Book Review: The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan

About the Book:

Title: The Hellion and the Hero

Author: Emily Sullivan

Series: A League of Scoundrels #3

Page Length: 352 pages

Publication Date: Aug. 23, 2022

Publisher: Forever Pub.

Synopsis: Society darling Lady Georgiana Arlington spent years crafting her image as the ideal wife, but since her husband’s unexpected death, she has lived mostly for herself while making desperately needed improvements to the businesses she inherited––and gaining a mysterious enemy in the process. With few people she can trust, Georgiana must rely on Captain Henry Harris, a former fortune-hunter turned private investigator who once claimed to love the woman beneath her carefully polished veneer. Time and experience have left a heavy mark on the dashing young officer she used to know, but she finds herself even more drawn to the dark and complicated man he has become.

When Captain Harris left London eight years ago, he was heartbroken and nearly penniless. Now he has returned as a decorated naval hero with everything he could ever want. Everything except Lady Georgiana… As a careless young woman, she once shredded his heart when she married another man. But now she is as alluring as ever, with a newfound tenacity he can’t help but admire. And the more he uncovers, the more nothing is as it seems, especially the woman he once swore to hate forever.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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My Review:

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.

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