Review: Heartbreaker (Hell's Belles #2) by Sarah MacLean
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Series: Hell's Belles #2
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published August 23rd 2022 by Piatkus
Goodreads Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.
A Princess of Thieves
Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.
A King of Reputation
Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.
A Royal Match
When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.
Goodreads
Review
Though she was raised as the princess of an underworld gang, Adelaide Frampton got out from her father's control, and managed to make a place for herself in high society, masquerading as the wallflower cousin to the Duchess of Trevescan, as well as being the Heartbreaker, who has saved numerous young women from bad matches. Crossing paths with Henry, Duke of Claybourn, she finds the one person - other than her fellow Belles - who notices hers, and that's a worry. Especially as he see's her break into a factory as if by magic, and realises she is the Heartbreaker. Forced to work together to find Claybourn's younger brother, and his betrothed, from their elopement, and the danger they are in from the lady's father, the sparks fly, and as they pretend to be man and wife, the fiction soon becomes too real to imagine.
This book was amazing! I've had Heartbreaker preordered for as long as I can remember, and as soon as my copy arrived, I dropped everything, and sunk in. It was so good, that I read the entire thing in one sitting. Adelaide's background is introduced to us in the first chapter, and we slowly learn more and more about her life as Alfie Trunbull's daughter. I loved the way she took ownership of her actions, both then and now, and found a place for her, with the Belles. As the Heartbreaker, she could help protect other women like she wasn't, and also ensure that they are set for the future, with good marriage settlements, or just the knowledge that they have someone looking out for them. The added complication in this case, as well as the elopement, was just the pièce de résistance needed to tip this book over the edge. Claybourn and Adelaide's every scene was tense, and full of chemistry, that it didn't take much for them to explore the relationship further. So much happened, that I'm honestly in awe of Sarah's plot's and world building. The extended cast, of the Belles, Adelaide's past family, and Inspector Tommy, were all very present, and we can really see how the series is going to progress. Imogen and Tommy's book, which I think is next, is going to be explosive!
Dates Read:
August 18, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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