Heartbreaker

It is not Adelaide Frampton's fault that she used her legendary pickpocketing skills to "liberate" Duke of Clayborn Henry Carrington's secret puzzle box from the desk of her father, Alfie Trumball, the leader of the Bully Boys gang, before Henry could get his hands back on it. Nor is it Adelaide's problem that secretly masquerading as London society's legendary Matchbreaker, she has compiled a dossier on Henry's younger brother Jack that will prevent Jack from marrying Lady Helene Havistock. However, when Jack and Helene set off for Gretna Green to elope, Adelaide and Henry both find themselves in pursuit for different reasons. Adelaide has never been bested in any competition by a man, but has she finally met her match in Henry? After launching her Hell's Belles series last year with Bombshell, MacLean returns with another superbly conceived and brilliantly executed romance that deftly displays its countless literary charms. From the depth and complexity of her characterization to her flair for crafting explosive sexual chemistry to the ingenious, invigorating twists she brings to the world of historical romances, everything MacLean does is perfectly on point.

A brilliant cutpurse and a crusading duke star in this Victorian-set romp. Adelaide Frampton is the daughter of London's most dreaded criminal. No surprise then that she's developed keen skills, a repertoire highly useful to those devoted to punishing the untouchable men of London's elite. The Duke of Clayborn has been watching Addie in ballrooms for years, wondering why he seems to be only one to notice her quick fingers, among other attributes. When they cross paths far outside the social scene, Addie wonders why she has not paid more attention to the duke. Warriors both, they are pulled into the same case, crossing swords and England as they race to save the day. MacLean gathered accolades for the first in her "Hell's Belles" series (LJ star-earner Bombshell), and this book continues on that high note with a great deal of wit, heart, and heat. Smart writing, deep characterizations, and a zippy pace will keep readers immersed while MacLean's deft hand at a number of romance tropes simply delights. VERDICT An essential title from a key author, buy in droves and share with fans of Erica Ridley.--Neal Wyatt

A thief and a duke fall in love in MacLean's second Hell's Belles romance. In the north part of London, she's Adelaide Frampton, unassuming wallflower and distant cousin to a duchess. In the south, where she grew up, she was Addie Trumbull, skilled cutpurse and daughter of a notorious criminal. Now, she has a hidden identity as the Matchbreaker, exposing the secrets of "less than ideal" potential grooms so women don't have to marry them, and she's teamed up with three other women to form the Hell's Belles, a girl gang dedicated to taking down evil, powerful men. Henry Carrington, Duke of Clayborn, hasn't stopped noticing Adelaide since they first met and knows there's more to her than meets the eye. When they wind up in a race to intercept his brother's elopement--she apparently to stop it, he to stop her--Henry finds himself in continual awe of this fierce woman, even when she frustrates him. Between a carriage accident, fights, and an only-one-bed situation, the pair are thrown together again and again and soon find they don't want to be apart. Though there are some action-packed scenes, much of the story revels in a languid pace filled with intimate thoughts, delicious yearning, and many sighworthy romantic moments. A man with a rough upbringing and hardened view of love is a common trope, so it's refreshing for that role to be filled by the woman--but there's still a softness and sweetness to Adelaide that make her a nuanced character. Subplots regarding the Hell's Belles' clients and targets add great tension to the book, while the women's friendship brings levity and humor. But it's the quiet, vulnerable moments between the central couple, who embrace each other as true equals, that will ensnare reader's hearts. Sublimely sensual and passionate. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.