USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell’s Wicked Wallflowers series burns hot as two rivals meet in the flesh and feel the heat… tart-mouthed vixen who mocks him at every turn. If she were anyone else but the enemy, she’d ignite a desire in him that would be impossible to control.
No one can make Cleopatra do anything. That said, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her siblings―even if that means being sponsored by their rivals for a season in order to land a noble husband. But she will not allow her head to be turned by the infuriating and darkly handsome Adair Thorne.
There’s only one thing that threatens the rules of the game: Cleopatra’s secret. It could unravel the families’ tenuous truce and shatter the unpredictably sinful romance mounting between the hellion…and a scoundrel who could pass for the devil himself.
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I actually listened to The Hellion on audio while I was driving to the RT Book Lover’s convention. Caldwell adds a unique twist to the Regency genre with this book by introducing characters on the fringes, characters of low birth who are on the outside of the ton, looking in. I enjoyed this “listen” and the way two enemies become lovers. The only downside of the audio was the narrator’s quick delivery of Cleopatra’s lines made her a tad off-putting and didn’t do justice to Caldwell’s excellent character development and the way she worked to change the heroine’s paradigms. My vote? If you’re tired of dukes and duchesses and want something new, read The Hellion!
4.75 Stars
Adair Thorne has just watched his gaming-hell dream disappear into a blaze of fire and ash, and he’s certain that his competitors, the Killorans, are behind it. His fury and passion burn even hotter when he meets Cleopatra Killoran, a tart-mouthed vixen who mocks him at every turn. If she were anyone else but the enemy, she’d ignite a desire in him that would be impossible to control.
No one can make Cleopatra do anything. That said, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her siblings even if that means being sponsored by their rivals for a season in order to land a noble husband.
I love the author’s books & had been waiting for Adair’s story. I found the story to be slow to begin with but by the end I was in pieces. I’ve liked Adair from his appearances in the Sinful Brides series. Cleopatra is a tough, determined young woman, when the pair meet sparks fly but there is also an attraction that grows as they come to know each other but the greatest barrier is trust. Another well written lovely novel that had me laughing and crying.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I started out not sure I was going to like this book (1st chapter of losing the club, I loved the club!). I’m terribly glad I kept going! Cleopatra may have just surpassed my love of Helena. I was worried she’d turn into a TSTL character, but Oh My, she’s got moxie! Cleopatra grew up in an area that chews up and spits out the weak, and she surpassed and overcame every challenge that was thrown at her. The mistrust that she was constantly subjected to by the Black family only made her convictions stronger. I do love Adair as well. The Hell and Sin was his Home and he’s lost without it. He doesn’t allow himself to fit in anywhere else and Cleopatra see’s that and understands him. They were too much alike to not fall in love, even with all their families hating the other. They fought it themselves, but love is a fight that wins every time. The ending was one I didn’t see coming. I had an idea of who might have set fire to the club, but the “villian” wasn’t at all who I expected! I’m now wondering which of the Killorans will be the next to fall! I was gifted an ARC, and was glad I was able to read it so soon. Amazing book!
The book is a fabulous start to a new series, Wicked Wallflowers, and it is a ‘spin off’ of the Sinful Brides series from this author. It is a stand alone, but some characters are from the Sinful Brides series and show up in this story.
In this story, Cleopatra Killoran is the sister of Adair Thorne’s worst enemy. The very man that Adair believes burned his and his best friends’ livelihood to the ground. Despite this unproven belief, Adair and his friends have made a pact with Cleopatra’s brother, to give her one London season, so she can find a titled husband, and now it’s time that they make good on that deal.
Cleopatra is not exactly excited about being part of this at all. In fact she is only participating as a way to protect her siblings as she would do anything for them. “Cleo” is not a typical London debutante and doesn’t mince words with or show fear to anyone. But she has carried a secret for years and it’s not one she wishes for anyone to discover. She does seem to gain particular pleasure in baiting Adair any time she gets the chance, which is highly entertaining. The two of them begin like oil and water- oil burning on top of water! Adair is convinced Cleo is no good and she is certain he is of the same design, yet they both are drawn to each other.
The story has an interesting plot with well developed characters, and plenty of sharp, witty banter. There is intrigue, longing, and a mystery to solve that holds until nearly the end of the book. The heat between Cleopatra and Adair builds to a crescendo and is perfect for these two.
I enjoyed both the H and h, as each had strong personalities and were stubborn but basically good people. It had a wonderful ending as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am certain readers of historical romance will too!
I read this as an arc on Netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.
Such a great read, I finished the book in one day. This story has it all – enemies to lovers, scarred (physically and emotionally) people, characters that developed during the story. It makes you want to read another story by the excellent author!
I love historical romances. So, I picked this title up because it’s the first in a new series. While that fact is technically true, it should be mentioned that this is a spin-off of another series. It’s a very tightly related book to the Sinful Brides series. I realized it pretty early on and was thankful that I had read ONE book in the other series. There are a lot of details and characters that aren’t really explained and if I hadn’t read that other book, I believe I would have been left wanting more background.
Adair grew up on the streets of London after his family died in a fire. He and his “brothers” (think a family like the mob) run a gaming hell. In the opening scene of the book, they’re digging through the rubble as their hell was just destroyed by fire. And then there’s Cleopatra. She’s from the “enemy” family and due to a truce between the families, she’s staying with Adair’s family and being introduced to society. Cleo doesn’t want to be there and Adair doesn’t trust her. But as they keep getting thrown together, sparks start to fly.
So, what I liked. I liked that this story is set on the fringes of London society. The main characters aren’t titled and they have shady pasts. They’re interesting and there is growth and character development. Even the romance is pretty well developed as Adair and Cleo start as enemies, move to friends and eventually lovers. What I didn’t like? I didn’t like that the story didn’t stand on it’s own very well considering it’s slated as the first in a series. I was distracted by the spelling of words while Ms Caldwell tried to show the characters speaking with a cockney accent. And I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. It was tidy and rather rushed for my tastes.
All that said, I did enjoy the book. I need to go back and read others that are connected to this story. I would definitely not recommend this book if you’ve not read any of the series. But if you have, it’s a good addition to the series.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
I was disappointed when I finished the previous series SINFUL BRIDES and all the main characters had their story, except Adair Thorne. Now I see why! In the last book of that series, Cleopatra Killoran is introduced, the sister of their rival gaming house, Devil’s Den. A truce was reached – the Blacks introduce a sister to the ton to marry a title. Cleo goes herself to spare her two sisters. The book opens with the destruction of their club, Hell and Sin, by a fire the Blacks think their rival set. Once assured this was not so, Adair is furious to learn that Ryker, his oldest brother, puts him in charge of Cleo, who now lives in the Black townhouse so she can be introduced to society. How can two people who have been taught their whole lives to hate each other ever get along. Yet Cleo earns Adair’s respect for her business acumen and courage and slowly he begins to realize that she is a victim of the evil Diggory just as his family was. Cleo also begins to see the honorable qualities of Adair and his gentleness and acceptance of her for herself. Through tests of faith in each other Adair realizes what his brothers discovered – material things can be replaced but people cannot. It has a thrilling ending with another fire to the still uncompleted club. It is in the rubble and ashes that Adair realizes the precious gift of love and forgiveness upon which a life can be built when you face difficulties and decide the road you will walk. The story keeps getting better as you come to the wonderful conclusion!
The Hellion is book 1 in the Wicked Wallflowers Series by Christi Caldwell. If you are trying to start reading Caldwell’s books with this one, you will feel lost. First go back and read The Sinful Bride’s series beginning with The Rogue’s Wager. You won’t regret it. Then once you have read that series, begin the Wicked Wallflowers. That will put the stories in their proper order.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although Cleopatra Killoran didn’t start out being my favorite heroine, I soon found myself warming up to her. Both the hero and heroine are rough around the edges to say the least. I grew to love Adair Thorne and his loyalty. There are some steamy scenes in this book.
“He glanced up from his task, and that slight movement sent a dark lock tumbling over his brow, lending him a boyish look. ‘Cleopatra Killoran, I’d wager there isn’t a thing you don’t know how to do.’ And just like that, Cleopatra fell in love. Hopelessly, helplessly, she lost her heart to Adair Thorne.’
I can’t wait to read the next book in the Wicked Wallflowers series.
LOVE love, loved this book! I honestly have never read a heroine quite like Cleopatra. She caught me from the second she walked on the page. Adair is great, too, as the hero, but for me, Cleopatra stood out above all others. It had been a while since I’ve read an historical romance and this won’t be my last. I bought the rest in the series and can’t wait to read them.
This is a love story between two characters of rival families of gaming hells located in the dark side of London. Against the odds of two enemies, love conquers all and it is gratifying to watch as it all unfolds adeptly by the storyteller. These two characters, Cleopatra Killoran and Adair Thorne are put in each other’s path by circumstance and they recognize each other with respect as they are battle weary, hardened by life survivors of the underworld of London. They circle each other with fascination,wariness and yet undeniable chemistry. I loved the wittiness of their traded barbs and with daggers drawn, the many surprise situations they find themselves in, like deers in the headlights. They stare at each other in disbelief and wonder with a touch of bile to make the story so engrossing. Finally, the love making is sweet and compelling, and totally sums up the truth and beauty between soul mates. I could go on and on, as not only do I recommend this book, but I recommend reading it twice.
Whenever I read a Christi Caldwell novel, it never ceases to amaze me the talent this author has at writing! This was a very different story from what I’ve ever read, both the hero and heroine grew up on the streets and their world consists of gaming hells and two feuding “families”. I really enjoyed how Adair and Cleopatra kept butting heads and yet the sexual tension was always present. They really did deserve their HEA after everything they had both gone through in their lives!
In this story Cleopatra, sister to Broderick Killoran and therefore a sworn enemy of the Hell and Sin family, goes to live in Ryker Black’s townhouse for a season so they can help her find a titled husband. There she gets to know Adair Thorne, who has been assigned to keep an eye on her. Cleo was nearly intolerable for me in the first few chapters, but she improved the more she and Adair grew together.
This gets the full 5 stars because of how much I liked Adair and how much I liked seeing good character growth. That said, I did not like Cleopatra and I don’t think she really deserved him. I couldn’t connect to her until the latter half of the book when she finally quit mocking him and snarling at him and started treating him like a person. It was refreshing to see a hero open up first though, as he starts offering her small bits of himself before she really begins to trust him. I didn’t like this one as much as I’ve enjoyed the other Christi Caldwell’s I’ve read thus far, but it was still a very good one nonetheless.
Good read…
Adair Thorne was orphaned approximately 20 years ago after a fire that consumed his father’s bakery. He now remembers that loss keenly. He is devastated and at a loss. The Hell & Sin was the only thing he ever wanted and strived for. It gave him shelter and stability-things he did not have much of after losing his parents. Adair is also feeling rage, he knows the fire at the Hell & Sin was deliberately set, he even knows by whom-Killoran. Killoran is the owner of a rival Club and someone they owe a debt to. To repay this debt, Adair’s family was to sponsor a Season for one of Killoran’s sisters. The truce is almost voided but since Adair and his brothers have no proof they must follow-through.
Cleopatra is jaded from a life lived on the streets and has a tough outer shell. There is no love loss between her and the nobility. Knowing her brother Killoran wants an “in” to the nobility via marriage to one of his sister’s, Cleo volunteers. She does not like it but will do anything in her power to keep her sisters safe.
When Cleo and Adair first meet, sparks fly! They hate and mistrust each other from the get-go but underneath it all there is attraction on both sides. During her stay at Ryker’s house, Adair is to be Cleo’s guard and jailer. As time goes by, Cleo and Adair come to be tentative friends. He learns that she is smart and resilient while Cleo learns how kind and caring Adair really is.
What can go wrong while harnessing an explosive secret as well as living with and being attracted to the enemy?
This story, told in dual POV, reeled me in from the very beginning. It is written extremely well and the flow is perfect. This book was exciting and engaging. The battle between Adair and Cleo was entertaining.
I loved how Cleopatra, all but five feet tall, got under Adair’s skin so easily. She may have a petite stature, but her presence more than makes up for it. She is strong, fearless, brazen and opinionated. She stands up for her family and would do anything to keep them from harm.
I felt for Adair, he had so much tragedy in his life and had nothing permanent or lasting. The way he slowly wins over Cleo with small steps is beautiful.
There is no insta-love here, these characters have to work for what they want. And what they come to want and need is stability, trust, constancy and love. They find this together against all odds.
The only problem I had was it seemed both Adair and Cleo were classist. Although I understand and agree with their distrust of the Ton, I would have like to see the characters come to terms with this and move on from their hatred and distrust.
Christi definitely won me over with this book. It’s a touching and heartfelt read. I would recommend this to those who love fun and engaging verbal sparring between their main characters as well as a wonderfully written historical romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Hellion by Christi Caldwell
Wicked Wallflowers Series Book One
Adair Thorne is devastated when their business…and home…is ruined from arson. And they just know it’s their nemesis—Killoran from the Devil’s Den—no matter how much the Killorans deny it. Without proof, they have to honor their proof and Ryder Black has to give one of the Killoran sisters a Season.
Cleopatra Killoran will do anything to help her family. Even sacrifice herself by marrying one of the nobs—which she hates them all. Hates them as much as the Black family where she is forced to live for this Season.
Distrust is thick in the Black townhouse. They don’t trust any Killorans—and Cleopatra doesn’t trust any of the Blacks. But if she leaves, one of her sisters will have to take her place and that’s not acceptable to her. A really great series!
**Sexual content and language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2014/08/christi-caldwell-book-list.html
Loved this book!!! I just love Christi Caldwell!! This book was amazing. Loved the story, the characters and the writing!!! A definite must read!!!
The Hellion by Christi Caldwell is the first in the Wicked Wallflowers series. Christi has a wonderful way of telling a story. This book was fantastic. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
This book has fires, paternity, miss trust, family feuding, romance, acceptance and much more. All things to find in a Regency Romance. I highly recommend this book.
Not the pretty side of the Regency, but I always like a trip to the dark side. I enjoyed Cleopatra’s determination to do for her family and her skills for climbing. It took a bit for me to warm up to Adair, but once I did, this story became a great journey. Both of these characters had such big obstacles to work beyond but found they have some in common. Despite the feud and danger all around, Cleopatra and Adair get a chance at a love match.
I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and it is a Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team selection. This is my unsolicited review.
Sparking passion
The first book in the new Wicked Wallflowers Series, is amazing! In this first book we get glimpse at what some of our “sinful” favorites are up to and get a look at the Killorans, who are just waiting to share what their scandalous past with us. From the beginning Christi’s words have you captivated with Adair and Cleopatra’s story. With a rivalry born of the streets dividing their families can Adair and Cleo contain the sparking passion between them before it blazes and burns them both.
Cleopatra Killoran, is a fire cracker in a small package. The daughter of one the most ruthless street toughs and sister to a brother with an ambition to move out of the dials and into Mayfair, finds herself thrust into Society. Although Cleo entrance is filled with sneers and distrust for the name she carries, she holds her head high and finds a tentative alliance with Adair. The two form a friendship and as their attraction grows so does the danger that could prove deadly.
Adair Thorne, has devoted his life to two things his family and his club. After watching the latter burn he is more determined than ever to keep his family safe. When a favor from a rival family is called in, his family must take in and introduce their nemesis’s sister into polite society Adair steps up to protect all he holds dear from their unwelcomed visitor. As Adair spends more time with Cleopatra the two form an unlike friendship and he finds that maybe it isn’t his family that needs protection from the hellion, who’s stormed his life, it’s his heart. Will Adair be brave enough to face the flames and embrace the life he could have with Cleo or will mistrust, and old wounds put out the sparks before they have a chance to grown into something beautiful?
If you are one of those people who skip to the end of the book to check for a HEA before reading, don’t worry I already checked it out for you! Christi does not disappoint with her HEA! I can not wait to see what is in store for the Wicker Wallflowers.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review and I couldn’t put it down!
The Hellion is the first book in the new Wicked Wallflowers series by Christi Caldwell, and I was so excited to get my hands on this book, I looked like a kid at Christmas.
Now, I want to say that although The Hellion is apart of a new series, it actually has a lots of characters from the Sinful Brides series, and while I will say it’s not essential to read that series, I would recommend it, as it give you a deeper knowledge of the characters.
I really enjoyed the pace of the book, the interwoven story line, and the chemistry between Adair and Cleo is electric! And though I could sit here and list every single thing I love about each character, what struck me first was Cleo’s no-nonsense attitude to people, that had me cheering happily.
These books are not simple and sweet romances, but gritty, fight for everything you have romances, that seem to steal your heart, especially when Cleo is willing to help Adair build a club, despite crossing family lines, and Adair fighting for the one he loves.
In my humble opinion, The Hellion is an amazing start to a new series, and I cannot wait for the next book!
I give The Hellion 5 stars.