Once a Wallflower, at Last His Love

By: Christi Caldwell

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Responsible, practical Miss Hermione Rogers, has been crafting stories as the notorious Mr. Michael Michaelmas and selling them for a meager wage to support her siblings. The only real way to ensure her family's ruinous debts are paid, however, is to marry. Tall, thin, and plain, she has no expectation of success. In London for her first Season she seizes the chance to write the tale of a brooding duke. In her research, she finds Sebastian Fitzhugh, the Fifth Duke of Mallen, who unfortunately is perfectly affable, charming, and so nicely...configured...he takes her breath away. He lacks all the character traits she needs for her story, but alas, any duke will have to do.

Sebastian Fitzhugh, the Fifth Duke of Mallen has been deceived so many times during the high-stakes game of courtship, he's lost faith in society women. Yet, after a chance encounter with Hermione, he finds himself intrigued. Not a woman he'd normally consider beautiful, the young lady's practical bent, her forthright nature, and her tendency to turn up in the oddest places has his interests...roused. He'd like to trust her - he'd like to do a whole lot more with her, too - but should he?

©2015 Christi Caldwell (P)2015 Christi Caldwell

GREAT NARRATION DISAPPOTINTING STORY!!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better story plot line!!

Has Once a Wallflower, at Last His Love turned you off from other books in this genre?

NO

What about Tim Campbell’s performance did you like?

Tim Campbell is a great Narrator and really brought life to an otherwise lifeless story!!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Very Disappointed in Hermoine Rogers trapping the Duke of Mallens in marriage!! She started out a great heroine but became a husband hunting shrew.

Any additional comments?

Another and ridiculous unbelievable story in the Scandalous Season series by Christi Caldwell. Miss Hermoine Rogers a mere Baronets daughter has to write books under the ridiculous pen name of Michael Michalmas. "Really" Her father is an idiot who does nothing to help his family's dour income. So with one older unwed sister pregnant and a hellion brother Hugh and sister Adeline, she must provide support for her family. Sebastian Fitzhugh 5th Duke of Mallens turn out to win the idiot award of the year. We first meet the Duke in bk2 of the series and I thought he would have a great story, but it was not to be. He fall right into the trap set for all Dukes. I was really hoping Hermoine wouldn't resort to trapping Sebastian into marrying her. At first she is just a young lady trying to care for her family. Then she turns into this spinster who will do anything to save her family from ruin, even if it means to trap a good decent man into marriage. At first I felt sorry for Mallens but as the story goes on I felt he should have just dumped her. No Duke has to marry a Miss nobody with such a scandalous family unless they choose to. Instead of Sebastian coming across as doing the honorable thing he comes across as a fool. He knew the minute the trap was set my Hermoine and her Aunt but he ran right into to it. I dislike stories when poverty stricken characters feel they have a right to Dupe wealthy characters for the title and money to protect there family. What about the rights of the wealthy person. What is ironic is Sebastian would have proposed marriage to her because he loved her. But What Webs We Weave When We Practice to Deceive!! Once a Wallflower is another disappointing story and its the last one I have to read. Yeah!!

4 people found this helpful

Exhausted & Stressed

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book is 10hrs long. I'd say I wasted the last 4hrs, when the author forced me to make a leap of logic. I dislike writers who put the reader/listener in a position of having to take awkward leaps of logic.

Would you ever listen to anything by Christi Caldwell again?

I'll likely not listen to anything by this author again. But if I'm tempted on some random boring night, I'll make sure to read the reviews first. If I'd read the reviews before buying this book (which surprisingly my reaction to Bk 6 echoed the reviews of Bk1), I would have skipped over it, saved my money, and time.

What does Tim Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Honestly, I didn't find anything particularly remarkable about Mr. Campbell's narration. There are definitely other narrators who's voice and interpretation of the story is magical. Others who completely ruin a book. Yet, Mr. Campbell does not fall into either of these two categories. I think he did a decent job. Granted, his pauses were really long. Several times I thought I'd accidentally paused it, but I hadn't - it was one of those strangely long pauses. Other than that he did a decent job narrating.

Could you see Once a Wallflower, at Last His Love being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

If this were turned into a movie, it would be a flop.

Any additional comments?

From Chapter 1 I found myself drawn into the story and was really enjoying myself. Sadly, at the point when our heroin and hero are found in a compromising situation, everything went down hill. I found myself rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth in an effort to ignore the fallacies in the character development and storyline. I made it through to the end and the two epilogues. Hermione and Sebastian's HEA left me exhausted and stressed out.

2 people found this helpful

Love me for who I am, NOT what I am

The story started slow, in my opinion, but then took off beautifully. The book allows it's readers to get emotionally engaged and to be able to imagine oneself responding exactly as the heroine or hero do in reaction to circumstances. This aspect of the book made it feel so much more real. Tender ending was beautifully done as well. Wish the book continued on.

5 people found this helpful

Definitely About the Title

I liked the characters. The story seemed a bit far fetched, but the most annoying thing was the overemphasis on the title. The word Duke popped up so much it got in the way of the story. Also, Hermione couldn't decide if she was a lioness or a quivering mouse. She'd do something brave and daring, and then, she'd stutter and cringe. Sebastian was adorable most of the time, when he could forget, for a minute, he was a duke.
The narrator did a great job with the men's voices, but it's difficult for a man to do female voices, I think. I wish I had chosen a different book.

1 person found this helpful

My favorite of the series

This has been my favorite of the series - even with the lies and secrets.

I love, love, love the Duke! What a sweetheart.

This book made me cry but I couldn't put it down. The ending seemed a bit rushed but I can live with that. Hermione's secrets and lies were frustrating to me but without this angst there would be no story.

I've complained about the narrator before and I still cringe when he pronounces "Marquess" but I have to commend him for his women's voices. Most male narrators do a terrible job portraying the women in their books but Tim Campbell is one of the best for this.

1 person found this helpful

Very enjoyable book

Strong heroine and a somewhat brooding duke. Very witty banter between H/h. Overall satisfying and un-put-down-able. Kudos for to Christi Caldwell and great narration by Tim Caldwell. I liked it so much I am going to backtrack to get the rest of the series.

1 person found this helpful

Entertaining!

I did not realize this was the sixth book in a series when I purchased it. However, it is a lovely story with all the ups & downs you'd expect from a romance. The story itself is very good, the plot engaging and the characters easy to like or dislike (as the case may be). There is not much depth to the characters, but I think that is probably remedied by reading the preceding books in the series.
Normally I do not enjoy male narrators, though I must say that Tim Campbell's work is very well done.
The only reason I gave the story four stars is due to the epilogue. I found it to be poorly written, literally just added on to wrap up an unfinished matter. It left me thinking the author didn't really think out the ending and just wrote quickly to finish the book.
The second epilogue is appreciated. That made it seem as though the first epi should have been a better written chapter in the book and the 2nd epilogue should have been a much longer ending to the story.
But overall, this probably will be a re-read for me.

2 people found this helpful

Laugh out loud

I loved this book. I never laughed and giggled so hard reading one of Christi Caldwell’s books. The characters were lovely and fun (mostly), with the exception of a fee nasty characters.

So many feels! such a wonderful voice!

I love everyone of her works and mr.campbell voice is absolutely beautiful! another great book in the series.

Once a WallFlower is adorable & sneaky

*I listened to the ‘Scandalous Seasons’ thru my Romance package..I was THRILLED..until Book 6..alas I paid for it since I had no credits..bummer. I’m sorry but either Audible or the authors give you a huge amount of books to listen to with the ‘packages’ they offer & then low & behold, the very last book or ones in between are NEVER included? I know it’s a marketing tactic to get you in, and it’s a pain in the butt!..But..okay pet peeve venting over* On to review...

Yes I loved ‘Once a Wallflower’ The usual damsel who meets a Duke..but..doesn’t fall in love with him for reasons I really thought were terrible 🤣🤣Its quite funny. Yet our delicious Duke, Sebastian, who is Drakes brother-in-law..his sister is married to Drake..sorry too many relationships here.
Basically with her “reasons” to hook him i.e. poor family, no money, etc. And an aunt who is despicable! But...Sebastian doesn’t see this coming and falls in love with the “wallflower”....*NO SPOILERS* What happens next only happens in great books from Christi Caldwell 💖💖

As far as Tim Campbell, my narrator who is the only one for these books, I’ve reviewed him at least 10X, is the BEST..there’s not one male/female/Brit or American character he cannot handle! Alone Tim deserves 10 stars!!

Definitely recommended for adults over 18..cuz you know why 😋

where is this narrator from?

anyone not from the uk... five out of five!

the book is excellent of course! it's one of my favourites of caldwell's...

but where is this narrator from?! his accent is almost perfect but elizabith/elizabeth and corm/calm stick out BECAUSE it's so perfect! the guy has a lovely voice and great delivery but...

again...

where is he from?!

1 person found this helpful