A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Lexile
The most interesting part of Seducing a Wallflower was the community feel to the story. I didn't know, until I went looking for more stories by the author, that 'Strange Hollow' has several stories that came before Wallflower. I could however feel that Illyria was drawing from a resource not just her own and that made the story feel more real to me.
I liked Nia, I liked that even though she was worried and frightened by the prospect of entering Sensual Were, she gave it her whole attention. She didn't let her hesitancies inhibit her curiosity or her sense of adventure. Though she entered on a dare, Nia didn't use that as a crutch. Her attraction to Bishop was the same thing. She's had plenty of reasons to be hesitant about romance, but she went into it full throttle. She was willing to try anything because she trusted Bishop whole-heartedly.
Bishop was amusing. He acted, until his and Nia's meeting in the store, like a teen with a crush. He watched her, learned her little quirks and dreamed of talking to her (amongst other things). It didn't feel like he was stalking her, though much of what he did could be construed that way, it felt like he was trying to convince himself she was worth giving his heart to. A bad apple in his past makes him wary, understandably quite frankly, but his lust kind of takes over once she enters Sensual Were. To the amusement of his co-owner friend.
The story did feel as if it was on a fast current, concepts introduced and then quickly abandoned to get to the next point. Surprisingly there isn't a lot of sex--there's plenty of dirty talk, foreplay and daydreams, but it felt right for the story. Near the end, when Nia begins to hesitate and start doubting her sanity for suddenly being so open to Bishop, I got irritated with her. Most of her self-doubts came entirely too late and sounded more like excuses then real problems. If she had brought them up in the beginning, maybe before Bishop was stripping her, I would have understood better, but it was only after that she begins to worry.
I hope there's a story about Bishop's co-owner vampire friend who makes a hasty exit about a third of the way in of the story. He just suddenly...leaves. I look forward to tracking down the other Strange Hollow stories and learning more about this very unique town full of outsider paranormals.
Apr 19, 2010 | 978-1-59578-681-4
5 - Rare Top Pick | 4.5 - Top Pick | 4 - I Liked It | 3.5 - Enjoyable | 3 - OK | 2.5 - It just didn't click
Book Blurb for Seducing A Wallflower
Paranormal/ Fantasy/ Strange Hollow
All Nia Reynolds has known is being seen and not heard. Being the only one in her family to not have magical ability is hard. On her thirtieth birthday, all Nia wants is to do something different. When she enters Sensual Were on a dare from Jacinda, she doesn't expect the instant attraction to sexy store manager Bishop Steward.
Bishop has had his eye on the sweet and innocent Nia since he first came to Strange Hollow. After being publicly shunned by his pack and his mate, he came to Strange Hollow to recuperate and be among outcasts like himself. Now that his heart is mended, he wants to go after love again and has Nia in his sights. This wallflower doesn’t stand a chance against his onslaught. So what if he insists of public displays of a sexual nature, can’t stop whispering sweet, dirty nothings in her ear, and gives her a birthday to remember? It’s only for a night, right? A sexy werewolf like him wouldn’t want a shy girl like her? Right? Wrong--and he's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve to convince her she’s just what he wants.
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