I’ve had this book on my list for years. Since I cannot remember when I initially put it on my list and why, I was not sure what to expect. I went in blind, not even realizing it was a short story. Seriously, I’m rolling my eyes at myself after putting it off for so long only to discover I could read it in less than half an hour.

Now I understand all the love for this story. Wow! It’s spine-tingling gothic. It also shows how little the treatment of women, especially those who are postpartum, has changed over more than 100 years. Sheesh! The men in this woman’s life, who are also doctors, gaslight her and ignore that there is something wrong. I wanted to scream at them and the other women who went along with them, while also swooping the narrator up to get her some much-needed help.

The imagery is fantastic. I could see the room, the wallpaper, the shadows. I’m only glad I didn’t read this one at night in bed.

This one started out strong for me. I know epistolary elements do not work for all people, but I eat that up with a spoon. The whole first part of this book (a good 20% or more) is strictly done with text messages between Allie and Milo, as well as an online diary Allie keeps. It may seem odd at first, but give it a couple of pages, and you’ll get into the rhythm of their communication.

The way the friendship between the duo grows, and you learn a little bit about both of their lives, is laid out so well. They begin their communication fully distrustful of each other, with good reason. Eventually they start opening up and share some significant things about their lives. Yet, just as they cannot know how much is truth and what is being held back, neither can the reader. Allie is a bit more open, but there are reasons Milo doesn’t fully open up.

Part two is the meat of the story. Milo and Allie have to wrestle with what they think happened between them, and what really happened. Both blame the other, but things aren’t so cut and dry. Because of the friendship they established via their phones, and the backlash that happened before they got to meet, Allie’s life was torn apart. Things weren’t so great for Milo either, but you couldn’t tell from the outside. Both of the best friends, Jameson for Milo and Iris for Allie, are used to further the story and give the characters a sounding board and safe space, but they are also interesting characters themselves. I looked forward to their interactions and insights.

It would be very easy to get too spoiler-y with my review. I feel I’ve already been skating on the line, so I can’t say a lot more about the particulars of this book. Both of the main characters were likable at times, and seemed unreasonable at times. There is a lot of hurt between them and in their pasts, but it’s also obvious they could be so good together. There are many differences between them, but those differences are what make them work. They round each other out, in a way. I thought they had a great connection.

There were many times I forgot how old the characters were. Not that they’re old, but in their early 30s. I felt they often acted immaturely for their ages. It was a little understandable with Milo because of how he was treated as a celebrity, yet I would have loved to see more character growth for him. I would have loved to see him open up to Allie in the way he obviously had with Jameson in the past. And Allie basically buried her head in the sand (or went to a remote Arctic island) when things got hard instead of dealing with her troubles head-on. Understandable when things were under a spotlight, not so much as time went on.

While the final section of this book is oftentimes fun, as the couple figures out how to make things work, it was also rushed. They both made mistakes, but I wanted more grovel. From one of them in particular, but really from both of them.

All in all, I still rather enjoyed this book. It had great side characters, an intense connection between the main characters, and fun bird facts.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

From their antics in the first book in this series, I just knew the Hell’s Belles were going to be a fun ride. The beginning of this story reads like the beginning of an action/spy movie. Adelaide and Henry are both in the den of a notorious criminal, looking to steal (recover?) the same item. Adelaide would have been in and out, easy-peasy, but Henry’s not quite as stealthy. The way he delays the duo leaving the scene causes them to be noticed, and chaos ensues.

While there is plenty of downtime for Adelaide and Henry to get to know each other on a deeper level, there is always the presence of action behind the scenes. You know they are being pursued, you know they are most likely in danger, and you know their prey is still ahead of them. This lends the book to being a road trip book with elements of a race. All while Henry and Adelaide are learning they are not so different after all and their physical attraction becomes much more emotional and intense.

The Hell’s Belles have a mission, which is to ultimately bring down the patriarchy. They protect women and other less fortunate people who are being used and/or abused by those above them in station. Though these stories are about the women and them finding love while staying true to themselves, I’m also fascinated with the men who fall in love with them. They are not out to change these women, but to support them. Sure, they have their moments of protectiveness, but it quickly becomes evident that they don’t need protecting…they are the protectors. The men can’t help but fall in line and support them once they see how brilliant this group of women is.

Henry loves so deeply, but doesn’t see his actions as love. He fully believes in romantic love, just not for himself. Adelaide also believes in love, but doesn’t believe herself to be lovable. She sees herself as handy and cunning and supportive, but she doesn’t feel she fits in properly anywhere. Of course, her friends think quite differently. Adelaide and Henry fit, and they help each other accept that they are not alone and learn to lean on those they love, because they are loved just as much.

If you don’t like your historical romance filled with strong women, supportive men, tender moments, and found family, then this may not be for you. But if you love all those things, as I do, then you will enjoy this crazy road race of a story.

Holy cow! The yearning in this book is off the charts. From before Malcolm and Scarlett even meet, there is yearning. Once they are introduced, Malcolm’s yearning goes atomic, and he falls hard. Unfortunately for him, his shy, bumbling ways are misconstrued by Scarlett, and they do not start off on the right foot.

This is a new-to-me author, and I am hooked! I loved so many things about this story. Malcolm’s family dynamics are amazing. While this is the first in a series and definitely can be read as a standalone, I have a feeling there are books for his married sisters that were maybe part of a previous series. I will be looking, that’s for sure. But he has plenty of brothers that need to find their HEAs in this series. I digress; let’s get back to Malcolm’s family dynamics. They are a mix of legitimate and illegitimate offspring of one father, who is now deceased. The legitimate wife/mom has embraced all the children. Other than the fact that Malcolm is the oldest boy but not the heir, the siblings act as though they are all full siblings. Supporting, fighting, loving, and teasing one another.

There was a recent episode of the Fated Mates podcast about country house parties, so I was thrilled this book’s setting is a country house party. Not only did I enjoy this story, but I could see the possible other stories that were running parallel in time to this one. I’m so excited to see how it all plays out in the subsequent books.

Something I really enjoyed about the motherly characters in this story is how nice they were. In this case, Malcolm’s brother George is the center of the house party. Ready to settle down and get married, his family banded together to bring a handful of eligible women (with their chaperones) to their country house for a month. Often, the mothers would be nightmares. Or at least some of them. We didn’t really see any of the mothers other than that of the potential groom and the supposed potential bride. George’s mom is the widow of the cad who had all those illegitimate kids. As I said, she embraces them all. Plus, she doesn’t push George into doing her bidding, but wishes him to be happy with whomever he picks. Scarlett’s half-sister is George’s favorite going in, but her mother also doesn’t push things. She is also a widow, but has supported and still supports her stepdaughter Scarlett, who is there as chaperone to her half-sister. It’s all very civilized. As much as I can enjoy an overbearing historical mama, I also enjoy a break from that character once in a while.

Okay, I still have to talk about the love story. The beautiful love story between two people who are perfect for each other, but start their acquaintance with a few too many misunderstandings. Which, in a way, turns them into enemies. Or, at least Scarlett thinks they’re enemies. Malcolm just wants to make things right. Which he eventually does. The misunderstandings make sense in this story, with Scarlett having low self-esteem after a broken engagement. At times her inner thoughts devastated me. She’s really as obsessed with Malcolm as he is with her, and eventually realizes that Malcolm is not who she thought he was upon first impression.

I was surprised by how horny this book is. Not that there are just a bunch of sex scenes. (I mean, there are some, but it’s not just full of gratuitous sex.) No, it’s how much the characters want each other. It’s how they think about each other and almost hurt with how much they want to touch. There were times I actually felt second-hand embarrassment for the fictional characters in this book because of how raw and primal their feelings would come out in unexpected ways.

Anyway, I could go on and on. I just loved this story and hope the rest of this author’s books are half as riveting.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.