After the death of her father Helia Mairi Wallace is desperate to escape the attentions of her cousin Damian, the heir to her home. He’s interested only in her dowry. Desperate she travels to her godmother’s home, a woman she’s never met but her mother often spoke of. Arriving at her home she finds only her son, a rake with terrible reputation. With no other option and an imminent snow storm she begs to stay, knowing how it will affect her reputation.

This if the first novel by this author and is a forced proximity tale. The couple are drawn to each other almost straight away, his cold heart thawed by her warmth. It’s an easy read with a HEA. I did find the Scottish brogue/accent writing poor, seemingly written by someone who has not heard a Scottish person speak, with the most glaring error being “nah” for no when it should be nae.

4 stars

Lots of erotic descriptions. The hero, to me seemed a bit of a cypher. I get that he's damaged but IMO he seemed a bit two dimensional and I got annoyed at the heroine! Helia's speech is dotted with scottish expressions. She wanders off even though she's in hiding from the baddie and then of course she capitulates and falls for the bad boy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anthony is heartless with a capital H! Helia is running from a dastardly cousin who wants her money. Unfortunately for her, she runs right into the arms of the heartless son of the woman she is trying to find. I must say, the author does a tremendous job of getting your emotions involved from page 1 and doesn’t let go , even after you finish the story! Name an emotion and you will experience here! I loved Helia’s Scottish “take on prisoners” attitude, not allowing Anthony to get away from seeing himself in a different light. Some of the scenes are so touching and then he does or says something that you just want to slap him! The characters are well developed, even the ones who have very little appearance. The writing is so good, I could envision his mother doing what she did as the Duke and Anthony go head to head in an argument. I loved how the author also didn’t make everything “perfect” by the end, having Helia still teaching Anthony how to care. It just goes to show how important love really is in a child’s life and the devastation when there is not. A great story, that will stick with you for a long time. But be prepared to be angry for a while!

I received this story for free and these are my own opinions.

Not gonna lie, I was scared to read this one....but I did it.

As someone who doesn't read usually read historical romance, I really enjoyed it. The fact that it was a stand alone made it easier to grasp, I didn't have to worry to much about what was going on. Otherwise this was a quick read that packed in a lot character development, and interesting dialogue. I'm glad I braved the cringe that was the title and blurb!

Also it was a palette cleanser I didn't know I needed, so I'm quite thankful for that! This is one I am definitely going to keep in my back pocket to recommend!
4/5

Lord Anthony Blofield, future Duke of Talbert, has a reputation as society’s notorious rake with a cold personality. When his parents leave for the countryside, he relishes his time alone. However, Anthony’s peace is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious yet unwanted guest. He has no recourse but to allow her to stay until the snowstorm abates. The freckled-faced waif intends to chip away at his frozen, dead heart. Will Anthony learn the truth about Helia’s connection to his passive mother? Or is it all a lie?
Miss Helia Wallace risks the dangers of a snowstorm to seek out the protection of her godmother. She never expected to encounter the woman’s sensual yet cynical son. Helia would rather deal with Anthony’s cold apathy than marry her villainous cousin. She manages to convince the indifferent lord to allow her to stay until the storm stops. Helia cannot ignore her growing attraction to the aloof man. Will Anthony be Helia’s unwitting savior? Or will she be another one of his conquests?
My heart went out to Anthony for everything he endured, especially from his father. It took me a while to realize he is the marquess that Lady Alexandra (A SURE DUKE) was betrothed too. This book helped explain the reasons for his dastardly behavior. The author masterfully redeemed Anthony. The last redeemable hero that won my heart like Anthony did was Sebastian St. Vincent from Lisa Kleypas’ DEVIL IN WINTER. What I adore the most about Anthony is how the author did not change his personality once he fell for Helia. Instead, she blunted the sharp edges of his disposition.
Helia proves that she is the perfect balance for Anthony. She counteracts all his flaws, the sunshine to his grumpiness. I like how Helia is at first afraid of Anthony. Then, as she starts to interact with him, Helia realizes there is a reason for his churlishness. She understands his aloofness is a defense mechanism. What I adore the most about Helia is that she is no beauty by the ton’s strict standards. She accepts her red-hair, freckles, and waif thin form.
THE WOLF OF MAYFAIR is a standalone historical romance by Christi Caldwell. This book does tie in with the author’s THE MCQUOIDS OF MAYFAIR series. The Blofields play a small role in both A SURE DUKE and THE HEIRESS AT SEA. I am happy that the hated Duke of Talbert finally gets his comeuppance. I despised his high-handedness in ASD and THAS.
I hope the author plans to give Anthony’s sister a happy-ever-after. After reading what the duke put Anthony through, I feel she deserves to find love. Heck, I would cackle in glee if she fell for a McQuoid or one of their family members! What a coup that would be.

DNF at 11%

I'm not a big fan of the writing and the MMC is kind of an asshole and it's turning me off to the story.

A good book! This was a quick romance- but it definitely hits the spot! Fast paced, good dialogue, interesting characters. A definite read!

A delightful romantic tale filled with wit, charm, and heart. The characters’ romantic journey is both touching and entertaining, making it a perfect escape read.

Don't let the cringey title fool you. This is a lush, decadent romance with a morally grey MC and the woman who wins his heart. Readable and a page-turner.

I always enjoy Christi Caldwell books so was excited to read her new book. I was very unsure how she was going to make Wingrave into the Hero of the book but when he fell for Helia he fell hard. Wingrave's character didn't change and suddenly become loveable after falling in love but he became fierce to protect his 'queen'. I just loved this book. There is a link to A Sure Duke but I didn't realise until it was spelt out, this is a stand alone book.

The hero, Lord Anthony Wingrave was a complete and utter ass that only thought about his power and sex just about every time he saw Helia.
Helia saw beneath the hard, unloving exterior of Anthony and quickly started falling in love with him. Anthony, of course, took much longer to recognize his feelings to be more than just lust.
A stranger at his door, an ill patient to fret over, a rescue from the villain, and a confrontation with the evil Duke keeps the pages flowing at a good pace most of the time. A lot of internal thinking and back and forth between the characters gets a bit redundant at times, but overall I enjoyed the book.
I've always enjoyed Christi Caldwell's books and like this new edgy direction with hot, passionate scenes. However, I do feel it doesn't always flow as natural as her previous books.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Montlake for an honest review.
#TheWolfofMayfair #NetGalley #Montlake #ChristiCaldwell

Omg, I'm a huge fan of this author and I absolutely loved this book! Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC

The Wolf of Mayfair was dripping in decadence and mystique, unlike its precocious title inspo. From a royal romance, to a demons of the past, and a woman of wildness and innocence at once, this book is full of intrigue and allure. The romance is tempting and yet modern and the characters are complex and fascinating. Uncovering new details about the family's secrets, the heroine's backstory, and the romance plot was a game of fun and a time of pass. Although this book is best read with little to no spoilers, I will say some parts of the book felt incomplete or forgotten so better care of the detailed plot can be considered in the future. Too many ties can lead to too many tumbles. With that said, this was a beautiful introduction to Christi Caldwell and I look forward to more releases from her in the future.

Anthony is a difficult and condescending rake of the first order, a Marquess in line to a Dukedom.
When Helia arrives on his doorstep seeking help and shelter, he is rude, crude, and mean.
He allows her to stay one night due to the snowstorm but as the days progress, she learns about his frozen heart and determines to thaw him no matter the cost to herself.
Rich character development.
Steamy graphic scenes.
An absorbing read.

This book all takes place in such a small number of days, and covers a tight number of hours, the few detailed interactions that happen are tense, well described and well dialogued, Helia comes across well and clearly, with a Scottish brogue and a stubborn streak. Anthony is cruel and heartless however Helia perseveres looking for cracks or a way in and goes toe to toe with him, this a is great read with good one on one scenes.

A gripping historical romance with strong lead characters who keep you turning each page. I read it in one sitting! Would highly recommend.

Just where do I begin with this book…
I. Love. It.
Wingrave stayed jaded throughout the book which I LOVED. He didn’t immediately become softer towards Helia and Helia optimistic attitude wore him down until he was forced to recognize his flaws. Who Wingrave was becoming was no match for a strong will Scot who was determined to open his eyes to himself.
My first 5 star read of 2024. Will definitely be ordering a physical copy when released.

Helia asks her godmother for help to avoid a dowry-chasing cousin. Instead she meets her godmother's son, a cad that she can't resisit.

Lots of steamy scenes. Lots of grumpy/innocent interactions. Terrific characters with great chemistry. I like the character growth of the main characters.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This book was not a typical Caldwell. You have 2 protagonists with very different upbringing that molds them into who they are as adults.

Helia comes from a happy secure family but is not orphaned and seeking help. She tries and tries and tries with Anthony.... who is the wicked wolf. A dreadful father and a cowering mother makes Anthony a heartless (almost) unkind (maybe) man.

Helia turns his life upside down. What I liked about this book was (a) Anthony's character growth / reveal was superbly done (b) he was not a completely transformed person by the end, but knows that Helia will continue to be his marchioness, his queen, his wife, his friend.

Could not put this book down. We'll done Christi.

Embarking on "The Wolf of Mayfair," I never anticipated such a delightful blend of Wuthering Heights and Bridgerton. From the moment Helia seeks shelter at Wingrave's door during a snowstorm, the allure of their dynamic is irresistible. Wingrave's brooding charm contrasts perfectly with Helia's resilience, creating a push-and-pull tension that kept me enthralled. As their story unfolded, I found myself rooting for them to find solace in each other's arms, their connection feeling palpably genuine. Christi Caldwell masterfully crafts a tale of innocence and desire, weaving a narrative that's both sensual and captivating. With each turn of the page, I eagerly devoured their story, savoring every moment of this enchanting romance.