“'Patience, friend.'
Sesily nodded. 'It is the least of my virtues.'
'Really?' the duchess retorted. 'I would have thought that was chastity.'
'I confess.' Sesily cut her friend with a wry smile. 'I’m better with vices.'”

This was a wild, wild romp.

Thirty year old Sesily has made a reputation for doing what she wants when she wants; society be damned. Lately, what she wants is to bring down the patriarchy, and she does it with the help of her girl gang, wielding hidden knives, reticules full of explosives, and dangerous smiles with wicked abandon. Caleb Calhoun realizes there is more to Sesily’s garden trysts than meets the eye and can’t help but to be captivated by her--even if his secret past demands he stay far, far away for both their sakes.

You’ll really need to suspend your disbelief for this one, but I promise the payoff is well worth it. I thoroughly appreciated that Sesily doesn’t want to have children, ever. I have literally never read that in a romance, historical or otherwise. Sarah MacLean, you are a true gem.

Female empowerment and the power of female friendship flow strongly throughout the book. Sesily and her friends fight their own battles (quite self-sufficiently, might I add), often to the dismay of Caleb.

"His eyes narrowed. 'Goddammit, Sesily. You’re in danger. You ran toward it, like a madwoman. Without waiting for me.'
'Men are ridiculous.'
'For wanting to keep you safe?'
'For believing that you aren’t the thing from which we are in the most danger.'”

The sexual tension between Sesily and Caleb is off the charts, with some of the hottest scenes I have ever read in a romance. There’s been that recent uproar about DC Comics removing a scene from a comic in which Batman, uh orally pleases Catwoman with the statement, “Heroes don’t do that.” Well, Caleb Calhoun certainly does. Frequently. Very well. I think we know who the real hero is here, DC. *fans self vigorously*

Sometimes the writing was a bit of a ramble, but other times it was poetic and beautiful.

"He reached for her, his big hand cupping her cheek, his fingers sliding into her hair, scattering hairpins, threatening the quick work she’d done to put it to rights earlier. She didn’t care. Let them fall. Let them rust in the soil to be found two hundred years from now."

The main conflict between Sesily and Caleb made me roll my eyes, especially for how long it went on, but overall I loved Bombshell. I can enthusiastically tell you that I cannot wait to read about detective inspector Thomas Peck and Imogen in what I hope is a quickly released sequel. Thomas is mouth-wateringly my type.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Wow did I enjoy this book! As someone relatively new to the historical romance world, this is a great introduction.

Sesily has been cast off by society. She's 30, unmarried, and unbothered by her own attractiveness. Instead of spending her time chasing around little tots, she's been chasing nefarious men with her band of misfits (who are absolutely badass). However, there is one man who she can't seem to nail down. Caleb has been the one man to make her heart sing, but it doesn't seem like he feels the same way. However, Sesily's current investigation forces them together in more ways than one.

This was such a fast-paced, beautiful romance. I haven't read many where both characters are pretty smitten at the beginning of the book, and I really loved what that did to the banter and tension throughout the story. Sesily's character is badass and powerful, and I loved how she doesn't back down from anything including a good fist fight. Caleb was adorable and infuriating and incredibly masculine, and they make a good pair.

My only qualm with the book was that a few of the reveals were a little confusing, I could have used some more information to fully understand what had happened. I admit that I haven't read the series prior to this, so perhaps that would have helped. I will be going back and reading MacLean's previous work after this however!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a decent historical romance! I didn't super connect to either main character, but I liked the concept and the side characters enough that I'll read the next book when it comes out.

LOVE! Sarah MacLean is doing incredible work for the genre with this book and I cannot help smiling & singing her praises because of it. I will admit to being a huge fan and therefore maybe a bit biased. Day of The Duchess is one of my favorite works and I have been, like many fans, waiting for Sesily & Caleb. This book did not disappoint! MacLean and Sesily are smashing the norms of historical romance novels while holding what still makes this genre special near. This book is so accessible to new readers and I cannot wait to suggest it to everyone and their grandma!

I’m always excited for a new release by Sarah MacLean, especially if it’s in a new series and features a heroine who readers have met before. This is Sesily Talbot’s book and she is FIERCE.

Sesily is one of the infamous Talbot sisters, referred to by the ton as the Soiled S’s because of how their father gained his title. She is also the last remaining sister who hasn’t yet settled down into marriage. And she really has no intention of doing so. She doesn’t crave marriage and children like her siblings and she is just fine living her life under her own terms and using her notoriety to help with the behind the scenes, undercover, secret work she does with a small group of friends, righting the wrongs of society by exposing dastardly noblemen and terrible employers.

The only man she wants is the one man who keeps running home to Boston every time he gets too close.

Caleb Calhoun owns numerous taverns, including one with Sesily’s sister Sera. He’s come back to London to help until the birth of Sera’s child, then he plans on boarding a ship and heading back home once again. Despite his attraction to Sesily, the secrets of his past won’t let him pursue a relationship with her. But when he discovers that she may be in some trouble with a ghost from his past he can’t help but try and protect her.

This couple y’all. Sometimes I like the whole I can’t be with you because I have secrets, so instead, I’ll just make you feel like shit because I keep running the other direction trope and sometimes it makes me want to smack the offending main character upside the head. I really wanted to smack Caleb upside the head a few times. He acts like he doesn’t want her, but then he keeps getting in her way to “rescue” her and telling her what she will and won’t do. He’s hot and cold and I hoped that Sesily would make him grovel way more than she actually did.

I will say that this couple is super hot together. They have closet sexy times, gamekeeper’s cottage sexy times, just lots of hands and mouths and bodies pressed up against each other. Their mutual pining and sexual tension made those sexy times all the more delicious. Caleb does eventually admit to his big-time secrets and why he was running, but damn. I was so thankful to finally find out why he was acting the way he was. For me and for Sesily. I did enjoy their honest talks about not wanting children and what they wanted their HEA to look like.

Sesily is a strong, smart, resourceful woman surrounded by other strong, smart, resourceful women and I love that they have formed this cool girl gang who figures out ways to help people who need help the most. I enjoyed meeting all of them and watching as they make plans on how to bring down the despicable people who are hurting the vulnerable. There’s the mastermind, the spy, the genius who specializes in explosives, and Sesily who uses her reputation to put it all into play. I love these women and can not wait to read their stores and see if their hinted at love interests pan out.

This was a good start to what I’m sure will be a most enjoyable series.

Maclean continues her story arc about the Talbot sisters with this new series starter. Sesily Talbot and her group of friends are crusaders for justice, working behind the scenes to reveal the misdeeds and wrongdoings of society’s scoundrels in the hopes their actions will bring about necessary change.

Brash, unapologetic and fast paced, the story is a modern reworking of Victorian society. Conventional etiquette takes a back seat in place of wild costumes, fisticuffs and bar room brawls, and explosive dialogue.

As Sesily begins investigating a new case, she uncovers mysteries and secrets involving Caleb Calhoun—American businessman and family friend, who happens to be the person she’s pined for over the past two years. Boundaries are tested as revelations surface, forcing Sesily and Caleb to face their hidden fears.

Many readers will enjoy how the story rolls along to a satisfactory conclusion. However, some readers may find that this pacing has an impact on the storytelling. There are key revelatory moments where one may wish that more time was spent in the explanation as to what happened and how it happened. Some readers might feel that a flashback scene or two would have been appropriate.

This novel was one of the most entertaining novels I have ever read. This may be a romance, and there may be a B plot about Caleb, but this is Sesily’s novel. She states in the beginning, ‘I am trouble’. She certainly is but not in the way that society thinks she is. She uses sex as a distraction from how dangerous she and her three friends are.

She and her three friends who seek to right wrongs against women are, ‘women who refused to be packed up and sent away’. They use their power, especially the power of the Duchess, their leader, to exert power and right wrongs. The earlier chapters in this book have a ‘Be gay. Do crimes.’ energy to them and I would love to see one of the three other women have a female love interest. There is a transgressive energy to this novel.

I thought the mystery of the book was very well done and I didn’t guess any of the twists or turns. Unfortunately, I did think, as interesting as the romance was, it was the weakest part of the of the novel. This could be because Sesily was a much more compelling character than Caleb. Caleb seemed to exist to further the plot and be in love with Sesily. I did not feel he really stood on his own as a character.

My other quibble, and I hope this is addressed in later books, is that while the books were populated with BIPOC characters none of them had any real character development. I hope to see more development of those characters, especially the Duchess’ man of all trades. He is quite interesting to me given his job.

I had some quibbles with this book but I truly adored every moment I spent reading it and will definitely reread it when it is published. I thought so many things were superbly done: the writing itself, Sesily’s character development, the group of four, the mystery, the feminist recast of English society, the pacing.

All in all, I would give this book 4.75 stars and a round of applause for the way it approached so many romance tropes and set them on their ear.

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

Okay...breathe!

Sesily "Sexily" Talbot is back and if possible, even a bigger bad ass than before. (If you haven't read Sarah's "Scandal & Scoundrel" series which introduced us all to the "Soiled S's" Talbot sisters, drop whatever you are doing and do that now. Do it! Do it!...I'll wait.)

Good, you're back!

So now that you are up to speed on the kick-ass Talbot sisters, you know that out of them all, Sesily is hands-down the most balls out, rake-ess of them all and having been privy to her unrepentant flirtation with a certain, hunky, American tavern owner, you now understand how excited I was to finally see them paired off in a story of their very own.

With her partner-in-crime sisters all blissfully married and the man she's in lust with an ocean away, Sesily's story begins with our heroine feeling a little at loose ends with her life, but not for long.

Joining a league of extraordinary women, Sesily has found her purpose and whilst in the middle of a mission (with a hilarious twist, btw), who should suddenly re-appear in her life but, the one man who rejected her affections, Caleb Calhoun.

Strap on your oven mitts, because from the moment these two re-connect, this story is on fire!

Despite repeatedly spurning Sesily's advances over the years, Caleb is a boiling cauldron of repressed desires beneath the surface and now that he has returned to England, his noble intentions for avoiding Miss Talbot are being tested at every turn. Especially when the adorable troublemaker keeps throwing herself into dangerous situations and (Gasp!) does one helluva job of holding her own when it comes to getting out of them.

When one of her missions and his past collide, trying to avoid each other becomes impossible and the sparks that have always flown between them, inevitably explodes into glorious flame.

Ms. MacLean is a virtuoso when it comes to creating no-hold's barred heroines and pairing them with the one man strong enough to love them exactly as they are. Sesily sums it up perfectly as she tells Caleb...

"This is how we love. Out loud. With truth. This is how we fight. Together, or not at all."

Bombshell, is just another glowing example of the genius of Sarah MacLean and a story that will linger in your heart and mind for days after and fill you with rabid anticipation for the next entry in the Hell's Belle's saga!

Fans of MacLean will likely recognize the name Talbot--some of our leading lady's sisters have appeared in previous series. Sesily "Sexily" Talbot is on of the scandalous "S" sisters (scandalous for not only their low birth and great wealth, but their life choices), and she has tangled herself up with an equally noteworthy duchess. Sesily, the duchess, and two other young ladies are out for revenge--against the men of London.

Caleb Calhoun, partner in business to Sesily's sister and the man with whom Sesily herself had once been in love, catching her in the act of just such a strike against the "rotters". Sesily quickly realizes that, though Caleb has murky secrets of his own, she must trust him with hers--but what else is she willing to trust him with?

Unfortunately, to be enjoyed, Bombshell requires suspending disbelief just a little too much. On the heels of several tie-in series about feisty, feminist, completely off-the-wall heroines, I couldn't stomach one more. Just as most romance writers now want one to belief that there's a duke inside of every carriage, I'm to believe that there are entire families of wallflowers-turned-warrior.

I am a HUGE fan of Sarah MacLean! So I was thrilled to see this new offering. No spoilers, , but we get a totally amazing fandom-will-love tie-in/cameos from other series in this one. I am too excited. This is the story of Sesily and Caleb. Their story connects with old favs and opens the door for a new series about strong heroines we already love by just being introduced to them here. She has a bad rep, while secretly only loving just him. He's run half-way across the world to show his disinterest, while only loving just her. There are so many twists, turns, and changes.... but, their struggle to connect in spite of all just is a miracle to read. I loved, loved, loved this story and recommend it to you. I can't wait for the 2nd one to drop. So, maybe I'll go back to the other series in the meantime. I suggest you do the same! Do Not Miss This Story.. do not miss this author!!!

Absolute winner for a start of new series from a previously introduced Heroine one of the remaining unmarried Talbot sister, Sesily, the most beautiful, intelligent and adventurous of the 5 sisters.

Sesily remains unmarried while her 4 sisters are all married to titled and formidable men and are now rule the ton. Sesily at 28 remains single and carefree with a trio of friends each of whom have considerable talents and have an agenda to set unjust activities of certain ton members to straights. Sesily is emitted by Caleb Calhoun the American business partner of her older sister the current duchess, but Caleb had rejected her overtures ans left back to the colonies.
Two years later, he is back and Sesily’s attraction to Caleb is as string as before, but Caleb has a huge baggage and mystery surrounds him and he has secrets which will not allow him to have a relationship.

The story is mix of adventure, mystery and romance and strong characters and witty and droll dialogues and is a sure page turner. Loved every chapter. Without giving out the mystery surround Caleb and the villainous Coleford, the book does not meander but keeps the reader engaged.

I hope there will be books for all of phenomenal 4 ladies introduced in this series.

Sarah Maclean at her best. A must read.

I’ve been waiting for Sesily’s book for what feels like forever and Bombshell did not disappoint! Sarah MacLean has an ability to right heroines that are both empowered and emotionally vulnerable in a way that is so refreshing. Can’t wait for the rest of Hell’s Belles!

What a great first book in a new series! Lady Sesily Talbot is a feisty unmarried English woman "of a certain age" and part of a secret feminist society, the Hell's Belles. Scandalous and seductive, Sesily is not bound by society's rules so she is able to enjoy the freedom to pursue whatever interests her. American Caleb Calhoun interested her two years ago but when he returned to America she was devastated, Now he's back and their connection is stronger than ever. It's going to take a strong man to keep up with Sesily but Caleb is trying hard. Recommended.

Oh yes. Oh yes yes yes yes yes. Now this is what I’ve been wanting. I have to be honest, I’ve been disappointed w the latest series by this author, I couldn’t even finish the Daring book. So I was cautious on this one but oh my goodness yes yes yes to it all. Sarah Maclean is back & better than ever. This book was great on its own but it was awesome as a series opener because holy moly it made me salivate for the rest of the Belle’s books. Great character intros! Sesily & Caleb were delicious and I’m so excited to see how the rest of the characters stories go. The best part is that this series seems to really be ready to take a stronger feminist perspective, which is something I increasingly need from my historical romances. SM books have often been a bit too much alpha male “you stay home, I’ll protect you, the girls are virgins or shamed of not, & the girls are desperate for marriage and babies” across the board to date but it seems finally finally that those molds are ready to be broken, anf sesily’s book was a great opening salvo in this new approach. I can’t wait fir the rest, my faith in this author is officially restored!

Full disclosure, I work for Sarah as her author assistant. But I have been a fan of her work for YEARS and I've been DYING for Sesily's book.

Boy howdy did she deliver. I simply ADORE Sesily and all the Hell's Belle's. This group of women joining forces to fight the patriarchy is just what I want in 2021 (and beyond). Caleb is the perfect hero too. He supports Sesily and all the Belle's in their endeavors.

Sexy. Smart. I inhaled this book in one sitting.

I adore Sarah and her books. I’ve reread all her books within the past year in preparation for Bombshell (and also because they’re my favorite). Bombshell takes place two years after Day of the Duchess where Sesily and Caleb first meet. This is the start of a new series so readers do not read to read any of Sarah’s other books to enjoy it, but those who have at least read the Sandal & Scoundrel series will appreciate it more. This one also takes place in Sarah’s universe so there are subtle references to locations and people from her other books.

I love both Sesily and Caleb. Sesily has always been my favorite Talbot sister so I was excited for her to finally have her own book. I always knew that there was going to more to Celeste than initially met the eye but I was not ready for the depth of her character found in this book. Caleb and his grumpy sweetness has also had such a wonderful presence since he was introduced in Sarah’s books. Since the pair met and instantly clashed, I have been waiting and wishing and hoping for them to finally get together and have their happily ever after.

I was not sure what to expect for the subplot of this book and the overarching theme of this new series and was absolutely delighted the the band of women misfits introduced. I am very excited for each of the Hell’s Belles to have their own book. Sarah always does such a wonderful job of balancing the subplot against the romance so one never takes from the other, and this one is no exception. At no point in the book does the Hell’s Belles’ plotting ever turn into “fossils.”

While I had an absolutely delightful time reading Bombshell and will probably reread it several times, it didn’t beat out Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover as my favorite MacLean novel. That being said, Sarah’s books are leaps and bounds better than most books I read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

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

Love love love!
Bombshell is awesome and lots of fun - I cannot wait to read the next books in the series! Caleb is so sexy and Sisley is wonderful. I love all the adventures they find themselves going into together and the enemy in this book is a real evil man which makes it sort of suspenseful. I do wish I could of read the stories of Sisleys four other sisters, all names starting with S! Sera and her husband sound very interesting. The heat between Caleb and Sisley is HOT and I love the trope of waiting to get your true love to notice you ( even when they do not know they are yet your true love lol ) .

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC to read and review.

I’m going to be in the minority here and just come out and say I didn’t enjoy this story. Sesily is the last Talbot girl to marry and she has decided to be independent and follow her own path, which leads her into danger for noble causes. Caleb Calhoun is the Aerican partner of her sister who she cannot forget.

When he returns, he finds her in the middle of a mission to right a society wrong and is made to understand that she needs no rescuing from a man. Her band of lady crusaders are working to bring down the dastardly men of society.

Discovering the members of the team of ladies was fun, and sets up the series for future stories and hints at the leading men for each.

The romance, while signature Maclean, with steamy love scenes, fell a bit flat for me. Their relationship seemed forced. It was all a bit overly melodramatic to me.

I do appreciate the strong heroines that MacLean is producing. It makes for a great twist on the historical era of Victorian London.

I look forward to the next in the series.

Five stars for this historical romance that had me vibrating with happiness, crying genuine tears and laughing out loud. I couldn't have loved Sesily and her Hell's Belles more! Impatiently waiting for the next book in the series!!

This. Book. Was. AMAZING. I loved every single second of it! It’s fun, it’s feminist, and it’s SO deliciously sexy. This may even be my favorite Sarah MacLean book ever!

Two years ago, Sesily’s heart was broken when Caleb returned to Boston, but after feeling alone and misunderstood by society and her own sisters, she’s found a new purpose with an incredible group of women led by the Duchess of Trevescan: holding society’s Missing Stairs accountable for their vile actions against women!

Sesily and her friends are at a ball, making their move against one of these awful men and escaping from the “scene of the crime” when she runs into Caleb, newly returned to England, and he helps provide cover for her in the most delicious way. And from that point, they just can’t seem to stay away from each other. Sesily’s next target is the Viscount of Coleford, whom Caleb has a vested interest in protecting her from, but Sesily can protect herself and never hesitates to tell him so!

This book is full of scene after scene of sizzling interactions between Sesily and Caleb. Seriously, every scene with the two of them is full of amazing tension and I could not put the book down! Their scenes were HOT! I loved the plot and what Sesily and her friends do to support other women, and I loved all of the women in that group. I can’t wait to read their books!

Aside from the absolutely perfect interactions between Sesily and Caleb, my favorite thing about this book is how things played out at the end. I did get frustrated with Caleb a time or two, but there’s a moment here at the end that shows he finally gets what Sesily has been telling him about her ability to take care of things. It’s such a small moment, but it really brought home the point that they work well together and I can’t stop thinking about how much I loved it! And I loved what Sesily’s friends do to help them out as well.

If any of the following statements are true, you should absolutely pick up this book:
- You love historical romances but wish the heroine was the one doing the saving
- You love badass women making vile men pay for their actions
- You love a strong, unapologetic heroine who makes her own way in the world
- You love topnotch chemistry with immensely satisfying payoff

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for an honest review!