The first installment of Maclean's Hell's Belles series features fan-favorite Sesily Talbot. Sesily has proven to be a woman worth watching as she uses her risque reputation to control her destiny and help those less fortunate around her. When such a situation seemingly takes advantage of Sesily, in walks Caleb Calhoun to save the day. Friend and business partner of Sesily's sister Sera, Caleb has no time or need for Sesily or her particular brand of trouble. However, when it looks Sesily will not stay out of trouble, Caleb reluctantly becomes her protector; vowing to walk away when she is safe. Only. who's going to protect Caleb and his heart?

Another delightful feminist-centric romance that checks all the boxes with its intrigue, humor, romance, and historical background.

Heat Factor: He really likes to go down on her
Character Chemistry: It started before the book, so there’s not a ton of buildup
Plot: She’s in an extralegal girl gang, he’s got dark secrets, being together isn’t going to work, but everything swirling around them connects them. As does sex.
Overall: There’s a lot in this book that should be more prevalent in historical romance

Series Starter: I am excited about Adelaide and Imogen. In terms of getting me to want to read more Hell’s Belles books, this one succeeds.

Storytelling: I have lots of thoughts here, and the way that this book addressed issues with the story told was really great.
1. It’s not uncommon for historical romance heroines to be Not Like Other Girls, but the how and why of that characterization matters. Sesily demands to be seen and respected as an independent, 30-year-old woman who is perfectly capable of making her own choices. It’s, like, not an outrageous ask. MacLean’s characterization of Sesily works where some often don’t because 1. Sesily wasn’t born into the aristocracy so it’s not a reach to think that she doesn’t care what society thinks, 2. she’s seen her sisters all make more traditional choices but understands that she doesn’t really want the same for herself, and 3. she is on a mission that is bigger than herself, so she’s not about thumbing her nose at society and being isolated simply because she’s Not Like Other Girls. The only other thing that I would have liked to see was Sesily telling off her older sister for treating her like she’s not an adult who is fully capable of making her own decisions and living with the consequences of those decisions. Or Caleb telling Sesily’s sister the same when she asked Caleb to follow Sesily. We almost got it at the country estate, but it was a brief comment in the middle of a larger argument.

2. Women are central in this story. The four women that form the center of Hell’s Belles are all on a mission to deliver justice or aid to women when alternative options are limited, non-existent, or sub-optimal. And they have a network of friends and acquaintances who support each other and who understand the limitations that women face in Victorian society, but who also aren’t willing to take a back seat just because. The number one reason I would say to read this book is because Sesily stands for something and falls for nothing. Everyone in her life, whether they know what she’s up to or not, wants her to take the safe path, but doing something when the easier choice is to do nothing is how change happens, and it made me really excited for these Hell’s Belles who acknowledge the dangers in their world and then go forth and do good work anyway.

Romance: Please don’t revoke my Sarah MacLean fan club card, but I never got particularly invested in Sesily and Caleb. I would have happily read a book (or more than one) about the four women in Sesily’s extralegal justice crusade with no romance at all. (Okay, that might be a lie. I haven’t read a non-romance in a pretty long time except by accident.) Two things were in play for me here:
1. The romance started before the book started, so there was very little buildup of sexual tension. They’re very horny over each other all the time, and I just wasn’t there yet. I often enjoy a story with protagonists who already have some kind of relationship, so I think in this particular instance it was simply too much too soon.

2. We spend about 60% of the book with Sesily being like, “He feels NOTHING! NOTHING, I TELL YOU!” OR like, “Oh, he is SO into me. He can pretend all he likes. Pfft.” and Caleb being like, “Woe is me! I can’t have love because the deep, dark secrets from my past will haunt me forever!” So here’s me being like, “Pick a freaking lane, Sesily. Does he want you or not? I’m getting whiplash over here.” And also like, “OMFG, Caleb. Just. Nut up or shut up.” I am very unsympathetic to the emotional struggles of angsty characters, I know. But by the third round I wanted us to get on with the action!

Was this my favorite Sarah MacLean book ever? It was not, but it set up a narrative woman-centered series narrative that I’m really excited about.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I really enjoyed this book and it left me very excited to read more of this series. Sesily and Caleb were pure awesomeness!!These two deliver massive doses of swoon and feels as their story unfolds. Their chemistry creates generous sparks and there were delightful elements of sweetness and cuteness that served as the perfect accent to this wonderful romance. The writing was solid, the story entertaining and the whole premise behind this series intriguing. I will admit I had a few annoying pet peeves with this book but nothing insurmountable. I will say to those that need and are looking for a book that is historically accurate will probably not be satisfied this book because it very much what I like to call a modern historical.

Bombshell is an amazing read. It has absolutely everything I want in a historical romance, humor, heart, scandal, tension, and completely badass heroines. It's full of adventure, heartbreak, and pining. I honestly could not have loved it more.

Sesily Talbot has dedicated her life to secretly righting wrongs no matter the scandals it appears to bring or the danger involved. Caleb Calhoun has spent his life on the run, including keeping his distance from his best friend and business partner's sister. Trying to do the honorable thing and protect Sesliy from his own ghosts, avoidance is his best tactic. Fortunately for them both, that never seems to work.

This is such a fun book. I laughed, I got choked up a few times and vacillated between hating Caleb and loving him. I love the premise of a girl gang in victorian times that helps save other women from terrible circumstances despite the consequences. I also love that Sesily was not interested in having children. Sarah MacLean's writing flows beautifully, there's great banter and fantastic side characters. I can not wait to see where the other books go! Highly recommend!

Bombshell is probably not the book for anybody looking for a traditional historical romance. It's anachronistic and deeply idealistic in terms of the agency and freedoms it grants members of certain groups who were, in reality, not nearly as empowered in the 1830s as they are here. But it's so dang fun. Sesily Talbot, a walking scandal, is the perfect introduction to the Hell's Belles, a group of women brought together by the common goal of wanting men to pay for their injustices against women and society. I can't wait to read more about each of the other women in their own book in the series, but for now, I was more than happy to spend time with Sesily.

Then there's Caleb, a strong, generally silent American, who somehow has Sesily convinced that he's not completely head over heels for her. Their back and forth was electric, and the moments when they each start to give in to their attraction to each other was absolutely explosive. If you like a leading man who's absolutely bonkers for his leading lady from the first second we see him on the page, then this is absolutely the book for you.

3.5 stars, rounded up

As the second oldest and only unmarried daughter of the Earl of Wright, a wealthy coalminer who won a title from the Prince Regent in a game of cards, Lady Sesily Talbot is legendary in London. Besides being one of the “Soiled S’s”, she is gorgeous, rich, and reckless – living life on her own terms and in no rush to wed. Besides, American, Caleb Calhoun, the only man she has ever had any serious interest in has made it clear that he does not return her regard, in fact, he went as far as to flee England to prove his point! So what is a girl to do when she has no desire to marry, but way too much time on her hands? Why, join other like-minded women in delivering justice to those who are without the means or connections to do it for themselves of course! So Sesily puts her feelings for Caleb on the back burner and along with her friends, The Duchess of Trevescan, Lady Imogen Loveless, and Miss Adelaide Frampton form a group, styling themselves Hell’s Belles and set out to right wrongs and help those in need.

Caleb is far from uninterested in Sesily, but many things, including his friendship and business dealings with her sister, Seraphina, the Duchess of Haven, not to mention secrets that would ruin her and probably kill him, keep him from acting on feelings “Sexily” Talbot invokes. He has only returned to England at Sera’s request and doesn’t plan to involve himself with the tempting and forbidden Sesily, but when Sera askes him to watch out for her, he can’t say no. And when she finds trouble, he will do whatever is necessary to save her – even if it means exposing himself to the very secrets he has been hiding for years. Can these two find a way to escape Caleb’s past or is their love doomed?

This was a well-written story, but I found the pace to be a bit too slow for a good majority of the book. So slow that I started to skim, but towards the end, things picked up, and the book finishes with a “grand finale” of sorts. The book has likable characters, intrigue, secrets, wonderful secondary characters, wicked villains, explosions, dead bodies, steamy love scenes, and a HEA complete with an epilogue. I thought this book had great bones even if it had a somewhat “contemporary in period dress” feel, but the wordiness and filler scenes made it a bit of a chore to read. Overall, I am glad I read it and I will certainly be checking out the next book in the series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Sarah MacLean is definitely one of the top authors in Romance at the moment. She provides readers with smart heroes, smarter heroines, consent and a feminist philosophy.

After being a side character in several books, Sesily finally has her story which is full of fighting, knives, and yes, small bombshells. Sesily would absolutely fit into the modern world, and while MacLean's books are well researched, I do find myself being a little uncomfortable with how contemporary the book feels.

This book is a sexy, fun read that definitely leaves us wanting more of the Belles!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me an Advanced Readers Copy of the book.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFZkviAM8Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

💥 Bombshell by Sarah MacLean 💥

Sesily is seen as a reckless woman in 1830s London Society because she does not play the games of the aristocracy. She’s unashamed of being unmarried, older and wearing clothes to her liking (some unkindly call her Sexily). She finds her path once banded with a group of women who appear as misfits, but are truly masterminds in putting wealthy, powerful, abusive men in their place.

I guess I need to say something about the romance, ha! I just love the strong female premise so much, but the romance is just as good 😉Anyways… Sesily has been pining for Caleb, an American who is best friends with her sister and own a bar together. Every time she comes close to him he leaves to go back to Boston. Caleb also longs for Sesily, but can’t give in because something from his past is holding him back. However, after one kiss and witnessing a dangerous ploy that Sesily was behind, Caleb can’t stay away.

Things I loved:
👗 Strong female lead. Sesily knows who she is, what she wants and is not afraid be outside society norms. Don’t be fooled by the beautiful gowns she wears, she’s got trousers under there, and some hidden pockets.
💪🏼 Smash the patriarchy kind of women that literally throw a few facers 👊🏼 blow things up 💥and don’t need heroes
🔥 Passionate scenes
👩‍❤️‍👨 A “shoulder to shoulder” couple, even if it takes Caleb some time to realize he’s not going to be the one saving the day
👯‍♀️ love all of the Hell’s Belles and can’t wait to read their stories
📕 A beautiful cover and a wonderful historical romance. I had the NetGalley but wanted a physical copy… it’s just too good
✍️ Always love reading the author’s note. MacLean’s inspiration for the book is so interesting, and it’s cool to read how she researched or asked questions for the book.

Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooks for this ARC!

Have you read this? Let me know what you thought!

#sarahmaclean #bombshell #avonbooks #historicalromancenovel #romancecovers #smashthepatriarchy #hellsbelles #womenintrousers #avonromance #iloveromancebooks #strongfemalelead

Sarah did it again. When I started reading without even caring about the synopsis, what a GIFT to realize "wait, Sesily of the Soiled S's? CALEB FROM AMERICA?!?!" I love how seamlessly she ties together the MacLean Cinematic Universe while writing stories that totally stand on their own (but seriously, read all of Sarah's books to fully enjoy the experience). Sesily and Caleb were wonderful, unique, and fun characters to follow around and the absolute BADASS move of setting up at least two more couples in this first book.... *chef's kiss*

Bombshell blew me away! I can’t wait for the rest of the Hell’s Bells series. MacLean put together a book full of characters that I want to know more about and be best friends with. I mean who doesn’t need an Imogen or an Adelaide or a Duchess on their side? (For the record: if Duchess turns out to be trans, I called it! Please let a transwoman have a love story in a mainstream romance series.)

Sesily and Caleb fell in love years ago and while unrequited love, that’s actually requited isn’t my favorite trope, their chemistry was an unstoppable thrill ride. I couldn’t wait for them to get their hands all over each other and give into their feelings. The added bonus for this book is the 19th century #girlgang that are out to right the wrongs of the gentry and patriarchy. I am hooked. More Hell’s Bells for me please!

I LOVED this story! It was feminist af and delightful. This had adventure, bad ass women fight injustice, and found family.

Caleb & Sesily were wonderful together and separately, matched each others strengths in the best possible ways. Throughout the whole story I was on my toes about what would happen next. As always, MacLean weaved a wonderful and enchanting story with inspiring characters that kept me reading. I can't wait for the rest of this series.

WOW this one throws in secret knives, sassy sexy ladies, special bars, slow burn, and scandalous. The set up for the rest of this series was just pure amazing- I can not wait for it all! These ladies better get that HEA. Lady Sesily is just badass and we get more and more of it during this book. Caleb you will hate then love then love some more and then just yell at him as well.

This was a wonderful HR! I can't wait to go back and read more of her past books so I know about the side characters I know where in this one!

5 stars
4 steam

Sesily and Caleb, y'all. She is smart, gorgeous, accomplished (in all of the fun ways), and a true scandal. Her crush on her sister's bestie/business partner made so much sense to me, and his by-the-books stoic seriousness and protectiveness (whose love for our heroine is BECAUSE of how *much* she is) is my catnip. The first quarter is largely spent setting up the series, but it doesn't feel like a slog because Sesily and the Hell's Belle's are so dang fun. I can't WAIT for the rest of the series, and I loved seeing these two get together!

Some highlights:

"She turned to leave, to find her carriage and her way home, and console herself with wine and her cat and perhaps summon her friends to her side. They would come. Duchess would bring wine, and Adelaide would bring sympathy, and Imogen would bring fantasies of revenge." HOW FUN ARE THESE LADIES??

"Somehow it was worse than he'd expected. Because love might have reminded him that he should leave her. That he should keep her safe. But need...need made leaving her impossible. Because he needed, too. He ached with it. And he was hers, he always had been. From the moment he'd laid eyes on her. And what she needed, he would give her."

Anyway, read this book!

I thought for sure the scandalous Lady Sesily Talbot would end the Scandal and Scoundrel’s series with a bang. Sheesh, I was half right, but I should have known one series was too big to contain Lady Sesily and Caleb Calhoun. Instead Lady Sesily starts off the new Hell’s Belle’s series first book, Bombshell, with a bang. Not a literal one, it’s just that Sesily just about explodes a room with her outsized personality, and her joie de vive. I think the actual bangs will come later in the series.
Lady Sesily and I are good enough friends that I will dispose of the title and go with just Sesily. I am positive she would prefer it. Her father won the title of Earl in a card game with the Prince Regent. Since he was a coal magnate, the five Talbot sisters were known as the soiled sisters. Ha! This title beat these women down so badly that four of them married and became a duchess, marchioness, countess and wife of the wealthiest men in Britain.
Sesily just wants Caleb Calhoun, the wealthy American partnered with her sister, Seraphina, in owning a bar. In both Caleb’s and Sera’s eyes this makes Sesily off limits.
After Caleb scurried back to America after kissing Sesily, the Duchess of Trevescan invited Sesily to join her small group of women, the hell’s belles who are determined to help women trapped by abusive husbands or abusive employers. Class matters little to these four strong willed women.
As an aside, I want to say the prologue of the book was truly one of the most playful and delightful beginnings to a book I’ve read. Even with a heartbroken Sesily. Neat trick.
Two years after returning to America, Caleb returns and quickly stumbles onto the little group of friends. He worries the actions of these fierce and clever women will land them into deep trouble. Despite fearing close proximity to Sesily, Caleb tries to keep track of her.
The theme of strong feminism in Bombshell , set during the hopeful beginnings of Queen Victoria’s reign, is marvelous to read about. I hope there really were strong women during that time doing their best to help other women. Sadly history is written by the victor and the victors are always men.
Caleb holds his own secrets keeping him from Sesily, MacLean does a good job of hinting, but then making the secrets a total surprise.
This is Sesily’s and Caleb’s story to be sure, but the rest of the Hell’s Belles are so delightful and intriguing that the next books will be hotly anticipated.
Speaking of hot…three words, Caleb and Sesily.
I had a major problem with Bombshell . Sarah MacLean carried the wink and nod cuteness of her anachronisms a star too far in Bombshell . “Lean into it”? Referencing Casablanca in an obvious way? There were more.
MacLean is the author of three of my top ten favorite HR series and three of my top ten individual books. I am anxious to see where the Hell’s Belles land.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for review purpose.

I am a huge fan of Sarah MacLean. This story did not disappoint. Sesily and Caleb's story is written so well you can't help but be drawn in to their tale of longing and intrigue. The supporting characters are an integral part of the story and bring such vibrancy to an already wonderful story. I cannot wait for Imogen's tale, she is my favorite part of the book! I will be desperately waiting for the next book in the series!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"Love is nonsense, and you are going to need your girls with you to survive whatever it brings next."

So I have to admit to some foolishness on my part. I picked this up, delighted with the "first in a new series!" advertisement, not understanding it was actually "first in a new spinoff series, deeply embedded in an established world of characters with long, intertwined backstories" so my bad on that front. I wasted a lot of time in the beginning perplexed by shorthand reminders of characters and situations that were all completely new to me. I just figured other lovely fools like myself could use a warning on that front.

But let's get down to the fun of this book. I liked the set-up for the series, which is a team of women using information, craftiness, and occasional explosions to curb men who use their power to harm others. Sesily is this gender-bent rake/vigilante, which brought me great delight. Her wit is SHARP, and I found myself highlighting several one-liners on the off-chance it inspires me to be faster (and cleverer) on the uptake, myself. Sesily's wit, flirtatious nature, and penchant for scandal obviously lent itself to superior banter, as well. My favorite humor was the self-aware jokes that make nods to genre tropes and old standbys. I appreciated that Sesily broke so many barriers, not only through her boldness but also her lack of desire for children (only #1 cool aunt status). There's also something extremely satisfying about a thirty, flirty, and thriving historical heroine rather than a teenage ingenue just loose on the world.

Then we have Caleb. He's an overly dominant, protective alpha man for my tastes. There are no red flags in terms of unbalanced power dynamic or consent issues. In this case, it's merely a case of personal taste. In the last quarter, I did appreciate learning his backstory, but an intriguing background does not a compelling personality make.

This is a romance where I far preferred one lead over another, and I thought the sexual tension was much stronger than the emotional journey. For those reasons, I enjoyed my introduction to this series and to the author in general, but it wasn't my favorite. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the girl gang find their own love stories.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out now!

Another outstanding book by Sarah MacLean! Such a great start to the Hells Bells series. Makes me want my own girl gang. I highly recommend!

A brilliantly badass start to Sarah MacLean's HELL'S BELLES Victorian romance adventure series. The sexually-charged banter between feminist vigilante spy Sesily and American tavern owner Caleb is clever and finely honed. And, the sisterly relationship between Sesily and her fellow Hell's Belles is pure magic.

Sarah MacLean writes amazing historicals - swoon-worthy romance and smart, funny, fiercely independent women who aren't afraid to kick a little a**. Bombshell is so much fun to read - I had a hard time putting it down. I don't think you'll find another historical with a happily unmarried, definitely not spinster-like wealthy 30-year old female mc. A lot of readers will be talking about this book! Will be an add to our library for sure.

Thank you for the ARC book. Very steamy awesome read! Great characters and a story that is very engaging. Loved the feminist protagonist!!!