I loved Bombshell. Sesily and Caleb were perfect foils for one another and they were so fun to read on page. But Adelaide. I wanted to give her hug, ask her to teach me to pick locks and tell her every day that she was the best of the best. I adored her as a character. Somehow Sarah MacLean made a hero worthy of how amazing Adelaide is. I will admit that I wasn't sure how excited I was for book two. I expected Imogine and Tommy to be next and I didn't know if I'd care that much about Adelaide and Clayborn. Instead, I fell in love with both of them. I can't wait for everyone to be able to read this book.

I raced through this story much in the same way the MCs race along their road trip. I recently finished the first book in the series, Bombshell. I enjoyed the introduction there to what I started affectionately calling in my head, “the Regency A-Team.” A group of women who live at the fringes of society, each with their own unique set of talents, who battle against the patriarchy and fight to empower the disenfranchised. I was intrigued by Adelaide and the Duke of Clayborn in the first book and immediately went to NetGalley to request an ARC as soon as I learned theirs was the next book in the series.

I adore when female friendships shine in a romance. That’s certainly the case here. I also love a good road trip and the one bed trope, which Sarah MacLean plays off of a little bit here. The secret keeping and miscommunication goes on a little bit long for my taste, but overall the MC’s chemistry and storyline earn this book 4 stars from me. In my opinion, this book improved upon the first installment in the series. I am very much looking forward to Imogene’s story with the grumpy detective!

My thanks to Avon and NetGalley for access to an eARC!

Thanks, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for giving me ARC for an honest review.
I had a lot of fun reading heartbreaker because of the adventure that both the hero and heroine were racing towards for most of the book.
Adelaide the heroine and a member of 'Hell's Belles' meets Henry the Duke of Clayborn and they instantly become rivals in a very competitive and fun way (great banter). They are both attracted to each other and at first try to fight the attraction because of things that happened in their pasts, much later in the book they share their backstories and that leads them to eventually get together. Their love Is beautiful and helps to start healing some of the wounds their pasts left on them. I will say that even though they were attracted to each other early in the book it took them a while to get together and the book wasn't as spicy as other Sarah Maclean books for me.
I think that the tone of this book was a little different than Sarah MacLean's usual books because of the way the plot was structured I was a little hesitant about but it ended up being quite enjoyable. Also, towards the end of the book, the plot became very chaotic and confusing with so many things happening, but I still enjoyed most of it and excited me for the rest of the book in this series.

The Belles are fun and witty and mete justice and the men who fall for them are noble and kind and able to heal from the damage the patriarchy as done to them.

HEARTBREAKER is now my most-favorite Sarah MacLean book. This story is dripping with romance from beginning to end. It has all the tropes I love too! So if you love a road trip, there's only one bed, sickbed, fast-paced, heroine take charge book, go now and pre-order this one!

A thief who feels like she doesn't belong anywhere? Check. A Duke who has a life-changing secret? Check. A network of women spies and general havoc-makers? Triple check. This was another really fun Hell's Belles novel. There were times I thought the pacing was a little off and a few extra cheesy lines, but overall I thought it was a really fun romance.

Do you like Julia Quinn/Bridgerton books but need a hint more action and adventure.? Then you definitely need to read this book. I’ve read most if not all of her previous books and they are somehow the perfect mix of a historical romance plus interesting and unique twists. This is the second book in the series so far of the Hell’s Bells, which is a group of females working in a hidden network to rescue and exact justice. I loved how strong the female main character was, she wasn’t just another damsel in distress. The story moves along quickly and will keep you enthralled throughout the entire book. Highly recommend this book as well as the other series from Sarah Maclean. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Pub date 8/23/2022.

This was a complete and utter <i>gem</i>. I so thoroughly enjoyed this, that even after a few hours of finishing this, I'm still grinning and floating on a bit of a high. The second book in the wonderful <i>Hell's Belles</i> series is (IMHO) better than the first. I loved this couple and they exceeded my expectations in everyway. Their dynamics, their chemistry, and the pure adorableness of a romantic hero falling first and becoming completely obsessed is utterly perfect. I am also a fan of the whole backdrop of a women-run crime gang with informants, spies, smugglers, and highwaywomen coming together to bring down entitled aristocrats. They take no quarter, and are unapologetically true to themselves. It was fun, witty, thoroughly enjoyable, and my favorite Regency romance of the year so far.

<i>Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this!</i>

I like the concept of this series a lot, and I think that it really shines when the friends take center stage. I love the feminist angle, and love a girl gang.

In this particular book. I didn’t always buy the chemistry from the two romantic leads. I really wanted to, but it felt like something was missing, especially compared to the first book in the series. I assume these are meant to function as standalone novels, but I imagine if I were reading this one before Bombshell, I’d have gotten bored with all the references to people and places from that book. Other than the Belles, none of them are just not developed enough to hold my attention, and the plot felt like it dragged in some places.

All in all though, I enjoy this series and am looking forward to Imogen’s book! Adelaide was the most forgettable Belle, in my opinion, so I’m not surprised that her book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Heartbreaker is the second installment in the Hell's Belle's series by Sarah Maclean and it was a generic.

The plot was incredibly boring despite having its potential. The plot was original but the execution not so much. The best quality about Sarah Maclean's books is the characters are unlike the other historical genre characters we meet. The chemistry used to feel lively and unique. Unfortunately Henry and Adelaide fall short at the same. Their chemistry was good but nothing explosive. They felt so recycled and generic i couldn't believe i was reading a Sarah Maclean book.

If you are someone who hasn't read too many romance books, Heartbreaker would be a delight. One would experience rush while reading it. But if you are someone who read way too many romance books like me, you wouldn't be impressed.

Nonetheless i am so excited for the next book in the series . Imogen always had my attention and i can't wait for the Duchess book😭 she's everything.

TW/CW: Sex, violence, language, child abuse

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The first half of this book and the last third of this book were halfway decent – actually pretty good. I was really into it at the beginning and thought it had a unique story line with unique characters.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

This book fails where a lot of romance novels fail – in confusing sex and love. Yes, I understood that Addie and Henry were attracted to each other, but it seemed that it was all physical – they didn’t know each other well enough for it to be anything else. And the ‘romantic’ scenes were ridiculously long – some of them lasting up to three chapters. Maybe that’s something some people like, but I am not one of those people.

I did like the attempt at making this book more feminist, although I think it failed when she gave up everything she’d been trying for to stay with Henry when he was sick. That made me pretty angry at her and IMHO completely crushed any attempt this book made to be something different than the normal romance novel.

It wasn’t a bad book, but I think there were a lot of things about it that were just not for me.

4.5 Stars! Loved this book! Sarah MacLean writes some of the best historical romance out there! The witty banter between the two main characters, Adelaide and Clayborn, had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading! I do wish the book had more backstory of the main characters though. This book can be read as a standalone, part of ‘The Hell’s Belles’ series, though I do wish there was some more info on the ‘Hell’s Belles’ group in this book. I loved the witty banter, mystery, romance, adventure, secrets, ‘sexy times’, gangs of bad guys, and the HEA ending. Highly recommend this one! So worth it!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

I am completely in love with the Hell's Belle's and every book in this series just gets better and better. In Hearbreaker we get to know more about Adelaide, the best pickpocket in all of London. She comes from a ne'er-do-well father--'king' of a dangerous street gang--but had the chance to escape and become part of the gang of 4 women who are out to right wrongs and uplift other women.



In Heartbreaker, Adelaide is working with her counterparts to help protect a woman from her evil father. Mixed up in this mission is a certain Duke--the Duke of Clayborn--because of his brother's interest in marrying the young woman who desperately needs to go into hiding; he's also been mixed into this because he also poses a threat to the evil father, as we find out after Adelaide thieves some things from her father, including a box belonging to the Duke. Complicating all of this, both Addie and Henry (the Duke) find themselves in her dad's office both trying to steal something important to them. Increasing the complication? The Duke almost gets them caught.



As the plot progresses we learn that both Addie and Henry have been watching each other for a while. Addie finds him intolerable and Henry finds her intriguing. When they race to find and protect Henry's brother and his love, he learns that Addie is more than capable of handling herself, much to his surprise and delight and she learns that he's not quite the entitled toff that she imagined him to be. Over the course of a couple of weeks, their being thrown together reveals more and more and their mutual affection blossoms. This was part of my pure enjoyment of this novel--their discovering each other--their secrets and who they really are--and how they were more alike than I think either suspected. I love a good reveal and when people are forced to admit, despite their grumpy resistance, that they really actually like the person standing in front of them.



Equally delightful is seeing and learning more about the Hell's Belles. They are pure joy--they made me smile and laugh and I could read their interactions and shenanigans all day long and not ever be bored with them--I cannot wait to read Imogene's book! Additionally, seeing how their 'network' worked filled me with admiration.



I cannot recommend this series enough--it's a great mix of romance, chemistry, humor, and plot and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Ooooo, I really enjoyed this one. The Hell's Belles are such a fun group and the chemistry between the two main characters was great. Don't miss this one.

Thank you for letting me read this book. Heartbreaker, unfortunately, did not spark my attention. I ended up not finishing the book. It dragged on for me and I couldn't connect with the characters. Once again, thank you for letting me read this book.

I absolutely loved the first book in the Hell’s Belles series, so I was really looking forward to this one! However, while it wasn’t a bad read, it left me feeling a bit disappointed. Most of this comes down to personal preference, though, and I think a lot of people will still really enjoy it!

In this one, the Belles are trying to keep a marquess’s daughter safe from the marquess himself. Adelaide Frampton is a key part of this plan, but Henry Carringon, the Duke of Clayborn, gets involved because it’s his younger brother with whom the marquess’s daughter elopes, sending Adelaide and the duke on a made chase after them, ultimately forcing them to work together.

This book has a really strong start but it seemed to peter out in the middle, where the pace slowed down a lot. Things go awry, causing Adelaide and Henry to grow much closer, but I never really got that invested in their relationship. While Adelaide shared things about her past, and Henry shared some from his, I never got a sense of deep connection. It could be I just didn’t read the book at the right time for me, so I could definitely be an outlier here!

What I think worked the least for me was the pacing. The sex scenes were very long and drawn out, seemingly lasting forever. Sometimes I like that, but it didn’t really work for me here and just brought the story to screeching halt. There’s also some light praise kink in the sex scenes, and that just never does it for me.

Another thing that didn’t work for me was Henry’s overprotectiveness. While I can excuse that sort of behavior in fantasy and paranormal a lot of the time, and sometimes even like it, I really didn’t care for it in this book. It felt overdramatic and a little bit infantilizing.

I wish I could say the action-packed ending turned things back around for me, but there’s another trope here that I really dislike. To say more would spoil things, but ultimately, it just didn’t work for me, and it reflected one of the things I didn’t love in the previous book. The previous book had a moment that alleviated my feelings about that trope, so things ultimately playing out well for me. Unfortunately, this book lacked that key element and I just ended up frustrated.

I really wanted more badass girl gang stuff. I feel like the beginning promised that, but the book didn’t really deliver.

That said, I am but one reader with specific taste, and like I said above, I think many people will really enjoy this, so if you like any of the following, definitely give this one a shot!
- Overprotective heroes
- Sex scenes that last pages and pages
- Sickbed scenes
- Unlikely allies
- Family secrets

I’m still very much looking forward to the next book, especially because my favorite scene in this one was between Imogen and Tommy!

This is a great new series by MacLean. I really like MacLean's books and this one was no different! I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series.

Adelaide is the best thief in London. Born on the wrong side of the river to a king of crime, Adelaide has had to fend for herself for a very long time. When she was rescued from her wedding by the Duchess she put her criminal talents to use for the Hell's belles, bringing down the most corrupt "gentlemen" of the ton.
Henry is a Duke, a duke with a secret. When he encounters Adelaide robbing a warehouse, the same warehouse he is trying to rob, he is pulled into her web.
When the two end up racing across the country to catch the Duke's brother, who is eloping with a key witness to a crime the Belles are trying to expose, sparks inevitably fly.
I find that this was more enjoyable than the last few Sarah MacLean books I've read. I enjoyed what was happening with the story and the one time the book dragged was when our two main characters spent several days together in a secluded house. Dare I say these books have too many sex scenes? Chapter after chapter with nothing happening but sex tends to drag on. Other than that section, it was an enjoyable read.

I loved this one so much. I read one chapter and knew it was going to be a favorite and I had a blast reading it. It’s a wild ride in the best way and really has a focus on the two main characters and their quiet moments together in a loud and chaotic world (I’m proud of this line and this is my one sentence review).

I would compare the Hell’s Belles series to an action movie (but with kissing and sex obvi). Sometimes the plot doesn’t make the most sense and things just sort of happen in the main character’s favor, but it doesn’t matter because as the reader we are HERE FOR IT. Yes have Adelaide and the Duke show up at the same places at exactly the right time. Yes have time for all the ~romantic moments~ because as the reader we want to see that. Yes lets have women fighting to change the world and idealistic characters fighting for change. Yes have the stiff upper lip Duke fall for the chaotic thief. Yes let her have three identities. Yes have humorous moments while people are in life threatening danger. Yes to one bed always. Yes to Imogen blowing stuff up. But, unlike an action movie, the characters get to love and love out loud and get their HEAs.

The other Hell’s Belles are on page less than Bombshell, but when they are on page it is glorious!! I cannot wait for Imogen and Tommy’s stories bc it’s going to be explosive (this is a joke bc Imogen is always blowing stuff up).

This is one of my favorite romances I’ve read this year with all of it’s chaotic glory, but especially in the funny moments of dialogue and the quiet moments between the characters.

I almost teared up reading this one and am sad I’m basically caught up on the MacLeanverse.

Also we love to see that Sarah named Adelaide Frampton after Megan Frampton and the Duke of Clayborn after Kate Clayborn.

Thank you to Sarah MacLean, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC for an honest review. Heartbreaker comes out August 23 2022!!

Heartbreaker was one of my most anticipated historical romance of this year and I am incredibly honored that I was given the opportunity to read it early. Let me tell you I was not disappointed, I have loved all of Sarah Maclean's novels but this one might be my new favorite. It's enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope and has some beautiful "I will take care of you when you ill/injured."

Our main female character is Adeline the former princess of thieves and a current member of the Hell's Belles, a women run spy ring that helps women who are in tough situations. Our main male character is Henry, Duke of Clayborn, a stuffy duke who has not made the best impression on Adeline. Both are forced to work together when Henry's brother Jack and Helene a women Adeline and her Hell's Bells have been tasked to protect from her father, elope together to Gretna Green.

This book was everything I could have asked for in an historical romance. Adeline is a woman who believes she unnoticeable, in fact she has used that to her advantage when picking pockets or saving women from bad matches. Henry is on the surface a stuffy duke, but underneath he is a loyal and loving man, who has always noticed Adeline. It was absolutely magical to read the progression of their love story, the little moments of possession (you know when one of the main characters wants to make the other character "mine") made this book swoon worthy.

It would be criminal to end this review without talking about all of the side characters that made this book what it was. As we saw in the first Hells Bells book Bombshell, the hells bells are not only a group of friends, they are a family. That continues to be true in Heartbreaker, each woman in the Hells Bells group have their own unique "talent" they bring to the table. This make the group a lively and loyal bunch that root for each other, protect each other and would honestly die for each other. In addition to the main group add in a wide reaching network of road side inn owners and a highwaywomen and her partners. The amazing cast of side characters elevate this romance to a beautiful book about found family. I simply cannot wait for the nest book in this series and I hope you love Heartbreaker as much as I did!!