ARC Review: Someone Wanton His Way Comes by Christi Caldwell

About the Book:

Title: Someone Wanton His Way Comes

Author: Christi Caldwell

Series: Wantons of Waverton – Book 1

Page Length: 335

Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Publisher: Montlake

Synopsis: Widowed Lady Sylvia Elton is out to save young ladies from the terrible fate of love and marriage. Her former husband has retained his reputation as an honorable and loving man in death, but Sylvia has privately mourned his lies and infidelity. Joined by two equally scorned and cast-off friends, Sylvia establishes the Mismatch Society. With each new liberated member, the scandalous circle wreaks havoc on the romantic prospects of London’s frustrated male peerage. But nothing prepares Sylvia for the Viscount St. John, a familiar face and her most formidable challenger.

Clayton Kearsley, the Viscount St. John, can’t allow these wantons to dismantle the Marriage Mart. Until he discovers the ringleader is his old friend’s widow, a fine woman for whom he’s carried a torch since the day they met. Thinking himself undeserving of a diamond like her, he introduced her to his best friend—a decision he now regrets deeply, knowing of the hurt she carries in secret.

Now, he is positioned to match wits with this woman, who is determined to save young ladies from future heartbreak. And despite his misgivings, Clayton is entertaining fantasies that he could end their battle with a kiss. If only he had the courage to tell her how he feels—or the hope that she’d ever again let down her guard.

This meeting of the Mismatch Society is called to order…

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon, and I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through my links.

My Review:

Someone Wanton His Way Comes follows Sylvia, a young widow, as she moves in with two female friends and begins to build a life for her and her son. Sylvia becomes the leader of the Mismatch Society, a group of women determined to change societal rules. When she reconnects with Clayton, an old friend and a friend of her deceased husband, old feelings reignite, and the pair must examine their feelings and confront their pasts while also deciding if they have a future.

Sylvia is fascinating. Bold and independent, she refuses to be a victim and instead takes charge of her life. She does not want to be beholden to a man, nor does she want to have to answer to one. She is her own woman, and she won’t accept anything less than equality. Other women look up to her and her feminist ideals, and they all work together to change the rules of their society. I love how these women turn everything upside down!

Many of Clayton’s sisters are part of the Mismatch Society, and they continually manipulate Clayton into bending to their will. Clayton is such a wonderful brother, son, and love interest! He is self-sacrificing and honorable, and his attentiveness and easy comradery with his family is sincere and thoughtful. He is a good man with good intentions and is the perfect match for Sylvia, who he has loved for years. Unfortunately, Clayton fears the family curse so much that he denies himself a happy, wedded future.

The love story is a great friends-to-lovers romance mixed with a bit of unrequited love and angst. Clayton has loved Sylvia for years but never acted on his feelings. Throughout the story, he continues to resist his feelings. Sylvia does as well because of her failed and loveless marriage and her feelings about love. I liked seeing this couple rekindle their friendship and how it grew into something more. Plus, their chemistry is fantastic!! Sylvia often makes the first move with Clayton, which is so fitting with their characters. He is trying to do right by everyone, and she is finally in a place where she feels confident and comfortable acting on her needs and desires.

Something else I liked about both Sylvia and Clayton is how willing they were to listen to opposing ideas and learn and grow from others. Sylvia has very strong and negative feelings toward love and marriage, which isn’t shocking considering the terrible marriage she had. Leading a society of women who support these assertions solidifies her feelings. However, the more time she spends with Clayton, the more she realizes that her ideas are too broad and don’t apply to everyone. I like that Sylvia is willing to see things from other people’s points of view. Clayton does the same when addressing his fears of an early death and his feelings of failing Sylvia. Seeing how they grow and change speaks to their love and respect for each other and those they love.

I love the Kearsley family. Clayton, his sisters, and his mother are a fun, loving, and lively group, and I enjoyed their humorous antics and time spent together. Their conversations and easy way with each other show how much love and respect they have. It also shows how close they are. Clayton’s sisters are hilarious, each unique and memorable in her own way. This strong family unit is one of the highlights of the story.

Though it’s the first in a series, there are many references to people and events from other books, so I assume this is a spin-off series. The author provides ample context to understand what happened before this book, but I wish I had read the other series to better understand different things that happened. I’m also curious to learn more about Sylvia’s two housemates. They had minor roles in this story, but I am hoping that they will be the focus in future books.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.