An enjoyable, fast moving story that engages the reader. Far-fetched with characters speaking in atrocious cockney and yet strangely compelling. Once I was into the story I couldn’t put it down until it was finished even though that was the early hours of the morning! I’ve not read the previous book in this series and assume that is why I was lost on how a family of pickpockets came to be educated, given elocution lessons, wear fine silks, run a gaming hell, be semi-accepted in the ton and yet be living in a dangerous area of London. I would therefore recommend reading book 1 before this.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Christ Caldwell outdid herself with The Vixen. I'm was an emotional wreck (in the best way) at the end of this book! This novel is such a realistic, heartbreaking portrayal into the lives of the people who live outside of English society.

The Wallflower takes us inside the dangerous and unsavory streets of St. Giles. It follows children forgotten, abandoned or born to the streets of London. forced to do anything and everything to survive. The Killoran family was able to rise above their meager beginnings but their childhood left them scares that won't seem to heal.

Ophelia and Connor where children forced in a life a crime and suffered daily abuses from their master. Their lives were controlled by one, who only ever wanted personal gain and didn't care about using children to accomplish their goals. Connor was the lucky one, who was able to escape from the streets to lead a different life, with a little help from Ophelia who was forced to endure years of hell before she found her freedom.

Ophelia is such a beautifully broken person. While the streets took from Ophelia, she refuses to allow it to take from another child. While she can't save anyone, she does what she can to to ensure no child will endure what she did. However, Ophelia fights alone and she hold her secrets of her past close. She often feels alone even surrounded by her family.

Connor was lucky to escape into a world of privilege but he never forgot where he came from, nor would the society he now worked for. He uses his resources and connections to help ensure children will not suffer the same fate he suffered. While Connor loves what he does and believes he has found a family, he still feels like an outsider as those in society could never really understand his greatest pain.

When Connor and Ophelia paths cross again its explosive. neither trust each other, but they can't help be drawn together. It's natural for these to to be weary of each other, as the streets don't allow for blind trust, but they can't stay away as they finally found a person that really understand the pain and heartbreak in their lives.

Connor and Ophelia relationship is as beautiful as it is painful. Secrets could destroy them before they start and forces conspire against them. These two will be forced to suffer and hurt once again in order to be together. Their road is to happiness is more dangerous and full of betrayal that will test their love and limits.

*******author provided a review copy*********

Ophelia Killoran, once a pick pocket/palm reader in the infamous area of St. Giles, now lives with her family in the Devil’s Den, a place of gambling and vice. The Killoran’s have money, lots of money, and they want to use it to buy Ophelia a titled husband which will in turn bring some prosperity to their family name. Ophelia is not thrilled at finding a husband among the upper class but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, at least for her family. Causing trouble in all this is Connor Steele, a former street child himself, now turned investigator. His latest job, tracking down missing and homeless kids in her neighborhood, brings him straight to Ophelia. However, it is not the first time they have crossed paths (cue the childhood flashback scenes), so there is some mistrust between the two of them. Connor’s investigation is bringing too many curious eyes on the Killoran’s, thus bringing down Ophelia’s chances of making a marriage match. She has no chance but to help Connor out so he will leave her families business alone. But it isn’t easy to find a husband when you can’t do anything but think about the hunky investigator, especially when you run into him everywhere you go. Coincidence? Definitely not! This book had a few twists, that some might find predictable but I quite enjoyed it. There were a few plot points that didn’t quite work and the end was a tad abrupt for me, but overall I enjoyed the book and even shed a few tears! I’m looking forward to reading the rest in the series. I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review, and here it is! Get it, read it, shed a tear a two but end up smiling, look forward to rest in series, like it!

Man, I love Christi Caldwell! This book was dark and gritty; i don't think I've cried so much at this author's books before. The fact that it was the heroine his had the difficult, tortured life as a welcome change and I as so pleased to see that Broderick is actually a man with feelings who loves his sisters, despite coming across as an arse for most of this series so far. The prison scenes between both Ophelia & Connor and Ophelia & Broderick were beautifully written and so heart wrenching. I am so excited for the next book in this series and am keeping everything crossed that Gertrude's hero is the mad marquess!

I am not sure how many of Christi Caldwell’s books around those two gambling hells I have read but this is the 2nd of the “Wicked Wallflowers” series. First of all – the cover of the book is horrible, really, really horrible. It’s the worst photoshop work I have seen in a long time.
But that’s the only horrible thing about the book.
It’s the story of two unusual people – Ophelia Killoran, the daughter of one of the most dangerous gambling hell owners – who was a street urchin like so many others, a child of St. Giles. She’s a beauty and the protector of her “sisters”.
Connor Steele, now a well-known investigator, has been a kid of St. Giles too before Ophelia rescued him one night. Or did he rescue her? It’s a matter of perspective.
Ophelia’s brother wants a titled man for her, that she has a season, a debut, everything – everything she doesn’t want. She wants to stay where she is because she has a secret on her own. Connor, now the adopted son of a noble man, knows about his past in St. Giles and the time before he was a street urchin. He remembers. He remembers what happened to him and now he is asked by a recluse of society to find his son – a son that might have been stolen from him the night his wife and unborn child died in a fire.
This time it really took me some time to get into this story because I was not sure if I could ever like Ophelia. Connor is easy on the eye and easy to like. Ophelia is cold, calculating and not really appealing. But that’s the part of her she wants people to see.
But the further you get sucked into the story the more you like and love them all.
A very good and quickly read book!

*I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I am really loving this series and this unconventional family. Loved Cleo in the Hellion, and loved Ophelia in th Vixen. Can't wait to read about the others

The Vixen by Christi Caldwell is now one of my favorite books. Caldwell’s writing style, and her ability to tap into every emotion known to a woman, which let’s be honest is a lot, is a wonderful gift to her readers. At one point, I found myself sobbing, and a few chapters later, I had a grin spread from ear to ear. This isn’t a book that you want to speed read through. This is a book that you need to take your time and savor every word and every emotion that Caldwell invokes. These characters are so well written and are so real that you become a part of their journey. One thing that I love about the Caldwell universe is that there are no perfect characters. They have all had life experiences and are flawed as a result.

The Vixen is book 2 in the Wicked Wallflowers series and brings us back to the Killoran family. Ophelia Killoran is a beautiful spitfire, whose experiences of being born to Mac Diggory and growing up on the streets have left her deeply scarred. Her experiences with the nobility have also left her with a deep resentment and hatred toward the nobility. Connor O’Roarke was able to escape Diggory and the streets and now lives among the nobility as a respected investigator. Connor and Ophelia knew each other as children and find themselves face to face as adults when Connor shows up at the Devil’s Den investigating a missing child from the nobility. Let’s just say when these two meet again as adults, sparks fly. Once Killoran forces Ophelia to enter the ton to find a titled husband, she and Connor discover that there may be more to their relationship than their childhood. You don’t want to miss the journey that Caldwell takes these two on to teach them that the world is not always black and white.

If this book isn’t already on your to-read list, I recommend you add it and move it straight to the top. You won’t be disappointed.

This is another great original story by Christi. Ophelia Killoran was born a bastard of the evil sadistic crime lord Mac Diggory and has lived most of her life as a pickpocket on the streets of St Giles. You do what Mac tells you or you die. Now that Mac is dead her brother is running the gaming hell and any children who work for the Killorans are fed and taken care of. There are no more criminal activities and Ophelia dedicates herself to helping as many children off the streets and into the families enterprises. Her sister Gertrude teaches them to read and write so they can eventually support themselves.

The book opens when Ophelia as a child is caught picking a Gentleman's pocket. Connor O'Roarke is living on the streets after his mother and father were killed, but he refuses to do Mac Diggory's bidding and escapes into the black heart of St. Giles. Ophelia and Connor have run into each other before and if Mac finds out that she saw him and didn't tell her punishment would be painful and savage. Ophelia still carries the guilt of when she let Connor slip away and Mac beat and blinded her sister Gertrude. Now as the constable is ready to take her to Newgate, Connor steps in and picks her pocket and gives himself up as the one who stole the gentleman's pocket.

Years later Ophelia has no idea that Connor has survived until she is summoned by her brother Broderick to his office to talk to an Investigator who is looking for a child. She is shocked and speechless. She still doesn't trust him and refuses to help him. She is afraid that he is looking to turn the children she has saved into the law. She adamantly refuses to help him find the child of a Lord who murdered his wife. She has no love for the nobility. She was attacked and almost raped by one.

Connor was saved by a Lord. Instead of sending him to Newgate the gentleman took him home and made Connor his adopted son. He never had to steal again. He had food, comfort and an education fit for a gentleman. He never forgot Ophelia Killoran. There was a connection that they both felt for each other that will test everything that they have achieved and who they are.

Christi's writing talent is undisputed in the Historical Romance Community and her prolific library of books speaks for itself. Her characters are wonderfully flawed, which gives them the ability to change and grow in their stories. There is always mystery, danger, humor, passion and most of all love in her stories. This is one of my favorites. Ophelia deserves her happiness after what she has been through in her young life and Connor is the perfect match for her.

I recommend her books highly and they are certainly keepers to be read again.

When I am given an ARC to read and review it is with a promise to give a fair and honest review. I think I have read every one of the stories in this series. They are such stirring tales of hardship, privilege, despair and love. Christi Caldwell tells the story of families intwined. All have been so immersive but this one had me in tears. Read them all, IN ORDER and you will find what I have. Love them all.

“The Vixen” is about a couple who had a history on the streets of London as children. They are reunited as adults; Connor was rescued by an Earl and adopted, Ophelia the daughter of a gang leader grew up on the streets, and later working in a gaming hell. While I enjoyed the romance between the two, I was often struck with the improbability of Ophelia being invited into homes of the ton for events. I gave this book 4 stars.

Wow, just wow!!! Another great book by Christi Caldwell! I thought the first book in this series was great. This was even better.
What I love about this series is that it doesn't take place in the ton. These are 2 kids from St Giles, Ophelia and Connor, whose lives end up going in different directions. But they come together again years later.
The storyline, the character development and the emotions this book brought forth, make it a must read book.
Can't wait for Gertrudes story.

What an amazing story. Christi Caldwell has done another amazing job in storytelling. This is one of my new favorites. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed the book.

This was such a beautiful, emotional read. My heart broke over and over for Ophelia. She is such a strong heroine with a good heart, but her life has been anything short of easy. Despite the things she goes through, she continues to rise above it. Connor is the perfect compliment to her and vice versa. They understand each other because of their upbringings and it makes the chemistry between them so beautiful. This is such a sensual, angsty story that will certainly pull at your heart strings.

Normally, I zip right through the books that I love – quite often finishing them in one sitting. I couldn’t do that with this one. The story is so intensely emotional that I had to keep taking breaks from reading and toward the end – I had to be sure the tissues were near. The book is excellently written, well plotted and the characters will just rip your heart out and then reassemble it for you – but it won’t be quite the same when they are through with you.

Ophelia Killoran didn’t even have a name for many of her years. She was just – Girl. She was the Devil’s daughter. Her father was Diggory, who raped, murdered, pillaged, stole children from parents – if it was nasty and vile, he was responsible for it. Now, Diggory is dead and she and her siblings are trying to make a life for themselves as owners of the Devil’s Den gaming hell. Ophelia is obsessed with saving children who are in the same desperate situation she and her siblings were in, so she trolls St. Giles – often dressed as a man – and rescues the children she finds. She sends them to the Devil’s Den where she then provides them with work and an education.

Ophelia’s brother, Broderick, was determined to marry one of his sisters into the aristocracy. He sees it as a way to cement their safety. They have money, but it can all disappear, so a tie to the aristocracy would help protect them. In the last book, Broderick sent his sister Cleo out to have a season and marry into the aristocracy and that didn’t work out too well. She ended up married to his biggest rival. So, now he is trying it with Ophelia. Ophelia is not a happy camper!

Connor O’Rourke was a young boy who had been forced into Diggory’s gang but had no intention of staying. So, he escaped and Diggory had everyone in the gang looking for him. He was saved – more than once – by a young girl from the gang. Then, he sacrificed himself to save her. Except, that sacrifice actually saved him much more than her.

Connor is now an investigator and his name is Connor Steele. He doesn’t have to work – as a matter of fact, his aristocratic foster father doesn’t want him to work. But Connor just has to and he has made his own fortune.

When Connor accepts a case from a Marquess who is generally accepted as mad, it brings Connor back into St. Giles and into the world of Ophelia Killoran. It turns out, Ophelia is the girl who saved him. He wants her help with his case, locating the ‘lost’ son of the mad Marquess. Ophelia doesn’t trust him and refuses to help him or to give him access to those children she has working at the club.

Connor and Ophelia are thrown together during her season and they get to know and trust each other more and more. Still – she can’t marry him because he doesn’t have a title – and he can’t marry her because he is expected to marry his foster father’s goddaughter.

When you see the betrayal and heartache in his book you’ll understand why I had to keep taking breaks from reading. Some tolerant and open-minded people are not nearly as tolerant and open-minded as they think they are.

I highly recommend the read – but – be sure to read something lighthearted and funny before this and probably afterward as well.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

I loved Ophelia and Connor's story!!

One fateful day, many years ago, put their lives on very different paths. Conner lives the life of a nobleman while Ophelia lives in a gaming hell. Their paths cross again while both are helping the young child of the streets that remind them so much of themselves.

Conner wants Ophelia's help on locating a missing child for a client, but she is reluctant to help him since he has become one of the hated nobility. At the same time, Ophelia's brother is determined to have her marry someone with a title, so she goes to live with her sister and has her coming out. While out at the society functions, she encounters Conner more and more and is finally convinced to help him out. But what they learn, will shock them both!

I loved watching these two come together! The bantering between them had me laughing out loud!! Such a treat to indulge in!

With so many lose ends that need to be tied up with this series, I can't wait to see what the next book holds for us!

Connor O’Roarke, the child who escaped the evil Mac Diggory, is now Connor Steele a successful investigator. He escaped St. Giles with the help of a girl he called Lagertha and was taken in by the Earl of Mar. His current investigation for Lord Maddock, brings him back to St. Giles and the girl who saved him.

Ophelia Killoran lives in St. Giles and helps her brother, Broderick, run the Devil’s Den club. Broderick is determined to better their lives and make peace with the owners of the Hell and Sin Club. Their sister, Cleo, married Adair Thorne an owner of the rival club and Broderick wants to find Ophelia a husband. Ophelia often brings children from the street to live and work at the club where they are safe. Connor has come to the club looking for Lord Maddock’s missing son. Ophelia is shocked to see him as she thought him dead by now.

Broderick is determined Ophelia have a season with help from Cleo. She agrees to protect Gertrude but will not live in Mayfair. As her path crosses Connor’s, they agree to help each other and fall in love. I will not spoil anything else from this wonderful book. It’s a wonderful read!

Book one of Christi Caldwell ‘s Wicked Wallflowers series , the Hellion, brought us to the Killoran sisters. Raised on the London streets by an evil man, not even named until their”brother” Broderick gave them names. Cleopatra was first to find her HEA. In Book 2, We learn more about the sister’s past in Ophelia’s story, The Vixen. Conner and Ophelia’s road to HEA tore me up. From the beginning their intwined lives gripped me and the story never let go. The horror of their youth and the strong people they became is pure writing excellence in my opinion. One will never regret reading a Christi Caldwell novel.

Ophelia is a former street urchin and thief in London. The man who trained her and the other children was her father. Her older brother who operates a gambling hell, took her and her sisters and younger brother in to give them an education and a better life. When she sees Connor Steele, whom she had known when they were working the streets, she is surprised and suspicious. He is an investigator looking for the son of the Marquess of Maddock. The Marquess believes that his son was stolen when his house burned down killing his wife and unborn child. Ophelia haunts the streets looking for children she and her family can help which is why Conner believes she can help him find the missing child. An attraction between Ophelia and Conner has been there since they were children. . Due to lies and secrets, Ophelia is taken away and may never come back. It is a life and death situation for her. Can Ophelia be saved and at what cost? Great story of love overcoming great obstacles. I loved the background and the storyline. I received this book from Net Galley and Montlake Publishing for an honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Every time I pick up a Christi Caldwell book, I get a smile on my face. I don’t even have to look at the first page to know it’s going to be a good read. In fact, her books are my go-to reads whenever I need a warm fuzzy book following a depressing moment in life or when I have a read a book that was not so good. Her books are magic. Now, this book was particularly interesting to me, because it’s not a storyline I see very often. I suppose you could call it a long-lost-friends-to-lovers type of story? It was a heart-warming read, and I became emotionally invested in the outcome of the characters’ story. I loved how Christi wrote such a touching story, drawing in some really dark elements but creating a sort of healing that allows for a calming of the soul. There may be a bit of a trigger warning to this book, so just to forewarn you. I’ll mention it at the very end, so skim down to the bottom if you want to know right away.

Fourteen years ago, Ophelia Killoran had made a mistake, which cost the life of a boy whom she had helped escape Mac Diggory twice before, and ever since she has dedicated her life to saving children who are prey to the wealthy lords of London. But now she has come face-to-face with her past – Connor Steele, the boy come back from the grave as the most successful investigator in England. He has been hired to find a lord’s son, who was stolen from his home seven years ago, and Connor believes Ophelia knows where the boy is now. Refusing to help him, Connor and Ophelia are immediately at odds, but that all changes when Ophelia’s brother sends her to her sister’s for a season, to find a husband of consequence. Seeing how miserable she is, Connor befriends Ophelia, and they soon become much more than past acquaintances. The trouble is, Ophelia has a dark past with many secrets, and while Connor is a master at discovering the truth, these are truths Ophelia never wants to see the light of day.

Ophelia and Connor were a really interesting couple to read about! I loved how they both came from the streets, but while one ended up being raised by a lord, the other remained somewhat in the shadows by living in a club. So Ophelia had a much rougher edge to her, and she was on the streets longer than Connor, so her experiences made her averse to developing any sort of relationship with him. But Connor was determined to help her and love her, and his innate kindness helped her through a lot of anxiety. When the darkness of her past was shown to him, he maintained his loyalty to her and refused to blame her for the sins of her father. I really liked seeing that, because a lot of books I’ve read where such a secret is revealed tends to have the hero pushing the heroine away at first. Instead we saw the true strength in their relationship through it all. Very inspiring!

I can’t say enough good things about Christi Caldwell, and her books really are ones that should be read by anyone who loves historical romance. They not only bring a lot of history to light but also bring a depth of feeling that is not often portrayed as eloquently as she does. This book could definitely be read without reading prior books, but I would recommend at least reading the first book in this particular series, just so you can have a frame of reference when it comes to the secondary characters.

**Okay, trigger warning time…
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I usually don’t mention trigger warnings, but a very sensitive issue is brought up in this book, that of childhood sexual abuse. There were several instances in this group where descriptions of what happened to Ophelia were somewhat graphic in nature, and I had a hard time reading parts of it. For those of you who are triggered by such a topic, please be aware.**

Christi Caldwell does an amazing job of bringing the underside of London to life. She shines a light on the darker side of the peerage. The men who are respectable in society but prey on the poor. This is the story of 2 children from the streets of St GIles.
Connor is on his way to the noose when he is saved and adopted by an Earl. He grows up with an education and polish but rather than taking his place in the ton he becomes an investigator working the clean up the very streets that he came from.
Ophelia has spent all her life on the streets and she saved Connor until the day he saved her and took the punishment she deserved.
This story is heart-warming as well as heart-breaking. I dare any reader not to cry at least once while reading this story. The sadness and tears are what make the Happily Ever After all the happier.
I received an advanced copy of this book.