It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 382 pp
Isbn: 9780060562496
Published: Sept. 2005
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First Sentence or two: Two young women stood at the threshold of the perfumery, one tugging impatiently at the arm of the other. "Do we have to go in there?" the smaller one was saying in a flat American accent, resisting as the other pulled her forcibly into the quietly lit shop. "I'm always bored to tears in these places, Lillian-you stand there and smell things for hours-"

Synopsis:

It happened at the ball . . .

Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat.

It happened in the garden . . .

When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously–swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed . . . thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act!

It happened one autumn . . .

Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable . . . as his bride?

Random Thoughts -I loved the way Lillian and Marcus sparred with words. I thoroughly enjoyed being privy to their secret thoughts and emotions when they each were slowly figuring out that, they cared for the other no matter how impossible it may seem. Especially Marcus, a man so sure of himself and set in his ways, rigid in all things proper. It was great to touch bases with the old friends known as the "Wallflowers". This quartet is so unique and fun to watch as they grow in love and friendship. Can't wait to read the next one.

Favorite Scene - How can you not love a scene where the heroine gets drunk and loses all her inhibitions. When Lillian was alone in the library and the party had left the estate for the day, she found a bottle of clear liquor with a pear in the center of the bottle. She tasted the liquid. The next thing, Marcus was summoned from a servant to inform him of an out of control guest, "Lillian". She made me giggle getting her hand caught in the EMPTY bottle trying to get at that pear. This whole scene was funny to me. The fact that Marcus took advantage of the whole situation shocked me to my toes, and THRILLED me to no end!

Favorite Quotes- "Dear," Daisy said softly, "the next time you face a room full of strangers... you might tell yourself that some of them are just friends waiting to be found."

Isn't that the sweetest thought. I want to hold that quote in my head and remember it for myself.

Rating - 4 Stars