Alexandra Vasti: The Halifax Hellions

 ARC read from Netgalley: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231127275-the-halifax-hellions

The Book is divided into two sections the first half of the story is called:  "In Which Margo Earns Her Shocking Reputation" where the story focuses on one twin (Margo) and how she feels that she did something terrible (even for her since she is considered to be a hoyden by society standards and her and her sister are constantly getting into mischief).  Margo feels that she pushed her twin sister Matilda into running off and eloping with an older man and wants to stop her from making a huge mistake.

Margo will go on her own if she has to but her older brother is out of town and even if he wasn't she doesn't want to worry their brother... she can handle this... She enlists his best friend Henry (a lawyer) who has been not so secretly in love with Margo since the moment he saw her tying a cherry stem in a knot ages ago (pretty much everyone can see that he's got hearts in his eyes for her but Margo).  

When Margo shows up at Henry's home by herself in the middle of the night and he sends her away he knows that it's the wrong move because he can't have the woman he's loved forever going on this mission by herself any number of things could happen to her... at least if he's with her he can protect her.  But is this a fools errand Matilda and her husband to be could already be well on their way to Scotland by now and who knows if they will even catch them.

Margo finds herself noticing things about Henry she's never noticed before on their trip together and when their carriage breaks down and they have to stay together in a cottage alone their relationship could change forever... When they catch up with Matilda will Margo's budding relationship with Henry end?  

Thoughts on this half of the book: It was just ok for me, there was heavier spice and not really as much of a story everything happened too quick and I felt that there could have been more done with the friends-> more, Brothers best friend trope than what happened especially since he's been in love with her forever.  The story weaves into Matilda's story at the end and when they catch up Margo has a moment of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.  I thought Henry was really sweet and maybe just the right guy to help settle Margo's wild ways.  Since this couple have known each other so long it was more like an insta lust/instalove situation since our guy was already in love.  I'm not sure how historically accurate it was but it was a quick entertaining read. 

Tropes:  *Twin Sisters  *Brother's Best Friend *solicitor MMC  *difference in social status

*novella *she's more experienced *FMC Fierce, independent and feisty *instalust/instalove

2nd Half:  In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint:

Christian (6th Marquess of Ashford) has a bad reputation there have been rumors of many things including whispers that he was responsible for his wife's death... he has not killed anyone, there are also rumors of his habits in the bedroom which have reached the attention of one of the Halifax hellions... Matilda.

Matilda is secretly an artist for a scandalous publication and when our leads meet it's because it has come to the attention of the Marquess that his likeness has been displayed in these crude manuals he is less than thrilled he has been trying to clean up his reputation mainly by staying far away from the ton and society events to give time for his reputation to get back in order he doesn't need this on top of the other rumors he is responsible for his younger sister and she is to make her come out soon these set backs are a disaster... and now her painting instructor has run off because she is not willing to be around him and his poor reputation.

Matilda has been admiring Christian from afar for awhile now and maybe her artwork did go towards his likeness... but she left things vague so that no one could really know for sure if it was supposed to be him... except for now that it's published some extra details have been added to the artwork to make it unmistakable for Ashford and when he confronts her about his situation with his sister needing a painting instructor she decides to step in to help... he wants nothing to do with this plan for her to step in as his sisters painting instructor only she is persuasive and he just can't stop thinking about her how did she so quickly get into his every thought?  

Soon they are on their way to his estate far away from London and her life there she leaves a letter to her sister saying they are eloping (which they aren't but she didn't want them followed)... over their trip it becomes harder for them to deny their growing feelings towards each other but our MMC is showing restraint he doesn't want to have a repeat of his first marriage and he is kind of upset that he already likes Matilda so much... but what will happen when they reach their destination? 

Thoughts on this book:  I enjoyed this book more than Margo's half I did appreciate the brief overlap so from the first to second half of the book so you could see things from Matilda's side.  I felt that this story since it was longer had more time to develop naturally.  There is less spice in this book and while there is discussions about Ashford's bedroom activities they are relatively tame with less spice than the first half of the book.  

Matilda is another independent, fierce FMC and Ashford met his match!  This book had that tension where you want them to just get together already -->  SLOW BURN.  To keep with the first half I'm not sure how historically accurate this was but it was a cute, quick read.  

Tropes:  age gap (older MMC); Twin sister; artist (FMC); protective MMC; novella; historical romance; fake relationship/elopement; grumpy MMC; one bed due to an unfortunate situation with a dirty stray cat and a bathtub ; slow burn; strangers -> more; banter; enemies à more; Vegetarian FMC 

Consensual bdsm (nothing extremely graphic, spanking, some restraint, etc), references to past sexual assault, infidelity and death of spouse

Have you read anything by this author?  Have you read these books?  What did you think?