The Hero and the Hellion

The Somerton Scandals #3

by Ava Devlin

One Last Scandal, for Old Time's Sake ...

A  Hero's Homecoming

Lieutenant Callum Laughlin has spent four long years at war. Finally, he has enough status and fortune to return to Yorkshire and reclaim the woman of his dreams - a girl he could never have wed when he was a mere stable boy. What awaits him at Somerton is far from the warm welcome he imagined.

A Hellion's Heartache

Lady Heloise Somers has carefully rebuilt her life, tucking away her wild nature. In the last four years, she has chosen to trade the life of a noble and any hopes for marriage in favor of becoming a midwife and spinster "aunt" to her secret daughter. She never expected to see the father of her child again, but Callum Laughlin's return from the Continent throws her world into chaos. One wrong step could shatter the lies she has carefully constructed and reveal her scandalous truth to the world.

History, Healing, and Hope

As the Somers family gathers to celebrate the New Year, Heloise does her best to keep her distance from Callum, lest he discover her secret. When disaster sparks in the nearby township, the two are forced to work together to save the people they care about. 

Rebuilding the township is no easy matter, and the lure of old feelings and new temptations catch both Heloise and Callum in their grip. Is the broken love between them beyond repair, or can it be mended through love, forgiveness, and a touch of irresistible attraction?

The Hero and the Hellion is the third installment in The Somerton Scandals series, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Second Chance, Fiction, Historical Fiction

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2020

About the author

Ava Devlin writes sweet and steamy Regency romances. She lives in New York City and believes that diving into fantasies of 19th century England provides an excellent reprieve from hectic metropolitan life.

Ava has been writing love stories for as long as she can remember, and spent her teen years swooning over classic romance novels. In her 20s, she moved to Britain and spent a year exploring the sights, experiences, and history that have made the Regency era such an enduring time of fascination and romance. Afterward, she spent several months living the life of a governess as an au pair in the French Alps, which only heightened the romance of her time abroad.

Today, she splits her time between her writing, her day job, and an excessive amount of dog cuddles. She loves nothing more than hearing from her readers, so feel free to drop her a line at ava@avadevlin.com.

Reviews

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's a titled lady raising her much loved illegitimate daughter. The H had left years to become a better man for her. She loved him and was hurt when he left. Now she's a midwife and a valued member of the community. Loved the scene when he meets his daughter, he had no idea about her. Good example of the social barriers they faced. The women are the real heroes here.

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

An light read but nothing truly interesting happens.

[Carole Burant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story and I really enjoyed reading it. You have a hero back from the war who can't wait to reunite with the love he'd left behind, a lady turned midwife who has a secret and a disastrous fire that affects their hometown. I loved how the whole town rallies together to help out all those who lost everything in the fire and amidst all of that, the way Callum and Heloise reignite the love they once had. Callum has no idea what he left behind when he went to war and Heloise doesn't know if he'll ever forgive her. I cried at the way he finds out....I could just picture it all in my mind, such a precious scene.

I had to smile at the way Callum was determined to court Heloise the right way and her impatience with it....made for some humorous scenes:) There were a few twist and turns as well and I really thought the story well written. Would definitely recommend.

I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

After four long years at war, Callum Laughlin is finally returning home to Yorkshire, having made something of himself and secured enough of a fortune to reclaim the love he left behind. Now that he’s raised himself above the role of stable boy and become someone his well-bred love can marry, he’s surprised by the lukewarm welcome he receives.

Heloise Somers has overcome her impetuous nature, for the most part, living the life of a staid spinster, working to help those in her village as a midwife, and taking on the role of doting “aunt” to the child who is secretly her daughter. She didn’t really think Callum would ever return and seeing him back at Somerton rocks her well-ordered life, leaving her terrified of having her secrets revealed.

With the entire Somers family gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Heloise avoids Callum, trying to hide their child, but when the village faces a crisis, they must come together to help their people. As they rebuild the town, their unchanged feelings become impossible to ignore and both Heloise and Callum begin to work at true forgiveness and rebuilding their love.

I was a bit nervous about this one just because I have not been loving second chance stories lately, but this one was well done. Heloise was understandably annoyed at the way Callum left, but this animosity was not allowed to drag on or be blown up too much. Heloise wasn’t always the nicest to Callum and she was keeping a secret from him that she had no right to, but she realized this too and also asked his forgiveness rather than just demanding his apology. Callum also realized he shouldn’t have let his pride get in the way by assuming he knew what Heloise would want. They had both made mistakes, but each was willing to admit it and neither did much in the way of trying to pretend they didn’t still love each other. I usually don’t care for children in romances, but Callum’s reunion with the daughter he didn’t know he had was absolutely adorable. Sometimes emotional scenes with tears from the hero just really work and this was one of those times. I loved the role Heloise’s mother played in this scene and how supportive she was in working everything out for Callum, Heloise and their daughter in the most delightful way. I’m surprised to say it given this trope, but I think this is my favorite book of the series.

Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hero and the Hellion: A Steamy Regency Historical Romance
The Somerton Scandals Series #3
Ava Devlin
https://www.facebook.com/AvaDevlinRom...
Release date 01/28/2020

Blurb

One Last Scandal, for Old Time's Sake ...
A Hero's Homecoming

Lieutenant Callum Laughlin has spent four long years at war. Finally, he has enough status and fortune to return to Yorkshire and reclaim the woman of his dreams - a girl he could never have wed when he was a mere stable boy. What awaits him at Somerton is far from the warm welcome he imagined.

A Hellion's Heartache

Lady Heloise Somers has carefully rebuilt her life, tucking away her wild nature. In the last four years, she has chosen to trade the life of a noble and any hopes for marriage in favor of becoming a midwife and spinster "aunt" to her secret daughter. She never expected to see the father of her child again, but Callum Laughlin's return from the Continent throws her world into chaos. One wrong step could shatter the lies she has carefully constructed and reveal her scandalous truth to the world.

History, Healing, and Hope

As the Somers family gathers to celebrate the New Year, Heloise does her best to keep her distance from Callum, lest he discover her secret. When disaster sparks in the nearby township, the two are forced to work together to save the people they care about.
Rebuilding the township is no easy matter, and the lure of old feelings and new temptations catch both Heloise and Callum in their grip. Is the broken love between them beyond repair, or can it be mended through love, forgiveness, and a touch of irresistible attraction?

My review

Can their young love get a second chance years later when a secret is looming between them ...

I have read the previous book in this series and it is with joy I am to say I very enjoyed the last book in this series.
I meet Heloise in her brother’s story, as she was his bride-to-be nemesis, and with her, the secret she hides from everyone.
This book is one kaleidoscope of the sensations, I laughed at the quips and barbs they throw at each other, I cried at some intense and moving moments, and for sure at every turn of the story I rooted for them, because despite their mistakes and flaws, they are perfect for one another.
Heloise emerges stronger from her predicament, whatever everything, she faces her situation and built a new life for her and a chance of happiness for her daughter.
Still, she had to let her love go. And she does not see how they can expect for a future together when so much now has come between them and might keep them apart.
Callum thought he was doing the right thing to prove he was worthy of Heloise’s love. But four years is a long time, worse if without news.
Still he never forgot his first love and now he is back, he plans to prove he now is deserving of her affection. But those years apart have changed both of them. she is no more the innocent young woman he left, she has in some way moved and created a new life for herself.

I liked that their reunion was not one of crazy angst, things might have been said but they were not to the point of no return, each expressing its personal view. It could have been a story driven by ire when in fact it is a tale of letting the past go, of rekindling an old love to morph it in a brand new one.
Mrs Ava Devlin has matured her characters to give them a well thought, about their estrangement, tale of second chance. They never stopped to love one another but live came between them. And the author handled it perfectly dosing each feeling, to bake the right tale of reaching adulthood and the prices some may pay for careless actions.
A 5 stars tale full of smiles, laughers, sorrows but hopes too.

I was granted an advance copy by the author and purchased my own ecopy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was a very satisfying read. Heloise Somers, sister of the lord of the Manor, worked as a midwife for the people in her village. She was still as determined as in her youth, when she had fallen in love with their stable boy, Callum Laughlin. Callum has been away at war for 4 years and now returns as a hero and a Lieutenant in the army. Heloise hadn’t heard from him in all this time but she hadn’t forgotten him, nor had Callum forgotten her. However, there are a number of things that have changed since they were last together. There is also the mystery of who the father is of the baby expected by an unmarried woman. There is a surprising event that helps to bring matters to a head. This was a good paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/5/2020)! 🎁

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She knew." Heloise Summers could feel a shift in the air. Then there he was, Callum was back.- paraphrased. It had been four years since she had last seen him when he went off to war. Leaving her and she was a different person now. So much had happened.
A young love that was wonderful, then Callum had gone to war in order to make his fortune and improve his status from a stable boy. Be worthy of Lady Heloise. But he did not receive the welcome back he expected.
She had survived by being an "aunt" to her daughter, a product of their love and turned herself into a midwife, determined to be a spinster.
But fate has a way of bringing the past forward and the two are thrown back together. Can they find the old love they had for each other?
A truly wonderful heartwarming story that I could not stop once I turned the first page. Don't miss it.

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. It was a little slow at first but it got better.

[Sandra Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good historical romance, and a good ending to the series, but I did have a few issues with it. It gets 3.5 stars from me, rounded up to 4 stars.

I would recommend you read the prequel to this series (The Dreamer and the Debutante) before reading this series. It will explain a great deal about Heloise and Callum's history. You can read this series without it, but you will enjoy the series more if you read the prequel. The prequel is available for free from a link the author provides at the end of this book.

Callum is likable, but I agree with Heloise's comment that he was kind of a snob. He thought servants (including his mother and himself) were beneath Heloise and her family, and that a servant could never be good enough to marry Heloise. His determination to change his status caused them many problems.

I've always liked Heloise, but I agree that she was a bit of a hellion in the prequel. It was as if she was determined not to mold herself to the expectations of her family and social class, and that included playing pranks on the mean girls in her school. She was much better in this book, as she had matured and was settled on being a good mother. I liked that she had finally gotten over her teenage feud with Gloriana.

I understood why Heloise was angry at Callum for leaving. She needed him when she found out she was pregnant, and ended up having to deal with her pregnancy without him. I was glad when she forgave him and realized she still loved him, though. I liked that they finally found their HEA.

My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can They Pick Up Where They Left Off?

This book is the final one about the Somers’ siblings. We have seen glimpses of Heloise’s story in the other two books. Now it is time for her HEA. But what a convoluted road it is. I found the very beginning of the book a little confusing with the fairy tale and the heroine’s nightly struggles with her dreams, and these only really made more sense later. The Heloise we meet in this book has grown up in so many ways, mostly because she bore her her stable hand boyfriend's daughter alone, but with the support of her family, while he went off to seek his fortune so he could marry her. He didn't feel right living off of her dowry. He leaves with barely a word back then and doesn't know she is with child.

But all that is prologue before this story. Now, some four years later, Heloise must keep up the pretense that she is her daughter's aunt. The boyfriend returns from war, hoping to pick up where they left off. She's conflicted on many levels, as she felt abandoned by him and subsequently went through so much in his absence. So they're meeting is certainly not quite what he expected his homecoming to be. She is conflicted about whether or not to tell him about their daughter. As they're both trying to figure out what to do next, a fire overtakes the township that her brother’s viscountcy holds. Things also get a little steamy in the aftermath, which I found surprising because of the way that she was feeling towards him at the time.

I found this book surprisingly engaging and quite the page-turner. I really quite liked the hero, who felt out of place coming home after four years at war; he simply wanted the woman he loved. Like the heroine, I wasn't quite sure what his reaction was going to be about his daughter, but it actually was a quite beautifully done scene that brought tears to my eyes. The Somers are quite a complex family, and I've enjoyed reading about them in this series.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fairy tale prologue both enchanted and puzzled me, but knowing a bit of Heloise's secret from the prior books hinted that revealing all would complete the tale. For four years Heloise and her family have successfully hidden her unwed mother state from all outside their tight group. She contentedly embraces a life of service to the family estate villagers as midwife and assistant to the local doctor. Heloise feels caught between the high class of her birth and her chosen world of common humanity. She lives constantly with the hurt of abandonment by the childhood love who fathered the daughter who only knows her as "Aunt Hel." Only her oldest brother's wife knows her lover's identity. Callum Laughlin spent four years fighting on the continent hoping to lift himself from mere stable boy status to a rank and financial level worthy of a daughter of the estate, his childhood love, Heloise. He held her in his heart through all the battles and all the lonely nights. Now he returns triumphant and expecting a warm, happy welcome and reunion with the girl he left behind. But no, instead Heloise avoids him, acts distant and awkward in his presence. Needless to say, much must be worked through, brought to light, and healed for Heloise and Callum to make a life together as they had once planned. The process unfolds a they work together with family and villagers to save, treat the injured, and rebuild after a midnight New Year's Eve fire destroyed much of the village. Some explicit sex, but that does not detract from the emotional tension so important to reestablish the relationship between Heloise and Callum. Quite frankly, chapter one did not grab me into the story, and I almost closed the book. However, I ended up enjoying the read which pulled together all the loose ends of this trilogy.

[Gerda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb sounded interesting, the first chapters were well written.
But then the inconsistencies started. My pet peeve are timelines and I always calculate and compare the passing years with the age of hero/heroine. Here it doesn't add up. Callum and Heloise apparently had a tryst when she was 16 years old - stableboy and lady in those times?- and carried on for the next three!!! years whenever she was at Somerton. They often had intercourse without thinking of consequences, they only realized their irresponsible behaviour after reuniting, and tough luck he left to become a soldier while she, aged 19, went back to ladies's finishing school in Bath. Usually young ladies left said school with 17 or 18 at the latest to go to London and have their season. Heloise soon discovers that she is pregnant, no mother in the picture (she returned to the Americas when her husband died) and her brothers somehow help her. The dowager viscountess returns and they manage to make everybody believe she returned with an baby orphan in tow. How would they pull that off? Housemaids and footmen gossip, there is no way they could manage to live in the dower house without staff and keep Heloise giving birth a secret.
When Callum returns he is invited to stay with nobility instead of the servants' quarters - just because he is an officer. That family is too progressive thinking, that might be the American mother's influence but she only plays a minor role.
Imparting her knowledge about contraceptice methods to her sister-in-law was interesting but I suppose the midwifes at that time knew some more.
The sideplot about the doctor and the pregnant young woman was very vague, what was her job in the village?
Overall it was a fast read but unfortunately very superficial story.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three of the Somerton Scandels was just as delightful as the others. If you are a fan of Regency Romance, you should give this series a try. The books are well written and sprinkled with laughter. This is a steamy Regency Romance, therefore there are some sexual scenes within the book as well.

After four long years, Callum Laughlin, now a Lieutenant, is intent on returning to Yorkshire and the love he left behind, Lady Heloise Somers. He had been in love with Heloise as long as he could remember, but being a lowly stable boy, he knew her brother would not find him acceptable. But now that he had made his fortune, he was ready to claim the woman whom there was no equal to. But upon his return to Somerton, he discovers things have changed. Lady Heloise is as beautiful as ever, but she is very much changed.

When Callum left her behind and joined the military Heloise was shattered. After his leaving, she had returned to school but soon discovered she would have to leave school and return to Somerton in order to keep her secret. Now, after she has rebuilt her life, Callum has returned. And if she's not careful, Callum will discover what she has taken great pains to hide in the years he has been gone.

But as tragedy strikes the nearby township, Callum and Heloise are forced to work side by side to help the people. Callum is determined to regain Heloise's affection and make her his wife. Meanwhile, Heloise is trying to fight the undeniable attraction that still draws her to Callum. Can they rebuild their relationship as they work to rebuild the town?

I received an ARC through the author's ARC team and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[D Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good regency romance

"Once you know something is precious to you, all you can do from that point onward is hold it close and defend it from any who might take it from you."

A delightful story. Callum comes home, intending to pick up where they left off, now that he has money and a rank, worthy of her. Heloise has had to make a lot of adjustments to her life because of an unexpected pregnancy and birth, and isn't ready.

The character development was good. References to past history among a variety of characters shed light on everyone, especially Heloise and Callum. There were times I wondered if I'd missed some event in a previous book that seemed understood by the characters, and while it wasn't crucial, it left me feeling like there was a hole. The plot was good, entirely driven by characters and their decisions. The setting was well done, too, with the fire constrained by cold, the supplies showed by icy roads, etc. Another part of the setting was the role of midwifery, which was enlightening to read about.

Do I need to read books before this one: no, though it's obvious there are stories I missed
Would I read more of the series: yes
Cliffhanger: no
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS
Sex: pregnancy years ago, 2 scenes mildly described
Language: 0 F words, 4 Lord's name in vain, 0 S words
Violence: fire (no deaths)

CRITIQUE (spoilers)
I don't know why she's not happy he's home. She went from remembering their summer of love to resentment pretty quick with no explanation.

Reverend Halliwell seems incredibly flexible with lying on wedding certificates about the date.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE HEART POUNDING JOURNEY!!!
Chin up! Ava rocks the beat, unleashing one breath taking and unique spin with all the frills and wonder, striking the match, lighting the fuse and blasting this baby together piece by piece seamlessly. A tumultuous wild ride with a bevy of unexpected events and inadvertent consistencies, catapults this little fella to a whole new level. Blazing a path, seizing the reigns and running the show, throwing this little fella into a tailspin for one prize winning, block busting culmination. Add turmoil, secrets, distress and perplexing situations along with a boatload of trouble, you have one chart topping adventure. Meting out incredible, well rounded scenario's, ramping up the exuberance and style with such intensity and precision, blasting this gem to life spectacularly. Bumbling through the trials and tribulations, shocking twists, stunning turns and crisp lines, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The attraction and chemistry builds as each layer is peeled back exposing an undeniable bond and amplifying affections, binding them together perfectly. The characters are authentic and genuine with depth and qualities that transform into amazing personalities. The scenes are so abundantly detailed and descriptive as to give you a full understanding and realism that balance and blend smoothly. Fantastic job Ava, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.

[EstelaReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starring Heloise Somers and Callum Laughlin. Characters with established history... secret baby... second chance romance tropes.

I have been anticipating this story since I read the prequel, THE DREAMER AND THE DEBUTANTE... and this book did not disappoint, y’all!!!

I absolutely looooove Callum and Helloise... their first meeting (after years of separation) was such a punch to the gut. I could feel Heloise’s fears and resentment just as strongly as I could feel Callum’s confusion over it. Their road to HEA was so bittersweet and these two had a lot to workout. But there was no denying that their bond was strong and what they felt for each other was everlasting. I was soooooooo ugly crying for Callum and Heloise... and Callie.

This book was the perfect end to the Somerton Scandal Series. Ava Devlin did an amazing job wrapping it all up. I can not wait to see what she has in store for us with her next books. I will read whatever she writes. Total keeper shelf author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.

My star rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were amazing. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!

[Henry Percy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 2020 novel with 2020 attitudes, superimposed onto the Regency. Well, sort of. Except for riding horses and other superficial details, this has none of the feel of the early 19th century.

Spoiler Alert

Heloise, earl's daugher, Callum the stableboy. They grow up roving over the countryside together. He knocks her up, then leaves to be a soldier (does not know she's preggers). She has the baby and no one is the wiser: she writes mama, the dowager countess, who comes back from America, and the 3 live in the dowager house. Who would guess that she's not auntie but mama?

You see, Heloise is strong and becomes a midwife. She wants to be a commoner. Yup, that's what the aristocracy aspired to during the Regency. Callum comes back from the wars 4 years later, thinking Heloise will be waiting for him. She's still mad because he never wrote. But there's that electric something whenever he's near. Oooh!

She finally tells her family that the girl is hers and she's going to marry Callum. No one blinks an eye. Riiight.

Oh, as a midwife she befriends a village girl about to give birth without a husband. The dad turns out to be the doctor, whom she shames into marrying the girl.

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callum has been away at war for the last four years. He joined the army in hopes of bettering himself.
He grew up working in the stables and the woman he is in love with is the sister of a Viscount. Knowing that he couldn't provide for her they way he wanted to, he did what he had to, even if if meant leaving the woman he loved for four years. As soon as he accomplishes what he set out to do, he rushes home to claim his love, but she doesn't seem too eager to start where they left off.

Heloise is heartbroken when Callum leaves her. But that takes a back seat when she learns she is pregnant. Heloise is not about to give up her daughter and the family decides to claim the child as an orphaned cousin. She spends her time raising her daughter and acting as the local midwife. When Callum returns, she tries to keep her distance. But she soon realizes that their love for one another hasn't died. What will happen when he learns of their child?

I loved Callum and Heloise's story!! I have eagerly awaited reading their HEA since I read The Dreamer and the Debutant and then watched Heloise mature through her brother's stories. I just loved watching these two together!! Even though they spent many years apart, their love never wavered. Devlin hit it out of the park with this one!!

[Lenna Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read their love story before Callum left to serve in war to gain the station for him to properly court his love Heloise. 4 years after Lieutenant Callum Laughlin came home and found his love had turn into hard woman where he is concerned.
Heloise had her daughter but only in secret and with her family can she be the mother to her princess but in public her mother title is ‘Auntie’.
Her former nemesis from school, her sister in law’s cousin Gloriana is going to be her new sister in law with her brother Alex. Heloise still say certain things about Glory but she’s grown up a lot since her baby was born. She happy to be a mother and a midwife for Rose and for the other women in town but her other charge is a close to pop. Her heart will be tested when her past comes back into her life and trying to get her to talk him, she keeps her distance when she see’s him near. But their connection will always bring these two together no matter how much Heloise fights it. Will she lower her guard and welcome back her love and will Callum love his daughter or will these two loves be forced to live their own lives apart???

[Melanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full circle in a whirlwind of love and secrets

Heloise is the hellion. The unconventional Lady Somers who lives in the dowager's house with her mother and the "American orphan" Callie. She works as a midwife - something no lady would ever do. She hides two secrets no lady should ever reveal, until the hero arrives. Callum Laughlin was a stable boy. He was Heloise' childhood playmate, and when childhood gave way to youth, he was her first lover. But then he had a rare chance, the opportunity its to become more than a servant, and he left to pursue his fortune. Four years later... Nothing Callum or Heloise ever imagined, and everything they could ever have hoped for, is within their grasp. A searingly passionate and angst-fraught love story, told against a backdrop of tragedy, even more scandal, and the steadfast ties that hold a family and a village together, The Hero and the Hellion brings the Somerton saga full circle, finishing the tale of rebellion, redemption, and romance for all three Somers siblings. Wonderful !!! (This has been a voluntary ARC review)

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Princess👸And The Stable 👦Boy💘

ADULT Regency Romance💞

This is a very sweet but ADULT themed historical romance💞 where Heloise Somers👸, the daughter of nobles, loves Callum, a stable 👦boy.

They eventually have teenage affair, then Callum🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫 goes off to war, because he wants to be a knight and a hero. His mentor buys a commission for him, and he becomes an officer and then during a fight, he does become a true hero!

Four years have passed and Callum🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫 can't wait to get back to Somerton🏰. He wrote to his mother, a servant there, but never to Heloise👸, since they could never be together. But now, as a knight, he has a title and lands!

Heloise👸 often tells her little daughter, Caroline🙎, the tale of the Princess👸 who loved the stable 👦boy. It's her favorite bedtime story, and of course, as all sweet fairy tales do, it has a happy ending...

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got the ebook with KU.

I Loved this well written tale of forbidden 💘Love!

[Martha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Young Lovers Given a Second Chance

When stable boy Callum left the only woman he would ever love for the war, he had no idea that she was pregnant with his child. His return four years later was not to a waiting Lady Heloise, but to a hurt and angry woman who did not seem glad to see him.

Beautifully written, The Hero and the Hellion is more than just a steamy romance. It is a study of human emotions when life goes awry. Ava Devlin has not only written a tender and emotional story, she has birthed interesting and believable characters. I was immediately drawn into this tale from the prologue and kept reading right through to the last word of the epilogue.

Content alert: Although the mild swearing is kept to a minimum, however there are two moderately described sexually intimate scenes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It reads like a fairy tale, as the book begins. The daughter of a viscount who falls in love with the stable boy. A happily ever after doesn't seem to be in it. The stable boy, Callum, thinks he is not enough for her class and decides to report as a soldier, leaving Helouise to earn his fortun not knowing that she is pregnant with him.
Life is not easy for Helouise if she has to hide from outsiders that she is an unmarried mother. In the time where the story plays, that is a great sin. When Callum returns from the war, they don't know where they stand opposite each other, but their feelings are all but quenched. A major fire in their village forces Helouise and Callum to work together. Can their love blossom again? And how will he respond to their child?
A wonderful book to read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hero's Homecoming

A Hero's Homecoming

History, Healing, and Hope

As the Somers family gathers to celebrate the New Year, Heloise does her best to keep her distance from Callum, lest he discover her secret.
Rebuilding the township is no easy matter, and the lure of old feelings and new temptations catch both Heloise and Callum in their grip. Is the broken love between them beyond repair?

This book is the third installment in The Somerton Scandals series, but you need not read them all to enjoy it as a stand-alone story. This is in fact the first time I have read a book by this author.
I liked it but did not love it so I gave it 4.25 of 5.0 stars.
If you enjoy steamy love scenes, passionate romance, and a sweet happily ever after, grab your copy today!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful love story. Heloise’s family was so loving and supportive. Heloise is the daughter of a Viscount. Callum is the stable hand. She has dreams of being a normal person, he has dreams of being something other than a stable hande. The love each other but then he gets a chance to make something of himself and becomes a Lieutenant in the army. During the four years away, Heloise bears him a child out of wedlock, and becomes a midwife in their village. He comes back thinking to make her his wife, but she resents that he left without talking to her about his plans. Can they ever get back to where they were, and what about their daughter who Heloise’s family has been passing off as a distant homeless relative? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hero and the Heroine was an engaging read. I liked that this was a meaty story, not solely focused on the romance or the characters' emotional conflicts. I did not read the prior books in the series and wonder if that might have had some impact on my experience as a reader. This was a second chance romance of sorts, and while the connection between Heloise and Callum felt natural, I never felt fully connected and pulled into their love story. I would have liked to have seen more of the "hellion" and the "hero" instead of the subtle grown up versions they had become. The family relationships and the town interactions added welcome humor and bitter sweet moments.

Thanks to the author and Booksprout as I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[5 Kindles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Heloise has been in love with the stable boy most of her life, and as they grew up as playmates and friends a passionate relationship developed between them. Unfortunately Callum leaves to find his fortune to be a worthy suitor for her and in their 4 years apart, a lot changes in their relationship. When Callum returns as a Lieutenant and hero he has hopes that she has been waiting for his return as much as he has been longing for her. Heloise however is angry, hurt and has a secret she is afraid will destroy any chances they might have had. How they come together is a tender story of love, and a ladies courage and disregard for the rules society imposes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kasey Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, and well imagined...

I skipped book 2...for my own reasons...and was happy to find that I could pick up the thread of the series as easily as I did in this book.
The characters are maturing, time is passing, but it all revolves around Somerton. Hel’s daughter is 3, and Hel has found a niche as the local midwife. Unusual for a spinster, but she has never conformed to the expectations of society.
The characters are well developed and the story has enough twists to keep the reader involved. Side plots manage to enhance the main story rather than to delay it. Well done. There are many high dollar authors who could benefit from learning that skill. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely.

[Inge K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heloise and Callum shared a love so strong that time, secrets and anger could not destroy what they felt for each other. Callum a stable boy wanted to prove his worth so that some day he could marry the love of his life. Heloise a debutante and a strong independent woman didn’t need anyone’s approval to live her life in the manner she wanted. One of my favorite scenes in the story was when Callum first laid eyes on his daughter. I think when a writer creates a story that can bring forth emotions and touch the heart in the reader, then she has surpassed my expectations. I found the story to be very entertaining and I would recommend it. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.