Henrietta "Hattie" Sedley wants one thing in life, her father's business. But she is a woman and, even though she is better at the business than her brother, Augie is the one that has been put in charge. Unfortunately, Augie's an idiot's. Example: The man who's tied up and in Henrietta's carriage when she goes out to start the first night of the Year of Hattie. The man is built like a Greek God and she is immediately attracted but she's got a plan and even the most beautiful man isn't going to stop her.
Beast Wakes up to a beautiful Woman tapping his face trying to get him to wake up. And then she unceremoniously throws him out of the carriage. But not before stopping for a kiss. Luckily she throws him out in the area of London that he runs and he's able to find her almost immediately. He discovers that she is a part of the family that has been systemically robbing him. And that's an issue.
The pre-end was a little fast as was the wrap up but generally a fun book and nice addition to the series.

Four stars
This book comes out July 30th
Follows Wicked and the Wallflower
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Book Title: Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards #2)
Author: Sarah MacLean
Pub Date: July 30, 2019

***ARC was provided to me by Net Galley and the Publisher for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 5/5 I loved this story of a lady and her dark king and would definitely read it again.

Heroine (Lady Henrietta “Hattie” Sedley): 5/5 Hattie, the daughter of an earl, is celebrating her 29th birthday making her life entirely her own. She believes herself undesirable to the men of the ton and due to her full figure and so she speaks her mind and is unafraid to show off her head for business.

Hero (Saviour “Whit” Whittington): 5/5 Whit is the king of working class and they all know him as Beast. He believes the job of protecting those around him falls squarely on his shoulders and so he could never find an equal.

Plot: 5/5 Hattie endeavors to have her 29th birthday kick off the ‘the year of Hattie’ and sets off to start her four point plan at a brothel. But before the carriage can begin its journey she finds a man tied up and unconscious inside. Whit wakes to find he’s tied up and at the mercy of a beautiful woman, and finds she’s headed straight into his domain to take her pleasure. He is happy to oblige her but it comes at a price. They find themselves rivals in business yet possible partners in bed. Both want to keep their secrets, but if they do they could lose more than their hearts along the way.

Personal Review: Sarah MacLean is one of my favorite romance authors and she does not disappoint with Brazen and the Beast. I absolutely love Hattie and her unwillingness to accept less than what she set out for. I love Whit’s story and his protective nature and how it is used against him. I would love to see how Nik and Nora are faring in the next installment.

Hattie is a true heroine, she is not simpering, she doesn’t wait for Whit to come to her she’ll march right to his door if need be. I loved the feminine bravery she exhibits and how she rarely minzes words. I will probably read the story again at some point and eagerly await the next installment.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy!!

SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS SERIES!! As a Sarah Maclean fan, it’s no surprise how much I absolutely completely ADORE this book. I’ve fallen in love with Covet Garden and this world that Sarah has created and this book you guys! ITS SO WONDERFUL! The plot of fast paced and the writing is so addictive. Plus it’s so REFRESHING to read this kind of hero and heroine who are so STRONG and bring out the absolute best in each other by falling in love.

Hattie is without a doubt a new favorite heroine of mine and I’m still swooning over Whitt. Hattie decides to take control of her life and begins the Year of Hattie with a bang when she finds a man tied up in her carriage and then eventually they propose a deal. She’s determined to rid herself of her virginity and take control of her father’s business no matter what it takes. The two fall into a fun chase of cat and mouse as they become “rivals” and fall head over heels in love.

I love how strong Hattie is and how insecure she was with herself. I related to her so strongly that some of the things she said even made me get emotional because I totally understood exactly where she was coming from. I love how she learned how to accept herself and love herself. She knew exactly what she deserved and what not to settle for and it was so admiring. I think every girl who reads this book is going to see a bit of themselves in Hattie and then strive to be like her.

Whitt, how I completed adore this man. Oh my god, he is wonderful. But of course he does have his flaws but the things that he would say to Hattie just had me swooning and fanning myself. He has such a beautiful way with words and I loved how he showed Hattie how much she was appreciated and loved. We know his past from the first novel but you could definitely pick this one up if you haven’t read the first one, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series before coming into this one as they’re both fantastic and you get more time with the Bareknuckle Bastards because let me tell you, this is a world you won’t want to leave.

And this book is HOT!!! SO SO STEAMY!!! SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION! And the sex scenes, WOW! So so good!! Sarah’s writing just continues to blow me away with each novel I pick up from her and I can’t even begin to tell you all how much I’m dying for the next book in this series! I’m so ready for Ewan and Grace!! IM SO EXCITED!! But I’m also super excited for everyone to get their hands on this book when it comes out July 30th!!

Henrietta Sedley has decided she's done waiting for her life to happen and she is going to take matters into her own hands. She has life carefully planned until she finds a man tied up in her carriage. Her plans go awry, but her new path is never dull and in the end it may work out better than anything she could have managed on her own. Fun, exciting romance.

I enjoy everything about Sarah MacLean’s books, especially the characters and Brazen and the Beast was no exception there; Hattie and Whit were great! For some reason, this book took me along time to finish, over a week to read a book that should have taken me no more than 2 or 3 days. When trying to analyze why, the only thing I could come up with was the lack of antagonist/protagonist action in the romance. For example, from the beginning both characters described the other as “beautiful” and “magnificent” continually! I knew the book would have a HEA, as most romance novels do, but I guess I needed more friction between the characters to keep me interested. 3stars.

Sarah MacLean knows what she's doing. This book was steamy, fun, and super enjoyable. I loved the characters and their story.

Well Sarah MacClean, you have done it again - created a romance filled with complex characters that you cannot help but root for. I mean, Hattie is simply amazing. I think she may be my absolute favorite of all of Sarah's heroines. And that is saying a lot as Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake is my all time favorite romance as was Lady Calpurnia , my favorite heroine. Both women are not what Society deems as worthy and yet they are fierce, intelligent, and brave always going after what they want. They don't allow those criticisms of being to plain, to loud, to big to stop them and yet that doesn't mean they don't still feel them. They acknowledge it but continue pursue what they want. And I think that is why I so connect with Sarah's books the women are not perfect, they know don't fit into society 's standards and yet they still create the lives they want while not allowing their insecurities to define them.

Brazen and The Beast is a five star read for me. The Year of Hattie was beyond entertaining. She is a force to be reckoned with, and only Beast was up to the task of being her partner. Speaking of Beast, AKA, Whit - how absolutely delicious a hero he is. Silent, and brooding with a strong sense of responsibility and honor - perfection.

The Bareknuckled Bastards series is turning out to be a fabulous series and after finishing this one I cannot wait for the next. I am just sad that we have to wait a year for it! I would highly recommend you pick this one up if you enjoy romances with smart, independent women who are willing to go after what they - Society be damned!

This was an enjoyable addition to the series. It can be read as a stand alone if you have not read the first book, but after you do you will definitely want to read the first one. Sarah MacLean writes such wonderful characters, I loved Hattie. I can't wait to see what is in store for Ewan and Grace.

Another winner from Sarah MacLean! I really enjoy Sarah's focus on the underworld and strong, independent women. I can't wait for the next installment!

I’ve read numerous books by Sarah Maclean and she is a very talented author. This was my first read of this new series, but the novel can be read as a standalone. Our heroine, Henrietta Sedley has developed a plan for “the year of Hattie”. Her father owns the very successful Sedley Shipping, and Hattie is tired of never being enough or of being too much for everyone, so she sets out to make this year for herself. What she does not plan on is to find a man bound in her carriage while she is setting out to begin her new year. Saviour Whittington, better known as “Beast”, wakes to find himself in the carriage with Hattie. Our heroine has the answers that our hero seeks about who has been sabotaging his business. What follows is a fast paced book, full of intrigue and romance. This book just fell flat for me. I really liked Hattie, she was a well fleshed out character and I felt as though I connected with her. Maclean does very well with making you connect with her and understand her frustrations. I believe that Whit was supposed to come off as the suave, sexy, dangerous hero. For me it just didn’t happen. I didn’t actually feel that they were falling in love, and some of their actions just didn’t make sense to me. I won’t spoil anything, but there are parts in the book that just made me shake my head! The romance and the heat just were not there. It almost felt forced, and in a sense, Whit came across like all of the other men in Hattie’s life. This annoyed me. I found myself not minding if I put the book down, it just didn’t keep my attention. Overall, a decent read, but not something that I would read again.

Hattie Sedley is nearing spinsterhood and decides to take matters into her own hands via the "Year of Hattie." First step, visiting a brothel, where things don't go exactly as planned when she meets Savior Whittington, a man known as Beast in the Covent Garden of London. Hattie and Whit spark from the start in this historical tale full of mystery, adventure and romance. The closer they grow to each other, the farther apart a happy ever after seems! This novel had great writing, wonderful, engaging characters and a story that kept me guessing chapter after chapter. I'll be anxious for the next in The Bareknuckle Bastards series! Note: I hadn't read the first in the series and the book and I had no problem understanding the characters and setting. (*I read an uncorrected advance copy of this courtesy of NetGalley, opinions are my own.)

****4.5 STARS****

What do you get when you cross a tall, dark, handsome and wealthy king of the underworld with a no nonsense and spirited heroine....one hell of a novel!!!

This has to be my favorite book this year. It had everything including the alpha anti-hero. Saviour Whittington is the bastard son of a duke and has had to drag himself from the savage streets of London. But he is a survivor and becomes known as the Beast because of his fighting ability and protectiveness over those he cares about. The man wears a bandolier of knives....I don’t know what else to say about him except he is right up there with my favorite Lisa Kleypas’ hero boyfriends.

Hattie is a force to be reckoned with as she sets out to become an independent woman. After all she is 29, unmarried and practically running her father’s shipping business. Why can’t she have it?

Craftily written...I read it in one sitting....I couldn’t put it down. I hated for the story to end. It should definitely be one to read. You will not be disappointed.

Terrific context of the 18th century London docks frames an independent heroine and a hero who needs a couple of nudges to be on the right side of the law of commerce.

This was a wonderful book. The characters were really great. The hero was likable and well developed. I especially liked the heroine in the book. She was sassy, strong, and sure of who she was the whole time. The overall story of this series is building is very interesting and well done. They were an interesting couple and I really enjoyed how their story developed. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“There is nothing fearless about me. I am scared every day. I fear the wide world and the way it stares at me and sneers at me and whispers about me when it thinks I cannot hear. I fear a life of half measures, full of shadows of emotions and hints of possibilities and a thousand things I might have had if only I’d reached a bit farther.”

I credit Sarah MacLean (by way of Book Riot) with my giving the romance genre a chance and not being disappointed in the slightest. Years ago when I started reading her books she really helped me to grow comfortable with reading romance, enjoying it, and not being ashamed. This is a huge reason why I echo to friends and customers to read what you want to read.

Sarah is at it again! I liked book one of The Bareknuckle Bastards so much I passed my copy on to a friend and told her to read it and keep passing it on. Hoping I could win over another would be Sarah MacLean fan. Little did I know I could and would like book 2 of the series even more!?!

I don't believe there is anything more refreshing than an honest, looks like me (or so I imagined while reading), heroine who refuses to be put on a pedestal and be saved. She's a keeper...or rather the safer *wink*. It is easy to get swept up in a romance novel and forget that beautiful people are falling in love with other beautiful perfect people with minor bumps in their story along the way. Hattie and Beast are no ugly ducklings, but to me they felt more human and less perfect romance and happily ever after. The struggle was frustrating, but that's because it is supposed to be. More literal and accessible because it isn't so formulaic. I didn't know before I started reading their story how much I wanted/needed to see a character who looks and feels more like me and who I want to be, on the page.

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

I’m so happy I read this book. I have been a big fan of Sarah MacLean since the Love by Numbers series, and I own all of her books. But I was really disappointed with the first Bareknuckle Bastards book; I didn’t even finish it,

Because of my love for Ms. MacLean, there was no way I would give up on her after one disappointing book. I am SO GLAD I didn’t, because I loved Brazen and the Beast so much. Hattie is a wonderful heroine—smart, ambitious, and iron-willed. Beast was a much better hero than his brother, Devil. I understood why he made the choices he did, and he cared. He was tough, but he wasn’t an ass (unlike Devil). I also loved some of the secondary characters in this book—really hoping for a novella featuring Lady Nora and Nik! I am excited to read Grace’s book; the next year is going to be a long wait.

I absolutely loved this book! It was my first time reading Sarah MacLean, but will by no means be the last...I can't wait to glom everything she's written!

Everything about this story was on-point--excellent writing, wonderful characters; sexual tension, and romance; unique and engaging plot. I couldn't put it down.

And did I mention I can't wait to read the rest of the "Bareknuckle Bastards" books, as well as anything else by Sarah MacLean? She is a Keeper and auto-buy for sure.

Ok, so before I reviewed this book, I had to wait 2 weeks and read it again!
I inhaled the first time reading it so I had to stop and focus and read it twice before I write my thoughts about it.
It was one of my favorites not of the month or year but EVER. It was gut wrenching with twists that made it a fun read.
Savior and Hattie were a great match for each other. Hattie was confident with her business acumen,choices she has made and her future although she was insecure about her appearance. Savior with his confidence, loyalty also had insecurities about his past, both were perfect for each other.
Sarah did what is very difficult in romance making both the hero/heroine LIKABLE. We want them to succeed so much, it gives you that funny feeling in your stomach.
I never really got a sense of both of their looks and the continued self doubt over and over for Beast were the only challenges for me.

There are other reviews that are more detailed with plot etc.. I am always interested in characters. If the H/H are characters you care about the story will always work.



Thank you Netgalley and Sarah MacLean for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A heroine who knows what she wants, won't settle for anything less, but still sees herself as an ugly duckling. A hero who would give her the moon.

Lady Henrietta Sedley, 28 year old spinster decides that her 29th year will be the Year of Hattie.
Saviour Whittington is also known as the Beast. He is one of The Bareknuckle Bastards who rule Covent Garden by smuggling goods and taking care of the people who live in the Garden.

Hattie understands her father’s shipping business. Her brother doesn’t. When her brother goes up against The Bareknuckle Bastards, Hattie tries to smooth things over and show her father that she can run the business. Shenanigans ensue.

The dialogue between Hattie and Whit is wonderful. The interactions between Whit and his brother and sister are delightful. The relationship between Whit and the people who populate the Covent Garden are delightful. The people of Covent Garden display an intense loyalty to The Bareknuckle Bastards. Hattie also inspires loyalty of the dock workers. When these two characters compete, sparks fly. Listening to Whit talk to Hattie in Chapter 26 brought tears to my eyes. Yes, this was a 3 hankie chapter.

Whit wants to keep Hattie safe from malicious forces in his life. Hattie doesn’t want safety. She wants to be a full partner and she will accept nothing less.

This book was a delight to read. It is a historical romance where royalty are the bad guys and the working people are the good guys. They only problem is we now have to wait a year to find out what Whit’s sister Grace has in store for her hero. It is going to be EPIC.

5 Stars

I can't describe how pumped I was to read this: Sarah MacLean was the very first romance recommendation I ever followed through on, and I’ve loved her books ever since. I say this to impress that Brazen and the Beast is BY FAR my favorite book of hers. I got the copy this morning from NetGalley and blew through the book in one day.

Hattie is a fat heroine who is self-deprecating and has a clear lack of esteem in her looks BUT MacLean doesn’t ever make us sit through some heel character insulting her looks or mocking her, she receives support more than anything else, which is refreshing!! She is smart, brilliant at business, and in command of her own autonomy: both bodily and generally.

Beast is a genuinely great hero, with enough of a tough backstory that he’s interesting but not so much that he’s a bitter douche, for lack of a better word.

I won’t spoil anything as the book hasn’t been released, but I will say that if you enjoy regency/period romance, genuinely strong feminist characters, supportive men, a brief glimpse at a wlw romance side story (future book?? Yes please???) and sex scenes that made me literally blush, it’s worth the read!!