Review: Romance readers who love a bit of mystery will enjoy Watson's Once Upon a Wallflower.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 27, 2013
Disclosure: I received this book from the tour organizer as part of the book tour. Thank you to Bewitching Book Tours and to Wendy Lyn Watson for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.* * *The announcement in the newspapers was clear and straightforward: Miss Mirabelle Fitzhenry is engaged to Nicholas Ellerby, Viscount Ashfield in an alliance brokered by Nicholas's father and George Fitzhenry. What isn't clear is which Mirabelle Fitzhenry Nicholas is engaged to? There is Mira, George's niece, only daughter of his late brother, who is penniless and plain. And there is Bella, George's beautiful golden daughter, who had a successful season and is her family's golden ticket to a better life.This is the type of confusion George Fitzhenry wants to capitalize on as he fobs off his niece to Nicholas and his father. Mira has no choice but to go along with her uncle's scheme to trick the Ellerbys in order to save Bella from having to marry a man rumored to have murdered his first fiancee. Mira is hoping her plainness and lack of wealth will push Nicholas to cry off and end their engagement.And Nicholas is hoping his reputation scares off Miss Fitzhenry and ends their unwanted engagement.What neither one expected was to like each other -- but, after their first meeting, Mira and Nicholas slowly change their mindset: this engagement might not best bad, after all. But the specter of past accusations shadows over Nicholas and Mira races to prove her fiance's innocence as the date of their wedding draws closer and closer.This is Wendy Lyn Watson's first foray into writing a historical romance, but her experience writing contemporary mystery shines through as she mixes in a very intriguing mystery into Nicholas and Mira's story: three girls dead, all found near Blackwell Hall, with the third girl being engaged to Nicholas and found dead on the steps going up to his rooms.Nicholas has never bothered to defend himself and no charges were ever made. In the beginning, Mira's motive for investigating was selfish: she wanted to make sure she wasn't marrying a murderer (or, if proven true, it would give Mira an excuse to end the engagement). But, as she gets to know Nicholas, and appreciate his kindness and gentleness, Mira is convinced he is innocent and wants to find the true killer to save Nicholas's reputation.The bulk of the mystery is set at Nicholas's family's country estate in Cornwall -- and this is the most interesting part of Watson's story."Every summer, right near Midsummer's Eve in fact, for three years in a row, a young girl is killed within spitting distance of Blackwell Hall."- p. 66A country estate, three dead girls, and one name linked to all three -- Mira's efforts at investigating are a bit clumsy and amateurish (read Chapter 9), but she is also earnest and determined. When she convinces Nicholas to help her, they gain more ground and discover more clues on the deaths of Tegen Quick and Bridget Collins. But what about Olivia Linworth's death?I love murder mysteries. I enjoy following the clues and making my own guess. That the murders happened in a small town and there is only a short list of suspects makes this even more exciting. Who murdered those girls? The author presents her suspects well and hints that each one has a motive. There was a point when I thought I knew who the real killer was -- but Watson is very good at keeping it a secret until the very end. (My guess was wrong, by the way.)Romance readers who love a bit of mystery will enjoy Watson's Once Upon a Wallflower. The twist on the two Mirabelle's, the twist on the murder mystery coupled with likable protagonists makes for a very entertaining read.I have one small question: How should we address Jeremy, who is the son of the Earl of Blackwell with his second wife? Nicholas assumed the title of Viscount as his father's heir so is Jeremy "Mr. Ellerby" or Lord Jeremy? (Both are used in the book.)