• Wicked and the Wallflower

  • The Bareknuckle Bastards, Book 1
  • By: Sarah MacLean
  • Narrated by: Justine Eyre
  • Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (573 ratings)

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Wicked and the Wallflower  By  cover art

Wicked and the Wallflower

By: Sarah MacLean
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
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Publisher's summary

When Wicked Comes Calling...

When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees - on one condition. She’s seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won’t accept a marriage without it.

The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain...

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.

For the Promise of Passion...

But there’s nothing plain about 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.

©2018 Sarah Trabucchi (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

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What listeners say about Wicked and the Wallflower

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narration detracted a lot for me. Listen to sample.

I like the idea of the new series with a change from the usual hero. Historical elements were interesting. Unfortunately, I found the narration so distracting and detracting that I will not buy another audio in this series.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Had high hopes. Stopped listening half-way through

I have enjoyed several of Sarah MacLean's other books, but found this one to be confusing and slow-moving. The heroine is supposedly a plain wallflower and a lady, who happens to know how to pick locks. No explanation of how she learned that skill. The hero is the bastard son of a duke who is a crime world under lord. I won't get into how these two come together because it was part of the confusion. One thing that really irked me is that he kept calling the heroine by her first and last name each time he addressed her. That got old real fast. The narrator was okay. I've heard her before so I think it was really the book itself. Overall, not worth the credit.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

And she sucks me in again!!!

Why isn't Whit's story done yet Sarah?!?! Perhaps because this one only released a few days ago, but still! This is what I've been waiting for, the hard working non-aristocrat anti-hero love story! Devil and Felicity are perfect and the story drew me right in with both the characters and setting. Seriously though, I'll just be sitting here waiting for the next book.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Profanity-No Thanks!

I did not get through 30 minutes of this book. If I want profanity I will watch any movie on TV. I go to historical novels to be a part of that time period and escape the sadness of today's deteriorating language.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Confusing list of characters to say the least!

I hate stories where I have to keep a list of characters with their relationship to each other at hand. The mark of a really good writer is that the characters can be easily remembered without a score sheet. Not this story. I don't run into this kind of confusion very often, but when I do, it kills the story.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A new Sarah MacLean series--yay!

A new series from Ms. MacLean!

Wicked and the Wallflower is loosely connected to at least two other series of hers--the Fallen Angel from The Rules of Scoundrels is a customer of the Barenuckle Bastards, and Felicity was one of the failed suitesses of the Duke of Haven in The Day of the Duchess . If you haven't read all (or any) of those books, no worries, you'll manage--though perhaps the strangeness of what you'll hear about the plot of The Day of the Duchess might inspire you to pick that one up next. (DO IT. OMG, So. Good.)

This book of course has a lot of set-up for this series: we are introduced to the three (four) siblings (well, siblings-ish for the fourth) and find out some of their history, though there are quite a few gaps left in their backstory that will presumably be filled in as the series continues. I really did find that I wanted more of the gaps filled in here than we get--I have a feeling most of what I'm looking for won't be revealed until book three, which sadly doesn't even have a name yet (sigh)--but what we do learn gives Devil a suitably horrible childhood and helps show why he doesn't believe he'll ever be good enough for Felicity.

(Though that bit does get to be a bit much, honestly. She clearly wants you, dude, and doesn't care about your "darkness"--get over yourself, already.)

Still, this book gave me all the feels--I loved how Felicity managed to give as good as she got all book long, and watching Devil go from a moody guy who is bent on revenge to a man who finds love at last was just wonderful (as was watching his brother Whit mock him for it--just you wait, "Beast"). I can't believe we have to wait until next June(!) for the next book. Though maybe I'll use that as an excuse to re-read Duchess... ;)

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I love Sarah MacLean

I was expecting a more sensual, steamy novel.
Justine Eyre is my favorite Narrator!
The love story is always beautiful! Ms. MacLean is also one of my Favorite Authors!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent Book

Sarah MacLean is a master of her craft and this book definitely does justice to her talent. I hate giving away plots and telling all in reviews, so I will simply say that if you are on the fence about this book, don't be. It's worth it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely outstanding

I enjoyed Felicity and Devil's story because it had such a turn of the century feel. I reminded me of Sherlock Holmes. The bastards are great but the romance was the center peice of the story. Seeing thia couple meet and fall in love was wonderful. I cannot wait for the reat of the stories to be published. Until then, I will be reading her other series. Also, the author intherview at the end of the book was wonderful
i would love if more publishers addes that to the end of the book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Different and enjoyable

I like this author and this book was fun and different. Interesting plot. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to see what happens to the other characters and the plot twist I foresee coming for the perceived villain! I really enjoyed the interview with the author at the end!

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1 person found this helpful