Bombshell audiobook

full disclosure, Sarah is my friend and we have a podcast together, but listen I KNOW A GREAT BOOK WHEN I READ ONE and I think everyone is going to enjoy the hell out of this. more fully formed thoughts later, right now just....SO FUN. God I needed this. Makes me want to get together and hang out with all my friends. A terrific romance with Caleb and I loved Sesily soooooo much.I read an ARC from the publisher.

✨”Violent thoughts about fabric”✨First things first, Avon snapped with this cover. I want it as wallpaper. Second things second, this was my first Sarah MacLean and I am not sad about it. You can absolutely read ‘Bombshell’ without reading any of Sarah’s other books, but I guarantee you’ll want to read them all after you finish this one. I have her last series waiting for me when I get to my apartment and I am SO ready. I really really really ate up how Sesily truly believed that Caleb was not into her. Clearly wrong, yes, but oh so angsty and amazing. There’s just something so funny to me about Sesily confessing her feelings to him and Caleb just hopping on the next boat outta that bitch. I just picture him George-Clooney running his ass away from those emotions. Like one minute Sesily is talking to him and the next he’s straight up running away while she just stands there. He’s a runner he’s a track star. I liked him overall but got disgruntled by Caleb having an Edward Cullen complex for the last half of the book with all of that turning himself in nonsense. Run away from the Vulturi, Caleb, not Sesily! There was a quote at the beginning too that reminded me of our OG sparkly sucker—meaning absolutely nothing except that it’s all just poetic that way. ✨“He spent a lifetime priding himself on his understanding of other people—on being able to predict their actions. And somehow, he could never see Sesily Talbot coming.” - Bombshell, 2021“I can read every mind in this room apart from yours. There's... Money. Sex. Money. Sex. Cat... And then you, nothing. That's very frustrating.” - Twilight (film), 2008✨It was a steamy read but for some reason the scenes didn’t stick with me; I don’t really remember them. I wanted more depth from the characters during those moments. I loved loved loved everything about the servant’s closet though; never change, servant’s closet, never change. I also appreciated that the characters referenced all explicitly sexual moments between themselves as making love (not just p/v penetration) which I haven’t seen happen a lot. By the end I was honestly more invested in Imogen and Adelaide’s relationships because while I wanted Caleb and Sesily to be happy, I was just a tad bored at that point. Many curses to Sarah for making side characters compelling as shit. Seriously, if I hadn’t been thinking about the potentials of the next two books, I probably wouldn’t have lost interest in this book.Overall, I read like mad up until the last 50 pages and enjoyed my time. The ending was cute and I absolutely cannot wait until books two and three release. I really can’t believe book two isn’t Tommy and Imogen though. What in the hell’s belles?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5P.S. In the prologue, phrases like “wicked Sesily,” “wild Sesily,” “scandalous Sesily,” and “bored Sesily” were italicized and interspersed throughout the section. I’m not sure why, but they really did a number on me. Breathless Hannah. They worked like a chant or something and had me very dramatically reciting the words in my head. It was all very cinematic and a great set up for her character.P.P.S. This is a personal thing but I’ve never been a fan of reading “fucking perfect” in books. Like “you look fucking perfect tonight.” It always sounds too contrived to me, like the “fucking” overpowers the emotions in the statement and minimizes the statement as a whole? Strange, since “fuck” is one of my favorite words and I love reading it, especially in historical romances. “Fuck” as a verb is hot to me but I like it less as a positive modifier. Caleb said it many times and I’d have just liked more variation. This isn’t a slight against the book, I just wanted to mention it because my feelings about it weird me out. P.P.P.S. I literally just realized why there were images of bells on the chapters and on the folder Imogen had 😩 IM SO DONE WITH MYSELF LOL. Hell’s Belle’s = bell. Wow I really need to get out more. Ding dong bitch._______Reread update: Yo Mary Jane Wells did NOT need to make his American accent sound that sexy like how is that even possible?? Idk but this audiobook makes the book 10x better. Also this is a book that loves oral sex; he ate her out so many times lmao. The book is light and easy, there wasn’t really a third act break up (it was more like a jailing), and I liked them both.

I'm going to be honest, I read this wonderful series starter over the weekend and it was a balm to my soul and I 100% didn't read it critically I only read it for my pleasure, and WORTH EVERY MINUTE.This book has everything I love bantering while brawling, TENSION, pining, longing, fire inducing attraction, and hidden weapons oh my. Plus the hint of a future couple in the series has already made me desperate for that book.I'll reread again soon and do a more coherent review some other day, for now, thank you Sarah MacLean, I adore your words.09/2021 - audiobook listen (thank you HarperAudio and LibroFM for the ALC)Mary Jane Wells did a sublime job narrating Bombshell - I loved every second of this listen. I even really loved her Caleb American accent! Also, thank you to Sarah MacLean and the gamekeeper's cottage scene for keeping me company over four commutes and VERY happy. I'm so excited to read more about this crew of women, and especially to meet Imogen and the Inspector's HEA someday (fingers crossed)!

Bite size review: Clever, sizzling, achingly romantic perfection. FINALLY Caleb and Sesily's story. A slow burning, tightly woven plot culminating in a powerful and epic HEA. I loved it. Full review below! Lady Sesily Talbot is used to living a life of scandal and honestly embraces the attention it gives her. She is a woman embracing her appeal in an era that tells her not to. Caleb Calhoun, an American who has pined for her for years, sees her sneaking into a dark garden with a strange man one night and follows her, finding out what appeared to be a midnight tryst was anything but. Worried about what Sesily has gotten herself into and coaxed by her sister and his friend, the Duchess of Haven, Caleb behind following Sesily to keep her safe and hopefully out of trouble. But Sesily is not the only one keeping secrets, and the attraction and pull they have felt and fought for each other for two long years can only be denied for so long. This book was another impressive work by MacLean, it is full of all of the things we love about her work. Strong heroines with autonomy and agency, a fiercely loyal girl gang, a world set in a time we've never experienced but that feels so vivid and real to us, and of course heroes who are out of their minds in love with the heroine. This book had a bit of a slow start for me, which makes sense considering it is the start of a new series and Sarah is really laying the groundwork for an intricate plot for future books. But the pay off for that slow build was incredible and one of the most satisfying reading experiences I've had in a long time. The heat between Caleb and Sesily was so palpable it felt like my eReader might start on fire. And the bedroom scenes were absolutely sizzling. But what I loved the very most was how satisfying that ending was, how every bit of groundwork and plot threads paid off and how I was left thinking, WOW, now this is how you do modern historical romance. There was also great banter, some laugh out loud humor, MANY Easter Eggs of past characters MacLeaniverse fans will enjoy, and ultimately a hero to applaud and add to my list of best book boyfriends. I loved this book and can't wait for the next!

Read more of my reviews @ The Infinite Limits of Love.Sarah MacLean, you own me! Caleb and Sesily, you also own me! Could I simply leave my review of Bombshell at that? No? OK, but don't yell at me when my review doesn't do the book justice because I possibly couldn't. Like many of Sarah MacLean's long-time fans, I've been eagerly anticipating a story for Sesily. Bombshell was everything I wanted for her character. It's a feisty, sexy, and achy historical romance novel that is immediately going into my re-read shelf.Are Rebellious Historical Romance Heroines My Favorite?It's always fun for me reading about characters in historical romances who rebel against the patriarchy during a time period when they didn't have a lot of freedom or rights. Sesily was 100% a rebellious firecracker of a heroine who gives zero f***s about what society thinks of her. I love that she was so unapologetic about who she was and could care less about what others thought of her. She could have easily let others opinions of her - they call her "Sexily" - influence her negatively, but instead, my queen embraced it and channeled her time and energy into more fruitful aspirations. She and her friends a.k.a the Hell's Belles take down the worst of the gross men in the British aristocracy, often spying on them to take the perfect revenge.An Impressive Secondary CastSpeaking of the Hell's Belles, I loved this wayward group of women and how they bonded together. I'm such a sucker for outcasts teaming up to do good work and becoming the best of friends along the way. Adelaide, Imogen, and their mysterious leader, The Duchess, were all such an intriguing cast of secondary characters. I loved what I saw of them and I'm crossing ALL my fingers and toes that we'll get to see their books in the rest of this series.We've Got A Pining Hero In The Room, FriendsWhile the incredible women are most certainly the shining stars of this series, Sesily's love interest, Caleb, managed to hold his own. UGH. Pining romance heroes are so of my favorite romance heroes and my man, Caleb, brought alllllll the longing. He and Sesily met each other through his best friend and her sister. He has just returned America at the start of Bombshell and has been carrying a torch for Sesily for what feels like forever.I loved Caleb as a love interest because he entirely respected what Sesily did and didn't try to meddle too much in her affairs. He did have a wildly protective streak when it came to her but it never felt overbearing. I was obsessed with how much of a simp he was when it came to Sesily. The man worshipped her and there was no denying they were meant to be. Caleb may have been gruff on the outside but it was because he was hiding a secret, one that will have you falling even more in love with him.This Romance, Y'allAs you can imagine, the romance between Sesily and Caleb is one of the best parts of Bombshell. They both clearly had feelings for each other, but neither wants to reveal their true affections because they worried that their feelings were unrequited. This created some deliciously sweet angst in the story and we all know how I feel about angst. I loved their banter with each other and when they give in to the flaming-hot chemistry they shared, it was sublime. Sarah MacLean knows how to write a good punch-Nick-in-the-guts and loins-on-fire romance and I love her for it. It's so swoony. If that doesn't convince you, there's an AMAZING ANGSTY RAIN KISS THAT TURNS INTO MORE!!So Why Not 5 Stars?The only reason Bombshell isn't a 5-stars read for me is that I felt it was a little long and could have been shortened. I like my historical romances on the shorter side and that's definitely a me-tick.If you're a fan of Sarah MacLean and have been looking forward to Sesily's book, I think you'll be very pleased with her story. If you're new to Sarah MacLean's books, this is also a great spot to try her work.I CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE. Content notes: violence, murder, abuseRelationship disclosure: Sarah MacLean and I are mutuals on social media

Bombshell has a lot of what we like about Sarah MacLean: modern references in a historical setting, super fun female characters who define their own roles in society, and scorching hot sex scenes - all in a coherent world that began way back in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. We've been waiting for Caleb and Sesily's story since The Day of the Duchess, so we were stoked to finally be reading it.Bombshell is also the start of a new series, Hell's Belles, which will revolve around a vigilante group of high society women. We are so ready to read about safecracking chemists, bluestockings with hidden depths, and the men who will come to love them. What we weren't sure about was combining the two things - a long-awaited romance between beloved secondary characters AND a brand new series concept. We wouldn't have minded a little more romance and lyricism between Caleb and Sesily!45 Word Summaries: Laine: Sesily was never going to fade quietly into spinsterhood, so it makes sense that she'd join a troupe of vigilante women getting revenge. Thank goodness her investigations lead to her finding out secrets of his past that he'd never tell her himself, like an adult.⁠⁠Meg: Sesily has been pining for Caleb since she first met him, and we devoted readers all know he’s been doing the same thing. It takes a bar brawl, a rainy walk on the moors, some spying, and a jailbreak for him to see the light.This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

7/30/21:This book is feminist as hell and I love it for that!!! Sesily was the star of this show and Caleb complimented her so well. They had fantastic banter and I felt the chemistry from the very beginning. This is definitely one of the most unique books I've read in a while. It has a clever and engaging plot that keeps women at the front of the story.The middle slowed down a little and I think that could be because of a bit of an excessive inner monologue and narrative. I wish that the middle had that same spark that the beginning and end did. I want to go back now and read her other books so that I see the rest of Sesily's sisters' stories. I already can't wait for the next book in the series. ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 7/22/21i just got an arc of this book and i am SOOO excitied!!

Picture this: a Victorian-era lady-gang hell bent on taking down awful men and looking good doing it... with a love story between a scandalous lady and a loyal and protective hero who proves some men deserve rights.I have wanted a Sesily/Caleb story SINCE Day of the Duchess. Remember when their story was originally going to be a bonus novella - maybe not even in print?? I am so happy that Sarah took the time she needed to craft this story. I’ve loved almost all of Sarah’s books, but I’ll admit Daring and the Duke (her last published historical) wasn’t my favorite. Combined with the fact that I haven't picked up a historical in ages, I really had to pump myself up to read this one. But once I started... I couldn't put it down.First of all, the friends...I love a good found family and this one presented a found family I haven't seen before: powerful, slighted, and forgotten women of the early Victorian era who come together to reclaim power and protect each other. I loved the dynamic of the four main friends, and how we're slowly introduced to their exploits. While I'm not sold on the concept of book 2 of the series (Heartbreaker, a road trip romance between a wallflower and a duke due out in August), I'm jazzed for book 3, which should follow the explosion-enthusiastic Imogen and Inspector Peck. And I can't even imagine where we'll go with the lofty and influential Duchess. The quartet had come together in circumstances born of serendipity and necessity. The duchess had been looking for brilliant women who had little to fear from society, and she’d found them in Imogen, who came with an expertise in things both extremely useful and extremely dangerous; Adelaide, whose meek exterior made her a superior thief; and Sesily—scandalous Sesily—who had shocked society so many times that few even noticed when she disappeared from a ballroom, scoundrel in tow.I loved this line of dialogue, of Sesily explaining to Caleb how she fell in with her friends: “When you’re a person who wants something different than what society offers you . . . than what society tells you is the only correct path . . . you are grateful when a different one is illuminated. Even more so when it becomes clear that others are on the path. And that they will walk it with you.”The writing was pure magic. I haven't read a historical, much less a Sarah Maclean, in so long that I forgot how... wonderfully poetic they can be. I feel like it's more rare in contemporary/modern settings for the writing to be truly fun - like two partners fencing. Not just the dialogue, but the inner monologue - the character's thoughts, struggles, inner voice. I was literally giggling with delight at how happy the writing made me. And of course, the love story. It's why we're all here, right? The Sesily/Caleb story was teased in Sesily's sister Sera's book, Day of the Duchess, which I highly recommend. Caleb and Sera became friends in America and returned to England to open a bar and for her to ask her husband for divorce. Strictly platonic, Sesily is attracted to him immediately but he holds her at arms length. We get a cameo of them in the Bareknuckle Bastards series but again... arms length.Even for most of this book, Caleb appeared indifferent. But we as the audience get to hear his inner turmoil. I am yours. The words flashed, but he did not say them.He was not a fool.While I may not be particularly passionate about Sesily/Caleb as "one of my favorite couples of all time" - this is certainly a new favorite book, for all the reasons above. This book is everything I want from a historical romance, and has the lovely aspect of feeling more modern with the inclusion of characters of color, though neither the heroine or hero are. I could go into a whole tangent of how today we retroactively think of 1800's England as glaringly white, but it wasn't. It's nice that stories are starting to exit the all white aristocratic cast and include everyday people from the era as well.

✨I’m going to start a patriarchy smashing gang of women, anyone want to join? Applications open to hot heroes for me to have amazing tension with✨I cannot say enough good things about this book. I had been waiting to read Sesily and Caleb’s story the second we were introduced to them. And this did not disappoint. Tropes: - strong female friendships- pining - will they/won’t they- friends to lovers-ish? - adventure/grit - hero with a secret - strong heroine- banterThis book gave me everything I wanted and more, even scenes I never knew I wanted (a steamy time in a closet and a tavern brawl? yes please!) Sesily is definitely one of my favorite MacLean heroine. It is not easy to write a sassy heroine without making her annoying. I loved how she turned her reputation into a fuel to combat the patriarchy. She is fierce, independent, loving, passionate, strong, I could go on and on. She is everything I want to be. Caleb may not be my favorite MacLean hero, but that does not mean I did not love him. He was so in love with Sesily, my heart was hurting. We got to learn more about him and see a side we didn’t before. This is still just a personal thing, I am getting a little tired of the "hero with a mysterious past, that's why they can't be together" trope. I normally don’t like the “hero with a secret” trope, but it was done well. The layers of the story and of his past came undone in an interesting way. Don’t even get me started on the chemistry between these two. ABSOLUTELY SIZZLING. 10/10. *chef’s kiss* All they had to do was be in the same room and I was practically screaming "JUST KISS ALREADY!"It is not easily having a fully developed plot and cast of characters while developing a great romance, but yet again, MacLean does it flawlessly. I am in love with the Hell’s Belles. Each and every character and their relationship has my heart. We have a mysterious leader, spunky heroine who wants to blow up everything, and a shy wallflower who gathers intel for the group. I am so so excited to read their stories. Sarah MacLean is an autobuy author for me for a reason, I just know I am going to love the rest of this series. The story was so well done. I was on the edge of my seat. It was the perfect mix of grit, humor, adventure, history, romance. If you loved the way the Bareknuckle Bastards was written, then you will absolutely love this too. Wicked and the Wallflower is my favorite Sarah MacLean so if we get that kind of story for our wallflower heroine, I will simply pass away. Also, may I draw attention to Avon giving me the Avon Romantic Treasure goodness I am a whore for?! I love how they put the stepback picture on the back cover. I am very excited. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 stars | 🌶🌶🌶/ 5 steam Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Sarah MacLean for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion ❤️

Thank you so much to Avon and Netgalley for providing an e-arc copy. All thoughts and opinions are still my own!This was such an amazingly fun, feminist historical romance! No writes historical heroines quite like Sarah MacLean and this gang of amazing women took it to a new level. I absolutely fell in love with these characters and can't wait for more from the Hell's Belles!While this is definitely the start of a new series and stands totally on it's own, I do wish I had read the Scandal & Scoundrels and The Rules of Scoundrels series in full before this, only so that I could have fully appreciate the glimpses of those characters (I did love the mentions of the Bareknuckle Bastards though!!) I love the way Sarah MacLean's works are all interconnected while still standing wholly on there own - it makes for such a fun reading experience. I LOVE a good worshipping hero and Caleb delivered in spades. He absolutely worships the ground Sesily walks on (even though he desperately tries to hide it). I loved their palpable chemistry and the way Sesily challenged him. Their dynamic and banter was fantastic and Caleb's determination to keep Sesily at arms length only added to the tension. But the absolute shining star of this book to me was the Hell's Belles themselves. This group of women stole my heart (a tried to blow it up with gun powder I assume). They are fearless and determined and I desperately want to be apart of this crew! The next book is Imogen's and I absolutely cannot wait to get one in my hands! She was easily my favorite side character and I can't wait to read more from her in book 2.

Lady Sesily Talbot is considered a walking scandal. She doesn't mind though, because it gives her cover for other intrigues. Caleb Calhoun has spent years trying to ignore his attraction to his best friend’s beautiful but brash sister. He thinks he has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble, but she might be the one saving him in the end.I had a hard time getting through the opening chapters of set up, but once it got going I really enjoyed it. These characters had great chemistry (previously established in Day of the Duchess), and I liked their dynamic...wanting each other, but Caleb holding back and usually confident Sesily doubting herself. While this book did feel more modern to me, I appreciated the author notes tying Sesily's girl gang to a real group from this time period. I think many HR readers have a certain perception of the era and they forget that - even in the past - not everyone fit into a certain mold...there were/are always rebels. Tropes: Second Chance Romance, Forced Proximity, Class Difference, Anti-HeroineSteam Rating: 3