I always love a tortured heroine and a sexy read, and I got that in spades with this book from the always reliable Jess Michaels.

Selina Oliver is one of the many Illegitimate offspring of the previous Duke of Roseford. The new Duke, Robert, is now happily married and seeking out and welcoming his half siblings into his family. Selina Oliver is one of the Roseford Bastards, and even though she is attending Robert’s Houseparty, her past experiences of a cruel stepfather and a disinterested mother, and her rejection by her father, she doesn’t feel that she belongs in the ton, or that she is truly accepted by anyone.

Selina is also the Faceless Fox, a jewel their who steals from the nasty women of the ton.

Derrick Huntington is son of an aristocrat, however he rejects his origins, first by serving honourably in the army, and then by becoming a private investigator, together with his partner Edward Barber. His former army colleague and Roseford bastard Nicholas Gillingham arranges for him to attend the houseparty incognito to catch the Fox.

When Selina discovers why he is there, and recognises their instant attraction she decides to distract him with a game of seduction, but this is a dangerous tactic, as they both might burn...

What I loved about this story was the interplay between Derrick and Selina, and how he falls for her so hard, and wants to heal her hurts. I also loved the honour Selina herself showed in the end. Great plot twist too.

Recommended

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Jess Michaels is one of my go-to authors but this book didn't work for me. There was nothing that I liked about Selina. The chemistry between Selina and Derrick felt forced. I didn't care about these characters

The Heart of a Hellion by Jess Michaels is book Two in The Duke's Bastards Series. This is the story of Derrick Huntington and Selina Oliver. I have read the previous book but feel this is a standalone book. Derrick is a former military man who now does investigations along with his partner to investigate needs by the town. Derrick is on the hunt for the Faceless Fox who has been taunting the him along with the town. Selina is one of the illegitimate children of the Duke of Roseford but was raised by her mother and stepfather. Selina never had it easy and has made choices that might be her ending. When her half-brother Robert who is the new Duke wants her in his life along with his family, she is reluctant because of her secrets. When her brother's wife invites her to a country party, Selina goes with them but she is out to achieve something she has been looking for an opportunity to get. This is were two worlds collide who are on different sides of a hunt. Enjoyed this author's writing and will be looking for more books from her.

I have been a fan of Jess Michaels since I read her Notorious Flynns and Wicked Woodleys series, and I have enjoyed every book she has written before and since - this book was no exception.

"The Heart of a Hellion" is the second book in the Duke's By-Blows series which is a spin-off of the 1797 Club (another series I enjoyed immensely!). Each book features the bastard child of the Duke of Roseford, and he has quite a few. This story is centered around Selina Oliver, an unapologetic man-eater who lives life brazenly and without shame. She does have one secret: she is "the Faceless Fox," a jewel thief who has been stealing from the nastiest women of the ton for years. She has been invited to a house party by her legitimate brother, the new Duke of Roseford, and she has a few targets in mind....

Enter Derrick Huntington. Derrick is a well-respected investigator and former army man who has been tasked with finding the elusive Faceless Fox at an upcoming house party that will host the creme-de-la-creme of the ton. He lives his life in a very black and white way, so what will happen when he meets the irresistible Selina? Will he abandon his life-ling principles or will he turn her in once he learns of her crimes?

The story started a little slowly for me, but once it took off, it flowed quickly! I liked that Selina was a very unique h - not the virginal, simpering missish type, and Derrick was a great foil for her. They were the kind of couple you wanted to root for finding their HEA, and I was not disappointed in that area!

This is the book of Robert’s half sister Selina. She is secretly the Faceless Fox, stealing jewelry from people who deserve it. She goes to Robert’s house party to steal a prized necklace. However, Derrick and his partner are also there to thwart the robbery. She’s surprised and distracted by her unexpected attraction to him.

I love the assumption the Fox is a man so Selina never gets suspected, but Derrick eventually suspects the truth. As with all Jess Michaels’ books, the romance is steamy and the chemistry is on point and blends so well with the mystery that neither feels forgotten.

Can’t wait for the next book!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I have to admit, I've been missing the heat level in a lot of historical romance novels lately. They're so tame now and in more ways than one.


But The Heart of a Hellion was anything but tame and gave me exactly what I wanted and then some.


Derrick Huntington and Selina Oliver are a breath of fresh air! I am so sick and tired of the blushing, swooning, stammering, naïve virgin (or virgin like) heroine and the "knowing" hero. This is one of those things that is so overused that it's starting to turn me off of male characters that are described this way. For real.


But that's a rant for another time. Back to why Derrick and Selina win all the things.


Derrick gives off such a different energy than the usual historical romance hero. He's not an in-your-face type of character. He's steadfast, calm, honest, loyal, and much quieter about his alpha male status than other characters. In other words, he's not out there trying to prove to Selina and thereby prove to readers that he's an alpha male. He naturally exudes that aura of leadership and doesn't have to resort to bragging about it. And that is infinitely more sexy to me than a man that walks around figuratively beating his chest and bragging about how good he is as a man (and in bed). But there was something else about Derrick that drew me to him and it took me awhile to identify what it was, and then it hit me about the halfway point: Derrick is a humble man. It made all the difference to me as a reader to meet a character like him.


I could have really hated Selina for getting paired up with such a great guy. But she's really awesome too so it was a losing battle, I loved her. Her status as a bastard daughter of the old duke had a pretty big impact on her but instead of becoming a victim Selina became a survivor. Selina's confidence was a real selling point for me because it was so refreshing to have a woman who didn't blush, stammer, or feel like swooning every time a man got close to her. It's amazing what real sexual confidence does for a woman, real or not. I loved the big difference her not being a virgin or virgin like made in the plot and in her romance with Derrick. She was the one who would catch him off guard. Yup, Selina set the bar and rewrote my expectations from here on out.



The Heart of a Hellion isn't just about another of the old duke's bastard kids finding love though. It's a continuation of the current duke (the only legitimate child) Robert's attempts at finding all his half siblings, helping them, and building a relationship with them. Considering that Robert was once a wild, cold-hearted man similar to his father (The Duke of Desire), I think he was the perfect choice to be the one with numerous half siblings that he wants to help. Selina is wary about her brother's intentions and shares a similar view of Robert with the rest of the Roseford bastards. They're all confused by why a powerful duke would want to include his half siblings in his life much less help them. There's a lot of heart in Robert's intentions and watching Selina learn to trust her brother and come to love him was also rewarding to me as a reader.


Click It or Skip It? Click It! The Heart of a Hellion is going to be super tough to beat and I suspect will end up being my favorite out of the whole series.

Selina is the Regency Catwoman and as a bastard of a duke with added infamy and a large family, she is the one society should really look out for. As the Faceless Fox, she is a thief of the highest caliber and is overlooked because she is a woman. She is smart and sly and fearless and a joy to read.

Jess Michaels is an extraordinary writer and everything is does is an auto-buy. Her books are witty and sexy and the characters hold up on their own but are amazing when they are the same page together.

This book was fantastic and really can't put into words how great it was

There isn't anything special in this book that stands out from other run-of-the-mill historical romance novels.

The heroine has a history that is important to her and the plot-- more history than could be covered in the first book in the series in which she would only be a side character. This book felt like the sequel to a book just about her.

The attraction between the heroine and her love interest felt forced-- not much was shown to the reader, just repetitious narration about how hot they were for each other instead of anything that would help the reader believe their feelings.

I read this as an ARC through NetGalley and there were some problems with the file. Specifically I noticed several places where multiple pages were repeated. Hopefully this was just some kind of transfer error. I use this as a preface and possible excuse for the criticism that big chunks of story also seemed to be missing-- especially anything that would make the hero start to suspect the heroine in his investigation. The jump from infatuation and looking for a bad guy to infatuation and this is probably the culprit was unsupported by anything that actually happened in the book.

Not recommended for libraries unless book 1 of the series went like hot cakes.

The Heart of a Hellion is the second book of The Duke's Bastards series by Jess Michaels. The first of the series was a 5 Star read for me, so I was super excited to get a chance to read the follow-up. I started to get a little apprehensive; I always love this author's stories, but I had trouble getting into this one. I just didn't care for the heroine. Uh-oh. Would I, for the first time ever, be disappointed in a Jess Michaels book? But fear not! I am so glad I didn't give up. Halfway through I began to warm to the heroine, and the book ended up being true to this author's trademark steamy goodness!

Selina Oliver is one of the late Duke of Roseford's infamous bastards. She is no missish virgin, our Selina. In fact, she is known for her behavior in living life to the fullest and indulging in her passions. Oh, and she just happens to be the cunning jewel thief the Faceless Fox, who steals the jewels from the most disagreeable women of Society. When her half-brother, the current Roseford, invites her to a house party she almost declines, but discovers one of the nastiest women will also be attending, no doubt sporting her latest diamond acquisition. Also attending the party is Derrick Huntington, a former army man who is now a highly respected investigator...and who just happens to be there to catch the Faceless Fox. The two are intensely attracted to each other; certainly this can't end well!

I liked Derrick right off the bat as a hero. While serving in the army, he saved another of Selina's half-brothers from death. Now a highly skilled ethical investigator, he struggles with his attraction to Selina, especially when he begins to suspect the worst about her. He is torn between love and duty and desperately tries to juggle the two. As I stated earlier, I wasn't a huge fan of Selina at first. She first bedded Derrick with ulterior motives and was using him. I did not care for that at all! She also lied to him. However, as the story moved along and more of Selina's history was revealed, she became a much more likeable and sympathetic heroine. The chemistry between these two was OFF THE CHARTS. I don't think anyone writes historical romance erotic scenes better than Ms. Michaels! Be sure to keep a fan handy; you're going to need it! I hope the next book in the series is available soon. It will feature Selina's former army half-brother, and I can't resist a man who wore a uniform!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

One of my fav authors, Jess Micheals’ does it again. Her narrative keeps your interested. This is the story of the second bastard brother of the Duke of Rosewood. It’s great fun to meet some of the previous dukes and their families. Although it seemed a bit cliched with the heroine being a jewel thief, Ms Micheal’s characters are robust and you can’t but enjoy their wits and hotness. Definitely worth a read and I can’t wait to get my hand in the final siblings story.

Selina and Derrick were an awesome couple. The historical romance was quite good. I liked the overall feel of "The Heart of a Hellion". Totally loved it.

As a Roseford bastard, Selina Oliver has learned that you have to live each day to it's fullest. She is who she is, and she wouldn't change for anyone. Selina despises mixing with the ton, but in order to do her job she must. Being the Faceless Fox, a thief who steals fine jewelry, does have it's downfalls.

Derrick Huntington wants nothing more than to catch the elusive Fox. He and his partner have come to the party for that reason and that reason alone. Unfortunately, Derrick can't help but be distracted by the beautiful, yet mysterious Selina. When secrets come to light, Derrick is faced with a tough choice, catch the Fox or let her go.

I cannot get enough of Jess Michaels's books. They're just so engrossing. It all began with Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford in THE DUKE OF DESIRE, which is part of the captivating 1797 CLUB series. I was holding onto the hope his half-siblings would get their own stories, and I'm thrilled that they did. The next sibling, Morgan's story, THE LOVE OF A LIBERTINE, is the first book in THE DUKE'S BASTARDS series. I highly recommend reading these in order for the full effect. THE DUKE'S BASTARDS continues with Selina's story, THE HEART OF A HELLION. Honestly, Selina is one of my favorites of the duke's offspring. She is bold, independent and has a bit of a wild streak. Selina and Derrick are a match made in heaven. What a breathtaking read. I give THE HEART OF A HELLION 4 stars. I cannot wait for to read Nicholas's story.

It was difficult to come up with a rating for the second book in the Duke's Bastards series so I averaged it out to be a 2 1\2 star romance. Jess Michaels writing style always is around a 5 for me but I had to take into account the lead character, Selina Oliver, who came in at a resounding 0 (zero).
I have read many romances where one of the leads is a theif. Typically it is a Robinhood motif or the character was forced into thievery by blackmail or coercion. This was neither. This was a immature, bored girl who, yes, had a rough childhood, but found her happiness and enjoyment in stealing. This was not to better anyone's life or to put food on the table, it was, in essence, a kleptomaniac, whose victims were mean to others. Her character took a even bigger turn for the worse when she used her body and seduction techniques to draw, investigator, Derrick Huntington, off the scent finding out that she was the Faceless Fox. It is never a believable romance when the hero can't see major red flags but because he gets a hard-on just from the outward appearance of the heroine, falls head-over-heels in love. There was one point when I found a possible glimmer of hope in Selina but I saw I was at the 90% mark of completion. I think the epilogue would have been better served being 3 years down the line rather than 1 month. It allowed no time to convince me there was any maturity on Selina's part or anything but lust on Derrick's.

Who is wily enough to catch a fox? A clever fox, mind you. that can snatch that jewel right out from under that mean society lady and she never know? Why one of the infamous Roseford Bastards, Selina Oliver that is who!
Oh, it will take a cleaver hunter to track that fox down and Derrick Huntington seems up to the challenge as an investigator assigned to the task.
When they pick up each other's scent, passion explodes as well as intrigue, suspense and a case to be solved..
Old friends return and new ones are made as this scintillating tale takes us on a journey not soon forgotten! I loved every word which was no surprise because it was written by the incomparable Jess Michaels

The Heart of a Hellion by Jess Michaels
The Duke’s Bastards #2

Another stellar story from an exemplary wordsmith. I loved this story and was sorry to say goodbye to the characters when I read the last word.

What I liked:
* Selina Oliver: strong, sensual, intelligent, and someone I admired – especially as her backstory came to light. She was perfect with Derrick
* Derrick Huntington: attractive, admirable, actively pursuing justice, a moral man who falls in love with the perfect woman for him – Selina
* Edward Barber: Derrick’s PI partner is even tempered, wise and a good friend – perhaps he needs a story of his own
* Robert and his wife Katherine: brother and sister-in-law to Selina – gave her new people to care for and be loved by.
* Knowing the motivation of The Faceless Fox – kind of a Robin Hood variant
* That Selina was willing to reach out for what she wanted and able to speak her mind…most of the time
* The steamy and scary bits of the story
* Wondering how many half siblings there might be in this series and wondering who will be next

What I did not like:
* Worrying about Selina
* The manipulative person pulling strings who eventually was unveiled
* Having to wait for the next book in the series

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more in this series? Without a doubt!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Selina doesn't like to mingle with the ton, but when her brother asks her to attend his house party she agrees. What her brother doesn't know is that Selina is the person known as the Faceless Fox and her next victim is one of his guests. Selina, as the Faceless Fox, has stolen some of the finest jewels belonging to members of the ton. Thinking that these jewels would be easy pickings, she didn't count on an investigator showing up at the party with the sole purpose of capturing her. Will she be able to evade her captor?

Derrick has spent his life maintaining control and discipline and never wavers from his duty. But when he is sent to locate the Faceless Fox, he keeps finding himself distracted by Selina. He can't seem to keep his mind on the case. Of course, what he doesn't know, is that Selina is distracting him on purpose. Will he be able to get his head in the game??

I loved Derrick and Selina's story! The whole story was one big cat and mouse game. Would Selina get the jewelry she was determined to steal without getting caught? Would Derrick see through her games and find the Faceless Fox? Was there a way that they could both win this game??

This was a great addition to the Duke's Bastards series and I can't wait to see what Michaels comes up with next!!

This is the second book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Selina is one of the infamous Roseford Bastards and also a jewel thief called the Faceless Fox. Her brother has invited her to a country party where she will have an opportunity to claim one of her most treasured prizes. Derrick Huntington was in the army and now is an investigator hunting the Faceless Fox. Sparks fly between Selina and Derrick. Will he capture his prey? Fast-paced read with plenty of steam, twists and turns and amazing chemistry. I loved it!

This was an entertaining read, a little slow at first but the pace of the story increased afterwards. Selina had a difficult early life and was definitely rebelling, she really was the wild child. Derrick Huntington with his partner, Edward Barber were at the same house party investigating the robber, known as the faceless fox. Selina and Derrick had an immediate attraction and experienced many passionate moments. However, Selina is concerned about Derrick’s investigations and doubts he will feel the same about her in the future. I liked the feeling of family, whether it was related or that of friendship and they way they all worked together for one another. I’m looking forward to reading the other half brother’s (Nicholas) story. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Selina Oliver is one of the former Duke of Roseford’s bastard children, raised by her mother and stepfather, Selina’s life was not happy and the only good thing her father ever did for her was leave her an inheritance – that she used to start her own life, which she lives on her own terms. Now her half-brother Robert, the new Duke has made it clear that he wants Selina to be part of his life. Selina resists, Robert and his wife Katherine are wonderful, but Selina has secrets that could hurt them and make them hate her if they ever found out the truth. She enjoys getting to know them and being part of a family, but still keeps her distance. She is invited by Katherine to join them for a country house party and is going to refuse, until she learns that the Countess of Winford will be attending. The Countess has something that Selina wants and she can’t pass up the opportunity to get it! She accepts and hopes that her family never figures out that Selina is the infamous thief known as “the Faceless Fox”.

Derrick Huntington and his partner Edward Barber are private investigators for hire and currently are looking for the Faceless Fox. They get a tip that the Fox will be attending Roseford’s party and go to see their good friend Nicholas Gillingham in hopes that he can secure an invite for them – he is Roseford’s half-brother after all. Nicholas comes through for them and they arrive at the party. Derrick is immediately drawn to Selina. They take each other’s measure and even though Derrick is sure Selina is hiding something, he quickly falls for her and she for him. They begin a passionate affair, but soon Selina’s secrets are exposed and HEA becomes impossible – or does it?

This was a very well written, fast-paced story with quite a few extremely steamy love scenes (that is not a complaint!) Selina and Derrick are wonderful characters and I really wanted them to find their HEA – but it doesn’t look possible and while I wasn’t shocked by the resolution, I was still impressed – it was a very well executed twist that saves the day. The book has a bit of intrigue, betrayal, remorse, heartbreak and as previously mentioned, some smoking hot love scenes as well as an easy to hate villain, cameos with former characters from the 1797 Club and a HEA that almost didn’t happen! This is the second book in the series and has loose ties to the 1797 Club series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title. I enjoyed the book and would happily recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publister.*

The Heart of a Hellion is another winner for Jess Michaels. Once again, she provides a story rich in character depth and intrigue, centering on one of my recent favorite tropes of criminal heroine/investigator hero.

Michaels excels at crafting sexual tension that radiates off the page, and that is certainly the case for Selina and Derrick. I rooted for them as they fell for each other, while also wondering how it would all work out, as even though Selina did what she did for noble reasons, demonstrating she’s not actually that different from law-abiding Derrick, she still broke the law, and she became resigned to accepting the consequences.

And while definitely not a romantic suspense, there was a question of “whodunnit” at one point, that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who it could be, especially since Selina, who is blamed for the offense, did not do it. And when it was revealed who it truly was and their connection to Selina, I also felt the sting of betrayal.

I loved this book as much as the first, if not more, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for this ragtag bunch of ducal bastards. And if you love steamy Regency romance (equip your fire-resistant pants!), then you’ll love this one.