Holy hell...this book jumps right into the action of The Hell's Belles series with Adelaide Frampton and our hero, Henry the Duke of Clayborn, vying to steal the same item. I cannot express my love of the witty banter of not just Adelaide and Henry but of all the Hell's Belles ladies throughout the book. I couldn't love a group of women anymore.

If anyone read the first in The Hell's Belle's series, Bombshell, then you remember Henry as a background character in that book and being quite vexing. He is everything you would expect in a duke that would rile the likes of Adelaide. And no one, I repeat no one, can write a long, engrossing sex scene quite as Sarah MacLean can. These two are in close proximity for most of the book and the sickbed scene of them was just the icing on the cake of their curricle/carriage rides and only one-bed inn stays.

I think I am with everyone else when I say I cannot wait for the story of our bomb maker, Imogen, and the Scarlet and the Duke vibes with Thomas.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the above opinions are my own.

Adelaide Frampton is on a mission. Being part of the secretive womens group, the Hell's Belle's and also mascarading as the Matchbreaker, she's out to the stop the wedding of the Duke of Clayborn's brother as he elopes to Gretna Green. The Duke of Clayborn will do anything to allow the wedding to happen and thus begins the race between Henry and Adelaide to see who can succeed.

This story was a fun one, although I will say, it took me a little while to get into the story and warm up to it. There was almost TOO much going on with Adelaide the first 25% of the book. While trying to understand the Hell's Belle's storyline, the author kind of snuck up with the Matchbreaker story line out of nowhere and I was thoroughly confused for a few chapters. Once I understood what was going on, I was able to enjoy the rest of the book. I loved the amount of action and adventures that was in the book with Adelaide and Henry, and thought their chemistry was great. This was an enjoyable one to pick up and I can't wait to read the next Hell's Belle's story!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my review and opinions!

Second in the "Hell's Belles" series, this one featuring Adelaide Frampton, distant cousin to a Duchess and awkwardly enjoying Mayfair balls and assemblies. She is too tall, has flaming red hair, and is quite the spinster at 26. She also wears spectacles, and so is basically invisible. Which is good, because she is also Adelaide Frampton, child of the streets of the South Bank, who learned to be invisble to become a fearsome thief. She is also The Matchbreaker, a veiled entity who - for a price - will break up ill-advised "matches" between innocent girls and bad men.

She is noticed by one man - the Duke of Clayborn - who has secrets of his own. He is enraptured with this tall, gawky, nobody, and sets out to follow her.

What follows is a very rough and tumble (and quite hot) road to HEA, and littered with the bodies of the unconscious, explosions, broken bones, and stitches.

I really enjoyed the next book in the Hell's Belles series, and it was a huge improvement on Bombshell. The romantic development between Adelaide and the Duke felt genuine. Lots of good cloak and dagger action, and a road trip!

Overall I enjoyed the book. The middle was kinda blah then it picked up and ended on a high note. I don’t feel like the main characters knew enough about each other to fall in love. I did love how the duke had always been noticing her when she just thought she was invisible. I can’t wait for the next book. I think I am going to enjoy those main characters a lot more. I could feel more chemistry (😉) in that last chapter for Imogen and Tommy than I could for Clayborn and Adelaide in this whole book.
Four stars for me means I would recommend it but probably won’t reread it myself.
It was a good escape from reality while I was reading it. Even with the slow parts in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this as an ARC.

Where to begin?! I’ve been a long time Sarah MacLean reader, her books are fantastic!! This one is no exception. We’ve got the notorious Hell’s Belles. We have mystery. We have grumpy and sunshine. We have one bed. I absolutely adore grumpy sunshine. Throw in one bed, yes please! Sarah’s books always have adventures. Action. Swoon. This one had even more swoon. Henry was magnificent. I also loved watching Adelaide fall. The ending to the book perfectly sets up book 3 and it has me excited.

This book is different from other regency romances in that the heroine, Adelaide, is not only lowborn, but she was raised on the wrong side of the tracks by an organized crime boss and as a thief herself. Adelaide leaves her father after her failed wedding and joins the "Hell's Belles", group of women who work to punish those higher born men who would not otherwise be punished for their crimes. The main story here is that Helene saw her father kill someone, and the group is trying to get her away from him, meanwhile Helene wants to marry Jack, who is the brother of a Duke. The Duke and Adelaide meet up when she is trying to firm up saving Helene and he is trying to save his brother, They go from enemies, and/or two people who don't feel like they are allowed to or worthy of love, to lovers while trying to save Helene and Jack and punish her father.

Heartbreaker was a funny book, The "Hell's Belles" is a great set of formidable women who are working to help other women and for the greater good. I really liked all the characters in the group. There were quite a few obstacles to complete the original task, and at the end I wasn't entirely sure that Adelaide's father wouldn't end up being one of those obstacles to the HEA, but ultimately it was a romantic book, fun and with lots of adventure. The next in the series was introduced, with Imogen and the Scotland Yard detective she loves to bother, and I'll be looking out for that one hopefully soon!

Adelaide Frampton didn't have an easy childhood. Growing up as the daughter of a prominent gang - she made her escape and hasn't looked back. Now a part of the Hell's Belles, Adelaide is also known as the Matchbreaker - the one that London society comes to when the bride wants to avoid the alter.

Henry, Duke Clayborn is hiding a secret. Turns out secrets are worth quite a bit and none other than the Matchbreaker is in possession of his secret. Worse still is that she has some information not only on Henry, but also his brother. Henry will go to any length to protect his family. When Henry finds that his brother has eloped with a woman who Adelaide is trying to stop at the alter - they are in a race to see who will get there first. Henry knows that his brother loves his betrothed and Adelaide wants only whats best for young misses who might be pushed into marriage against their will. In this race across Britain - who will end up winning and at what cost?

Oh, how I loved Adelaide and Duke Clayborn in Heartbreaker. These two had so much sizzling chemistry and the banter was - chef's kiss! I seriously had a silly grin on my face anytime these two were on the same page. I don't know how Sarah MacLean manages to make me laugh in what should be a serious situation but she totally does it.

Duke Clayborn might very well be my favorite hero that Sarah MacLean has written and that says something because there are quite a few of her heroes that are favorites. He was the perfect hero to pair with badass Adelaide.

I am seriously falling in love with the Hell's Belles. These women are so strong and don't take anyone's BS and I LOVE that. I loved the first book in the series - Bombshell, but Heartbreaker was even better somehow! I can't wait to read more of the Belles!

Enemies to lovers, forced proximity(only 1 bed!), injured hero/nursemaid heroine

Adelaide’s story starts off with a bang. The quiet “invisible” Hell’s Belle is the daughter of the head honcho thug that we met in the previous story. Her Duke nemesis turns into the very sweet and romantic love interest. Tons of action mixed with love scenes, not much a slow burn though. The banter is just so so so good. I just can’t wait for the next installment to this series.
Steam level 5/5.

Thank you to Sarah MacLean, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a Sarah MacLean fan for many years, but this is my favorite book of hers so far! Our heroine, Adelaide Frampton, is a creature of secrets, but so is the Duke of Clayborn. They're drawn to each other as they race across the countryside in an attempt to stop a wedding. I fell in love with the Duke immediately. Once he realizes he's fallen for Adelaide, he is her constant hype man. He is absolutely singing her praises on every page and I am here for it. The book includes many of my favorite tropes (Only one bed! "Who did this to you?") written as only a master of her genre could. I'll be looking forward to the next book in this series, but I'll definitely reread this one once or twice while I wait.

I was really disappointed a few months ago when I finished reading everything that Sarah MacLean has ever written, so it was extra exciting to have the opportunity to read this ARC. I am loving the Hell's Belles series, and Adelaide was a pretty amazing main character. Born and raised to be an incredible thief, she is taken in by the controversial Duchess of Trevescan when she escapes a gang brawl on her wedding day. She stays out of the area where she grew up for years, until the Belles need her to steal something from her father, Alfie Trumbull, the head of the Bully Boys gang. She's doing fine until the Duke of Clayborn shows up, also trying to steal something from Trumbull, and almost gets them both killed. Through a series of related events, both Adelaide and Henry (the Duke) begin a quest from London to Gretna Green to try to intercept Henry's younger brother on his way to elope. Sarah MacLean's books never disappoint in terms of adventure, and the pacing here was really excellent as the two of them make their way across the country. Great action, excellent banter, and a healthy dose of acknowledgement of the political realities of women in 19th century England that can also very much apply right now.

Heartbreaker was my first introduction into the Hell’s Belles series and it was absolutely delightful! I could not stop smiling while reading and I loved every minute of this story.

There was adventure right out the gate. There was swooning and quotes that required me to highlight way too much of this book. There were several moments where I was laughing because the banter between Henry and Adelaide was perfect! This was historical romance at its best and I’m convinced that I need to read everything from Sarah MacLean!

I can’t wait to see what comes next for this varied team of incredible women!

Heartbreaker, the second book in Sarah MacLean's Hell's Belle's series follows Adelaide Frampton, the best cut purse London has ever seen, and Henry, the straightaced Duke of Clayborn who fights in Parliament for worker's rights. When Adelaide's mission to break the match between Clayborn's younger brother and the woman he loves intersects with Henry's mission to make sure the two wed, Adelaide and Clayborn find themselves drawn to each other and willing to risk confiding in each other.
Readers who like having deep insight into the inner workings of their characters and how their feelings for each other develop over time may feel disappointed due to the fast-paced action packed plot of the novel. However, the Hell's Belles are incredible fun to read about. Seeing favorite tropes reimagined will also draw readers in.

Sarah Maclean is a Queen in the HR world. Her books give you all the feels and bring ALLLL the heat! I’ve read all her books and I’ve loved each one! Heartbreaker is the second of the Hell’s Belles series, the first book being Bombshell, which is Sesily and Caleb’s book. I’ve read and reread Bombshell and anxiously awaited the next in the series. Heartbreaker was worth the wait and DELIVERS! Addie is the Hell’s Belles bespectacled thief and the infamous Matchbreaker- legendary and invisible. Little did she know, Henry had always seen her. The Duke of Clayborn is a picture perfect Duke with a few secrets of his own and a fierce need to protect his brother and his brother’s fiancé from the Matchbreaker. The two race each other across England to stop the couple before they reach Gretna Green, stopping at inns along the way and growing closer with each interlude. Addie wants to be seen, wants a partner, and love, even if she believes she will never find it. Henry knows great love exists (saw it with his parents),but believes his secrets keep him from ever settling down. This book is so romantic!! Henry is my new book boyfriend 😍I’m obsessed with the chemistry between these two from the beginning. You can feel the sexual tension and their hearts jumping for each other every single chapter. This book will make you swoon and your heart pound. This book is one word-delicious 🤤Now I can’t wait for Imogen’s book!!!

Sara MacLean does it again. My only complaint is that it wasn't longer...I wanted to live in Henry and Adelaide's world for just a lil while longer. Henry is a wife-guy, and dare I say there is no better type of man? I am loving this series and PRAY that book 3 is for Tommy and Imogen. Never stop writing Sarah MacLean!

This book surprised me. I was expecting an okay book, but read an amazing book. Much more interesting than the description. I was hooked from the beginning. This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last. I didn't realize this book was the second in the series. It is fine as a stand alone, but I will go back and read book one.
The characters were all very well-written. I like Adelaide very much and fell in love with Henry, the Duke of Clayborn. Their relationship was entertaining and I enjoyed their banter. Their passion can not be ignored. Smoking hot sex scenes added plenty of heat. The side characters are intriguing as well. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for an honest review.

Heartbreaker is the second in the Hell’s Belles series, and absolutely reminded me why I adore Sarah MacLean. Adelaide is a social wallflower, the best thief in London, and keeps running into the Duke of Clayborn at the worst times.

Highlights:
The chemistry and banter between the leads is everything. The romantic tension, the forced proximity, the pining, it’s all there. I loved every second of their time together, especially because Adelaide gets the better of Clayborn most of the time. He is peak starchy, and she is singleminded about achieving her goals. Gorgeous.

Adelaide has a complicated past that keeps catching up with her, and she handles herself beautifully. She protects her heart, not believing that the people she loves could love her as much, and is absolutely willing to sacrifice herself for them. Luckily, Clayborn won’t allow it, and keeps following her. Over and over. In the best way.

The Belles are so special, so badass and absolutely down to bring the kind of justice the rest of the world won’t to the bad men surrounding them. They are smarter, more organized, and absolutely ruthless in a way that’s refreshing to read in a historical. You wouldn’t want to be working against them, and I just want to be friends with them.

Overall, an incredible installment in the series, and I’m going to be thinking about these two for a long time.

The joy I get from this series is immeasurable. A hundred stars for breaking my heart and then putting it back together so beautifully.

First thing's first: I am a huge Sarah Maclean fan. I have read all her adult romance books, I listen to her podcast, I follow her on social media, and I generally think she's amazing. So perhaps this review is a little biased, but I don't think that takes anything away from it. I love all of her work, I consider her historical romance to be some of the very best. She is one of romances best. I'm saying that so when I also say that I think Heartbreaker is truly phenomenal, one of her best books yet, you understand how high that praise really is.

I read this book in two sittings -it could easily have been one but I split it up because I simply didn't want it to be over. The first book in the Hell's Belles series, Bombshell, did an excellent job of setting the stage and the tone that the books would have going forward: full of action, witty banter, friendship, and hard won love and justice. Heartbreaker picked up the thread, the prologue delivering us right into the thick of it with a wedding scene that had me grinning and whooping with pure joy. And it doesn't stop there -this book is propulsive. Maclean carries us through seedy back alleys, carriage races, roadside inns, and more while also weaving a beautiful and emotional romance between London's best pickpocket turned vigilante girl gang member and a starchy duke with a heart of gold.

Adelaide Frampton and Henry Carrington, the Duke of Clayborn, are a couple that I don't think I will ever forget. I highlighted so much while reading and am already going back to all those bits to read them again and again. The trick of a romance novel is to deliver a really believable HEA with characters that we truly believe love each other. The chemistry can be hard, but Maclean makes it look seamless and easy. Adelaide and Henry are simply made for each other, the thief who no one ever notices and the aristocrat that can't stop noticing her, even at the expense of his secrets getting out.

And the sex -wow! Sarah Maclean always delivers us superior sex scenes, but this book was on another level. Anyone who doesn't think historicals can be super hot should read this book. Actually, everyone should read this book. I'm going to push it one pretty much everyone from now until forever. You want action with your romance? Read this book. You want to see evil men get their just desserts? Read this book. You want the hero to worship at the feet of his heroine? Read this book. Female friendship? This book has it in spades. Only one bed? Henry is trying to make sure there's only one bed in all of England. Like a sickbed scene? You got it.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. 6 stars. 10 stars. All the stars in the universe. I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on the next book and I also can't wait to reread Bombshell and Heartbreaker in the meantime.

You will be swooning from start to finish with this one. Adelaide is daughter of a crime boss who is using her underworld skills to serve justice the ton. Henry is a straight laced duke who always tries to do the right thing. Both are really lonely and misunderstood by society. They are thrown together on a road trip adventure. Can the learn to trust one another and open their hearts?

I received an ARC for my honest review.