User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
✨Sarah said ❤️praise❤️ and face sitting✨
I’ve been aware of this book for SO long. Seeing positive after positive review come in sets the bar very high. Having people tag me in “good girl” quotes? A great way for me to absolutely lose my mind. So when I was lucky enough to secure an eARC, I knew this was going to be A Moment. And many A Moments it was.
My favorite A Moments:- Excellent sick scene—this man woke up after being knocked out absolutely distraught because “BUT SHE’S THE ONE BLEEDING”
- His whole reason for not wanting to get married seemed very typical at the surface but LORD I was sobbing—I love how it deviated here
- When characters try to make terrible decisions and the other character is like shhhh stop shhhhh stop it that’s foolish I won’t let you let’s just love each other instead >>>
- PAGES worth of sex scenes
- “Good girl” employed TWICE in two different A Moments, one of which being A Moment: The Face Sitting Edition
✨
The best way I can describe this book is capital R
Romantic. It just felt very classic. Very “I intend to sweep you off your feet and take your breath away, while absolutely railing you into next Tuesday.” But a very romantic railing. The sex scene vocabulary consisted of “slow,” “deep,” “full,” “that’s it,” “take it,” “such a good girl.”
Clayborn is the literary equivalent of rolled-up sleeves and a proper Mayfair accent doing very dirty things with very intense eye contact. - Also when my ears get ahold of Mary Jane Wells providing his “hmms” I will need many A Moments for myself. *heavy breathing*
✨
Heartbreaker is definitely a character driven book and they each hold their own. If you’re not a fan of seriously solid, good, dependable heroes who are absolutely gone from page one, then I wouldn’t read this… but the man crashes a carriage because he saw her hair so I would also just read it anyways.
The story itself took a bit for me to get invested in, but once the two were together, everything made sense. There wasn’t really a breakup and it turned out to be so heartfelt between the two. I’m greedy and think one final sex scene (even brief) would’ve rounded out the ending perfectly. They were still having sex but it was summed up and left me a little bereft.
I do think you should read book one first, as there’s a scene between Clayborn and Adelaide that really sets the tone for their dynamic. My kingdom for a cold and emotionally reserved hero who loses his mind for the sharp-tongued and totally disinterested heroine. My favorite part was how the fiercely independent Adelaide allowed Clayborn to take care of her (cue the Praise). Their relationship also felt very balanced and equal. Adelaide wasn’t afraid to give it all right back to Clayborn. Am I talking about oral sex? Of course I’m talking about oral sex.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Thanks to the publisher (and publicist!) for my eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: really liked it
This one's a heartbreaker all right.
Sarah MacLean is one of my all-time favorites. I wasn't wild about
Bombshell, but I figured that was a fluke. There was still plenty to like about the book, and besides, I've read plenty of great romance series where the first book was a little iffy.
This was not a little iffy. This was rough. And it's looking like the whole Hell's Belles series is gonna be this way.
The Hell's Belles series follows an early Victorian girl gang of talented, scandalous women on the fringes of good society. None of them are looking for marriage, but it seems all four will need to squeeze in a romance somewhere in their busy schedule of... sabotaging the patriarchy? Or something? They have a whole system set up for taking down aristocrats abusing their power and protecting women caught in the crossfire. It involves disguises and seductions and explosions and heists and a vast network of spies. The operation is complex and extensive but we don't hear very much about the details. I honestly have no idea how this thing works. I think it's like the Baby-Sitter's Club, but instead of babies it's terrible men and instead of sitting it's orchestrating arrest. Their goals? Unclear. Their methods? Batshit insane. Their wardrobes? Fabulous.
Look, the execution is messy, but I love the idea of this set-up. So fun! This is a logical progression from MacLean's previous books, and it takes advantage of the passage of time. In the Sarah MacLean expanded universe (TM), the start of this series coincides with the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign. Things are feeling unstable in London--nobody knows if Victoria is gonna stick, and nobody is sure what having a reigning queen will mean for women. Some feel excited and emboldened, but the backlash has been immediate and violent. This is a great backdrop for romance! Characters are being forced to confront their expectations about gender roles and class distinction. Plus, we get to have heroines running amok, leading double lives in steampunk outfits.
Some reviewers that didn't like
Bombshell simply don't want this setting, and generally don't like the way MacLean's books have been spending less time in ballrooms and more time in various dens of sin.
(Side note: a number of reviewers were bent out of shape that the heroine was not a virgin, which is deeply embarrassing. Go home. I'm embarrassed for you.) This isn't my issue at all.
Is the Hell's Belles set-up a little much? Perhaps... too much? Sure! But the Bareknuckle Bastards series was also "too much," and I adored it. The over-the-top details (all the heroes were born the same day? really?) perfectly cued me, as a reader, to expect higher drama. The writing style matched the content. Characters' tragic backstories were given a poetic treatment. Their tales felt mythological. I felt free to indulge in sweeping, shameless angst. All that drama and danger was ultimately in the service of the romance. The stakes were higher, but so was the intensity of the relationship. Always, the focus was on the characters. I was immersed in their relationships every step of the way, because these were books about feelings, dangit.
Heartbreaker isn't a book about feelings. It fulfills the requirements of being a romance novel in a perfunctory, disinterested way. What do these characters love about each other? I have no idea. The book doesn't care. I know that they are
impressed with each other. I suppose they're attracted to each other, but only in the vaguest way. I couldn't name anything in particular that one finds attractive about the other. I certainly couldn't explain when or how they came to fall in love.
Come to think of it, I couldn't tell you much about the characters as separate individuals either. Each presents a public face to society that hides their true histories, but there's no emotional tension associated with living a lie. We barely see them in their normal lives.
The hero, Henry, is supposedly a serious stuffy Duke with a hidden gooey center, but his center isn't actually that hidden. His feelings are on his sleeve. He campaigns for labor reform in Parliament and doesn't actually seem that committed to propriety. Why is he so passionate about child labor specifically? No reason! Will his relationship with Adelaide endanger his political goals? Doesn't matter! What will it take for him to overcome his Secret Pain From His Past? Nothing, he's already past it!
Our heroine, Adelaide, has like three different alter egos, each of which individually sounds like the makings of a fun heroine, but we barely see them in use. I have zero sense of what her everyday life is like. What are her goals? What is she missing in her life? Who cares, she's too busy being a badass to have a coherent inner world.
Adelaide and Henry even know each other from society events--they even once had a public confrontation--but none of this is seen on-page, even in flashbacks!
There isn't really space in the book for this relationship to develop. Heartbreaker is mostly action. There's no time to get to know Henry as a person--we need to see him throw another punch. The couple has no reason to be in love, but perhaps another sequence of danger will simulate authentic feelings. Again, chases and kidnappings and such can be a great catalyst for romance... but you need to get around to the romance at some point.
If this story were a girl band music video, I would love it. I'm picturing something in the vein of Taylor Swift's Bad Blood-- women in fabulous corsets breaking and entering, punching bad guys, creating explosions. But on the page, it's just silly. The many fight scenes felt forced and shallow, with no real sense of danger and no reason to care.
The cover copy pitches Hell's Belles as "unapologetically feminist," and Sarah MacLean seems desperate to prove it. I want to know who told her that her previous books
weren't feminist. They were! And they were also
romances. Who told MacLean that these characters had to be stripped of flaws, nuance, and emotion in order to be empowering? What is this Strong Female Character (TM) doing in 2022?
Thank you, Avon, for the arc copy, which I was so excited to receive! No thanks for the broken heart.
Rating: really liked it
I finished Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean last night and all I can say is it soothed my soul and is the most romantic romance she's ever written.
And the way the banter is between Clayborn and Adelaide?? The Mary Jane Wells narration is going to light your pants on fire.
I highlighted so many swoony passages and I'll restrain myself until closer to pub date to share my favorite parts.
What I liked best was how close this was, especially for a MacLean romance. We are in one room with the couple a whole lot of the story and I ADORED THAT so much. As I mentioned, THE ROMANCE is real here.
thank you to Avon for the early copy.
Updated for review of audiobook narrated by Mary Jane Wells; this narrator + story combo is a match made heaven. This story is simply full of romantic and sexy dialogue, and there's no better narrator for the task than Wells. All the stars, cannot recommend enough. See full audio review in Library Journal soon!
Rating: really liked it
6/5 stars, absolute perfection in every way. I am a huge fan of Sarah MacLean and even still I was amazed at how much this exceeded my expectations. The chemistry and tension between Addie and the Duke was out of this world, next level. The SWOON FACTOR?! 11/10. This is one of her most romantic for sure. I can not get over how this hero WORSHIPPED the heroine.
Only one bed, frenemies to lovers, a fantastic caretaking scene, and intimacy that shows a tentative trust that feels fragile but also bravely extended.
I adored this with my whole heart and soul.
I received an ARC for review.
Rating: really liked it
↠ 4.5 stars Heartbreaker marks the return of The Hell's Belles, caught up in a dangerous plot involving an eloping couple, and the vengeful family left behind. Matchbreaker Adelaide Frampton is on the hunt, and armed with the indifferent Duke of Clayborn, will embark on a cross-country chase entangled with highwaymen, inns, and the treacherous secrets of her past. Although it took me several chapters to fully immerse myself in this, Heartbreaker is an excellent follow-up to Bombshell, the first book in the series. Side character's delight, and angst takes the center stage in classic MacLean format. Honestly, Henry and Adelaide completely outsold in every single way. With the added Thomas Imogen tease chapter, I cannot wait to see where the series continues. Heartbreaker pulls all the stops, and Sarah Maclean has once again delivered an impeccable romance full of wit, charm, and staggering adventure.
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing the arcTrigger warnings: death, violence
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars. Heartbreaker is the second book in Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles series. I adore this author and have read all of her series now, while this Hell’s Belles series hasn’t really been my favorite, I did enjoy this addition more than I did the first book Bombshell.
Basically, the Belles are on a mission to keep a certain lady safe. The heroine Adelaide is an important part of the mission and when said lady elopes to Gretna Green with her betrothed, Adelaide follows. The lady’s betrothed is the brother of Henry, the Duke of Clayborn, and he gets involved as well to ensure his brother is okay. Eventually Clayborn and Adelaide join forces to work together.
Adelaide is the 26-year-old daughter of Alfie Trumbull, her father built himself a small empire and is the head of the Bulls, a gang of thugs and thieves. Growing up Adelaide learned the ways as well and became the “princess of thieves”. Her father tried to marry her off 5 years ago but her wedding turned into a turf war instead and Adelaide used that time to escape. She’s been working with the Duchess and the rest of the Belles ever since. Adelaide has always thought herself unremarkable and uninteresting, which has helped with her thieving and sneaking about since she’s able to go unnoticed.
MacLean always delivers on very feminist historical romances, the girl power is strong with the Belles. I adored the close proximity we get in this romance, Henry and Adelaide spend SOO much time together alone and I always eat that up. We also get a roadtrip, sharing a room, only 1 bed, action, adventure, the hero falling first, caretaking/nursing back to health, banter, crashes, a highwaywoman, a puzzle box, a letter, secret identities, family secrets, and so much more! I do think the beginning was excellent, I lost a little bit of interest in the middle, but then I was back on board towards the end! I did enjoy the romance in this one, more so than I like all the action and Belles time. The setup for the next couple though already sounds like a blast.
Thank you to the publisher (Avon Books) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. Heartbreaker has a publish date of August 23, 2022.
Rating: really liked it
And this is one of the main reasons I don't read her books anymore. It may not bother some, which is fine, but it drives me batty.
From a three star review. Quoting her....
"As for what didn’t work for me: the historical inaccuracies in this series can be a bit distracting. There’s a bit of anachronistic Bridgerton energy here, the world reading as an over-the-top feminist utopia with occasional virtue signaling that can be a bit much at times. The pacing of this book is also a little off, with a high inner monologue-to-action/dialogue ratio and lots of repetitive phrasing (“licking into [one another’s] mouths,” sentence fragments, etc.), "
What many have been espousing recently.AND then there is this. Another good review and has some great points about SM books lately.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: really liked it
Not bad but not very memorable either. Adalaide and her Duke of Clayborn were sweet. The last 30% really dragged for me in typical MacLean fashion. I had the same problem with the first book where it really feels like the author is stalling for time and padding the book just to drag out the resolution with endless repetitive passages and characters saying the same thing over and over and
over again. It took
forever to get to the final showdown brawl for reasons I didn't understand. If I had a nickel every time we are reminded how the heroine is from Lambeth the South side and grew up a thief and can't have the hero a Duke from the North side I'd be rich. When MacLean runs out of tension for her couple she pads the book liberally with
repetition. It's her tell every time. Run out of tangible obstacles then start having your couple repeat themselves to death for why they can't be together.
To be honest I was originally going to skip this one but I decided to bite the bullet because I was worried I might miss something before Imogene and Thomas's book. That's honestly all I'm here for. Do you miss future couple development if you plan to skip this one? Nope. Would I have felt bad skipping this anyways? No again. I personally felt more invested in Sesily and Caleb's romance journey and their connection than these two. But I know I'm in the minority in that regard. Nothing wrong with Adalaide and Henry, they had a quite a few adorable endearing moments here. Just overall wasn't swept away by them either. I also felt Henry kind of morphed into a 2 dimensional caricature in the last 20% with how flowery he got. The endless "you are everything, you are my queen, you are a warrior" just made me check out the more it went on. I wanted the story wrap up at that point honestly. He went from 3 dimensional dynamic hero to a flat two dimensional character who just kept spitting out declarations to the insecure heroine who wants to save the day and doesn't believe he could possibly love her. While I absolutely loved the praise kink and a hero who verbally expresses his feelings to a woman who's never had anyone choose her, Adalaide's martyr savior complex irritated me at the end. I love declarations as much as the next girl but the more it's heaped on for 50 pages endlessly, the less special it feels. I sound so jaded. lol
I am a woman alive in the world, Your Grace. My existence is politics, whether I care for it to be or not. It is not the politics, but the politicians"
I admire SM as a person and how vocal and passionate she is about women's rights and giving voices to those who need it. You can definitely see the passion in her pen. But as a romance reader that's where our paths diverge and I'm no longer the right audience for her work. I'm not a fan of her laborious approach with how she tackles feminist progressive themes. It's as subtle as a two-by-four in the face. And some of it (while good intentioned) comes out really lopsided and cringe. And just seriously WTF.
Like this:
Few ever noticed the true strategy of the Matchbreaker. On the surface, she seemed to choose her clients without thought—available for all circumstances, all scandals being equal. But scandals were not equal, and neither were the homes she accessed. Instead, she chose the scandals most impacting the ton’s most powerful families, led by powerful men with too much to lose. Through her work, she could access a network of wives and daughters and sisters, who always knew more than men imagined, and often wished to share it, to atone for the ultimate sin . . . connection to a bad man. The Belles were there to help them atone. And to bring the worst of those men down.
Girl ...what? Oh......darling, sweetie, honey, beloved,
no.
Women who are stuck in miserable marriages or have abusive male relatives need to "make up" for their "sinning" of unfortunate connections by helping out a girl gang taking men in power down? Nevermind the fact that it's 1839 and women have below zero say over their awful familial/marital connections but what about women in poor circumstances? Much less why does a woman need to "make up" for something that is entirely OUT OF THEIR CONTROL?
What in the hell kind of message is that Sarah MacLean? It's very much an "Us vs Them" narrative. I'll always be Girls Rule the World camp. And men can be flaming fools but treating all of them as useless idiots cause they have titles or power and born with dicks just left something to be desired for me. It's definitely the hardest role to be a woman in a world run by men, in the 1800s especially, but it's all about delivery and MacLean's style of delivery is not my cuppa. It's just the overall
talking down to tone that I just don't care for. For example and this may seem silly to others but given how much it's emphasized and dragged out for laughs I'm using it as an example: when our "toff" hero has to constantly prove to the heroine and her friends that he can handle his own in a physical fight because they keep making jokes at his expense throughout the book and believe he can't hold is own because he's a Duke. He fought for 6 years in a fight club and Adelaide and her gang don't believe him even after he knocks out 2 bruisers in the opening of the book and can beat ass in a brawl. It's cute at first cause she's hung up on his straight nose but the more it went on the less funny it became. The condescending "oh you poor thing" attitude overall I really didn't love.
“I boxed for six years at school.”
“You don’t say?” Lucia tilted her head.
“Six years of school boxing?” Adelaide’s lips twitched.
“And such a straight nose to show for it!”
Clayborn slid her a look. “Perhaps I’ve a straight nose because I didn’t make a habit of losing.” “More like no one was willing to let fly with a duke, but whatever gives you comfort at night, Your Grace.”
This kind of energy isn't cute. Like why does it always need to be an either or situation whenever it comes to these more modern turned out HR books? Like a woman can be passionate about her work
and fall in love, no? That is a thing. A woman doesn't need to treat men how men treat women to prove a point or get ahead (unless they completely deserve it of course). For me it's very much treating my partner as an equal and vice versa, and you do get that here...in the end. But it's the overall journey, the narrative and bullhorn blaring MacLean does that feels very
disingenuous. And it really shouldn't because this couple is sweet and adorable on their own. It's all the added noise MacLean shoves in that feels tiring and you really feel it in the second half. Adelaide not trusting a Duke to be more than his privileged title makes complete sense given her backstory but someone like the Duchess who is rich, titled and married to a husband living on another island and access to all his money but hates men is a conundrum to me. This wealthy woman using women from all walks of life for her secret society with the jaw grinding "yeah yeah fine you can fall in love and bring a man into our mix but don't get distracted from the overall goal here" just feels joyless instead of
joyful. But that's just me.
Anyways, I think SM fans will love this entry. I'm not in that camp obviously so my feelings are probably in the minority. There were some great moments I did enjoy between hero and heroine just the ending didn't really stick the landing. Here's to hoping my favorite grumpy Detective Peck and Imogene Loveless get something I can sink my teeth into all the way through.
Rating: really liked it
This book is SO MUCH FUN! Adelaide is a legend to the women of London. To the upper crust of Mayfair, she's the anonymous Matchbreaker, who investigates marriage prospects on behalf of women and their families and then (as you can guess) spoils the engagement, one way or another. For the criminal class, she's the crime princess who got away. They don't know exactly where she is or what she's doing, but they know she's not used as a pawn in her kingpin father's games any longer.
The book is action-packed, starting with a chase through the slums of London (Adelaide is both hindered and aided by a "mysterious" man she recognizes immediately, the Duke of Clayborn) that ends with a kiss. Almost immediately after, Adelaide and Henry are off on another chase that soon turns into a road trip romance, complete with only one bed, highwaymen, and a dash of hurt/comfort.
This is totally a romance, but it comes with a side of found family, women helping women, and a touch of mafia royalty. It's a fun ride that will hit every button for the right reader.
8-Word Summaries:
Laine: Harder to infiltrate; his box or her heart?
Meg: Road trip to Only-One-Bed town with some hurt/comfort.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Rating: really liked it
Dare I read this after the disaster that was Bombshell .
Rating: really liked it
[got intimate early and then fell in love way too fast for me. (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
Adelaide's book? With a certain "dull" duke? Dukes are NEVER boring. They are @ssholes, old guys, or heroes. We'll see 😉 (I'll be updating with new information)
EDIT 1: Sarah confirmed at her podcast, that it is Adelaide and the Duke of Clayborne. Get ready for a grumpy/sunshine.. 😍😍
EDIT 2 (25/10/21) from Sarah's newsletter, it's a road trip! Will we also have "one bed" at some point?
EDIT 3 (01/12/21/after reading the synopsis): PUT IT IN MY VEINS!! 🤣🤣 Seriously though...
EDIT 4 (23/08/22): I read it in one sitting! It was sooo good! From the moment they shared at Bombshell, I knew I would love it! There was indeed one bed (there wasn't enough bed across England, imagine that 🤣), the Duke was sooooo dreamy and protective. Addie, I felt so connected to her, about how she felt about her place in the world and how others saw her. I would have loved some more time with the other Belles, but we did get some great scenes and some explosions 🤣🤣
It's one of my favorite MacLean books, maybe it wins even 9 rules (I'll have to process that thought 🤣) It's definitely top 3 of 2022. Looking forward for Imogen and Tommy 😍
Rating: really liked it
I loved
Bombshell and couldn't wait to get my hands on
Heartbreaker. It truly did not disappoint! Adelaide and Henry's tender and sexy story was everything my heart wanted. Though the book can be read as a standalone, it would be most enjoyed if read in order since it introduces and gives more backstory to all of the characters.
Things to look forward to:
- Tropes like: enemies to lovers, only one bed, road trip romance, caretaker, who did this to you?, praise (the "good girl" was used so well *fans self*), slow burn, and stern brunch daddy.
- Henry. He was so gone for Adelaide (even if he didn't quite realize it right away) and I loved how he always saw her. He was so honorable, steadfast, and protective. I'm not normally a fan of the overprotective main characters, but it 100% worked for Henry because he knew she could take care of herself, but that she didn't
need to. He accepted her exactly as she was and he's definitely going into my book boyfriend hall of fame.
- Adelaide. She's so strong, intelligent, and loyal. My heart broke for her again and again as her past was revealed, but her character arc was so satisfying. She's just as fiercely protective of her loved ones as Henry and their chemistry and banter was off the charts! The shift from enemies to lovers was really well done and I loved how things slowly became more between them.
- The spice. Holy moly the spice! Sarah MacLean teased and made us work for it, but boy were we rewarded for our patience! The praise! The face sitting! The chapters of goodness! Yup, chapters. ;)
- I really liked that there wasn't some forced 3rd act conflict. These two love each other (even if they are slow to feel worthy of it) and it's this love that guides their actions and decisions. Yes, there's a bit of mayhem as everything comes together at the end, but there's never any doubt that these two are meant to be.
- All of the Hell's Belles! I love this crew so much and seeing them all standing together and supporting each other was the best. I can't wait for Imogen's book next!
I both read and listened to
Heartbreaker and it pains me to say that the audio was kind of a miss for me. I love Mary Jane Wells and have enjoyed so many of her performances, but the way that she voiced Adelaide really turned me off from the audiobook. Every other character was voiced wonderfully, but for some reason Adelaide was high pitched, shrill, and sounded like a child. It was very distracting and I found myself reading the book more than listening. Mary Jane Wells still conveyed so much emotion in her performance and her comedic timing was perfect, but sadly the audiobook wasn't the wonderful experience it normally is.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 5 stars
CW: kidnapping, violence - fighting, stabbing/knife wounds, pickpocketing/robbery, death of parents (past), parental neglect (past), family tensions
*
I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
Rating: really liked it
9/18/22
wow this is my favorite Sarah MacLean by FAR. I absolutely adored this. First of all, everyone loves a road trip romance and an only one bed trope, so this already started off great. Second of all, the Duke of Clayborn is ABSOLUTELY everything!! He is protective and so freaking caring. All I want in this world is for someone to care for me the way that Clayborn cares for Adelaide. Wow. Highly recommend this one.
i screamed when i got this arc!!!! i can’t wait
Rating: really liked it
Heartbreaker was a load of fun! A gruff but soft duke and the strong-willed lady thief he can't stop noticing end up on a rollicking road trip together for dangerous reasons. There is loads of forced proximity, sizzling chemistry, some quite sexy scenes, and a fun, fast-paced plot. Among my favorites of the Sarah MacLean books I've read.
