So, poor unfortunate Lady Olivia Archer, "Prissy Missy", also known as "London's Least Likely to Cause a Scandal". Her friend Emma found herself a husband, and in the long history of Lady Penelope's Finishing School for Young Ladies of Fine Families, Olivia could be the only one left doomed to spinsterhood; things look very bleak indeed.

One evening, she has a fortuitous and pleasant encounter with a handsome man who, for once, doesn't run away from her. Lady Olivia's parents are desperate to marry her off to just about anyone who will have her, and that someone happens to be the Mad Baron. His reputation precedes him: according to the gossip of the ton, he "allegedly" disposed of his first wife. Before she even meets him, Olivia knows she cannot possibly marry him, so with her friends' help, she thinks up ways to make herself so unappealing he will call the wedding off.

However she is in for a shock when her mystery man and The Mad Baron turn out to be the same and one person: Phinneas Cole, Lord Radcliffe. Phinneas is indeed looking for a suitable bride: a nice, quiet, well-mannered girl, which is exactly what Olivia is. Phinneas is helping Emma's husband, the Duke of Ashbrooke, to build a Difference Engine, a sort of computer. The Mad Baron couldn't be that bad, or could he? But Olivia is not taking any chances and this is where the madness begins: if the Mad Baron wants a docile and virtuous bride, then Olivia will show him she's not The One.

Unfortunately her schemes backfire and spinsterhood doesn't even look like an option anymore; her reputation is forever ruined. What's a poor wallflower to do? I loved the first instalment of the Wallflowers

WALLFLOWER GONE WILD is Ms. Rodale's redefinition of romantic comedy, and it's so entertaining that one might almost overlook the author's exquisite prose and sparkling dialogue. Ms. Rodale deserves a diamond-studded tiara!