Her dream is to open a music hall. Only one thing stands in her way—the man she loves. The final Wicked Wallflowers novel from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.
THE SPITFIRE by CHRISTI CALDWELL
Publication date: September 17, 2019
Published by: Montlake
Series: Wicked Wallflowers #5
Genre: historical romance
Synopsis
Leaving behind her life as a courtesan and madam, Clara Winters is moving far from the sinful life to which she was accustomed in the gaming hell the Devil’s Den. Her more reputable and fulfilling endeavor is a music hall for the masses. One night, when she sees a man injured on the streets of East London, she rushes to his aid and brings him home. It’s then that she discovers he’s Henry March, Earl of Waterson, and a member of Parliament. No good can come from playing nursemaid to a nobleman.
When Henry rouses to meet his savior in blonde curls, he is dazzled. This smart and loving spitfire challenges his every notion of the lower classes—and every moment together is a thrill. But after Henry returns to his well-ordered existence, he strikes a political compromise that has unintended consequences. Will his vision for London mean dashing the dreams of his lovely guardian angel?
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Praise for Christi Caldwell’s The Wallflowers Series
“[A]n atmospheric and captivating romance." —Publishers Weekly on The Hellion
"The story gave me the angst and emotion I wanted and an ending that satisfied." —Red Hot Books on The Vixen
About Christi Caldwell
The author of The Hellion in her Wicked Wallflowers series, Christi lives in Southern Connecticut, where she spends her time writing, chasing after her son, and taking care of her twin princesses-in-training.
You can find her on:
The Spitfire by Christi CaldwellIt'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.
Is that . . . truly what the world thought of him? Nay, worse . . . his own mother? That he was so stodgy that any hint of mirth on his part must be a mark of madness?
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 TBR. No synopsis needed.
“You have tucked yourself into a drawer, like Schubert’s music; you speak of yourself as if you’re somehow second to anyone, when not even the damned sun could compare with you in brightness. The same way Schubert underestimated himself is what you’ve done, and you are, you are,” he repeated, caressing his palms down her arms, “superior to all, Clara Winters."
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