Henry/Lord Waterson- An earl and a member in parliament.
Clara-an ex courtesan who is trying to start up a music hall
I enjoyed reading this dramatic story that is well written with strong characters. The H and h had a lot to conquer in this story. Both had to reevaluate their opinion about status/classes of people and each other. The ending seemed rushed. Their story has an incomplete and unsatisfying ending/HEA. This story needs an epilogue or another chapter to answered many questions and to ensure an HEA.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review one of your titles. Unfortunately, this title didn’t work for me and I have chosen not to review it.

Please also let me extend my apologies for this being so incredibly late (as I am guessing it’s more than obvious I didn’t review at this point) as I like to hold negative or DNF reviews until a title is no longer available on NetGalley, and sometimes posting once it has been archived slips my mind.

Again I found this one boring and unoriginal. I don't remember anything memorial about the story or even the characters. I didn't care about any of them. The recipe of Romance Novels needs a new ingredient. I'm a sucker for Regency and England stories but this one didn't hold me.

Clara and Henry are interesting, if opposite, characters. If not for a chance meeting when Henry is injured and nearly murdered in the slums of London, they never would have known each other. The book covers a decent amount of time, with multiple month and week-long time jumps. That makes the plot move quicker, but also gives the illusion of the characters falling for each other faster than they do. One thing I really liked was that Clara was the experienced one and Henry...wasn't. That said, I felt like basically all of the problems in the book came down to bad communication between the characters, specifically on the part of Henry. He lies or omits things to Clara, which isn't exactly the foundation of a strong relationship. I think he was redeemable, but the book didn't give him enough time to truly earn it. It also had one of my pet peeves which is <spoiler>DON'T SLEEP WITH SOMEONE BEFORE TELLING THEM SOMETHING IMPORTANT, it always ends badly</spoiler>. There was the bones of an external subplot that I think would have worked better as the main plot, with character miscommunication being more of a minor issue. Also, the book wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste. I would have liked one or two more chapters or an epilogue.

Our hero, Henry, is troubled by an attack which his sister suffered. He works tirelessly to convince parliament to fund a police force. He's mature and no rake. One night he's left bleeding and Clara, our heroine, saves him. Clara nurses Henry in her home. Clara has dreams of her own. She wants to open a music hall. Will their dreams be able to work together?

Christi Caldwell, weaves stories with excellent skill and the spitfire is no exception. Awknderfuk historicalromance I fell in love with from the first page. I can’t wait to read more by this author who has quickly become a favorite of mine.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book k have read into this series and like the first one, I very much enjoyed. However, it is not necessary to have reas the first book in order to enjoy this one. With all the books I have read in this genre, Henry and Clara are definitely a unique H/h. Clara is a former courtesan and madam who wants to open a music theater. While Henry is a conservative and proper member of parliament. The two meet when Clara saves Henry for dying after he is attacked in 7 dials. Henry's growth and changes are realistic and he becomes a fully developed character. I can't wait to read what comes next from Christi Caldwell.

Probably would give this one 3.5 stars if I could.

I really liked that we had an older heroine, with a past. Clara Winters is determined to rise above her career as a courtesan and madam, by starting up her own music hall for all classes. One night she discovers the rigidly proper and aristocratic Henry March, Earl of Waterson. bleeding and badly injured from a vicious street attack. She rescues him, gets him to her home and nurses him, despite her foreboding that her kindhearted actions will backfire on her in some way. Clara isn’t ashamed of her past which was refreshing to read.

Henry is working as hard as he can to get parliament to fund a London police force, driven by an horrific attack that his sister endured which has changed her utterly. When he meets Clara, he is immediately attracted to her, but can her desire for her Music Hall and his bargain to deliver his Police Force be reconciled.

Henry is older too, in his forties, and he hasn’t really ever let himself go. He is tormented by the change in his sister, and has already decided he will do anything to protect the streets of London, including making a deal with the vicious and strait laced Lord Peerson. Was also refreshing to read a hero who isn’t a rogue, a rake or a libertine.

The issues with the book for me was that the conflict was too easily resolved, I think Henry needed to grovel a bit more, as well.

My other bugbear was the ending was too rushed.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

Strong heroine, emotional growth and an incredibly unlikely love story that makes you want to ignore the obstacles and probabilities and just enjoy the love story, and most will.

My suggestion for readers interested in looking at this book, is to read some of the reviews beforehand, there will be some of you who don't want to out of personal preference to read about a woman with a past as a prostitute/Madam for example.

However, for those that do decide to read this, be warned, you might fall a little bit in love with Henry.

“Loving someone isn’t about controlling them. It is about loving them and supporting them.”

Ms. Caldwell writes banter extremely well. I found myself chuckling multiple times during this read. So fun!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I adored the banter between Clara and Henry. I loved that even though Clara’s life had been rough, and she thought she was hardened, she cared for those around her and wanted to make a sort of haven for women needing other options. Henry is stuffy and set in his ways, but after meeting Clara he begins to see how empty his life is. Their chemistry was intense and I really wish I could read more of them.

I have been reading Christi Caldwell for quite some time now. She always writes intelligent heroines who are able to save themselves while also falling in love with a man who appreciates that within them. Perfect romance set up right?! Well, The Spitfire continues this wonderful tradition. Filled with intrigue, class notions, and the strong will of one woman, this book was a delight to read.

This is a very enjoyable reading!

I do appreciate novels where the hero or heroine (or both) don't fit into the overly used type of character you find in historical romances. Clara, on top of being an former prostitue and madam, is also an very poised, calm and reassuring person, I did like her very much indeed.

This is all framed in a very nice writing style. It amaze me how the author always manage to deliver, despite her very prolific production (generally if you write and publish so many novels you do end up put something out that is not up to expectation). I don't think I have ever read a Caldwell's novel that I did not enjoy. She goes straight to the point.

This wasn’t my favorite of this series, but that’s like rating a delicious chocolate croissant below another French bakery treat—still delightful to read. I loved loved loved having a former courtesan as the heroine because they deserve love too, and overall found this series to be a delight. Sister’s book next please!

It has been awhile since I have read a Christi Caldwell book, and I am so glad I got back into her stories with this one! While this is the 5th book in her Wicked Wallflowers series, it can be read as a standalone (I have not read the previous books and had no trouble navigating this one).

Clara Winters wants to start over - she is tired of her life in the gaming hells where she has been a courtesan. Before she can get established in her new life, she unexpectedly encounters Henry March, Earl of Waterson, who has been grievously injured. She cannot turn her back on a man in need, so she plays nursemaid during his recovery, and as the two of them get to know each other, sparks fly. Though Henry knows Clara is of the lower class, he does not know exactly what her life before meeting him was like, and Clara is obviously loathe to tell him. Is there any hope for these two people from very different worlds to find a life together?

Christi Caldwell never disappoints me. I loved it. The ending was a little rushed, but not unsatisfying.

There is one word to describe this book: mediocre. There is nothing special. I honestly wonder if my reading countless number of historical fiction has made me immune to all the scandals and kind of characters that can be found in nearly all of them.

Clara Winters dreams to open her very own music hall. After a life as a courtesan and a madam, it is the best kind of life she can bring to herself and all those of a lower station. She will become an independent woman, self-made and earning her own keep, away from the sins of the Devil's Den. One night, she finds a man being attacked on the streets, and she rushes to his aid. It is only later on that she finds out the man is nobility: Henry March, the Earl of Waterson. When Henry wakes, he is attracted to his saviour. Through the challenges that this spitfire poses to him, Henry finds himself changing. He finds himself living life more, becoming 'less proper'. But his goals in Parliament remains as top priority, even if it may bring down the dreams of Miss Winters.

The two characters are indeed likeable, albeit typical. We have a man being changed by the woman by so much, that everyone around him continually points it out. Clara is headstrong, and she constantly challenges Henry on how the people belonging to the lower classes live, which in turn caused him to change. But the execution of it left me dubious. In my eyes, Henry is already someone who is sympathetic, drafting laws to end slavery, etc. So how much he has 'changed' was really lost to me. And just from one meeting, Henry is actually able to change so much? It's extremely hard to believe. Yes, he almost lost his life, perhaps causing a paradigm shift, but so much so he can become someone who jokes easily? I don't think so. Plot is so-so; there is something about it that left me quite... bored. I don't find myself compelled to continue the story no matter which point I'm at (other than the beginning, when I'm still getting to learn about our two MCs). What's more, the ending is pretty rushed.

I would say that I would only recommend this to readers who have nothing else to read.

I really wanted to like this book - an interesting premise in the period, but I couldn't connect with either character and didn't really feel there was much tension between them. Also the overuse of the word 'mayhap' was completely distracting (I felt like it was on every other page). DNF, 20%.

This is my favorite series yet from Christi Caldwell. The icing on the cake was this story with the unexpected pairing of Clara and Henry. I loved that of the two, the proper and stoic Henry was the one I found more lacking in character. Clara was the most sensible and such a beacon in a dark world. That being said, they both benefited from the others strengths. If this really is the end to the series (please, please tell Lila's story), then an epilogue would been greatly appreciated and is the only reason that I'm not giving it a 5 star rating. Well done!

A beautifully written Historical romance, as usual, by this author. The back story is entertaining and I especially liked the first few chapters where Clara finds Henry being assaulted by thugs. and drags him home to look after him. The romance is slow burn throughout, until around 80 percent and you do feel the sizzle of their attraction for the entire book, so nothing feels lacking. When the H/h finally do get together, those scenes are tasteful, steamy and romantic and well done. This is part of a series, but I haven't read the previous 2 books as yet and this story really does stand alone. Her best friend Reggie's romance is in the book before, I assume. The Historical details re London, clothing, manners etc are nicely done. I recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars. Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.