A review by allisonwonderlandreads
The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
Early on in The Hellion and the Hero, readers are treated to some anti-police and pro-workers' rights vibes (particularly for women working in factories), so it's off to a great start. But of course, I expect nothing less from Emily Sullivan. She also takes well-aimed shots at the British Empire and the nasty mindset behind colonialism throughout the story. How I love when historical romances manage to stay relevant and thoughtful about the societies they portray. Also, while we have a straight, white couple at the helm, we do have significant side characters who are people of color and a casually sapphic couple.
The romance is a second chance for widow Viscountess Georgiana Fox and retired naval intelligence officer Captain Henry Harris. Since Georgie was freed from her late husband's grasp, she has taken over a textile factory with the aim of listening to and respecting her workers, not least of which includes improved wages and childcare. The story notes that she doesn't deserve applause for basic human decency, but it still stands out as a worthy effort in a world where few make one. I wish we saw more of this in a genre where wealthy philanthropists often get fanfare over doing the bare minimum. Henry is working as a P.I., and Georgie's brother hires him to investigate threats being made against her as she moves to expand her business. Oblivious to their history-- a courtship eight years ago that ended with Georgie's engagement to someone else-- her brother keeps finding ways to force the two stubborn protagonists together in an effort to keep Georgie safe. In some ways, it was a relief that no deep harm had happened in their past, but a basic miscommunication is just as infuriating in a different way to explain their breakup once upon a time. Now, both are convinced they're the only one who ever harbored feelings for the other, so the pining has a hard edge since it's assumed to be unrequited. On the plus side, I love stoic people falling in love, and this book is two for the price of one. Unfortunately, this explains why a miscommunication could stand for so long. With both world champions at guarding their feelings and acting the martyr, no progress is made. No vulnerabilities are bared. And no open conversations are attempted. What we get is a no-strings-attached arrangement over a forced vacation.
Beyond the broad political implications of the story, my favorite parts were the individual journeys of both Georgie and Henry. Georgie is coming out of a shadowy period in her life, one where she was controlled and manipulated by her husband and punished for not bearing him an heir. Before that, she held the weight of responsibility to protect her younger siblings-- a circumstance that led her directly into her toxic marriage. Henry is grappling with his past service for a government that routinely used him as a pawn, seeking petty, vindictive gains that did not inspire patriotism or pride. It left Henry with an injured knee, a mobility aid, and deep emotional trauma, even as that same government touted him as a hero to protect its image.
I love what this story represents and what it means for the genre. Second chance is never my favorite trope, however, and not even a bodyguard dynamic was enough to lighten the load of the angst in the story. The couple seems good together, but we get to see so little of it amidst the flurry of hurt feelings and defensive maneuvers. For romance readers who love the process of seeing two broken hearts mended in a second chance story, I think this will be a winning read. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!
The romance is a second chance for widow Viscountess Georgiana Fox and retired naval intelligence officer Captain Henry Harris. Since Georgie was freed from her late husband's grasp, she has taken over a textile factory with the aim of listening to and respecting her workers, not least of which includes improved wages and childcare. The story notes that she doesn't deserve applause for basic human decency, but it still stands out as a worthy effort in a world where few make one. I wish we saw more of this in a genre where wealthy philanthropists often get fanfare over doing the bare minimum. Henry is working as a P.I., and Georgie's brother hires him to investigate threats being made against her as she moves to expand her business. Oblivious to their history-- a courtship eight years ago that ended with Georgie's engagement to someone else-- her brother keeps finding ways to force the two stubborn protagonists together in an effort to keep Georgie safe. In some ways, it was a relief that no deep harm had happened in their past, but a basic miscommunication is just as infuriating in a different way to explain their breakup once upon a time. Now, both are convinced they're the only one who ever harbored feelings for the other, so the pining has a hard edge since it's assumed to be unrequited. On the plus side, I love stoic people falling in love, and this book is two for the price of one. Unfortunately, this explains why a miscommunication could stand for so long. With both world champions at guarding their feelings and acting the martyr, no progress is made. No vulnerabilities are bared. And no open conversations are attempted. What we get is a no-strings-attached arrangement over a forced vacation.
Beyond the broad political implications of the story, my favorite parts were the individual journeys of both Georgie and Henry. Georgie is coming out of a shadowy period in her life, one where she was controlled and manipulated by her husband and punished for not bearing him an heir. Before that, she held the weight of responsibility to protect her younger siblings-- a circumstance that led her directly into her toxic marriage. Henry is grappling with his past service for a government that routinely used him as a pawn, seeking petty, vindictive gains that did not inspire patriotism or pride. It left Henry with an injured knee, a mobility aid, and deep emotional trauma, even as that same government touted him as a hero to protect its image.
I love what this story represents and what it means for the genre. Second chance is never my favorite trope, however, and not even a bodyguard dynamic was enough to lighten the load of the angst in the story. The couple seems good together, but we get to see so little of it amidst the flurry of hurt feelings and defensive maneuvers. For romance readers who love the process of seeing two broken hearts mended in a second chance story, I think this will be a winning read. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!