When Wicked Comes Calling . . .
When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees—on one condition. She’s seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won’t accept a marriage without it.
The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain . . .
Bastard son of a duke and king of London’s dark streets, Devil has … and king of London’s dark streets, Devil has spent a lifetime wielding power and seizing opportunity, and the spinster wallflower is everything he needs to exact a revenge years in the making. All he must do is turn the plain little mouse into an irresistible temptress, set his trap, and destroy his enemy.
For the Promise of Passion . . .
But there’s nothing plain about Felicity Faircloth, who quickly decides she’d rather have Devil than another. Soon, Devil’s carefully laid plans are in chaos and he must choose between everything he’s ever wanted . . . and the only thing he’s ever desired.
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I have loved every Sarah MacLean book I’ve read, relished the unique characters and the stories that never take the easy way out and really grab you by the heart. This one is no exception. I knew it was a romance; intellectually I knew it would be okay, but…Devil had me tied up in knots, in all the best kind of ways. He’s a hero to remember, and Felicity is unique and a treat to read. Definitely a don’t miss read!
Every time I read a Sarah MacLean book, I think, “This one is my favorite.” Now I have a new favorite. I loved Devil and Lady Felicity Faircloth. The dark criminal world Sarah created drew me in and her strong hero and feisty heroine kept me there. This one is going on my keeper shelf.
A little bit of My Fair Lady, a bit of suspense, and a whole lot of steam. Smart heroine, doting hero. What more could you want? Great weekend read!
It’s hard to take a criminal and make me love him, but Sarah MacLean did exactly that. As always, I love her books and had a hard time putting it down!
Fresh, smart, and fast-paced. Listened to this on audio and the narration was wonderful. I’m excited for the rest of this series, for sure!
I enjoyed the entire Bareknuckle Bastards series but I lovvvvvvvvvved Wicked and the Wallflower. This one did it for me.
I can’t decide whether it was Felicity’s slow-moving realization that her family was penniless and she, as a marriageable woman, was their only asset or Devil’s whole I-don’t-care-about-you-but-I-also-care-very-much vibe, or the combination of those things that cemented this book as a hard and fast favorite for me.
Additionally, I love books where the place is as much a character as the people (shocking, I know) and this book opened up the world of Covent Garden to me. I like reading Regency era novels because of the frippery and the fancifulness and the total otherworldliness of it–give me all the balls! and carriages! and gowns!–and yet this book departed from those things in very interesting ways. This isn’t about a woman marrying up, not in the way Regency England thought about marrying up. And it’s kind of amazing because of it. Felicity found herself because of it.
Every time I pick up a new book by MacLean I finish it with the thought that THIS ONE is my new favorite. She just has a way of making me fall in love with her characters, to feel invested in their happily ever after, to , in a way, think of them as my friends. This one is no exception. I loved Felicity with her quick wit and strength. And Devil, ooooh Devil. I don’t even know what to say except that he is a hero I won’t soon forget.
Marvelous! I blame Ms. MacLean for the nap I’ll need later today, having stayed up most of the night to finish this one. I read the Bareknuckle Bastards series out of order, starting with #2, Brazen and the Beast, but that interfered not one whit with my thorough enjoyment of this opposites-attract tale. No one writes bold Regency heroines like Sarah MacLean. Felicity Faircloth’s quiet (only at first) determination to claim the man she loves is thrilling, and often quite funny, and Devil is the perfect bad-boy hero with a sweet, gooey center. Really excellent slow burn in this story, sensual and well worth the wait. The portrayal of Regency-era Covent Garden is a delight–an underground kingdom where Devil and his brother Whit (Book 2’s hero) have earned the undying loyalty of the hard-working riffraff they love and respect as family. I can’t imagine how she’s going to untangle the knot of betrayals that separates the hero and heroine of Book 3, but I’m ordering it now–can’t wait to find out!
Felicity Faircloth is not your average heroine, and this isn’t a typical historical romance. It’s fun and different and a delightful read. You’ll fall in love with the Devil (he’s the hero and you can’t help it – trust me), and with this book. I’ve already purchased the second in the series, but I might have to read the first one again. I enjoyed it that much. This was the first book I read from this author, and it won’t be the last.
I adored this novel, the first in the Bareknuckle Bastards series, involving a romance that cuts across class lines to open up a wonderful new world.
Sarah MacLean is as good as ever! I love a wallflower heroine, and Felicity Faircloth is delightfully right as a shy but determined lady who gets involved with a man who’s…let say, a little outside her social circle. Devil (Yes, he’s called Devil!!!) wants revenge. He won’t let anything stand in his way. Except Felicity, who stumbles into his life and heart and promptly turns this big bad bastard into a softie (with a secret). This story has all the essentials of a Regency romance, along with a liberal dose of MacLean’s humor and sensuality. It’s the first in this series, and a great introduction indeed.
Dynamite Huge 5 Stars for Wicked and The Wallflower by Sarah MacLean! Best Hot Read of the Summer!
We first meet Devil, a bastard of a duke who is very mysterious, he and his other brothers are out for revenge upon the new Duke. At one of the ball’s, they are putting their plan into place when Devil, ready to make his first move is interrupted by a lady running through the hall. He ducks into the corner of the balcony and the lady flees to the balcony and the solace and darkness it brings. Thinking herself alone, Lady Felicity expresses her frustration and hurt. Lady Felicity is a spinster and aging more each day. She knows her prospects of finding love are dwindling and she no longer fully embraces her spinsterhood. She desires to be back in the arms of the Ton. She was horribly tossed out by her friends and expressing her hurt and frustrations she hears a mysterious voice in the darkness and they soon open up a conversation and in the midst of it, both feel a drawing to each other. However, Felicity leaves the mysterious man to his darkness and heads back to the ballroom hoping for a glimpse of the new Duke. There she happens upon her former friends who are terribly putting her down and once they spot her they just tear her to pieces. Hurt and torn, Felicity fights back as best she can.
In order to assure that she finds deep love and her future husband loves her beyond words, she deals with the Devil himself; however, she did not bargain on falling for him herself. Can Devil give her the love she so desires?
I really related a lot to Felicity and one can’t help but root for her, she’s just an amazing character. I absolutely loved the chemistry between her and Devil. both have very sad paths, yet each invokes so much passion and depth to themselves and they help bring this out in each other. Just amazing characters and a really creative love story! Something you would not expect in other Historical Romance Novels, huge kudos to Ms. MacLean’s creative genius!
Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean is book One in The Bareknuckle Bastards series. This is the story of Felicity and Devon ‘Devil’.
Bareknuckle Bastards series starts the story of bastard brothers born to different mothers but with the same father who a awful man who was a Duke. This series starts so great with this book that I can’t wait the story of the other characters.
This story covers Devil who happens to meet Felicity by accident. But their witty talk he learns that she is a spinster and her mother is working to marry her off. When she states that she would like to get back in the graces of the town. Later Devil learns that Felicity had stated that she was marring
Ewan, the Duke of Marwick. When Devil learns of this he confronts his half-brother Ewan and then goes to Felicity with a plan.
Felicity encounters with Devil are fun to read with their bickering. Although Felicity thinks that she wants to marry the Duke to help get her back in the eye of the town while working with Devil she starts to think that her wish to marry for passion/love might better be found with Devil.
Really enjoyed their story and could not put the book down! Now I just need the other stories soon!
Loved it !
A luxurious slow-burn in the underbelly of London. A new twist for Sarah Maclean but… not. A must read!
A great beginning to a series. I really like the fact that the hero isn’t part of the aristocracy, which is a nice change of pace. This was the first book I ever read by Sarah MacLean, but it certainly wasn’t my last. I now eagerly await each new book.
When a mysterious stranger finds Lady Felicity Faircloth on the balcony outside a crowded ball and offers to help her snare a duke for a husband, she agrees. But Felicity doesn’t want just a convenient arrangement, she wants to learn how to inspire passion.
An illegitimate son of a duke turned king of Covent Garden, Devil has built up power and a dangerous reputation since he was a child. This wallflower spinster is exactly the piece he needs to set into motion a revenge plan he’s been entertaining for years. He just has to make a rather plain debutante into a seductress to lure in his enemy.
Devil finds Felicity to be far from plain and she soon realizes she prefers Devil over anyone else. The plans Devil so precisely devised are soon in tatters and he has to choose between the revenge that has obsessed him and his own desires and chance at happiness.
It took me a while to get into this book and listening to it on audio I found myself rather easily distracted. Some sections, particularly some of Felicity and Devil’s conversations about darkness and flame, grew a little repetitive and stalled the flow for me a bit. Felicity also frustrated me at times with her disregard for Devil’s wishes but by the latter half of the book I was all for her challenging him and it was definitely something he needed, as he otherwise took his belief that he could never be good enough for her too far. I think my change of heart with regards to Felicity really came when she stopped being so fixated on being accepted back into the ranks of her former friends amongst the Ton. Once she got her priorities straight, she became a character I could root for and I wound up loving her refusal to let Devil push her away. Though parts of the book were a bit sluggish and too long, I absolutely became engrossed in the story with the uptick in action in the latter quarter or so. The declaration of feelings scene between Devin and Felicity is now one of my favorites that I’ve ever read. I read this series completely out of order, but I’m okay with that and happy to have now filled in the gaps for myself.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspot.com/2021/06/wicked-and-wallflower-by-sarah-maclean.html
Would Have Been Better Without the Melodrama
This story has the elements of a good book: a fascinating plot, complex characters, and scandalous romance. I liked Devil and Felicity, the allure each had for the other. However, the melodrama, profanity, and explicit sex almost overshadowed the best parts of this book. I found myself skimming pages to get back to the plot.
Loved it! I ended up staying up all night listening to the audiobook.
Wicked and the Wallflower is a fantastic read featuring a delightful opposites attract romance between a wallflower and a king of the criminal underground.
Lady Felicity Faircloth used to be one of society’s darlings until one mistake turned her into a pariah. When her frustration causes her to lash out and claim to be engaged to a duke, Felicity knows her situation will soon be worse once the truth comes to light. But when a mysterious stranger offers his assistance in making all of Felicity’s claims come true, she thinks she’s found the solution to all of her problems. What Felicity doesn’t know is that she’s made a deal with the Devil and his plans include exacting revenge against the man who wronged his family with Felicity an unwitting player in his schemes.
For years after her debut Felicity was a darling of the ton until one day she was cast out by those closest to her with no explanation. Felicity has never understood why she was no longer accepted and despite her obviously poor treatment, wanted nothing more than to get back in with her former crowd which after a public mistake became impossible. Felicity’s confusion over her situation and her subsequent need to fix it were very relatable as someone who has experienced something similar. Felicity has passions considered unusual for a society girl and I loved the obvious joy her lock-picking brought her.
Devil is the bastard son of a duke born on the same day as his siblings. Devil’s background was quite interesting and the author definitely did something unique with the circumstances of the four’s births and I’m looking forward to learning more in the rest of the series. Devil, along with his brother Beast, runs a criminal enterprise in Covent Garden. Despite the fear he commands, Devil is obviously respected by his men and it’s clear he cares about their well-being. I liked seeing this side of Devil as it showed he wasn’t the monster some would make him out to be.
Felicity and Devil’s romance was fantastic from the start and only got better as the book went on. The pair’s first meeting on a darkened balcony at a ball was one of my favorite first meetings in a romance novel in a long time. There’s such fantastic banter and I loved how open the two were due to being cloaked in shadows. Once the two make their bargain, their relationship develops fairly quickly as the two get to know one another with it becoming readily apparent that Felicity wants Devil and not the duke she’s supposed to get. Felicity constantly surprised Devil and I liked that he unknowingly empowered her to take what she wanted just by believing in her. I loved how impressed Devil was with Felicity’s lock-picking skills and how he encouraged her to develop the skill. The chemistry between Felicity and Devil was simply amazing and I was not disappointed when their relationship advanced physically as the scenes were wonderfully done with the perfect amount of steaminess.
As to the other characters in the book, Beast, the other half of the Bareknuckle Bastards, was definitely one of the more interesting characters. He doesn’t say much, but what little he does makes me curious to learn more about him. Grace is a fantastic character and I loved how she held her own against her brothers. I’m looking forward to her book and I’m interested to see how her romance will play out due to who her love interest is.
Wicked and the Wallflower contains some of my favorite historical romance elements and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series, Brazen and the Beast, soon.
Great character development and original storyline. I read this book, bought the next in the series then pre-ordered the 3rd book. Nice steamy read.