I loved Bombshell. I’ve been waiting for Sesily’s story and was not disappointed. Sarah MacLean’s writing keeps getting better and better. With the fun, sexy, action-packed plot I don’t feel like I’m wrong to hope for an adaptation, the story and characters are fully formed and jump off the page. It’s a wonderful, romantic book and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
• historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

Lady Sesily Talbot is waging war with her secret society of feminists in this sizzling first book in the Hell’s Belles series.

Sesily is the unmarried, scandalous siren of her family and definitely keeps London society on their toes. She secretly pines for her sister’s friend and business partner, the elusive and dashing American- Caleb Calhoun. Caleb can’t seem to shake Sesily from his mind since they shared a kiss all those years ago. Now that he’s back on British soil, let the scintillating tug of war begin!


Thoughts:

Ummmm HOT. This was my first read of Sarah MacLean’s and she might be my new favorite author. The sexual tension and dirty talk were mind blowing and well placed. There was also an excellently spun story to really flip those pages.

(Note: I was a bit lost in the beginning, but I had a sneaky suspicion that was because I haven’t read any other Sarah’s other books. I felt like there were known characters and story lines that would’ve made more sense had I read other possibly connected series. Author did an excellent job of summarizing though)


Interest: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Happy Ending: Yes
Would I recommend: Yes


*** I was given an UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of this book for an honest review by the publisher through Net Galley ***

I am so intrigued by this book and am anxiously awaiting the rest of the series. It does take a little bit to warm up, which I think is the danger of being the first book of a new series as all the pieces get laid out, and I think the internal conflicts keeping the couple apart get a little convoluted, but once the book gets going, boy, does it get going. Sesily is such a strong, self-aware character, and Caleb is stubborn, stern, and gooey. The steamy parts had me missing certain exes so I give them thumbs-up for MacLean's attention to detail. All in all, a really good book and a great way to start a new series.

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is a spoiler free review. So if you are looking for a recap or a play by play of what goes down, I am not the reviewer for you. So please enjoy my further ramblings and fan-girling as that is what this review is going to be ::shrugs::

You know a book is something special when you stop reading at 1 am just to wake up at 5 am and finish. I could not contain myself as this has got to be one of the funnest books I’ve ever read. I have been in this perpetual funk. Not a book funk, as the past few books I have read have been brilliant but I think just a general meh-ness which I am attributing to the pandemic, last 4 years, mercury in retrograde, etc. But Bombshell has me feeling like I am on cloud 9. I have a pep in my step today, Joan Jett “Do You Wanna Touch” is ringing in my ears and I have never wanted to gather all of my girlfriends together to start our very own lady gang out in the pursuit of justice and maybe catch a hot man’s gaze along the way.

It wasn’t just that what goes on was fun, but the journey of Sesily & Caleb, the almost-ness, and what could be we saw between them in The Day of the Duchess, is so utterly satisfying as a fan of SM’s books and of this couple. Their story has been years in the making, as I have spent years waiting, and it was so worth it!

I loved Sesily’s cheek and boldness and the vulnerability that she shows. And Caleb is a hot piece of swoon man candy. You have to have a strong man like him that can stand along a strong woman like Sesily and not be drowned out or forgotten. He is a protective hero but not one that forces reigns upon his lady, and for that I am thankful. Caleb is the type of hero that loves Sesily and does not take away or dampen her shine. And the two of these together are romantic, sensual, epic.

And if you tell me that in my lifetime I will not see Sesily and the girls on the screen (be it show or movie) I promise I will RIOT because this story and the promise of what remains going forward in this series has me absolutely giddy with delight. Between the prologue that had me intoxicated with what was to come, to the epilogue that had me smiling like a fool, Bombshell is one of my most anticipated books of the year that nailed it. It exceeded any of my expectations because while I was so excited for romance it was SO much more. This book had me feeling joy and it’s been a long time since I felt that.

*And while you could start this without having read anything of Sarah MacLean’s, you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t take the time before release and devour her entire catalogue. But I would say the bare minimum would be reading Books 1 & 3 (Scandal & Scoundrel series) to at least get aquatinted with Sesily’s family and to see where Sesily and Caleb first meet.

I should start off by saying that this book can be a standalone, but it will be a very confusing first half should you start reading this book first. Highly recommend reading Scandal & Scoundrel series first to get a better understanding of where things are in Bombshell. :)

Bombshell is a historical regency romance novel with a modern twist. The heroine, Lady Sesily Talbot is a walking scandal. An adventurous 30 year old beauty, with money, freedom and independence. She is living life to the fullest, unrestricted by society rules. Caleb Calhoun, an American business partner of her sister, has finally returned from abroad to check on his businesses in London.

Caleb and Sesily have history. A heated kiss many years ago that lead nowhere. Sesily felt rejected, but has never forgotten him or that kiss. Now years later, Caleb runs into Sesily, along with her kick-ass friends, and nothing but trouble ensues. The attraction between them is off the chart and another kiss leads to more between them.

I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read more in the series. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of Bombshell by Sarah Maclean.

Full disclosure, I'm a fan of Sarah MacLean, and am thrilled to read her latest historical romance. Lady Sesily Talbot is a walking scandal. She is 30, with her own money, living with great freedom and independence. Her four sisters are married into wealth and aristocracy, starting families of their own. Sesily along with three friends come together to help women and servants who can't help themselves. Caleb Calhoun has been seeing to his clubs in America. He returns to London to check on his club there which he owns with Sesily's sister. Neither Caleb or Sesily have forgotten their attraction and shared kiss from two years ago.

Sesily is a modern day heroine and doesn't feel bound by societies rules. I love the idea of a gang of Victorian ladies fighting for women to have better situations. Especially when the laws of the day aren't in their favor. For me this is a transition book. It finishes the Talbot Sisters stories that are part of the Scandal & Scoundrel series and starts the new Hell's Belle's series. I love MacLean's London world where characters and places from other books frequently show up as easter egg treats for her reading fans. The book does stand alone but you must read The Day of the Duchess if you want to read where Sesily and Caleb first meet. (4.5 stars)

The cover is beautiful and eye catching. And the title fits both Sesily and the secrets uncovered in the story. This is a delightful, sexy, fun romp in Victorian England. I just barely finished and already am anticipating Adelaide's story. Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I'm usually not a fan of historical romance, but I love when authors take liberties and make history a little... better. That's what happens in this novel. Sarah MacLean creates a secret society of scandalous women (they read! they think! they even go out to bars!) united in one common goal -- protecting other women.

Sesily is one of these women, perhaps the most scandalous of them, and she was a fun main character to follow. As much as I enjoyed her and Caleb's story, I really, really can't wait for the story of her friend Imogen. I haven't read the rest of the series related to the Soiled S's, but I might be interested in that after this fun adventure.

Sarah MacLean's romances feel like they are a different level from others in this genre. Just a step above. It was nice to get to spend some time in the world of the Soiled S's.

I’m new to reading historical romance and boy am I sorry I e. Even missing out all these years. I only began reading HR because I wanted to watch the Bridgerton series but wanted to read a few books first. I e been enjoying the genre so much and discovering new authors I haven’t even watched the series! This is my first book by Sarah MacLean, yet she was on my want to read list of authors. I was super excited to have the opportunity to read Bomshell the first in her new series. I understand why MacLeans book come highly recommended. I had no trouble getting g into the story not having read any of the authors other series. Sesily and Calebs story was great and I was s into it. I can’t wait to catch up on more by Sarah MacLean!

Sarah MacLean fans finally get Sesily and Caleb's story and it does not disappoint! Victorian girl gangs rule this novel and I am unabashedly excited to see what happens next in this series.

I love Sarah MacLean and this is a great start to the Hell's Belles series. Witty, sexy and fun with great set-up for the next books.

Sesily Talbot is a scandal; she knows it and embraces it. When she has her heart broken by Caleb returning to America, she is befriended by “duchess” and gets a new purpose to her life. Now dedicated with her friends to taking down rotten men who mistreat wives, servants, and other infractions society ignores, Sesily is surprised and delighted when Caleb comes back into her life.
I have to say I enjoyed the “hell’s bells” portion of this book more than the romance. We don’t see the first meeting between Sesily and Caleb in this book (maybe it was in one of the previous Talbot sisters books?) so the romance feels rushed and I just didn’t find myself caring that much about it. I am really looking forward to spending more time with the side kick ladies of this book.

Sarah MacLean has set up another fun and intriguing series! Lady Sesily is the most scandalous of the Talbot sisters, at least by reputation. With her sisters now all happily married off, Sesily is free to pursue her own interests, romantic or more mysterious. There's only one thing she's ever wanted but couldn't have--Caleb Calhoun, her sister's American business partner, the only man who ever rejected her.

Caleb, meanwhile, does his best to keep the Atlantic Ocean between himself and the captivating Sesily. He knows he can't have her, that it would reveal secrets and put him and the people he loves in danger, but it's harder to resist her every time he's back in London. And when she gets involved in an intrigue with a dangerous man, Caleb might be the only one who can help.

These two have terrific chemistry, and are well-matched in intellect and temperament. I look forward to seeing what else MacLean has in store for the great secondary characters set up here. The Hell's Belles are a delightful group of powerful and eccentric women--the best kind.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I was truly delighted by this although I will say the plot was complicated some of the time. Sesily is a queen. I cannot WAIT for Adelaide and Imogen's books.

How is every Sarah Maclean book better than the last?? This is a steamy, heartfelt and hilarious. Highly recommend.

I have been waiting for what feels like FOREVER for Sesily to finally get her story and Bombshell did not disappoint. MacLean’s writing and humor are on point. The characters are fantastic. And it left me wanting the next book ASAP.

This is the first book in Sarah Maclean's Hell's Belles series. It features the scandalous Lady Sesily Talbot. Through the years she has developed quite the reputation and has embraced it and the freedom that allows her. She uses her reputation as a cover for doing work that takes on the less savory members of society.

The only person who pays her attention, when she is sneaking around houses and gardens, is Caleb Calhoun. Caleb is her sister's business partner and he feels that it is his job to keep Sesily out of trouble. Sesily and Caleb are a lot of fun. Sesily seems to be a trouble magnet, but she is an extremely capable character. There are a lot of twists and turns that push the story forward at a wonderful pace.

Sarah Maclean introduces us to the other Hell's Belles throughout the book. The characters are delightful and the dialogue is very entertaining. This was an excellent book and I am greatly looking forward to the additional books in this series. I am most excited to see what is in store for Imogen and Adelaide.

Another solid hit for Sarah MacClean. I really appreciate the strong female characters and the feminist spin she portrays in every novel she writes. She is a breath of fresh air for this beloved and classic subgenre.