The Viscount's Violet

Hell's Heiresses #1

by Ally Hudson

He intends to be her ruin. Until her love becomes his salvation.

Disappointment marks Miss Eliza Wayland’s first season. Overlooked in favor of her vivacious sister, the gaming-hell heiress drowns her sorrows in sour lemonade. When the notorious rake, Lord Sinclair, claims a dance, her biting wit is no match for his charms. In him, she finds the connection and understanding she craves. As their courtship progresses, Eliza blooms under his careful attention—despite her parents’ warnings of thorns.

Benedict’s attendance was no coincidence. Vengeance drives him. Either of the Wayland girls will suit his purpose, but Eliza is the simpler choice. Her life of privilege was built atop the ruins of the Sinclair name, and honor demands repayment. But as Benedict breaches Eliza’s defenses, his own crumble alongside them.

Despite the inconvenient discovery of a conscience, Benedict forges ahead—there is no other path. But to fulfill his duty, he must destroy Eliza, even if he shatters himself in the process.

When the sins of the past refuse to stay buried, deception and desire collide in this first installment of Ally Hudson’s new series, Hell’s Heiresses. Passionate and perilous, The Viscount’s Violet wages a seductive battle between retribution and redemption.

Genres: Historical Romance

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2026

About the author

Ally Hudson is an Amazon bestselling author of steamy Regency romance, crafting captivating tales of love, healing, hope, and family. Her debut series, Most Imprudent Matches, weaves together eight unforgettable love stories spanning decades, blending humor and heart with devoted heroes and capable heroines. Ally’s stories celebrate the countless forms love can take, each one deserving its moment to shine.

When she’s not writing, Ally can be found embroidering, baking, or catering to the every whim of her charming dog, Darcy.

Reviews

[GigiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by this author and I'm happy to report it was a motherforking delight!

Eliza Wayland is a wallflower, seemingly destined to wilt beside her gorgeous popular sister until
the dashing and swoony Lord Sinclair singles her out. He's charming, handsome, heir to a Viscount and doesn't pay any attention to her limelight hogging sister. At first she's a little suspicious but Benedict Sinclair is a stunner, interested in her babbling about her favorite subject botany and seems to have eyes only for her. But girlie should have listened to her gut because good ol Ben has some nefarious reasons for singling out the wallflower:

"The plan remained unchanged: ruin Eliza Wayland, hold her for ransom, restore Blackwood, avenge his father."

Yassss revenge! Ben has been groomed his entire life by his monstrous abusing father to avenge the family honor after Eliza's father ruined him years before. Except there is one tiny hiccup: Ben is down bad for Eliza and her flower loving ways. Like pathetically yearning for the wallflower bad 🥹 Like he steals her glove y'all and does despicably hot things with it.

"She made to take a step before Benedict’s hand caught hers. “Ten seconds,” he whispered, steeling a glance at the still open music room entrance. “Give me ten seconds,” he repeated. “For what?” Benedict’s gaze was heated as he brought her hand up to his full lips. Her heart fluttered at the thought of his lips brushing her knuckles. But he never met expectations. Instead, he placed a kiss on her bare palm."

I'm a gal with simple tastes, all I ask is for high stakes and romantic tension that keep me turning the pages and this book delivered. The MMC was not morally grey, he was a good man that had his conscience beaten out of him by his horrible father, but not really because as soon as he realized Eliza and her family were perfectly lovely, he started to question his entire life.

“It was easier when she was merely a means to an end. I knew my lines then. But every time she looks at me as though I’m worth something… I forget the script.”

The FMC was a wallflower with an edge, she was witty and everyone seemed to underestimate her because she was a wallflower but she put this rake on his knees several times 😏

"Impossibly slowly, his long fingers caught the edge of her grey dress and tangled with the pearls dotting the hem. “Let me. Please.”

The plot was intense, because I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did, the angst was everything I hoped for. The vibes here were pure throwback to the character driven historicals of ye olde times where MCs were allowed to have flaws but yet felt modern at the same time. The writing was really great, the author's voice resembled Elisa Braden's who I adore, the spice was mild to moderate but fit the story. I did think the pacing was a little hinkey at times especially in the third act but everything else made up for it. Highly recommended!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5

Tropes:
Revenge
Class Differences
Pining
Wallflower/Rake

[Imromanticallyinvolved · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow....

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this book and this is my freely given opinion.

A rather dark romance with themes of family, abuse, revenge, deception, and redemption. Definitely be aware that there is scenarios of physical, emotional abuse, and threats of violence and sexual violence in this story, as well as death and loss to name a few. So if you are looking for a sweet romance, or something peaceful and romantic, this may not be for you.

Eliza and her sister, Sophia, are having a Season in London. They straddle two worlds, both heiresses with friends and relations of the aristocracy, but having a father born on the wrong side of the blanket and owner of a notorious gaming hell. While her sister is enjoying all the entertainments of the Season, the quieter, shyer Eliza is having a difficult time of it, feeling the wallflower compared to her sister beauty, social charm, and vibrancy. Used to being overlooked, she was more than charmed when the rakish Lord Sin, Benedict Sinclair, starts to pay court to her, and not her sister.

What she is not aware of is that Benedict and his sister, Arabella, are the children of a man who has blamed her father for the downfall of his fortunes and life, after losing a fortune to him many years ago. Since childhood, Benedict and his sister were witness to their father's behaviour, including an addiction to gambling, and obsession about revenge, and frequent targets of his ire, especially Benedict. He has groomed them to believe the narrative that Eliza's father cheated him out of his fortune, and trained them for his madly obsessive plans for vengeance. Namely, that when Benedict is of age, he will seduce one of the Weyland daughters, and blackmail the family to gain the Sinclair fortunes back, and ruin the Weyland family through public scandal. Arabella and Sinclair are now enacting their father's plan, targetting Eliza as the chosen prey.

The spanner in the works however is that Benedict starts to develop genuine care for Eliza, and after meeting her father and family, starts to question his own father's narrative of the past, and his upbringing, especially comparing his father's abuse compared to the warmth, care, and loyalty the Weylands and their family and friends show each other.

In the end, he cannot go through with the plans, and abandons them, after confessing to Eliza's father. But with his original plan not panning out, Benedict's father is not willing to abandon his desire for revenge against the Weyland's and pivots to another route to destroy them, while taking revenge on his own son.

I found myself genuinely not liking parts of this story, namely because some of the characters were so genuinely unlikeable for me. Arabella was very dogmatic, and aggressive in her pursuit of revenge, and how she was pushing Benedict to follow through on his end. Benedict initially was loathesome to me as well, with his deception and ill-intent towards the innocent and trusting Eliza, and it bothered me quite a bit how much he appeared to thoughtlessly accept his father's narrative and plans for revenge, especially in the context of being abused throughout his childhood. Of course you read about his enlightenment, change of heart and eventual redemption, and eventually the true villains do get their just rewards. But it was difficult to read some parts of this story because of how the darkness and decption in it. It is quite a study in contrasts how different the two families are, and what Arabella and Bendict were raised with, especially after the loss of their mother, who may or may not have been able to provide a mitigating influence against their father's vile hatred and obsession. I am not sure I believe that Benedict could come through that to be a loving partner and parent, or that Eliza would be able to overcome her trauma at the hands of his deception and his father's actions enough for their future together.

But then again, this is a work of fiction and romance, so maybe just believe for the sake of believing?

3.75 stars out of 5

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some of Ally Hudson's other books and enjoyed them. She knows how to write an engaging story and create a world, so I was expecting more of the same with The Viscount's Violet. I was not prepared for the way she completely leveled up here, giving us an old-school wallflower/rake historical romance with a deeply modern sensibility. This book was truly outstanding. Thanks to BookSirens for the complimentary ARC.

Eliza Wayland has spent her first season being overlooked by the ton in favor of her charismatic, stunning twin sister, Sophie. Eliza is pretty, intelligent, and witty, but no one even notices her when Sophie is around. That changes when Benedict, Lord Sinclair, approaches her at a ball and asks her, not Sophie, to dance. She's initially hesitant—men have often feigned interest in her to get to her sister—but it looks like Lord Sinclair is truly interested in her. Eliza's family is cautious, but Sinclair is steadfast and maintains that he didn't know who Eliza was when they met, only that he was attracted to her and wanted an introduction.

But that is a bold-faced lie. Not only does Benedict know who Eliza Wayland is, but he and his sister orchestrated meeting her so he could enact his father's decades-long revenge plot on the Waylands. Benedict is tasked with seducing and ruining one of the Wayland daughters and then holding the information for a catastrophic ransom to avenge his father's gambling losses. And he chose Eliza because she was the wallflower, the easier target. But as Benedict gets to know her, he realizes Eliza is nothing like he thought she'd be and everything he never knew he wanted. He doesn't know if he can go through with ruining the woman he's beginning to fall for, even if it means destroying his own family in the process.

Holy shit, was this book good. This book gave us a huge, old-school historical romance plot with massive stakes, a mix of external and internal conflict, and so much yearning. If you're wondering where all the plot in historical romance went, it's right here. We have a wallflower/rake courtship, a revenge plot, complex family dynamics, a road-trip element, and some light kidnapping. Modern romance writers would typically look at that list of tropes and take all but one or two out. Not Ally Hudson. She just went for it with this book, and I give her so much credit for that choice.

The Viscount's Violet was a big departure from Ally Hudson's previous style because she moved from first person to third person. Typically, third person narration provides a little more distance from the narrating character, but Ally kept us so close to the narrator that the writing was incredibly emotional. Especially with Eliza, she really captured her emotions with the kind of skill I rarely see anymore from newer authors. Eliza's repeated hurts from being overlooked and her complicated feelings around her sister's success were so clear from page one. We spend chapter one with Eliza, and Ally did a phenomenal job of establishing her character and the stakes for her from the jump.

This is a darker book. We have some actual violence on the page, talk of further abuse, and some deeply toxic relationships represented. I thought Ally handled them with care, but do read the CWs.

The Viscount's Violet was so good. If you're looking to try a new indie historical romance author, this is a great place to jump into Ally Hudson's world. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Series, Same Excellent Writing

I read all of the “Most Imprudent Matches” books last fall, and I was delighted to see the stories continue with the children of some prominent couples from those stories. The story of Michael and Juliet was one of my favorites, and it was exciting to read about their daughters’ first season.

Eliza Wayland has been blessed to grow up in a strong family surrounded by love and support. Her parents never leave room for her to wonder whether they love her just the way she is. But who among us hasn’t questioned even the most certain of positions, even among family, during our more difficult moments of figuring out who we are to be in the world?

The consequences of Michael Wayland’s early life choices may have been unintentional, but they exist nonetheless. So arrives Benedict, the son of an angry and abusive man who lost everything to Wayland many years ago and has used that loss as an excuse to destroy what little he has left.

Please make sure you read the author’s note and trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Even if you are fairly certain you will still want to read the book, it is healthier to know what you will encounter in the story beforehand. The author pulls no punches here, depicting the pain of generational inheritance and the cost of both keeping and breaking the realities which we are handed by those who teach us about the world.

Nothing about the story or the characters is guaranteed except the truth of love. Not just love between the two main characters in the story, which of course is the point of the story, but the healing nature of love, the certainty and healing and worth that can be gained and kept no other way. It’s not the fleeting kind, the conditional kind, the powerless kind of affection that stays on the surface, but rather deep, abiding devotion that cannot bear to turn away.

Changing the inheritance between generations requires deliberate choice and effort. That is never more clear than in this story.

If you have read Michael and Juliet’s story before, I would take a quick moment to brush up on those events with a recap or a quick look back at the story’s description before you begin this one.

If you haven’t read Michael and Juliet’s story, that is fine too. This story is complete enough to be read on its own without missing anything.

Importantly, it is possibly to read this book and choose savor, skim, or skip the spicy parts. They are lovely and well written, yet you will not ruin the story for yourself if you prefer not to dwell on them. I emphasize this because there is so much more to this story than that, and the writing of the story and the telling of living truth — with or without the spice — is well worth the time it takes to read it.

Thank you, Ally Hudson, for another outstanding novel. I’ll be watching for the next one.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: enemies to lovers; MMC haunted by the past; revenge plot
Steam level: 2-3
Book 1 of a series

3.5 stars I unfortunately can't quite round up. This started off really well, with a juicy enemies-to-lovers plot brewing. I loved the idea of a brother/sister grifter team, and it's been so long since I've read a HR with the old-school "seduce the daughter of the man who ruined my family" trope. MFC Eliza's relationships with her family members, especially her father, were well portrayed. The banter between the MC's was sharp and the early slow-burn scenes between them were effective (I do think MMC Benedict's sexual innuendo was a little overdone, but I let it slide). It was easy to sympathize with Benedict, in particular; the author did a great job of letting the reader in on his fears and dreams. The glove-stealing scene and its aftermath stood out to me; it managed to be both emotionally moving and sexy, which is really tricky to do.

But much of the second half, after Benedict's ruse was discovered, seemed sketchy. I love a cinnamon roll hero, especially a pugilist who's had to fight his way through life, but Benedict became more of a whipping boy (literally) at this point onward. Eliza waffled between being naive and sexually aware for the entire storyline, but in the second half she teetered toward TSTL in her defiance and lust/ambivalence toward Benedict. And I tried, but I really couldn't like Bella (if she knew what her father had in store, why didn't she try to warn Eliza herself instead of putting her brother in jeopardy again?). Even Eliza's father behaves against character with his plot to lure Benedict's father. (One last nitpick: characters constantly referring to Eliza as the unattractive sister, when it's never clear exactly why she's considered unattractive, and Eliza bemoaning her looks. A little of this goes a long way.)

The pace does pick up in the final chapters, and I enjoyed the epilogue. I just felt like the darker elements of the plot were working against the strength of characterization established in the first half, and the book never quite overcame this. There needed to be more balance.

Overall: great start, but the payoff just wasn't there for me.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest, voluntary review. Thanks to BookSirens and the author for this opportunity.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to the new series by one of my favorite authors! Ally Hudson delivers an unexpectedly dark revenge romance that had me hooked from the start. The plot is very well written, fast-paced, intense and full of heartfelt emotions, past traumas, angst, drama, intrigue, action, humor and spice. Unlike her earlier books, it is no longer written in FOV, but that works just as well for me. The new series is linked to the "Most Imprudent Matches" series and tells the stories of the next generation. I enjoyed meeting many of the earlier characters and seeing them as parents.
Eliza and Benedict are both lovable characters, even though he is initially a vengeful morally gray hero with a troubled past. His inner conflict between loyalty to his family and his growing love for Eliza is palpable throughout the book. Eliza is warm-hearted and intelligent, and her lack of self-confidence is also tangible. I felt sympathy for both of them. I loved their banter, Benedict's flirtation and the sizzling chemistry between them. I also really liked the affection and strong bond in Eliza's family and am already looking forward to the next installments.

During her first season, Eliza Wayland is a wallflower, overshadowed by her popular sister who is surrounded by suitors. She has resigned herself to this, even though it hurts her. Until she meets the attractive Lord Benedict Sinclair, who seems to prefer her to her sister and finds her interesting. She soon falls for his charm.
Benedict, Viscount Sinclair, has come to London with his sister to take revenge on Wayland, who, according to his father, is to blame for their financial ruin. His family has been waiting for this moment for a long time. Their goal is to ruin one of Wayland's two daughters, and wallflower Eliza is the easier target. As Benedict draws Eliza further and further under his spell, he himself succumbs to her charms and is torn between his loyalty to his family and his feelings for Eliza, beginning to doubt his father's accusations. But his sister and his cold-hearted father demand his loyalty and revenge…

If you like dark, emotionally loaded historical romances with appealing characters, intrigue, drama and heat, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Debbie Steed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this first book in this series. 4.5 stars 🌟 for this book.
Lord Benedict Sinclair and Elizabeth (Eliza) Wayland’s story was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The plot was very interesting and well paced. Ms Hudson writes beautifully and with great detail.

Benedict and his sister Arabella have come to London seeking revenge for their father. Their father has a plan to ruin the man who cheated him and took his family fortune. Their father couldn’t seek revenge himself so sent his children to do it for him.

Eliza hated to admit she was a bit jealous of the attention her sister Sophie had from the young men of the ton. Eliza was a wallflower at social events until she meets Arabella at a ball and her brother Benedict was keen to be introduced to her. They seem to be well matched but there are ulterior motives behind the introduction.

This story was definitely a rollercoaster ride of emotions and angst. There were tender moments and events that changed both of them emotionally forever. Benedict and Arabella had a difficult childhood with a hateful and revenge driven father. Eliza’s immediate and extended family are very close and supportive. As Benedict sees how beautiful Eliza is on the inside and out he has feelings he doesn’t understand and finds he’s conflicted avenging his father. This means his father has to take matters into his own hands. When Eliza finds out about the Sinclair’s plans she is heartbroken and vows to never let her heart be hurt again. This makes her vulnerable.
Benedict is torn between love of a good woman and the hate of his father. Eliza is torn between heartbreak and never finding true love. Between them both lies danger and possible death.

The plot is filled with hope and deception, angst and the realisation that love might overcome all.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this book from Booksirens and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revenge, cold and calculated, two decades in the making.
His father a cruel conniving brute who lost the family’s fortune in one night, Benedict is a penniless heir, notorious rake and pugilist harshly groomed to destroy the man's nemesis – her father – and she, the plain one, his sacrificial lamb.
Her father a gaming hell owner, her mother a Lady, her twin a stunning socialite – and she, Eliza, loved but overlooked, overshadowed, a wallflower both in the ballroom and at home. Until a handsome stranger begs for a dance...

He’s the first to choose her, not her sister. Attentive, protective and vulnerable, he’s a man who could easily become her everything.
She’s disarmingly witty and quick, endearingly insecure, kind, caring – everything he doesn’t’ deserve and the one person he shouldn’t crave.

This story contains all these big feelings in a riveting plot with major tropes masterfully crafted into a bold, breathtaking and utterly captivating tale! The stakes are crystal clear from the get-go, and it provides a solid backbone for a deeply emotional and twisted romance.
It’s a darker story with violence, abuse and toxic manipulation, but it’s so thoughtfully written and has this beautiful heartfelt rawness, especially Eliza and Ben’s inner turmoil. Her struggle with feeling second-best, the jealousy she feels towards her sister contrasting with genuine care and love. His angel/devil combo portrayed by a righteous best friend and a viperish sister, his conscience vs duty battle, that deeply ingrained blind hatred that slowly shifts focus. Their yearning for each other, the tension, his sacrifice, her pride. It was both gorgeous and devastating!
I adored seeing the infamous Michael Wayland as a doting father! Older, wiser, a little softer, and I really loved his fatherliness extending beyond his kin; a touching plot twist I won’t spoil.

What a brilliant way to kick-off a new series! This one’s a keeper, and I can hardly wait to find out what happens next!

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 My heart broke for Eliza almost from the beginning because her vulnerability felt real after just meeting her. She isn’t as outwardly vivacious as her twin sister but Eliza is intelligent and full of wit when given a chance. She’s a wallflower with an affinity with cards and would rather spend time in her garden than sit in the parlor during visiting hours.

While you know everything will come crashing to the ground eventually, I found myself forgetting this as Elia and Benedict got to know one another. Only being brought back to reality whenever Benedict did too. Despite the plot and motivation behind Benedict meeting Eliza, there never was a moment that I disliked him. Mainly as it was apparent to the reader how hard he’d fallen with Eliza since their first meeting.

As the plot progresses, the second half gets into darker themes that were alluded to in the first half. The author provides CW in the beginning of the book.

Benedict and his sister are close but they have each kept secrets from one another in hopes of protecting the other. It was interesting how this was explored and brought them together and highlighted their survival.

It wasn’t until I was a few chapters in that I realized this was the next generation of the offspring from the couples in the Most Imprudent Matches. I’ve only been able to read one book from that series so far. I was able to appreciate the continuation of those stories but this could also be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to this series.

The Viscount’s Violet is the first book in the Hell’s Heiresses series.

There are four open door encounters.

I received an advance reader copy via BookSirens. All opinions are my own.

[D Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is an emotional roller coaster...whew!! But it was worth the ride.

I am already familiar with the author's works, having read her "Most Imprudent Matches" series. I am not usually a fan of books written in 1st person, but this author did a fantastic job with the books, and I looked forward to this one, which is the 1st in a new series, "Hell's Heiresses". I was surprised to find it written in third person.

Eliza is a wallflower, pretty, but overshadowed by her more vivacious sister. When Benedict makes a beeline for her at a ball, her family is suspicious, but the two hit it off. Benedict makes sure of that, as he is driven by vengeance, and he figures Eliza is the sister easiest to fool. His father was cheated by Eliza's father, a gaming hell owner.

Benedict makes a few discoveries, and realizes he is in the wrong. Unfortunately, his abusive father will not allow him to stray from the path they (Benedict, his sister, and their father) have planned for a decade.

Ms. Hudson is not wrong when she says this book is darker than her previous books. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Benedict is a person who has never known love or care, he frequently castigates himself, and there is one scene with physical abuse. His journey to believing he is deserving of and accepting real love is sometimes difficult, sometimes sweet, but altogether satisfying. I really enjoyed the book. It was a little long for my taste, and I felt it dragged a bit in some areas, but it's still a keeper. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Spice level 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disappointment marks Miss Eliza Wayland’s first season. Overlooked in favour of her vivacious twin Sophia, the gaming-hell heiress drowns her sorrows in sour lemonade. When the notorious rake, Lord Sinclair, claims a dance, her biting wit is no match for his charms. In him, she finds the connection and understanding she craves. As their courtship progresses, Eliza blooms under his careful attention—despite her parents’ warnings of thorns. However Benedict’s attendance was no coincidence. Vengeance drives his family. Either of the Wayland girls will suit his purpose, but Eliza is the simpler choice.
The start of a new series & this time it’s the children of the characters from The Imprudent Matches who have their stories. So I loved catching up with some of my favourite characters now they have grown children. Of course I came to the series loving the parents so no way did I believe Michael Wayland was the rogue Benedict’s family thought him to be. I loved Eliza & grew to love Benedict, she was a wallflower but came into her own during the book, he had had an abusive childhood & thought he couldn’t love until he fell for Eliza. A very well written engrossing book which although it had its lighter side there were dark moments & the villains were horrid. I began by disliking Bella but was so glad she had a change of heart. The contrast between the two families was amazing, one loving, caring & giving, the other stark & abusive. It’s not a short book but the pages flew by & the epilogue left me smiling
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have Eliza Wayland, intelligent, beautiful and a very gifted horticulturist! Eliza aka Lizzie has a huge inferiority complex because of her sister Sophie she feels that no one really sees her only her dowry and even men go so far as to befriend her to get to Sophie! That was until now. She is introduced to Lady Arabella Sinclair sister to a devastating handsome Lord Benedict Sinclair aka Bennie or Ben!
These two have a chemistry that would burn down a building and at some point that actually happens!
But Lizzie has been singled out for her greatest fear by Ben but he can’t go through with it!
He actually falls for her, ten years of planning and accepting his wastrel father’s word!
But Ben’s father is evil incarnate and he will stop at nothing for revenge! After he nearly kills Ben and Lizzie learns along with her father Michael the devastating truth! All bets are off Michael is a ruthless businessman and protects his own!
It seems that Ben’s fate is sealed and there is no way back to Lizzie even to protect her!
But their love is real and it transcends all manner of evil planned against this couple! If you want to throw your kindle, cry and laugh at a book that is beyond inspiration! Then read this one with a box of tissue handy! One for the emotional rollercoaster and the others for the steam that will fog your glasses! Bravo
I received an ARC copy from BookSirens for my unbiased opinion!

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, WOW. what else can you say about this story. Great cover. So well written that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Full of society, lies, drama, love, abuse, mystery, sadness, hate, revenge and family. The Lord of Sin is in London to get revenge and has a certain family in his eyes. Benedict Sinclair is helping his father, Ambrose, get his revenge on Wayland , the man he blames for cheating him in a card game. Benedict and his sister Bella are working together to find which Wayland sister is the easiest sister to their plans. It's at a ball that Benedict is able to meet the sisters and picks Eliza to use. He asks her to dance and then on he pushes to get to know her, starting with an offer to dance. From that dance on , it's his job to encourage her and push the plan thru. Eliza has always felt that she was the less beauty between the sisters or so she thinks. As they spend more time together, Benedict has a change of heart and heading home.Ambrose takes it upon himself to finish the job. Benedict tries to stand up to him and receives a horrible whipping on his back. When Eliza is kidnapped, Benedict and her father rush to save her from his father's hate. Has lots of sadness and new love. Curl up and enjoy this story, can't wait for book 2 in this series. Would strongly recommend to all.

I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.

[SH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Eliza Wayland enters her first season already resigned to disappointment, overshadowed by her livelier sister and largely ignored by society. When the notorious Lord Sinclair, Benedict, singles her out for a dance, Eliza is caught off guard by his charm and unexpected understanding. Under his steady attention, she begins to bloom, even as her parents warn her that such attentiveness may hide dangerous thorns. What Eliza does not know is that Benedict’s interest is rooted in vengeance. Her family’s wealth was built on the downfall of the Sinclair name, and he believes it is his duty to exact repayment, using either Wayland sister if necessary. Eliza, however, proves far more disarming than he anticipated. As their connection deepens, Benedict finds his carefully constructed resolve crumbling, replaced by an inconvenient conscience and genuine affection.
I found that the strength of this novel lies in its characterisation. Eliza’s quiet wit and emotional vulnerability make her a sympathetic and engaging heroine, while Benedict’s internal conflict adds real weight to the romance. The courtship is tenderly written, allowing their bond to develop naturally, which makes the looming betrayal all the more powerful. A great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic from Ally Hudson

This is an excellent book - well-balanced, exciting, and passionate - with lovely sparks of humour to offset the heavier/darker bits.

It is very well written, especially with regard to Eliza (main female character). I found myself very sympathetic to her from the start as she was being blamed for things totally beyond her control, being victimised for no reason whatsoever, and being so trapped in her life - always having to adapt to the whims of others, regardless of how unfair the situation.

"What had she done? Accepted a dance? That was hardly a crime - in fact it was rather the entire point of a ball."

Even after things had started to look up, the author keeps your emotions going with Eliza's fears:

"And Eliza would stand by the wall on the side of ballroom after ballroom. Alone forevermore."

With time, you can see how she has really grown up as Wayland's daughter.

Benedict (main male character) is suitably complex & multi-dimensional and the supporting characters (especially Sophie & Bella) are just right.

Loved it!


(I was fortunate to receive an ARC however the above is, as ever, my own opinion.)

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the beginning of a new series but the readers of the previous “Most Imprudent Matches” are going to be very pleased. The Hell’s Heiresses are none other than the daughters of Michael and Hugh! This first book features Eliza, one of Michael and Juliet’s twin girls. MMC Benedict has been tasked by his father Lord Blackwood to take revenge on Michael by ruining one of his adored daughters. Predictably, he becomes conflicted once he makes the lady’s acquaintance.

Even if I hadn’t read the first series, I still would have enjoyed this book. I found the family tree at the beginning to be helpful. Benedict’s character undergoes a major evolution. The writing was witty and I found myself rereading some sections. Being Eliza’s father, Michael Wayland sees quite a bit of action in this story. Many other original characters are revisited. My favorite moment was when a lady wearing a dark purple dress made an appearance at the requisite masquerade ball. That scene was just too good! Fans of author Ally Hudson won’t want to miss this book.

I received a free ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.

[HfbR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Elizabeth Wayland and Benedict Sinclair. Benedict’s father believes that he was cheated out of his fortune by Eliza’s gambling father Michael, and he forms a plot for revenge a decade long in the planning. Benedict is supposed to seduce, humiliate and then ransom Eliza, but he’d not planned on the eventuality of his falling in love with her ……..

I was sorry to finish the excellent Most Imprudent Matches series but delighted to discover this new Hell’s Heiresses series where we follow the fortunes of the next generation of the Wayland, Ainsley and Grayson families. It’s a well written book with a good plot which moves at a great pace, and despite being quite long it’s a riveting read which I really enjoyed. I love when a story features favourite old characters as this one does, and there’s the added bonus of some great new ones too. With more books to follow on in the series it looks like another year for some good reading 🐈‍⬛

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[LV · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her new series Ally Hudson expands upon her previous characters stories by writing about the trials and tribulations of their offspring. Although you don't need to have read any of the previous series to enjoy this book, those that are familar with Juliet and Michael, will be extra interested to see how past choices have an impact on their daughters lives. In particular Eliza, a self reclaimed wallflower and the unfairly titled Lord of Sin.

Their story is deeply heartfelt and complex, with huge dolopes of lust and vengence. It's well written and particularly in the last third of the novel, it really explodes into action and drama, where the reader can easily get swept up in the novels events.

There are plenty of new faces as well as familar ones to enjoy. I did find, on a purely personal note that for me some of the secondary characters were more intriguing that the main heroine and hero, at least at the start. It does leave you eager to read their stories particularly Bella's. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lady Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza is shy and beautiful, yet she lives in the shadow of her more outgoing sister. When Benedict approaches her at a ball, her family is wary of his intentions, and for good reason. Driven by revenge, Benedict believes Eliza is the easier sister to deceive, since her father was ruined by Eliza’s father, who was the MMC in the previous book of the series, the owner of an infamous gaming house.

However, Benedict falls in love with Eliza far sooner than expected and quietly abandons the plan that had been years in the making. When he returns home, he faces the consequences of that choice at the hands of a manipulative, narcissistic, and cruel father who thinks only of himself and never hesitates to use his children as pawns in his schemes. The descriptions are rich and detailed, making it easy to vividly imagine each scene and fully feel the emotional weight of the story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series featuring the children of the characters from Imprudent Matches. Miss Eliza Wayland has had a disappointing first season. She is a wallflower, standing in the shadow of her more vivacious twin sister. She is introduced rakish Benedict Sinclair. A dance and a little snarky conversation and Eliza feels a connection with the handsome rogue. Although her parents are wary, Eliza is pleased by his attention. The truth is that their meeting is not a coincidence. Benedict’s cruel and abusive father, Lord Blackmore, seeks vengeance against Michael Wayland through his daughter. This is quite a compelling story. There are some lighted hearted moments, some dark and violent incidents, and chances for truth, redemption, and love. Eliza and Benedict changed during their story. Eliza gained confidence. Benedict learned that he could love and be loved. The story holds your attention and the epilogue is touching.
I received a copy of this book via BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed it.

[ScarletPhoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally Hudson has become an automatic read for me. She lovable crafts such emotive and characters. Benedict can be dark and damaged, which is my favorite type of mmc. Eliza is so relatable and sweet despite her somewhat mysterious unattractiveness. It was lovely to see the Waylands parent their kids, as well as the return of old favorites

I think the revenge plot was a bit flimsy. Benedict's father was terrible, he had always been and what is unbelievable is that Benedict never considered did the idea that his father was lying?

I am excited for Arabella’s story, she was at times too unlikable but ultimately had some redemption. Ally Hudson does well at setting up the future main characters for the series. I am looking forward for what’s planned!

This book was obtained via Book Sirens as an advanced release copy, all opinions are my own.

[Cindy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of a man's becoming his best self because of the love of a woman. Benedict, raised by a brutal father, believes he must do as he's been told: ruin Eliza because her father, Wayland, supposedly cheated his father many years ago. But Benedict's father did not count on the power of love to counteract his cruelty. I hated the scenes in which Benedict's father brutalized him, first as a method of control, and then second, as a punishment for not following his orders. I love it when an evil plot fails to materialize but will Eliza be able to forgive Benedict his supposed lies. I heartily recommend this novel. Although I received a complimentary review copy for free, my opinions are my own and freely given.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by this author, now I want to purchase the other books in the series. This book is about Eliza and Benedict. Eliza is a twin who is having her first season. The problem is Eliza is not popular, like her sister Sophie. Benedict is handsome and is flirting and trying to court Eliza to get back at her father, he is doing this for his father. I have to say I knew Benedict was up to no good, but I still fell in love with him. I loved Eliza’s family and that is why I want to read the past and future books dealing with her family.
I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest opinion.

[Vania - My Little Book Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza and Benedict just clicked in a way that kept me smiling through most of the book. I loved how bold Eliza is and how Benedict went from strait laced to totally falling for her charm without it feeling rushed. The chemistry between them was hot enough to make me fan myself but still grounded in real feelings so it didn’t go overboard. The banter had me laughing and the softer moments made me root for them more than I expected. Not perfect but definitely a delight and I’d happily read more from Ally Hudson.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[TaraSK]

What I love about this author's books is that her characters are relatable and not perfect! They are human and vulnerable and actually grow and evolve through the story! Sure I can appreciate a good alpha hero and steamy scenes, but I am tired of the old tropes about the inevitably "well endowed" and rich MMC that sweeps the FMC off her beleaguered feet and makes her life perfect. Sure it's a good fantasy and we all love the escape from the real world, but this author has a knack for giving the feels, while also having some depth to characters. This book was a great example of that.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always Ally Hudson does not temper her punches. She's delivered a darkish romance with a hero who's unlikeable for a good part of the book, abuse and torment. The heroine is a wonderful person and if you have read past books then her parents are just the kind of people to bring up a beautiful soul like her.

Benedict, falls and falls hard and his redemption arc was believable but his groveling needed to be much longer for all the damage he created.

A good read, but with many trigger warnings.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so captivated by this book that I read straight through the night. I loved the redemption arc of the tortured hero and the growth and self discovery of the heroine. This is a slow burner, but the encounters between Benedict and Eliza sizzle. Even his removal of her glove in the ballroom was erotic enough to give me the vapors. Great plot-line and a well fleshed out supporting cast. I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerfully good book! The emotions are so deep. The feelings between Eliza and Benedict cover all one can possibly feel. Even though the book is linger, it is moves quickly with an excellent story. Benedict's relationship with his father is full of depth and pain. I love Elizabeth father and his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions. This is a great beginning to the series as everyone is introduced and we begin to see glimpses of their personalities.

[Ly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel to be captivating. The main characters, Eliza and Sebastian, are likeable. Their story is heartbreaking, and their chemistry is sizzling.

The plot is intense. The story features intrigue, action, drama, passion, and spice. This novel will leave no one indifferent; it is full of emotions. I recommend this enemies-to-lovers trope.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.