Series:
Hell's Belles (Book 2)
A Princess of Thieves
Raised among London's most notorious criminals, a twist
of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she
masquerades as a quiet wallflower -- so plain and unassuming that no one
realizes she's the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help
brides avoid the altar.
A King of Reputation
Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in
perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the
Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable -- and the
last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth
of his past, or the secrets he holds close.
A Royal Match
When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey
across Britain to stop a wedding, it's impossible for Clayborn to resist this
woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides
make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn's truths,
throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily
guarded heart.
Fun book. I enjoyed the first book in the series
(Bombshell), and this one kept the vibe going. Here we have Adelaide
Trumbull/Frampton, born and raised on the wrong side of the river, daughter to
the local crime boss. She learned the art of thievery from her father and earned
the title of Princess of Thieves by the time she was grown. But when her
father's attempt to marry her off to the son of a rival crime lord turned her
wedding into a war zone, Adelaide escaped and never looked back. Instead, she
became a valued member of Hell's Belles, a group of women dedicated to saving
other women from unsuitable marriages and taking down a few corrupt noblemen
along the way.
The story opens with the aborted wedding, then jumps five
years to the current day. Adelaide uses her skills to return to her father's
lair and remove some information the Belles need to take down a murdering
marquess. She stumbles upon an item that intrigues her and takes that, too,
only to be confronted by another person who claims the thing is his. Adelaide
immediately recognizes him as the Duke of Clayborn. Though she attempts to
shake him, he remains hot on her heels throughout their chase. She escapes him,
but not before they exchange a fiery kiss.
Adelaide's role with the Belles is The Matchbreaker.
Skilled at portraying an all-but-invisible wallflower, Adelaide uses her
talents to compile information on the subjects of their investigations.
Currently, she has a file on the younger brother of the Duke of Clayborn, who
is enamored with a young woman the Belles need to protect. Lady Helene
witnessed her father murder another nobleman, and they need to keep her safe
until they've acquired the necessary evidence and she can testify against him.
Henry, the Duke of Clayborn, has an impeccable
reputation. He assiduously carries out his duties in the House of Lords, works
for the betterment of those who need it and avoids gossiping. He has no plans
to marry, preferring to leave his title for his brother to inherit.
Henry gets quite a shock when he discovers that the
wallflower who has intrigued him for months is none other than the notorious
Matchbreaker AND the thief who made off with the puzzle box that holds a
devastating secret. He's not happy that she is determined to stop the match
between his brother Jack and Lady Helene, while he is equally determined that
the match will occur. After an interesting meeting with Lady Helene's mother
and the news that Jack and Helene have eloped, the race is on to see who can
catch up to the fugitive couple first.
It is interesting that Henry starts by underestimating
Adelaide's capabilities and determination, though he adjusts quickly once he
realizes what he's up against. The first few days of the chase are amusing, as
Henry is foiled at every turn. Their interactions at these times are an
intriguing combination of frustration and flirting. When Henry's carriage
becomes damaged, they join forces to continue the pursuit, allowing them to
become better acquainted. The pursuers are also being pursued, and when Henry
is badly wounded, Adelaide abandons the chase and devotes her time to caring
for Henry. The uninterrupted time together brings them closer.
The pursuit of the runaways was a fun road trip
adventure. In addition to the competitive element at the beginning of the trip,
I loved seeing how the Belles' network of contacts played into Adelaide gaining
the upper hand. They also had to deal with their attraction and the strain of
sharing a room at the various inns when they joined forces.
I enjoyed watching the progression of the relationship
between Adelaide and Henry. Though Adelaide prides herself on being invisible
to members of the ton, Henry has always seen her and been intrigued by her. He
watched her pick noblemen's pockets and was astounded that nobody caught on. He
is always aware of her. It wasn't until their meeting at the beginning of this
book that Adelaide began noticing her reactions to Henry, which didn't make her
happy. She's very cognizant of her background and unsuitability to be part of
his life. Henry has some insecurities of his own, stemming from the secret
contained in the box that Adelaide still has. I liked that their growing
feelings for each other led to their willingness to trust each other with their
secrets.
One of the things I liked about Henry was his
appreciation of Adelaide as the woman she is. Her background makes no
difference to him, though I thought he was a little naïve about the
ramifications of marrying her. Even dukes probably had to face some consequences
for such a pairing. Adelaide is determined to protect him from himself, even if
it means breaking both their hearts. But when all is said and done, the heart
wants what it wants. How their happy ending came about was a convoluted
process, and I'll be interested to see if it comes up in a later book.
There was some suspense in this book involving Lady
Helene and her father. The Marquess of Havistock is a nasty piece of work, and
the Hell's Belles are determined to see that he gets what is coming to him. He
has also involved Adelaide's father, which adds another layer of complications.
It all comes to a head in a confrontation at the same place where the book
began. There are multiple twists before the issue is resolved, including a
couple that made me laugh out loud. Topping off the fun was the meeting between
Lady Imogen and Scotland Yard's Inspector Tommy Peck the next day. I can't wait
to read their story.
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