Cover Image: The Hellion and the Hero

The Hellion and the Hero

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Member Reviews

I have mixed feelings about this book.
When I heard this was inspired by Austen's Persuasion I was so intrigued and excited for the angst. I mean if you want mutual pining Persuasion is a great work to draw inspiration from.
Unfortunately this part of the book left me wanting. There was some angst/pining here but not nearly enough for this second chance romance. I wanted more tension and it just seemed like a lot was left unsaid between the two. This is a second chance romance. I want to feel the longing, the desire and I just didn't.
Despite a lack of angst and mutual pining, the sex scenes here are certainly steamy! I think they have great sexual chemistry. My favorite was the carriage ride.
I think the story had a rough start and took a long time to recover from that. The villain(s) win for too much of the book. The bodyguard aspect of the story kind of fell flat. He didn't seem like he took his duty seriously which just irked me, especially since the bodyguard trope is a favorite of mine.
Overall the steam is satisfactory but I wanted more from this story.

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This was another fantastic historical romance by Emily Sullivan! The characters were lovely, and I really enjoyed the story, too. And I love the cover, the pink is so pretty! Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

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The Hellion and the Hero has made me a Emily Sullivan fan and I CANNOT wait to dive into her backlist.

Lady Georgiana Arlington has always put her family first, especially once tasked with the job to take care of her sisters dowries once her parents passed away. After her late husband passed away, she received the factories that he owned and made her headstrong to fight for worker’s rights and treat everyone with compassion. Alas, this is not a favorable thing in the 1890’s and threats are quickly at the Lady’s back.

Captain Henry Harris has been hired to watch over Lady Arlington and discover where the threats are coming from. He has a past with Georgiana but is forced to put it aside for the money that has been offered. Yet, as they continue to spend time with one another, he constantly is fighting to dissuade the tensions. He’s the hellion. She’s the hero. Both are in for a wild ride.

The Hellion and the Hero is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, yet with a lot more sexual tension and lovemaking scenes. Emily Sullivan quickly allows the reader to get into both character mindsets through dual point of view and begging both to just kiss and be honest with one another already. While this is the third novel in the League of Scoundrels series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

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Second-chance romance is not our favorite trope. Somehow, though, the second-chance romance between a disillusioned naval officer cum spy and a widowed viscountess cum social reformer hit every single one of our buttons. Eight years after they met, Henry and Georgiana are thrown back together when someone threatens Georgiana's safety. Her brother hires Henry, now a private investigator, to keep her safe. Oh no, you mean these two hotties who DEFINITELY don't harbor lingering feelings have to be FORCED into PROXIMITY with each other?

On a slightly deeper note, we really love how Sullivan interrogates the social norms of the era while also giving us a sexy, angsty, wonderful love story. Seriously, when is Emily Sullivan going to write a book we don't like? (Hopefully never, please don't stop writing, Emily, we beg you!)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

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There’s nothing better than a second chance romance. Except maybe a ridiculously HOT second chance romance. Yowza! Seriously, spiciness off the charts. But I also appreciated the tempo at which the romance unfolded. Not exactly a slow burn, but the author did take her time building up trust again, which was necessary for these two characters to move forward. Also, Georgiana and Henry are both feminists, which I adore in 1899 London.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

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Now that we’re three books in, I think I can solidly say Emily Sullivan is a new favorite! I’ve been absolutely loving her League of Scoundrels series - every book has worked so well for me. The Hellion and the Hero, the third and latest in the series, is a lovely second chance romance about a widow trying to reclaim her life and advocate for worker’s rights and the former fortune hunter turned Naval Captain that has been hired to protect her. I adored Georgiana and Henry and thought their characters were really well developed and they had great chemistry throughout! I heartily recommend it, especially for historical fans of second chance and bodyguard romance. Look forward to more from the author!

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Another great installment in a fun historical romance series though it was not my favourite.

This is a second chance romance where the conflict was based on a misunderstanding almost until the very end. It did create some great angst but also was frustrating at times. The lack of communication and making assumption about the feelings of the other went on for too long and I wanted to shake the MCs and tell to talk to each other already.

I realise it is not that simple and being open and honest about one's feelings can be super hard. On top of that hero is broody and silent and heroine is too proud and independent. Still, love finds a way eventually.

There is a minor suspense plot serving to bring the MCs together. And highly enjoyable siblings and meddling friends. It was all cosy and nice but somehow lacking tension and enough conflict for me.

I want to make special note of the grumpy hero who sincerely admired the heroine for her professional success and risk-taking in her business endeavors. He found his true calling in the end as well and I was very happy for him.

Overall, the story had a a kind of airy, breezy quality, everything resolving quickly, things getting perfect for everyone.

It's a nice, solid romance with a bit of adventure (Monte Carlo and casinos), a bit of suspense, a lot of chemistry and secrets. I went expecting more drama and tension but if you are looking for a more low-key, happy-making historical romance that covers a broader slice of society than just the Ton, this would be perfect for you.

Content notes: disabled hero (knee injury), some violence, abduction and attempted murder

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I adore the name of the series—The League of Scoundrels. Give me a good scoundrel any day over a pure do gooder! Captain Henry is a keeper. Except the woman he wants he can’t have. Delayed desire with many misunderstandings between he and Georgiana.
Fate conspires to bring them back together. Georgie can hold her own as she proves in several scenes. One scene you’ll want to read several times is the carriage coitus interlude, lots of rocking going on.
I’m delving into Victorian historical fiction and it’s been well worth the read. Lots of intrigue, deception, realization, and chemistry.

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Sullivan’s League of Scoundrels series is full of just about everything you can want from historical romance – espionage, danger, swoony romance, and delightfully bold and feminist heroines. The third installment follows Georgiana, a recent widow who is receiving threats as she plans to expand her business empire, and Henry, a former naval officer who is hired by her brother to find out who is behind the threats. In true romance fashion, of course they have A History.

Second chance romance is not my favorite trope, but the first chance here was barely more than a passing infatuation between two young people, so I can let it slide. Eight years later, they’re both far better equipped to fall in love with each other, and I think that maturity lends a depth to their romance that wouldn’t have happened any earlier.

I really enjoyed this book, and I always love the characters that Sullivan creates. Still, I found it way too easy to forget that there was danger lurking. Until the last few chapters, that part of the plot felt a bit low-stakes compared to the previous novels in the series, and that sense of tension 100% could have been amped up.

Similarly, there were many allusions to Georgiana’s late husband being a terrible man, but very few examples. Not that I wanted to read about how horribly she’d been treated, but at a certain point, when Henry opens up to her about the secrets he’s been carrying, it felt like there was room for her to open up as well. To be clear, I don’t think anyone is obligated to tell anyone else about their past traumas, but Georgie tells other characters over the course of the novel. For the reader not to see that moment with Henry ending up feeling like something was missing.

Overall, though, a super fun read!

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I was so looking forward to Henry and Georgiana’s story since getting a glimpse from the previous book. I love enemies to lovers and wanted that in this book. Unfortunately, even though the book is well written, it is a bit boring. Nothing really happens. Not enough dialog and the mystery is just thrown at us. I love scarred heroes but I feel a little let down. If you like stories without a lot of angst and want a lot of descriptions, this is a book for you.

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This is the first novel in this series (and by this author) that I have read; thankfully, it stands on its own well enough that I had no trouble understanding the characters and their relationship to one another (as a couple from one of the prior books do make an appearance in this one).

I wanted to like this story a lot more than I did. And when I look over the list of why this one didn't work for me, I feel like I will be in the vast minority because there really isn't anything wrong with the story or the author's writing style.

This simply didn't work for me because of the characters. Now don't get me wrong, on their own Georgiana and Henry were interesting. I enjoyed how she used what limited power she held as a woman to improve the lives of others through her factory conditions. I enjoyed how she refused to be cowed by the people who would threaten her (both her safety and her plans to expand her business). Henry was also an interesting character in his own way; a wounded former spy with a secret nearly as crippling as his injury. But together? What a mess.

The worst part is that the entirety of what happened between them, both in the past and in the present, could have been avoided if they had only taken the time to talk to each other instead of either assuming the worst right off the bat, or simply refusing to talk about it at all. Instead, we get tons of internal dialogue where they mentally say all of the things they should be speaking out loud, then wonder why nothing about their situation changes. Or they constantly "hurt" the other because, again, there is a lot of assuming happening instead of speaking. It was tiresome at best.

I really wish that instead of them still being "in love" after eight years (during which I would assume they both grew into different versions of themselves), we would have seen them fall in love with the people they were now. The author tried to explore this, but instead, it came across as "Henry was wrong in thinking that she was shallow eight years ago," etc.

And for the love of God, please stop calling the poor man "Captain" or "The Captain." He has a name, for crying out loud, and had long been retired from the navy on top of it.

As I said before, I will likely be in the minority here, and that's okay. Not every book is made for every reader. So if this seems like a book you would still enjoy, I encourage you to browse some other reviews and take a chance.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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This was an entertaining story of two people who really just needed to communicate better... But isn't that most stories?

There were times I was glued to my Kindle with this one and then times that I was just so irritated with both main characters that I couldn't bring myself to read anymore.

Alas, I finished it. And all-in-all, there were some seriously wonderful romantic moments. However, they were, unfortunately, overshadowed by some of the more frustrating for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will be live, at the link given, on 8/23/33.

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This was a cute read, but it depends a lot on the miscommunication trope. A lot of the conflict could have been easily solved if people communicated with one another. I wish the spy/danger plotline had been a bit more thought out because it was the most interesting part of the book for me, but kind of came out of nowhere at the end.

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I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Finding herself widowed was the best thing that could ever happen to Lady Georgiana Arlington. She may have appeared to be the perfect, serene wife to society, but she was hiding the fact that her husband was abusive, and a bully. Reinventing herself as a shrewd businesswoman, she will never be beholden to a man again, and has progressive views on how to run her companies, which have left her with hidden enemies. After the threats come too close to ignore, she has to turn to Captain Henry Harris, a decorated naval hero, now working as a private investigator to protect her. Having to ask for help is bad enough, but when it's the only man she's ever loved, and had to forget in order to marry for money, all this does it stir up old feelings in the pair.

When we met Georgiana and Henry in The Rebel and the Rake, I knew there was a backstory between them, and hoped that the third book in the series would be there story. And Emily did not disappoint with this book. Whereas the pair seemed a little aloof before, we learn so much about them as individuals, and a couple, in The Hellion and the Hero that it makes up for everything. Georgiana is a secretive individual, but with good reason. She had her heart broken: first by Henry, and then by her evil husband, and she can't bring herself to open up old wounds, or talk about the past. Henry is the same too. He has secrets from his time in the military, and the heartbreak he felt over losing Georgiana soured him. It's not an easy start for them, especially as they are thrown together once the threat became too hard to handle at home. Yes, okay, they could have communicated better, and resolved a lot of the issues quicker, but that wouldn't have made for an enjoyable book. I thought everything in The Hellion and the Hero was great, and this has cemented my love for this author. I can't wait for Emily's next book!

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Impressive story of love and sacrifice

The romance of Henry and Georgiana is one of missed opportunities and horrible timing. Their family responsibilities are always at the forefront of their decisions, which at the beginning only serves to separate them further. Coupled with a mix of immaturity and miscommunication, it takes nearly eight years for them to find themselves in the right place for a second chance.

But this is so much more than a second-chance romance. Georgiana is determined to make a difference in the lives of her mostly female employees, but taking such a stand for reform has garnered her an assortment of threats from unknown enemies. Captain Henry Harris is hired by Georgiana's brother to not only investigate these threats, but also to act as a bodyguard for her until no threat remains. The action and suspense for this part of the story was exceedingly well-done.

Rafe and Sylvia (from book #2) play a significant role in this story, and I loved the interlude in Monte Carlo. Henry and Georgiana have a very charming and quiet HEA, just perfect for the two of them. Their love story was truly a melding of soulmates, and I loved reading every bit of it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

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This late victorian Persuasion retelling finds Captain Henry Harris tasked with assisting Lady Georgiana, his former love, in vanquishing a mysterious foe after the death of her husband. As the pair begin spending time together old feelings are brought back to the surface resulting in what was meant to be a brief affair but they can’t stay away from each other. The book takes the couple from London to Monte Carlo to Calais and back to London again.

I don’t usually like bodyguard romances, which this one technically is, but this one worked for me. I was more drawn to the Persuasion-esque aspects of the book and I am always a sucker for a second chance romance. I really liked both Georgiana and Henry and thought that they had great chemistry. I liked that this book was shorter than a lot of historical romances, this kept the book from getting lost in subplots and focused on our main characters. This is the third book in the League of Scoundrels series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC and Forever for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Forever and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy!

I read the previous two books in this series in preparation for The Hellion and the Hero and I'm really glad I did. There is some lead-up work, especially in the 2nd book of the series, that felt necessary to understanding the place the "Hellion" (FMC) finds herself in during this story, mostly a liberated woman with money and means and no one taking her seriously and just how the death of her husband (not a spoiler) affects the main characters.

I really loved this book, it was by far my favorite in the series so far. Georgiana is a great leading lady. I felt like she was written as hard and soft in all of the right ways and without being shrill or a pushover. And Henry, oh Henry, he comes off as just wonderful. Not perfect (well he's perfect for Georgiana), but a great "hero" who is just trying to figure out how to get over himself enough to love the person he's been in love with forever.

The plot is pretty straightforward and is fine. The side plot at the end involving Henry possibly having to go do more spying seemed like a last minute add-in, but otherwise, I loved that this was really just a great second chance romance that wasn't trying to do more than it needed and did everything well.

I look forward to reading more from Emily Sullivan, she's a great addition to historical romance!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Hellion And The Hero is a second-chance romance that will grab your attention and your heart. Henry and Georgiana were torn apart by misunderstanding and responsibilities. Eight years later, the couple is thrown back together; Henry and Georgiana are yet again at risk of a broken heart.

Both Henry and Georgiana had excellent character development. Through a series of flashbacks, we glimpse a young, naïve couple struggling to do what is expected rather than following their heart. The Henry and Georgiana of eight years later are entirely altered. Henry has become a decorated naval hero with a hardened heart. Georgiana has risen from the ashes of a terrible marriage, strong and independent. The couple had to evolve into wiser versions of themselves. Henry and Georgiana carried the burden of their family’s needs without consideration of their unhappiness. I loved the personal growth and maturity Henry and Georgiana gained through time and experience.

The plot was engaging, and I invested in the characters right away. The story of two battered hearts finding love after heartache was poignant and heart-warming. The Hellion And The Hero is the third book in the League Of Scoundrels series. Emily Sullivan has done a fantastic job creating a riveting storyline and profoundly passionate characters. The Hellion And The Hero is a lovely second chance romance that is passionate, enchanting, and emotional.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I absolutely LOVED this story. It's all the classics of a regency novel but with the added fierceness and independence that comes through Georgie's character. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy.

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Despite the slower, quieter pace of this love story - it was a very deeply emotional read. (Especially after Sylvia and Rafe’s flashiness!) Eight years ago - Georgiana and Henry were falling in love… and now Georgiana is recovering from a horrible marriage, Henry is recovering… from horrible things. When hired to protect her - Henry is both horrified and can’t stop himself from agreeing. Georgiana is working… all the time and is terrified that she doesn’t actually know what she wants out of her life…

I deeply loved these two. I honestly savored every line of this story and thought it was deeply beautiful. I totally get that people want a higher speed read - so this might not be for you! But this one is so lyrical and deeply heart wrenching when they are together against the world but not quite together yet.

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