Bombshell (Hell's Belles #1)

by Sarah MacLean

Blurb:

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

Themes: Historical

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

The spin-off series we have all been pining for is finally here as Sarah MacLean gives us the long-awaited story of Lady Sesily Talbot and the love of her life American Caleb Calhoun. If anyone has read previous series by Sarah Maclean you will be familiar with these characters (though if not you might lose a bit of the overall beautiful effect of the story but not much) and have been dying to see them finally get their HEA like the rest of us. Sarah Maclean has the beautiful talent of creating strong, sassy and believable historical heroines that leave you wondering just how much of history is wrong about the females of the past and wishing that we could truly go back and find out if some of these women existed. Sesily once thought she was going to find love with Caleb but when he returned to America leaving her heart broken she decided that instead of having any man in her life she would dedicate her life to a greater cause. Caleb returned to America when he knew that the desire he felt for Sesily was becoming too much to resist but he left his heart with her, so returning and finding her putting herself into dangerous situations means he has to protect her. As these two spark off one another and find a way to coexist, they slowly begin to see that life together would be much more fulfilling that life apart, if only the dangers stalking them would let them be. I love the sexy and sassy romance between these two and the way that Sesily is portrayed as not only the hero of her own life but Caleb’s hero as well. Caleb was a strong and protective alpha male, but he slowly began to understand that Sesily truly could take care of herself and he gave her the freedom she needed and instead stood at her back. Sesily was a brave, determined, and brilliant heroine, truly a woman well before her time and I loved getting to know her. The passion between these two was amazing and I loved watching them light the fire once they finally began to accept that there was no fighting it. I am dying to find out what comes next for Sesily and her friends and see who falls under love’s spell next. Sarah has struck gold once again with her Belles.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.