Historical romance books where the FMCs cross dress and pretend to be male are some of my favorites! This one also had an MMC who's kinda Tarzan-ish as he'd spent a lot of time in isolation and had trouble fitting back into society. I loved the connection between the characters and how they never judged each other for their choices.

I loved how bonkers this one was!! So fun and hot—Stacy Reid is the best. I’ve loved her other books and this one was no exception. Such a unique concept with great execution.

I really enjoyed this one! The story was unique and compelling, and the romance was incredibly beautiful. I really enjoy Reid's take on historical romances and the role of gender in the time periods the books are set in!

James, the main character was written so very well. And the rest of the story was entertaining. But Jules, the main female character was just so unbelievable. Her impact to the story was excellent. Definitely without her impact and insight the story would have fallen flat. But its just so unbelievable for her to live as a man so supposedly long and well. Too much suspension of disbelief for me. Thank you for the story but wish it could have been written a bit differently.

“Do you deny that we are made for each other? Do you deny the thought that we might end does not damn well cleave you in two? Do you deny it?” he snarled, almost frightening her with his intensity. ****get permission to use in review.

Lately there have been some really interesting premises for stories and this is one of them. I was shocked that a mother would be pushed to such an extreme act. I was deeply disappointed in the father's need for a son, especially when an heir was not necessary. I was further amazed that the ruse could go on as long as it did.

The duke is a remarkable character. There are hints of Tarzan, but James had a chance to know the world he had been born to. This made the story easier to believe and get lost in. The primalness of James is intriguing and adds a lovely layer of tension to the story.

Watching Jules start to embrace her femine side was very poinent. As a man she has enjoyed freedoms otherwise denied women of the time. She goes to university. She works sisde by side with her fsther in his practice. She is on the cutting edge of a new medical disapline, Phychology. James turns the embers of her desire to reveal herself into a full blown five alarm fire!

They each have self-doubts that contribute to the tension of the story. James struggling to rejoin society and his inability to handle being touched makes me want to hug him. Jules wondering if her father could love her as her. What would happen to her parents' marriage. Finally, how she could fit the role as a duchess. She has not been taught to be quiet, demur, invisable or unable to be intelligent in her own right.

There are so many layers to this story and Ms. Reid navigates them seamlessly and gracefully. She brings out feelings in her characters that have you examining yourself. She has a wonderful talent for taking you on a rollercoaster without scaring the pants off of you through the journey. Ms. Reid is one of my goto reads.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Interesting book! A man believed lost at sea for years and a woman dressed as a man - they might be the only two people alive who can understand each other.

Jules is a trained psychologist who everyone (except for James) believe is a man. James recognizes instantly that Jules is a woman who is trapped by training and circumstances in a life that isn't everything she wants. She is there to bring James up to snuff to face the London glitterati, but she may be over her head.

Very sweet story about a couple who want nothing but each other. Great book!

I have loved every single book by this extraordinary author, each story touching my heart deeply and always in a different way, but this book might just be my new favourite of hers.

Another amazing story from Stacy Reid. A unique take on the Tarzan story. Beautiful and romantic. I loved this story.

This book was reminiscent of a mid-20th-century pulp fiction novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The empathy and unfolding understanding between the two characters was wonderful to read. My singular complaint is the ending seemed to wrap up a bit too neatly; I would have thought, considering the stakes, there would have been a fair amount of fallout.

Special thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

I heard some rave reviews from other people, but this book wasn't for me. I gave it an extra star for the bonkers concept - we've got a Tarzan/Reverse-My-Fair-Lady plot thrown together with a Disguised Gender plot. James the Duke was lost in the wilderness for the last decade, but has been recovered and now needs to be presented to society, since everyone figures he's gone feral after his lost time. Enter premier psychiatrist Dr. Southby and his son, Jules - who is actually his daughter, but she and her mother have been carrying off this deception for her ENTIRE LIFE. Because why? No life-or-death stakes. Dad just wanted a son and they hated to disappoint him.

But. BUT! While a lot of conversation is spent discussing the mental effects of the duke spending 10 years alone in the wilderness (living with a wolf pack, naturally), there is ZERO concern given to the psychological effects of Jules being raised to lie to everyone around her about her very existence. She has even gone off to school to study psychology, and yet makes no mention of her own extraordinary circumstances. Until she wants to dance with the duke, so she of course goes off to buy her very first girl clothes ever.

Jules has been literally *raised as a man* her entire life, and we're supposed to just blow off any concerns about the lasting impression on her identity? She and her mother have engaged in a major deception for her WHOLE LIFE for pretty much no reason. No inheritance, lands, life-or-death situation. Just 'hey, dad wanted a boy." I could have accepted it better if it was a temporary disguise, or if her father was in on it. But to believe that NO ONE in her whole life has noticed she's not a man? No. I was so distracted by this that it made the rest of the plot less appealing. And his whole "wolf" identity was ludicrous unless we're talking about a shifter. Way too much smelling her going on.

I loved this story. There were so many angles like a man raised by wolves and being discovered and brought back to society. There's a woman living her entire life asa man but falling in love with a man. Jules and James fell hard and fast in love despite the obstacles they faced. I truly enjoyed this story and would love a follow up

It has been a long time since I finished a book and wanted to reread it immediately. This book is the first book like that in a very, very long time!

Jules Southby is a young woman who has been forced to live as a gentleman for her whole life. This was due to a number of factors that are explained in the book. She has had the privilege of going to university, and as she returns home, her father receives an interesting assignment. To be the psychologist to the Duke of Wulverton who is returned after a 10-year absence in the wilderness.

James Leopold Winters, Duke of Wulverton, spent 10 years in the wilderness of Canada due to an accident. Forced back into the confines of the haut ton, he understands his duty and obligations to his family. The timeline that they are asking him to do these things is very tight. He yearns to be outside and for peace; neither which are easy to find with his family hovering around.

The moment James meets Jules he smells her. He immediately knows that she is not a gentleman, but he is willing to keep her secrets if she is willing to be the only person he talks to about his. He gives her the nickname Wildflower, because "wildflowers grow in places least expected. They are resilient, determined, some might even say unbreakable, their scent myraid and inexplicable."

Their connection is immediate, though both are removed from their emotions due to their various situations (his forced isolation and hers keeping a secret forced upon her). Through their exploration of the past, they come to realize the possibilities of the future.

I did not want to put the book down. I wanted to bask in the beauty of this book. It met so many needs that I didn't know I needed met. Emotionally distant hero. Strong, independent heroine hiding in plain sight. All the banter!! My favorite part was conquering his sensory deprivation and the beautiful intimacy between these two. The vulnerability was beyond!

Well done, Stacy Reid! I have to read this again, because I'm already missing James and Jules.

*I received an advance reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions on my own.*

I had a hard time with this book. Usually, I enjoy books by Stacy Reid, but the plot of this one didn't do it for me. The fact that the
heroine could pass so easily as a man, even from her father with whom she works, seemed a bit ridiculous to me. I don't particularly mind the woman passing as a man trope, but I didn't find myself particularly relating to Jules in any poignant way. Furthermore, the fact that James was lost in the wilderness as a teen, yet was so "feral" upon his return was also a bit much for me to swallow. I do hope to enjoy more of Reid's books in the future, but this one was an eye roller for me.

I didn't know how much I needed a Tarzan-esque historical hero until now! Holy smokes, Stacy Reid's creativity knows no bounds. James and Jules are so incredibly unique and perfectly matched with their kindred feelings of isolation and otherness. Their shared secrets create so an intimate foundation for their relationship. I swooned, sighed, and laughed. Such a beautiful romance.

This book will be featured on an upcoming episode of our podcast to be released on July 26. 2023.

This was such a lovely, thoughtful and angsty historical romance and I really loved it. I give it 4,5 stars.

I really love the way Stacy Reid writes about unconventional main-characters in her historical romances. She makes them so interesting and sometimes so different from the normal ways of the ton that it is difficult to see how they can make a relationship work and not cause too much of a scandal.
The main-characters in “The wolf and the wildflower” James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton and Jules Southby are definitely unconventional.
Jules Southby has grown up as a man but is a woman and has a degree in psychology (a doctor of the mind) and James Winters has grown up amongst wolves in Canada after he disappeared at sea.
I loved the romance between these two but it seemed so impossible for them to be together since she had to give up the privileges that she had been accustomed to her whole life as a man and two men in a relationship at that time was very scandalous and he had three weeks to undergo therapy and choose a bride so he could prove that he was sane and could handle the privilege of the dukedom.
They were so sweet, funny and very free when they were together and I loved the ways they found out how to be together without them being caught. They were very sneaky;).

The only thing that kind of made me think twice I can’t say because it might spoil some things in the storyline and it is not that big of a deal.

I can definitely recommend this book.

I got this book from Entangled publishing and Netgalley and this is my honest opinion and voluntary review.

Well Stacy Reid can do no wrong, even if the hero has extra scent senses and can smell the heroine when she enters a room. James Winters was thought to be dead, only to have survived years alone in the Canadian wilderness. He has returned to polite society and expected to be the Duke, a role he is struggling to fit into. In comes psychologist Jules Southby, with his role to help James reacclimate to society. James and Jules soon come to learn they both have secrets. I have to admit I did not like Jules origin story. While I understood the choice that was made I struggled with believing they were able to maintain the deception. That being said I still loved this book, it is fiction, reality can be set aside. A VERY different historical romance which was so refreshing!

Although James was thought to be lost in the wilderness forever, the Duke returns to London and met with the buzz of gossip. Jules has been raised as a boy since birth and due to her education, is hired as a psychologist for James who is struggling to reacclimate to society.

James and Jules had such a sweet and tender romance built on mutual respect and understanding. This is such a quiet and slow romance in many ways but the plot was still super interesting and pretty out there. I kind of doubted how Jules would get out of her predicament but it was actually quite refreshing.

Lovely historical romance as expected from Stacey Reid.

This book was wild to me - I have never read a historical romance from this point of view. Jules has been playing a role for years - while everyone thinks she is a son, is she a daughter? She's been hiding this from everyone for 22 years.

James was lost in the jungle for years and has returned and has to learn and take his place in his household. Jules is the only one he trust and is also attracted to.

This is a real-life Tarzan, and I love it! I was so involved in how this was going to turn out. It seemed unimaginable, but it was super sweet when it did work out, of course.

Loved!

This was a great read with a paranormal feel. You have Duke raised by wolves, found and returned home and the heroine who has had to dress up as a boy...yeah it was really good and funny and heartfelt. Jules and James were perfect for each other. 4 stars

This book has such a unique premise. I've definitely never read anything else quite like it and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it.
A female character disguised as a male is always a favorite trope of mine. This one was a little more extreme than most others because the heroine has been raised as a boy.
The Duke being lost in the wilderness and living with wolves was completely new to me and very enjoyable.
I absolutely loved Jules and James together. Their chemistry was amazing!
I was completely captivated from page one and all the way to the end. This was such a wonderfully beautiful love story. The way the story unfolded was fantastic, with both of them making sacrifices to be together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.