her books. Any of them will do...

farah farooq

Diego

It happened at the ball . . . Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat. It happened in the garden . . . When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously–swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed . . . thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act! It happened one autumn . . . Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable . . . as his bride?

Madi Van Houten &
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

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