Reading a Stacy Reid book always puts me in a good mood. I know I will enjoy the leads and that there will be steam :) This book delivered on both fronts. While I am not a fan of the "fall in love when kids trope" and still didn't really enjoy it here, I enjoyed Fifi's journey tremendously. I liked how her relationship with her parents was portrayed and I especially loved her scene with Sally. That scene truly moved me. Devlin was an okay hero but tbh this book was all about Fifi and by extension the wallflowers. I can't wait for Fanny's story next!

Thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC ( )

This was the worst of the three so far.
I felt like it was def not a slow burn - they used their brief meeting as children to supposedly be enough relationship development to just launch straight in - so I felt it heavy on smut with little plot or relationship building. Wasn’t to my liking. ( )

Great book! The character of Devlin was so easy to fall in love with. Really love this series from Reid. Can’t wait for the next book! ( )

Another add to the Sinful Wallflowers series, and another FABULOUS story for Historical Romance fans to indulge in! These ladies are far from the wallflowers that the ton has made them into, and in an effort to hedge their bets in their own directions, they've come together and made a pact, if you will, to live life on their own terms, seek our their desires, and make their own way in a world dominated by men, but held captive by the women standing subtly by.

I really enjoyed how this story began, in childhood no doubt, sharing with us just how deep their bond really was. The innocent beginnings that turned into long held desires that seemed as if they would never see the light of another day...and yet, fate showed them just enough mercy for a reintroduction; what they did with it from there is entirely up to them. Or was it? It's a time when the voice of one among the ton can make or break you. Your reputation as a lady, and your family name, are the most important things outside of lofty bank accounts, and stepping outside your class, in any sense of the word, is pretty much forbidden. But what's a girl to do when her father, lying on his death bed, reveals a secret, startling, yes, and yet making clear things you never before understood? What if after same said confession, a turnabout in health occurs...leaving the secret aired, and both parties with whom the knowledge lies at opposing ends of what to do next? It's a predicament that sends Lady Ophelia into a world of shadows and darkness, as she seeks to make sense of her world torn asunder, but she's not truly alone in her endeavor...

Enter Devlin Byrne...my somewhat latest book boyfriend, and mysterious shadow to our Lady Ophelia. With his connections, nay with his reputation alone, her safety is not in question...but what of her heart? There's something there just beneath the surface that aches to know more. The why, what, and who that are driving her mad with curiosity, and yet...in the telling, in the revelation, in the removal of masks painstakingly set in place, her world is about to shatter all over again. She'll gain knowledge of things she never knew she wanted to know. She'll grow to understand things between men and women that she and her friends could only speculate about. She'll discover things about herself, society, and those she holds dear that will shock, awe, and inspire, but ultimately, when all is said and done, Lady Ophelia will understand that life is only well lived if one embraces it with a full and open heart.

The highs and lows of love and societal demands will keep you turning pages long into the night, while the relationship between our leads will have you on high alert. You'll hope against hope that all turns out well, both in Lady Ophelia's quest, and Devlin's endeavors...and while it may not all be a smooth road to happily-ever-after, those bumps along the way create pure magic. A high recommendation for ADULT Historical Romance fans...sorry younger readers, but there's definitely adult content and conversation best kept for older ears/eyes. Even I never knew there were so many names for certain things between men and women...some most comical too!


**copy received for review; opinions are my own ( )

This is a whole new level of second-chance romance with the hero and heroine having met in childhood before being torn apart and never knowing each other. Ophelia grows up thinking he was just a feverish dream. Devlin grows up feeling the pain of her loss, but never knowing her real name until a chance passing on the seedy streets of London reveals her to him.

From there, he begins a tug-of-war with his conscience as much as her as he tries to pull her into his orbit and claim her as his own. She instinctively responds to him not knowing who he is or understanding his fascination with her. They are each fierce and determined, but it is not until they turn those feelings towards each other rather than against that true passion ignites leading them to the love that has been waiting for them since they were children in the woods.

It is one of Stacy Reid’s best stories to date with well-developed characters and a stirring plot. It is a stand-alone novel that does not need to be read with the other books in the series to be appreciated, although other characters from those novels do appear.

ARC via NetGalley ( )