Knockout

A Novel

By: Sarah MacLean

Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2023 Sarah MacLean (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

I was misled by the reviews of book 1

“Nothing to worry about, just a bit of light gunpowder.”
I was wrong.
I passed over book 1 (Bombshell) based on reviews alleging too much sex, F bombs and feminism.
Thank goodness for the Daily Deal to lure me into giving the series a second chance.

“He’s not my detective!”
This is exactly my kind of regency romance: feisty ladies and the growly, but honorable, gents finding their HEA with danger flirting and quirky banter. If you’re tickled by the Netflix treatment, as opposed to the traditional book treatment, of The Bridgertons series, then this series is a perfect next step in delivering frothy, feel good, idealized regency romance while modernizing and empowering the ladies.

“He shouldn’t like it, the way she sparred with him, the way everything went brighter with
the battle of wits she offered. He shouldn’t like the way her curls bounced about her face.
He shouldn’t notice how her cheeks flushed with her own pleasure.
And he most certainly should not wonder what other things made her cheeks flush with pleasure.”
There’s a base of truth behind the science, detective work, and these ‘ladies who do more than lunch.’
I enjoyed the author’s note about some of the history that she tweaked for this.
I didn’t find the feminism too strident. I didn’t find the few F bombs too crass.
And for goodness sake, I have no idea how folks could say this is all sex and no story.
In the entire first half, there is only a single scene (and it’s 4.5 hrs in at that).

My only dilemma now is whether I can hold out until books 1 and 2 go on sale,
because Hell’s Bells are my kind of ladies and this is my kind of romance.

Explosive

Imojen is a brilliant, explosive, character like no other. Sarah Maclean's ability to write banter and dialog both internal and out loud is exemplary! The Chemistry between the two main characters is truly unique and makes me feel giddy! Mary Jane Wells as always brings the characters to life! Bring on The Duchess!

Loved it!!!!

Sarah does it again! This one will be in constant rotation - her characters are always amazing and she develops their back stories so well!

Great!

Great story and narration! You can’t go wrong with this author and narrator. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

Love the Hells Belles

Can’t say enough about the series…I think I have a new favorite!! I’m excited about the next book!!

Wonderful Narration!

Her narration is always such a pleasure. I love the variety she achieves in voices for her characters and the changes in intonations during the dialogue. It makes me able to feel the emotions for each character. The whole series has been great!

Fun story

Great characters in intriguing stories . Great images from a fine imagination. A great escape from boredom. Enjoyed the ride of fantasy.

Wonderful series!

Every moment of the story was charming and the narration of MJW was perfect. Miss Sarah had me from the first line.”Thomas Peck was having a bad day.” Imogen’s and Tommy’s story was a delight from start to finish.
Now…when can we learn about Duchess?

Tommy go Boom!

This was a fantastic 3rd book to the Hell’s Bells series. The plot and intertwining history made the story compelling. And as usual the narration of Mary Jane Wells is excellent. Can’t wait for the duchess’s story!!

Tommy go Boom!

This was a much anticipated story of Tommy and Imogen. I absolutely loved the banter in the beginning of the book, as MacClean calls it the exasperated man! It was not a perfect read, a bit too much Tommy reiterating the class difference and how she was too good for him.... But the number of times I smiled and laughed and squealed reading the book overtakes any shortcomings. Love, love a stern hero and uncontrollable heroine! Bravo, Tommywentboom!
Can't wait for Duchess!