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 - - 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. 

Review - - Lady Derring Takes a Lover

Lady Derring Takes a Lover
by Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Reviewed by Santa

Lady Derring Takes A Lover by Julie Anne Long is a five dish read for me. I can’t say enough about this book and, truth to tell, I am writing this review with a smile on my face. It’s the same smile I had while reading the book. Lady Derring Takes A Lover is the first book of Ms. Long’s newest The Palace of Rogues series. Coming off the wildly popular and successful Pennyroyal series and her Hellcat Canyon series, you gotta wonder if a new book can stand up to muster. The answer is a resounding YES! This book is chock full of unique personalities, witty dialog and an interesting mystery or two. 

Lady Delilah Derring, a proper wife and daughter who knew her place in the world and what to do there finds herself a destitute widow thanks to her slightly neglectful husband with a penchant for statuary and cigars. The only bonus from his demise is the loss of those hideous statues, along with everything unentailed from larder to attic, except for the only thing he owned outright - a building on the docks. That was a surprise. Her second surprise came when Derring’s mistress, Mrs. Angelique Breedlove, barged in to see what pittance he had left her. As it turns out Derring, never generous in life, was equally so in death. Left destitute as well, she strongly advises Lady Derring to sew what jewels she may have into her clothes and leave the bare bones of her life and get away as fast as she can.

Lady Derring is astounded that Derring seemed to owe everyone but managed to secure a building and mistress. That seals it for her. No more the meek and mild one, Delilah takes her endearingly inept maid and goes to the docks to see about this building she now owns. Gently bred or not, whatever it holds is her future now. She ventures into the pub next door and finds Mrs. Breedlove in the back contemplating her own future which includes stones in her pockets and a walk into the Thames. Angelique went from innocent miss to a misled venture into ruin to becoming a mistress to Derring. Delilah convinces her to put whatever jewels she has into her pockets and join her in making the building next store a kind of boarding house where people can reside and join in evenings of music and conversation after being fed delicious meals from the chef she hopes to lure back into her employ.

Interest piqued, they join forces to make the building over from what seems to have been a brothel in years past but whose recent history remains a mystery. It turns out they are not the only ones interested in the building. Captain Tristin Hardy and his men have been tracking smuggling operations of a Blue Rock gang. This gang has been smuggling a number of items, among them cigars, but their trail lingers around that same building and at the same time runs to the ground at Derring’s death.

Determined to solve this mystery, Hardy finds himself renting a room at the building formerly known as The Palace of Rogues. However, the newly refurbished Grand Palace on the Thames requires that he follow a number of rules including mandatory nights in pleasant company in the parlor after dinner and frequent donations to a swear jar. The Grand Palace becomes the residence of an interesting assortment of guests, even the quiet sisters who take to sitting in the darker corners. Though none proves as intriguing to Captain Hardy as Lady Derring and the same could be said for her. Tired of being the gently bred nice girl the idea takes hold in her head to take a lover. Captain Tristan Hardy seems like just the ticket.

I loved this book. The dialog, the intrigue. I would have liked to rent a room there myself. And I look forward to her next book in the series which features Angelique and the mystery man whose man of business secured rooms he never came to occupy.