Wicked and the Wallflower (The Bareknuckle Bastards #1) by Sarah MacLean

“It’s exactly the kind of skill we should have. Our whole world is built by men. For them. And we’re simply here for decoration, brought in at the end of everything important. Well, I grow tired of ends. Locks are beginnings.”

I go through phases with historical romance and sometimes Sarah MacLean is included in those phases. I wasn’t sure I was going to love this premise, but in actual fact, the idea of The Bareknuckle Bastards and the heroine voluntarily turning her back on the constraints of aristocratic society was refreshing.

Felicity was a complex character, her desire to be accepted back into society after a couple of past transgressions, was frustrating, but obviously she has spent her life being conditioned into thinking that she had little choice but to fall into those societal norms. Along came Devil to show her the alternatives!

Devil might be his own worst enemy, he went about things arse about face and to be honest I’m still not entirely sure what the actual plan was. The way Ewan was positioning makes me think he could have cared less about Devil’s plans with Facility. His ‘plan’ was destined to fail from the get go, and it did make me question how he got to the position within the underworld that he has. He for sure isn’t the brains of the operation, given that he didn’t include his sister in this ‘plan’ I’m going to assume that Grace is the reason he and Whit are where they are! 😀

I will definitely read Brazen and the Beast, and I hope we get a better impression of Ewan in that, because right now I have no interest in reading about him in Daring and the Duke. He SUCKS and from what little we see of Grace in this book, she deserves WAY better!

“Revenge is sport. It isn’t important. Nothing changes in the end, and double the wrongs have been committed.”

Synopsis:

When Wicked Comes Calling . . .

When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees–on one condition. She’s seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won’t accept a marriage without it.

The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain . . .

Bastard son of a duke and king of London’s dark streets, Devil has spent a lifetime wielding power and seizing opportunity, and the spinster wallflower is everything he needs to exact a revenge years in the making. All he must do is turn the plain little mouse into an irresistible temptress, set his trap, and destroy his enemy.

For the Promise of Passion . . .

But there’s nothing plain about Felicity Faircloth, who quickly decides she’d rather have Devil than another. Soon, Devil’s carefully laid plans are in chaos and he must choose between everything he’s ever wanted . . . and the only thing he’s ever desired.