Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean | Fall into Historicals
Romance at a Glance is a podcast where hosts Bridget and Shani review romance novels and interview some of romance’s biggest authors diving into candid conversations about life, relationships, and sexual desires. Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor. Leave us a rating and review on iTunes.
Full transcript available below.
Book Review at a Glance
Worth the Read?
Shani: ⭐⭐⭐
Bridget: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heroine Rating: Felicity
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Devil
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McSteamy
Bridget: McSteamy McSheWantsYou McGiveitoHerNowPlease
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla but sexy
Romance at a Glance Reviews Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
Devil is in the house!
As you all may remember, we were going to do book 3 of this series but realized that one of us wouldn't know what was going to happen because they really are not standalones. So we decided to go back to the beginning with book 1!
We start with Devil and Felicity and get a lot of backstory about the Barenuckle Bastards and the world. One thing we didn't realize is that Felicity is featured in one of the other MacLean series and the Bastards are mentioned. Thankfully that didn't affect us too much!
Some major points we discussed:
The dark balcony meet-cute
Felicity's lock-picking abilities
The Barenuckle Bastards world
The relationship between Grace, Devil and Beast. The banter and unspoken communication.
Devil's power
The whispering bench scene
Our desire to read Whit/Beast's story.
Her lock-picking skills coming in handy
Devil constantly saying he isn’t for her and “setting” her free.
On Romance at a Glance, we review all genres of romance novels, as well as get into the nitty-gritty of real-life romance, relationships, and sex... while cracking each other up. Expect some spontaneous singing, funny anecdotes, honest reviews, and naughty language.
Quick Guide Review of the Book and Notes
Book Title: Wicked and the Wallflower
Author: Sarah MacLean
Audio Narrator: Justine Eyre - Shani approved!
Part of a Series: Book 1 of the Barenuckle Bastards series
Genre: Historical Romance
Cover Art:
Shani: Didn’t give that historical vibe, didn’t know what to expect. DIdn’t give an idea of what the story would be about.
Bridget: Liked the bright bold pink color, made me think this was going to be a more “modern” historical romance and that the female would be the main character.
Synopsis: 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.
But there's nothing plain about wallflower Lady 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.
The background that holds this series together is three bastard brothers, a girl they call their sister, and the monster father (duke) that tried to pit them against each other.
Heroine Rating: Felicity
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 I like that she would leave the house at night for an adventure and lockpick, but she was simpering and thought she could change a man.
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 Felicity was a fun heroine! I think she made this story. Devil wasn’t as devilish as I wanted him to be but Felicity was exactly as interesting, willful, and adventurous as I wanted her to be.
Hero Rating: Devil
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆 This back and forth of you are too good to be with me but let me eat you out, but no, but yes….was tiresome.
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆 Again I did get a bit frustrated with him. The whole I want her, but she's too good for me, so I can't have her, but I want her so I'm going to kiss her then be mean was repetitive!
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McSteamy
Bridget: McSteamy McSheWantsYou McGiveitoHerNowPlease
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla but sexy
Favorite Lines in the Book:
Favorite Review:
Shani’s from Goodreads:
Stacey is Sassy rated it liked it 3 stars
Are we there yet...?
I liked Wicked and the Wallflower but to be honest, it dragged for me. It took me way too long to get through this story and I normally devour anything Sarah MacLean writes. I think my biggest problem was that I never really connected with the characters. I thought the heroine was a ninny, the hero not as tough/strong/intimidating as I was told, and the villain a little insipid. Harsh, I know, but I needed more from them. I just didn't feel part of this story and never felt a desperate need to keep going.
Bridget’s from Goodreads:
Jeanne rated it 4 stars
I was wobbly at first because the love interest lies to the leading lady, but I loved the world of the Bareknuckle Bastards. By the end I was cheering for the couple. I’m looking forward to the next book. I really like The Beast.
Worth the Read?
Shani: ⭐⭐⭐ Didn’t like him denying her her happiness because he thought he was doing what was best for her. But the world was cool and I want to read Whit’s story (especially after hearing about him getting tied up
Bridget: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I liked it enough to immediately jump into book 2 which was a 5 star read for me. And then I read book 3 too! Will be recapping those reviews on Patreon!
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Full Podcast Transcript
Recommendations:
Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires.
As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance’s biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo in order to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.
Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.
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