Never Dare a Hellion

The Neverhartts #3

by Dawn Brower

Lady Christiana Neverhartt is accustomed to getting her own way. Some days she fully believes she should have been born a princess. When her spoiled behavior lands her in trouble, she has to rely on the one man she cannot abide to save her...Sutton Brooks, the Marquess of Foxworth.

The last thing Sutton wants is to rescue a strong-willed lady from her own mistakes, but he steps in to protect her. Unfortunately, the only way to properly do so is to marry her. Something the lady is adamantly against, so he does the one thing sure to gain her acquiesce...he dares her.

The marriage starts out with them each battling for control, and one dare leads to another, until they’re both begging for mercy. Their stubbornness might be their undoing, but their love might be their salvation, if they’re willing to accept it and find their way toward each other, instead of a permanent separation.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2021

About the author

USA TODAY Bestselling author, DAWN BROWER writes both historical and contemporary romance. There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.

Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She raised two boys into productive young men. There is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby and she loves all genres.

She is active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To follow her or can find more about her check out her website for the pertinent information: www.authordawnbrower.com

Reviews

[Elaine]

Bit of a strange story. I didn't really get why they had to get married, and why did the Laird make them. Perhaps I missed a bit of the storyline, as I was really tired 🤷‍♀️
I did enjoy reading it though. 4☆

[Kiley]

Never Dare a Hellion, Book 3 of The Neverhartt series, was about Lady Christiana "Chris" Neverhartt, a very spoiled, selfish young lady, and Lord Sutton "Fox" Brooks, the Marquess of Foxworth, a friend to His Grace Zachary Ward, the Duke of Graystone (who just happened to be Chris' brother-in-law).
Chris wasn't one to pay heed to the rules of Society. In fact, she enjoyed flaunting her rebellion against them, often without thought to the consequences. Chris was vain enough that she had often felt she should have been born a princess. She tended to drag her twin into any and all scrapes she could, neither caring nor worried about getting caught, which they invariably did, to their elder siblings' dismay. Unfortunately, Chris enjoyed being naughty.
Chris and Sutton had actually met several years before Billie married Zach when their father was still alive. While Chris had recognized him immediately after meeting him again, she hadn't been aware that he, too, had remembered their first encounter. Chris had hated him from that moment years ago, and her feelings had not changed since. She felt he had wronged her all those years ago and she intended to make him pay for the slight.
After Chris' eldest sister, Billie, married the Duke of Graystone, she and her twin continued causing mayhem, so much so that Zach was forced to send them both to finishing schools in hopes of curtailing their dangerous schemes. Zach had actually decided the best thing to do was to separate the twins, so he sent them to two different finishing schools, with Chris being sent to a school in Scotland. Chris readily admitted to herself that if the twins had been closer to each other or even at the same school, they more than likely would have run away. Chris felt the only thing she had truly learned while away was that she didn't want anyone else telling her how to run her own life.
As the ending of her time at school was drawing to a close, she had once again been sent into seclusion for (what she considered) was a slight infraction. Chris had often wondered why the headmistress had taken such an intense dislike for her because from the moment she set foot in the school, she was in constant trouble; so much so that she had been unjustly kept at the school for an additional three months. With only seven days of school remaining, she had determined to do one final, very naughty thing. She was going to slip out of the school unnoticed and go home. As Chris was leaving her room, she overheard two people carrying on a conversation. It was the headmistress and Sutton, and they were talking about her, and the information she gathered from that secret conversation both crushed and angered her, for many truths were revealed as to who had been responsible for the extra time she had been forced to endure school.
Chris' attempt at running away from the school lead her into a great deal of trouble. When Sutton realized what was going on, he stepped in to rescue her, but in doing so, he put her reputation at risk. When the danger escalated, Fox had no choice but to sneak Chris away on his horse and head towards her eldest sister's home, which was an exhausting seven-day ride on horseback.
This was the book I dreaded most in the series. Having been introduced to Chris in the first two books, this particular "Heroine" was not very likable...at all. The title aptly named her a hellion, and she rarely deviated from that name. She definitely was not Heroine material.
There were some unexpected twists and turns in this story, none of which made sense. Nothing was wholly explained and there were so many holes all throughout the book that would cause any reader to do an inquisitive head scratch. There were also some things that happened that had no resolution to them. Chris wanted revenge on Fox for interfering with her schooling...but she did nothing. There were others she wanted to inflict some manner of retribution on, but again, she did nothing.
This was not the best of book, to be sure. As previously stated, Chris was not a likable character, even if she did "wake up" to what an utterly horrific person she truly was. The ending left a lot to be desired. Although it did have the HEA, it was not a satisfying ending. This book did not earn even a two-star rating, nor will it be placed with the Keeper for the Shelves collection.

[Christy]

I don't mind a forced marriage very much and I don't mind when a woman is made to do something she doesn't want to do in the moment or even mind sometimes when the men act as if they know better but I do mind when she in fact loses or is made to look foolish rather than the men looking foolish. this forced marriage came very close to that. I don't ever ever ever ever ever want to see the woman made to look foolish or actually in fact lose face or even an argument when all is said and done and it's only because she actually wanted to marry him was I not disgusted when the jerk duke or Earl or whatever forced her in front of a room full of people to get married against her will and we still have no on Earth reason why she was made to do this. I don't know if it's in a different book I don't know if this book has even been written but there is no explanation for why he would single her out for kidnapping or for a forced marriage to his enemy as in Fox. At this point it makes very little sense to me. It makes me feel very sorry for Chris.

Additionally, on audiobook I would not recommend this. Chris's voice is absolutely grating! it is shrill. it is too loud.it is like she is yelling the entire time. it's painful. Also quite a few mispronunciations which is whatever. Fox's voice is terrible also. It makes him sound like I don't even know like a fop maybe although he is supposed to be a rake. Basically the audio book is not good.
All of these so far have been very short on plot. Even when I think they should basically write themselves they don't or aren't or have shortcuts that Miss the main portions of the story. All our instalove or hindsight love if that's a thing like oh geez actually I love you and have loved you since the beginning but somehow missed it the entire time we were together for 3 weeks on this journey or after 24 hours I realize that I've been in love with you for my whole life. So very strange. And I normally really like short form at romance but these are just a little too short. Or too long I guess depending upon your feelings. Speech to text so please overlook spelling and grammar.

[MJ J]

The author has created a fantastic character in the heroine! She truly is a hellion who should not be dared, as the title states, because she can’t pass one up. The prologue gives a little detail about her life as a rambunctious teen. The author shows us when the hero and heroine meet back then (not under good circumstances and with an immediate dislike on both sides), and then the story flashes forward a few years. They have a rather madcap meeting at that point... and the heroine is even in danger! This book was a really fun ride and certainly different from the standard historical romance. I have read a few other books by this author, and she has a knack for creating powerful characters and putting them in unusual circumstances. A fun read if you like your historical romances a little different from the ordinary.

I was gifted this as an eARC, but this is my honest opinion.

[Jayne Butcher]

Passion is passion and there is a fine line between love and hate. Christiana is the rebel of the family. If she can find/cause trouble she will. Even after her brother-in-law
banished her to a finishing school in Scotland, she was still a hellion. Fox (Sutton) met Christiana once when she was fifteen, under unpleasant circumstances, and then again when he was visiting his good friend and school mate Zach, who had married Christiana’s sister. They got on like oil and water. She resolved to hate him, but Fate had something else in mind. This is a fun quickie! It is full of outrageous behavior, moments of panic, threats of violence and one long overdue epiphany. It is truly delightful!

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

[Michelle]

Never Dare A Hellion is book three in The Neverhartts series and is Lady Christina Neverhartt and Sutton Brooks, the Marquess of Foxworth's story. Christina is used to getting what she wants until Sutton. This is a well written story with well developed characters and a storyline that pulled me in filled with mystery, misunderstandings, passion, and so much more. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Lesley]

Enjoyable Novella 4.5*
A quick read. A headstrong, tempestuous lady gets involved with another man’s vengeance and finds herself forced into marriage. I would have loved the story to be longer, the way the book blurb alluded.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

The third book in the Neverhartts series a well written short story that held my interest until the end. This is a love hate story between Lady Christiana Neverhartt and Sutton Brooks, the Marquess of Foxworth and a dare that is made. A fun story to read. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kety]

A fun story for all!
Wonderful characters and plots... with a lot of twists and surprises until the end...
A young lady, with a strong mind... a hellion...
A young lord... a travell... a revenge...
A book for all that love Regency...

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

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU]

A love hate relashionship from the start . They both don' t want to marry but after an old classmate of his they forced to marry . A quick funny read .

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

[Phylis Collins]

The character's were written with such depth that you could feel their anguish at times a good story with mystery, misfortunes, and love interests, gripping plot, so many assumptions, misunderstandings that is well written. 

[Stephen Williams]

A triumphant continuation of the series

This is another great story that continues a great series. The plot is clean but has a bit of suspense. The characters are strong and portrayed with the courage to eventually recognise their attraction.

[Bev Bridges]

Absolutely fantastic book, oh such joy being a Helion,
I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend this book of fun and lots of love that shows in Dawn's work.
I am looking forward to listening to more of your books.
Thank you 😊 💓