Loved this one. Recurring characters, along with finally getting Secily’s story. After getting plenty of Secily and snippets of Caleb in Seraphina’s book, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to with her. Secily was not going to take no for an answer and I expected her to jump on a ship if Caleb didn’t get it together.

I am excited for this new series and will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

Squee!! So much to enjoy; while this is a standalone novel, and the start of a new series, it is best to read, or be familiar with Sarah Maclean's Scandals and Scoundrels series first, particularly Day of the Duchess**. Worth the wait for this story, I just didn't think I would be waiting 4 years (See author's note from Day of the Duchess). I highlighted so many different pages of my ARC (thanks Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review).

If you are a fan of author Sarah MacLean, you won't be disappointed. The longing between Caleb and Sesily. The girl gang. Time with Sesily and her sisters. Easter eggs everywhere.

As much as this book, like all of MacLean's books are about fighting the patriarchy, it's also a book about forging an identity, adding meaning to your life, and finding new friends as an adult when your childhood friends have gone down different paths and you don't necessarily relate. It's about being seen by others for who you are, not what you present.

Plus Caleb calling Sesily Athena, swoon. Every time he called her that I just got that warm, butterfly stomach, swoony feeling.

The scene where Sesily is playing with her nieces and nephews, and Sophie tells Sesily how she sees her? I think I love that more than any of the Sesily and Caleb moments.

Happy to finally read Sesily and Caleb's story. When they first met in "The day of the duchess", it was apparent that Sesily and Caleb would have a fun relationship, with Sesily teasing Caleb mercilessly, and that relationship came through in Bombshell. Sesily and Caleb have a rocky start, since he refuses to share his history with her, or spend any time with her, and she is doing her best to help provide justice in their society, which sometimes puts her in tight situations that Caleb does not approve of. Their individual projects bring them closer together for a sweet, satisfying ending.

MacLean's author note providing insight into the research for Bombshell is neat and inspiring. It is enjoyable to have these glimpses of an author's writing process.

3 stars - I liked it

Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced her scandalous reputation and the freedom that comes with her title. She is constantly finding herself in scandalous and dangerous situations but she knows how to handle herself, at least until Caleb Calhoun steps back into her life and starts making trouble for her.

Sesily was a titled Lady who never did what anyone expected of ladies. She was outspoken, beautiful, dangerous and very smart. I really liked how unique she was and her friends as well. Her attraction to Caleb was intense from the beginning and their tense relationship was very good. My only issue with Sesily was that every conversation or event seemed like a battle with her and it did get slightly repetitive and boring.

Caleb was a smart businessman. His attraction to Sesily was intense and you could feel the intense feelings between both of them. Unfortunately, his past prevents him from wanting to commit to Sesily and causes a lot of problems between them. I found his reasoning to be valid but hated that he refused to even consider Sesily’s idea on how to help him get over that.

Overall, this was an interesting start to a new series with some unique heroines. I enjoyed Sesily’s story and meeting her group of friends. I am especially interesting in Imogen’s story now and can’t wait to get my hands on it.

A highly fun, steamy read. There was good tension and chemistry between Sesily and Caleb; I enjoyed all the pinning and swooning. Fans of her other series should also enjoy this one, but new readers will follow along just fine with this new series.

Bombshell by Sarah Maclean

SUMMARY: Lady Sesily Talbot is a card-carrying London scandal, but when a mysterious party offers her the opportunity to be an 1890s riot grrrl and upend the Victorian patriarchy, she’s eager to join the cause! Also, there’s a guy she likes, but he has a mysterious past and thinks they can’t be together, so they repeatedly hook up and he repeatedly runs away.

I have mixed feelings about this book! I LOVE Lady Sesily and have been looking forward to her story for years. I even enjoyed her banter with love interest Caleb Calhoun in The Day of the Duchess and was excited to see how that played out then they got their own story. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t deliver the way I wanted it to. Caleb was so hot and cold with her, demonstrating his feelings over and over then consistently (and literally) running away. If I were Sesily’s friend in real life, I’d be like “Girl, don’t do it. He’s not worth it.” 🙄🙄🙄 To be honest, for those who haven’t read the earlier books, I’m not sure there would be much to get out of this romantic storyline.

That said, I remain intrigued by the Hell’s Bells series. I liked the action sequences in this book, and I Ioved the supporting characters. There’s so much potential here, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one.

I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy atypical Victorian heroines like the ones found in A Lady’s Formula for Love or Tessa Dare’s Girl Meets Duke series but would also recommend that they read The Scandal and Scoundrel series first, for context.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend if you're looking for

-m/f historical romance
-idiots to lovers
-so very very pinny
-only one bed
-a bit of adventure and intrigue
-a secret idenity
-a lady gang

I really enjoyed this one, just so fiercely feminist. Sesily has everything she wants except Caleb. A great aunt, friend, and a gang of friends that goes after terrible men. Sesily never changed, she was fierce and independent. She didn't need Caleb, and he recognized that.

I adored Caleb. Gruff, and just so piny. He was gone on Sesily and never expected her to change, he liked that about her. With secrets, he wants nothing more than protect her. But communication issues didn't abound there was so much trust, and honesty, and just seeing the other person for who they are and truly accepting that. With a bit of praise kink too. This book was full of adventure, and so much sexual tension. It was nice to see glimpses of past characters, love how interrelated this world is. I can't wait for more in this series, this was such a great introduction.

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3

Lady Sesily Talbot is used to living a life of scandal and honestly embraces the attention it gives her. She is a woman embracing her appeal in an era that tells her not to. Caleb Calhoun, an American who has pined for her for years, sees her sneaking into a dark garden with a strange man one night and follows her, finding out what appeared to be a midnight tryst was anything but.

Worried about what Sesily has gotten herself into and coaxed by her sister and his friend, the Duchess of Haven, Caleb behind following Sesily to keep her safe and hopefully out of trouble. But Sesily is not the only one keeping secrets, and the attraction and pull they have felt and fought for each other for two long years can only be denied for so long.

This book was another impressive work by MacLean, it is full of all of the things we love about her work. Strong heroines with autonomy and agency, a fiercely loyal girl gang, a world set in a time we've never experienced but that feels so vivid and real to us, and of course heroes who are out of their minds in love with the heroine.

This book had a bit of a slow start for me, which makes sense considering it is the start of a new series and Sarah is really laying the groundwork for an intricate plot for future books. But the pay off for that slow build was incredible and one of the most satisfying reading experiences I've had in a long time.

The heat between Caleb and Sesily was so palpable it felt like my eReader might start on fire. And the bedroom scenes were absolutely sizzling. But what I loved the very most was how satisfying that ending was, how every bit of groundwork and plot threads paid off and how I was left thinking, WOW, now this is how you do modern historical romance.

There was also great banter, some laugh out loud humor, MANY Easter Eggs of past characters MacLeaniverse fans will enjoy, and ultimately a hero to applaud and add to my list of best book boyfriends.

I loved this book and can't wait for the next!

The first of a new series, this book is off to a promising start. Strong women, intriguing situations, and a good mystery all come together in this great story.

4.5 stars rounded up.

One of the, if not the, best sex scenes I’ve ever read. It has a tropey “shelter from the rain” beginning, it’s chock full of playfulness and yearning. It was about so much more than their physical actions. It was about the emotional journey these characters were taking together right in front of us. And it was just incredibly well done.

What a fantastic depiction of strong women and their friendships, inspired by a real life women’s gang! Loved the critique of whisper networks — how they are needed, but how direct action is needed even more.

The end was just a bit messy for me. There were a lot of threads tangled together at the climax, and I couldn’t see where quite all of them were coming from.

This book is also tied in quite closely with some of MacLean’s other books — it definitely felt like some (or all) of Sesily’s sisters had their own books, none of which I have read. It wasn’t confusing or anything, and this works as a standalone, but I definitely felt like I was missing out.

Steam: 3.5/5🔥

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book; this honest review was left voluntarily.

I have been waiting for this book since the 1st time sesily was introduced in sarah mac'lean's novel and this book did not dissapoint.Caleb and sesily are now my favorite sarah mac'lean's couple.These both are everything.They have angst,steam,feels,everything.I actyally didnt expect sesily to be the way she was in this book, she had a depth to her character, she was a ball of sunshine and caleb was so grumpy lmao.

The pining these both did..i kid you not there were times when caleb was so frustating but i can see where he was coming from and sesily did not give up.and she is a badass ..I really liked the concept of the girl's gang and really looking forward to the future books.

I have been waiting for this book for so long, and I haven't even waited as long as a lot of Sarah MacLean's readers--that's how hyped I was for FINALLY getting to read Sesily and Caleb's romance. There was just enough slow burn at the beginning to tease new and old readers, and when all of the tension hits the breaking point...*chef's kiss* MacLean took the story in a direction I was completely unexpected by, and I really loved the adventure of it all and the depth that MacLean was able to add to side characters that already seemed fully formed (to me, at least). The Talbots remain my favorite MacLean heroines/family and getting to see them again was a special treat. I was also delighted by the new characters that we'll get to see hopefully in the Hell's Belles adventure. The girl gang aspect fell a bit flat in some places in my opinion, but was also hyper-focused on Sesily and Caleb's every interaction. I look forward to reading it again when my copy arrives in August!

Sarah MacLean always does an amazing job writing strong, capable heroines but Sesily was a step above the rest. I love the idea of this historical gang of women who are set on taking down wrong doing men. I also loved how Sesily was a bisexual woman, with sexual experience, a bit older, who knew she didn't want children. She saved the hero countless time and I think that was wonderful. Another GREAT historical romance by Sarah MacLean, that flips the script!

I hate historical romance, and I try to go out of my genre comfort zone sometimes. Just to see if my tastes changed: Apparently not, as I hated every moment of reading this. This just wasn’t for me.

I hate to admit it, but I had to slog my way through the beginning of the book. MacLean has to do a lot of heavy lifting in the opening chapters, reintroducing her MC, which is a beloved character for a series from many years ago, plus introduce new characters for the future novels in this series, and it is A LOT. So it was an unexpectedly slow start coming off her fast and furious last series.
But it was great to get a happy ending for the aforementioned MC and MacLean creates a nice posse of girlfriends for this series that will keep people reading until the end.

This strong addition to MacLean's body of work introduces a new series as well as telling the story of Sesily Talbot and Caleb Calhoun, Bold, brash Sesily is one of the five Talbot sisters also known as the Soiled Doves. Caleb is her sister Sera's business partner and Secily has been intrigued by him--and vice versa--ever since they met two years ago. However, both are hiding dangerous secrets that complicates their relationship and creates problems with everyone they hold dear. And both are extremely loyal, caring people who are very well matched despite everything. This book is the first in the series of Hell's Belles and also introduces some intriguing new characters as well as bringing in cameo appearances of well-loved characters from previous books. It is one of the best books I've read this year and I highly recommend it.

Bombshell was a wonderful read.The prologue had me engaged me immediately.
I adored Sesily and Caleb. In particular, Sesily was the star of the show for me. The dynamic between her and Caleb was also alternatively steamy and sweet with so many layers to unearth along the way. I was so invested in every step of their relationship.
There was never a dull moment throughout this story with witty dialogue, an interesting plot - what more could a reader want in an historical romance. I so want to read the next book in the saga of the Hell's Belles Series.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

This delightful romance featured a Victorian-era female protagonist who is able to live an empowered life whilst actually feeling like she lived in the era as featured in the book and wasn't a modern transplant at odds with the setting. This may be an odd way to begin praising the novel, but most historical romances that attempt to empower their women only manage by overlooking the impossibilities. This novel addresses them, and despite having some very serious things to say on the nature of sexism, manages to also be witty, fun, and delightful throughout, also managing to deliver a romantic lead that doesn't hamper or alpha-male our heroine.

Lady Sesily, Talbot, sometimes known as "Sexily", is a woman who knows what she wants and isn't bothered by the trappings of polite society. With a female queen on the throne, hateful crimes against women and women-owned spaces are on the rise, though they have never been absent. Sesily is also a member of the "Hell's Belle's", a group of women who are dedicated to the cause of helping other women by secretly taking down terrible men. Enter an unrequited love returning from America with secrets of his own- ones that he feels must keep him from loving Sesily. Too bad the attraction is undeniable.

This book is sexy, fun, and free of cringey tropes. Highly recommended.

There are no words to describe how much I love Sarah MacLean or how much I love this book for that matter. I was pretty geeked when I was approved for a copy to review.

Bombshell is book 1 in a new series by Sarah called Hell's Belles.

Synopsis:

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

This is everything you've come to expect from a SM novel. Strong heroines. Sexy leading men. Lots of steam sex and angst and romance and Caleb and Sesily do not disappoint as a couple and on delivering on all the things we love in an HR novel. I can't wait for book 2 of this series.

I love the way this story builds a world around a group of fierce women who were just as interesting and deep as the romance between Sesily and Caleb. Sesily is a woman who knows exactly what she wants and doesn't waiver from it. Her strength as a character shines through in this book. Caleb provides all the protective, broody, growling that typify a great historical hero.

I am already anticipating what the next book in this series might be and just really want to know more about this band of women who are fighting to make the world a better place by destroying terrible men