The Trouble with Misbehaving by Victoria Hanlen is a delightful read. Deep, intricate story with characters that jump off the page. I also love the very strong and clever women characters.

I’ve also had soft spot for historical romance thus I really like these types of books and my ratings and reviews are thus affected. Good book with a decent story line and places that made my own heart beat faster.

I liked Hanlen’s strong heroine, C.C. She has taken trouble and scandal, and made a life for herself far from her American roots. She is the boss of the expedition when she hires Captain Beau Tollier to get her and her cargo to Wilmington, N. C., crossing the embargo line of the American North. It took C.C. a long time to get over her marriage issues, and the end of the book got a little thick on the ground with the bad guys, but overall a pleasant read.

Women as beautiful as she knew their power over men. He’d be damned if he’d let her thwart his shot at a new life. A wise man would make every effort to steer clear of C.C. And that’s what exactly he intended to do.

Sexy.

Gripping.

Romantic.

Captivating.

Well-crafted.

These are the exact words that best describe The Trouble with Misbehaving by Victoria Hanlen.

The story was set on 1864. The Trouble with Misbehaving follows the story of a beautiful, wealthy lady from London named Calista Caroline Collins or simply known as C.C. whose main purpose is to save her family in the war from New York and finally ask for her mother’s forgiveness from the scandal she brought to their family 10 years ago. And a highly skilled Captain who used to be a Royal Navy officer, a blockade-runner, and a prisoner of war who is now trying to live a new life far from danger and the life he once knew and loved. Together, they were caught in an unforgettable and dangerous adventure that led them to some things they were not expecting to discover.

C.C. badly needs him to help her save her family but Captain Beau Tollier doesn’t want to. He is trying to gain a new life while this girl is trying to drag him back to the shadowy past full of danger he definitely doesn’t want to relive again. The problem is Beau is attracted to this mesmerizing wealthy lady. It’s hard for him to resist.

Calista Carolline Collins character is one of a kind. After having a scandal, she was forced to leave New York and live in England instead. She was raised to have high standards – and yes, she grew up having those high standards. Intelligent, resourceful, strong, and generous to those who are in need. She has mesmerizing beauty, knows how to pull those seductive teasing that will make men give in. But, there were questions as to her insanity. I love digging into layers and secrets of CC’s character. She’s not just an ordinary character. And like what Beau said, she’s a brave complicated woman.

Captain Beau Tolier, the handsome, hot, most-skilled and most capable captain C.C. knew. He was once a prisoner and now, he’s trying his best to forget the bad things that happened to him and his ship while they were on a trip. He’s a scorching hot ship captain who just knows how to sweep girls off their feet. He’s like a male version of CC but there were also times where he seems like the total opposite of her.

Both C.C. and Captain Tollier’s characters appeared mysterious and intriguing from the very start. They were both strong independent characters. Because of their pasts, they now both have bad images. Two beautiful and strong characters just like them collided just made a beautiful mess. The development of their characters were on point. From being both so guarded and driven by their own different purposes in life, they slowly learned how to let those guards down, loose a little and learned how to let true love come in once it already – and finally, finally – knocks into your heart.

There was already a kissing scene on the very first moment they met and I can say that there’s just this instant connection between them which is quite believable. I like how that scene didn’t feel forced, given that it’s just their first time to meet and they just seemed secretly attracted to each other instantly. The instance they met, there was already chemistry. And I loved that they became two hearts tore between doing what the people around them thought them to do and what their hearts really wants in the middle of their journey.

Another first thing I noticed in this book aside from the strong characters and their chemistry is the language. The language is what truly impressed me the most. It was definitely hard to comprehend at first – for me – especially that the language used was the language people in London back on 1864 used. The words were so deep and their accent was something I am not really used to hearing or reading but how the author pulled it off was so impressive. That gives a lot to the historical-fiction feels of this book.

The world-building was perfect. You’ll be immediately transported to London 1864 at the very first page. I like how it immediately showed me how things felt and were used to be back on 1864. I can imagine what London, England is like back at that time and that’s one of the reasons why I love historical-fiction, it brings me back to the past. It informs me what’s a world is like back then. The language used plus the perfect world-building gave me so much satisfaction. This book perfectly filled that need I have for historical-fiction books.

Another thing I liked – and definitely miss! – are the snarky, sly and naughty remarks from Captain Beau and from Calista Carroline. I definitely enjoyed those moments. And I need to mention their one and only lovemaking scene! Dang, that was too hot, too sweet, too tender, just full of love. I felt giddy most of the time because of them!

After the dangerous adventure they fought hardly to conquer and finish, antagonists suddenly came. From romance and adventure, there was suddenly a touch of mystery I felt toward the antagonists’ identities. Just when you thought it’s already over and you already liked it, something will happen and people will appear making you realized that NO, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOY OVER YET. The antagonists were pure evil. They’re full of malice, hatred, greediness. You’ll despise the men to death.

I love the end. Both characters were independent and self-sufficient, they proved that love can still be there without trying to be someone else, that you can still be together and give everything to your partner without being less than who you truly are, and that you can still be “you” as an individual while being a part of that “us” as your partner’s other half. I liked how Captain Beau and C.C. chose to end all their confusions and sufferings. A brilliant and utterly satisfying end. An end that will give you so much more reasons to love and admire Captain Beau and Calista Caroline Collins even more.

Overall, I enjoyed it to bits. The Trouble with Misbehaving is a well-crafted novel of romance, adventure and determining what you truly want and need in your life. I would definitely recommend this to every adult romance readers out there! You shouldn’t miss Calista Caroline Collins and Captain Beau Toiler’s sexy, romantic, dangerous and adventurous story.

Calista CC Collins may be a disgraced American heiress, a touch mad, a few years past what the English aristos may consider her "prime". But as Captain Beauford Tollier, and every reader who dares to venture into the story to be found here shall soon discover. This brilliant, beautiful, magnetic, and multifaceted woman is so much more than anyone could ever fathom.

Her counterpart in this adventure, and this is a true adventure from the word GO. One Captain Beauford Tollier, is the seafaring third son of a flourishing Earldom. A veteran of the English Navy, a PTSD sufferer, a man of many names and bounties, and a famous blockade runner.
Lastly, Beauford Tollier could be the one man able to match the fire that blazes inside the indomitable Miss Collins, with one of his own. If he can survive her and more to the point, her request...that is.

It is very clear from their first clandestine meeting in the darkness of a London pleasure garden; evil plotting men on their trail. There are to be no firsts or seconds here. As least not in terms of who is to bring the most drama to this story.
Instead, what we have here is a dance. A dance where the leading man and his lady take turns guiding, dipping, and twirling. First one and then the other. Sharing the spotlight, each shinning in his or her own light both separately and together.

While it is true that the romance here takes a backseat to the action for most of the read. Said action goes a long way in assuring that our lead couple is thrown together in situations which inspire...loyalty. To say the least.
Whether it is a shared nemesis from both of their pasts, baddies with a grudge, the desperation of Calista's mission, her part in the War Of Northern Aggression, or so much more. The circumstances in which these to find themselves build their relationship and this wonderful read.

There is so much going on in this read, that this reviewer dares not divulge too many details. Lest this critique become spoilery.
What can be said however, is that this book is for those who believe that there is no greater adventure than that of falling in love.