Christmas With His Wallflower Wife

<b>I've given this a B+ at AAR.</b><br /><br /><strong>Christmas With His Wallflower Wife </strong>is the sixth and final book in Janice Preston’s two trilogies featuring two generations of the Beauchamp family, and it focuses on Alex, younger son of the Duke of Cheriton and his struggle to find out the truth of his mother’s death almost two decades earlier. If you’ve read any of the other books in the series, you’ll know that Alex is a very troubled young man whose relationship with his father is strained and who has deliberately distanced himself from the other members of his family for reasons that have never been fully explained. In presenting Alex’s story, Ms. Preston does an excellent job of slowly unpacking his damaged soul and bringing to light the truth of the trauma he suffered that prompted his withdrawal from his family; Alex is both flawed and compelling, and while there were times I wanted to tell him to get over himself and stop behaving like an idiot, his thoughts and motivations are so very well examined that it was easy to sympathise with him even as I was disagreeing with his methods and seeing the pitfalls marking the horizon.<br /><br />It’s been several years since Alex visited the family seat, Cheriton Abbey. When he was just seven years old, Alex discovered his mother’s dead body in the summer house by the lake there, and was so severely traumatised that he didn’t speak for a year afterwards. Even though he’s now in his twenties, Alex still avoids the place like the plague and continues to maintain the emotional distance he has painstakingly manufactured between him and the rest of his family. But he’s persuaded to return there for a garden party at which all his family members will be present – a rare occurrence – intending to leave as soon as he can. Another of the guests is his oldest friend, Lady Jane Colebrooke, who is present with her father and dragon of a stepmother, who dislikes Jane and is determined to marry her off to the odious Sir Denzil Pikeford by hook or by crook. It seems that she’s chosen the latter option when Alex hears screams coming from near the lake and immediately dashes to the rescue to discover Jane struggling under the weight of an inebriated Sir Denzil. Jane’s stepmother gleefully insists that Jane must marry Pikeford or be ruined, but Alex won’t hear of it. He’s always liked Jane, they get on well and have many interests in common… he’ll need to get married at some point, so why not marry a woman he already knows and likes? Jane has loved Alex for years and is aghast at the idea of his being forced to marry her, but he manages to overcome her objections and the couple is married without delay.<br /><br />One of my favourite things about this sort of story is seeing how the relationship develops between two people who had had no thought of being married, watching them adjust to life as part of a couple and learning to compromise and take another’s feelings and wishes into account. Not surprisingly, it’s often the man who has most to learn about compromise and adjustment in these situations, and that’s true here. Ms. Preston writes the early days of Jane and Alex’s marriage very well indeed, showing them developing an awareness of each other and enjoying each other’s company. Alex is surprised at how well his marriage is turning out – Jane is a wonderful companion, an enthusiastic lover and he’s clearly very fond of her. But the rot sets in when he begins to experience nightmares in which Jane’s ordeal at the hands of Pikeford and the death of his mother start to overlap, and later, starts experiencing waking visions, flashes of memory about the past which seem to contradict the story he’s always believed – that he found his mother’s body. Jane wants desperately to help him, but recognises the signs of the return of the ‘old’ Alex, the one who keeps everyone at arm’s length and allows nobody to truly know him – and can only watch as he retreats farther and farther away from her, the relaxed and more open Alex she’s come to know disappearing under the weight of his burdens.<br /><br />As I said at the outset, Ms. Preston does a marvellous job of conveying Alex’s increasing confusion over what his dreams and flashes of memory might mean, his fears that maybe he’s losing his mind and his desperation to keep it all bottled up for fear of being thought weak. Jane is presented equally well, her fears for Alex, her refusal to give up on him and desperation to help him… all of them portrayed with subtlety and nuance. I was thoroughly engaged by the story and eager to get back to it, although somewhere around the middle of the book the pacing slowed and I felt that we were treading water for a while, waiting for the next phase of the story to start. I also realised around the same time that while Alex’s story is, without doubt, an extremely well-written and interesting one, the romance is very much in the back seat. This is the story of a young man finding out the truth about a traumatic event which has shaped his life – which, to be fair, he probably wouldn’t have done without Jane’s staunch support – rather than one about two childhood friends falling in love. It’s clear that Alex thinks highly of Jane and there’s no doubt he’s sexually attracted to her but there’s not a great deal beyond that sexual attraction for most of the book; there’s no real indication he thinks of her as anything more than a great friend he happens to lust after, and I never really felt him as a romantic hero.<br /><br /><b>Christmas With His Wallflower Wife</b> isn’t really a Christmas story – it ends at Christmas but the bulk of the action takes place before, so don’t go in expecting lots of Christmas cheer and festive spirit! It is, however, the engrossing tale of a man’s battle against what we might today call PTSD in an era where therapy was unheard of and men were expected to be strong and protective and to never show any sign of weakness. I’m giving the book a hearty recommendation because, even though the romance is perhaps not quite as strong as I’d have liked, the story as a whole held my interest and I was completely invested in discovering how everything would turn out.

Oh my goodness, Alex what have you done to me? There I was minding my own business, happily swooning over Vernon, Dominic and Zach and boom; fragile, vulnerable, tragically lost, secretive Alex comes along and ruins me and breaks my heart, he does really does need a huge hug – something which I am more than happy to provide ? honestly though, I thought I was completely lost when Zach exploded into my life, but oh boy has Alex got to me or what. I may never recover from this, I may never be able to look at another hero again.<br /><br />This is the third and final book in the Beauchamp Heirs series, and it is very sad that this beautiful series has come to an end, but I am hoping that there will be more books that at least feature the glorious Beauchamp’s in some way, yes I am blatantly hinting there that I want more Beauchamp’s in my life…no not want, I need them!! Over the course of this series and the previous, it has been a real joy getting to know each couple and their adorable pooches – by the way; thank you Janice for putting a bull terrier into your books and in such a fabulously central way, you wouldn’t believe how that tiny thing made me happy.<br /><br />So, book three means; Alex, the one Beauchamp heir that I have been looking forward to meeting, Alex has always felt like the outsider, the black sheep of the Beauchamp family, he has never felt at ease or himself with them, the only person he has ever really felt comfortable around is his childhood best friend Jane. So when she needs rescuing from the unsuitable clutches of the dastardly Sir Pikeford, he does as he has always done with her; stand in and protect her. Once married he thinks that his personal scar’s and ghosts from his troubled past may finally leave him now he has to put all his focus on to equally vulnerable Jane. Oh, how wrong he is! Let us say, that Alex soon realises that burring your problems isn’t the answer and that the woman by his side could very well be just what he is looking for. That’s, of course, they both can move forward and past their issues.<br /><br />If you have been following the series, you may know that Alex was the one who found his mother murdered as a child and that has weighed heavily on him for the rest of his life. I won’t say too much about that aspect of the story, but it is a huge part of why he is as troubled as he is and why there is animosity between him and his Ducal father. For me, t was that side of the story that captured my attention the most, the journey Alex must go on from rescuing and marrying Jane to facing some exceedingly difficult moments to finally reach that happily ever after, he so deserves and yearns for, that journey is one which is fraught with heartache, not just for Alex and Jane but for the reader too. It is expertly written, the emotion ripples and crackles right off the page.<br /><br />I have been through the mill with this one, I have laughed, sighed, swooned, groaned in frustration, cried; basically, I have had some sort of little meltdown on the course of this book and, you know what I would happily do it all again. Then to top it all off, I ended up clinging to my kindle as I perched at the edge of my chair, terrified for my hero and hoping he comes through and gets his much deserved happily ever after (just a small hint at the turmoil which our characters go through) …Janice Preston, what are you doing to me?<br /><br />I am an emotional mess, and loving it!<br /><br /><br /><br />I have to mention the ending, no spoilers…just a nod to Ms Preston’s impressive gift at cementing a scene into the reader’s mind forever, it is perfect for the story, for the series and for the Beauchamp’s. Just one thing though, from the title you would think that this is a Christmas story, I personally wouldn’t say it is, but what I will say is; that this is a beautiful, illuminating and heartfelt romance with one of the most troubled and fragile heroes I have come across since Jamie Warriner from Virginia Heath’s Wild Warriner’s and dare I say it; Heathcliffe?! As you may except I was all over Alex…that doesn’t sound right, but I think you get the idea of how much I adored him.<br /><br />Christmas with his Wallflower wife is a gorgeous love story, yet it is far more than your stereotypical; friends to lovers romance, with it’s an entertaining, intriguing and suspenseful subplot, rich details and outstanding emotional conflict between two incredible characters this is an engaging and enchanting page-turner that will captivate you right to the last page.<br /><br />A beautiful and emotional finale to what has been a perfect series!<br />

Christmas With His Wallflower Wife is an historical romance and part of the Beauchamp Heirs miniseries.<br /><br />Alex Beauchamp cannot believe that he has just asked his childhood friend to be his wife. He did it to save her from a drunken rapist, though he'd never planned on a wife at his age.<br /><br />Janey has loved Alex from afar all her life, but he has never seen her as more than a friend. But when he rescues her, saving her honour, she accepts his proposal of marriage. She’s the one person who has always understood Alex and his troubled mood swings. However, Alex becomes plagued with nightmares which he refuses to discuss; this severely tests their marriage. See here for full review <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-f5S">https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-f5S</a>

Christmas with His Wallflower Wife <br />The Beauchamp Heirs Series #3<br />Janice Preston<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/janice.preston.author/">https://www.facebook.com/janice.prest...</a><br />Release date 12/01/2019<br />Publisher Harlequin Historical / Mills&amp;Boon Historical <br /><br />Blurb :<br /><br />A convenient bride<br /><br />Can he be the groom she deserves?<br /><br />Part of The Beauchamp Heirs. Lord Alexander Beauchamp has protected Lady Jane Colebrooke since childhood. So seeing she’s about to be forced to wed, he steps in with a proposal of his own! But Alex underestimated the closeness that taking Jane as his bride demands—something he expected never to give. As Christmas approaches, he knows he must confront the dark secrets that shadow their marriage…<br /><br />My review :<br />Will her love be enough when he can’t trust her enough ...<br /><br />I have not yet read all the Beauchamps’ story but I will with time.<br />After reading Alex’s brother’s and father’s stories , I was deeply intrigued and very in need of answers about his distrust upon his father and was plagued him to isolate himself from his kin. Alex is the lost son, the one who always feels not at his place even when among his kin. <br /><br />Enter Jane, his childhood friend, first I thought she would be a kind of Cinderella but outside her love for animals and her resilience to tolerate anything from her selfish stepmother, she is not so meek nor plain. All life she was belittled by her stepmother, so much she came to believe her.<br />With Alex, even after years apart, she is not shy but rather carefree of the consequences to express her own opinion, as she knows he will always stand by her side.<br /><br />During the premise of this book, they get to rekindle their friendship and they settle easily in marital life.<br />Until the shadows of the past lurk on them ready to pounce and threaten their fragile truce. And Alex in his blindness and pride to accept the outstretched hand of his wife, lets the devil enters his home.<br /><br />This tale is the perfect example of how talented is Mrs Janice Preston, her work is a kaleidoscope of sensations, at each turn of a page, I faced aplenty of feelings like anger, disappointment, sadness, warmth and fluttering belly...<br />Mrs Preston does not go easy on her characters, they are flawed, making mistakes after another’s. Why I was so angry at Alex but I also was torn between wanting to hug or shake Jane. But she also grants them enormous heart, and their shared love is the best of component for a tremendous love tale.<br />5 stars for this emotional tale stirring poignant moments.<br /><br />I was granted an advance copy by the author but prior to it I preordered my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.<br /><br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/496411940947982?d=n&amp;sfns=mo">https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...</a>

After being away four years, Lord Alexander Beauchamp has agreed to return to Cheriton Abbey for a garden party because the whole family would be reunited. He hates it there, and he vows to go back home to Foxbourne Manor and his horses as soon as he can. Unlike Alex, Lady Jane Colebrooke is thrilled that he is back. She's loved him for years but to him, she was always "good old Janey", to her chagrin. But Alex, ever her protector, rescues Jane and they are soon wed. Jane is happy in a way, but Alex was never easy; will marriage help him chase his demons away?<br /><br />I was eager for the story of the enigmatic, rebellious Alex Beauchamp. Alex could hardly stand his father, the formidable Leo, Duke of Chariton; even marrying Jane consisted in an act of defiance against Leo. I knew Alex's story would be dark, but I did not anticipate such a dark Gothic tale. I also had a problem very early on: Jane has always loved Alex, and what bothered me until the very end was that there had never been any indication that Alex fancied Jane in any way. It had been a platonic friendship until the wedding, when Alex noticed Jane's beauty, and he became consumed with lust on the wedding night. In view of the circumstances - the reason why they married - Alex showed just how selfish and inconsiderate he was. The marriage seemed to work mostly on a physical level - they are always having sex, he tries to distract her away from their problems by having sex, he hopes to obliterate his black moods by bedding his wife - and the fact that Alex's sudden lust came out of nowhere threw me completely off.<br /><br />The characters are exceptionally well drawn, particularly the villain and Leo, whom I adored in this book. But I really disliked Alex as a romantic hero, although he's a fabulous character. Alex is the broodiest, most tortured and tormented hero I have ever read, and they are not my favourite. CHRISTMAS WITH HIS WALLFLOWER WIFE makes one realise how difficult and dangerous it must have been before the advent of psychology and psychiatry for people to overcome their mental health issues, because Alex was a very troubled man - and he did have his reasons. I also thought him foolish to place his trust in the wrong person, never in the ones who cared about him; he was too proud, too stubborn. I couldn't help thinking what an utterly miserable life "a real Jane" would have suffered.<br /><br />I don't know if it was a case of the right book at the wrong time, but CHRISTMAS WITH HIS WALLFLOWER WIFE didn't work for me, it was just too dark and Alex too frustrating. The writing is outstanding, as expected; the period details exquisite; and the dialogues absolutely brilliant and entirely in tune with the language of the era. The epilogue is particularly lovely with an authentic Regency Christmas atmosphere.<br /><br />I give 3.5 stars<br /><br /><br />I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We are told the H is moody, but to me he acted like a sulky teenager. He offered for the h, but he did not love her passionately, even at the end, he was only comfortable in his love for her. We are told the h was sweet, but she's written as a constant nag, saying 'yes, but' over and over. I liked the idea of the plot, but it was let down by dull characters. The bad guy was obvious, and the H wasn't smart. Others rated this highly, so it must be me?

This was a story that was difficult to put down. The main characters of Jane and Alex were very engaging. Jane had such a caring nature and an absolutely dreadful stepmother. Alex and Jane has been friends since childhood. I loved how gentle Alex was with Jane, given her previous experience. Unfortunately, their marriage is not without its problems. Alex has a past trauma to come to terms with and others do not help. The way the family all pulled together and cared for each other was very enjoyable to read. This was an emotional read at times, as Alex and Jane negotiate their way to a happy ending. This was one of those stories where the characters stay with you, long after you have finished reading the book.

Absolutely enchanting read, Utterly adore this beautiful story and very fitting finale to the series, even though each can be read as stand alone or each in turn.<br /><br />I loved the twists and turns through out this beautiful journey, the villains I'd love to slap silly. Adore that as always some old friends we've met are here with us, I've laughed, been enraged, welt with heartache and joy throughout this book and I adore the epilogue. Highly recommended series.<br /><br />Thank you for another amazing read.

Christmas with His Wallflower Wife (The Beauchamp Heirs Book 3) by Janice Preston is a delightful and beautiful Christmas Romance. While, book 3 it can be read as a stand alone. <br />This is the final Book in the Beauchamp Heirs, and what an ending!<br /><br />Well written with interesting and engaging cast of characters. Steady paced, with a storyline that flows seamlessly and effortlessly. <br /><br />Meet, Lord Alexander (Alex) Beauchamp and Lady Jane Colebrooke, Alex has been Jane's protector since childhood. When, Alex learns Jane's being forced to wed, of course, he steps in to protect her. <br /><br />A friends to lover to romance, with dark secrets, romance, deceit, adventure, Christmas magic, danger, misunderstandings, a bit of mystery and suspense with twists and turns and suspense, makes "Christmas with His Wallflower Wife" an exciting and magical Christmas read. I was pulled into this story from the first page to the last. The characters are easy to connect to, as well as to love with hope of a HEA.<br /> A must read for fans of Regency Romance, Christmas Romance, with characters who the reader will watch grow. This story pulls together family, and shows what a true Christmas Romance entails, love, peace, and happiness. A must read Christmas Romance. Very enjoyable, entertaining and satisfying read. <br /><br />"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however,  these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."<br /><br />Rating: 4.5<br />Heat rating: Sweet/Clean <br />Reviewer: AprilR

Categories<br />Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Holiday Romance, Regency Romance<br />Miniseries<br />The Beauchamp Heirs (Book #3)