FINAL DECISION: Enjoyable historical romance with interesting characters. This story has been done before but the characters make this a lively story. I wish there was more emotional connection between the characters early on because the last twenty-five percent of the book was wonderful.

THE STORY: Investigator Connor Steele is hunting for a child who might have been kidnapped. His work takes him back to St. Giles from from which Connor escaped. But St. Giles cannot be rubbed off so easily and his investigation reunites him with Ophelia Killoran. As children, each had saved one another. Now Ophelia has taken onto herself the job of protecting the children, but Connor's investigation brings into question exactly what Ophelia is doing and where are the children coming from. The two share a past and are suspicious of one another in the present.

OPINION: I liked this book, but I never got emotionally engaged enough to love it. The story is well constructed and the characters are interesting.

Both Connor and Ophelia struggle with the line between the criminal and poor elements and the aristocracy. Ophelia's brother wants to marry her off to an aristocrat to help drag their family from the lower classes. Connor was adopted by an aristocrat but still has the muck of his past with him.

The characters have a good journey, but -- for me - there was something missing. Intensity or emotional connection. Something that would pull me through the pages, pull at my heart and make me love the book.

Fans of Caldwell will find much to love here. The class conflicts are better developed here than in the last book. I enjoyed these characters together. The reading was easy and not particularly deep until the last quarter of the book.

The last quarter of the book was amazing. The intensity, the connection, the passion was wonderful. The rest of the book felt like a setup for the end, but the end definitely paid off.

WORTH MENTIONING: Trigger warning: sexual assault.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE VIXEN is the second book in the Wicked Wallflowers series. The book can be read as a standalone although the characters are overlapping between the books.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to assist with preparing this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.ons contained herein are my own.

The second book that follows the Killoran gang focuses on Ophelia. Her brother is up to his antics again to marry a sister off to a nobleman in order to create connections. Ophelia is stubborn and scarred from a past she hasn’t shared with anyone, including her family, but when her brother says either she or Gertrude will marry well, she sacrifices herself to protect her sister.

Connor Steele was once saved from a life on the streets when he stepped in to protect Ophelia. He thought he was sacrificing his life, but fortune shined on him and he instead was adopted and given a life of privilege. He is now an investigator that comes knocking on the Devil’s Den in order to hunt down a lost nobleman’s son.  Ophelia and he bump heads from the start, both keeping their shared past a secret, but when they keep bumping into each other at social events their nemesis/friendship is rekindled. 

The story was enjoyable, it was slow at times, but at the point near the end where her past comes back to haunt her, the plot and conflict get really good.  I enjoyed their interactions throughout the book. Ophelia was such a strong, yet stubborn, woman who found it really hard to trust Connor or his intentions.  Overall, I enjoyed it, though I wish the plot pace was a little stronger.

A heartbreaking tale that really got to me. The loving and caring of Ophelia, and in fact her whole family, is portrayed wonderfully in this story. And Connor, he is just as sincere in his caring about the injustices done to these children. I sobbed a good bit at the end of the story, just warning you, it will get to you also. I am reminded of A Tale of Two Cities “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” (Charles Dickens). A beautiful love story.

I love Christi Caldwell books, they never disappoint. Ophelia Killoran is a beautiful woman that protects the children of St. Giles. Her family runs a notorious gaming club and her brother seeks to match her with man of noble blood. Ophelia has no interest past saving the unfortunate orphans that remind her of herself and her siblings. Along comes Connor Steele another former street rat turned investigator. Connor is looking to find the lost son of a nobleman. They are at odds from the beginning as both know each other from their previous life on the streets. She trusts no one affiliate with nobility based on her past treatment by noblemen he doesn't trust her family. They end up working together to solve a mystery of a lost son. This story was amazing. I loved the complexity of the characters. Both have suffered great trauma but are able to find love and trust in the end. This story shows the major differences in the treatment of classes during this time period. I definitely recommend reading this book. It is the second of the series. I cannot wait to see if Ms. Caldwell writes a book with Brotherick Killoran as the lead character. I received an ARC from Net Galley for this book.

I’m going to start off with the truth: I’m not a huge fan of historical romances. I’ve read a ton (ha ha pun not intended) of them and just got sick of the “ton.” So when I saw Christi Caldwell’s newest book, THE VIXEN, didn’t have a hero that was a duke, or earl, or viscount, I was thrilled. Even more so when I found out her heroine was basically a “street rat.”

I loved, loved, loved this story.

Great characters in Ophelia Killoran and Connor Steele. Strong, driven, flawed, independent humans who have had to live on the wrong side of the “moral line” to survive, but still had more morals than those who should have been leading the charge. It’s been awhile since a story has made me cry, and the black moment (no spoilers) really got to me.

I’m just going to say, read the book. You won’t be disappointed. Oh, and I’ll be reading more by this author…a lot more.

Wow.. another fantastic book from Christi Caldwell. I've followed this author for a while now and I've read a few of her novels and this one is just sublime. Each one gets better and better. She's taken a chance by detouring from the ton and nobility and moving into the Seven Dials and St Giles. And it's paying off. The characters have new depth, different backgrounds and darker stories, but it's refreshing, original and so wonderfully done.
In this one, she treats us to the story of Ophelian Killoran, the second sister from the Killoran family that is supposed to make a good match. But Ophelia has other ideas and her path takes her to Connor, a long time acquaintance from the dials that now is investigating a case.

Things I loved about this book:
- how the thread weaves into the previous stories and continues exploring a world we've come to love from the Sinful Brides series and how the author is able to present us with a different side from the Killorans than what we knew from their rivalry with the Blacks
- Connor and Ophelia as well rounded, scarred characters that have been shaped by their past and managed to survive it at the same time
- the angst and the longing of two people meant to be that are being pulled apart

Things I wished were different:
I needed more!! So much more, I could have read 100 pages more about these two. I also would love to have seen a resolution to Stephen's situation, but I'm sure this will be featured in the upcoming books in the series.

I look forward to continuing with these series and I eagerly await the next one!

*I was given an ARC in NetGalley*

Christi keeps you on your toes and makes you feel like you're embedded in the story. The mysteriousness and grittiness of Ophelia and Connor make you cheer for them from the start.

I have enjoyed Christi Caldwell's books for a long time - especially the first one in this new series, The Hellion. After finishing that one, I have been eagerly awaiting The Vixen. I am appreciating Having just completed it, I am appreciating the well developed the characters are and the complicated relationship dynamics they have. And while this book didn't capture me like the Hellion I still enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the next in the series. Thank you Ms. Caldwell for continuing to write smart romances that are lead by independent, intelligent women.

I received an e-arc via NetGalley from Montlake Romance and while I appreciate the opportunity and thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked the style of writing and I felt that the characters were good but I just couldn't get enthusiastic about the lead characters' story. I felt like I had to force myself to carry on and I kept stopping and starting. This book is a nice read but the character development felt slow and at times I couldnt quite get my head around where I was in the story. I had to keep flipping back and forth between pages to see where certain conversations were taking place and I had to concentrate quite a bit as I felt the descriptions weren't as well defined as they could have been but I managed it and will probably return to this book as it is a good book for whiling away the time. Pleasant read.

Christi stuns again with a fantastic story of love and triumph.

The best part of Christi Caldwell’s stories is that they are written about characters who feel real. They struggle, they love, they hate, they emote right off the pages. Never have I ever read one of Christi’s books and thought “That’s ridiculous. No real person would act that way.” And I have to say, I have thought that a lot about many excellent books. This couple, more than others, deserve their hard won happily ever after.

This book, just like all of Christi’s, forces characters (who have been through every miserable thing that a child could possibly suffer through) into even more awful situations. I enjoyed this one more than the entire Sinful Brides series. I’m here to say, these Wicked Wallflowers are worth the anticipation.

This begins as a story of a girl, Ophelia, and a boy, Connor, both “street rats” in in the seediest parts of London, England. He escapes from their gang and its dreaded leader, while she could not. Years later, as adults, after having lead separate and completely different lifestyles, the two meet again. Ophelia and Connor are on opposite sides of a situation which draws them together as each remembers their mutual childhood contact while they navigate a mystery that Connor, now a respected investigator, is working to solve.
It is during this time the two develop an understanding of each other that turns into a heated need. But Ophelia hasn’t told Connor things that could affect his feelings for her: deep, dark, ugly things. She fears that in doing so she will lose him to another.
This is a stand alone book that is part of a series and it’s terrific! It’s one that once its begun, plan on a long afternoon or evening of perfect romance complete with a cast of entertaining characters and intrigue, because you won’t be able to put it down. I loved it and am looking forward to the next.

The Vixen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Christi Caldwell

Ophelia Killoran as a child and adult is well aware of the horrors of St. Giles. She had on occasion observed Connor Roarke but when he save her life as a pickpocket and took the fall for her she was indebted to him.

Years later their paths crossed he survived and was adopted by an Earl and changed his name to Conner Steels. The name change never erased his cruel childhood and he still fought for the children of St. Giles.

This story of Connor and Ophelia will touch your heart as only Ms Caldwell can do. Her depth into the characters is heart wrenching and so believable sending you into the time it occurs. I sometimes wonder if Ms Caldwell isn’t a time traveler as she is a master of this historical era.

Christi Caldwell never disappoints. She pulls you in and the tosses one’s emotions all over the place! Ophelia and Connor’story is no different. They knew each other as children living in the streets. Connor took Opheia’s Place when she was nabbed for pickpocketing. And that is when Connor’s life changed because a lonely lord took him in and raised him as his son.
The climax of the book will rip your heart to shreds. I cried and didn’t see how things would be resolved. But in a twist, they are and we get our HEA. Christi remains one of my favorite authors.
I read this as an ARC. I will reread it when it is published as I had already preordered.

The Vixen by Christi Caldwell is book two in the Wicked Wallflowers series. This is the story of Ophelia Killoran and Connor O'Roarke/Steel.
Ophelia lived on the streets as was many of the kids that were taken by Mac Diggory gang that were kidnapped and hurt badly if they didn't steal or earn money for Diggory. No one ever got away but Connor had with the help of Ophelia and later as a kid he paid her back by taking a fall for a bad pick pocket attempt.
But now all these years later Connor is now a famous investigator hired to find a child that was thought to be dead but it been rumored that Diggory took him. Connor went to confront the new owner asking about the kids that have been hired or taken. This leads him to meet the sister who is none other than Ophelia his childhood 'friend'.
This was another page turned that I couldn't put down of Ms. Caldwell's. I always end up reading her books into the night and their is always an emotional cry with them that leads to the book hangover. I did go proactive and take a PM headache pill before starting the book but it was just to good to sleep.
I can't wait for the next installment in this series!!

I’ve been a fan of Caldwell for a while, but was disappointed in the last few books I read, and felt the gaming hell series was entirely too overdone, having been the subject of numerous books. This book was much better than the last two, the couple was more likeable and the writing just seemed better overall. This story again involves a sister to the proprietor od a gaming hell, but the H is a former street urchin, orphaned and taken by a criminal gang leader. He escapes the life, adopted by an Earl, and the girl remains behind. Their paths cross as adults, and the attraction is immediate., though, of course, both initially deny it. He is also involved in the search for a son of a marquis, possibly kidnapped during a fire many years earlier. She assists in his quest. There’s much more to this story, and I was pleased to find Caldwell seems to have gotten her mojo back.

I am a big fan of Christi Caldwell's and was excited to read the next book in her series. I was not disappointed! I loved both of the main characters, Connor and Ophelia. I liked the fact that they had a childhood backstory together and understood each other's upbringing in ways others never could. Connor and Ophelia have great chemistry and their path to an HEA was interesting and was hard wrought. I would definitely recommend this book!
Possible spoiler: Possible trigger alert in that the book has an attempted rape scene.

Sigh !!! what a beautiful book from Christi ...it was heart breaking & at the same time heart touching.
I just loved it ... " The Vixen " is the 2nd book in the wicked wallflowers series & can be read as a standalone...After reading this book i am surely going to read the 1st book in this series which i missed. This book was so realistic ,it presented a rather clear picture of hypocrisy , injustice , of the Nobilty in Regency England ...the trials,tribulations ,sorrows, pitfalls, faced by the lower strata of the society ...

This book presents the story of Ophelia Killoran the illegimate child of Mac diggory who as a child has experienced the horrors of life in the street ,hence she spends her nights protecting the street urchins of St. Giles. A notorious investigator, Connor Steele saved Ophelia years ago and was adopted by a nobleman.He needs Ophelia's help on a case he is working on, but she is stubborn and distrustful of the nobility due to terrible experiences faced dealt by the Noble peers at some time or the other in her life...

Both of them fight there differences,bias,beliefs and come together to solve a case Connor is investigating ... The climax is mind blowing , the betrayal , the courage ,the triumph , survival, so many twists & turns faced by the characters superbly presented by Christi .... It was a story that touches u emotionally ,,i cried reading some scenes ... Christi has done a marvellous Job wherein she has entwined reality & fiction brilliantly ... Kuddos to her to maintain the synch throught out the story telling...

I would definitely Recommend the book ...Pls dont miss out ..a excellent book from Christi Cladwell ..The impact of her work will strike u only wen u read the book ... She delivers more than your expectations ..








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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37516269-the-vixen" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Vixen (Wicked Wallflowers, #2)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1520403951m/37516269.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37516269-the-vixen">The Vixen</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5297089.Christi_Caldwell">Christi Caldwell</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2427726570">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Sigh !!! what a beautiful book from Christi ...it was heart breaking & at the same time heart touching.<br />I just loved it ... " The Vixen " is the 2nd book in the wicked wallflowers series & can be read as a standalone...After reading this book i am surely going to read the 1st book in this series which i missed. This book was so realistic ,it presented a rather clear picture of hypocrisy , injustice , of the Nobilty in Regency England ...the trials,tribulations ,sorrows, pitfalls, faced by the lower strata of the society ...<br /><br />This book presents the story of Ophelia Killoran the illegimate child of Mac diggory who as a child has experienced the horrors of life in the street ,hence she spends her nights protecting the street urchins of St. Giles. A notorious investigator, Connor Steele saved Ophelia years ago and was adopted by a nobleman.He needs Ophelia's help on a case he is working on, but she is stubborn and distrustful of the nobility due to terrible experiences faced dealt by the Noble peers at some time or the other in her life...<br /><br />Both of them fight there differences,bias,beliefs and come together to solve a case Connor is investigating ... The climax is mind blowing , the betrayal , the courage ,the triumph , survival, so many twists & turns faced by the characters superbly presented by Christi .... It was a story that touches u emotionally ,,i cried reading some scenes ... Christi has done a marvellous Job wherein she has entwined reality & fiction brilliantly ... Kuddos to her to maintain the synch throught out the story telling...<br /><br />I would definitely Recommend the book ...Pls dont miss out ..a excellent book from Christi Cladwell ..The impact of her work will strike u only wen u read the book ... She delivers more than your expectations ..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/47006562-vaneeta-naik">View all my reviews</a>

Omgoodness. Yes please. Where are the tissues? And who cut the onions? Growing up on the streets is hard, escaping them is near impossible. But with determination, shear will and a touch of luck any thing is possible. The female lead is tough, independent and determined to save her sister and all the abused children from the streets. Her past drives her to take risks that could kill her. The male lead has is secrets and is determined to keep them to himself. He's a man of control and strength But when a surprise encounter leads him to the girl that saved his life as a child more times than he wants to recall, his control slowly slips away. Can they help each other or will their secrets tear them apart for good? As always Christi Caldwell delivers excellence that will carry you away to another time and place. Her words will sink into your soul until you feel every emotions that her characters do. It's fantastic and leaves you fulfilled as well as wanting more

The story revolves around Ophelia and her brother’s desire to present her to the ton in order to secure a marriage to a titled lord. Along the way she encounters Connor, who once saved her from being arrested by admitting he committed the crime. They never knew what happened to each other until now when they meet again. The victim of the theft, the Earl of Mar took Connor home with him, to feed him and then send him back to the streets. Mar, unmarried and childless decided to take Connor in, adopt him, see to his education and give him a start in his own business. The story is well written and holds your attention. The plot is well thought out and conveyed thru her writing. There is a HEA but before that occurs there is a lot of danger, intrigue, arrests and manipulation on the part of Connor’s father and other titled gentlemen. This is a great read and I would highly recommend it.

This will make your heart ache and your eyes water.

Christi Caldwell has written a sterling Regency novel of love, loss, vengeance, courage, survival, trials, tribulations, compassion and triumph. The story of Connor Steele and Ophelia Killoran is a marvellous addition to these wildly interesting families of commoners and nobilities.

The characters are recurring from previous series but this can be read as a standalone.
I look forward to Book 3. I highly recommend.

This is an e-arc from the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.