Jennifer McQuiston - Diary of an Accidental Wallflower

Pretty and popular, Miss Clare Westmore knows exactly what (or rather, who) she the next Duke of Harrington. But when she twists her ankle on the eve of the Season's most touted event, Clare is left standing in the wallflower line watching her best friend dance away with her duke. Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London's most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn't have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she's clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can't he stop thinking about her? All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game? Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?

Comment: I had this book in the shelf for years. I can't remember anymore why, but it probably had something to do with the hint it would contain some sort of diary/exchange of letters element. Sadly, this proved to be a very weak element in this book.

In this historical romance, we meet Clare Westmore, the oldest daughter of a viscount, as she and her friends prepare for the season. Clare is determined to get a proposal from lord Alban, who is the heir to a dukedom, but things prove to be quite complicated when she twists her ankle right before another ball,where she knows she would dance with lord Alban. Now, even walking is agony and she probably won't manage to dance, which for young ladies like her can be a tragedy during the busy social season. Thankfully, dr Daniel Merial is attending the ball,concerned for the health of its hostess, his patient, and he is able to help Clare. Something seems to happen between them, which following meetings at her house, and a newfound friendship with her younger siblings helps along. However, they are from different classes, they aren't supposed to have things in common... but they do. Will they find happiness after all?

Overall, I had a good time reading this book. It wasn't spectacular but it provided interesting situations and food for thought. I suppose the main reason it wasn't better for me was due to some plot choices and the fact the main characters didn't seem to evolve on the page as their conversations hinted at. I think the author could have developed their connection better.

The plot seems simple, Clare and Daniel meet by chance at a very specific moment and they keep seeing each other for convenience, for he checks how her ankle is improving. The fact they talk to one another, that they sort of challenge one another is fun and makes it believable that they would think of one another as someone special, and not only because of who they are socially. As this happens, some secondary issues start to become more serious, and while nothing is shocking, I still think the surprises were played out well enough.

In a way, the juxtaposition of the main romance and the secondary situations was well achieved, because there is always this notion something will happen, or that something will be important later on. I think the method to do this was good and if the main goal was to be centered in the story line, then this element was done well, but there's the romance and I feel this could have be done more, well, romantically. The differences between them are established, the developing affection too but the bridge between why they should work and why not wasn't as smooth as it could. I think we didn't have enough scenes on the pages with them being affectionate or showing caring. I'm not talking about public displays, of course this would not be proper, but ways to convince me they really were "destined".

As things move along, Clare discovers interesting things about her family, and I wonder if it was intentional by the author, so that she could be more in sync with Daniel, for their relationship to feel more balanced somehow. I liked to think this was done on purpose, but if it wasn't, it still provided good themes for them to talk about what they mean for each other. Still, this could have been made a bit more obvious, perhaps with more longing, more yearning... I don't think these were conveyed as they should.

As expected, there's a HEA fot these two and of course I was happy for them, but the path leading there wasn't as "magical" as it could. There are emotions they go through which I feel weren't developed as well as they could, or they didn't give me the perspective of thinking about the angst and the drama of the negative things. These things are mentioned, only not as vital for that moment in the story as is suggested.

Daniel is a fascinating character, and I liked his interest in the medical field, his studies and decisions, even at the cost of a better life (which he had before living in London, where medical schools and such are physically at), the fact he is part Roma bus not ashamed of it, and several other details. I liked it that Clare, towards the end, is defensive of this side of him, but for me that was already a bit too late. By then, they were a couple but I was not feeling the vibe completely. I really think the author could have done way better with the romance.

Grade: 6/10