The Hellion’s Secret by Jess Michaels

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: About An Earl, #2

Release Date: November 19, 2024

Feeling restless, Phineas “Finn” Montague, the Earl of Delacourt decides that a night of pleasure at the infamous Donville Masquerade is exactly what he needs to shake off his ennui. Almost immediately his attention is captured by a masked woman who seems to be just as interested in him as he is with her, but when he approaches her and they speak, her manner changes and seems to shut him out. His protective instincts are engaged when he notices a bruise under her mask, but Miss X brushes it off and after a dance, she leaves, alone. He should just find another lover and be done with it, but Miss X has captivated him, and Finn won’t give up that easily. When he learns who she really is, nothing will stop him from protecting her, but his Miss X has big secrets and has learned the hard way that you can’t depend on someone else to save you. Can Finn help her find the justice she craves and convince her that his love for her is true and worth fighting for?

Lady Charlotte Esmeralda “Esme” was the only and much-loved child of the Marquess of Chilton, but upon his sudden and suspicious death, she became convinced that her cousin and father’s heir, Francis killed him and would probably kill her too, so she bolted and found herself alone and desperate in Seven Dials. Thankfully she was taken in by a kind young woman who helped her find her way in London’s underbelly. Esme did what she had to do to survive and eventually began boxing to earn her living. When she encounters Finn at the Donville Masquerade, she at first attempts to put him off, remembering him as a good friend of her father’s, but Finn won’t be put off and soon she tells him the truth of her past. He is shocked and vows to help her find justice for her father and hopefully get her life back. But Esme isn’t sure she could ever be Lady Charlotte again, nor does she want to be. She loves Finn, but knows a life with her, once her past comes to light will ruin him socially and she loves him too much to do that to him. Will she see that his love for her can weather anything the ton throws at them and finally let him love her the way she deserves?

I liked this story, it was well written, and Finn is an absolute dream, but I had a hard time warming up to Esme. I also was a bit confused with the timeline of events – it is stated that her father died two years ago, but then there are scenes that make it seem like Esme had been living on her own for much longer. Overall, it was a good story, it is filled with emotion, secrets, murder, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, and a hard-won happily after including an epilogue. This is the second book in the series but could easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *