Wicked and the Wallflower

Devil, a man of London's criminal underworld, makes an alliance with Lady Felicity Faircloth after she claims she's engaged to a duke. He offers to help orchestrate this false engagement, seeing an opportunity to advance his own agenda against his enemies through her connection to nobility. Felicity, who has been cast out of high society, knows her lie about the engagement could ruin her completely. Despite the risks, she accepts Devil's proposition, drawn into his world of lock-picking, sneaking through windows, and operating in shadows. As Devil teaches Felicity the arts of thievery and deception, their partnership evolves beyond its original terms. Their opposing social spheres and conflicting goals create mounting complications for both of them. The story examines themes of social status, redemption, and the tension between society's expectations and individual desires. Through its exploration of London's criminal class and noble circles, it questions what truly determines a person's worth.

Readers found the romance compelling between the roguish Devil and clever Lady Felicity, with many highlighting their witty banter and slow-burn chemistry. The Victorian London setting and MacLean's writing style earned praise for historical details and atmosphere. Liked: - Strong female protagonist who defies society's expectations - Complex hero with a dark past and redemption arc - Secondary characters who add humor and depth - Lock-picking scenes and heist elements Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Several readers noted the plot becomes convoluted - A few felt the ending rushed major revelations Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (500+ reviews) "The lock-picking scenes were unique and fascinating" - Goodreads reviewer "Devil's transformation from villain to hero felt authentic" - Amazon review "Started strong but lost momentum" - LibraryThing user

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🌹 Sarah MacLean quit her job in publishing to become a full-time romance novelist after the success of her first adult romance, "Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake" 🌹 The novel is set in Covent Garden, which was notorious in 18th century London for its brothels, taverns, and criminal activity, earning it the nickname "The Great Square of Venus" 🌹 This book is the first in "The Bareknuckle Bastards" series, which features three illegitimate brothers who control London's criminal underworld 🌹 The lock-picking skills demonstrated by the heroine, Lady Felicity Faircloth, were a genuine pursuit among some aristocratic women of the Georgian era, who collected locks and practiced picking them as a hobby 🌹 The author wrote this book as a response to the #MeToo movement, deliberately crafting a story about female agency and consent in historical romance