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Halifax Hellions #2
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
For seven years, Matilda Halifax and her twin have been the most scandalous ladies in London. But when Matilda accidentally sells erotic drawings of the brooding, reclusive Marquess of Ashford, she has—perhaps—gone a bit too far.
Christian de Bord, Lord Ashford, knows what it’s like to be notorious. Ever since he was accused of murdering his wife, prurient gossip has kept him isolated from society, alone and determined to protect his adolescent sister Bea. But when Matilda Halifax’s salacious pamphlet appears—featuring his own damned face!—he’s thrust back into the storm of public attention.
Bea’s painting teacher quits. Christian’s life is in an uproar. And the only person he can find to replace Bea’s tutor at his terrifying Gothic castle is Matilda herself. The last thing Christian needs is another scandal—especially not one with the most sinfully tempting face he’s ever seen.
But Matilda is determined to right what she’s set wrong. One fake elopement later, Matilda finds herself in a carriage on the way to Northumberland with Christian, whose scowls do little to hide the wounds he carries or the scorching passion beneath his reserve. Only Matilda Halifax could turn Christian’s disciplined life so decidedly inside out—and only Matilda can persuade him that love just might be worth the risk.
Christian de Bord, Lord Ashford, knows what it’s like to be notorious. Ever since he was accused of murdering his wife, prurient gossip has kept him isolated from society, alone and determined to protect his adolescent sister Bea. But when Matilda Halifax’s salacious pamphlet appears—featuring his own damned face!—he’s thrust back into the storm of public attention.
Bea’s painting teacher quits. Christian’s life is in an uproar. And the only person he can find to replace Bea’s tutor at his terrifying Gothic castle is Matilda herself. The last thing Christian needs is another scandal—especially not one with the most sinfully tempting face he’s ever seen.
But Matilda is determined to right what she’s set wrong. One fake elopement later, Matilda finds herself in a carriage on the way to Northumberland with Christian, whose scowls do little to hide the wounds he carries or the scorching passion beneath his reserve. Only Matilda Halifax could turn Christian’s disciplined life so decidedly inside out—and only Matilda can persuade him that love just might be worth the risk.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2023
281 people are currently reading
1882 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Vasti
12 books1,484 followersAlexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 569 reviews
February 15, 2024
Christian de Bord, the Marquess Ashford, is pretty uptight for a guy with a celestial tattoo on his ass but that’s none of my business. Bearded and with a dashing facial scar, Christian just wants to be left alone to brood darkly in corners; his grumpy plans are thwarted when his likeness begins appearing in a series of erotic drawings, right down to his Star Booty, and it like, totally ruins his day. Matilda Halifax, who is partially responsible for Butt Gate, insists on fixing things, which results in a mangy cat, a suspicious art student, and a very drafty castle. Sisters! Spankings! Thinking-Of-Her Wankings! Can Christian and Matilda overcome their conflicts to find a happily ever after? Yes absolutely.
January 30, 2023
༘⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹。°˖➴ A HEIRESS THAT FAKES AN ELOPEMENT WITH A GRUMPY MARQUESS?
So, if you've read Margo Halifax's story aka book 1, you know that Margo goes after her twin sister Matilda when she finds out she has eloped with a very scandalous Marquess. Margo doesn't know anything and I DIDN'T EITHER. I fully believed that part of the plot didn't matter when I read the first book lmao. But oh boy. Christian de Bord is definitely someone you need to pay attention to.
In this second book, you get a little bit of scenes that happen at the same time as other scenes in the first book. So, you're going to have the bigger picture. Margo in the first book thinks Matilda is eloping with Christian (because Matilda tells her in a letter), but what you don't know is that it is all fake! Matilda is not really eloping, but going to Christian's estate in order to teach his younger sister art and painting.
Christian de Bord is grumpy and easily annoyed by anyone lmao. ESPECIALLY BY MATILDA. But he loves, he loves it, readers. They start corresponding very early on in the novella and it's so cute, hilarious, and super fun. Their dynamic is everything. Christian hates that he likes her so much, so much that when she takes three days to reply to one of his letters, he instantly misses her. He was married before, but his wife died and so he still feels like if he goes near someone else, if he starts caring for someone else, he won't stand it if something like that happens again. He's older than Matilda too! 13 YEARS OLDER. He has grey hairs in his beard!!!!
I adored every second I spent reading these two novellas. Thank you to Nick for talking about them in your socials, because that's the way I found out about them. Nick always has the best recommendations and I'm always searching for more historical romances that completely enrapture me. And this one, and the first book, totally did.
So, if you've read Margo Halifax's story aka book 1, you know that Margo goes after her twin sister Matilda when she finds out she has eloped with a very scandalous Marquess. Margo doesn't know anything and I DIDN'T EITHER. I fully believed that part of the plot didn't matter when I read the first book lmao. But oh boy. Christian de Bord is definitely someone you need to pay attention to.
In this second book, you get a little bit of scenes that happen at the same time as other scenes in the first book. So, you're going to have the bigger picture. Margo in the first book thinks Matilda is eloping with Christian (because Matilda tells her in a letter), but what you don't know is that it is all fake! Matilda is not really eloping, but going to Christian's estate in order to teach his younger sister art and painting.
Christian de Bord is grumpy and easily annoyed by anyone lmao. ESPECIALLY BY MATILDA. But he loves, he loves it, readers. They start corresponding very early on in the novella and it's so cute, hilarious, and super fun. Their dynamic is everything. Christian hates that he likes her so much, so much that when she takes three days to reply to one of his letters, he instantly misses her. He was married before, but his wife died and so he still feels like if he goes near someone else, if he starts caring for someone else, he won't stand it if something like that happens again. He's older than Matilda too! 13 YEARS OLDER. He has grey hairs in his beard!!!!
I adored every second I spent reading these two novellas. Thank you to Nick for talking about them in your socials, because that's the way I found out about them. Nick always has the best recommendations and I'm always searching for more historical romances that completely enrapture me. And this one, and the first book, totally did.
March 8, 2023
hello. some of the (very many) things this novella had that i loved:
- a vegetarian fmc who does erotic painting and falls first
- a bearded (WITH GREY HAIRs), bespectacled mmc who falls harder
- fake eloping
- age gap
- only one dry bed because of a stray cat
- “you annoy me and are disrupting my life… and yet i wouldn’t have it any other way and that BOTHERS ME”
- an epistolary bit
- learning the value of restraint and being a “good girl” 🤭
also. ALSO. i’m p. sure there were nods to my beloved flowers from the storm??? a character called christian is neither here nor there. but a character called christian who shortens the name matilda to mattie and then says “mattie girl”??? !!! those (plus the kittens) are nods and I shan’t be convinced otherwise!!
another fucking delight.
- a vegetarian fmc who does erotic painting and falls first
- a bearded (WITH GREY HAIRs), bespectacled mmc who falls harder
- fake eloping
- age gap
- only one dry bed because of a stray cat
- “you annoy me and are disrupting my life… and yet i wouldn’t have it any other way and that BOTHERS ME”
- an epistolary bit
- learning the value of restraint and being a “good girl” 🤭
also. ALSO. i’m p. sure there were nods to my beloved flowers from the storm??? a character called christian is neither here nor there. but a character called christian who shortens the name matilda to mattie and then says “mattie girl”??? !!! those (plus the kittens) are nods and I shan’t be convinced otherwise!!
another fucking delight.
January 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this! The two were SO HOT!! When he kept saying my wife I CHOKED. and how he made her food accommodations and called Mrs. Perkins to make sure that SHE ate! I screamed!! I also loved the twist from what we thought we knew in book one!
But it was a lot more slow burn than I expected and I liked the length of Margo’s book better than this one. It just felt a bit too long and waffly. It took me a really long time to get through it where I BREEZED through Margo.
Also a few things were of the Chekhov variety and if we’ve got a longer book, maybe make space for them lol. I could’ve maybe done with one more scene. Hate to say it but I kinda missed a good ol missionary classic 🤐
Also sorry but the nickname he gave her at the end took me OUT and not in an AWEEE CUTE way but in a jarring way lol. Hot scene though 🫡
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25/5
But it was a lot more slow burn than I expected and I liked the length of Margo’s book better than this one. It just felt a bit too long and waffly. It took me a really long time to get through it where I BREEZED through Margo.
Also a few things were of the Chekhov variety and if we’ve got a longer book, maybe make space for them lol. I could’ve maybe done with one more scene. Hate to say it but I kinda missed a good ol missionary classic 🤐
Also sorry but the nickname he gave her at the end took me OUT and not in an AWEEE CUTE way but in a jarring way lol. Hot scene though 🫡
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25/5
February 23, 2026
The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti
Historical romance novellas.
The Halifax twins, proper society young ladies decided to rebel against society rules telling them what they couldn’t do. That was seven years ago and their behavior and antics have been written in all the scandal sheets since then. And they are totally fine with that.
Novella 2
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
Christian de Bord hates being in the public eye since his first wife couldn’t handle their married life. Rumors have been persistent since she died. When he finds provocative drawings with his face and identifying marks, he blames Matilda Halifax. She, of course, denies doing the work. Partially. She claims it could be any man and he’s making too much out of it. She’s been interested in him since learning of certain proclivities he prefers that run parallel to her own interests. She makes up a story for her sisters so she can travel to his estate and teach his sister some painting techniques. Matilda is hoping being in his home, that she can persuade Christian to share more than just a little paint.
amusing and provocative romances where the women decide their own fate. Highly entertaining.
Historical romance novellas.
The Halifax twins, proper society young ladies decided to rebel against society rules telling them what they couldn’t do. That was seven years ago and their behavior and antics have been written in all the scandal sheets since then. And they are totally fine with that.
Novella 2
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
Christian de Bord hates being in the public eye since his first wife couldn’t handle their married life. Rumors have been persistent since she died. When he finds provocative drawings with his face and identifying marks, he blames Matilda Halifax. She, of course, denies doing the work. Partially. She claims it could be any man and he’s making too much out of it. She’s been interested in him since learning of certain proclivities he prefers that run parallel to her own interests. She makes up a story for her sisters so she can travel to his estate and teach his sister some painting techniques. Matilda is hoping being in his home, that she can persuade Christian to share more than just a little paint.
amusing and provocative romances where the women decide their own fate. Highly entertaining.
May 3, 2023
3.5 stars
I liked Matilda's (h) book more than her sister's. I struggled with this read and had to put it down several times, though I think it was me and not the book. Matilda has a reputation along with her twin as a hellion, but she also secretly illustrates erotic pamphlets and unintentionally contributed to Christian (H) being the star of one, which leads to him confronting her and then her wanting to make amends since he has his own reputation that's not great already. So she forces him to accept her help as an art tutor for his younger sister, leading to a forced proximity travel sequence to his home. Once they're at his home, she's still trying to help there too. All while both are drowning in desire for the other. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (h had been with 2 people in the past and H had explored when he was younger but not many details given and I got the impression he'd likely been celibate in recent years).
Matilda and Christian were well-developed and I liked the tension that was drawn out between them with their attraction. Even with Christian being conflicted because of the age gap and his past. While they had chemistry, I did think that the slow build/burn of their romance was too slow in pace in the middle, which contributed to me losing focus. Also, as experienced and stern as Christian could be, sometimes he felt too overwhelmed with the situation. It made sense in a way because of his past (he's a widower but it was an unhappy marriage and some think he killed her), but there were times Matilda read more mature to me than he did despite the age difference. There's also a thread of discussion of BDSM as Christian had a reputation of participating in the historical scene when he was younger and Matilda's interested, but sadly this wasn't explored in depth. Still, there are multiple steamy scenes with a touch of spanking and a tiny bit of restraints.
Christian's younger sister, Bea, made for a sweet and emotional side character. Matilda's twin, Margot, is only briefly seen on page, and not with Matilda. Matilda more thinks about Margot so she's still an impactful presence. There's an adorable, mangy cat that gets introduced on the trip from London to Christian's home and the cat wreaks havoc mostly but in a cute, fluffy pet way.
Like book 1, this one also ends abruptly. There are "I love yous" exchanged and talk of marriage, but no epilogue. I did think their relationship was stronger at the end because of how long it took to dive into it and because both characters considered the pro's and con's extensively leading into the actualization of the romance. However, an epilogue would have rounded this out more fully, esp if it included time in London with Bea after they were married.
I liked Matilda's (h) book more than her sister's. I struggled with this read and had to put it down several times, though I think it was me and not the book. Matilda has a reputation along with her twin as a hellion, but she also secretly illustrates erotic pamphlets and unintentionally contributed to Christian (H) being the star of one, which leads to him confronting her and then her wanting to make amends since he has his own reputation that's not great already. So she forces him to accept her help as an art tutor for his younger sister, leading to a forced proximity travel sequence to his home. Once they're at his home, she's still trying to help there too. All while both are drowning in desire for the other. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (h had been with 2 people in the past and H had explored when he was younger but not many details given and I got the impression he'd likely been celibate in recent years).
Matilda and Christian were well-developed and I liked the tension that was drawn out between them with their attraction. Even with Christian being conflicted because of the age gap and his past. While they had chemistry, I did think that the slow build/burn of their romance was too slow in pace in the middle, which contributed to me losing focus. Also, as experienced and stern as Christian could be, sometimes he felt too overwhelmed with the situation. It made sense in a way because of his past (he's a widower but it was an unhappy marriage and some think he killed her), but there were times Matilda read more mature to me than he did despite the age difference. There's also a thread of discussion of BDSM as Christian had a reputation of participating in the historical scene when he was younger and Matilda's interested, but sadly this wasn't explored in depth. Still, there are multiple steamy scenes with a touch of spanking and a tiny bit of restraints.
Christian's younger sister, Bea, made for a sweet and emotional side character. Matilda's twin, Margot, is only briefly seen on page, and not with Matilda. Matilda more thinks about Margot so she's still an impactful presence. There's an adorable, mangy cat that gets introduced on the trip from London to Christian's home and the cat wreaks havoc mostly but in a cute, fluffy pet way.
Like book 1, this one also ends abruptly. There are "I love yous" exchanged and talk of marriage, but no epilogue. I did think their relationship was stronger at the end because of how long it took to dive into it and because both characters considered the pro's and con's extensively leading into the actualization of the romance. However, an epilogue would have rounded this out more fully, esp if it included time in London with Bea after they were married.
May 2, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Road trip romance.
Interesting main characters.
Not a naive or inexperienced heroine.
OK plot.
OK steam.
Rather good romantic build up and chemistry.
Bearded hero.
Heroine that is an artist.
Heroine that is a vegetarian and a animal lover.
Funny/witty moments.
That the main characters wrote letters to each other.
➖ What I disliked:
A little too anachronistic in many places of the story.
The slow-burn was a little bit to slow.
The BDSM parts were a little bit too tame.
A little bit too much push and pull for novella length story.
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Road trip romance.
Interesting main characters.
Not a naive or inexperienced heroine.
OK plot.
OK steam.
Rather good romantic build up and chemistry.
Bearded hero.
Heroine that is an artist.
Heroine that is a vegetarian and a animal lover.
Funny/witty moments.
That the main characters wrote letters to each other.
➖ What I disliked:
A little too anachronistic in many places of the story.
The slow-burn was a little bit to slow.
The BDSM parts were a little bit too tame.
A little bit too much push and pull for novella length story.
January 25, 2023
Note: My bookshelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This stands alone well, but book 1 is delicious and sets up what’s going on here – they take place concurrently for the most part.
Basic plot:
Christian de Bord has finally found who has been drawling salacious pictures of him for a society pamphlet and he is ready to make her pay.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency time period (1821)
- widower Marquess hero
- artist heroine – who perhaps draws porn
- a small section of letters written to each other
- age gap/older hero – hero is 13 years older than the heroine
- vegetarian heroine and an animal lover (with some feline company on page!)
- bespectacled hero
- BEARDED HERO!! (Sorry I yelled. Its just been too long since I was able to say that)
- one bed at the inn
- Medium to high steam – 3 scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- Hero is 38, heroine is 25
My thoughts:
How can another book by Vasti be pure perfection???? I think I liked this one even MORE than the first book, and I didn’t think that was possible.
Vasti has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She has all my favorite things. There’s delicious angsty, emotional pull between the characters. There’s humor. There’s lovely character depth (and somehow she still does this in a novella! A novella!!). Steamy scenes that flare my insides on tug on my heart with their touching intimacy. Humor! It truly has been the absolute best of all the romance catnip for me. I am so in love!
Christian is one of my favorite types of heroes. He’s a bit dark. He has baggage from his past and is torn up inside with his wanting for Matilda, yet determined to stay away. The slow fall of the marquess was delicious.
Matilda was also a delight. I loved how she was trying to find herself and what she wanted in this life. I adored her strength and confidence and I LOVED that she’s a vegetarian (as a fellow vegetarian I never come across this in historical). I loved how sweet she was. I feel for Matilda just as Christian did.
Vasti’s novellas pack the most wonderful punch. I cannot wait for more from her. Can. Not. Wait!
Quotes/thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This stands alone well, but book 1 is delicious and sets up what’s going on here – they take place concurrently for the most part.
Basic plot:
Christian de Bord has finally found who has been drawling salacious pictures of him for a society pamphlet and he is ready to make her pay.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency time period (1821)
- widower Marquess hero
- artist heroine – who perhaps draws porn
- a small section of letters written to each other
- age gap/older hero – hero is 13 years older than the heroine
- vegetarian heroine and an animal lover (with some feline company on page!)
- bespectacled hero
- BEARDED HERO!! (Sorry I yelled. Its just been too long since I was able to say that)
- one bed at the inn
- Medium to high steam – 3 scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- Hero is 38, heroine is 25
My thoughts:
How can another book by Vasti be pure perfection???? I think I liked this one even MORE than the first book, and I didn’t think that was possible.
Vasti has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She has all my favorite things. There’s delicious angsty, emotional pull between the characters. There’s humor. There’s lovely character depth (and somehow she still does this in a novella! A novella!!). Steamy scenes that flare my insides on tug on my heart with their touching intimacy. Humor! It truly has been the absolute best of all the romance catnip for me. I am so in love!
Christian is one of my favorite types of heroes. He’s a bit dark. He has baggage from his past and is torn up inside with his wanting for Matilda, yet determined to stay away. The slow fall of the marquess was delicious.
Matilda was also a delight. I loved how she was trying to find herself and what she wanted in this life. I adored her strength and confidence and I LOVED that she’s a vegetarian (as a fellow vegetarian I never come across this in historical). I loved how sweet she was. I feel for Matilda just as Christian did.
Vasti’s novellas pack the most wonderful punch. I cannot wait for more from her. Can. Not. Wait!
Quotes/thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
March 25, 2025
“I can’t do this. I can’t be what you want.” But his hands, his reckless hands, said the opposite. He gripped her waist and held her still. She held him still: her small bright form his anchor in a world suddenly at sea.
“I don’t want anything but you,” she said.
This one was much better than book 1 in the series. The writing style is just as amusing, the main characters are deeper, the plot is better and the romance is more intense. It’s still a modern HR, but this time it feels less like the heroine has been beamed into the book from the future.
The BDSM aspect is there again, but it’s very, very mild BDSM. Christian orders Matilda around, slaps her on the bottom and ties her hands to the bed, that’s about it. Actually, the sex scenes are pretty appealing – sexy and emotional.
I’m looking forward to Winnie Halifax’s book (after a short break from HRs).
“I don’t want anything but you,” she said.
This one was much better than book 1 in the series. The writing style is just as amusing, the main characters are deeper, the plot is better and the romance is more intense. It’s still a modern HR, but this time it feels less like the heroine has been beamed into the book from the future.
The BDSM aspect is there again, but it’s very, very mild BDSM. Christian orders Matilda around, slaps her on the bottom and ties her hands to the bed, that’s about it. Actually, the sex scenes are pretty appealing – sexy and emotional.
I’m looking forward to Winnie Halifax’s book (after a short break from HRs).
March 12, 2023
2nd in the Halifax Hellions series and a really delightful installment in the adventures of Margo and Matilda Halifax. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two sisters' POV and their individual motivations regarding their scandalous reputation. MMC Christian de Bord is tortured, brooding, growling, and wears glasses. So I'm in, of course. Christian and Matilda have excellent banter throughout the book and so much mutual desire. HERE FOR IT.
MVPs: the cat who creates the only one bed scenario. Well played. Well played. Mrs. Perkins - the housekeeper who has seen and knows it all and reveals nothing. Goals.
Plus: Freckle cataloging continues....
Plus plus: brief epistolary section. Helpless to this I am.
MVPs: the cat who creates the only one bed scenario. Well played. Well played. Mrs. Perkins - the housekeeper who has seen and knows it all and reveals nothing. Goals.
Plus: Freckle cataloging continues....
Plus plus: brief epistolary section. Helpless to this I am.
July 29, 2023
i would die for daddy christian omfg
January 7, 2024
5 stars and going on my top tier list!
170 pages of absolute delight — I basically highlighted the whole novella.
I loved the fun premise: Matilda is a scandalous miss who accidentally published erotic drawings of a Marquess she’s never met. Christian is the Marquess and does not appreciate the notoriety, after years living away from society’s cruel gossip. Shenanigans ✅.
I loved the pace-y regency romp of it all: for plot reasons they go on a road trip. ✅
I loved the *smoking* chemistry between Matilda and Christian — all that banter, build up and restrained passion. He a bit starchy on the outside 😏 and finds her exasperatingly irresistible. She’s brave, secretly soft-hearted and just melts when he goes all growly. Luckily their kinks also match up (mild BDSM play), and it is 🥵. ✅✅
And, last but not least, I loved how swoonworthy this was, because it felt like a story about two characters who were missing something in their lives… each other. ✅✅✅
(Yes, that was cheesy, but I’m basically like this 😍😍😍 right now.)
170 pages of absolute delight — I basically highlighted the whole novella.
I loved the fun premise: Matilda is a scandalous miss who accidentally published erotic drawings of a Marquess she’s never met. Christian is the Marquess and does not appreciate the notoriety, after years living away from society’s cruel gossip. Shenanigans ✅.
I loved the pace-y regency romp of it all: for plot reasons they go on a road trip. ✅
I loved the *smoking* chemistry between Matilda and Christian — all that banter, build up and restrained passion. He a bit starchy on the outside 😏 and finds her exasperatingly irresistible. She’s brave, secretly soft-hearted and just melts when he goes all growly. Luckily their kinks also match up (mild BDSM play), and it is 🥵. ✅✅
And, last but not least, I loved how swoonworthy this was, because it felt like a story about two characters who were missing something in their lives… each other. ✅✅✅
(Yes, that was cheesy, but I’m basically like this 😍😍😍 right now.)
May 5, 2025
Christian de Bord is a grumpy Marquess whose uptight demeanor is a befuddling incongruence to his penchant for whips and the tat on his butt. His perpetual scowling is interrupted when he recognizes himself in some porn and must confront the unscrupulous artist behind it. Matilda Halifax is a classically trained painter who’s been secretly creating erotic art while gracing the covers of every scandal sheet in town. She’s eager to rectify Christian’s affliction and invites herself to his castle under the ruse of an elopement, which does little to quell the molten desire looming beneath his steely reserve. There’s one wet bed and one dry bed due to a fat cat that may have mange. The age gap is hot! His member - erected! And I managed to survive Spankathon de Ashford with my wits still intact, only for Christian to declare himself so eloquently it straight up shattered my limbic structure.
January 8, 2026
christian and matilda <3
July 15, 2023
I enjoyed this more than the first novella. The characters were more fleshed out in my opinion.
I would recommend reading the first novella because the two novellas take place at about the same time. There's a scene where the twin sisters meet (after being separated) and have a conversation. That scene is briefly mentioned in this novella, but the conversation isn't provided in this novella, so if you're reading this one before the first one, you might get a little confused. I know I would if I had read the series out of order, "How did we go from that scene to this new unrelated scene? And what exactly was said between the two sisters? Why didn't the author write what happened?".
I would recommend reading the first novella because the two novellas take place at about the same time. There's a scene where the twin sisters meet (after being separated) and have a conversation. That scene is briefly mentioned in this novella, but the conversation isn't provided in this novella, so if you're reading this one before the first one, you might get a little confused. I know I would if I had read the series out of order, "How did we go from that scene to this new unrelated scene? And what exactly was said between the two sisters? Why didn't the author write what happened?".
February 3, 2023
age gap romance ✔️
grumpy x sunshine ✔️
BDSM ✔️
good smut ✔️
she fell first, he fell harder
Matilda & Christian's chemistry was off the charts. If you like bridgerton, I highly recommend cause you'd love this!
grumpy x sunshine ✔️
BDSM ✔️
good smut ✔️
she fell first, he fell harder
Matilda & Christian's chemistry was off the charts. If you like bridgerton, I highly recommend cause you'd love this!
June 28, 2023
I was expecting this to be, I dunno, more focused on BDSM but it was a bit tame? Then again this is a novella
Super hyped for Vasti's debut though 😌 and Spencer's book!!!
Content warning: past abuse (mentioned), death (side character), explicit sex scenes
Super hyped for Vasti's debut though 😌 and Spencer's book!!!
Content warning: past abuse (mentioned), death (side character), explicit sex scenes
January 16, 2026
She was a runaway carriage, stampeding over his objections. She was a scythe, cutting down any protestations at the root. Her sweet little milkmaid face was an utter lie—she was made of iron and sheer willpower, and he could no sooner remove the cat from her lap than the heart from his own chest.
Highlights
🎨Fake engagement
🎨Age gap (25/38)
🎨FMC is an artist who does erotic drawings
🎨Grumpy hero who despises feelings
🎨Fun banter
🎨Epistolary
🎨One bed
🎨Kink positive
🎨Light BDSM
🎨Loves calling her 'my wife'
🎨MMC absolutely feral for FMC
🎨'Good girl'
Memorable Quotes
His voice was low, gravelly and slow, as though he luxuriated in the feel of her name on his lips. His ice-chip eyes, pale above a dark beard threaded with silver, glittered in the moonlight.
That would be the very next thing he would do, after he found Matilda in St. James’s Park, murdered her, and then saw her safely back to her house in Mayfair.
She feared she had fallen quite off the precipice and could no longer hope to pretend she did not like him.
Her mouth had fallen open. “You … wear spectacles?” she said faintly.
He glared at her through them. “Yes. To read. Because I am old.”
Conversation was likewise impossible. The problem, he had discovered, was that when he talked with her, he—he— He liked her. He fancied her. He thought she was wonderful. It was an absolute goddamned disaster.
Always she preferred to be in charge of her own life—to push back against what was expected of her. Yet there was pleasure too in the choice to submit to this man. In letting his will master her and free her at the same time. In letting go of the control she exercised over herself and her own foolish heart.
That was how she loved, she supposed—recklessly, with abandon. It was why she was so cautious about giving her heart away: because she could not do it by half-measures.
“I know you, Christian de Bord. I want you as you are, with all your scowls and your looming. I like your dreadful old house and your absurd reaction to cats. I see all the kindness and carefulness and love that you try so hard to hide.” She gave him a clear-eyed steady look. “It did not work, you know. You didn’t hide any of it from me.”
“Let it burn.” She turned her face to kiss his palm. “The only world I care about is here.”
“I would cut off my right arm to make you laugh like that every day,” he said. “Or else sacrifice my pride and dignity, which seems rather more likely. I welcome any and all animals that you invite into my home. Hell, start a damn menagerie if you like. Only—” He swallowed. “Only stay here. With me. Please. Forever.”
Highlights
🎨Fake engagement
🎨Age gap (25/38)
🎨FMC is an artist who does erotic drawings
🎨Grumpy hero who despises feelings
🎨Fun banter
🎨Epistolary
🎨One bed
🎨Kink positive
🎨Light BDSM
🎨Loves calling her 'my wife'
🎨MMC absolutely feral for FMC
🎨'Good girl'
Memorable Quotes
His voice was low, gravelly and slow, as though he luxuriated in the feel of her name on his lips. His ice-chip eyes, pale above a dark beard threaded with silver, glittered in the moonlight.
That would be the very next thing he would do, after he found Matilda in St. James’s Park, murdered her, and then saw her safely back to her house in Mayfair.
She feared she had fallen quite off the precipice and could no longer hope to pretend she did not like him.
Her mouth had fallen open. “You … wear spectacles?” she said faintly.
He glared at her through them. “Yes. To read. Because I am old.”
Conversation was likewise impossible. The problem, he had discovered, was that when he talked with her, he—he— He liked her. He fancied her. He thought she was wonderful. It was an absolute goddamned disaster.
Always she preferred to be in charge of her own life—to push back against what was expected of her. Yet there was pleasure too in the choice to submit to this man. In letting his will master her and free her at the same time. In letting go of the control she exercised over herself and her own foolish heart.
That was how she loved, she supposed—recklessly, with abandon. It was why she was so cautious about giving her heart away: because she could not do it by half-measures.
“I know you, Christian de Bord. I want you as you are, with all your scowls and your looming. I like your dreadful old house and your absurd reaction to cats. I see all the kindness and carefulness and love that you try so hard to hide.” She gave him a clear-eyed steady look. “It did not work, you know. You didn’t hide any of it from me.”
“Let it burn.” She turned her face to kiss his palm. “The only world I care about is here.”
“I would cut off my right arm to make you laugh like that every day,” he said. “Or else sacrifice my pride and dignity, which seems rather more likely. I welcome any and all animals that you invite into my home. Hell, start a damn menagerie if you like. Only—” He swallowed. “Only stay here. With me. Please. Forever.”
March 3, 2024
I am devouring these Halifax Hellions novellas/short stories! Alexandra Vasti's writing is amazing and I'm trying to pace myself so I can savor all of her books. These may be on the shorter side, but I'm so impressed that she can deliver such a satisfying and well rounded read. In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint can be read as a standalone, but I think it would be most enjoyed in order since the timeline overlaps a bit with the previous novella, In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation.
Matilda was such a fantastic heroine. She was brave, loving, intelligent, and knew her own heart. I really loved that she took charge and embraced her sexuality. Her scenes with Christian were smoking hot and were handled with such care. I appreciated that there wasn't any third act break up and that the drama was external to the couple. I'm sad that there is just one more story in this series.
The audiobook narration by Mhairi Morrison was fantastic and she did such an amazing job bringing all the characters to life. I had no problems differentiating between characters and I found her performance as Matilda especially wonderful.
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4.5 stars
CW: death of parents (past), death of spouse (past), grief, mention of past attempted sexual assault and resulting expulsion from school
Matilda was such a fantastic heroine. She was brave, loving, intelligent, and knew her own heart. I really loved that she took charge and embraced her sexuality. Her scenes with Christian were smoking hot and were handled with such care. I appreciated that there wasn't any third act break up and that the drama was external to the couple. I'm sad that there is just one more story in this series.
The audiobook narration by Mhairi Morrison was fantastic and she did such an amazing job bringing all the characters to life. I had no problems differentiating between characters and I found her performance as Matilda especially wonderful.
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4.5 stars
CW: death of parents (past), death of spouse (past), grief, mention of past attempted sexual assault and resulting expulsion from school
June 3, 2023
4.5 stars
March 15, 2023
*4.5 stars*
April 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this historical novella! There were some epistolary elements early on that were hilarious and perfect. Excellent gruff mmc.
July 1, 2023
I LOVED this. Every part of it. The reluctance with which Christian becomes completely smitten. Matilda's unwavering determination to bring light and happiness into his household for however long she stays. How both characters are so considerate of one another and so kind to one another amidst the brooding, arguing, and unresolved sexual tension. The way Christian learned to open himself up again and be "brought back to life". The sexual chemistry. How much they both wanted Matilda to stay before either admitted it. I could have read 100 more pages of them dancing around one another and slowly coming together and I would have loved every second of it.
May 20, 2025
I love Matilda, our softhearted brave strong girl. Her love with Christian requires so much trust and bravery, and I loved following their story as they learn to trust each other and be brave. Alexandra Vasti’s writing is so funny and witty and I love how real her characters feel - they’re flawed but they’re growing.
January 5, 2024
absolutely perfect, i have no words
January 22, 2024
Another fun short novella! Enjoyed this and I feel like it was done well. Excited to read more from Alexandra Vasti!
June 19, 2024
Spank me, Daddy! Err, Christian. Not Daddy. But if he were alive today it would be Daddy, just sayin...
If I ever get another cat I'm naming her A.K.
If I ever get another cat I'm naming her A.K.
November 6, 2023
This part of the series had a more interesting background, but on the other hand, it was even more tinted by a modern perspective and there was more sex than in the previous one. So, for one reason I liked it better, for the other - I liked it less.
Perhaps, Alexandra Vasti's long/normal novel will be better balanced.
[2.5-3 stars]
PS You can get this novella for free from the author's website.
Perhaps, Alexandra Vasti's long/normal novel will be better balanced.
[2.5-3 stars]
PS You can get this novella for free from the author's website.
January 24, 2025
tres cute! i love my little bondage kids.
February 19, 2026
A bdsm faring vegetarian with a penchant for a man 13 years her senior… wait, is this fucking play about us?!
I LOVED IT.
I LOVED IT.
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