“If you like smart heroines and delicious heroes, make this your next read.” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authorThe final Wicked Wallflowers novel from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.Clara Winters is leaving behind her sinful life as a courtesan and madam and pursuing her dream: establishing a music hall. One that will provide entertainment and reverie … music hall. One that will provide entertainment and reverie for those from all walks of life—not just the noble class who can afford the opera.
Henry March, Earl of Waterson, has one aim as a member of Parliament: create a police force to establish order and keep the streets of London safe. After his younger sister survived a terrible ordeal—scathed, but blessedly alive—Henry believes it is his duty to ensure peace and stability for all men, women, and children in England.
Little did he expect to be a victim of the very street crime he hoped to prevent, but when a vicious attack in East London leaves him injured and unconscious, he’s rescued by the beautiful and kind-hearted Clara.
But Henry’s political aims put him at odds with Clara’s artistic ones—and their newfound admiration for one another is put to the test. Can these two quite opposite individuals find a way to achieve all their goals?
To their great surprise, it seems that a former courtesan and a stuffed shirt could make beautiful music together…
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Christi Caldwell does it again. The heroine gets her story from the slums of London. Clara Winters does the right thing and saves the hero, but she gets a different life lesson. Not every man is cold, jaded person. Lord Waterson is a kind gentle man who has seen to his duties above all else and loves his sisters. Can love form ??? Read the book! I am a series reader so I suggest reading the books in order because you meet Clara and get to know her background!!!
Two imperfect people meet in an unexpected circumstance and find out there are possibilites in life not know before. Christi Caldwell, with her masterful writing, takes us on a journey into the attraction of two people from different classes, who learn a lot about the other and how wrong some of their assumptions had been.
Growing up with few choices, Clara had been forced to survice the best way she knew how. But now she wants more and still had her dreams. Fate seems to step in when she finds a man beaten and she steps in to help him heal.
Henry, Lord Waterson and a leader in Parliment, has been beaten and almost dies but Clara nurses him back to him. But he had experienced some terrible times himself and as he got to know Clara got to know each other, both of their worlds seemed to open up!
Such a brilliant emotional story and the end to this spellbinding series that has held me in its grip since the first book. Romance, sadness, fierce determination, dreams coming true and finding true love will pull you into this story and wrap around your heart. Thank you Christie for giving your readers everything we need to have stories that takes us away but bring us back to wait for the next one.
The Spitfire is the fifth and final book in Christi Caldwell’s Wicked Wallflowers series and, while I haven’t read the other books, I thoroughly enjoyed this installment. Caldwell grabbed my attention from the first chapter and didn’t let go.
Henry March, the Earl of Waterson and a member of Parliament, is attacked while researching London’s most dangerous areas to bolster his push for a universal constable force. He is anticipating death when he is rescued by an “angel.”
Clara Winters is a former courtesan and madam who has not let her past deter her from changing her future. When she comes upon two thugs dragging Henry, her past experience tells her not to get involved in another person’s affairs. Instead, she saves Henry from certain death, stitches him up, and takes care of him in her home.
Clara is truly a spitfire, full of sass, and not afraid to let her opinions be known. Henry has never met anyone like her but is focused on his political ambitions and securing the votes for his constable force, not realizing the impact he will have on Clara’s ambitions
While I really liked Clara, I needed time to warm up to Henry. He was willing to “sell himself” and forge an alliance with Lord Peerson to secure his political victory and lies to Clara about the status of her music hall. Everything was always black and white with no shades in between for Henry until Clara brings color into his life. He spectacularly redeems himself and gains a HEA.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Spitfire is one of my favorite reads this year! Clara and Waterson’s story natural and they oozed chemistry off the page. From the first meeting, you knew these two were what each other needed and I was excited to see how their story unfolded!
Clara was such a bad** heroine who was full of strength and determination. She was abused and used for years as a courtesan that would have destroyed most women, but she found a way not to be a victim of her circumstances. She learned to not let her past define who she was but instead was determined to rise above her circumstances a find a way to support herself and not to rely on the fancies of fickle men.
Waterson was the hero I never knew I needed! A true epitome of a good guy who desperately wanted to make the world a safer place. He was driven by his past failures to protect those he loved but put his own life on hold trying to rectify his mistakes. Waterson lost what it meant to feel and live and was really just a shell of man
Clara and Waterson were each others saving grace. Waterson was the first man to see Clara, not as a piece of flesh to be used but as a woman deserving of respect and love. He never once judged her life and allowed her to be real and vulnerable. Clara was the first women to bring color and vibrancy to Waterson’s life. She opened is eyes to the world he was trying to save and allowed him to be free and to enjoy life. Clara also appreciated that Waterson was the good guy and wasn’t trying to change him but just him to see the world fully and not through narrow eyes.
It was great fun watching these two people come alive. They each were the healing balm to old dark wounds. Clara and Waterson had an emotional journey to their HEA and it’s a journey well worth taking.
*********REceived and ARC via Netgalley*********
Henry/Lord Waterson- An earl and a member in parliament.
Clara-an ex courtesan who is trying to start up a music hall
I enjoyed reading this dramatic story that is well written with strong characters. The H and h had a lot to conquer in this story. Both had to reevaluate their opinion about status/classes of people and each other. The ending seemed rushed. Their story has an incomplete and unsatisfying ending/HEA. This story needs an epilogue or another chapter to answered many questions and to ensure an HEA.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book but it’s not one of my favorites. It flows well and has some really high points.
I liked the characters but I never truly connected with them.
I received a copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An uptight virgin and a unshockable actress meet on a street. This is not the usual scenario in regency romance books. The heroine, Clara, saves the hero, Henry. I thought the story of a forty year old Earl finding his love of his life with a woman from the slums and welcoming her into his home a bit of a stretch. I received an ARC form NetGalley for my honest review.
I don’t think there has ever been a book by Christi Caldwell that I didn’t like. The Spitfire is no exception. She does a wonderful job of bringing characters to life. Definitely recommend.
The Spitfire is the fifth in the Wicked Wallflowers series but can also be read as a stand alone story. This is a story of overcoming the past and overcoming the barriers of the classes to see that the prejudices held may not always be true. Christi Caldwell always creates strong yet vulnerable characters who rise above and stories that are so well written that you cannot put down the book. Clara is a former courtesan and madam who is determined to overcome her past by opening a music hall through her own hard work and finances. She refuses to depend on any man again but life has a way of changing your ideals. She rescues a man from attack only to discover he is a nobleman. Henry March, Earl of Waterson, is a pompous, uptight man who faces his own mortality and his views of the lower classes. He is rescued by Clara but his own ambitions threaten Clara’s dreams. Their continued interactions will lead to a wonderful story of love and growth.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.
The Spitfire by Christi Caldwell is book 5 in the Wicked Wallflowers Series. This is the story of Clara Winters and Henry March, Earl of Waterson. I have read (and Loved) the previous books but feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Clara has had to pull herself up from nothing to become a Madam and a Courtesan but now in her current time she plans to have a Music Hall in St. Giles to help others like her move forward with their lives without have just the option to sell themselves or do worse. One day Clara happens upon a injured man who she doesn’t know but goes forward to help him recover but she soon learns he is Henry March the Earl of Waterson a very important nobleman, which she knows is not a good thing. Henry parts from his blond angel to return to his life and that of the Parliament. Henry grew up with parents that married as most noblemen do to make a advance marriage…not a love on. In addition to not seeing the love between his parents he also felt guilt for not being their for his sister when she suffered through a traumatic situation. So these feelings he is having toward Clara who is a Spitfire when she is trying to fight for her cause is unsettling and unknown.
I am such a fan of Ms. Caldwell’s writing I couldn’t put enough into words about her books. If you want a story that takes you through different emotions and puts you in to the story she is your author for sure.
The Spitfire is the fifth and final book in author Christi Caldwell’s “Wicked Wallflowers” series. I do believe this story could easily work as a standalone, but Ms. Caldwell’s books are a joy to read and I highly recommend you read the entire series! 🙂
Henry March the Earl of Waterson is known to be rather stodgy and always proper. At nearly forty-two years old he lives a well-ordered existence until he almost dies on the streets of St. Giles. Waking up in an unknown apartment he realizes he has been rescued and taken care of by an unexpected angel, Clara Winters.
Clara Winters is no angel! She’s the daughter of a famed actress who angered the wrong man and found herself without options long ago. After spending her young life as a courtesan and then a madam, she now has left the business and is working to rebuild her life and help young women like herself.
What a fantastic couple! I absolutely adored these two, they are total opposites but yet absolutely perfect for each other. Clara brought out a side of Henry that was missing and I loved the banter and the chemistry between them. Clara has not had an easy life, but I respected and admired her for trying to make a better life for herself and for the women who also found themselves in similar situations. She was a fabulous heroine, strong, determined and intelligent but yet there’s still a vulnerability to her that thinks she’s not worthy of someone like Henry. As for Henry, Oh my! He’s so serious, focused, and driven that he lives a black and white only life, with no shades in between, until Clara. I loved his devotion to his family and that he never treated Clara differently because of her past, he treated her as an equal. The relationship between Henry and his family was fun to watch as they notice the changes in him. There were some wonderful secondary characters in this story and the writing was as always excellent! Although this series is now coming to an end, I do hope we get to see these characters again in some of Ms. Caldwell’s future books. This was a fabulous read and one I highly recommend!
Christi Caldwell is a master storyteller. Clara is a courtesan seeking a new path on life. She wants independence and to be free of what she sees as the vagaries of men. One act of kindness will forever change her life. Henry is a pompous Lord and MP focused on his goals. He has left no time in his life for a relationship or marriage. In his time of need he is saved by an Angel and his worldview is upended.
This author loves to write about the ordinary man or woman who is struggling to change their circumstances. This story brings together two people who are completely different backgrounds but hold the power to make each other change for the better. Clara is fierce and fiery. She is passionate in everything she does. Henry doesn’t stand a Chance in her presence. Despite all the forces working against their union they still fight for true love.
The Spitfire by Christi Caldwell
Wicked Wallflowers #5
Grabbed me…yes it did…right from the first page I was hooked and could not put this book down!
Henry March, Earl of Waterson has a very bad disastrous evening and barely escapes with his life…and he would not have escaped if Clara Winters had not happened along. Getting him home to her place and beginning to patch him was something Clara did not believe was the smartest thing to do but she did it anyway. Then…he disappeared back to his world of lords and ladies and she returned to the Seven Dials music house she and her friend Reggie are creating.
This book was a romance that had flawed people who managed to find a way to be together even though there was so much against t hem. Watching this couple was a delight. There were some surprises I did not see coming and that increased my interest in the story. I loved the growth in Henry and the realizations that Clara made before the end of the book. I loved the supporting cast of characters and now wonder if perhaps Henry’s sisters will find true love in future books. I hope they will because I would love to read their stories.
I was amazed to realize I have only read one other book in this series and that makes me sad. I hope to find the other three books at some point as I am sure they are just as good as this one was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
I loved this story. Clara is a streetwise woman who has seen more than her share of the underside of her world. She is smart and has learned how to look after herself. So when she stumbles upon a man being attacked in the Giles, she fights with her better nature about becoming involved. But, she does.
Henry is attacked and near death. He has been stabbed and beaten until a lone woman saves him. Now he sees the world a truffle differently. He sees how strong and independent a woman can be and how much he has been missing in his life.
Together they can find what each has been missing in their lives. I loved this story.
4.5 Stars
Clara Winters was an actress until an unscrupulous slaver wanted her & when she refused he made sure all theatre doors were closed to her so she became a courtesan & then a madam. Now she’s into her thirties & is moving far from the sinful life to a more reputable and fulfilling endeavour 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. When Henry rouses to meet his saviour 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.
A truly lovely read that I was loathe to put down. I loved how Clara wasn’t bitter & how she had risen from the low points in her life. I didn’t warm to Henry to begin with as he was a pompous, blinkered lord but as the book progressed he gradually changed & I did warm to him. I loved how their relationship developed & grew. This is the final book in the series & whilst there was much introspection there wasn’t much angst so I wasn’t pulled through the mill. The pace was good & flowed so well. I did feel the ending was rushed & would have loved for Lord Peerson to have gotten his comeuppance as well as learning what happened to Lowery a slow, slow boat to the Antipodes would have been just. I would also have loved an epilogue that tied up this wonderful series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This wonderful book is the story about Henry March, the Earl of Waterson and Clara Winters who is a former Courtesan. March is a very proper, stuffy gentlemen, who one night was stabbed and beaten. Clara found him and saved him. Clara wants to open a Music Hall, and Henry is on a committee that wants to stop Clara’s Music Hall from being opened, sparks fly between them. There is one scene in the book, which I will not tell you what happens because I do not want to give away anything, but I thought to myself Clara really is a Spitfire. It was nice reading about an older couple, in their 30’s – 40’s.
I was a little disappointed the story ended, I wanted to know more about their lives and their future.
Christi Caldwell writing style is so good, she always has me hooked on her books, I do not know where the time goes.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
The Madam and the Earl.
When Clara Winters rescues Henry March from the sewers of St Giles she is dismayed to find out that he is an Earl. If he dies or is found in her care, she will be lucky to keep her neck; Society does not trust women with her background. After a couple of days Henry is recovered enough to return to his home but their lives are entwined again when Henry unwittingly closes down her fledgling music hall business. In order to help his sister, Henry deceives Clara into believing he can save her business but all hell breaks out when she discovers the truth. An enjoyable story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Clara Winters is finally able to move beyond her life as a courtesan and madam and back to her love of theatre. She and her only friend in the world, Regina Killoran, are opening a respectable, vice free music hall. But when Clara rescues an injured man from the streets of St. Giles and brings him home, she quickly discovers him to be Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, and realizes no good can come of her nursing a powerful nobleman.
Henry is dazzled by his angelic savior and the challenges she throws at his views about the lower classes. Henry soon returns to his staid, dutiful existence only to discover, two months after his rescue, that a political bargain he’s entered into has unforeseen consequences for Clara and her livelihood. Now Henry must decide if his dreams of establishing a unified police force are worth the harm their realization will bring to Clara, especially when her music instruction begins to breathe new life into Henry’s reclusive, traumatized sister.
Poor Henry was a good man, looking out for the well-being of others in most all of his doings, but he was utterly clueless. I’ve never been a huge fan of Clara as a secondary character in other books, but I was still looking forward to her story. I didn’t much care for her brash manner, but it did make sense given her past and her current motivations. All that also made her character development, as well as Henry’s, all the more enjoyable. It was great to see them both change their perceptions of the world and each other and choose each other despite all the factors that could keep them apart. This was a slower burn than I’ve grown accustomed to in this series, but it worked for these characters. Christi has done it again and I wound up loving it. Also, I now need Lila to have her own book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with an improbable, slow-burn romance and a villain of whom you are happy to see the end. It was also nice to visit with Reggie Killoran again. I never really loved Henry, but I was so very happy that he wasn’t a man ‘ho. I thoroughly appreciated Clara as a heroine because she had overcome so much in her life, yet she wasn’t hard and cold – even though she tried to be. I also loved that the book wasn’t filled with angst. There was a bit of repetitive introspection, but not page after page after page of angst.
The book gets right into the action and excitement with Henry being attacked with the intention to murder him in St. Giles. He doesn’t make it easy for his assailants – he just keeps refusing to die. When he is totally unconscious and being dragged down an alleyway, a savior appears.
Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, is a prig of a man – uptight, regimented, fully focused on his role in parliament and totally unaware of how those who are less fortunate than he lives their lives. His parent’s marriage was a cold one – totally a business affair. Henry fully intended to follow along the same lines. Henry is also full to overflowing with guilt. Unjustified guilt, but he feels it anyway. His younger sister was caught in the riots at Peterloo and she’s been traumatized and withdrawn from the world since then. Henry blames himself for not getting her out of there sooner.
Clara Winters, former actress, whore, and madam finally has a future to which she looks forward. She and her friend Reggie Killoran are building a music hall in St. Giles. Clara will have a secure future and will be able to provide jobs for others who don’t want to have to sell their bodies in order to survive. She’s worked so very hard – and overcome so much – and she’s still almost afraid to hope that it will all work.
I loved the way Clara pulled at Henry – and Henry pulled at Clara even though neither of them wanted that. Henry began to learn what it was like for those less fortunate than himself and it was good to watch his growth as a person. Though this a very highly unlikely match, I still enjoyed the story.
I would have liked to learn what happened with the villain – and to see his punishment. That ending felt a little rushed to me. I know that Henry got his licks in, but – did he kill the villain? I don’t think so – but I didn’t really learn. The perfect thing, in my humble opinion, would have been for the villain to have been tried and convicted – transported would have been good given that he was a slaver – AND – I would have loved for his association with Lord Peerson to have been made public so Peerson could have some punishment as well. Something I didn’t understand was Henry’s older sister. Was her husband a peer? If so, why wasn’t she living in their home awaiting the birth of the child that would become the heir to that title if it was a boy? It just seemed odd that she was living with her brother rather than her deceased husband’s family.
I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.