Review - - The Beast Takes a Bride

The Beast Takes a Bride

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues - Book 8

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

A blue-blooded beauty bartered to a Beast…

He would pay any price to possess her. But even though Alexandra Bellamy sacrifices herself to save her family’s fortunes, a shocking betrayal sunders her marriage to a taciturn brute of a war hero, Colonel Magnus Brightwall, before it even begins. Five years of icy separation later, a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them, and Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever. 

But alone in a suite at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a new battle begins—between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion stirring between them. The danger is real: Magnus rediscovers why Alexandra is the only woman who could ever break him. And even as she lays bare the beautiful heart beating beneath the battered hide of the near-stranger she married, Alexandra knows she may have already lost him—even as she finally falls fatally, irrevocably in love.

PJ's Thoughts:

A Julie Anne Long book is like a beautiful symphony of words that transports the reader through a myriad of feelings. She is an author who can move me to laughter, tears, and a number of other emotions with equal ease of skill. She's one of the few authors I read slowly, savoring the unique flavor of each perfectly placed word. 

Marriage in trouble is not my favorite romance trope, especially when the estrangement begins with a betrayal, but in the hands of Long it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Nothing is black and white with Magnus and Alexandra. There are shades of gray, layers to be explored, reasons for actions, and suppressed feelings waiting to blossom...if tended properly. This estrangement heading for permanent separation is explored with relatable, realistic, poignant care leading to understanding, acceptance, and a deep, abiding love. I loved their growth, individually and as a couple, and cheered them on as enthusiastically as if they were personal friends. Which in a way they are. 

Every character at the Grand Palace on the Thames has become like family. I feel like I have a vested interest in the happiness of all of them. Long brings them to life with charm, wit, adorable awkwardness, humor, and relatable human flaws. They are vividly depicted, bringing a rich texture to the overall story, supporting the journey of each book's main couple without overshadowing them. It's a balance that Long pulls off with perfection. 

If you have yet to discover Julie Anne Long, in my opinion you're missing out on one of the best historical romance authors out there. Why not begin with The Beast Takes a Bride. It has my highest Top Dish recommendation. 

Review - - My Season of Scandal

My Season of Scandal

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues - Book 7

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

A London season is the chance of a lifetime for Catherine Keating. But the ton’s glitter and decadence and casual cruelty threaten to crush her hopes of finding a husband before her season even begins...until she accidentally acquires one of the most scandalous men in England as a secret chaperone.

Famously fiery Lord Dominic Kirke can hold the House of Commons—and any woman he chooses— in thrall. But when his house goes up in flames in the dead of night, he finds himself at the Grand Palace on the Thames. And there he discovers his cynical armor is no match for another guest: an innocent country girl with a crackling wit and eyes like a summer sky.

He's maddening, elusive, hopelessly charismatic, wrong in every way—perfectly designed to break her heart. But she doesn't know she holds his battered heart in her hands. And though it will destroy him, Dominic knows loving her means setting Catherine free for the life—and man—she deserves.

PJ's Thoughts:

She always does it. Each time I declare one of her books the “best ever,” back she comes with a new one that sets the bar higher. Like My Season of Scandal. The feelings, the scandal, the ton crocodiles, the tenderness, the humor, the deep, deep emotions. The clover. My heart!

If you have not yet read Julie Anne Long’s books you’re missing out on some of the best writing in Romance today (in my opinion). This author uses language like a master artist wields a brush. The pictures she paints with words effortlessly evoke a wide range of emotions within this reader. Her cast of characters (primary and secondary) are all beautifully developed, contributing texture and richness to the overall story while progressing the plot forward. Long’s books are decidedly character driven, pulling me into the lives, hearts, and minds of Catherine and Lord Kirke while also spotlighting key secondary characters. No supporting cast wallpaper here. 

After reading How to Tame a Wild Rogue, I would have sworn that no JAL hero would surpass Lorcan St. Leger in my affections. I was wrong. Lord Dominic Kirke, with all his messy emotions and sarcastic deflections, captured my heart as surely as he did Catherine’s, as surely as Julie Anne Long captured my heart with this memorable, humorous, thought-provoking, heart-tugging novel. One more for the Julie Anne Long keeper shelf. 

My Season of Scandal is book 7 in Long’s The Palace of Rogues historical romance series. It can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone but if you’ve already read the earlier books in the series you’re sure to enjoy the subtle nuances and gradual evolution of secondary characters at the Grand Palace on the Thames who appear in each of the books within the series. Whether you’re new to the author or a long-time fan, this book is sure to stand out as one to remember. It’s on my Best of 2024 watch list. 

Review - - How to Tame a Wild Rogue

How to Tame a Wild Rogue

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues - Book 6

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

He clawed his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to the top of a shadowy empire. Feared and fearsome, battered and brilliant, nothing shocks Lorcan St. Leger—not even the discovery of an aristocratic woman escaping out a window near the London docks on the eve of the storm of the decade. They find shelter at a boarding house called the Grand Palace on the Thames—only to find greater dangers await inside.

Desperate, destitute, and jilted, Lady Daphne Worth knows the clock is ticking on her last chance to save herself and her family: an offer of a loveless marriage. But while the storm rages and roads flood, she and the rogue who rescued her must pose as husband and wife in order to share the only available suite.

Crackling enmity gives way to incendiary desire—and certain heartbreak: Lorcan is everything she never dreamed she’d wanted, but he can never be what she needs. But risk is child’s play to St. Leger. And if the stakes are a lifetime of loving and being loved by Daphne, he’ll move any mountain, confront any old nemesis, to turn “never” into forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you read only one historical romance this summer, make it How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long. That's it. That's the review. Okay, that's not the whole review but it could be. Because, this book? It's just that good. 

I've said this before but it bears repeating. Julie Anne Long paints pictures with words like no other author I have ever read. Composers create stunning, immersive, soul-stirring masterpieces that send our souls into flight. Long does it with words. They challenge, entice, anger, seduce, empower, excite. They swirl her characters - they swirl me - into an emotional maelstrom then deposit all of us, still, spent, changed, in the gentle swirl of waves lapping the shore in sunset's lambent light. That is the power - and the beauty - of this book.

With her vivid descriptions and well-developed characters, Long immerses readers into the daily life at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a most unique boarding house. While Lorcan and Daphne are indisputably the most important characters of this story, they are surrounded by a richly-depicted and entertaining supporting cast. Forced into close proximity by torrential rains, secondary characters unerringly stir conflict, generate humor, and provoke thought, all helping to move the story forward. Some are recurring characters who readers slowly come to know over the course of the series while others are newly introduced. It's fun to discover new layers to those characters familiar to fans of the series but readers new to this world should have no issues jumping in at any point. 

While secondary characters provide richness and texture to this tale, it's Daphne and Lorcan who are at the helm of the story. Oh, how I loved these two. A privateer and a lady. A chance meeting, a fake marriage. A sensual, self-made man used to taking what he wants. A prim and proper lady who puts everyone's needs before her own. A fiery, tender, sensual, unexpected, empowering, all-consuming, cross-class love for the ages. Is it any wonder I couldn't put it down?

Long never makes a misstep in this book. It is beautifully balanced, nuanced, and simply perfection from beginning to end. Lorcan and Daphne have become one of my favorite romance couples, not only from Long but from any author. Reading their story, for me, was an all-encompassing, visceral experience, one I would happily repeat time and time again.

Review - - You Were Made to be Mine

You Were Made to Be Mine

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues -  Book 5

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Reviewed by Santa

The mission: Find the Earl of Brundage’s runaway fiancée in exchange for a fortune. Child’s play for legendary British former spymaster, Christian Hawkes. The catch? Hawkes knows in his bones that Brundage is the traitor to England who landed him in a brutal French prison. Hawkes is destitute, the earl is desperate, and a bargain is struck.

Fleeing a savagely shattered dream, the sheltered Lady Aurelie Capet finds refuge in an alias and the warmth and kindness of the Grand Palace on the Thames—until a gorgeous, mysterious disturbance to her peace literally topples through the door.

An unexpected, fierce desire that feels destined, dangerous—and devastatingly sweet—ignites between the sheltered beauty and the jaded spy, and as they slowly unravel each other's shocking secrets Hawkes closes in on the truth about the earl. Soon it’s clear they can have no future without vanquishing the past: Hawkes knows that loving her means avenging her. Aurelie knows that loving Hawkes means freeing him to do that, no matter the cost.

Santa Says:

You Were Made to Be Mine by Julie Anne Long is another triumph in her Palace of Rogues series. This was a five star review for me. You know from the first page Hawkes and Aurelie were meant to be. And what better place to find one’s forever love than the Palace. But their journey doesn’t start in England but in post-war Paris. Lady Aurelie Capet is engaged to the Earl of Brundage but has mysteriously disappeared. Brundage engages Christian Hawkes who was released from a French prison for espionage. Someone betrayed Hawkes just as he was about to reveal the identity of an English traitor who cost hundreds of British lives in a battle led by General Blackmore, now the Duke of Valkirk. YES, that Duke from Julie Anne Long’s equally wonderful After Dark with the Duke. 

Hawkes agrees after looking at a miniature of Aurelie. He tracks her to England and, serendipitously, to the Palace. He literally falls at her feet, as does the rest of the house when Dot opens the door. He had just been stabbed. Dot’s screams bring the maids, who also scream and faint, and everyone to the foyer as the half dressed captain and viscount fly over balusters to see what the screaming is all about. All the while Aurelie moves forward, kneels and tends to Hawkes' wounds. It is at once the funniest and most poignant scene in the book. 

I love Julie Anne Long’s writing style and how she uses wit and physical humor to tell her stories. Her love scenes are sublime. Not only do these two fall in love with each other they fall in love with the family they find at the Grand Palace on the Thames. This found family, with Dot and Mr. Delacourte and all the others adds such warmth and dimension to Aurelie's and Hawke’s story. 

I look forward to the next installation of this series. Can’t wait!

 

Review & Giveaway - - After Dark with the Duke

After Dark with the Duke

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues - Book 4

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 30, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

She arrives in the dead of night, a mob out for blood at her heels: Mariana Wylde, the “Harlot of Haywood Street,” an opera diva brought low by a duel fought for her favors. But the ladies of the Grand Palace on the Thames think they can make a silk purse from scandal: They’ll restore her reputation and share in her triumph...provided they can keep her apart from that other guest.

 

Coldly brilliant, fiercely honorable, General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, is revered, feared, desired...but nobody truly knows him. Until a clash with a fiery, vulnerable beauty who stands for everything he scorns lays him bare. It’s too clear the only cure for consuming desire is conquest, but their only chance at happiness could lead to their destruction.

The legendary duke never dreamed love would be his last battleground. Valkirk would lay down his life for Mariana, but his choice is stark: risk losing her forever, or do the one thing he vowed he never would...surrender.

PJ's Thoughts:

When I was not quite halfway through this book, I sent the following message to the author.

This book is exceptional. I want to rush through it while at the same time force myself to set a snail's pace so as not to miss any of the beautiful prose. If I took the time to underline every exquisitely-written phrase I doubt I'd ever finish reading the book. I'm at 46%. If the second half is anywhere near as good as the first, this is going to end up being one of my all-time favorite JAL stories.

Upon turning the final page, the first thing I did was release a deep, satisfied, heartfelt sigh. The second thing I did was hug my Kindle. Yes, you read that correctly. I was overflowing with so much emotion, so much love for these characters, for their story, I had to express it somehow! Then, after a sufficient amount of affection, I sat down and wrote the author one more message. Here's what I said. 

I am ruined. Totally, completely, utterly ruined. Do you know how many books I have in my read/review queue? How am I supposed to read them now? All I want to do is simmer in the stunningly beautiful, all-encompassing emotion of this book, of these characters. I can't just move on to something else. This is my favorite book this year. It's my favorite book of ALL the books you've written - - and I've read every single one of them. I might as well change the name of my review to "gush fest" because that's exactly what it's going to be. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But, seriously, RUINED!

In my review, I had planned to write about the snappy banter between Mariana and James, the forced-proximity, enemies-to-lovers evolution, the deeply romantic slow burn as they gradually reveal their vulnerabilities and open their hearts. The Italian lessons that lead to unexpected desire and, more importantly, to the realization that there are deeper layers within each of them waiting for the other to discover. And, to the self-realization that there is more to life for each of them than they had previously considered. But rather than delve into any of the afore-mentioned facets of this book, I recommend that you, my fellow readers, acquire a copy for yourselves, curl up in a comfy chair, and immerse yourselves in this exquisitely-choreographed verbal dance that deserves nothing less than a standing ovation...and a Top Dish rating. 

~~~~~~~

Have you read Julie Anne Long?

Do you have a favorite of her books?

What's the last book you read that pulled you so deeply into the story you couldn't put it down?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 30 will receive their choice of a Kindle (Amazon US) or print copy of After Dark with the Duke. (If international, winner will receive a print copy from Book Depository)

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited 

Birthday Month Giveaway #12 - - Historicals on the Horizon

 

I've been plotting out my reading for the rest of 2021. Oh, not the impulse buys, those books that catch my eye, causing me to quickly one-click at Amazon. No, these are the books I've been hearing buzz about for the past several months, the next installment in an ongoing series that I've been eagerly anticipating since last year. The books written by the authors who are my treasured auto-buys. The majority of these books have already been pre-ordered, allowing me to bask in the giddy anticipation of waking up on release day to the knowledge that a delicious new historical romance is on my Kindle, sitting there like a gaily-wrapped package just waiting to be opened and appreciated. Here are a few of the historical romances I'm most anticipating.

The Devil's Own Duke

by Lenora Bell

Wallflowers vs Rogues - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Lady Henrietta Prince is far too busy for romance. She's dedicated her life to turning her family vineyards into a profitable sparkling wine venture. But when she shares a thrilling kiss at midnight with a handsome stranger, she's captivated...until he claims to be the distant heir to her father's dukedom.

Ash Ellis is a gambler who lives life on the edge. Now he's locked his sights on a glittering prize and nothing will stand in his way.

When Henrietta is forced to marry the wicked rogue to keep her beloved vineyards, she vows that Ash will never have her trust, or her love. Even if his kisses are more intoxicating than the finest champagne.

His new bride is certainly beautiful, but biddable? Not so much. Ash will settle for nothing less than Henrietta's total surrender...but is he the one in danger of losing his heart?

PJ says: Bell's books touch my heart, tickle my funny bone, and always, always leave me with a happy smile. I adored book one of this series and can't wait to embark on this new journey with winemaker Henrietta and gambler Ash. 

The Duchess Hunt

by Lorraine Heath

Once Upon a Dukedom - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 28. 2021

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom—left in ruins by his father—to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife.

If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can’t imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer.

But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he’s hunting for has been in front of him all along?

PJ says: Heath is one of my favorite historical romance authors. I've been intrigued by Kingsland and his secretary, Miss Pettypeace since meeting them in book one, Scoundrel of My Heart (highly recommend!). I'm excited for them to take center stage in The Duchess Hunt. 

Rules for Heiresses

by Amalie Howard

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Sometimes, finding love means flouting the rules...

Born to a life of privilege, Lady Ravenna Huntley rues the day that she must marry. She's refused dozens of suitors and cried off multiple betrothals, but running away—even if brash and foolhardy—is the only option left to secure her independence.

Lord Courtland Chase, grandson of the Duke of Ashvale, was driven from England at the behest of his cruel stepmother. Scorned and shunned, he swore never to return to the land of his birth. But when a twist of bad luck throws a rebellious heiress into his arms, at the very moment he finds out he's the new Duke, marriage is the only alternative to massive scandal.

Both are quick to deny it, but a wedding might be the only way out for both of them. And the attraction that burns between them makes Ravenna and Courtland wonder if it'll truly only be a marriage of convenience after all...

PJ says: A rebellious heiress, a shunned duke, a delicious scandal, and a marriage of convenience. Check, check, check, and double check! Howard brings heat, humor, and heart to her historical romances and I am here for it. 

 

A Wanton for All Seasons

by Christie Caldwell 

Publisher: Montlake 

Release Date: November 2, 2021

Annalee Spencer and Wayland Smith were uninhibited young lovers until the Peterloo Massacre set them on two different paths. Raised to the title of Baron of Darlington in recognition of his courage, Wayland is now a model of propriety and heroism. As for Annalee, the trauma of that tragic day in Manchester is ever present. To dull the pain, she lives only for pleasure. And she derives immense pleasure from co-leading the Mismatch Society, a league of scandalously independent women. Perhaps too scandalous…because of Annalee. To save the society, she must adopt a veneer of respectability. For that she needs the man who’s won the admiration of the ton.

Wayland may be conflicted, but he agrees to Annalee’s proposal, if only to atone for having brought his former beloved to Peterloo on that fateful day. Reunited under the pretense of a courtship, Wayland and Annalee find the feelings between them are becoming real. With their own futures at stake, it’s finally time to confront the past, to trust in each other again, and against the odds, to reclaim the love they once had.

PJ says: The first two books in this series have been brimming with sensual romance and deep emotion. I have a feeling this third one may be the most emotional yet. Christi Caldwell never disappoints.

After Dark with the Duke

by Julie Anne Long

The Palace of Rogues - Book 4

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 30, 2021

She arrives in the dead of night, a mob out for blood at her heels: Mariana Wylde, the “Harlot of Haywood Street,” an opera diva brought low by a duel fought for her favors. But the ladies of the Grand Palace on the Thames think they can make a silk purse from scandal: They’ll restore her reputation and share in her triumph...provided they can keep her apart from that other guest.

 
Coldly brilliant, fiercely honorable, General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, is revered, feared, desired...but nobody truly knows him. Until a clash with a fiery, vulnerable beauty who stands for everything he scorns lays him bare. It’s too clear the only cure for consuming desire is conquest, but their only chance at happiness could lead to their destruction.

The legendary duke never dreamed love would be his last battleground. Valkirk would lay down his life for Mariana, but his choice is stark: risk losing her forever, or do the one thing he vowed he never would...surrender.

PJ says: I've been reading Long since her debut. If she writes it, I buy it. I pre-ordered After Dark with the Duke in March. I'm currently at the midway point of an advance copy of the book and all I can say is that if the second half of this book is as good as the first it may well end up being one of my favorite JAL books and one of my favorite historical romances of 2021. 

What historical romances being released between now and the end of 2021 are you most looking forward to reading?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 13 will receive a print copy of Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - I'm Only Wicked With You

I'm Only Wicked With You

by Julie Anne Long 

The Palace of Rogues - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 24, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

He’s the battle-hardened son of a bastard, raised in the wilds of New York. She’s the sheltered, blue-blooded darling of the London broadsheets, destined to marry a duke. Their worlds could only collide in a boardinghouse by the London docks...and when they do, the sparks would ignite all of England. 

 
Nothing can stop Hugh Cassidy’s drive to build an American empire...unless it’s his new nemesis, the arrogant, beautiful, too-clever-by-half Lady Lillias Vaughn. The fascination is mutual. The temptation is merciless. And the inevitable indiscretion? Soul-searing—and the ruination of them both. Hugh’s proposal salvages Lillias’s honor but kills their dreams for their futures...until they arrive at a plan that could honorably set them free. 

 
But unraveling their entanglement inadvertently uncovers enthralling truths: about Lillias’s wounded, tender heart and fierce spirit. About Hugh’s stunning gentleness, depth, and courage. Soon Hugh knows that as surely as he’d fight a thousand battles to win her...the best way to love Lillias means breaking his own heart. 

PJ's Thoughts:

You all know I'm a long-time fan of Julie Anne Long. In fact, I've been reading her since her debut novel was published almost 20 years ago. She never fails to delight me with her beautiful language, vividly depicted characters, charming storylines, and happy endings. Book one in this series, Lady Derring Takes a Lover was a 5-star read for me while Book two, Angel in a Devil's Arms was a Top Dish. Book three, I'm Only Wicked With You, takes readers back to The Grand Palace on the Thames and another unexpected romance brewing within its confines. 

The first part of this book sets a very leisurely pace with a slow-burn romance that doesn't begin to smoke until close to halfway through the book. The first third is centered mostly around the entire ensemble of boardinghouse characters and while there are rich humor and sparking embers of chemistry in many of those scenes, I found that the slow pace of the romance made it too easy to set the book aside. I still enjoyed Long's wit and the interactions among the boarders (Mr. Delacorte continues to entertain and Lillias's family are a surprising delight) and staff (Helga and Dot are gems!) at the boardinghouse but it was difficult for me to develop the investment I hope for in the hero and heroine's potential relationship until well into the book. Eventually, Long began to reveal the layers beneath the surface that enabled me to connect with both Lillias and Hugh. There's so much more to both of them than what people would guess. I enjoyed how they each began to open their feelings and allow the other a glimpse into their pain, vulnerability, hopes, and dreams. It led me to embrace the feelings that seemed to be deepening between them. But then the author tossed in a twist that had me wondering if these two should be together. I felt a bit like a rowboat in a storm-tossed ocean the way my feelings kept going back and forth. 

Where the first half of the book was too easy to put down, the last quarter or so kept me eagerly flipping pages to discover what would happen next because, to be honest, I had no clue how this was going to end. The final three chapters were one surprise after another, with some of those surprises coming from unexpected corners of the character landscape. I do love it when that happens. And while I may have still been a bit skeptical of this couple's lasting power at the end of the book (for reasons), the Epilogue (one year later) convinced me of the strength, depth, and durability of the love they both feel for the other. Yes, there were sighs, laughter, and happy tears shed. 

If you enjoy a cross-class, American-English, slow-burn romance with a lively and disparate ensemble of characters, give this one a try. 

Review - - Angel in a Devil's Arms

Angel in a Devil's Arms
by Julie Anne Long
The Palace of Rogues - Book 2
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

He has devil’s blood in his veins. At least, that’s always been the legend. How else could the Duke of Brexford’s notorious bastard son return from the dead? The brutal decade since Lucien Durand, Lord Bolt, allegedly drowned in the Thames forged him into a man who always gets what—and who—he wants. And what he wants is vengeance for his stolen birthright . . . and one wild night in Angelique Breedlove’s bed.

Angelique recognizes heartbreak when the enigmatic Lord Bolt walks into The Grand Palace on the Thames, and not even his devastating charm can tempt her to risk her own ever again. One scorching kiss drives home the danger.

But in the space between them springs a trust that feels anything but safe. And the passion—explosive, consuming—drives Lucien to his knees. Now his whole life depends on proving his love to a woman who doesn’t believe in it . . . because his true birthright, he now knows, is guardian of Angelique Breedlove’s heart.

My thoughts:

You know those books that fill you with pleasure from beginning to end; hold you tight until you've read the very last word, even if that's at 3:00 AM? The ones that leave you in a state of such satisfied bliss that it's a week - at least - before you can even begin to contemplate the thought of starting a new story? This is one of those books. 

Julie Anne Long is at her best in this newest installment of her The Palace of Rogues series, creating a story filled with heartache, humor, deep passion, revenge, redemption, sweet poignancy, reconciliation, and love. And all wrapped in the sheer beauty of Long's powerful, evocative prose. With characters brought to life in glorious, gritty detail. This one's a keeper and already sitting on my Best of 2019 list. 

I loved Lucien and Angelique. Both have been hurt in the past, both betrayed, and both very determined in the paths forward they have chosen. I love how they both evolve over the course of the story, how they slowly begin to shed their protective shields and open their hearts to one another. How the protector, and protected, ebbs and flows along the way.

The surrounding cast is rich in intriguing characters with the boarding house scenes, especially among the men, sheer perfection. I loved the friendship that develops between unlikely characters, leading to unexpected opportunities. The dispatching of the story's villain is brilliantly executed and the resulting introduction of a new character into Lucien's and Angelique's lives had my heart sighing with delight. I do hope he'll show up again in future books. I want to see this relationship - and this character - as they grow. 

While Angel in a Devil's Arms can be read as a standalone, there are many facets to Angelique's character as well as her friendship with Delilah and the events that led to them opening a boarding house near the docks that are uncovered in book one, Lady Derring Takes a Lover. For a more complete understanding, and appreciation, of Angelique and her journey, I recommend reading the two books in order. Like I'm going to. Again.