I loved this book so much. Mac and Pippa are such a great couple. She is clever and knows her own worth, while he worries that he is too old and too lowborn for him. He also fears her brother - a duke and one of his best friends - will kill him if he gives into his desire for Pippa. Mac and Pippa had tangible chemistry and I loved being an observer to their story, I also really loved the friendship elements to this book. The relationship between Mac, Roan, Tobias, and Dex is so lovely. They support each other and form an enviable friendship group. The Leighton Cluster indeed! This whole series has been delightful and I look forward to the next book in the series. Strong women are always a delight and Ms. Sumner is excellent at weaving steamy scenes into the fabric of the story. This is definitely worth a read.

Tracy Sumner does not disappoint. I enjoy the depth that she brings to her characters and the way that she weaves emotions in her writing style. Pip and Mac were lovable. It was great to see the love story unfold for them. Also the family and friendships relations always are spectacular to see.

I love them. Honestly, that was nearly my entire review. Because I adore everything about this series and I love this book. I have like Pippa throughout the series and I have always loved Macauley. He deserves his HEA! I am so glad I took a chance on an author I’d never before read, because Tracy Sumner is now a favorite. As always, I made sure to read the previous books in the series before I read this one, and couldn’t be more enchanted by the Duchess Society and Tracy Sumner’s writing. Delightfully spicy, oftentimes funny, always engaging—I have every intention of going back and reading the rest of her books.

You really should read her previous books in the series before you read this one, and that way you’ll know Tobias and Hildy, Pippa’s brother Leighton and Helena, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Markham (they’ve got a prequel!). Macauley is a character throughout the series, and I enjoyed his arc from grumpy old curmudgeon to Hero!

This was a fun 5-star read!

I am also delighted about foreshadowing—do I see books for Dash and Ollie coming up???? I hope so! I love them!

There is so much pining and sexual tension in this book that someone who hated those two things would say: “One star—the horniness was heavy-handed.”

😉 Good thing I’m obsessed with pining and sexual tension so I say: “Five stars—finally a book that can satisfy my limitless desire for horny characters!”

Xander and Pippa may have met because Xander is friends with her brother, the Duke of Leighton, but they’ve been lusting after each other for years—And this had everything I love about the brother’s best friend trope, with none of the things I hate. The family connection meant that they met all the time, took care of each other, and even exchanged gifts (then carried them around like talismans of their obsession—ugh, my heart). The normalcy of their interactions on the outside versus the “I want you, I want you” chanting going on inside their heads was giving me life.

But thankfully, the reason they weren’t together wasn’t a controlling brother (as punch first, ask questions later as said brother can be)—it was their social class difference and Xander’s inability to let people in. Which mean that the romance story was about Pippa and Xander working together and opening up to each other, demonstrating their compatibility despite the social class difference. Which was so sweet!

I loved the writing in this book! It felt cinematic. When Xander dipped his head to hide a smile; when he put a cheroot in his mouth on a dark terrace, looking back as Pippa and her friends burst out a door of a well-lit ballroom; when seeing the other on the street stops them in their tracks and the crowd flows around them; when his glossy unmarked carriage randomly stops beside her and he tells her to get in—😅 hmm, writing it out like that makes it sound like a season of Sex in the City, which I’m not mad about.

What a perfect book!
🥺 How they always had something reminding them of the other person in their pocket?
🥵 Finding any and every moment they can be alone together for some steamy times?
🥰 A grand gesture and some delicious groveling?

And the set ups we get for future book couples?? Dash and Theo!! That was the sweetest meet cute I’ve ever seen and now I’m ~invested~

I enjoyed this one. It was relatively low angst with little keeping the couple apart except the familiar broken boy backstory. That being said, I wish we could have seen a bit more of both Pippa and Xander’s backstories. They were referenced but not really mined in a way that really let us understand their present day motives. I may have missed some of this by not reading the earlier books in the series. Still I very much enjoyed the ending and how the “offer” was presented.

This was a genuinely fun Regency romp, I loved the dynamic between the two characters, their chemistry was off the charts and I look forward to reading the next installment in this series!

Just spent the afternoon on my lawn hair and completely was lost in time and place, Fantastic story with great characters. Loved it! Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Tracy Sumner managed to find a unique perspective on a trope used often - I couldn't put this book down! It seemed like a classic wallflower storyline, but wicked is right!

Lady Phillipa Darlington is everything you'd expect from a Duke's sister, a true wallflower who works hard to stay in the shadows and be easily forgotten. This hides her actual motives of doing all the things ladies shouldn't do in her station! Who would believe it of Lady Phillipa?

Xander Macauley for one. He has noticed Phillipa, in more ways than one! Beyond the fact that he is good friends with her brother and knows the man would kill him if he made a move, he has begun to spend half his time running all around town rescuing Phillipa from scraps she gets herself into! As a man born lowly, he knows this world but has worked hard to build up his business and reach for loftier goals.

He's a true rake, but once he realizes what he has in Phillipa he gives it his all to win her over, even as she is doing naughty things to his mind and body - this book really brought in the steam, some really great interactions where Phillipa took action. I really enjoyed this read and I'm especially happy that a "two years later" epilogue was included, not enough books do that.

My only issue was that it was hard to get started at first (don't give up though), there was some mention of their previous interactions in the other books of the series but not enough to really know the characters history. Thankfully the further you got into the story the less it mattered.

My opinion is freely given and all my own.

Xander Macauley was born in the slums but is now on top of the world through quick wits and friendships with powerful men. One of those men happens to have a younger sister, Lady Philippa Darlington, who Xander cannot stop thinking of despite knowing he shouldn’t. And the feeling is mutual. Their attraction to one another, no matter how foolish it is, continues to grow and there is no denying the sparks. But they are from two entirely different worlds, with so much standing in the way of their happily ever after. But it’s worth it, isn’t it?

This was a little hard to get into at first - it seemed there was a significant backstory that I was just missing - as it is in a series perhaps there was something within the previous books. But for the first few chapters, I most definitely felt I was missing something. However, I managed to get past that and get into the book and the characters, just in time for it to heat up and for me to love the story!

THIS WAS SO GOOD. Thanks to the pusblisher for the ARC.

If you love a brother’s best friend, age gap, bad boy/fake good girl class difference steamy read, I say, look no further.

But first a cautionary tale: if you’re like me and never had a rebellious phase so you like just jumping in to the third book in a series because you can, think twice here. I shot myself in the proverbial romance-enjoyment foot cause I needed to have read the first two books (when will I learn TBD). It seemed like a good plan at the moment to read my first book from this author in the middle of a series, but this couple had moments in previous books plus previous books’ couples are very present in the storyline, so I had major regrets I hadn’t read that going in. Heed my warning, or whatever, but my only complaints were self-inflicted.

This book has two key factors that ring all my bells:
- hero-centric reader’s dream solid, solid self-made, gambling hell underworld prince/closet academic MMC
- the aforementioned pursued bad boy who fled from love like an infectious plague turns into the chasing, grand gesture/groveling puddle of goo AND our fearless, determined girl kicks him while he’s down. Ugh, just *slow clap*

Like, I was enjoying it the whole way (even when brother’s BFF can be tricky for me if there’s no other conflict besides “Your brother is going to kill me if he finds out”). Ms Sumner is a wordy wizard, and I appreciate her lengthier dialogues and just submerssive HR writing. But, but, listen, when the heat got turned on and then that third act arrived, oh man! She stuck the landing. Full marks.

Xander Macauley chases Lady Phillippa Darlington all over town because she’s a reckless termagant, and he can’t help wanting to keep her out of trouble. She drives him crazy, tries his patience and his whole stance on what he wants in life, since she, in turn, brashly pursues him cause he’s the sexy, older, forbidden fruit.

The lusting, the lusting is so delicious. Linen closet trysts and can’t-make-it-home carriage self-pleasuring. When he admits defeat, just throws caution to the wind and says “Leave your balcony open tonight, luv”. Oh, the anticipation tingles were real and well satisfied. He’s at the edge of self-control, and she may be innocent, but she does not back down. Just likes to push and poke at him, you know. Hot.

But also, the character motivation arcs are nice and tight: When she finds purpose and acceptance of her true self, and he embraces his role as protector and finds a true home. Again, that fricking grand gesture, post-resolution steamy action plus two-year later epilogue perfection? I’m out of gymnastics metaphors, but you get it. I loved it.

Thank you for the opportunity to review the book.

Having said that, I enjoyed the book. Both Pippa and Xander were well-rounded characters, with idiosyncrasies that both complemented and clashed, making their interactions enjoyable.

Though I was not aware this was part of a series, I loved the story. I think this could be a standalone, but would be enhanced by reading the companions.

Overall, a good read and well written.

I was not 100% sold on this story. While I always enjoy the wallflower troupe of Regency Romances, this one did not focus on the that aspect as much as I had hoped. The characters well developed from previous books I did not read may have detracted from the set enjoyment.

That being said it was enjoyable and I would recommend the book and Pippa and Xander were fine main characters. It took me a little to get vested, but the second half really picked up steam.

I’m a huge regency romance fan, it’s something about the soft and lighthearted nature of this type of book that I find very comforting and really draws me to it. And this book is exactly what I was looking for and expecting from this genre.

Unfortunately for me, this is the third book in the series. And while you can read it as a standalone, I felt that I was missing huge pieces of the storyline that would’ve built up believability in and connection to the love story between Xander and Pippa. It was a lot of heated looks and poking fun at one another, but missing the initiating moment between the two that happened in another book made me the chemistry feel lost to me.

As well, this book uses a lot of verbiage and slang of the time, which often led me to re-read phrases 2 or 3 times to get the full meaning of the sentence. I also could’ve done without the constant reference to every woman in the story as a “chit” and the frequent use of the word “tup”. I understand there’s a desire to maintain some historical accuracy but I just found the word usage to be repetitive and cringey.

That being said, as I got more familiar with the characters by the end of the book, I felt very invested in Xander and Pippa’s story, and I couldn’t put it down. The spice level in the latter half of the book was superb and the interactions and dialogue between the two main characters was sweet and tender. Ultimately, I love the idea of The Duchess Society, and I’m definitely going to go back and read the other books so I can see how this all came about to get more on Pippa’s backstory and the mischief she got up to.

Pick up this book if you like:
- Regency romance and forbidden love
- Rakish bad boys with a knight in shining armour bent
- Mutual pining, tension building, and heated looks

Thank you Netgalley and WOLF Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Bookstagram review will be posted on FoldingThePage on May 30, 2022.

🌲Xander Macaulay, illegitimate son of and Earl and Prince of the Limehouse docks worked his way up from the rookeries and built an empire. The only thing he can't have is Lady Phillipa Darlington, the sister of one of his best friends.
Pippa is acting as a wallflower for two years to escape the notice of the ton, especially of the gentlemen. She's too independent and strong, but her heart already belongs to Macaulay.

🌲This is my first Tracy Sumner book and I loved it! I loved the main characters, I loved the secondary characters ( they already have their books or they're next), I loved the story. I loved the little dance Pippa and Xander did until they finally got together.

🌲Pippa was everything we want from a heroine in 2022 but the real heart stealer was Xander. He has major Derek Craven vibes, so if you love Derek you'll definitely love him as much.

🌲Tropes: Mutual pining , Class difference, Age Gap (only 10 years)

🌲I'm really looking forward for the next ones that will feature Ollie and Theo. I have to admit that I thought they might end up together but they will go to most directions...

🌲I received a free eARC copy from the author by NetGalley and this are my honest opinions.

It has been a few weeks since reading the novel, but I did enjoy it. The relationship seemed to progress quickly - but at least they knew each other a while. I especially enjoyed the male friendships and how they developed from the first novel in the series. The heroine did know what she wanted and the hero tried to keep to his moral code.

The dialogue does not always fit the time period:
"No way in hell. No, as in, never." , "Nice gown" Colloquial mistakes. The suspension of disbelief is required in some scenarios.

The novel does need an editor for a few mistakes that could be prevented with a proofreader.

It did bother me that the heroes in the series are incredible man-whores. It gets frustrating that the hero keeps referring to his slew of lovers. They could always find a willing woman in their bed. Then one time with the heroine, and they are cured of all their wild oats. Magical p****y syndrome - hero has sex with the heroine and he wants to go from biggest rake (man-whore) to the evangelic, perfect spouse, loyal, and loving to only the heroine and her purity. It reads like it is more about the sex (and taking her virtue) than real love and connection, understanding, respect, etc. I can read one rake, but all the men in the series has such a long list of lovers and the pattern will repeat for each hero. It gets a bit tedious.

Pippa Darlington is out in Society, but she's busy doing her best to be a wallflower so no one realizes that she's up to no good. She's going places no good society miss should, and refusing to follow the rules, all why trying not to fall in love with a certain man. Xander Macauley has no illusions about who he is. Born from the streets, he's clawed his way up to a comfortable perch in society. He's also close friend's with Pippa's brother, who just so happens to be a duke. And while the duke and everyone else is busy buying Pippa's wallflower routine, Xander is rescuing her from scrape after scrape. All while they do their best not to fall in love with each other.

This is, I think, my first Tracy Sumner, book and I don't think it'll be my last! These two characters had so much sizzle and I could not put this book down. Macauley is all the things you want a historical hero to be. He's kind and smart and takes no shit. He's honorable to a fault, although he just can't resist his best friend's little sister. And Pippa? She's doing her best to push all of his buttons, to find her own place in society after her brother inherits a title and she suddenly becomes the sister of a Duke.

The Wicked Wallflower was a bit spicy, a bit sassy, and a lovely read. I'd happily grab another book by this author, not just because her characters have good chemistry, but because she doesn't shy away from including a lot of historical issues that affected them, like social classes and toxic family relationships. 4.5 stars!

I was provided an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks to the publisher and the author for providing it to me.

Lady Philippa Darlington has embraced the position her family has been elevated to thanks to her brother’s title, but she chafes at societal restrictions. She puts up the façade of empty-headed wallflower to dissuade suitors while secretly vetting gentlemen for the Duchess Society, unbeknownst to her two mentors. She’s determined never to marry so her misadventures hardly matter, until her latest scheme brings her into real danger.

Xander Macauley has raised himself up from a life on the streets to being the undisputed king of Limehouse. He has his own secrets to keep, the most inconvenient of them being his utter infatuation with his best friend’s baby sister. Xander knows they can never be together, but when circumstances force their proximity, he sees the real Pippa beneath her societal façade and soon his efforts at resisting her are all for naught.

Now this was a couple I could really root for. I adore the strong, silent, slightly tortured hero with a heart of gold, who actually feels things very deeply, and Xander ticked all these boxes in spades. Pippa was indeed reckless and impulsive, but not enough to make her an annoying harpy of a heroine. Rather, her tendency toward rashness was exactly what was needed to give Xander the nudge he needed to see them together since he kept trying to be a good friend by not becoming involved with his dear friend’s sister. I actually really adored the scene in which he confesses his feelings to Roan and Tobias, his dear friends. Yes, a few punches are thrown, but we don’t get the over-the-top overprotective brother as we so often do in best friend’s brother tropes. Instead, we get to see the closeness and solidity of the bond between Roan and Xander as well and once they calmed down and talked to each other, it was just perfect, and I think that scene was a really nice touch. Overall, I loved Pippa and Xander together and Xander’s eventual openness about his feelings just melted my heart. I’m even surprised at myself for how much I’m looking forward to the next books of the series.

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

Lady Philippa Darlington is working to guarantee her future by pretending to be a wallflower for a couple seasons, helped along by two of her friends who are now duchesses and know as the Duchess Society. Unlike her loved-up friends, Pippa vows never to marry. There is only one man Pippa has ever wanted and he's from the wrong side of the streets. Xander Macauley is her dukish brother's business partner, but he came from nothing to rule a financial empire. He has both secrets and dreams big to fulfill like him opening up a gaming hell. The biggest problem is his attraction to his best friend’s little sister who is totally off-limits. Xander ends up rescuing Pippa from a naughty masquerade and sparks fly between them. Their attraction is undeniable, but he's still not the type of man her brother wants her to marry.

I truly LOVED this book! The characters & their off-the-charts chemistry, the unexpected plot twists, and I look forward to reading the others in the series. This book is the third in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone and it's definitely one that I would buy for myself and others.

I just reviewed The Wicked Wallflower by Tracy Sumner. #TheWickedWallflower #NetGalley

It is always tricky to judge historical romances, especially if you’re a lover of the genre: you expect historical accuracy, both in setting and language, you expect believable and entertaining characters, you expect a good romance.
All in all, very high expectation and very few books and authors who actually deliver a decent product, but The Wicked Wallflower by Tracy Sumner is a very good book indeed!

This book has it all: intriguing characters, steamy romance, a very well written world around them, but, most of all, everything always seems to be in the right place at the right time!

But lets go a bit more into it: I adored the protagonist, Philippa, because even though she was all but a proper lady, she has a keen mind and was very easy to read and like. A true darling.
I also liked our male lead a lot, and I think that his character is written especially well, and in a deep and realistic manner.

I love how the book is connected in the series by small innuendos and things who let you connect with the other books without making it impossible to read this without having read the prequels first!

Last but not least, the steamy scenes were well written, delicate and believable!

All in all is a great book that anyone will enjoy, extremely well written and entertaining!


Now, I will leave a few content warnings here that I think reader should be aware of before reading:
- there is an age gap of 9 years between the protagonists;
- brief mention of drug use
- mention of physical abuse (not sexual)

Rogue wallflower and gambling king!

Romance never seemed so hard. When you’ve adored your Dukely brother’s business partner forever, then making him notice you is a problem. Although he did give you an unusual birthday present a couple of years back—a bejeweled knife. Lady Phillips Darlington doesn’t want flowers, the knife however was pure joy.
All Pippa wants is a little adventure, but this smuggler from the rookeries turned business man and gambling establishment owner had her covered. This is the man who recognises that you’re trouble. Like calling to like?
Xander Macauley has had Pippa watched, guarded really, for eons.
I must admit I did enjoy the dance between this couple in Sumner’s Duchess Society series. Pippa is unusual, but then so was her upbringing. Xander was all you could want of a bad boy with hidden hurts, loyalty, and a loving heart waiting to unfurl. Some amusing scenes added enjoyment.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.

A Wolf Publication ARC via NetGalley