I don't know why I struggled with this book. It reminded me of the romances from about 20 years ago (especially the hero), but I just couldn't get into it. The book was a relatively quick read, but I didn't really connected with the characters.

Christi Caldwell never misses. I loved the grumpy x sunshine and the regency style mafia. I would have appreciated a little more character building. 4 stars!

I adored Helia and Anthony's story! I loved that Helia didn't let her situation get her down. She forged ahead and did something about it. Anthony was an @$$ for a lot of the story, but I did grow to love him.

With such statements as “His randy shaft…”, I tried. I really did, because I’ve always enjoyed Ms Caldwell’s work, but this tried my nerves from the very beginning and after 8 chapters I had to put this down because the MMC was a jerk of such immense proportions that I couldn’t go on reading.

I will likely pick this up again in the future and in the meantime, I hope other readers will enjoy this one more than I.



Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the DRC

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

I loved the forced proximity and the tension that came because of it. I absolutely loved Helia. She stood up to the duke and didn’t back down to his cutting words. I loved that the reader saw her emotions and vulnerability after those conversations and how she worked through them. It made her very relatable. The duke can be very possessive and that actually worked for me in this one and wasn’t a turnoff. I liked the amount of spice and how it was written. I do feel like the pacing of the second half was a little faster than the first but it had a good build up and I loved how the two handled some events towards the end.

Thank you netgalley, the publisher, and author for the gifted copy.

I devour this story in one sitting!
The Marquess of Wingrave doesn’t want visitors. But when the butler says the caller is a she, he springs to attention. Turns out the recently orphaned Helia Wallace has come to see his mother, her godmother, for help with a dastardly, dowry-chasing cousin. A likely story. But there’s a snowstorm brewing, and she begs him to let her stay the night. He reluctantly agrees. With the duke and duchess wintering elsewhere, Horace House is all his. He is free to do whatever he wants. And what he wants is Helia.
So engaging! Helia is a wonderful character. She is strong and resilient and I loved the way she defends herself from the soulless Marquess. He is cold and cruel, but our sunshine Helia will break every barrier piece by piece. The chemistry is of the chart and impossible to ignore. I really enjoyed all the banter, the steamy moments and how complex both characters were.
I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a captivating read for fans of historical romance, particularly those who enjoy stories about strong-willed heroines, dashing heroes, and the tender, steamy moments that unfold when opposites attract in a Regency-era setting.

The premise of this book was intriguing, but I felt like the book itself left something to be desired. The relationship between the two mothers was never explained. It was not indicated how exactly the Duke found out about Wingrave’s activities. The relationship between Helia and Anthony seemed only to be based on her illness…so many places where the story could have been enriched. It’s not terrible, though, it was intriguing enough I read to the end.

Captivating!

I loved this historical romance and its character development. Helia is a lovable heroine. She is a sweet, optimistic, and strong FMC. Anthony is a cold, arrogant, and rude MMC. I loved how Helia handles him and sees right through him. As Helia breaks down his defences, we progressively discover the hidden person and understand why he is so detestable. Their relationship evolution grows subtly. There are beautiful and intense exchanges between the two. This book is a captivating read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There is a reason that Christi Caldwell is my favorite author! She never ceases to amaze me with the depth of her characters, and her ability to pull the reader into their lives. I become totally invested, rooting desperately for the broken, unredeemable hero to open up his closed off heart to the courageous, feisty heroine. Helia is the sunshine, little Scot who barges into Anthony’s life, turning his world upside down, only to rescue him from a life of misery. She saw beneath the crude and cruel exterior, and never gave up till she found a tender heart inside! A lifetime of love was her reward. Such a beautiful story of love and redemption!

This was a spicy and romantic story with two incredibly strong main characters. Our Wolf was more of a cuddly teddy bear who desperately needed a hug, while Helia just needed a break and wasn’t getting one. I found that both of their backstories were relatable, which helped me understand why they were the way they were.

I have never read from this author but I loved this. It was well written and everything I wanted plus some.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Steam level: Open-door scenes

Thoughts:
I loved this historical romance book. The main characters were really enjoyable to read, and I appreciated the darker aspects of this story and how it impacted the relationship between Helia and Anthony. In many ways, their dynamic felt a lot like those written in classic historical romance novels.

To start off, Helia is an endearing character. She’s strong-willed and stubborn while retaining an air of innocence that can only come from a sheltered life filled with love. On the other hand, Anthony was written with shades of depression and grief. He’s hateful and has been through so much in his life. These gradual revelations made his resulting cold and somewhat malevolent behavior feel realistic and meaningful. To be clear, I love both characters so much. The author excelled at writing the nuanced emotions of deep resentment and how it can impact a person’s life trajectory.

Helia and Anthony’s personalities made their relationship dynamic interesting. I felt invested in their success and enjoyed the trials they faced along the way, which revealed a surprising softness they shared despite Anthony’s dark nature. Additionally, witnessing Helia’s sweetness single-handedly breaking through Anthony’s long-established defenses and causing him to short-circuit was equal parts satisfying and romantic. Their opposites-attract dynamic made the resulting steamy scenes feel very hot.

Finally, the pacing of the book felt off for me at times, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The author worked hard to fit a lot of relationship and character-related complexities into this story, and I enjoyed these moments a lot.

I would recommend this for fans of historical romance that enjoy male leads with some dark/cruel sides.

I received an advanced reader copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Wolf of Mayfair sounded amazing. I was excited to read it and try this new to me author whom I’d heard so much awesome things about. Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me mainly because of the hero. I love an a-hole hero but he just rubbed me the wrong way. It felt like his deplorable attitude was being overly sold. In the little (14%) I read of the book it was mentioned multiple times especially by him. I couldn’t understand what about his atrocious attitude the heroine was attracted to. I also found it repetitive. For these reasons I’m dnfing at 14%.

This book was so much fun to read! It features a morally gray, menacing grump and an intrepid, spirited young lady who doesn’t back down in speaking her mind and stands up to his menacing demeanor.
The plot is beautifully written and has „Beauty and the beast“, grumpy-sunshine, jaded hero and close proximity tropes. It is filled with plenty of witty banter, LOL moments, past drama, dirty talk, steamy love scenes and lovable characters. I loved Anthony‘s dry sarcasm which made me laugh to tears and the way Helia's fearless and warm nature challenged him at every turn, slowly drawing him out of his shell. Their chemistry and interactions sizzled from the start.

Anthony, Marquess of Wingrave, heir to the cruel Duke of Talbert,
is a notorious rake and known for his callousness, wickedness and ruthlessness.
When his parents leave London to spend some time at their country estate, Anthony makes himself at home in the ducal residence and enjoys his solitude and power he has in the absence of his hated father.
Until suddenly, in the middle of a snowstorm, a young lady in the entrance hall disturbs his peace and refuses to leave the house. She claims to be on the run and to need help from her supposed godmother, Anthony's mother.

Helia Wallace was forced to flee Scotland and her home when her cousin, her late father's heir, tried to force her into marriage. She has come to London to seek refuge with her late mother's friend and her godmother, the Duchess of Talbert. But instead of the Duchess, she meets her infamous son, who wants to throw her out immediately.

Anthony is fascinated by the woman, who parries his attempts at intimidation and crude behavior with cheek and determination. He reluctantly allows her to stay, knowing that one night in his house will irrevocably destroy her reputation. Soon Anthony realises that Helia has not only invaded his household but also his thoughts. The intrepid, defiant woman can see his vulnerability and loneliness underneath his menacing exterior and is determined to melt the ice around his heart…

If you like morally gray heroes and sassy, ​​fearless heroines who tame their heart, this book is a must-read!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

Helia Wallace is recently orphaned and she travels to London from Scotland to stay with her godmother, the Duchess of Talbot in an effort to outpace her cousin trying to marry her for her dowry. Unfortunately for Helia, the duke and duchess are wintering elsewhere, but their son, Lord Anthony Blofield, is at home. He reminds her that staying with him alone in the house will ruin her reputation if word gets out, but Helia has no other options. Anthony is a rake and he doesn’t believe Helia’s story about the cousin, but then Helia gets quite sick. His dour personality transforms into someone who cares for her when she is ill.

I love nothing more than a rake who falls hard, particularly when she is sick and needs his help! This romance is steamy and sweet - I completely devoured it!

4.25/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Strangers to lovers
Age Gap
Grumpy/sunshine
Broody/Cynical MMC
She falls first/ he falls harder
Touch her and die vibes
Dual POV

This one almost got me mad only because Wingrave/ Anthony was soooo mean and cynical in the first half of the book. Like he was the epitome of a stoic who was emotionally disconnected. But, Helia really did get under his skin and thawed him out. I really enjoyed this book once you saw how he was really hiding a warm but very badly bruised heart.

Overall, it was a good plot with a bit of suspense. Highly recommend for fans of historical romances with a darker side.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

This is a captivating Regency romance that deftly blends intrigue, passion, and sharp wit. Caldwell introduces readers to the infamous “Wolf,” a self-made man who thrives in the ruthless underbelly of Mayfair while hiding a tender heart beneath his tough exterior. His world collides with that of a headstrong heroine, setting the stage for a romance full of tension, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry.

What stands out in this novel is the careful attention Caldwell gives to both character development and the societal dynamics of the time. The characters are not just thrown into a whirlwind romance but are given space to grow individually. The heroine, in particular, is no damsel—she’s bold, clever, and willing to challenge both the hero and the societal expectations imposed upon her. Their evolving relationship feels organic, moving from mutual wariness to something deeper as secrets are revealed and vulnerabilities laid bare.

The backdrop of Mayfair, with its stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, adds richness to the story, allowing the plot to weave between glamorous ballrooms and the gritty streets of London. Caldwell’s writing strikes a perfect balance between the romantic tension and the external conflict, keeping the reader engaged not only in the love story but in the intrigue that surrounds it.

For fans of Regency romance who enjoy well-rounded characters, slow-burn tension, and a dash of mystery, “The Wolf of Mayfair” offers an engrossing and emotionally satisfying read. Caldwell’s knack for historical detail and heartfelt storytelling shines in this beautifully crafted tale of love, redemption, and defying societal norms.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

The Wolf of Mayfair by Christi Caldwell is about a woman on the run who is seeking help from the godmother she's never met, but who is a duchess. When she arrives at the duchess' home, the only one there is the roguish and grumpy son. He is Lord of the castle at this time and he has no interest in a maiden in distress besides her body.

Recently orphaned Helia Wallace travelled from Scotland to London, seeking shelter with her godmother, the Duchess of Talbot; trying to avoid her dowry-chasing cousin. The duke and duchess are wintering elsewhere, but their son, Anthony, the Marquis of Wingrave, is there. Hellia tries to convince Anthony to help her, but he doesn't believe his mother is her godmother ; also not't caring if she dies in the elements. Or so he says. Once Helia becomes ill, there is a battle of wills and a lot of heated exchanges between the two.

I loved the feisty, strong willed, outspoken Helia from the start but thoroughly disliked Wingrave, he was a strong alpha, cynical, offensive, and rude. It was wonderful how Helia stood up to him and gradually melted the ice walls around his heart. The chemistry between them sizzled, the banter was wonderful, with a really good story of love and healing behind that. Overall, I really enjoyed their story and the ending.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Montlake