Historical
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Bombshell: A Hell's Belles Novel
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell's Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel-or seduce one-in a single night.
After years of living as London's brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.
No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend's beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he's been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she'd felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.
Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he's fast realizing that Sesily isn't for forgetting…she's forever. And forever isn't something he can risk.
After years of living as London's brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.
No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend's beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he's been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she'd felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.
Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he's fast realizing that Sesily isn't for forgetting…she's forever. And forever isn't something he can risk.
Editorial Reviews
"Sarah MacLean's books are fierce." -- Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
"When a new Sarah MacLean novel comes out, I drop everything to read." -- Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
"I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean." -- Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
"Smart, sexy, action-packed, propulsive escapism at it's absolute finest. We are lucky to be living and breathing in the Sarah MacLean era." -- Christina Lauren, New York Times and #1 international bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners
"Sarah MacLean came to slay, not play with Bombshell! In this first installment of her Hell's Belles series, she delivers a stormy, swoony love story, yes, but also a cadre of powerful women who take no sh*t and give as good as they get. Thoroughly modern in its sensibilities and perspective on what women are capable of and still perfectly historical. I'll never get used to how talented this woman truly is." -- Kennedy Ryan, USA Today bestselling author
"It's not summer if you're not getting lost in the lush, sinful world of a Sarah MacLean novel… MacLean delivers a knockout one-two punch of blazing-hot romance and a deliriously feminist girl gang." -- Entertainment Weekly
"MacLean is a master at weaving passion and vulnerability equally in her characters… when it comes to historical romance, she's one of the best." -- Vulture
"Attention, Bridgerton fans! Bombshell by Sarah MacLean is the first installment in a feminist romance series about British aristocrat Lady Sesily Talbot, a fiercely independent woman who's not afraid to go after what-and who- she wants." -- Real Simple
"Bestseller MacLean (Daring and the Duke) launches her Hell's Belles series with a sizzling, adventurous Victorian romance...This promises good things to come." -- Publishers Weekly
"…A celebration of finding joy through living and loving with truth and authenticity…Another stunner from a Romancelandia favorite." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"With the splendidly conceived launch to her new Hell's Belles series, RITA award-winning MacLean aptly demonstrates that her literary magic never loses its allure by gifting readers with both an extraordinarily memorable cast of characters and a fiercely feminist storyline powered by ample measures of intense sensuality and sharp wit." -- Booklist
"MacLean ("Bareknuckle Bastards" series) kicks off a planned series with this feminist historical romance that's full of witty dialogue and plenty of steamy scenes... MacLean's dedicated fan base will be eagerly awaiting this nove...
"When a new Sarah MacLean novel comes out, I drop everything to read." -- Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
"I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean." -- Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
"Smart, sexy, action-packed, propulsive escapism at it's absolute finest. We are lucky to be living and breathing in the Sarah MacLean era." -- Christina Lauren, New York Times and #1 international bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners
"Sarah MacLean came to slay, not play with Bombshell! In this first installment of her Hell's Belles series, she delivers a stormy, swoony love story, yes, but also a cadre of powerful women who take no sh*t and give as good as they get. Thoroughly modern in its sensibilities and perspective on what women are capable of and still perfectly historical. I'll never get used to how talented this woman truly is." -- Kennedy Ryan, USA Today bestselling author
"It's not summer if you're not getting lost in the lush, sinful world of a Sarah MacLean novel… MacLean delivers a knockout one-two punch of blazing-hot romance and a deliriously feminist girl gang." -- Entertainment Weekly
"MacLean is a master at weaving passion and vulnerability equally in her characters… when it comes to historical romance, she's one of the best." -- Vulture
"Attention, Bridgerton fans! Bombshell by Sarah MacLean is the first installment in a feminist romance series about British aristocrat Lady Sesily Talbot, a fiercely independent woman who's not afraid to go after what-and who- she wants." -- Real Simple
"Bestseller MacLean (Daring and the Duke) launches her Hell's Belles series with a sizzling, adventurous Victorian romance...This promises good things to come." -- Publishers Weekly
"…A celebration of finding joy through living and loving with truth and authenticity…Another stunner from a Romancelandia favorite." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"With the splendidly conceived launch to her new Hell's Belles series, RITA award-winning MacLean aptly demonstrates that her literary magic never loses its allure by gifting readers with both an extraordinarily memorable cast of characters and a fiercely feminist storyline powered by ample measures of intense sensuality and sharp wit." -- Booklist
"MacLean ("Bareknuckle Bastards" series) kicks off a planned series with this feminist historical romance that's full of witty dialogue and plenty of steamy scenes... MacLean's dedicated fan base will be eagerly awaiting this nove...
Readers Top Reviews
Magslovesbooks
Sarah maclean is one of my favourite authors, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series,when available. If you haven't read them before then absolutely recommend reading the previous series. You won't be disappointed, a treat in store. Thank you
Mrs LM Rockminster
The long awaited final Talbot sisters story and the first in a new series is an absolute winner. The friendships and strong female characters is beautiful and Sesily & Caleb are HOT. I have strong suspicions who Amelia and Isobel are going to end up with!! Can’t wait to find out!!
By teaandbiscuits
How lovely to meet a set of strong women who can take on the world on their own terms. I loved the quirky characters where quirkiness is seen as an asset and and something to aspire to. Great banter and characters that you root for. Plenty of steam too. If you like Darynda Jones you'll love this. Well worth waiting for.
DD
I love Sarah MacLean books and maybe that’s why I’m tougher on my scoring here. Really enjoyed the book and read it quickly. Loved the leading ladies strong women friends and the passion between the leads. However I felt that the leading characters relationship could have been explored further to really feel the personality attraction rather than all physical. There was just something lacking which is why I couldn’t give a 5 rating.
Marie Prudence Gagne
Sarah MacLean is a strong writer. I take issue with only a few things in this novel. One, the author's diversions into modern language and slangy expressions in a supposed late 19th Century setting, is irritating and, bearing in mind MacLean's academic credentials, beneath her. However, my chief complaint is the book's over-use of interior monologue. Reliance on emotion and subjective POV: it's a hallmark of romance fiction. But it should never be an excuse to beat the reader over the head with it. When I skip pages trying to find where the endless lying-on-the-shrink's-couch leaves off and the narrative picks up again, or when I am impelled to do what I'm doing now - write an unfavorable review - it's because I resent the author thinking I am so stupid that I need to have a character's inner emotional landscape explored step by miniscule step in order to relate to love or rage or frustration or fear. Less is more, Sarah MacLean, less is more. And if your agent or publisher is making you write this way, shame, shame on them. You are better than that.
