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With gratitude to @avonbooks for approving my (desperate) request to read an advance copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year: Knockout by Sarah MacLean is out August 22nd! The beautiful thing about reading all of MacLean’s books is seeing the steps that she took to get here. Her stories, as ever, remain magic. The Hell’s Belles series is my favorite of MacLean’s to date — stories of fierce women using their skills and privilege to bring truth to power, and of the swoony men in their orbit who fight alongside them. Knockout follows Tommy, the put upon detective of the series, who clashes with pyrotechnics expert Imogen with — quite literally — explosive results. I have been so excited for Imogen and Tommy and they absolutely delivered!!! I adored the Detective Inspector Jack Robinson/The Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher vibes. Tommy is absolutely not in control and is exasperated about it, and Imogen brings exactly the correct amount of brilliance and chaos to the situation. This one feels like a love letter to the girls who feel they are too big, too loud, too much, or not enough. MacLean comes through with cameos for the fangirls: Hattie and Whit(!!!), Maggie and The Place, and of course loads of Caleb, Sesily, Adelaide, and Henry! And while I’m gushing, I’ll add that I can *not* wait for Duchess’s story in book four! ID: Two paperbacks and a kindle sit on a white shelf. From left to right: Bombshell, Heartbreaker, and Knockout. via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/Cv7UAP6Lflp/