Re-read The Wallflower Wager

Still enjoyed this though I had forgotten the ending went off the rails 😳

The first two thirds are great and fun and funny but then all these conflicts came somewhat out of nowhere. (Also why would his architect know anything about his charitable donations?) On reread there is foreshadowing about her past abuse but it’s relatively subtle. Their conflict over the marriage contract feels resolved too quickly — honestly that misstep could have served alone as the conflict for the book and would have been less dramatic than a sudden duel where the hero ignores her wishes “for honor” / vengeance.

The book is really all about Penny, which to some extent leaves Gabriel undeveloped. I’m also not convinced his self-esteem problems were resolved. It was always clear he loved Penny but he originally was resisting because “he didn’t deserve her.”