When I first read about Clara in book two of this series called The Scoundrel’s Honor, I didn't think I will enjoy her story. She was a former mistress of the hero and a Madam of a brothel in his club. Then we met her again in The Governess as Reggie’s business partner. But as I started reading her back story, she became more and more interesting to me. I loved the chemistry between her and the hero, who is normally very staid and proper but had started to smile after meeting her. I loved her independent spirit and self confidence that was unwavering in so much uncertainty and hardship. It was the little moments in this book that I really enjoyed and made me love this story. I am a little sad to see the end of this series but hoping that we get a chance to read Sylvia and Lila’s stories in the future and they too get their HEA’s. This was book five in the Wicked Wallflowers series.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

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.

This book is written in a way to tell a story of a strong woman who will fight for what is right. Whether it be saving a man left for dead, opening her own music hall, or helping anyone that needs it. She is a woman who was hurt numerous times and now she will not let anything stand in her way.

I thought this was well written, it resonates with reality, and ut was a good read.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

This is the 5th book in the series but it can be read as a stand-alone. Clara is leaving behind her life as a courtesan and madam to open a music hall. She finds Henry, a member of parliament and an Earl, beaten and badly injured and nurses him back to health. Sparks fly between them but they come from two different worlds and Clara is glad to see him go. She then receives a notice that she must close her music hall and Henry is the one behind it. Will she get him to change his mind? Fast-paced read with loads of drama and suspense. I was really drawn into the story and the characters have great depth. I really liked it.

Henry and Clara are a fabulous couple! I couldn't put this book down. I love that no matter her past Henry only sees the good in her and makes her feel valued.

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.

If anyone can get away with; giving a ‘lightskirt’ a love story, and a plausible one at that; have a hero who is 40 with greying sideburns and make him just as fit and sexy; have an offbeat love story that you can never in your life even imagine; be assured Christi Caldwell can. No one does all of this and more than her. No wonder one follows her characters through books, keeps lists and tabs on the unmarried ones and looks towards her to redeem all ‘irredeemable’ characters you come across in her books.

Clara is one such character that is probably the best one yet! She is spunky, beautiful, unafraid, strong and resilient. Through all life’s hardships, she comes across as a winner all the way. Her journey from a hooker to madame and then owner of her own business is one we have followed through many books and in this one she gets a fitting conclusion. Her own Happily Ever After.

Henry, who we met first time in Gabe’s book is no stranger to any of us who follow the Caldwell universe. He has been ‘matched’ with every sister, friend and single young lady that we ever read about in any book starting with his best friends sister. Of all the ladies our Waterson could fall for, it finally turned out to be the most unlikely one - Clara. The lady who finally ‘changes’ Lord Proper.
I was expecting a depressive, dark, weird story and was pleasantly surprised to read The Spitfire as it was none of that. Even though the characters sounded staid and jaded they were anything but. The streets of St Giles, and the roughness of the initial chapter did not deter me at all, so well was it written. It had me glued till the last page and reading through the entire book in one sitting, a feat that only Christi’s books inspire in me.

So, we scratch out Waterson from our ‘list’, meet a smitten Gabe with five children (and more coming!) come across Boderick and Regina always strong and helpful, oh and wait, Connor was there too (does a happy dance)! And as a chapter closes on this series where one saw the Killorans and Clara get their HEA’s it is with a ‘sadness’ that one reads the last page but an optimism that we will meet again sometime, somewhere in another book/series.

Not ‘optimism’ but a surety knowing Christi Caldwell and her strength in writing out characters that are real to each of us and more so, her and that she will get them back into another story another time. Till then we enjoy this one.

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.

It's a little bittersweet to see this series come to an end. I only started reading Ms. Caldwell less than a year ago and I've already binged all of the Sinful Brides and read every one of the Wicked Wallflowers. I was hoping that Stephen, the youngest of the Killorans, would be getting a book, but maybe we'll be gifted with that later in the Lost Lords of London series. The Spitfire is about Clara (Broderick's former madam and Reggie's business partner) and Henry March, Earl of Waterson. Henry is friends with the Marquess of Waverly from To Love a Lord. So if you're a fan of the couple from that novel, they do make a minor appearance! It's always nice to get some bonus time after the HEA to catch up on how things are going.

We got to know Clara Winters a little bit in The Governess when she became Reggie's business partner and close friend. After years of being used by men during her years as a prostitute and madam, the only thing she wants from them is her freedom. The music hall venture she's planning is her chance to not only start a new independent life, but to give a respectable living to others in St. Giles. One that would enable them to entertain on stage and do what makes them happy when no one else is willing to provide the opportunity. She has a true passion for music, and a determination to succeed no matter what the cost. Because of that single-minded drive, they've been able to overcome every obstacle thrown in their path.

One of Clara's faults is probably her stubborn pride, and her inability to share her burdens with her friends. She finds it hard to confide in Reggie, or agree to any assistance from Broderick, but I understand where she's coming from. Even though her pride gets in the way sometimes, I can understand her wanting to achieve her goals without any outside help. To feel as if she has accomplished her dreams without giving up any of the power she's trying to reclaim. Her life plan is to own her own business with Reggie, and marriage and children have no part in that. She's not afraid to let her feelings be known on that either, or anything else for that matter. If words didn't get the message across, she wouldn't hesitate to make her point with her fist. I enjoyed her fire and spirit which I think balanced out Henry's calm, cool demeanor really nicely.

Henry is an MP who spends his entire waking existence creating laws and networking with other politicians in order to reach his end goal. He's a man who has built his life around family, duty, and honor, and that doesn't leave any time for any distractions in his personal life. Believing that he failed his sister years ago when a traumatic event occurred, his heart and soul is poured into enacting legislation that would establish a police force to protect the public. He has the best of intentions, but in working so hard for the benefit of his family and the rest of the general public, he has lost sight of what's important. Finding joy in the every day, making time for his mother and sisters, and finding a woman to share his life with. There is a small amount of guilt on his part for neglecting his duties in begetting an heir, but he comforts himself in the knowledge that he's provided for everyone financially. That is, until Clara steps into his life and makes him reexamine his priorities and opens his eyes to things his privileged life has shielded him from.

Henry has always been stuffy, proper, and pompous his entire life, but after being rescued by Clara during a vicious attack, she has an immediate effect on him. Suddenly he's loosening up, making jokes, and becoming someone his family almost doesn't recognize anymore.

In turn, he helps Clara to see that not all men are out to harm or dishonor. However, just as she's starting to build a fragile trust in him, he has an impossible choice to make. Fulfill his promise to save the music hall, or finally have his legislation passed that he's been fighting so long for. He's torn between family and his budding feelings for this woman he greatly admires.

I did enjoy these two together, but I felt that there was something missing. I would've liked to have seen them spend more quality time together and building their feelings for one another. They didn't see each other for much of the book, and their relationship felt somewhat rushed at the end in my opinion. It caused me to feel a bit of a disconnect to their romance, but I did appreciate this opposites attract couple overall. Henry's skill in instantly pleasing Clara when they became physical was an issue for me. After reaching the advanced age of forty-one and remaining celibate, I would expect Clara to have to give him some advice in that department. In fact, I would have enjoyed seeing that! Oddly, he knew exactly what to do and she didn't even realize his inexperience until he told her after their first time. That's just not plausible when you have zero experience to learn from. I was also hoping to see more of the Killorans since this was the last book in the series, but Reggie was the only established character to get page time.

One of my favorite things in the book was Henry's sweet relationship with his sister Lila. I'm really hoping we get to see her find her own healing and HEA in the future. I feel like she was developed exceptionally well with an intriguing backstory, and her story could be a beautiful addition in a future series.

In summary, this wasn't my favorite in the series, but it was still an enjoyable read. Christi Caldwell's books are always a must read for me now, and her books are added to my to be read pile. No synopsis needed.

At last we have the fifth installment of the Wicked Wallflowers and I'm thrilled to get to read Clara's book. This book is not a fluffy upper-class book, this is a book about an ex-prostitute finding her own happiness, and for Clara, that means starting her own music hall! A place where she can be safe and her own boss. But that all changed in an instant when she saves a man from being murdered and she possibly destroys her own future.

Henry March, Earl of Waterson is a Member of Parliament, is determined to get the New Police force approved by parliament, in order to protect everyone in England, something that he couldn't do for his own sister, but when he is attacked he thinks that his life is over, until Clara saves him and evokes than just gratitude.

I really enjoyed The Spitfire, it has such a refreshing take on a regency romance. I have really enjoyed the author Christi Caldwell Wallflower series, where she focused on the not so glamorous part of regency life, reinforcing the stance that everyone deserves their Happy Ever After.

The Spitfire by Christi Caldwell is truly a gem of a story. To be honest, when I first learned that we were going to have a story about a former madam and an Earl, I was wondering if it would be a story that I could get interested in. I had met Clara a few different times in Caldwell's universe, and I just wasn't really sure how I felt about her. After this story, I am a Clara fan through and through.. She has had a very hard life, but she hasn't let it make her cold. Sure, she is cautious and doesn't trust easily, but her heart is big and she cares deeply about those in her circle. When she meets Henry, it is a testament to her character that she would risk her life for someone she doesn't even know.

Henry is very proper. He is always trying to do the right thing and keep his name out of any scandal. When one of Henry's bills effects Clara's lively hood, sparks fly. There couldn't have been more polar opposites than she and Henry, but these two characters compliment each other so well. Through their journey, there are lots of a disagreement, but they both learn how to love and forgive. Mrs. Caldwell with Henry and Clara help us all remember that our past does not define us. So make sure you pick up this book today and get to know Clara and Henry.

Christi Caldwell ends her Wicked Wallflowers series with an unexpected treasure. In The Spitfire, the hero and heroine are a bit older. While Clara Winters has seen a lot of pain and torment in her 30 years, Henry, Earl of Waterson has lead a calm, dutiful life.
They meet by accident when she finds him near dead in the streeets of Seven Dials. She takes him home and cares for his wounds. This is the first he's seen of how the other half lives. After taking care of him she is shocked when a ceast and desist order comes to shut down her soon to be opened Dance Hall and the name of the complainant is the Earl of Waterson.
This strangers, to friends, to lovers, to enemies and finally back to lovers story is happy and sad - sometimes at the same time.Will Henry put aside what he considers his duty for love? Will Clara let someone help her pursue her dream?
Before the Happily Ever After, true evil makes itself known and helps cement the relationship between the two.
I received an advanced copy of this book

A victim's journey!

A well tuned story about a young woman's strength and ability to reverse her role from that of victim to entrepreneur.
Having rebuffed the advances of a wealthy patron Clara Winters, daughter of a famous London actress, had subsequently been refused employment as an actress or singer. Clara's only way forward was to become a courtesan then a Madame. Now she's part owner of a proposed music hall where maltreated women could regain there self respect. Her partner is Regina (Reggie) Killoran whom we met in The Governess.
A chance witness to a stranger being beaten and stabbed in an alley in St. Giles has Clara tending the injured man, only to discover he's a peer, Henry March, the Earl of Waterson. Henry is a, "leading MP, determined to see a universal constable force throughout the whole of England." He has been researching some of the more dangerous parts of London. But for Clara, he'd have end his days face down in a puddle in such a place.
Well lines of course are crossed and recrossed. When the Music Hall is deemed to be in violation of the Morality Act, Clara finds herself assisting Henry's sister Lilia, a victim of the Peterloo Massacres, in exchange for his political help to ensure the opening of the venue. However nothing runs smoothly.
An enjoyable addition to series that does keep one guessing, although I had trouble seeing Clara as a Wallflower. A Phoenix maybe! Meanwhile, I feel there's more to come from Lila some day.

A Montlake Romance ARC via NetGalley

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 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.

This was definitely a different feeling from Christi's other books! Not in a bad way, just had a vibe that felt a bit unfamiliar to me. As always, the book was splendid, the characters exciting and unique, and the story brought up so many emotions. The difference, I feel, is that the two main characters seem to diverge from Christi's typical male/female roles. In this book, the heroine was much stronger than the hero in many ways, and as well, the hero was much older than Christi's typical hero - 41! I enjoyed seeing this side of nobility during that time period, because typically, men of that age in romance books are married, have multiple children, and maybe even some grandchildren already. Things moved fast back then! Instead, our hero has never been married and has no kids, and he has an air of naivete about him. Unusual but also brilliant.

The last thing Clara Winters needs in her life is a bleeding man on her bed. And not just a man - a nobleman. She is trying to establish a safe place of employment for people in the Dials, where women are often forced into prostitution just to survive. She has no time to be a savior. When Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, awakens, he thinks she's an angel. But she's no angel - Clara is a former courtesan and madam, the last person Henry should be associating himself with. Even though they must part ways, life keeps bringing them together, and they find company with each other more and more. As their relationship builds from friendship to something more intimate, they must decide where their loyalties lie, or else their lives will be torn apart.

Clara was a strong, independent woman, and I admired her so much for schooling Henry on what it meant to be a woman in those times. She had gone through so much, fought so hard to get where she was, and she wouldn't let anyone take that from her. It didn't matter what station they had in life - she would go toe-to-toe with them if she must. Henry was, as I mentioned above, a bit naive. He was an MP, so he had seen much of the world, but he didn't really understand it. He looked at things in terms of black and white, and there are always shades of grey. Clara was really good for him, and although he disappointed her on several occasions, he truly did have a kind and generous heart. While I felt his reaction at finding out her past was not as big as I was expecting, it just goes to show that some men truly don't care what you were and care more about who you are now.

Always enjoy Christi Caldwell's writing! I'm excited to read her next book.

Christi Caldwell is a hit or miss for me; she’s the type of author who throws everything but the kitchen sink into her books—tons of plot, tons of characters, etc. This sometimes makes her books too busy for me, but The Spitfire was an exception. I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The main characters were wonderful, and I was touched by their love story.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This final installment of the Wicked Wallflower series was my favorite. I loved the role reversal in experience with our hero and heroine. It was a refreshing change. Clara has been waiting in the wings for her HEA since she was in Ryker Black’s book and dare I say she was one of those most deserving. I just loved everything that she was and stood for. The exact opposite of Henry, but they fit so perfectly together. Another think I loved about this story was that the characters were a bit older. They were very relatable and easy to connect to. There was also a perfect balance between romance and suspense. A fantastic read from beginning to end!

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.