About the Book:
Title: The Wicked Wallflower
Author: Tracy Sumner
Series: The Duchess Society #3
Page Length:
Publication Date: April 2022
Publisher: WOLF Publishing
Synopsis: A slow-burn battle of wills leads to love.
Their biggest secret? Their infatuation with each other.
Independent, impulsive Lady Philippa Darlington guarantees her freedom by playing the role of a wallflower. After two miserable seasons in the ton, she’s vowed to never marry with the help of the most dreaded female enterprise in London—the Duchess Society. But a madcap misadventure will throw her plans off course and put her face-to-face with the most dangerous man she’s ever known.
Common-born Xander Macauley crawled from the slums to rule an empire. And he has secrets. One being that he’s smitten with his best friend’s little sister. Although Pippa Darlington is the last woman in England he’d risk his heart over. However, after a snowstorm forces them together and she lets him see the enchanting woman beneath the bluster, Xander finds he will do everything in his power to possess her.
The risks are undeniable. But so is the chance to find a true, overwhelming love.
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My Review:
The Duchess Society is my favorite series by Tracy Sumner! It’s entertaining and original, and I love the world she has created as well as the exceptionally layered characters and the swoon-worthy romances. Sumner has some of the best first kisses I’ve ever read, and the love stories are so beautiful, deep, and passionate. I was really excited to read Macauley and Pippa’s story since a connection was hinted at in previous books in the series. They had so much chemistry, which is even more intense in this book!
Pippa and Macauley have been suppressing their attraction to each other for years and to see it finally surface is fantastic! However, Macauley fights his feelings since he is her brother’s friend and business partner, and he thinks he’s too old for her. Born in the slums and working hard to become a successful and wealthy businessman, Macauley definitely feels like Pippa is out of his league. He tries so desperately to ignore his feelings and avoid her, but he can’t help the pull he feels.
I think I’ve fallen in love with every hero in this series, and Macauley is the cherry on top of a super hunky and swoon-worthy cake. He’s smart and protective and funny, though he doesn’t really mean to be, and the way he feels about Pippa is super intense and so swoon-tastic. And Pippa is fabulous! Independent and eager for adventure, Pippa speaks her mind and goes after what she wants. She definitely keeps Macauley and her family on their toes. However, there is more to her than meets the eye, much like Macauley. They are both intricately developed protagonists, and their stories are really interesting.
I like that Macauley and Pippa connect on such a deep level. They seem to really understand and like each other, and there’s an underlying admiration and respect that makes their romance all the more lovely. They also have amazing banter, which highlights the chemistry between the two. I love how they tease, flirt, and sometimes antagonize each other. Without admitting it, their chemistry-laden conversations and interactions show how deep their feelings run.
Like the other books in the series, this story has great messages about the inequities of the social classes, the detrimental effects of toxic relationships, and the ways in which people deem others worthy. It also includes many of the characters from the first two books, which I loved, and introduces a few new characters that I’d like to learn more about.
I can’t wait to read the next book and am thankful to Tracy Sumner for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The secondary characters.
- The messages.
Favorite Lines:
Marriage was like the pox; something he was terrified of catching.
A title doesn’t make a man or a life.
Don’t think because I break the rules, I don’t know them.
Thanks, Julie, for the wonderful review. This series has been a lot of fun to write — and I LOVE Macauley and Pippa!!! Happy reading, always.
You’re welcome! I loved them too!
I love that line about marriage being like a pox. I’m sure many people feel that way, but such a great line.
Well, great thing is, he falls HARD. 😉