Wicked Wallflowers series – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Spitfire (Wicked Wallflowers, #5)

Author: Christi Caldwell

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 332

Publication Date: September 17, 2019

Categories: Historical Romance, Adult Fiction

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Her dream is to open a music hall. Only one thing stands in her way—the man she loves. The final Wicked Wallflowers novel from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.

Leaving behind her life as a courtesan and madam, Clara Winters is moving far from the sinful life to which she was accustomed in the gaming hell the Devil’s Den. Her more reputable and fulfilling endeavor is a music hall for the masses. One night, when she sees a man injured on the streets of East London, she rushes to his aid and brings him home. It’s then that she discovers he’s Henry March, Earl of Waterson, and a member of Parliament. No good can come from playing nursemaid to a nobleman.

When Henry rouses to meet his savior in blonde curls, he is dazzled. This smart and loving spitfire challenges his every notion of the lower classes—and every moment together is a thrill. But after Henry returns to his well-ordered existence, he strikes a political compromise that has unintended consequences. Will his vision for London mean dashing the dreams of his lovely guardian angel?

Thank you to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this eArc.

I love Christi Caldwell. She has a large body of work but her most recent series is one of my favorites. The Spitfire, is book number five in the Wicked Wallflowers series and I really enjoyed it!

Clara Winters used to be a courtesan but she left that life and now is in the middle of building her dream: a music hall. But one night she crosses paths with a nobleman, Henry March, who is a powerhouse in Parliament. She saves his life, in turn, his business in parliament has caused some complications for Clara achieving her dreams.

This seemed at first like the nobleman gets rescued by a woman, opposites attract trope but there is an interesting element to this story: Henry March. He’s as stuffy and starchy as they come, just so strait-laced! His life is so centered on his job at Parliament, he recites laws in his head to focus! Henry doesn’t tease, doesn’t have much enjoyment outside of work, doesn’t really have any friends but when he and Clara are together – the sparks. Oh the sparks! I liked watching Clara light him up, so to speak. 😅 They were just so different in personality I love how their attraction grows.

I love Clara as a character. We learn about how her life took a turn for the worse when she had no one to protect her. She’s strong, she’s outspoken and passionate. Henry is passionate as well, about his family and his work.

Now I loved Clara and Henry’s interactions in this story and they have a very steamy scene together…but the ending seemed rush. But I’ve read enough of this author’s work to know that yes, sometimes her book endings are rushed, which is frustrating because it can feel abrupt. But honestly, I loved watching Clara tease Henry so much, it was an enjoyable read for me. If you are reading this series, I think you will enjoy this latest installment very much.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Christi Caldwell

Format: E-book

Pages: 348

Categories: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

Gertrude, the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a kitten, but given the chance, she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted brother, Stephen, has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the Mad Marquess.

Still haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds only hatred for the Killorans—the people he believes kidnapped his son. And not one of them will ever see the boy again. But when Gertrude forces her way into the household and stubbornly insists that she remain as Stephen’s governess, Edwin believes he may have found someone madder than himself.

With every moment he shares with the tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration…and more. Is it possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal his broken soul?

MY REVIEW

The Bluestocking, is the fourth book in the Wicked Wallflowers series and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even read book three yet because I wanted THIS book. I wanted to read Gertrude’s story ever since I was introduced to her in the first book. In summary, the series follows the Killoran family, who were raised by a vicious man in St. Giles. They learned a life of pickpocketing, thieving and violence. Gertrude Killoran is blind in one eye and comes off as the weakest link in the Killoran clan. But I knew her story would be good.

And it is so good. The Killorans have a younger brother, Stephen, but earlier in the series it’s revealed he isn’t really their brother. He was kidnapped and his father is really the Marquess of Maddock. Stephen was kidnapped, and Lord Maddock’s pregnant wife at the time dies in a fire as well. All of this happened because of Gertrude’s father.

This story continues Stephen’s story as he is returned to Lord Maddock, but Gertrude accompanies Stephen and refuses to leave his side.

This story is so emotional it pulled at my heartstrings and broke it. I could imagine the pain Lord Maddock had to live through. I could also empathize with Stephen who loves the Killorans, the only family he’s known and who needed time to adjust to his new situation. Also the Killorans were heartbroken at losing Stephen, but felt horrible at the truth of how he came to be their brother. There is so many conflicting emotions.

Gertrude Killoran is an amazing character. Her past isn’t innocent, no child of Diggory’s ever had the luxury of innocence. She is usually the overlooked Killoran but this was her chance to shine. But she is patient, smart, strong, fearless, compassionate and has the biggest heart.

This story even made me cry. 😢 I shed a few tears for Lord Maddock and Stephen. Lord Maddock comes off so emotionally withdrawn because of fear. He loves his son so much and is so afraid of losing him again. He doesn’t know how to be a dad to a hardened eleven year old. And Stephen lashes out, as a pre-teen would, who’s ripped from the life he knows.

And yet despite the despair I felt in the characters, there is hope. Gertrude is the hope. She is the person who helps the father and son forgive and try to move past the bitterness of the past.

This story is about love, forgiveness, and family. After all the emotional turmoil the characters go through in this book, the ending was such a satisfying happily ever after. Thank goodness for that because it was well deserved. Love this book!

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