Barefoot in Hyde Park (The Hellion Club #2) By Chasity Bowlin

The second in the series.. I enjoyed the first a tad more but, still this was a light fast read. I gave it 3.5 stars and rounded up. The book had some twists and turns not expected. I look forward to the next. English DNF.
Call me crazy but I believe this was too tame and the attraction barely sizzled. Three kiss scenes later and I'm still not feeling it? I'm out of here. English Loved this one! It's even better than the first with a great mystery (I love mysteries) a wonderful cast, and lots of romantic moments! Romance 2.5 🌟. It's OK. There's just so much happening and the end isn't tied up very neatly. There are still so many questions that are unanswered especially the most important one - Why was Lillian's mother trapped in that ridiculous wager?Why did she show up again and how was she going to thwart her cousin? How did her cousin and aunt gain from it? Why were they still facing monetary issues after selling off their countries secrets? Aren't the bad guys always stinking rich and rolling in pits of money? Why did Elsworth turn against his cousin? No answers to the questions posed by the author herself in the narrative. Badly planned book and its the characters that make this bearable.

Recommended: meh 😐 212 It started with an ugly bonnet, a bird who snagged it, climbing a tree to retrieve it and It ended with Lily Burkhart in the arms of Lord Valentine Somers and it was glorious! Of course she was probably going to get fired as a companion to the Dowager Duchess, but she finds out Val is her grandson!
The first book in this series was amazing about Lily's half sister Wilhelmina, so we were given glimpses of her and she was a little more brazen, although she tried act like a lady...
As these two come together, circumstances (or could it have been a conspiracy of grans?) puts them in a marriage of convenience after he is given an ultimatum from his grandmother to marry or have no inheritance!
But soon, things started happening. Bullets, mayhem, spies (yes Val was one), intrigue, traitors, an idiot cousin and a growing passion bring this wonderful story full circle. Perfectly wonderful!!!
I cannot wait for more!! 212

I’m not holding you to keep you from leaving. I’m holding you because it’s a way of showing you how precious you are to me.

Lillian Burkhart could not be more different from her half-sister, Wilhelmina. Suspecting that she is more like their wastrel father, she struggles against the wildness inside her, trying desperately to be the proper young woman that Miss Euphemia Darrow has reared her to be. But when she’s discovered walking barefoot in Hyde Park by none other than the grandson of the elderly dowager duchess who employs her as a companion, her failure is complete.

Lord Valentine Somers, Viscount Seaburn, has been playing a part for so long that he no longer recognizes himself. As a soldier, he’d risked life and limb. Now, as a spy for Whitehall, he’s risking his very soul by using his skill with cards to gain entree to circles he wants no part of. Feigning the ennui of a debauched dilettante who treats women and money as if they were both in unending supply, he’s immediately struck by the beauty, vivacity and innocence of a lovely barefoot nymph… who happens to be his grandmother’s companion.

Given an ultimatum by his grandmother, marry or be disinherited, Val offers for Lillian on a whim. And she accepts in order to claim her own familial bequest. But theirs isn’t a normal engagement… not when someone keeps trying to murder his betrothed.

Uncertain if it has to do with Lillian’s inheritance, his own inheritance or the enemies he’s made over the years, Val knows he will do whatever it takes to protect her… but he didn’t expect to fall in love with her. Barefoot in Hyde Park (The Hellion Club #2)

Book 2 in The Hellion Club series gives us Lillian Burkhart and Lord Valentine Somers, Viscount Seaburn. Given an ultimatum by his grandmother, marry or be disinherited, Val offers for Lillian and she accepts in order to claim her own surprise inheritance, but that's only the beginning as danger lurks very very close.

I am more likely to re-read book 1 than this one, but this overall made for a nice one time read.

Potential Triggers: Attempted assault and murder.

Acquired via KU. Romance So many twist and turns… I loved it!! Barefoot in Hyde Park by Chasity Bowlin is book 2 in The Hellion Club series and what a series. Though in a series you can read this book as a stand alone. Chasity has such a creative and intriguing imagination and this is truly her at her best… how does she do it??? Her character are just wonderful and she know how to get you excited to read the next story in this series. This story has murder, protection, schemes, danger, innocents, a overbearing grandmother, loneliness, spies, traitors, jealousy and love. I highly recommend you read this story or any of Chasity Bowlin books… she never disappoints.

212 Ms. Bowlin does a great job of creating characters that seemingly come alive. One will have a hard time leaving this book behind!

Read full review in the 2020 May issue of InD'tale Magazine. 4 Stars

- Chasity Bowlin is quickly becoming an author that does not disappoint.
- This story was an enjoyable combination of insta-intrigue, a marriage of convenience, murder mystery, dramatic pasts, a flock of horrible, meddlesome, idiotic extended family, interesting side characters, a strong, decisive heroine, a sweet, protective hero, and a lovely romance that grew out of it, and all of it wrapped up in delightful writing.

*Sign. Me. Up. Please. Kindle Edition ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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The satisfying feeling you get when you read a story so well written, that’s what I get every time I read a book by Chasity Bowlin.

This series has it all , spies, intrigue, treasonous plots, beautiful romance, perfect chemistry, and the delicate balance that both keeps your attention and the plot ticking along at the perfect speed.

Val and Lilly are the couple drawn together in a marriage of convenience, both with their own desires for their futures and their own paths to follow. But pretty soon those paths become entangled and the two must work together to stay safe and keep the family name from falling into ruin .

With a cousin who bully’s and wounds , a grandmother with a devious plan, and murder all around, can they find love and a HEA . That would be telling .

I really enjoyed this book, can’t wait for more.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Romance