Knockout (Hell's Belles Series #3)

by Sarah MacLean Narrated by Mary Jane Wells

Overview

New York Times*bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the next Hell's Belles novel about a chaotic bluestocking and the buttoned-up detective enlisted to keep her out of trouble (spoiler: She is the trouble).**

With her headful of wild curls and wilder ideas and an unabashed love of experiments and explosives, society has labeled Lady Imogen Loveless peculiar...and doesn't know she's one of the Hell's Belles-a group of vigilantes operating outside the notice of most of London.

Thomas Peck is not most of London. The brilliant detective fought his way off the streets and into a promising career through sheer force of will and a keen ability to see things others miss, like the fact that Imogen isn't peculiar...she's pandemonium. If you ask him, she requires a keeper. When her powerful family discovers her late-night activities, they couldn't agree more...and they know just the man for the task.

Thomas wants nothing to do with guarding Imogen. He is a grown man with a proper job and no time for the lady's incendiary chaos, no matter how lushly it is packaged. But some assignments are too explosive to pass up, and the gruff detective is soon caught up in Imogen's world, full of her bold smiles and burning secrets...and a fiery passion that threatens to consume them both.

Editorial Reviews

OCTOBER 2023 - AudioFile

Mary Jane Wells's performance sizzles in this explosive 1840s mystery- romance. Wells acts out the scenes with her lyrical voice, adding panache to the double entendres and sexy repartee. A string of explosions is occurring in East London. Sultry Lady Imogen Loveless, who is passionate about explosives, uses her considerable wit and steamy charms as she alternately butts heads and assists Detective Inspector Thomas Peck of the Metropolitan Police with his investigation. Wells's silky voice shifts smoothly from narrative to internal dialogue to rapid-fire conversation, keeping pace with action that crackles with desire. The sparkling romantic scenes will have listeners glued to their earphones as Peck pursues Loveless. M.B.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

06/26/2023

Victorian girl gang the Hell’s Belles returns (after their last appearance in Heart Breaker) in this fierce romance from MacLean. This time, the focus is on Lady Imogen Loveless, resident chemist and explosives expert, as she works to catch the culprit behind a series of explosions in London’s East End. Meanwhile, her powerful and controlling family asks Det. Insp. Thomas Peck to keep an eye on her and pull her from trouble. But when the indomitable Imogen turns to Thomas for help in her investigation, he winds up getting into trouble right alongside her. Their attraction grows as danger mounts: after they’re attacked by police officers, they learn that the explosions are part of a conspiracy that goes all the way up to the highest levels of Scotland Yard. As they fight for justice and work to keep each other safe, Imogen must also convince Thomas that she wants no other man but him, despite their class difference. MacLean’s characters are refreshingly progressive and the plot has a kinetic energy that increases exponentially alongside the romance and suspense. It’s a joy to revisit the Hell’s Belles; series fans and new readers alike will get a kick out of Imogen’s time in the spotlight. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary (Aug.)

From the Publisher

Sarah MacLean is unparalleled. I will read anything she writes.”  — Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happy Place

“Sarah MacLean’s books are fierce.” — Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

“Sharp, sexy, action-packed, propulsive escapism at its absolute finest. We are lucky to be living and breathing in the Sarah Maclean era.”  — Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners

“Sarah MacLean never disappoints with her fearless heroines and brooding heroes." — Sarah J. Maas, #1 bestselling author

"MacLean is a master at threading social commentary through chapters of high stakes adventure and swoony, steamy love scenes. Quite simply no one does historical romance like her. She is not just the belle of the ball but the queen too."  — Entertainment Weekly

"With KNOCKOUT, Sarah MacLean once again proves there is no one in the genre who does it quite like she does: this book is brilliant, modern, and moving. KNOCKOUT is as explosive as its plot, as compelling as its central characters. Prepare to clear your schedule: once I read the first page of Imogen and Tommy’s story, I knew nothing else would feel as good as following along with their journey to a happily ever after. The best kind of immersive romance by one of the absolute best in the game." — Kate Clayborn, Author of Georgie, All Along

"Another patriarchy smashing masterpiece...Knockout is perfection, and Sarah MacLean once again sets a new bar for what romance can be." — Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

"The third entry in MacLean’s vibrant historical “Hell’s Belles” series (following Heartbreaker) is exciting and danger-filled... MacLean excels in crafting characters that know who they are and where they stand. Adding to the pleasures are the abiding friendships that make the story and the found family that spreads across London. It may be historical romance, but the throughline is as modern as today’s headlines. Series readers will be delighted, but those new to the run really should start at the beginning to enjoy how deftly MacLean is building these relationships." — Library Journal

"In the latest instantly irresistible addition to her Hell’s Belles series, the always brilliant MacLean smartly plays to her literary strengths with a delightfully unconventional heroine and a by-the-book hero whose combined efforts to see that justice is done generate plenty of sexy sparks along the way as well as a deftly constructed plot that will richly resonate with twenty-first-century romance readers." — Booklist (starred review)

"MacLean delivers big action, high heat, profound emotions, and a thoughtful critique of power and privilege in this dynamite tale sure to keep readers tearing through the pages...This sensational romance completely lives up to its title." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean." — Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author

“Everything MacLean does is perfectly on point.”  — Booklist

“Romance readers can always rely on Sarah MacLean to bring the summer heat.” — Bookish

"MacLean’s characters are refreshingly progressive and the plot has a kinetic energy that increases exponentially alongside the romance and suspense."  — Publishers Weekly

Library Journal

07/01/2023

The third entry in MacLean's vibrant historical "Hell's Belles" series (following Heartbreaker) is exciting and danger-filled—and not just because Lady Imogen is an expert at explosives. It is because the threat level against the Belles group of avenging women has risen to the point that their network, and Imogen in particular, is in mortal danger. The Belles are getting too close to taking down the most powerful men in the realm, and those men are used to winning. With the help of Thomas Peck, a detective of high honor and longstanding interest in Imogen, she and her sisterhood meet threat with cunning and face danger with determination. The story flows quickly once the threads are in place, as MacLean excels in crafting characters that know who they are and where they stand. Adding to the pleasures are the abiding friendships that make the story and the found family that spreads across London. VERDICT It may be historical romance, but the throughline is as modern as today's headlines. Series readers will be delighted, but those new to the run really should start at the beginning to enjoy how deftly MacLean is building these relationships.—Neal Wyatt

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2023-05-23
Explosives are dangerous, but love is even riskier.

Lady Imogen Loveless is considered by most to be “too much.” Her penchant for chemistry makes her peculiar, and her brother, the sixth Earl Dorring—who’s been her guardian since their father died—thinks it's time for her to marry. What few know is that explosives expert Imogen is part of the Hell’s Belles, a woman-led collective that helps “those whom society ignored.” DI Thomas Peck brought himself out of the gutter and is rising in the ranks of Scotland Yard. The Hell’s Belles have been known to tip him off about crimes committed by the aristocracy, but they aren’t looping him in on their discoveries about a recent spate of building explosions. He’s captivated by the chaos that is Imogen and is more than happy to help when her brother hires him to protect her during his off hours. Tommy tells himself he’s doing this to get information from her about the blown-up buildings, but he also just finds her company irresistible. Imogen loves to rile Tommy up and wants to trust him, but the evidence about the explosions so far points right at Scotland Yard. MacLean delivers big action, high heat, profound emotions, and a thoughtful critique of power and privilege in this dynamite tale sure to keep readers tearing through the pages. Like the protagonists of the series’ previous installments, Imogen is tough and smart, yet there are layers to her characterization so that she becomes a fully developed and relatable character. Tommy complements her so well, as they’re opposites in many ways yet both bighearted and dedicated to social justice.

This sensational romance completely lives up to its title.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176931822
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/22/2023
Series:	Hell's Belles Series , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	609,142

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