ARC Review: The Heart of a Hellion (The Duke's By-Blows #2) by Jess Michaels
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Series: The Duke's By-Blows #2
Author: Jess Michaels
Published July 14th 2020 by The Passionate Pen LLC
Goodreads Synopsis
The second in USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels' sparkling new series, The Duke's By-Blows.
Selina Oliver has always enjoyed all the pleasures life offers. As one of the infamous Roseford Bastards, why shouldn't she? But Selina has a secret, one that could tear her world apart. She is also the Faceless Fox, a brazen thief who for years has been stealing the finest jewels of the nastiest women of the ton. Now her brother has invited her to a country party where one of the prizes she craves most will also be at her fingertips. How could a wily fox resist this henhouse?
Derrick Huntington has spent a life maintaining control and discipline. From his years in the army to his current place as an investigator for the ton's elite, he never wavers from his duty. Now he and his partner are sent to an exclusive country party with one task: catch the Faceless Fox before they strike again and finally unmask the villain who has been intriguing him for years.
Investigator meet criminal in a wild chase that will involve seduction as distraction, unexpected respect and a love that could change both their lives forever. If only they can survive it.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
I will admit that before lock down started, I hadn't really any intention of reviewing historical romance, but those books have been some of the only ones I've wanted to read during this weird time, and I discovered Jess's books. The Love of a Libertine was so enjoyable, that I couldn't wait to have The Heart of a Hellion available. This time, we follow another one of the bastard children of the late Duke of Roseford, Selina Oliver, who is struggling now that her brother, Robert, is wanting to have a bigger role in her life. Selina has a secret - she is in fact the Faceless Fox, a jewel thief who is neigh on invisible, and only steals from women who have been horrendous to others in the past. Now, at a house party hosted by her brother, she is seeking the prized Breston necklace from the awful Lady Winford. With her companion and accomplice, Vale, she has it all planned out, but those plans are scuppered when Derrick Huntington and his friend and colleague, Edward Barber, arrive. They are investigators, on the lookout for the Fox, but under the assumption that the Fox is a man. Selina needs to get close to Derrick to see how much he knows, but soon she falls head over heels, and risks it all. Derrick, as the grandson of an Earl, is somewhat at home with the upper crust in society, but since returning home from war, with injuries, he's eschewed all that, and dove into his investigations. He wants to find the Fox, but every moment he spends with Selina is reawakening part of him he never thought would return, and he can't let himself believe his worst fears that one he is seeking, is in fact that women he loves.
This was a story that hooked you from page one, and wouldn't let go until you knew that Selina and Derrick were happy. Both were fantastic main characters, who's backgrounds were fraught with pain and misery, and were getting themselves together. Neither really believed they were deserving of love, but were more than happy to seek their release and have fun with the other, and it was inevitable that they would fall quickly, and completely. I couldn't help but ship them together, and when the unavoidable angst occurred, and it was revealed Selina was the Fox, I honestly didn't know how Jess would resolve it all! But resolve it she did, and I loved it! I'm even more desperate for more of her work now, and think that The Matter of a Marquess will be Nicholas' story - or at least, I hope it will be!
Dates Read:
June 25-26, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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