Always a joy to read MacLean books and this was no exception. Lots of fun mischief and playful fighting between the two MCs. This was actully spicier and more graphic than most historical romances. Great story and plot! Would love to read more Hell's Bellea stories!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book and the series. I recommend Sarah MacLean to anyone and this book had me invested from page one. Adelaide and Clayborn may be my new favorites from this series...I'll just have to do a re-read of all of them to confirm.

If you haven't started this series yet, definitely fix that and quickly. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and truly anything else MacLean wants to publish.

This is an interesting romance. The heroine is different than your typical heroine. I loved the banter between the two characters. However, the pacing of the book was a little strange. The book started out fast paced, but about halfway in it started to drag. In the end I liked Clayborn more than Adelaide. If you're a fan of McClean writing, you should love this book!

I really enjoyed Heartbreaker by Sarah Maclean. Heartbreaker is the 2nd book in her Hell's Belle's series, following Adelaide and Clayborn's love story. I enjoyed the angst and chase, I tend to lose interest when the characters fall for each other but Heartbreaker kept my interest the entire time. I really loved Adelaide and Clayborn's banter. Clayborn was a favorite for sure. Looking forward to book 3!

Rating: 4.5/5*

Adelaide is the Princess of Thieves turned Mayfair wallflower; she’s made a career out of going unnoticed—until Henry, duke of Clayborn.

This book is everything I could’ve hoped for in a historical romance! Heartbreaker is my first Sarah MacLean book, and I can absolutely see why she comes so highly recommended within the genre. There’s steam and intrigue, adventure and romance, with fun characters, a strong heroine, and a dreamy hero. Honestly, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this book.

Something I really loved was the way the author twists some of the standard HR tropes. Henry is protective and possessive, a knight in shining armor, without it ever compromising Addie’s own strength. She’s someone who can take care of herself, and Henry recognizes this even if he pushes back against it. It’s not a story about Addie learning to let someone else protect her, but a story about her realizing she doesn’t have to face the world alone.

This would be a solid five stars, if it weren’t for some parts towards the middle and start of the third act that felt a bit slow and repetitive. Regardless, I definitely highly recommend this for anyone who likes the historical romance genre or wants to get into it, and I will absolutely be reading more Sarah MacLean!

Too long...I liked the characters and love a road trip trope, but some scenes needed to be cut by a couple of pages to avoid repetition and convoluted emoting that felt too dramatic for the level headed hero and heroine. Maybe I would have enjoyed the audio more.

I've received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon. Thank you Netgalley and Avon.

So full disclosure I didn't read the first book but I had to go back and read it after reading this book.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Adelaide is not your typical debutante she was admitted into society and has no true notion of getting married or swept away. Adelaide has a secret and she is good at getting material to hold the bad men of London accountable for their actions. Working with a band of women, Adelaide works on saving the women of London from bad fates.

This is a story I recommend any Julia Quinn reader. You will love this story.


A story filled with mystery, adventure, swoon worthy love

Adelaide Frampton is many things - a cutpurse, a stealer of secrets, a society darling, a princess of thieves, a Hell's Belle - but she certainly isn't the type to go kissing men along the Thames as she tries to outrun her father's henchmen. And she certainly isn't the type to enjoy said kiss and lose her heart to a man who should make her blood boil in anger and not...whatever it is that she is feeling.

Henry, Duke of Clayborn is an upstanding member of Parliament. An upstanding man within a corrupt House of Lords who is fighting to make the world a better place. He certainly isn't the type to risk scandal by falling for the impetuous, infuriating, and utterly beguiling Ms Frampton...or is he?

Hearbreaker, the second in the Hell's Belles series, is yet more proof that we should all bow at Sarah MacLean's feet. Maclean writes strong women who buck the societal system from within and I cannot get enough of it! The characters are well thought out, each one bringing a unique personality and history to the mix. The chemistry between the leads is electrifying and the sexy times are *chef's kiss* perfection!

Sarah MacLean does it again. I still don't know how I feel about this new series, having Bareknuckle Bastards being my favorite, I was excited to see MacLean go down a more "edger" path with her characters. Heartbreaker was good, a little meh at some points but overall I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the rest of the girls!

THE HEROINE
Adelaide Frampton was born in the East End London and raised by her father, the King of the Bully Boys. She was raised to pick pocket and that she was simply a monetary commodity to her fathers empire. When she is forced to marry a horrible man to forge an alliance with another gang, chaos breaks out and she is saved by the Duchess and brought into the Hell's Belles.


THE HERO
Henry, Duke of Clayborn is an upstanding Duke and a outspoken advocate for those without a voice, mainly women and children. But he has a secret that he will take to the grave and which forces him to live alone, never to marry, so he does everything he can to ensure his younger brothers future and him producing the next heir to the dukedom.

THE PLOT

Henry and Addie have been watching each other across ballrooms in Mayfair for years before their paths cross while stealing from Addies father. Thus ensues a chaotic race and a connection they never expected. I really don’t want to say much more about the plot or even the characters because this is the type of story that has so many twists and turns. To say something maybe saying to much!

But, READ THIS BOOK! I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series, but, good heavens, this one is even better! I drowned myself in their story and finished it in less than 24 hours! I just couldn’t put it down! I think I like the plot where the heroine doesn’t need protection, in fact insists on it, but the hero refuses to NOT protect her! That forced tug of war and the heroine finally allowing someone to take care of her (usually for the first time ever), is pure magic!

TROPES
Dresses as Male Heroine, independent heroine, knife wielding heroine, Class Difference, Gamma Hero, titled hero, pugilist/fighter hero, Cinderella trope, enemies to lovers. East End London, damaged/tortured hero, damaged/tortured heroine, experienced heroine, unworthy heroine, aggressive heroine, criminal heroine, Five Star, Three Flame

I'd read this one last month and I loved it so much!❣️ I've always loved her HR books so it wasn't a surprise that I enjoyed this one as well, but I did end up loving Henry more than I thought I would(idk why I thought he was going to be a bit boring, but he was anything but that lol😂).⁣
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Adelaide might be invisible in the eyes of the ton, but she hides many secrets beneath her plain facade. She's a thief, the Matchbreaker and a part of the Hell's Belles😆. Unexpectedly, Henry - the Duke of Clayborn, has always noticed her and a run-in while she steals certain things has him discovering her other abilities too, just as she takes away a box that belongs to him. 🤣⁣
It doesn't stop there. Adelaide as the Matchbreaker is hired to investigate Henry's brother who ends up eloping with Lady Helene. And they need to track them to ensure their safety - though, Adelaide has her own reasons for doing this. So, it makes for a fun road trip romance as these two also try to unravel each other's secrets!⁣
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I loved how these two were so into each other from the start! And mixed in with the banter and games as they tried to figure out each other's secrets - it was really good! Adelaide was so talented and strong while Henry has so much more to him, though he might appear stuffy from the outside. He saw her for who she is and is head over heels for her. And don't get me started on the steam 🔥 Some of the best! 'Good girl' was all that I needed 😇⁣
The camaraderie between Adelaide and her group of friends was amazing(reminded me of the Bareknuckle Bastards!). The next one is going to be Imogen's story which I'm so excited for! At the same time, I'm very very curious about the Duchess. I have a feeling there's a huge backstory there. 😆⁣

*I was provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love love love Sarah MacLean. This series takes place away from London society which I like. The story is inventive and took turns I didn't expect. I felt invested in the characters' relationship. The adventure doesn't take a backset when the romance develops. I can't wait for book three.

Nobody writes bold women like Sarah MacLean, and Adelaide is no acception. If you're looking for developed, interesting characters that have a real story to tell, you must pick up this Book. Adelaide and Henry both have their own secrets their pasts catch up with them in ways that entangle their present. The question is, do they want to keep it that way.

HEARTBREAKER is the second in the Hell's Belle's series by Sarah MacLean. The story managed to be sweet and tender while also injecting some action. The banter and chemistry between Henry and Adelaide was spot on, and overall this was just such a lovely story. It also gave us a peek at the next book and I can tell that Imogen is going to be such a fun heroine.

One small pet-peeve I have (which did not impact my overall enjoyment or rating) is that the heroine is frequently described as having spectacles, yet the cover model is shown without glasses.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

I loved the 2nd story in the series. Adelaide Frampton and Henry Duke of Clayborn meet in circumstances that soon put them in danger. As they are riding across England, trying to stop a wedding, they court danger and fall in love. I love this series, so many romances want the heroine to need saving by the hero, but not this one they save each other. Also, their love story is very believable and relevant. Not farfetched at all. I cannot wait for the next book. Make sure to read the first of this series, Bombshell. You can read this as a stand along novel, but it is so much better to read all the books in a series. Sarah Maclean has a real talent and is a very talented Historical Romance novelist and you will never go wrong with any of her books.

I was so excited to read this book, especially after loving Bombshell, and I ended up really enjoying it. I loved Clayborn and Adelaide. They were so cute together and will forever be in my heart. Clayborn was so romantic and I loved how he noticed Adelaide even though she thought she wouldn't be noticed.

This book continues with the Hell's Belles crew, and while I wasn't expecting this one to be Adelaide's character, I'm so glad that I got to know her more. Although I wish I would have been able to see Caleb in this one, I was very happy reading this book and enjoyed it so much.

Overall, this was a great historical romance read with adventure. I loved how Adelaide came from a not so great family and was/is a thief, while the Duke of Clayborn had a secret of his own. This book reminded me so much of How to Con a Gentleman by Sarah Adams (closed-door), and I loved all the similarities. I can honestly say that you will not be disappointed reading this book if you are a historical fiction romance lover!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

One day I randomly picked up a Sarah Maclean book and couldn’t put it down. I had read the whole series within a few weeks and once I saw this book I knew I needed to read it and I am so glad I did. I absolutely loved this story. I also like that all of her books happen in the same universe so if you’ve read her others you really feel like you know the towns she’s talking about. I’m also obsessed with the Duke just the way he talks about Adelaide can make any woman putty. Also the smut in her novels is amazing for what some would call a bodice ripper.

This was such an awesome read! Sarah MacLean is masterful and I usually find that the second books in her series stand out to me the most. This was no different! I loved Adelaide, Henry, and the whole cast of Hell's Belles.

This was a fun, swoon-worthy read! I enjoy Sarah MacLean's plotting and character development, and her banter is always delightful. I enjoyed the competitive spirit between the two main characters in this one. It's sure to satisfy historical romance fans.

OMG I loved this book! It had the signature MacLean flare. It had many of my favorite tropes like one-bed, road trip, and "enemies" to lovers. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!