The Spitfire (Wicked Wallflowers Book 5)

“Lord Proper comes undone,”

Can two persons from both sides of the fences find a love together when forces are at stake to trash them.

First I would say I preordered this book because of the cover, the gaze of the model was scorchingly calling, one to not cower.
After I had my doubts about the heroine, I might be prudish but in too many books prostitutes are painted as being beyond redemption, with their jaded soul so shattered it is impossible to mend the pieces back together, or they turned resentful harpies, filled by venom.
I have only read the Bluestocking in this series as I am a newbies to Mrs Christi Caldwell work, so I did know nothing about Clara and how she appeared first.
But I might say Mrs Caldwell got me wrong, by crafting a searing masterpiece of salvation, with the redeeming of the too prim and proper hero while the heroine keeps her head held high.

Clara has always wanted to rely only on herself and always herself, why she is so adamant against accepting help.
She has a past and at time she was robbed of her future by a cunning man. And now she has a way out of her former profession, she is devoted to it as who’s better to understand why these women called fallen need protection and a goal than a woman who lived among them.

« Everything in the world came down to survival, and where women were given little power and even less influence, she’d employ whatever tactics she could to survive. »

Henry has taken the mantle left by her father and became the ruthless peer and very involved MP expected for a man of his position. Driven by guilt, he will do anything to ensure his project receives the right audience.
But when found a breath away from death by a very secret woman, his view of the world in her short contact begins to move on.
During the few days she nursed him back to life, she left a deep imprint in his soul.
But when they meet again, will their society’s station make a difference?
It was such a moving tale, about a woman finding a love that sees past her scars and values her for whom she is really from the inside and a man who really began to live once he meets the one who shatters everything he thought the norm.

« you speak of yourself as if you’re somehow second to anyone, when not even the damned sun could compare with you in brightness. »

The fact the heroes were older added to the thoroughness of this magnificent story of second chance, Henry always so organized and predictable while Clara is figurative boldness. I do fell in love with Henry as never at any moment did he thought of Clara as deserving any less than him. He made mistakes and lied to her but never did he saw her for her former profession, only for the strong woman life has shaped her.

« “Loving someone isn’t about controlling them. It is about loving them and supporting them.” »

A big fat 5 stars for this emotional story which immersed me in some unknown historical events from me and the way of the political world.

I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the author but also ordered my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

The Spitfire is the fifth and last installment of Christ Caldwell’s Wicked Wallflowers series. The last one?! Say it ain’t so! This is one of my favorite series and I don’t want it to end! ***Pouts*** Anyway, if you haven’t read any of the previous books (and just why haven’t you?!), this one stands just fine on its own.

Henry March, Earl of Waterson, is doing all he can as a Member of Parliament to establish a police force in London. One of his sisters was severely damaged at the Peterloo Massacre, and he wants to prevent something like that from happening again. While visiting the East End after a meeting, Henry is stabbed, beaten and about to be murdered when Clara Winters comes upon the scene on her way home. No wilting flower, she fights off his attackers and drags him to her home to heal. Clara, a former courtesan and madam, is building a music hall for the masses; she wants to be independent, get past her old life and not have to rely on any man. Though from totally different worlds, Clara and “Lord Proper” are strongly attracted to each other. Will Henry’s political compromise for his police force tear him away from Clara?

Clara is one kick-ass heroine! Not only does she save Henry’s life, but she is turning not only her own life around but also the lives of those who live in London’s East End. She stands up for her principles and will not be cowed. Though Henry is all about being proper and stodgy in an effort to get his police force – he feels guilty for his sister’s tragedy though it’s no fault of his own – he is drawn to Clara and her way of seeing the world. When they are together, sparks ignite into a fiery blaze. Neither of these people are perfect (I did want to shake sense into Henry a time of two), but they may just be perfect for each other. A stunning conclusion to a wonderfully compelling series!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Christi Caldwell’s talent stuns me every time! Her characters are among the best, and the storylines always unique and amazing! And once again her newest work has exceeded all expectations!

As a young girl, Clara Winters dreamed of being an actress, a singer. But that was not to be due to an evil and powerful man who wished to own her, and when rejected attempted to ruin her. For a decade it seemed her future would always be dependent upon the men in her world. But now older and wiser, and in a better situation, she’s determined to build a future for herself, accepting help from no man. Clara has been waiting in the shadows, inviting our attention and interest, and I’m thrilled to now learn who she truly is and what drives this strong, beautiful, and intelligent woman.

Henry March, the most honorable of gentlemen, lives a controlled and organized life, focused solely on his responsibilities as Earl of Waterson and member of Parliament, and his duty to family. When attacked and beaten in the streets of St. Giles, Henry is forced to surrender control to another, specifically, a woman like no other he’s known. He will come to question his feelings and the ironclad plans for his future, and maybe even begin to feel things he has long avoided in his life.

So where will it end as a friendship forms? Can trust grow? Love? Prepare to be entertained by this romantic, emotional and at times humorous tale of a stodgy, predictable lord and a beautiful, headstrong, and not-so-proper former courtesan.

I received an arc for my honest opinion, and have also pre-ordered this book as part of my kindle library.

Clara Winters dreams of leaving behind her old life at the mercy of controlling men and opening her music hall. No matter how many times she is knocked down, she is bounces back up. When she discovers a man being assaulted on the streets of East London, she knows if she doesn’t intervene, he’ll be dead.
Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, is a member of Parliament. Clara knows no good will come of playing nursemaid to a nobleman.
Henry cannot forget his angel of mercy. In just a few short days she changed his life. When they are once more thrown together, passions flare. Henry will do anything to have Clara in his life but will association with him be an asset or a detriment. Can he leave her alone knowing how much he’s hurt her and her chances a making her dream come true?
Christi Caldwell knows how to create characters we cannot forget and makes us fall in love. If you want heroes and heroines who are little different, a little flawed, and with a lot of attitude. This is a must read and Tim Campbell’s narration was a fantastic delight to the ear. This sexy, sassy historical combines everything we love about historical romance and turns it upside down.

The Spitfire is the 5th and final installment of the Wicked Wallflowers series. This book can be read as a stand alone issue but IMO it’s best to read the others first so you get a better understanding of the interconnecting characters.
This is the story of Henry March, Lord Waterson and Clara Winters. Henry is in Parliament and as stuffy as the day is long, while Clara is an independent, reformed courtesan and madam. Clara is opening her own music hall and Henry has passed a law to shut it down due to its low class proclivities.
They fall for each other knowing they belong on different sides of the tracks. Then find out that there is a vindictive man behind all the bad happenings taking place. They cast aside their cares of difference for love…

I finally got to read a historical romance where the heroine was a courtesan and wants to change her life but in view goes our hero that is so sweet and more innocent than what we are expecting in a high-class society behaviour for a man of his rank and fortune.
Age gap but as the heroine is in her thirties it’s so much more reliable and understandable.
I liked the writing, the characters coming from different backgrounds and having a different view of life but brought together by an unmissable attraction. Really enjoyed this book and will recomend to all my bookish friend.

Although I liked Henry and Clara’s story, I found it to be a bit unbelievable, considering the time period it which it was supposed to have taken place. I do not believe that just because she was a former courtesan, that she would be operating that type of legitimate business in that seedy of an area, nor do I believe that were she offered that much money that she would turn it down. There is such a thing a fictional credibility and certain parts of the story don’t have it. But overall, it was a very good read and towards the end it was a very exciting ending.

This was another great book in the Wicked Wallflowers series. I have to admit it was not my favorite book in the series but it was still a good book and I enjoyed reading it. Clara Winters a former courtesan/madam was introduced in a previous book of the series. It was nice to see she gave up the life of being a courtesan and got her HEA. She and her friend Reggie (also in a previous book) have worked hard to open the Muses, a music hall. It has been a dream of hers to help provide women with a job other than being a courtesan. She rescues Henry, the Earl of Waterson, one night as he is on the verge of being killed. Reluctantly, she lets him stay with her instead of going to his home to recover. Months later she discovers he is behind a political “cease and desist” order for her music hall. He has helped the bill for “indecent plans” to go through so he could get help to back up his bill for a police force. The book was well written, the characters and story line well developed. I hope to see Lila get a story of her own and a chance at happiness.

In this last book of the Wicked Wallflowers, will it truly be the last? Christi has written so many wonderful books that have characters show that they are there and that they will not leave until their stories, their lives are told and that they have so much to share, to learn and to have a happily ever after. And Christi has and is doing in a wonderful way in having not just their’s but also us, in having a time, a place, to take us to with wonderful characters that we end up loving and seeing the love, the caring and that life is always filled with many obstacles to travel through that can lead to happiness.
In the Spitfire, you have Clara a woman that has grown up in the Dials, where people had to fight to live each day, work at jobs that they don’t want to but have too to survive. Then you have the privilege and the money to do what they want and get what they want anyway they can, this is the life that Henry grew up in. When these two meet it is in a situation that most people who didn’t have a conscious that would of just kept walking when they saw or heard any fighting.
But Clara, took it upon herself to go against two ruffians and try to save a man, not knowing who or what he was. And Henry, trying to see how he can get a bill, to have a more monitored force of protection for all people of England wakes to see that a woman, taking care of him, not caring who he is, not wanting any payment etc. he couldn’t understand why. Henry starts to realize that he wasn’t doing things to help his sister, Lila who was hurt and then secluded herself from not just her family but from life. And Clara, was not seeing that even though she wanted a new start not just for her and Reggie but for the others like her to have an honest job without doing things that they didn’t want. She had a enemy from her past that was destroying everything she accomplishes or tries to get a better job is taken from her.
In these two, they find the obstacles are not hard to overcome if they just believe in love and to listen to their hearts.
As in all Christi Caldwell’s books when the HEA comes another couple is happy, we’re happy and there will be more from Christi. Maybe Lila’s and Sylvia will get a HEA especially Lila.
In reading Clara and Henry’s story I have been laughing crying and even pissed off at their situation Christi has a wonderful way of writing, she can take you there back in time have you hearing, seeing and even smelling the atmosphere. I just love how once started reading you are there one moment you’re opening the book, or starting your kindle and wham you are seeing the fight that Henry is going through and you want to help him…
This is why I love to read and finding an author like Christi is rare, in that I have to keep reading more and more…and like Christi and author that writes like this where a reader can consume their books in one night is an author one needs to keep reading and share…

The title of this book “The Spitfire” is PERFECT. Our heroine, Clara Winters, from a young age was forced into a life she did not want but had no choice in order to survive. Years later she has stopped her former career. She scrimped and saved for a dream to have a place of entertainment. She wanted to employ talent to give women and men a different safer choice to earn a living. She lived in the slums of London and knew what it took to survive. Her dear friend and partner Reggie stood by her side. As a woman it was unheard of establishing her own business and there were some who did not like it. Our hero, Lord Henry March, Earl of Waterson, was in the slums on business when he was attacked, stabbed and left for dead. However, when the two thieves realized he was not dead they started to drag him into an alley to finish the job. Clara was watching with trepidation whether to get involved or not. It was a dangerous proposition. Clara was a “strong, direct and honorable” woman despite her past. She intervened with Henry’s attempted murder and rescued him. She took him to her humble apartment and cared for him. When Clara went out to attend to her business, Henry arose, dressed and left her a note with his gold watch as thanks for her rescuing a stranger and caring for him. Months passed by but neither could quite forget the other. One day at the business Clara received a cease and desist order stating she would never be able to open her establishment. It was sent by Lord Henry Waterman. Furious, incensed and feeling betrayed, she immediately took herself to Henry’s home. She was going for the jugular. Now the rest of the story is so fascinating you will have a hard time putting this down. There are compromises made, deals struck, political ploys advanced, lies told, a betrayal, a rebirth, emotional self awarenesses for Henry, his sister Lila and Clara. Oh yes and an unlikely romance between Henry and Clara. The troubles for both of them were only beginning. A shocking and captivating ending that you don’t want to miss. I do wish there had been an epilogue tying up a few loose ends. Whatever became of the person behind the attempted murder of Henry? Who was pulling the strings against Clara and her establishment and was he brought to any type of justice? It also would have been nice to see the reaction on Henry’s domineering mother’s face when she found out Henry proposed to Clara. And what of Lila? What of her future? I would have given this a 5-star rating but because of the loose ends I have rated it a 4. I loved Clara as “The Spitfire” for she surely earned the title. I really enjoyed reading this and do recommend it.