This story was full of just the right amount of mystery, second chances at love, yearning, and vacationing at Monte Carlo!

Lady Georgiana Arlington, a widowed viscountess who inherited and is reforming factories for better worker wages and conditions, is drawing a lot of attention in a BAD way. She's receiving threats towards her person and her family is worried. Her brother hires Captain Henry Harris to help protect her and investigates the threats. Unfortunately, Georgiana and her Captain have a history- wherein he thinks she loved another and she's convinced he's a fortune hunter.

I loved the elements of factory reform without getting into the gritty details of it, and both Georgiana's and Henry's journeys to forgiving themselves and each other was so touching, especially as they came to rely on each other. I absolutely loved this and will continue reading Emily Sullivan novels, as I loved the writing style.

I’m a marketing and publicity intern at Forever Publishing, so I am reading this for work. May post full review later.

Loved this story of second chance at love. In their youth Henry and Georgiana were kept apart by snobby family, lies, and misunderstood overheard conversations. When they are reconnected years later by meddling family, the author really takes the time to show how the mistrust is slowly mended step by step. In the end their HEA is well-earned.


Read this as NetGalley ARC.

I LOVE a strong female main character and this book gave me all of that and more! It's especially gratifying when the story takes place in the regency sort of era, with its aristocracy, balls, and grand romantic gestures. Lady Georgiana was the female MC of my dreams with her views on equality. Did I mention that when a woman fights for her rights and the rights of other women in this sort of backwards time, that I find extra enjoyment? I do and I love it when these women find men who treat them as equals. Georgiana and Henry were perfection in this.

Regency Romance 2nd chance at love book. I read this author before and couldn’t get into this book. They fell in love and misunderstanding tore them apart. Fate brings them back together. Henry is hired to protect Georgiana. I did like the interaction between Henry and Georgie. It was a good HEA. While it tied up loose ends, I felt it needed a little more. It is 2nd book in the series of Rebel and the Rake. I have not read the 1st in the series but this book can be read as a standalone. I will look forward to reading next in series as I go back and read the 1st in this series.

**I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Very generous three stars.

I like quick paced books. Books you can’t put down, gobble up in a couple days, and go on with your happy life. I don’t like books that take forever and I find myself constantly checking my percentage to see how much is left and will I everrrrr finish?! This book seriously felt like it would never end.

Georgiana and Henry were in love before but because of a big misunderstanding and miscommunication, didn’t end up together eight years ago. But now there’s a threat against Georgiana and Henry is the only man (obvs) who can protect her and find the threat!! Will these two be able to figure out their true feelings?!

This is probably on me, but I couldn’t stand Georgiana. I’m at this place in my reading life where I’m absolutely sick of perfect heroines. An editor told me once that it was important for heroines to do things for the greater good and not just be absorbed in wealth, marriage, etc etc etccccc. And I remember thinking…wait why not? I get that historical times were crazy and the poor were treated like garbage and working conditions were crazy, but I also don’t feel like it’s entirely necessary to have heroines/heroes who are out here trying to rescue the historical world with their modern day theology and processes shoved into their plot lines. It’s just very tired to me. So when Georgiana inherits factories and is making all these changes to benefit her female employees with PTO and better working conditions and healthcare and it’s upsetting all of the male counterparts…idk, it annoyed me 🤣 Like of couurrrrrsssseeeeee she can’t just be a businesswoman, she has to be the perfect businesswoman. She was just too dang noble for me. All of her back and forth with Henry wasn’t really doing it for me either.

And Henry.

Ohhhhh Captain Henry who I’ve already completely forgotten.

He’s not much of a notable hero here besides his use of a cane. I don’t remember him saying anything remarkable or romantic. Or really ever doing anything like that.

Really underwhelmed with this one since I liked the others from this author so much. It was like the slow start of Rafe’s book that just never ended.

This books was gifted to me by the publisher, review is my own.

I enjoyed this second chance romance between Georgiana and Henry (though OMG calling him "Captain Harris" really reminded me way too much of the Police Academy character ;) ) who had fallen in love during her season but were separated by meddling relatives and miscommunication. Eight years later Georgiana is widowed and a business owner and Henry has his own private investigation service. Georgiana has some threats against her and her brother hires Henry to watch over her. Though it took them quite awhile to get to the "I've always loved you" stage, the book was entertaining and I really enjoyed the two of them.

This is my first book by Ms Sullivan and I guarantee it won't be my last. This is the third installment of the League of Scoundrels series and I just loved it! You can be sure I will be picking up the first two books in the series that I missed.
Eight years ago, Georgiana didn't follow her heart and listened to lies, and rejected the man she loved and married out of duty instead. Henry regrets his mistake of letting Georgiana go all those years ago. Now widowed, Georgiana is responsible for her late husband's factories and in the process of buying a new one, she is being threatened not to sign the contracts. Henry is hired by her brother to investigate the threats. Both Georgiana and Henry have had to deal with difficulties and are both extremely private people. But as they work to figure out who is threatening her, they start to grow closer and open up to each other about the past. Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, this was a thoroughly charming story filled with intrigue and mystery and wonderfully delightful characters. I enjoyed the build-up of the romance between Captain Henry and Georgiana - they were so perfect together. Such a delightful and captivating story! This is one series I fully intend to follow!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

In 1899, former navy captain Henry Harris is now a decorated and injured hero and private investigator. Years ago when he was a poor lieutenant, he was thrown over for a wealthy viscount by Georgiana Fox, and now her brother walks into his office and says that her reforming business ways have led to threats against her from her rivals.

Lady Georgiana Arlington is furious when she learns Henry intends to take the case. Georgiana is aggressive and dismissive of Henry when she accosts him. She’s determined to improve the lives of the women working in the factories she inherited from her husband and doesn’t need anyone following her around. She married a a wealthy man she didn’t love to pay her father’s debts and is relieved her husband is now dead.

This is third in a series and several previous characters are mentioned, but I wouldn’t say you have to read the others first. I knew this was a second chance romance, but if the “he thinks she threw him over for money” misunderstanding lasted the whole book, I was going to throw it against the wall. They didn’t discuss the original misunderstanding until after a flimsy third act break up and a weak tie up to the threats against Georgiana.

I connected more with Henry’s feelings than Georgiana’s. He seemed to still feel a genuine affection while for a long time Georgiana only wanted to antagonize him and was attracted to him. I was bothered by the way their misunderstanding was broached, by other’s reveals rather than by them deciding to be honest. The pacing is good and it kept my interest, I just struggled to connect with these two and understand their motivations, especially for not talking sooner.

Lady Georgiana Arlington married quite young to Lord Arlington and now that he has passed she has elected to focus on her business ventures. One of those focuses is ensuring that workers get fair wages and are treated well. This does not go over well amongst the other business owners and she finds herself getting threats. Her brother takes it upon himself to hire a private investigator to find the person threatening her only it creates a wild adventure.

Captain Henry Harris a local war hero and current PI is hired to watch over Lady Georgiana and to investigate the threats against her. Though it may be the most difficult job he has taken in a while he elects to take it after Lady Georgians suggests he wouldn't be able/interested.

Through a plethora of mini adventures we learn a lot about both characters, about their history and about the individual threatening Lady Georgie. We also learn about the future of both characters and some of their family and friends. Trust me it's an adventure worth taking!

Emily Sullivan has written another fun, funny, romantic and adventurous novel that is female forward. Its also a novel that you don't want to put down, and I didn't! This story was even better than the last!

I was so excited to read The Hellion and the Hero, especially after meeting the characters in The Rebel and the Rake. Georgiana and Henry have a history, and I was eager to find out what happened between them to tear them apart.

Lady Georgiana Darlington, a widow for nearly two years, has established herself as a respectable and progressive business owner who is more concerned about fair working conditions than her own profit. She has become so successful that she has the opportunity to expand her business venture, much to the dismay of her male competitors. When her life is threatened, Georgiana’s older brother hires Captain Henry Harris, a military hero-turned-private investigator, to protect Georgiana and get to the bottom of the threats. Georgiana and Henry haven’t seen each other in years, and after unknowingly breaking each other’s hearts, they are reluctant to work together. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize that their old feelings are not entirely gone. Can this pair have a second chance at love?

Georgiana spent many unhappy years in a marriage she did not want. Now free from her domineering and much older husband, Georgiana is happy, independent, and doing what she wants for a change. She is such a fantastic protagonist. Smart and compassionate, she makes it her mission to improve the working conditions in her business even when it’s to her own detriment. She is a proud and independent woman who has never forgotten her first love Henry and how he broke her heart so many years ago.

Henry is a serious and stern hero who has become a reputable private investigator. A war hero with a dark secret, Henry had his heart broken by Georgiana when he heard she was marrying someone else. However, he can’t turn down Georgiana’s brother’s offer, even though he will have to face his first love again. Henry’s story is tragic and complicated, and he carries a lot of grief and guilt in his heart.

The story also includes characters from the first two books, though you don’t have to read those to follow this story. That being said, I loved that Sylvia and Rafe have secondary roles in the story. They are such great characters, and I adored their romance in the last book. It was so wonderful to see how their relationship has flourished since the conclusion of their story. They show Henry and Georgiana in so many ways how wonderful their life could be if they just communicated and were honest with each other. However, it’s not that easy, as Henry and Georgiana have been hurt by each other before and are afraid to take that chance again.

Both Georgiana and Henry have secrets, and these, along with miscommunication, manipulative people in their lives, and social pressures, their romance was thwarted almost before it even began. However, as they slowly reconnect, the couple can’t deny the chemistry between them. I’m not always a fan of secrets and miscommunication, but Sullivan does it so well. Both characters have justifiable reasons for keeping things to themselves, and you can understand their reluctance. However, their banter and actions show just how much they care for each other. The sparks between the pair are fantastic, and their slow-building, angst-filled love story is pretty special.

The story also has a bit of intrigue, as Georgiana is the target of someone nefarious, and her life is threatened because of her progressive ideals. There are some interesting twists and a few intense moments as Henry and Georgiana try to figure out who is targeting her and try to avoid danger. The story also brings to light some of the harsher realities for women, the deplorable conditions of the working class, and the unwillingness of factory owners to provide better conditions for their employees. I like that the author sheds light on such interesting and relevant issues and highlights the need for social reform and justice.

I’m loving the League of Scoundrels series and Georgiana and Henry’s love story is a wonderful addition to it. I would definitely recommend the book to readers who like historical romances with a strong, independent heroine and a grumpy yet caring hero. Thanks so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

“He could not say with any certainty who had made the first move, or if they had both some together at exactly the same instant.”

Ever since Noah told Allie that he “wrote her every day for a year” & they had that smokin’ hot kiss in the rain, rip one another’s soaking wet clothes off scene in The Notebook, I have been a fan of second chance romance. I also think it can fall flat pretty quickly if the author doesn’t play their cards right…

Emily had all the cards, played them to perfection and still let us win with this book.

It has unfinished business, straight-laced uptight detective/bodyguard vibes combined with a no nonsense, progressive thinking heroine. There’s travel, political maneuvering and all the sparks and chemistry you could possibly want.

I haven’t read the previous books in the series but Emily’s clear writing style gave me just enough backstory without interrupting the flow of Georgiana & Henry’s story. I’m looking forward to going back and enjoying her other works.

Thank you to Emily Sullivan, Forever Publishing & NetGalley for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date for The Hellion and the Hero is August 23rd, 2022 & is available for pre-order from major retailers.

“He was wise enough to recognize that pleasure and happiness were fleeting gifts. Best to take them while on offer. And not think of what the future might hold.”

It is 1899 and Georgiana, Lady Arlington, has worked hard the past two years to reform the factories she inherited after the death of her much older husband to ensure fair working conditions and pay for her workers. So much so that she is looking to expand her business and buy more which is upsetting some of her male contemporaries.

Captain Henry Harris last saw Georgiana on the night she found out she was a widow. He courted her eight years earlier, but she was coerced by her family to marry a titled, wealthy man to provide for her siblings. Henry didn't know why she refused his suit, assuming she loved the older man she married, and he swore off relationships after theirs ended. He also became a war hero in their years apart. Now retired, he is a private investigator and her younger brother hires him without her knowledge to be her bodyguard.

There are ample twists and turns in this plot and it includes some of the best tropes in romance - forced proximity and second-chance. I hadn't read the previous book in the series, but I definitely will, as Emily Sullivan has become a one-click author for me after reading this book!

I just reviewed The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan. #TheHellionandtheHero #NetGalley

I have been waiting anxiously for The Hellion and the Hero, the third book in Emily Sullivan’s League of Scoundrels series ever since I encountered the main characters in her second book, The Rebel and the Rake.

This second-chance romance features Lady Georgiana Arlington, who spent years in an unhappy marriage. Since becoming a widow she has reinvented herself as a businesswoman, managing the firm left to her at her husband’s death. Her progressive views on wages and worker safety have made her a pariah among other business owners and when she is threatened, her brother hires a private detective to keep her safe. The bodyguard, Captain Henry Harris, also happens to be her first love.

Henry was wounded while doing undercover work for the British Army and is considered a hero. To Georgiana, he is the man who stole her heart during her debut only to be revealed as a fortune hunter who cared nothing for her as her father was in debt. Now, years later, the two discover that not only is their physical attraction as strong as it was when they first met, but that circumstances during that season were not what they seemed.

Sullivan is quickly making a name for herself as a fantastic historical romance author. Her characters are well-rounded and appealing, her plots are centered in the socio-economic realities of the time, she’s got a quick wit and writes terrific smart heroines – and the sex scenes are outstanding. The Hellion and the Hero is another five star addition to a truly original and entertaining series and I can’t wait to see what Sullivan comes up with next.

I loved this. Normally I don’t often enjoy novels where secrets play a big role in the plot, but as a fellow reader said, somehow Sullivan has managed to write three novels with people who are clearly falling in love but are hiding secrets and think they can’t be together, and made me love every one of them. Her writing is wonderful, characters are engaging, and she is poking some holes in some (though not all) of the problematic aspects of the power and control in the aristocracy. I read at the end that we should keep an eye out for the next book and I can’t wait. Even though this book technically isn’t even out yet.

I loved Henry and Georgiana. Both are such wonderful people at heart who have done and sacrificed so much for their families. They both deserve the second chance they have been given.

💗Book review 💗

I’ve really enjoyed both books by Emily Sullivan and was so excited to get an ARC for her upcoming release.

What you can expect:
🥺 Second chance romance with go getter heroine (widow) and a starchy war hero
🤓 Entrepreneur heroine
🤧 Protector hero (heroine’s brother hires him to investigate threats)
👀 Forced proximity
🎉 “If you’re looking for a one night stand, I volunteer for the job”
🥲 Sick care moment

For lovers of second chance historical romance!

I know many romance novels are built on misunderstandings between the two main characters, and when it's done well it can work, but most of the time, I just hate misunderstanding plots being the driving force of the action and The Hellion and the Hero is made almost entirely of misunderstandings.

Eight years ago, Georgie and Henry quickly fell for each other, only to be driven apart because of misunderstandings. Now, Georgie is a widow and Henry is a naval hero who is hired to protect Georgie while she deals with expanding her business in the face of threats from an unknown enemy (though very quickly in, you can deduce who the enemy is simply by how they are described).

It doesn't help that Henry is almost too forgiving of Georgie, while for so long in the book, Georgie seems to despise Henry for one comment made eight years ago. It's a little bit too much and the idea that they still are so obsessed with each other after eight years is hard to fully believe. I would have preferred more of a ramp up to them rediscovering feelings instead of them being consumed by lust every time they see each other for reasons unknown. It doesn't help that the letter threat plot line almost feels like a complete afterthought to the plot.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Their whole “thing” stemmed from a misunderstanding 8 years ago when she overheard him saying something that was obviously misconstrued. She didn’t ask him why he said those things and just flung herself at a cruel man she knew was revolting and that she shouldn’t marry. Obviously there’s more to that particular story but it was just an unbecoming introduction to the book and it never really recovered my good graces.

A large part of my problem stemmed from the pacing. By 60% I really didn’t know how I got there or what meaningful had happened. So much of the first part was focused on their annoying backstory that just wasn’t interesting or that becoming on either end. Maybe this is a second chance trope pitfall that was very exacerbated here… From the start I just didn’t really like the motivations of either character and while the sex gave a valiant effort, my good opinion once lost was lost forever.

✨

As for the sex, I really do like how the author has explored it over the course of the three books. She’s gotten progressively steamier and I really appreciate it. She writes sex well and it’s hot as shit. The main favs were the face-sitting, the carriage scene, and the bathtub scene.

✨

The threat on her life was there at the beginning and then the end but the book lost track of that plot line for the entire middle. And I didn’t like either MC enough for them to carry the plot in that space. Then by the end, I just didn’t care? There was not motivation for me to really care about the threats we barely spent any time on.

I also really dislike bodyguard tropes when 1. the guarded doesn’t take the threats seriously and endangers people and is reckless and 2. when the bodyguard is flat out bad at bodyguarding because he’s too horny or ashamed because someone made him feel bad at his job. It may have taken a while to get to #2 but we sure did get both scenarios here.

✨

Overall, the second half had more charm—romance wise—and I could’ve seen myself getting swept away if I hadn’t already had my opinion soured by the blah first half. By that point I just kinda wanted to finish the book and be done with it. As it was, I wasn’t invested in the cuteness and I wasn’t invested in them.

If you’re really into bodyguard tropes, maybe throw on the audiobook while you’re doing another task. It’s not a bad book—it was well written and the bones of something compelling were there—but it wasn’t captivating either and didn’t make me feel all light and bubbly or emo and romantic.

Emily Sullivan always cures my Bridgerton hangover and she did just that. This series is just fabulous and I wish that it got more buzz!!

As soon as I heard that this was inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion I was on board. Alas, this turned out to be just an okay read for me.

On paper, The Hellion and the Hero has all the right ingredients for a great angsty read: it's a second chance romance, the hero and the heroine met and fell for each other many years prior, and the book begins with them meeting again to investigate some threats that the female lead, Georgiana, has been receiving. Even beyond that, the fact that this is inspired by Persuasion--THE angsty second chance romance that started it all--tells you all that you need to know.

And yet, I just didn't feel like that angst was there. The Hellion and the Hero played out like a pretty run-of-the-mill romance; I didn't dislike anything about it per se, but I also wanted it to evoke more from me. As a romance, it just wasn't emotional enough. I wanted more from the characters: more drama, more development, more conflict. I love second chance romances so much exactly because they make such great setups for angsty, well-developed relationships--and that's why I was kind of disappointed by this one, in the end. It had all the parts of a really solid romance, but they just didn't come together in the story's execution.

All of this makes me sound quite critical of The Hellion and the Hero, but in all honesty I didn't dislike this book; it's certainly not bad in any way. At this point, I would mention some examples of things from the book that I enjoyed--thing is, The Hellion and the Hero just wasn't memorable enough for me to able to do that. There weren't any particular scenes or lines from it that really stood out to me. What I will say about it, then, is that it's a quick read, great if you want a historical romance set in a more unconventional time period (early 1900s London, but also Monte Carlo).

Altogether, I can't help but come away from The Hellion and the Hero feeling disappointed because I know that Emily Sullivan can write angst. I adored A Rogue to Remember, the first book in this series, precisely because it was so deliciously angsty. That being said, I'm definitely going to continue to read anything that Emily Sullivan releases in the future; her writing is really promising, and I'm hoping that I'm able to read another book of hers that makes me feel as much as A Rogue to Remember did.

Thanks so much to Forever for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley!