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My Review:Title: It Happened One Autumn
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Wallflowers #2
Published by: HarperAudio
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Length: 11 hours and 10 minutes
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Libro.FM
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Audiobook Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Fall
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ IndieBound ✩ iTunes ✩ Libro.FM ✩ Chirp
My rating:
Blurb:Headstrong American heiress Lillian Bowman has come to England to find an aristocratic husband. Unfortunately, no man is strong enough to tame the stubborn beauty's fierce will. Except, perhaps, the powerful and arrogant Earl of Westcliff—a man Lillian despises more than anyone she's ever met.
Marcus, Lord Westcliff, is famous for his icy English reserve and his supreme self-control. But something about the audacious Lillian drives him mad. Whenever they're in the same room, they can't stop themselves from battling furiously to gain the upper hand.
Then one afternoon, a stunningly sensuous encounter changes everything...and Lillian discovers that beneath the earl's reserved façade, he is the passionate and tender lover of her dreams. What neither Westcliff nor Lillian suspect, however, is that a sinister conspiracy threatens to destroy any chance of happiness.
After a shocking betrayal endangers Lillian's safety—and possibly her life—will Marcus be able to save her before it's too late?
3.5 stars — Unfortunately for me, I found this one to be a bit too long and drawn out. The good parts were really good, and if it had been condensed I would have enjoyed it more for sure.
I think the other problem is that I don’t seem to be as big a fan of Ms. Landor as the narrator. I can’t pinpoint anything about her narration that’s bad per se, but apparently she just doesn’t quite do it for me. Something I’ll definitely be paying attention to in the future.
Lillian was…not as easy for me to like. Her stubbornness was a thing of legends, and occasionally she came across a bit childish as a result. I did appreciate that she was strong-willed, and wasn’t willing to bow to conventions just for the sake of conventions. And while she frustrated me at some turns, she made me cheer at others…so my feelings about her were a bit in conflict. I don’t think I always understood her hold out with Marcus, especially later in the book…I wanted something from her that I just didn’t quite get.
Marcus, on the other hand, while he had moments of being a snob, when he finally accepted his fall and was honest about his feelings, I fell so hard for him. He didn’t dally as long as Lillian did, making excuses for his feelings. And while he made blunders along the way, he quickly righted his course once corrected. Basically, I fell in love with him.
I will admit I was dismayed with the climax and conflict at the end. I saw one bit coming from a mile away, but was surprised by another. Ah well.
I’m definitely going to relisten to the next book, b/c it has my favourite narrator, and I remember really loving the development of the characters more. I hope Daisy’s book is more satisfying when I get to it.
It was fun to read this review because I have only read the first book in this series. Everyone loves it, but I haven’t been drawn back to it. It sounds like there were good and bad things about this book. Great review!
Happy holidays!