Cover Image: The Spitfire

The Spitfire

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Member Reviews

I really wanted to like this book - an interesting premise in the period, but I couldn't connect with either character and didn't really feel there was much tension between them. Also the overuse of the word 'mayhap' was completely distracting (I felt like it was on every other page). DNF, 20%.

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This is my favorite series yet from Christi Caldwell. The icing on the cake was this story with the unexpected pairing of Clara and Henry. I loved that of the two, the proper and stoic Henry was the one I found more lacking in character. Clara was the most sensible and such a beacon in a dark world. That being said, they both benefited from the others strengths. If this really is the end to the series (please, please tell Lila's story), then an epilogue would been greatly appreciated and is the only reason that I'm not giving it a 5 star rating. Well done!

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Absolutely love this book. It took me longer because the format was different and every time I change the page ad reformat page. But this was a fabulous book talk about emotions.We have Villains. We have romance and love sexy romance and love. We have a woman with a vision. We have a man who learns what love is. And they have characters which could be used in another book. My only disappointment is it doesn’t have an epilogue So I can see if the villains got what was coming to them

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A beautifully written Historical romance, as usual, by this author. The back story is entertaining and I especially liked the first few chapters where Clara finds Henry being assaulted by thugs. and drags him home to look after him. The romance is slow burn throughout, until around 80 percent and you do feel the sizzle of their attraction for the entire book, so nothing feels lacking. When the H/h finally do get together, those scenes are tasteful, steamy and romantic and well done. This is part of a series, but I haven't read the previous 2 books as yet and this story really does stand alone. Her best friend Reggie's romance is in the book before, I assume. The Historical details re London, clothing, manners etc are nicely done. I recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars. Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

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Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want it to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

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Wow is all I can say! This is a home run. I love a good love story with a strong female heroine with a heart of gold. She is a reformed madam with a kind heart. She finds a man on the street beaten almost to death and saves him. He turns out to be a noble man. She hates noble men. What will she do? Save him, or leave him to the scoundrels.

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Clara used to be a courtesan and madam. She has grown tired of that life and is looking for a fresh start. When she comes across an injured man. She feels she must help him only to discover he's a bit starchy. His ideas for London are firm. Is he willing to compromise for a woman of a lower class. Clara and Henry seem a bit mismatched, but....

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The Spitfire may be the best in the Wallflower series because Clara truly is a spitfire. She has lived a difficult life and is now ready for something better for herself and others. Clara was forced into the life of a courtesan and wants to give women a choice such as she was not given. Her strength has brought others through troubled times; now she needs help. Ms. Caldwell interweaves characters from former books connected to Devil’s Den and the Dials, so we stay appraised of their lives. The one to help Clara the most now is Reggie, and possibly, Reggie’s husband, Broderick Killoran. As another ‘product’ of the Devil’s Den, Clara has her own issues or demons with which to deal. She, too, has become stronger for them.

Our interesting hero, Henry, is an MP. He is considered proper and pompous even to himself, but especially to others. He seems above the typical ways men of the time acted. Henry seems to not have any vices, yet he is suffering for his sister Lila’s situation and blames himself for her ghost-like existence. Henry believes that a national police force could have helped prevent her from getting hurt in the Peterloo incident seven years prior. Henry will do anything to get the votes for the police force he wants.

Lila overheard the conversation between Clara and Henry discussing Clara saving him on the street and his legislation causing her opera to close. Lila is the first surprise element in this book that brings Clara and Henry back together. The other surprise is following Henry and Clara’s time together. Again, he is unusual for a male peer of the time period.

Henry comes through when it is important, that is what counts for Clara. His mother and sisters are great secondary characters. They add to his unusual existence. My only ‘regret’ is that I would have like Lord Peerson to have had to ‘pay’ just a little bit for his actions.

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Book five of the Wicked Wallflowers featuring Clara Winters is a delight. Thus far we have been steadily introduced to all the characters from the gaming hell known as the Devil’s Den and each have had to deal with their demons, shortcomings and life’s tragedies. In book five believe it or not for me Henry is the one that brings all the human emotions which I find unusual for a male character.

Henry is so earnest in his need to do right and fix all that he unwittingly takes responsibility for you can’t help but to love him. Usually it’s the male characters that are ensconced in their selfish ways or hauteur that need to be brought down a peg or too. Here poor Henry needs to realize that he can not shoulder all the ills of the world when it comes to keeping his family safe and happy. Most importantly, Henry gets to understand loving is a reciprocal thing. His family loves him as much as he loves then and would never be ok with him over burdening himself to the point that he is not living at all. Enters our heroine Clara as he is literally on the brink of death to make him understand that.

Ironically while she could see those traits in Henry to control every thing around him, she doesn’t see that due to her own experiences and hang ups she is in a way refusing to budge when it comes to the location of her music hall as well. Clara’s dream of a reputable and fulfilling endeavor in the form of her music hall for the commoners of St Giles had come to be jeopardized one faithful night, after she chooses to save a man injured by playing nursemaid. Of course the injured man turns out to be our nobleman Henry March, the Earl of Waterson

Henry who is used to order and making deals to push his agendas through parliament brokers a political compromise that has a disastrous consequence for his angel of mercy and her dreams. This of course affects this newfound fledgling love with Clara and puts their entire future together in jeopardy. He must come to his senses on time or he’ll lose out on a lifetime of loving with his spitfire.

We get to see old characters from the previous books in order to see how true friendship manifests itself to aid these new characters to trust, not only in themselves, as in the sense of their worth, but also in each other and in loves capacity to transcend. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I would highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary download of this book through Montlake Romance Publishers on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are completely my own and sincerely given.

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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 recommend to all my bookish friend.

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Absolutely astounding!.. I was totally gripped right from the start. I will never know how Christi Caldwell manages to do tis time and time again, but that just goes to show what a fantastic a true author she is.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and didn’t lit it down for a second. The characters were so good and set each other to a tee. The ending surprised me and I liked that as it went against the norm. It had just the right amount of love and passion for me and I loved every single second. 5 stars just isn’t higher enough for this book. Truly an amazing read.

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4 stars

Well, I went in to this one blind. I've read other Caldwell books and I've liked them. This one was good. I wasn't too lost and I understood what was going on even though this is the 5th in the series. Clara and Henry's interactions were constant and they had good chemistry and dialogue.

The overall story line was pretty entertaining. But, *spoiler-ish* that ending! We were really on a roll with a LOT thrown at you all at once and then BAM, turn the page, and that was it. That was the ending. No epilogue and a mad dash to it's conclusion.

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Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, only knew honor and respectability. He protected his mother and sisters and as MP he strives to protect all of England. Yet when one of his sisters needed him the most he was not there to protect. And the guilt when she spirals into a ghost amongst the living. He would do anything to help her but at what cost to himself and others?
Clara Winters had her dreams stolen from her, and her life took a regrettable direction. To survive and thrive Clara became a courtesan, a whore and Madam and she worked to get back what the dream she had of opening a music hall.
Clara met Henry at his lowest, she should ignore the scene in front of her but she could not. Knowing no good will come from her helping, but old habits are hard to break. Helping Henry will open Clara to a world she wants nothing to do with and a man who will prove all her dislike of men to dust. Henry will come to realize the shell of a man he’s become and how one spitfire of a woman can bring such light and joy to his soul.
My heart Brock for both Clara and Henry, with everything working against them both self made and self deprecating their relationship was everything and unattainable at the same time.

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Clara Winters rescues Henry March, Lord Waterson from men trying to kill him. She takes him home to take care of him and this changes both of their lives forever. He has no other life than Parliament and his family. She wants to open a music hall to help those who have the ability but not the means to better themselves. Who was behind the attack on Henry and who is behind keeping Clara from her dream? She has loosened Henry from the very serious man he was and he has given Clara someone she can believe in again. It has not been easy but then most worthwhile things in life are not easy to accomplish. Very enjoyable read.

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Clara Winters is striking out on her own after years of working at the Devil’s Den. She wants her freedom by opening a music hall and to try and give a respectable living to others in St. Giles. She and Reggie her business partner are on their way to being professional business owners and plan on it being successful. One night she rescues an injured man only to discover discovers he’s Henry March, Earl of Waterson who will not think kindling of being nursed by a former Devil’s Den madam. Henry begs her to let him stay until his injuries are healed. The two become closer as they soon realize the misconception each has of the other class. A captivating tale of two mismatched people finding love in the wrong places. I have voluntarily read and reviews romance story.

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The Spitfire – Christi Caldwell
I received an ARC in return to give an honest review.
This is the last book of the Wallflower series. It can be read on its own or you can read the entire series either way the story is enjoyable.
I loved the Wallflower series as I have been able to follow the main characters in their life stories and their happy endings. The expressive way Christi writes you can really feel the emotions that her characters are going through.
This last one is the story of Clara who had been forced into a life that she did not want but had to do to survive. So many people let her down but despite this she became strong and made her want to improve the lives of other woman that had been forced into selling their bodies. She was trying to open a music hall and was giving employment to people that lived in the Seven Dials.
One night she saved the life of a man that had been brutally attacked by two men who were trying to kill him. She took him into her home and cared for him. When Henry came around, he was bewitched by the beautiful Clara who challenges him in his beliefs.
Then he returned to his own well-ordered world where he was an Earl and a member if parliament. To obtain the votes he needed for a bill he wanted to push through he made a political compromise which had dreadful consequences for Clara which breaks her heart again.
Can two people from different classes fight a war between them and still find love.
I loved the storylines the verbal banter, the sexual chemistry and the attention to detail.

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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.

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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...

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I am sad to see this series end but all good things must come to an end, right?! Another fantastic story by Ms. Caldwell. The compassion of both Clara and Henry, the innocence of Henry and the hardened Clara makes this book a special read. A slow burn romance that will make you believe that most people are good and decent. I loved it.

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I love a story that features a strong woman and Clara Winters was certainly strong and determined to make her way without the help of any man. Clara hadn’t had an easy life and a man had made life even more difficult for her. When she helps Henry March, Earl of Waterson, little did they realise what affect it would have on both their lives. Henry hadn’t met a woman quite like Clara and she rarely leaves his thoughts. Henry had always been known as stodgy, he does take his familiar responsibilities very seriously. He is especially concerned about his younger sister Lila, who is recovering from a traumatic event. I enjoyed how opposite Clara and Henry were and yet they had an influence upon each other and couldn’t forget about things the other and said. This was a captivating story, I just couldn’t put it down. An excellent read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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