I am so disappointed because I loved MARRY ME BY MIDNIGHT and this one simply didn't have the same juice. The romance felt SO insta-love and that is simply not my preferred vibe. I like it when the narrative lets the protagonists have space to breathe and fall in love gradually over the course of a book. This book is the opposite of that. Plus, all the Capital D DANGER!!! storylines were so stressful and kinda unnecessary, tbh. Maybe the problem is that Snow White isn't my favorite fairytale.

I reccommend this book to fans of historical romance. Felicia Grossman's portrayal of Jewish FMC and MMC is groundbreaking, and long overdue to the world of historical romance.
I greatly enjoyed the very in depth historical descriptions of the Jewish community in this era. It was obvious that the authors researched this in depth and meticulously.
The author also avoided boring topes for a fresh new take on romance. I loved how the FMC rescued the MMC.
I would have preferred a lower heat level, however this is a personal preference.
Please publish more historical fiction by the same author! I would love to read non romance stories, or romance stories with a lower heat level, since the history is fascinating, and her characters are vividly drawn.

One comment: Please consider covers with a lower heat level in the next books in the series. I wanted to order a print copy of this book but was embarassed for family members (including my children) to see the cover. I feel the history and research and the community representation deserve a family friendly cover.

Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman is book Two in the Once Upon the East End Series. This is the story of Hannah Moses and Solomon Weiss. Solomon's older brother stepped up to take care of him when they were younger. So Solomon of course feels in debit to him. But when he meets Hannah who is a pawn shop dealer he knows she isn't the type of person he should be interested in but he is.

This was such a fun spicy read. I loved how not only was this a Jewish read, but a historical Jewish read.

The story was so complex in how the author wove together a meet cute with Jewish history. There were so many dynamics at play including forbidden romance, age gap, Jewish identity, gender, fairytale retellings, and Jewish Identity.

I loved both of the characters and how they grew from their interactions and the interactions within their society and the societal norms.

I also have to mention the spice was amazing!

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman. This Victorian era historical romance is based on Snow White with role reversals, compelling and complex characters, and complicated Jewish families . Representing different aspects of their community, Hannah Moses and Solomon Weiss are drawn to each other, revealing much about class structures and antisemitism. With steamy liaisons, revelations, and betrayals,this story is captivating!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix of both, but maybe more plot leaning
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in, first chapter
Cliffhanger: No this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few years later

Should I read in order?
You could – book 1’s characters are heavy side characters in this one – I’m not sure how much depth you get for these characters in the prior book. I did find myself wishing I had dove into that one first.

Basic plot:
Sol finds himself saved by a mysterious Hannah and can’t stay away even though she is everything he needs to avoid...

Give this a try if you want:
- England 1832
- London setting
- she rescues him
- Snow White retelling (twist – the hero is Snow White)
- age gap with older heroine (heroine is 32/hero is 26)
- pawnshop owning heroine
- Jewish mains
- bit of grumpy heroine/sunshine hero vibes
- class difference
- the sweetest hero
- medium steam – 3 full scenes

Ages:
- Heroine is 32, hero is 26

My thoughts:
There is so much to love about this novel! But overall, I ended up wanting them together more, and the romance got a bit lost for me in all the plot antics.

I love the older heroine pairing, and Sol is so, so sweet. Oh he’s so caring and gentle and loving and I just adored him. I love his optimism. Hannah has been through hell and is a survivor. She tries to protect her heart as well as keep her family safe. So this leads to a lot of push and pull between them that I enjoyed.

Outside forces started taking over this book for me though. We have multiple side characters, and I found Sol spending a lot of time alone or with his brother, and Hannah alone, on the streets, with nefarious side characters or her sister. I wanted them together more. I also wanted more tension between them – I feel like when they were together it was a bit of instalust and then they’d separate and come together again and be glued to each other (but only for a short time because of beforementioned forces)

I enjoyed the second book in this series a lot. It was fun and had some twists. It took me a second to see how the beauty and the beast inspiration happened, but once I saw it it was really obvious. Hannah and Solomon were a passionate couple with palpable chemistry. Historical romance is still not my favorite but I enjoyed this one a lot.

*Thank you forever and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

With a dash of sweetness, tenderness, and passion, Wake Me Most Wickedly was a new wildly romantic spin on the classic Snow White tale that will have readers falling desperately in love with this new historical romance.

I loved how fiercely the two main characters fell for each other! I couldn’t help but continually root them on and hope for their own happily ever after.

I can’t wait to read more from this author and her fairytale-inspired love stories!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I really enjoyed this one! Felicia writes some amazing historical romances with a fairy tale twist.

I loved Solomon, he was so much fun and very cheeky. I immediately loved everything about his character. He was a little bit over optimistic with people, and I saw through his brother right away, but those rose coloured glasses stayed in place for him.

Hannah was very independent and would do absolutely anything for those that she loves, even if it hurts her in the end. It was nice to see her take something for herself and try to chase her own happiness.

One thing was that I had no idea it was meant to be a Snow White retelling. There were apple references but I didn’t really see it until closer to the end. Felicia’s first book was clearer with its inspiration.

I still really enjoyed it regardless!

I love stories that overcome class and wealth differences to find a HEA. Hannah is a strong, smart pawn shop owner who is just trying to survive. Sol is younger, rich and is supposed to marry "well". She saves him one fateful night when he is being chased by thieves. This starts an attraction that leads to a forbidden romance. I just love Sol. He so wants to prove himself worthy of Hannah and in turn, helps her believe in herself. What a beautiful story.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Felicia Grossman does not miss. This take on Sleeping Beauty felt fresh and fun. The representation was incredible and I think I am going to reread ASAP.

Thank you so much to Forever and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel! And it definitely did not disappoint. This series is just so easy to love - even for non-seasoned historical readers.

Felicia Grossman's stories feel unique and fresh while still hitting plenty of fan favorite beats in the genre.

This is a lose, gender-bent Snow White retelling. (From what I understand each book while be a different gender bent twist on a fairytale).

Our hero was raised by his brother after losing both parents very young. Now as adults, he feels indebted for all his brother has done, and wants nothing more than to help him reach his goals.

But he also can't help but fall for the feisty, ostracized woman he meets while escaping a robbery. Putting him in the difficult place of fighting for what he wants, or helping the brother that raised him.

This story (and series) features so much Jewish culture and history. It's a side of Victorian London we don't often get to see in this genre and I can't get enough. Felicia Grossman seamlessly integrates the history into her stories, making it not just a setting or side note, but a focal point.

There were so many themes of community, obligation, inequality, classism, antisemitism, and more. And all of this was handled expertly in my opinion.

But none of it overpowered their romance. The heroine is the definition of reluctant while the hero is gone for her early on. And while he may have fallen early, this did an amazing job making you wonder and question how they could make their romance work.

The stakes were real and seemingly insurmountable.

I know absolutely nothing about the next book, but it's already on my most anticipated list.

This was actually 3.75 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the arc.

I enjoyed reading this book, my first from Felicia Grossman. The story is about Hannah Moses, a Jewish woman in her early 30s, living and working in 1830's London. Hannah operates a pawnshop her parents opened years ago, and also takes care of her younger sister, Tamar. Hannah is dedicated to working her and making as much money to ensure her sister has opportunities to have a secure future. But Hannah walks the line of operating the pawnshop, careful to look for stolen goods so there's no repeat of the legal problems she and her parents experienced ten years or so ago, whereby her parents were sent to Australia as a result of her actions. Hannah happens upon Solomon "Sol" Weiss while he's being attacked in her neighborhood, and proceeds to help him evade the attackers. Sol is from a wealthier group of Jewish families, but who feels beholden to his brother for taking care of him when their parents died years ago. Sol wants to make his brother proud of him, even as his brother converts to the Anglican faith, and treats Sol's observance of Jewish habits and practices with disdain.

Hannah and Sol find an instant attraction to each other, and there's a little age gap - Hannah is older by 5-6 years. The story delves into the seedier side of Jews living in London in the 1830's. Hannah is constantly worried about making money to put food on the table, while feeling ostracized by the Jewish community because of what happened to her and her parents ten years ago. She constantly worries about threats to herself and her sister, while trying to find ways to make more money. It was kind of draining to read about Hannah's worries, and although she's definitely a survivor, her downcast way of looking at her life was pretty disheartening. Sol, on the other hand, was the sunshine, always staying positive, and constantly pushing the potential relationship between them whenever he could. He was very sweet, but I also found him very naive and frustrating. I felt that the attraction the author played up was the physical attraction, while she could have delved more into how each character strengthened each other. I would have been very interested in reading more of that narrative.

3.5 rounded up

I enjoyed this interesting historical romance based on a gender swapped version of Snow White, complete with apples.I also really enjoyed the ending. It was perfect because of course this couple finds their HEA but in a realistic way

Plus, give me a romance cover with a real couple instead of a cartoon, drawing any day!

What could have been better: way too much use of the exclamation, Oy!

This is the second book in the Once Upon the East End series. It can be read as a stand alone novel but the characters, Isabelle and Arron, from Marry Me by Midnight (Aug 2023) are part of this story. The series incredibly are gender switching adaptations of fairy tales set in the 1830s London Jewish community.

Hannah Moses runs her family's pawn shop by day and for extra income she tracks down people or things for clients by night. She saves a man from being robbed one night while out on a job. Six months later she runs into the man at the Jewish synagogue. Solomon is drawn to beautiful Hannah. He works for his wealthy and powerful banker half brother and is always eager to do his bidding. The brother is hoping to move into higher society with his upcoming marriage.

In this story Solomon is the Snow White character and Hannah the Hunter. It was fun to see how the author brings in elements of the fairy tale by having Doc and her sisters care for Solomon after an injury or even eating something poisonous. I love that she is older 32 to his 26, experienced, and that he falls first. This world that Grossman creates has lots of complexity. The Jewish hierarchy is as intricate as the ton of London. I do feel when there is an actual villain there needs to be a strong comeuppance for the character. Sadly for me that is missing, even if there is an explanation.

I like the story, setting and characters. The heat level is great and the cover absolutely draws the eye. I can’t wait to see what story the author writes next.

I found this book to be fine. The writing was solid, and the historical details were interesting, but for whatever reason it just didn’t grab me. I think maybe I found the fairytale elements a bit too forced, and Sol wasn’t a particular interesting male lead. I found myself wanting more of the side characters and less of the leads in general. But it was still worth reading, especially if you like fairytales twists and/or historical romances that highlight Jewish culture.

Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman, book two in the Once Upon the East End series, is a reimagining of the story of Snow White, except the main characters, Solomon and Hannah, are Jewish. Different aspects of the Jewish community, during the Regency era, are showcased from the treatment of Ashkenazi Jewish people, to the class system, to the use of Yiddish.

Solomon Weiss was raised by his older brother Frederick, who was only a teen himself when he was forced to care for Solomon. Frederick, now an adult, is an influential man and intends to marry soon. He’s asked Solomon to be on his best behavior and focus on the bank work, perhaps do an errand or two for him. Of course Solomon will do whatever his brother asks. One night, Solomon is attacked in an unsafe neighborhood and Hannah Moses comes to his rescue. Hannah is poor and takes jobs that may not be exactly legal. She doesn’t see herself worthy of love and being older she’s no longer naive. Solomon is drawn to Hannah and can’t seem to stay away. He isn’t willing to leave his yarmulke or prayers behind, nor can he leave Hannah behind. Since Hannah runs a pawn shop is not at all what Frederick has in mind for Solomon.

There is much to enjoy with the manner in which Ms. Grossman integrated the world of the Jewish community within the Regency period, and how she used interwove aspects of the fairy tale.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#ForeverPublishing #Netgalley

I really wanted to love this book, and there was a lot I did like, but it ended up just being ok overall for me. First, I do love the historical Jewish London setting, and I think that aspect of the book is exceptionally well done. There is a great sense of place and atmosphere, and immersion, and I really appreciated that aspect of both books in this series. I do also enjoy the flipped dark fairy tale aspect of the series, although I felt like that worked better in the first book than in this one. Some of the fairy tale elements here I thought were clumsily shoved into the book and didn't fit the narrative well I liked both characters, but I struggled a bit to feel their connection. I felt like a lot of things were repeated over and over, lots of internal monologues about the reasons they couldn't be together, and it detracted from the romance. Some of the characters from the previous book show up, and while it was nice to see them, they seemed off from the first book and like they were here more as tools than as people. I also really didn't like the ending--I didn't think what happened made sense emotionally, and I disliked how little the main characters in this book really figured any of it out. Depending on what characters are in the next book I may or may not pick it up. I am curious about the midwife's daughter.

I've really enjoyed how layered this series is. Not only do you have a loose fairy tale retelling where the typical gender roles are reversed, but you also have complex characters and social expectations. It isn't just a romance for the sake of sexy times and swoon worthy moments (though there are plenty for sure), but an exploration of how people from the Jewish community loved and lived in the 1800s.

The integration of Jewish culture and religion is seamless and never feels like it is there to check the "diversity" box. It is so vital to every aspect of the the characters and the plot right from the start. While most historical romances I've read in the past focus on gender roles and societal expectations of said genders. So I've really enjoyed this Jewish lens applied to the story as I read this series.

My only "downside" to this story is that I find the writing rather wordy at times. This book feels long simply because of the writing. Plot-wise, the pacing is good and there is enough to keep me interested. I love the chemistry between our leads. I just find my mind wanders as I read long paragraph after paragraph.

I enjoy reading historical romances, but reading the same romance format gets boring after a while. So, I am always on the lookout for different historical romances (but do keep in context with the era the book is written in). So, when the Wake Me Most Wickedly widget slid into my inbox, I accepted immediately. Also, I had read the first book in the series and liked it.

Wake Me Most Wickedly is also a fairy tale retelling. I like reading fairy tale retelling and discovering how different authors interpret fairytales. Wake Me Most Wickedly is the retelling of Snow White. I admit I had an issue figuring out how Snow White fit into this. Thankfully, that only lasted for the first couple of chapters, and I enjoyed seeing how this retelling played out.

The main storyline of Wake Me Most Wickedly was your typical romance storyline. Hannah was an outcast in the Jewish community due to crimes that her parents and herself committed while running their pawnshop. Hannah spent two years in prison, and her parents were deported to a penal colony island (I figure it was either Australia or New Zealand). She continued running the pawn shop and took up a side gig of illegally hunting down things for her fence and clients. During one of those jobs, she saved Solomon from being attacked. Solomon, raised by his older brother after their father and his mother died, grew up very sheltered and had almost no worldly experience. Solomon soon becomes enamored with Hannah, much to her dismay. But even she can’t deny the scorching heat between them. When Solomon is injured after being chased by a group of men, Hannah investigates his accident. What she uncovers will rock Solomon’s world. Will her discovery mean the end of her relationship with Solomon?

The author graciously included content guidance at the beginning of the book. I love it when authors do that because I don’t have to take notes about content. At the end of the book (and she did this with the first book), she explains the history of the Jewish people in London’s East End and their treatment throughout the centuries.

I found Wake Me Most Wickedly’s storyline much darker than the first book. I wasn’t sure if I would like it (the first chapter has nonconsensual sexual contact). But, the deeper I got into the storyline, the more I understood why the author wrote this book the way she did. Not everything was sunshine and roses in Victorian London. For people experiencing poverty and those forced to live on the outskirts of their communities, life was awful. The author was correct in reflecting the tone of the book. It made the book much more interesting to read.

Hannah started the book off with me not liking her very much. She had a chip on her shoulder that came across in her words and actions. But, the more the author got into her backstory, the more I saw how those events shaped her into the woman she was in the book. I felt terrible for her because she honestly didn’t think she was attractive enough to a man to commit to and was focused on getting a dowry for Tamara. What got me onto Team Hannah was her fantastic character growth. By the end of the book, I was amazed by her strength and devotion to those she considered family and friends.

I liked Solomon, but he reminded me somewhat of a puppy. How? Well, he was hard to train (no matter what Hannah did to push him away, he still came back), he was loyal, even when the person he was faithful to didn’t deserve it, and he was fiercely protective of his family and friends. I was also on Team Solomon because he deserved to be seen for the man he was instead of the image that he put out for family and friends. The one thing that I didn’t like was that he had a prominent blind spot when it came to his brother. But I also understood. It made what Hannah told him so painful to hear.

The romance angle of Wake Me Most Wickedly was spicy. The author turned the heat up on the sex scenes, and they had me fanning myself. But the sex was only a part of the romance. Solomon and Hannah falling in love was sweet. While Solomon immediately knew that Hannah was the one for him, Hannah fought it tooth and nail. She used every excuse in the book (the age gap: her 32 to his 26), her past, that he was just infatuated with her, his brother, and the considerable class divide to try and drive him away. Thankfully, Solomon didn’t care and pursued her anyway.

A secondary storyline that cropped up around the middle of the book involved Solomon, his brother, and Hannah. I was absolutely disgusted by what Solomon’s brother did, but I like how Solomon’s friends rallied around him and turned it around. It was poetic justice how that storyline ended.

I loved how Wake Me Most Wickedly ended. It was your typical HEA. The epilogue, which takes place five years later, almost made me cry. It also made me wonder who the next book will be about. I have a feeling I know who, but I can’t wait to see if I am right.

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, NetGalley, and Felicia Grossman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly. All opinions stated in this review are mine.