I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FINAL DECISION: The emotional depth, beautiful prose, masterful character development, and perfect balance of angst and humor make this one of my favorite books of the year. Long never disappoints. This is a second chance story of an estranged couple finding their way back to one another.

THE STORY: Colonel Magnus Brightwall, an orphan who rose to become a war hero, arranges a marriage with Alexandra Bellamy by offering to save her family’s fortunes. A misunderstanding on their wedding night drives them apart, sending Magnus to Spain for five years. Upon his return to England, scandal forces them to share quarters at the Grand Palace on the Thames while seeking a courtesy title from the king. Though Magnus plans to exile Alexandra to his American estate afterward, their forced proximity begins to change both their hearts and their futures.

OPINION: I loved this book. There is some angst, but this book, as so many of Long’s books are — is a meditation on love, giving and sacrifice.

I loved Magnus. He appears at first the stern war hero, but we quickly discover his soft, gooey heart beneath the stern exterior. His journey from an unwanted orphan to respected colonel shapes him deeply, but Long reveals his vulnerable heart with expert care. Every scene peels back another layer of this complex man who yearns for love but fears it simultaneously.

Alexandra is his perfect match—strong, intelligent, and willing to face their shared past honestly. What I particularly appreciated was how the story avoided unnecessary drama. Magnus and Alexandra made mistakes in their past, and the story doesn’t shy away from showing how they each contributed to their failed marriage. Yet perhaps only now, with years of growth between them, can they truly see and understand each other.

The story’s strength lies in its intimate focus. Long doesn’t waste time on unnecessary plot devices, instead crafting a beautifully claustrophobic narrative in which Magnus and Alexandra spend time together, learning about each other through shared meals, conversations, and adventures at the Palace. Their gradual rediscovery of each other through these quiet moments and delightful escapades feels genuine and weighty.

The emotional intimacy between them is breathtaking—Long writes the scenes where they are together with such beauty and raw emotion.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book has some great humor — donkey races and ghosts.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE is the 8th book in the Palace of Rogues series. While it stands alone perfectly, familiarity with previous books enhances appreciation of the boarding house setting and its delightfully eccentric residents.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in order to assist in writing this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FINAL DECISION: My favorite book of the series! This is an amazing book that leverages the relationships the series has already developed into a wonderful story of two people who meet by chance, pretend to be married, learn about one another, and fall in love.

THE STORY: On a dark and stormy night, Lorcan St. Leger walks through the London dock areas as a man who has accomplished so much. He managed to raise himself from the slums of St. Giles to become a privateer for the Crown (with some questionable choices along the way), and things seem to be going well. Until he spies a woman climbing out of a window and dangling in the air. That is how St. Leger meets Lady Daphne Worth. Daphne is as desperate as St. Leger is self-satisfied. Forced to take employment due to her family’s reversal of fortune, Daphne had to save herself from assault. When a major storm forces Daphne and St. Leger to take refuge at Grand Palace on the Thames, the two masquerade as a married couple to get a room. It turns out the owners of the Grand Palace are not strangers to either Daphne or St. Leger, which makes their fake marriage even more complicated.

OPINION: I loved this book. It has some great tropes, including forced proximity. So much of the story takes place within the rooms that Daphne and Lorcan rent at the Grand Palace. I’m a sucker for two characters who can talk their way through the book. But don’t be fooled, this book is hot. Nothing is better than sexy talk that just explodes on the page by the end of the slow burn.

I liked these characters. Both Daphne and Lorcan have depth and are just decent people. The story avoids all the cliches and easy answers that I expected in the story. Relationships are messy and complicated, and this book doesn’t shy away from that messiness, whether it be romance, family, or friendships.

Daphne is a woman who has taken on so much burden of caring for her family. No one has taken care of her, and Lorcan, who could have been only concerned with himself, always has a community behind him, whether it be the slums of St. Giles or his crew, always looks out for others even while he tells himself another story of his life. Her strength allowed me to believe the circumstances that surround this book. Daphne is not sheltered even though she has pockets of innocence and naivety. Lorcan is a man who needs to care for others, and his encounter with Daphne gives him something to care about even while he fights those instincts. The decency of these characters and the avoidance of the obvious romantic situations kept me engaged in the book. I was rooting for these two on every page of the book.

While the story takes place primarily within the walls of the Grand Palace, the vibrant community that has been built throughout the series blossoms in this book. The arrival of Daphne and Lorcan causes (or exposes) problems in the household. This book felt so vibrant with all the relationships shifting and being renewed.

I think this is the best book in the series, but it relies upon all the previous books to have so much depth. There is one night in the book that might be the funniest sequence I’ve read in one of Long’s books. It felt like an old sitcom or a 1940s movie comedy. I don’t want to give anything away because it is structured so well, but I loved the entire evening, which was funny but also served as an important catalyst in the book.

We get to see a lot of the people in the Grand Palace, which I really enjoyed because I do love the characters, and I like to see how the Grand Palace is changing and how these people are growing together.

I can’t say enough about this book, and it is definitely my favorite book of the year so far. My last note is that his book has a perfect epilogue that left me feeling so happy about the book.

WORTH MENTIONING: Who knew that spillikins could be so sexy?

CONNECTED BOOKS: HOW TO TAME A WILD ROGUE is the sixth book in the Palace of Rogues series. The romance here is self-contained and thus can be read as a standalone; however, the other characters matter in this book, and a richer experience awaits those who read the series in order.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 enthusiastic stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.