0Hello! I really appreciate Netgalley and the approval given to me to read an ARC of the Wolf of Mayfair. I have loved books by Christi Caldwell, and I always feel transported whenever I read her books. She is a wonderful author. I was excited to read the Wolf of Mayfair. While I wanted to like the characters - and I initially did - I found parts of the story a bit disturbing. I do not want to give anything away, but I wanted to suggest that there be a disclaimer up front, before Chapter 1. I know other books with particular scenes that conjure particular images and actions will have disclaimers to warn readers. I found the story a bit hard to follow throughout, but the dialogue and writing are quintessential Christi Caldwell. I might have disconnected myself a little in the story because of some of the implications from the character backstories. I sort of thought there was a lot of 'sameness' in the first quarter of the book - the story/plot did not move as quickly as I would have liked. I think, as mentioned, due to some confusion I had with characters and some discomfort with some of the plot, I was not as enamored of this novel as I have been of Christi Caldwell's others. That said, though, I always look forward to her forthcoming books. Thank you! :)

What a whirlwind of emotions, this story couldn't be more beautiful. It was like peeling an onion, layer after layer to get to the heart of it.
It was such a wonderful book full of feelings, going from egoism and irreverence to caring and love.

When Helia Mairi Wallace, daughter of the late Laird Kilmarnock and Earl of Buccleuch arrives in the middle of a storm at the door of Lord Wingrave (Anthony) seeking help to save her from her greedy cousin, who wants to marry her just for her dowry, he won't believe her about the connection their mothers should've been having, as his father the Duke despises everything Scottish.

Yet he doesn't throw her out into the storm and let her stay. During her stay, she runs out and becomes sick and Lord Wingrave personally takes care of her, as he's reminded of the last moments with his late brother. When she finally restores her health, he starts to enjoy her company slowly and is overwhelmed with her spirit. When she then beginns to call him Anthony and gets under his skin, he starts to fall in love with her. Yet what is the alternative as the Duke won't ever allow any connection to a Scott. Is it possible to go against the Duke's opinion and have a life filled with love or is it just a wish that couldn't be fulfilled?

Perfection - from the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from a gothic romance to the feel of the story. Grumpy Let-me-Scare-Everyone (not his real name, hehe) has no idea what is about to happen to him and that is a guy I love to read. I chuckled at a good bit of the dialog and I cried. Damn, Christi gets me every single time. The romance is beautifully written. I don’t know if this book is a one-off or the start of a new series but I would love to see Christi write more in this style of gothic romance.

An interesting story that pulls you in quickly. Great storyline that keeps you wanting more information about the characters. Steamy parts that will make you blush. Storyline seems to drop off a bit and leaves you feeling lost. May be an awesome read to others. Just not the book for me. I received an advanced readers copy of this book

Overall the story was good but there were aspects of the dialogue that just annoyed me . And the ending seemed kinda rushed

In an attempt to escape the vile fortune-hunting cousin who just inherited her father’s title, Miss Helia Wallace seeks the aid of her mother’s old friend, the Duchess of Talbert. When she shows up at Lady Talbert’s London home during a snow storm, she is instead greeted by the Marquess of Wingrave, a renowned rake and as*hole.

Anthony became the heir to the dukedom after a tragic accident that claimed his brother’s life and left him with partial hearing loss. On top of both physical and verbal abuse from his father, the loss of his brother, and a disability, he was the recent victim of a runaway bride. Needless to say, he is a massive curmudgeon.

When a bedraggled Scottish woman shows up at his front door claiming to be his mother’s god daughter, Anthony wants nothing more than to toss her into the storm and nope out of this situation. But Helia’s fiery spirit and lack of fear intrigue him enough to allow her to stay.

This was my first novel by Christi Caldwell and a SUPER quick read clocking in at less than 300 pages. However, I think particular story could have used a few more chapters to flesh out a more satisfying redemption arc for our friend Tony. He was the definition of an alpha hero, and while I personally prefer my alphas to be super babygirl on the inside, this one was just a real crumb up until the minute he was not. It would have been great to see him become a bit more undone. I adored Helia, though! Her character was a dynamic spitfire who also possessed really lovely softness. She understood exactly why Anthony was a crab and her empathy allowed her to consider this when he behaved badly, but she also wasn’t afraid to tell him he was being a jerk right to his face.

Overall a solid read, and I’ll definitely be checking out some more of Caldwell’s books.

3.5/5 ⭐️s rounded up to 4

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

A very erotic romance of a marquess bitter over the life he's had to live. Master of himself and those around him, he takes what he wants with no conscience, until a young woman with a Scottish brogue shows up at the door. Alone in the house, he reminds her that staying with him will ruin her reputation. With no where else to go and a snow storm, she has no choice but to stay. It's safer than going back to Scotland. What they discover is passion and a lasting connection. Caldwell never disappoints in writing a gripping romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for a review copy.

This was a quicka nd easy read. Christi Caldwell writes a tight story.

In the Wolf of Mayfair we have an alphahole rake and a naive yet wise innocent. Helia is lovely and we get just enough of Anthony to see him get attached. What doesn't really work for me is how quickly this all happens. at the same time,giving space fo that character development would make for a larger story that could feel heavy by comparison.

Reading that paragraph, I guess I'm not sure if I was looking for more or appreciate the quick light read. I've missed historical alphaholes so I actully like Anthony more than he deserves.

Well written and fun.

I realized while reading this book that I’ve read countless Scottish heroes, but almost never a Scottish heroine! Why those “naes” and “kens” should be reserved for men to say, I don’t know, and it’s a wrong that must be righted‼️ So, I appreciate the author and our heroine Helia for giving me what I didn’t know I was missing!

Story-wise, I liked the individual characters, especially Helia and her strong will. I also liked a lot of the plot beats, but I just felt they didn’t string together super smoothly. If you like hurt/comfort and angst, there were moments of those I definitely ate up, but as a whole I thought their relationship progressed a bit too quickly for my taste. I needed more time with the characters and to witness more interactions.

I love me a grumpy asshole hero on occasion (sue me!), because they tend to be really entertaining, and Anthony was no exception. But, I didn’t connect with him as much as I wanted to. He was damaged, and I wanted more time to see him actually change, rather than go from point A to point D quite quickly.

This was definitely a fun and original read, and if you’re looking for a Scottish heroine, this book has brogue for days. I had some pacing issues that tampered with my ability to connect to the hero and the story, but that's personal preference.

Overall, 3/5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of The Wolf of Mayfair via Netgalley. Christi Caldwell has a way of intertwining her readers into her characters and stories and make them come alive. Helia Wallace, has sought refuge in the home of her mother's friend, a Duchess. The Duchess' son, The Marquess of Wingrave, is a depraved man who grants her staying at his residence even though he doubts the friendship Helia refers to, thinking perhaps she willbe ruined and become his temporary mistress.  What he doesn't expect is that she will open up his sealed heart and intrude into his very existence by falling ill. A remarkable storyof resilience and the belief that things can change if we but try.

This one didn't do it for me. I read through to the end hoping I'd end up connecting more to the main characters or they to each other, but I just didn't feel it.

I thank #NetGalley and #Montlake for allowing me to read this romance ahead of its official publication date. 

#TheWolfofMayfair

"The Wolf of Mayfair" is the delicious story about Anthony Blofield, Marquess of Wingrave, a cold and aloof man jaded from a series of heartbreaks in his life, and Miss Helia Wallace a sunny and sociable woman seeking aid from his mother. From the beginning this book is different from previous books from this author, grittier and less sweet, it has an emotional authenticity that is engaging. Reading as Anthony slowly thawed from Helia's warmth was gratifying. I wanted more in the end, so hopefully they will be in future books.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily read and reviewed it with my own honest opinion.

What an unexpected pleasure this book was to read. Although a little darker in tone, it was a compelling story of a damaged man who finally chooses the light. Helia was the perfect counterpart to Anthony, the Marquess of Wingrave, a man so emotionally damaged he was numb. She was full of light and heart. The story itself was well-paced and both Helia and Wingrave were incredibly engaging. I fell into their world and was fully engrossed in the story, I could not put it down. I know this is a book I will come back to and read multiple times. Disclaimer: I received an early copy of the book for an honest review.

Sadly, I struggled with this one, just wasn't the read for me. The MMC was rude for most of the book, so I couldn’t quite feel the connection between the two. However, it was perfect once the walls came down. He was having none of that, whenever she’d leave the estate.

Overall, it was a quick read and it was nice to dive back into a historical romance. It has been a while.

Lord Wingrave was totally opposite of previous regency books I have read and a wolf is exactly how I would describe him. He was all alpha and intense. Sweet little Helia showed she could hold her own with everyone in the castle. If you like your historical romances and want something with more than just a spark, this one is for you.

This book has me a little conflicted on how to rate it. Overall, I think Caldwell writes quite beautifully, but this book wasn't for me.

My issue with this novel is that I struggled to stay engaged for the first 60% of the book and considered not finishing on multiple occasions. Upon reading other reviews, I pushed through, and there was an uplift in the story that was more engaging and had more action leading to the end.

While I enjoyed the ending, the book went from slow and drawn out to more rushed. The sudden shift in the relationship almost felt out of character.

Overall, I enjoy Caldwell's writing style, but this novel wasn't my cup of tea.

I really struggled to stay interested in this book. I felt like it was very rushed and under developed and left me wanting more. The first 50% of The Wolf of Mayfair really captivated me and had really good bones to make for a great story but I found myself skimming large potions of the book in order to stay engaged in the last half.

I loved Helia Wallace’s character, I found her to be head strong, witty, and her temperament was very consistent through the book. Anthony’s character on the other hand I did not like. He was just cruel with his words and actions and the way he was so hot and cold with his emotions gave me whiplash. One moment he couldn’t wait to try to get into Helia’s skirts and the next he was basically telling her she was no better than a wh*re and she wasn’t good enough to be his mistress, let alone his wife, even though he had ruined her reputation.

Overall, it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read and at only 213 pages I feel like if the plot lines had been expanded on and Anthony had been given a little longer to make up for his previous narcissistic behaviors it could’ve been a 4+ star book.

Thank you to the Author, Net Galley, and the Montlake Publishers for the ARC in return I give you my fair and honest review.

I thought this would be a Gothic romance with beauty and the beast vibes, but I found nothing romantic about this story. It has a cruel and condescending hero and there’s no reason for the heroine to be attracted to him. Helia is incredibly naive but she still deserves better than this guy. He’s just a predator.
Aside from that, there’s a lot of introspection from her and I wish we knew earlier why the cousin wanted Helia. There was too much of a “I can fix him” vibe for me. And in the end, he has no reckoning, no grovelling, we see none of his thought process on how he even chose to marry Helia let alone love her and treat her like a human being..

FOUR SHINING STARS FOR MISS CALDWELL’S ANTHONY AND HELIA!
I feel like I’ve found my new favourite HR author, an author who could easily fill the Tessa Dare shaped hole in my heart.
Anthony’s the resident grump, and he has reasons to be:
1. His father was an abusive POS
2. His brother died and he has survivor’s guilt
3. The woman he loved LEFT HIM AT THE ALTER
But that man’s also so full of love for our gothic novel’s heroine - Helia
Helia is the resident sunshine (ANTHONY LITERALLY CALLS HER A RAY OF SUNSHINE), even though:
1. She has an evil cousin who is trying to force her into marriage with him
2. Anthony refuses to accept that he loves her until the end
3. And she lost her loving parents
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Wholesomeness: ☀️☀️☀️☀️
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks to the Author, Net Galley, and the Montlake Publishers for the ARC!

Helia Mairi Wallace was the late Laird Kilmarnock and Earl of Buccleuch daughter who lived in Scotland, but due to her parents deaths and unexpected debt from her father, a forced marriage was forced upon her, so she, for the sake of getting help from her godmother, who is a duchess of Talbert, traveled to London, but to her surprise, the Duke and Duchess were in retreat to a beautiful scenery place, and the new owner is the appointed Lord Wingrave, the oldest son of the Duke and Duchess. Anthony is a merciless and vicious person. Every household in London knows his reputation as a ruthless and cold-blooded demon who only uses humans for his own gain, and people don't have any value in his eyes. A widow's, or desperate woman in need of his power, doesn't shy away from throwing themselves in his den, and he is also generous enough to not decline. But when Helia, the young and beautiful yet fresh lady, came to her looking for his mother, he, without any hesitation, knew he should evade. But one night in Lord Wingrave's mansion, Wil destroyed the reputation, and Helia wasn't his prayer, yet even though he warned her to leave, she insisted on staying.

The book is historical, and the atmosphere shows every detail of old England. The suppression of women and the power of the aristocracy are vivid. The power that money holds is clear as day, and if you haven't seen a Georgian or Victorian era, this was a close call for them. Since Helia is Scottish, we have an amount of Scottish slang that makes the book look more antique, and the author also used great quotes from famous and respected philosophy authors that make the book seem rich. I especially find the description of each scenario, which is a combination of old and new descriptions, delightful.

The book is dual-pov, which is amazing since we have the original scenario. The author did an amazing job to visualize Helia and Anthony, and I especially liked that despite Anthony falling in love with Helia, he still holds power, the kind of charismatic behavior that won't let him submit and grovel openly, but in his pov, you had the chaos of finding that despite staying villainy till the end, the phrase "the villain sacrifices the world for you" is obvious. Helia could be described as similar to the bell in beauty and the beast. She, unlike the girl her age who reads books, has a unique courage, which combines with the shy traits of her personality, a youngish behavior that is a plus of her age, and the crush she will have on Anthony on her first day, even though Anthony acts like a super red flag, and still you see her point: "He has a beauty that you only find in books.". Helia's point about Anthony is a bonus.

I rate the book 4 and Spice 3. I loved the journey, and by adding the point, the author wrote the book in a historical genre but added a modern style so smoothly that you won't even notice it but enjoy it. I think it's amazing work, and I definitely recommend it.