Over the last few years, I enjoyed the author’s books and I couldn’t pass the opportunity to read her newest story The wolf and the wildflower.

Talk about a wild ride and a bigger twist for a historical romance book. I loved how wild and untamed was the duke and how surprising and feminine was Jules. There’s a big twist when it comes to her but it’s one that I found empowering for the female characters of her time and I loved that the author has introduced her in this story.
Their chemistry is undeniable, their interactions are definitely something to make you laugh or swoon over and while there are many small scenes where the story gets more angsty and emotional, I think it’s well balanced overall.
I read it in one sitting and it made me want to read more stories like this, one where the main characters don’t fit in the imposed social mould but make a life for themselves outside of it.

Perfect read for any historical romance lovers.

NetGalley arc

What o BONKERS story! Honestly, I didnt grasp how crazy this plot was until I had to tell my sister about it! As I am retelling her the story, I had to stop and laugh at the ridiculousness of it. Mind you- my sister was super intrigued.
This was also my first Stacy Reid book, and now am super curious about her other books-- are they as bananas?

Summary-- This is a blend of Jungle Book and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, except Mowgli returns to civilization and is actually a Duke and Cesario is really a psychologist who has come to assess the Duke's mental capacity and who's male disguise fools everyone but him.

In general I liked the story, but there were aspects that I wish were either different or fleshed out-- mainly the side characters.

There were a ton of paranormal romance undertones- so if you dont want to read PRN but want a dash of crazy in your historical romance-- pick this book up!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The heroine has been disguised as a boy since birth due to her mother's choice. Due to that, she had benefited from the disguise and is now a promising psychologist, assisting her father at his work. This is when the disguised heroine meets the hero, who had been lost for a decade in the wilderness and has returned to civilization. However, the hero had lived in such a way that if he doesn't change his ways, his family may end up ruined. The heroine and the hero are attracted to each other, and both must make decisions that will determine their future in society and with each other.

This is an entertaining Stacy Reid book. This historical romance features an interesting twist to the couple's journey towards their happy ending. I enjoyed how the heroine is coping as a disguised person and how the hero changed the downtrodden path the heroine's life was going towards with his appearance. I also liked how the hero grew in this story and how he persevered in the society that he returned to. It would have been nice to have some more details in certain areas of the story to enrich them, but the overall story is still entertaining. Also, some secondary characters deserved futures relative to their actions in my eyes. Still an enjoyable Stacy Reid book.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

May I start by saying… that Stacy Reid is the master of first kisses. I always anticipate it in her books… then when I get it… holy combustion!! I don’t even realize I’ve been holding my breath the whole time I was reading… then whooosh!! The world rights itself, but I’m still reeling from the beauty and passion I’ve just read. And that’s just the first kiss scene. Combine it with all the fantastic elements… the meeting, the courtship, the happy ending. So much feels!! Just brilliant!!

Jules (aka Wildflower) and James were such an interesting couple. Like this premise just blows my freaken mind. She’s been pretending to be a boy for 23yrs…. And he was lost in the great ice-capped mountains of Canada for 10yrs. Like what?! Together they understand each other’s isolation and the pretense they had to present to society. But when it’s just the two of them, Jules and James see each other, they know their truth, they are free to be themselves. Imma like, wow. The depth of feelings between James and Jules was so stunningly beautiful. I was in awe of them.

I did not ugly cry af, which is a total requirement for me, but I had to give this story 5 stars. Such a unique theme with unforgettable characters who punched me in the feels. I was glued to the pages riding this wave of awesomeness until the end… then I had a standing ovation par’tay for Stacy Reid!! Girl can write, y’all!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.

So good! Very unique plot! Review already submitted to goodreads. Stacy Reid continues to be a must buy author for me.

I thought that this book was absolutely amazing! This book offers fresh and unique twists that really captured my attention and interest. At its heart it is an exceedingly swoon worthy historical romance with a very original spin that 100% worked for me. I fell hard and fast for James and Jules and if you are like me and enjoy the taste of something different and above the norm you absolutely MUST check this book out.

Wow, this is different for sure but in a good way. When Jules was born her mother was half dead from the pregnancies her father forced on her mother in order to get a son. When her mother first delivered her she thought midwife said it was a boy and her husband heard and celebrated. Then after talking with midwife and realizing the mistake she decided to deceive her husband so he would not force her to try for another child right away. Jules mother loves her father and her father supposedly loves her mother except when it comes to wanting a boy that takes precedence. That is another reason for deception so she doesn’t lose his regard. This is all in prologue then we jump right in to Jules being 23 and just returning from schooling for psychology. Jules likes being able to live as a man in some aspects, she enjoys the freedom and education she’s received but longs to live as a woman and tell her father. Her mother guilts her continuously into not revealing herself. Her father is a psychiatrist and is asked by dowager duchess to evaluate her son who has just returned from being lost at sea for 10 years. He’s basically regarded as a caveman/beast. However he just doesn’t care enough to correct their assessment. He is in some ways feral but he was 18 when he went missing so he knows somewhat better just doesn’t really care to change to the civilized Duke they want. The doctor brings his “son”Jules along to Dukes residence to evaluate and help reintroduce him to society. The Duke wants nothing to do with the doctor but his son intrigues the Duke because the Duke sees through her disguise. Their first meeting was wow, not anything I was expecting but oddly pretty intense and 🥵! So the Duke agrees to work with Jules and Jules alone. They learn each others secrets and develop an attraction that feels like desperation and need at first and I was loving it. This was a great love story of learning to love and live as yourself for yourself and finding someone who relates and loves you for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing ARC in exchange for honest review.

Two impossible backstories....

How awesome is this book? Rubs hands gleefully. First, you have Jules. She was raised from birth to hide her sex as female and has been raised as a son by her father. Her mother needed the subterfuge that she gave birth to a boy. So, though Jules is highly educated and very intelligent, she carries the burden and freedom of living as a man. She is an alienist or psychologist, just like her father. They have been tasked with taking the measure of the lost duke.

James, the Duke of Wulverton was lost at eighteen in the wilds of Canada. There he survived and thrived for a decade. Now, he's hauled unwillingly back into society to claim the title of duke and to enter an entirely new jungle, the wildness and cutthroat marriage mart of the haut ton. Think Tarzan but in the frozen tundra. Oh, and they have three weeks to accomplish that task.

Super smart, very self aware and simmering with steamy attraction.
Highly Recommend.

Another good offering from Stacy Reid. From the first chapter the story is gripping and it gets better and better. Jules had a big secret. She was brought up as a Man since birth. James just returned to society after going missing for 10 years. Very good story telling of two worlds colliding. Good pace and good characters development. A big thumb up.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley and the opinion expressed here is my own.

Call of the Wild

Stacy Reid returns with another remarkable romance about finding love through acceptance, in The Wolf and the Wildflower. Due to her mother’s delicate health, and her father’s desperate desire for a son, Jules Southby has been raised as a man all her life. Studying to be a psychologist like her father, Jules becomes involved in a high-profile case. The Duchess of Wulverton visits them with a desperate plea to help her son. James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton, has been lost in the Yukon Territory in the Canadian wilds since he was a young man, and he has deeply changed. Jules must help him pass as sane in front of the Queen and all of England, or lose everything.

It is refreshing to have a female character free to do all that men can in a romance. Jules regrets that she is not free to reveal her true identity, but to do so would shame her father. She has had the opportunity to go to university and learn a skill not many people have the chance to achieve. Though she regrets the loss of a future with a family, or an honest relationship with her father. Her insights on psychology are interesting, and it is her empathy with James which makes her an admirable future doctor.

James has had to learn how to survive on his own, and the nuances of English society seem unimportant. Despite everything he is still willing to work hard, and to do what he must, to be the leader of his family. He is deeply lonely, and Jules comes to him when he needs a friend. Someone to slowly help fill the emptiness he feels with family, to express his hidden feelings, and prepare him for the expectations of society. Most importantly they find acceptance, and an honest relationship.

Stacy Reid does a great job presenting the kind treatment of mental health despite the era. Jules is infinitely patient with James, and meets him where he is willing to go. The clever banter between Jules and James is a lot of fun. They are both intelligent, clever, and teasing which makes a lot of delightful dialogue. There is plenty of building romantic tension, flirting, and a spicy romance. Their relationship is based on friendship and shared understanding which is lovely.

A brief warning for a difficult birth, a mention of vomiting, and occasional swearing.

I have a new favorite microtrope. The hero smelling the heroine.  Like full on, nose against body, inhaling her scent like they are trying to put it in their brain.

James Winters, Duke of Wulverton, has spent the last ten years surviving the wild lands of the Yukon. Jules Southby has spent the last 23 years living as a man bc of a misunderstanding at her birth and a continued deception of her mother. [Yes, it is as banonkers (bananas and bonkers) and infuriating as it sounds.] Both are lonely and understand isolation amidst a crowd. Their paths cross when Jules and her father, a mind doctor, are hired to ensure James is mentally stable enough to hold the title and can be "civilized" again.

Jules is happy(ish) living as a man and enjoying the freedoms of a man even if she may never marry or experience the love of a man which is something she secretly desires. James balances the weight of the Dukedom on his shoulders, a responsibility he was raised to inherit and cannot shirk. It is imperative that he make a respectable, scandal-free match. However, James agrees to talk with Jules if she shares her secrets with him in return. As he makes her see what she wants from life, they must resist the more intimate--and igniting--connection they have. Jules sees James' fighting spirit as he strived to survive  the wild and accepts him as he rather than the man society wants him to be. After being alone for a decade,  James does not enjoy physical touch. Jules has lived a life devoid of touch and intimacy for fear of discovery. She knows the longing looks they share could be misinterpreted and cause scandal or even arrest.

This is one of those books that I just enjoyed so much that I struggle to tell you why. The premise feels so unique even if we've read books before about a somewhat feral Duke (but have we though? Recently?) and a lady disguised as a man, this felt different.

TWATW is book 4 of the Sinful Wallflowers series. As a strict series reader, I wasn't bothered missing book 3 but will go back for it!

Intimate, *sensual* scenes but not overly explicit.

Thank you Stacy Reid & Entangled Publishing for the ARC.

He is found after 10 years leaving alone in mountains. His family find a doctor who will help with his mind. Doctor has a son who will help. Everything changes when Duke smell Jules, and let him know that he knows his secret.
At the end both decide to stop worrying about what society will think and say, they will spend their life happy.
Enjoyed the storyline very much.

⇢ Set in Victorian London, "The Wolf and the Wildflower" by Stacy Reid is a captivating historical romance novel that follows the story of James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton, who returns to his family and society after being lost at sea for ten years. He must transform into a refined and elegant duke in three weeks to save his family's reputation, and Jules Southby, a psychologist who has been living as a boy her entire life, is tasked with helping him. However, as they spend more time together and develop a beautiful connection, their attraction grows stronger, and they must navigate their forbidden love amidst their own secrets and the pressures of society.

⇢ The writing style of Reid is engaging and descriptive, with vivid imagery that brings the historical setting to life. The characters are well-developed, and their motivations and conflicts are believable and relatable. James is a complex and tortured hero, while Jules is a brave and independent heroine who challenges traditional gender roles.

⇢ One of the central themes of the book is the idea of identity and self-discovery. Both James and Jules struggle with their own secrets and past traumas, and their relationship helps them confront and overcome them. The novel also explores themes of societal expectations and gender roles, as Jules challenges the limitations placed on women during this time period.

⇢ Overall, “The Wolf and the Wildflower" is a stunning historical romance that promises to captivate fans of the genre, offering a beautifully crafted story that transports the reader to another time and place. Reid's ability to weave complex themes into the story adds depth and emotional resonance to the plot, providing a rewarding read. This book will leave you swept away by its beauty, both in terms of the writing and the love story it tells, and of course, for the steamy and passionate scenes between the couple.

I would like to thank so much Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Story setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Page-turner”: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such an unusual story! Sort of a Tarzan type retelling but with wolves. I thoroughly enjoyed how unique and different this plot was and while you did need to suspend belief a bit it was very well written and included some great story telling. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton, was just rescued after being stranded for ten years in the Canadian wilderness. He’s survived the wild, but can he survive the haut ton now that he’s back in England? James’ mother, fearing a scandal, enlists Dr. Southby, a “doctor of the mind,” and his son Jules, to evaluate James and prepare him for society. But Mr. Jules Southby has a secret. HE is actually a SHE. Raised as a male since birth, Jules is a master of disguise. But James sees right through it, and the attraction they have for one another CANNOT be denied.

This book took my breath away. I’d never highlighted anything on my Kindle before, ever, and I found myself highlighting line after line in this gorgeous novel. The writing was just beautiful. Jules and James both feel isolated and alone, but the long-forgotten hope they find in each other is nothing short of inspiring. The freedom they experience together, regardless of what they were doing, felt so vivid I could almost feel them jumping off the page and coming to life.

From the first time James smells Jules, I was under this book’s spell. The intimacy and emotion, the depths of which even they don’t fully grasp in the beginning, was absolutely enthralling. The way they explored each other and woke one another up to fully LIVING. It was BEAUTIFUL. I went into this book expecting a formulaic historical romance about navigating society, but I got SO MUCH MORE. Part of what made this book a page-turner was not being able to guess how this would unfold. If it wasn’t a romance novel, I’d have absolutely assumed that they wouldn’t be able to end up together because their very realistic obstacles are just too high. Thank goodness it's a romance novel with that all-important Happily Ever After! The way the book concludes had me happy crying. What a satisfying and surprising ending! I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I'd like to thank Entangled Publishing, LLC. and Netgalley for this e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ahhhh I loved this! Stacy Reid knows how to tug at my heartstrings, I swear it! This book had all the sweet nothings you could want-honestly some of it was too much and quite corny but I still kinda ate it up because I LOVE romance novels. I would definitely say that this is a great book if you enjoyed that Yarzan movie with Alexander Skarsgard because it definitely has that intelligent, sexy wild man vibe to it in the form of the main love interest. Our lady is not a lady at all but a woman who was raised as a man from birth! Note this is not a transgender person or trans romance. She is now 23 and fully aware she is a woman but living in a time when her male upbringing means she does not know how to be a woman—only knowing how women are expected to behave in public. So it’s very interesting how Reid plays with this idea of masking and uses it to find a similarity with the Duke, who is recently returned from living alone in the wilds of Canada for 10 years after getting lost at 18. He has to resume his title and his place in society in mere WEEKS! Frankly the way you can’t have a character up and yell at a duchess is really very frustrating because my god some compassion and time to heal for this poor soul please!!!

Anyway, Ms. Stacy Reid tapped into her wild side for this one and the romance was spectacularly hot while maintaining the tenderness she imbues in all her romances. I’m a softy for true love forever after so I stan. I also now want an elaborate treehouse in a forest. This book comes complete with HEA, instalust, and a super strong sense of smell if you are into that! I also appreciate the cute nicknames, which will never ever be overdone for me. I accept all the cute pet names for couples forevermore.

To sum up, if you love anything Stacy Reid histrom, this is not one to miss. And if you don’t like slightly long winded declarations of love….you can just read over those a bit faster lol—that being said there were a few great lines in there that even Austen would appreciate!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for inviting me to read an advanced reader’s copy of this title. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

In The Wolf and the Wildflower, two lost souls find themselves and each other. When James, Duke of Wulverton, returns to London after being lost at sea, his family despairs of his icy remove and rough-hewn manners. Determined to turn James into the perfect duke, they call upon psychologists Dr. Charles Southby and his son, Jules Southby to reacclimate James to society. However, when James realizes that Jules Southby is a woman in disguise, these shared secrets give way to a friendship then attraction then love. For two people who cannot afford scandal, a future together seems all but impossible.

This was fantastic. I think this is my favorite Stacy Reid novel, and one of my favorite historical romances so far of 2023. The premise is a bit out-there, so readers might need to suspend a little disbelief— but it all still really worked for me. I loved James and Jules as a couple, as Reid does a great job of showing the characters’ genuine friendship, love, and 🔥chemistry. The built-in conflict that separate James and Jules makes a lot of sense for their characters, and, so when they finally do get together, I really felt that they had earned their happy ending. The pacing is tight and engaging, without any chapters or scenes that feel wasted. All in all, this was such a fun read, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who are interested in a historical romance with a Tarzan flare. A good fit for our digital collection. 4.5 stars.

Leave your beliefs at the door and enjoy this new story that pulls at the
imagination!

This author weaves a tale of a man lost in the wilderness for ten years
and his reintroduction into to society and the lady who helped him!!

I loved this historical romance. The Wolf and Wildflower caught my interest from the prologue and held my attention until the end.

I loved the plot. It was a bit unique and not what I was expecting from a historical romance. It was a forbidden tale that was told in dual POV, was well-written and layered and gave all the feels.

I loved the characters. James and Jules were complex yet likable individuals, both of whose lives took an unexpected turn from early on and it shaped the people are now. From the moment they met they both saw through the other's facade and were able to be themselves with each other.

However it was the undeniable chemistry and passion between our two main characters that I loved the most. The author wrote the story in such a way that you could feel every bit of the longing between them and I was glued to every page.

However, I will admit, I felt that the ending was a rushed and the author quickly tied up loose ends. Throughout the novel, I kept wondering how it would all play out, so I wasnt expecting that low angst ending, but it work and did not detract from the story.

Overall this novel was an excellent read. I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Jules has been hiding her true self from society her whole life, James has been hiding out with wolves and now he finds himself lost in the wilds of London Society. When Jules is asked to help him out, will they both find a way to each other? Stacy Reid never lets you down in the Chemistry department - and this story is no exception. Jules and James have Chemistry from the second they meet. This wasn't my favorite Stacy Reid romance ever but it's a story that will pull you in from the beginning!

Thanks to NetGalley and Stacy Reid for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.