The Wolf of Mayfair is a steamy historical romance revolving around the recently orphaned Helia Wallace, who seeks refuge with her godmother to escape a lecherous, dowry-chasing cousin. This setup introduces us to the Marquess of Wingrave, a man who’s as intrigued by Helia's appearance as he is willing to exploit the situation to his advantage.

Helia's unexpected arrival at the Marquess's estate during a snowstorm sets the stage for a tale filled with tension and passion. The Marquess, who initially doesn't want visitors, is immediately taken by Helia, a dynamic that Caldwell explores with her trademark sensuality and depth. The developing relationship between the Marquess and Helia is fraught with desire, power struggles, and the threat of Helia’s reputation being ruined.

Caldwell's strength lies in her ability to create characters that are not only engaging but also complex. The Marquess is a brooding figure whose desire for Helia becomes both his weakness and his strength, while Helia is portrayed as a woman of resilience and vulnerability, navigating her precarious situation with grace.

The narrative is paced well, with the snowstorm providing a claustrophobic backdrop that heightens the intimacy and urgency of their interactions. Caldwell’s writing ensures that readers are constantly invested in what will happen next, rooting for Helia's safety and the possibility of a redemptive love.

However, the focus on the sensual aspects of their relationship might overshadow the deeper emotional connection some readers look for in romance novels. While the heat between Helia and the Marquess is undeniable, it occasionally feels like it dominates the storyline at the expense of more profound character development.

At some moments, the story felt as if it lost the ability to keep me interested and I felt as if I was zoning in and out. That being said, it’d give the book a 3/5. I’m not the biggest fan of historical romance and I’m sure that if someone else had read this book, they might have enjoyed it more.

3.5⭐️
"If you think for one moment I intend to let you leave me, I will track you down to the ends of the earth, and claw my way to heaven and snatch you back from the hands of God himself.

This had a promising beginning- our heroine, Helia, has fled her home in Scotland, running from the cruel new lord, who will force her to marry him for her dowry. She arrives at the ducal townhouse of the Duchess of Talbot, who her mother always told her was a dear friend. However the duchess isn't home- her son, notorious rake the Marquess of Wingrave, is the lord in residence. He reluctantly allows her to stay, to shelter from the raging snowstorm outside.

We see them interact around the house, Helia slowly getting under his skin and Wingrave doing his best to unsettle Helia. He wants her to leave him in peace but also can't help but feel a pull towards him. I wish we got to see these two actually talk about things? Their likes and dislikes, mindless chatter, just life? But it's mostly just arguing about whether Helia can stay. Then she gets sick with fever, and he's there to nurse her back to health. However once she's better, he reverts back to his closed-off, bitter self.

There's a moment when she sneaks out to a festival (even thought she's 'sheltering' from the storm and just got over a near-dealthly fever?!) and her evil cousin catches up with her. Wingrave snaps and nearly beats him to a pulp. Then him and Helia return back to his townhouse, and still they barely talk.

Wingrave is better and hard RIGHT up until the moment he professes his feelings. Helia walks away and goes to pack up her room, and he runs to her because he finally realizes that she's the one for him. But we never get to see him make this conclusion? He's basically an ass the entire time, refusing to allow Helia past his walls to avoid getting hurt. Then he flips a switch and is promising eternal love and lifelong faithfulness, out of nowhere. I wish we had got to see this transition come on more gradually.

We also never found out how their mothers knew each other? It's such a huge point- Wingrave never believes her, because he has legit never even heard of her or her family. He thinks she's lying basically the entire time. Then she's proven correct when he finds letters from her mother, but we never get an explanation as to how his mother was secretly good friends with an unknown Scottish countess

Christi Caldwell has always been a hit or miss author for me, and this one was definitely a miss. The hero’s villainy was completely over the top. The book felt very disjointed, and the tone was off. For example, the heroine is in peril and experiencing trauma, yet she’s having sex with the hero on the very next page. It’s not believable, and it’s not enjoyable as a reader, either. I really like the book that this book follows (the one about the hero’s ex), but this one was a real disappointment.

James' rating: 3.5 out of 5 madly provocative stars! ✨

This was an intriguing read. At first, I was just annoying because Anthony was an asshole and I was getting really tired of his attitude but I did forge on because of Helia. She was such a huge ray of sunshine who was kind, beautiful inside and out with a brave heart.

We start to unravel Anthony's reasons for being... who he is and it kind of starts to make sense as everything comes together. There was lots of sexual tension and spice buildup. The characters had really good sexual chemistry. The spice was quite stimulating and fiery.

The relationship development was a little all over the place and I did wish some characters were a bit more fleshed out and felt some discontent with a few other things. But all in all it was a good read and we ended up with a really sweet HEA.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC!

This was my first Christi Caldwell romance and by way of introduction to her books was a good one. I found myself intrigued with the premise after reading the blurb. Although a standalone romance there are references to other characters and books. It didn’t really deter from the story but something to keep in mind. Helix was a heroine that I enjoyed. She was sweet, feisty and headstrong while also gentle and innocent. Anthony was a tool and I say that in the best way possible. He really was as grumpy and mad at the world as can be and his falling for and loving Helia was made sweeter because of it. This was an interesting read. TBR and Enjoy!

Thank you Net Galley for a copy of this book for my honest review! This book was an easy read and I read it in one morning. It kept my interest but some of the internal dialogue was repetitive so I admit I did skim some parts although just a few of them. I finished feeling like the story just wasn’t long enough. The events happened so quickly and one right after another but I feel like some evolved too quickly.

Wow! The Wolf of Mayfair by Christi Caldwell started off intense! We meet the cold and calculating Lord Wingrave. At first, I was taking aback, because most of the historical romances I read have true gentlemen, with seemingly bad reputations, however, Lord Wingrave’s reputation is duly earned. He is vicious and sexually vulgar in the introduction. After my initial shock- I came to really like how Helia, the strong Scot, handled this spoiled entitled Marquess. I really enjoyed their relationship and his character growth. This was off the charts with on the steam level and scenes but there was a really good story of love and healing behind that. Overall, I really enjoyed their story and the ending!

"The Wolf of Mayfair by Christi Caldwell is a captivating read that masterfully blends romance and intrigue. The fiery Scottish heroine, Helia, brings a refreshing vigor to the story, while the brooding Lord Wingrave's complex character adds depth and intensity. Their chemistry is palpable, and Caldwell's rich, immersive writing makes it hard to put down. A near-perfect romance that only slightly falters in pacing, but overall a thoroughly enjoyable read."

Loved reading the mesmerizing and engaging story. When Helia escapes the clutches of her evil cousin, she goes to get help from the duchess, but instead she is met with the frosty glare of the Duke of Wingrave. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story.

I had a difficult time engaging with the story in the first half, and I’m not exactly sure why. Something just felt disjointed for me and I had to push myself to continue.

By the time I got to the second half of the book, though, and got to know the characters better, I felt pulled into the story and interested to find out how things would turn out.

What I Loved

Helia – Loveable right from the start, she’s my favorite kind of FMC. Equal parts strong and sweet, with an indomitable spirit. She had such an air of sadness about her. All alone in the world, she had many reasons to feel sorry for herself and give in to her despair, but she always tried to rise above. The scene when she was out in the snowstorm, heartbroken, and spied the rowan tree was magical and one of my favorite scenes in the book.

I also loved the way she saw the real Anthony. The Anthony that even he didn’t realize existed. I don’t know that he was the perfect man her, but she was definitely the perfect woman for him. Her faith in his goodness, her refusal to let him go on as he had been, believing and acting as if he had no heart, as if no one but himself mattered, was chef’s kiss.

What I Liked

The sexytimes were very hot, with an intense physical attraction juxtaposed with Anthony’s arrogance and callousness. Poor man tried so hard not to want, not to desire, not to need, but the more time he spent with Helia, the more I knew he was going to be completely gone for her.

He slanted his lips over hers again and again, plundering, punishing. Her? Or himself, for wanting her? She rather suspected it was both.

He caught her wrists between one of his larger, powerful hands, and stretched them high above her head. Using them as if to steer her, he guided her so that her back collided with the wall, so that his punishing grip and muscle-hewn frame kept her upright.

“Like that, do you, sweetheart?” he purred between each kiss. Words failed, and she could offer him nothing more than a whimper in return. A pleased sounding, triumph-filled, husky laugh rumbled in his chest.

What I Was On the Fence About

Anthony… ooh I despised him at first. He was so utterly mean and cold and unlikeable that for a large part of the book I thought, there is nothing I’m going to like about this character. Once he caught the feels and found the courage to do and be more than a cruel, heartless jerk, I kind of liked him, but always in the back of my head was that he wasn’t who I would have chosen for Helia. He has his reasons, but they came too late for me to fall for him.

Like a shark who’d got a scent of its prey, he continued his slow circle around her. […] How was it possible for one man to ooze such malevolence, contempt, and indifference, all at the same time?

Their hard-won happily ever after was believable and well-deserved, but I think the fact that I just couldn’t connect with the MMC dampened my enjoyment of the story. Two stars for the first half of the book, four stars for the second half, so I’m rating three stars.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book from this author .The plot was good and I really enjoyed the story, very quick and easy read. The characters are easy to follow, Anthony and Helia made shack a lovely couple

This book was a decent historical romance read. The main reason I didn’t give it a higher rating is because I personally wasn’t intrigued enough with the storyline to just be totally enthralled in it. I do think it is a bit uncommon for there to me a Scottish FMC in the historical romances so that was a nice twist from the usual Scottish MMC and English FMC. I will say the steamy scenes are written beautifully and the Marquess is quite dreamy in my opinion. Both characters have interesting back stories and overall the plot was good! Definitely a decent read.

So sexy!!!!!!

Read the title and knew I had to read this book.

I loved how sexy it was. Steamy scenes delivered!!!!

*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

TLDR: For a straight up Romance book, the spice was pretty weak and the emotional side of things was very hit or miss. It’s a quick and easy read if that’s what you’re looking for and this book is nearby but I wouldn’t recommend it personally.

This wasn’t an overly enjoyable read for me at all. Our female lead is what I expected from, all innocence with a bit of spark to her, not super likeable or notable, but what you would expect. Our male lead Wingrave however, is supposed to be the “morally grey, tough nut to crack” but he’s actually just a horrible person to Helia and I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot of chemistry between them.

The only time I found Wingrave to be likeable and for there to be any sign that he likes Helia is when he is taking care of her but afterwards just goes straight back to insulting her and supposedly not caring.

Considering most, if not all, who will want to read Wolf of Mayfair is for the romance, I just don't think there’s much romance here to satisfy you.

Also note the big sex scene uses the terms “Muff”, “Honey pot”, “sodden”, “sweet puss weeps”, and “cunny” which for me really ruined the mood that was trying to be set so be warned, it might get cringy for you like it did for me.

Helix tames the Wolf! In the beginning of the book, Anthony was a little too crass for my liking and I had a hard time getting involved. As the story goes on, Helia is able to crack the heart of steel. While I love Christi Caldwell books, this was not a favorite.

I read this book in one sitting and it was very entertaining. I will say that everything happened very quickly which I get considering this is a very short book. Still it felt weird at times with how quickly everything was progressing.

It’s a great story as I watched Helia peel away at all the layers of pain and guilt that Anthony had felt and endured over the years at the hands of his abusive father. I loved the story and the strength of the H/h. At times, the banter between Anthony and Helia is hilarious especially when she seems to unnerve him so easily. I would like to have known the significance of the Fraser tartan. This is a story worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

A quick romance where the woman doesn't change the alphahole after one day. Helia and Anthony are stuck together during a snowstorm and he's a big old jerk but it's because he's dad is an even bigger jerk. Helia is a ray of scottish sunshine who makes Anthony see that he's pretty much a carbon copy of his dad. Its nice to see his growth but I wish the book had a bit more development to their characters. The books is a nice way to spend a few hours.

3.5 stars

I found this book difficult to read at first. The cruelty and arrogance of the "hero" of this story at the beginning was so over the top that I couldn't come to grips with the purpose. As the story unfolds and you learn his history things become more understandable. The story reminded me so much of a "Beauty and the Beast" tale and in the end all was resolved. I enjoy Regency Romances but I found this one a bit hard to swallow.

I'm coming in with an unpopular opinion here because I did not enjoy this and honestly found it extremely cringe-worthy. Not just in terms of the writing but the characterisations as well. I found the writing repetitive as the characters did and said the same thing continuously for most of the book. Helia says something stupid and Anthony reacts like a total douche-canoe. He says extremely hurtful words and she cannot say a thing until she loses her temper at the end of their exchange of barbs, only to run away until trouble finds her. Rinse and repeat. It would've been at least more bearable had the characters been likeable but unfortunately, I couldn't stand either one.

Helia is meant to be a Scottish lass who's feisty and fiery-tempered (stereotypically along with her fire-red locks and doe green eyes) but has a kind heart and who everyone falls in love with. She's a Disney princess but I found her naivete over the top and her total lack of sense rather irritating. I didn't understand her actions and it just added to her overall silliness. For example, why would you go gallivanting into the city (a place you want to avoid) to make friends with random strangers while you're supposedly running away from a dangerous man who wants to assault you and make you his wife just to get your dowry? Then there's Anthony—the lord who is the biggest twat from the opening lines and doesn't let up until pretty much the very end. While I understand he has a "complex history" that has turned him into the present-day curmudgeon, he was so stuck in the state of asshole behaviour towards Helia that his love for her did not make sense. Granted, it didn't happen until the last 10% of the book but his sudden "she's mine" mentality still felt too much. Yes, he was slowly thawing towards her chirpy nonsense, but it wasn't to the point of growly "no one else can have her, I love her, she's mine" behaviour. Especially when they don't even talk about the problems—i.e. what she was running away from and how he continued to lie about not believing her story to be truthful! I do love a good cold-hearted rake reformation storyline but this man's vulgarity crossed the line into off-putting territory pretty much the whole time.

Beyond that, I found the plot riddled with gaps and story elements that did not make sense. I'm going to end it here because I could go on but I guess maybe it's safe to say that if this is an indication of the author's work, then Caldwell is not the author for me. I'm clearly in the minority here though because I see lots of other 4-5 star ratings, so take this review as you will! However, I will not be recommending it.