This book, the 3rd in MacLean’s Hell’s Belles series features perhaps the most intriguing of the Belles, Lady Imogen Loveless, and Detective Thomas Peck, a dedicated member of Scotland Yard. 

These two are classic opposites attract, with a twist. 

She’s the delightful chaos to his serious steadiness. She’s short and curvy. He’s tall and muscular. She’s a Lady. He has worked his way up from nothing. Turns out though, they have similar goals. 

Imogen wants nothing more than to do her science in peace and of course, to strike fear in the hearts of cruel men in power. Then she meets Tommy and miiiiiiight want just one more thing. 

Tommy wants to keep his city safe and work his way up in the force, to be someone his adoring family* is proud of, and now, to protect his personal slice of chaos, Lady Imogen. 

*(there is a dinner at his mother’s home that will melt the coldest of hearts ♥️♥️) 

Imogen and Tommy want each other from the first, literally the first book. Some of us have been waiting for this story for a LONG time. 🤣🤣 And boy does MacLean make these too work for their HEA. In one of the classes she teaches MacLean stresses that authors must be able to address why the characters can’t be together RIGHT NOW. And while these two are on the page together for most of the book, they have A LOT to overcome to be together: Class. Belief in justice. Their own insecurities. Villains. Paternal legacies. Family. 

Knockout continues the intrigue of the previous books but is definitely a stand alone story. Many of your favorite characters from earlier books and earlier series make appearances too, a theme in the MacLeaniverse! 

Imogen is a perfect MacLean FMC. She knows what she wants, who she is, and how to get it. She doesn’t necessarily need help, but when it comes from the right person, she may just accept when no one expects it.

Plus the author’s note is spectacular (and in the audio version). 

I first read this book as an arc provided by Avon and Ms. McLean. My thanks to them both.