Wow! This’s book blew me away. Sarah MacLean is making a name for herself in the historical romance genre with her heart-pounding romances (and her fan-your-face hot love scenes.) Brazen and the Beast is Book 2 in the newest series, and while the previous book was a bit of a let down (still good, just not as good as her prior work), that must have been an anomaly because this one did not disappoint. An utterly lovable hero, an admirable heroine, and plenty of drama combine to make another excellent story from MacLean. We also get a glimpse at two side character love matches that seem to be brewing, both of which I’m certainly waiting on tender hooks for! And we get a mysterious and foreboding setup for the next book, and while I’m hoping the heroine of that book gets a better match then it seems like she’s going to get, I’m trying to trust that Maclean’s plan will satisfy.

Sarah McLean is a wonderful storyteller and its been many years since I have read one of her books. This is book 3 in a 3 part series and I did enjoy it though its different than I have read before. It was enjoyable just not wonderful but I cannot wait for the 3rd book in the series this book really builds you up to the 3rd book.

This series is about 3 brothers and a sister who is related but not by blood. They each have different mothers and all the sons share a bastard of a father. Two of the brothers, Devil and Beast along with their sister escaped when they were 14 and became rich and feared and part of the London Underworld. The third brother Ewan became evil but also a Duke and the brothers fear him alot.

This is Beasts story and he meet Hattie when her brother leaves him bound in her vehicle. On the night he does this is Hattie's birthday and she has plans to go to a brothel and make it her Hattie Year. But the Beast gets in the way of that and as the story progresses the two cannot stay away from the other. But Ewan is a constant issue as Hattie's brother has been working for him and he will use Hattie against the Beast.

I did really enjoy this story though its more about London's underworld and shenagigans rather than the glittery London world which is what I love. However the build up between Ewan and Gracie (the sister) was wonderful and I cannot wait for the third book.

The second entry in Sarah MacLean's Bareknuckle Bastards series is a delightful romp, full of adventure and passion. Hattie is bright, ambitious, and determined to take charge of her life at the age of twenty-nine, including convincing her father to let her take over the family shipping business. Whit, known in Covent Garden as Beast, is a man of few words, who will do anything to protect his siblings and his smuggling business. The two of them get tangled professionally and personally, and Whit can't seem to keep away from Hattie even when it puts them both in danger.

This is classic Sarah MacLean: thrilling story, real stakes, and emotional growth for hero and heroine. I stayed up far too late reading to finish it, and I can't wait for the next book!