Review: Wicked and the Wallflower (The Bareknuckle Bastards #1) by Sarah MacLean
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Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #1
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published June 19th 2018 by Piatkus Books
Goodreads Synopsis
When Wicked Comes Calling...
When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees—on one condition. She's seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won't accept a marriage without it.
The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain...
Bastard son of a duke and king of London's dark streets, Devil has spent a lifetime wielding power and seizing opportunity, and the spinster wallflower is everything he needs to exact a revenge years in the making. All he must do is turn the plain little mouse into an irresistible temptress, set his trap, and destroy his enemy.
For the Promise of Passion...
But there's nothing plain about Felicity Faircloth, who quickly decides she'd rather have Devil than another. Soon, Devil's carefully laid plans are in chaos, and he must choose between everything he's ever wanted...and the only thing he's ever desired.
Goodreads
Review
I've always heard so much love about Sarah's books, and since I've developed a slight obsession with historical romances, I decided to order her Bareknuckle Bastards series, and see what all the fuss was about.
In Wicked and the Wallflower, Felicity Faircloth is most definitely a spinster. After some disastrous events in recent years, leading to her 'friends' giving her the cut direct, she has somewhat embraced her wallflower status. But when the elusive Duke of Marwick, arrives in London, ready to take a bride, Felicity makes the mistake of claiming they are betrothed. Knowing this will embarrass her family further, especially when her father and brother have lost their fortunes, and they're relying on Felicity marrying well, Felicity can't imagine how this would work out well. Luckily, Devil turns up in her bedroom, climbing the trellis to enter, and promises her that he can help her land the duke, Felicity accepts, but is adamant for a marriage that has passion, and makes a deal with Devil for this. Devil has his own reasons for wanting to 'help'. The duke in question is his brother, Ewan, who he despises, and is desperate to destroy after what he did to the four of them when they were young. Devil, along with brother, Beast, and sort-of sister, Grace, rule Covent Gardens as the Bareknuckle Bastards, and they aren't ones to be crossed lightly. Devil is going to use Felicity to entice Ewan, and then steal her out from under him, but is it really stealing when she's a willing participant?
I just couldn't put this down when it finally arrived. Felicity was the type of character who was unassuming, but who would slowly make you fall for her, just like Devil did. Underneath her wallflower exterior is a fervour ready to burst out, and spending her time in Covent Gardens and with Devil is finally given her an outlet to do so. She has her little bit of fun by picking locks, but her family have never appreciated her, not like how Devil and his gang do. Devil, for all his gruff exterior, is a softy at heart, and he was gone far before he was willing to accept it. Really, from the moment he told the whole rookery that Felicity was his and off limits, it was inevitable for him to be head over heels in love. The two of them together really worked, and helped to bring out the best sides of one another. We saw Felicity grow and realise that the people in her life hadn't really cared about her, just what she could do for them, but Devil was nothing like that, and he has pushing her away for her sake, and not his own. Felicity also made Devil realise that he was better than he thought, and not to think he was wholly irredeemable because of his past. I adore these two, and can't wait to dive into Beast's book, where we'll hopefully see them again!
Dates Read:
May 27, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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