Ok, I'm ready to go through the pile of MacLean books I've been hoarding for years to re-read the whole bunch. Is it just me or is Sarah MacLean becoming even more sizzling in her writing? Brazen and The Beast is a character driven, hotter than hot historical romance featuring the Lady Henrietta Sedley and Whit, known as the Beast of Covent Garden. Lady Henrietta has decreed this, her 29th year, the Year of Hattie. Its the year she is planning on taking control of her life, her future and her body. Finding the Beast tied up and unconscious in her carriage is not helping her plans go smoothly but Hattie is nothing if not resourceful. Beast is drawn to her and awed by her intelligence and Amazonian beauty and its not long before the sparks start flying.

Sarah MacLean is one of the few historical romance writers who consistently manages to produce strong, interesting, fresh historical romances time after time, This one is no exception. The characters are compelling, both because of and in spite of their flaws. We all know there's going to be a happy ending - it's how she manages to get us there which really makes MacLean's novels a success. They are sharp, witty, complete and, so very much fun to read.

I am a big Sarah MacLean fan, so I was really looking forward to this, but it ultimately didn't appeal to me as much as the first Bareknuckle Bastards book, and I'm having a hard time putting my finger on why. Maybe because it seemed more plot- than character-driven? Or that I'm tired of stories hinging on the hero pushing the heroine away and keeping secrets from her in order to protect her? I don't know. I did enjoy MacLean's usual wit and nods to characters from previous books. I am also looking forward to what I assume is going to be the next installment in the series devoted to Ewan and Grace. That seems like a very interesting relationship dynamic to work with.

I was a bit disappointed in this book. It seemed rushed and the characters seemed too whiney. Likewise, the small plot lines added to the story where not really fleshed out. For instance, Hattie's gay friend seemed to be added for a marketability aspect and not truly add interest to the story.

Imagine finding a barely conscious and bound man on the floor of your vehicle. What’s a girl to do? Well, Hattie engages in a little conversation then throws him out of the moving carriage. And because he’s a Bareknuckle Bastard and he has the eyes and ears of the streets, it only takes him a hot minute to find her.

Hattie is strong, smart, and longs to be independent. He is strong, smart, and doesn’t think he is good enough for her. Tortured soul healed and made whole by the right woman - this is my favorite kind of story, but it has to be the right story and this one takes the cake.

Woa! A 4.5 stars for me.

Sarah MacLean returns with her second book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. She continues the story of the three illegitimate brothers that were plucked out of their lives and pitted against each other by their father. This book focuses on the hero, Whit, who is found unconscious in the carriage of the heroine, Hattie. Hattie, is about to embark on the "Year of Hettie" and is none too happy that Whit is about to ruin her plans. From the beginning, sparks fly between these two in a big way!

I enjoyed Hattie's character immensely. She is bold and intelligent, and works to gain control of her father's company on her own merits.

I would recommend to anyone that likes historical romances, and, in particular, if you like stories set in and around the rookeries in the Victorian Era of England. If you like authors, such as Kelly Bowen, Lorraine Heath, and Shana Galen, among others, you will love this book.

Oh this world. 😍 I love this fictional historical romance world that Sarah MacLean has beautifully crafted. The Bareknuckle Bastards are every bit delightful, witty, and jarringly handsome. However, it is the ladies that are stealing the show. Hattie radiates from page to page. I think she might just be my favorite heroine yet. I love her strength and determination. She’s a feminist who matches Whit, the Beast, so perfectly. This story is wonderful & I can’t wait for book 3!

This book was FANTASTIC! Probably one of my top books by this author. I loved every character, especially the hero and heroine. Nora was also great! I can't wait for the next one!

I am writing this review from beyond the grave. Because Brazen and the Beast is so good that it killed me. I'm still marinating in my thoughts and feelings but I am very tempted to say that this book might be Sarah MacLean's best work yet.

The heroine of this book is simply phenomenal. Hattie is everything. There are some truly fabulous books of out there featuring strong, body-confident plus-sized heroines. And that's glorious. That's so needed. But let's be honest. We don't all feel that way. At least not all the time. We don't all have a healthy body image. We don't all love our size. Or our shape. And I don't think I've EVER related to a character in a romance as much I related to Hattie. Hattie has doubts about her worth and a complicated relationship with her body. She has doubts about her desirability. But she grows. She's brave and she ultimately recognizes her true value and refuses to settle. This world needs a million more Hatties.

And I haven't even gotten to Beast yet. Beeeeast. Whit. He's a heartbreakingly raw hero. He's quiet and complex and big and so protective.  He's just delicious.  I LOVED him. I also loved catching up with Devil and Felicity from Wicked and the Wallflower. 

I teared up multiple times for multiple reasons throughout this book. Brazen and the Beast is Sarah MacLean at her best. I could feel real, raw emotions poured into these pages and I can't recommend this book enough. I looooved it.

Brazen and the Beast is out this July but just do yourself a favor and preorder it now.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the chance to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved this book! So, I inadvertently thought I had read the first book...oops. Imagine my surprise when I realized I hadn't. Needless to say, as soon as I finished this book I immediately went and read 8 (yes 8) Sarah MacLean books in row. So lets talk about Brazen and the Beast.

It's the year of Hattie, she is finally going to do what she wants with her life. No more will she be managed by men. She has a plan....until, things go a little awry and she stumble across a Barenuckle Bastard tied up in her carriage. Beast/Whit was a rough, tough character who was searching for answers that only Hattie has and he offers to make her a most inappropriate trade.

As the book progresses though, hearts start to get involved, the characters grow, and you start to get those feels. I really enjoyed this book so much!! Yes, Beast was an idiot at times. So was Hattie, but they both had baggage to overcome. Watching that was spectacular. This book was the right amount of story, love, and passion. I now know that I will pick anything up by Sarah MacLean....don't wait and pick up this book, you won't regret it!!

Hattie gave me mad Callie vibes (from Nine Rules), and I absolutely loved it.

Hattie is taking on the Year of Hattie, as she's tired of waiting for her father to wake up and hand the rightful person the shipping business. First up? Taking care of her virginity and the last barrier to full ownership of her own body and future. But things go horribly awry when her plans involve a man tied up in her carriage. One of the Bareknuckled Bastards.

These two had so much chemistry and charisma together. Hattie had me charmed, and Whit was the dark and dangerous man with a kind soul just beginning for love and care. The shenanigans had me laughing, the sexy ship scene was delightfully original and steamy, and the ties of friendship and romance blooming.

This historical is what dreams are made of. I recommend!

Sarah M. Just was added to my favorite author lost after reading this wonderful book. Great heroine. Great storyline. Fast paced and page turner. Even the book has 400 pages I did not feel it because the book was simply a delight to read! I loved it from beginning till end!

Yes, this is another gem from the brilliant Sarah MacLean. This book has 400 pages but I was turning pages at warp speed to find out what would happen next. Hattie is a woman whose ideas are ahead of her time but she is intelligent, feisty and determined that she will take over her father's business as opposed to her near-do-well brother. Beast is already in charge of his kingdom by the Themes along with his brother Devil. There are villains but an especially evil one who adds to the danger for both Beast and Hattie.

I can highly recommend this standalone book in the Bareknuckle Bastards Series. References are made to the previous book which whets my appetite to read that one, WICKED AND THE WALLFLOWER. Try this one, you're gonna love it.

Brazen and the Beast is an epic second book to MacLean's Bareknuckle Bastards series. While Wicked and the Wallflower was great fun, Hattie became my immediate favorite right from the start. The dialogue crackles with wit and chemistry. MacLean's talent for building worlds and characters gets better and better with each book. Reading Sarah MacLean's Rule of Scoundrels was my first dive into the romance genre, and I will continue to recommend her work as a touchstone and must-read for anyone interested in empowering women, adventure, and sizzling romance.

**4.5 Stars**
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this eArc.

Whenever I want to read a historical romance novel there are only a handful of authors I turn to, one of them being Sarah MacLean. Her books always come through for me, ticking every box I need in a historical romance: humor, delicious banter and sex, and of course, a happy ending.

Book two of the Bareknuckle Bastards series definitely came through on all the things I love in a romance novel. And I love, love, love Hattie.

Lady Henrietta Sedley, or Hattie has concluded that her twenty-ninth birthday be christened the Year of Hattie. She has plans to accomplish and no one will get in her way of them. Well, at least that’s what she thinks. A dangerous and gorgeous man by the name of Beast, puts a wrench in her plans – but I blame her brother for that.

Hattie is funny, smart, brave, ambitious and determined. Her best friend Nora who is basically a sister to her helps her along the way with her plans. I love their friendship and glad Hattie had someone believing in her dreams. As for Beast, who is Saviour Whittington or Whit for short, he has a harsh past which makes it difficult for him to believe he deserves love. Least of all Hattie’s love. But these two are a perfect match. He admires her mind and ambition. She loves that he believes in her.

I really enjoyed their banter and there are some very sexy scenes between them. Hattie managed to accomplish all her goals in the end, bravo for her. She did it all with class and sass!

This is a wonderful second installment to the Bareknuckle Bastards and am looking forward to the next one!

Well written book with great characters that had fabulous chemistry. The story was unique and so fun to read. I did feel like the last 25% was rushed but the ending is obviously setting up the next book in the series. Overall another fabulous Sarah MacLean novel!

I LOVED the heroine of this book. Love, love, love Hattie. Whit is also great (a growly Beast!) but aughhhh Hattie is everything I wanted in a heroine and didn't realize until I read Brazen and the Beast.

The book opens with Hattie finding Whit unconscious and tied up on the floor of her carriage. She's got plans though, so her BFF Nora takes her to her appointment at a brothel anyways. She recognizes her brother August's clumsy rope knots on the man who regains consciousness on the way, but doesn't let him know she knows who is responsible for where he is. Whit gets kicked out of the carriage but shows up in the room Hattie is waiting in at the brothel, and they strike a bargain; she'll help him get his goods back that were stolen during the night's ambush and he'll help her with her pesky virginity, rendering her marriageable and helping her towards her Year of Hattie plans.

The story goes from there and I love how they of course fall for each other despite themselves. The problem is Whit's brother, Ewan, who vows to go after Hattie when he realizes Whit loves her, and subsequently causes Whit to be overcome with stupidity and break it off. It would've been much more interesting if at that point they had teamed up to take him down instead of the story going down the predictable road.

I think my love for Hattie was clear in the first sentence but let me expand on why. Hattie is considered on the shelf and the discussion points in the book where she talks about others' expectations for her life/her future are so spot-on; her vulnerability in her appearance because other people are jerks; her pride in her ability to do the job well and keep others employed in her father's shipping company. I love how Whit sees her as a warrior. It means a lot to her when every other man in her life has just seen her as a woman who just needs to hurry up and marry a man to fulfill herself.

The romance is so nicely developed as they learn about each other and care for each other in their own little ways. There is a very cute secondary romance in the book involving Nora, Hattie's carriage racing BFF. There isn't a lot in the book so I wonder if they'll get a novella?

I really enjoyed this book despite the frustratingly predictable conflict with Ewan and recommend it regardless if you've read the first one (Wicked and the Wallflower). Hattie and Whit's romance is wonderful and I love the setting of Covent Garden and the docks as business places.

Brazen and the Beast is the second book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. This book features the story of Whit the "King of Covent Garden" also known as the Beast. His love interest in the story is Hattie Sedley who is the brains behind her family's shipping business. Hattie wants her father to leave the business to her and decides that her best option is to get "ruined" so that he won't merely marry her off and bequeath the business to her idiot brother. Of course, the idiot brother has made some very bad and illegal business decisions that have brought him the wrath of the Beast. What ensues is a love story between a fiercely independent woman and a man who wants to give his woman what she desires as long as it doesn't go against the vendetta he has against his step brother, the Duke. This book was a fun and satisfying continuation of the Bareknuckle series and sets up the next installment about Grace. I have the feeling that book is going to Rock!!!!

I love a historical romance novel that pairs an aristocrat with a commoner and I also love when the heroine is not a simpering, empty-headed virgin. Hattie is a virgin but considers it a burden so her first action in the story is to find a brothel that caters to women in an attempt to rid herself of that impediment. Hattie is a complex, fascinating character in that she successfully runs her father’s shipping business. Whit is a crime boss with a heart of gold and a lifetime of baggage. Their witty banter and scorching chemistry made this book a delight to read. I blazed through it in record time. I also loved meeting Hattie’s best friend Nora and getting a glimpse of her budding romance with Annika. I would have loved a full length novel featuring those two. Or a novella. The world needs more historical romance featuring ladies loving ladies. Anyway, MacLean is a very talented writer and I cannot wait to read Grace’s story.

Henrietta Sedley wants to inherit her father's shipping business. She deserves to inherit it. However, Henrietta Sedley is a woman, so her brother August will be the one to take over the company. Hattie won't stand for that. She embarks on the year of Hattie to claim the things she wants - body, business, home, fortune, future. Unfortunately, her idiot brother has angered the local gang, The Barenuckle Bastards. Hattie intervenes and finds herself caught up with Beast.

Sarah MacLean has always written a STRONG book if a little heavy on the romance scenes. This book was no exception. The characters are well-developed and Hattie is going to take the business world by storm, despite the historical setting. I don't care how anachronistic it is, I like feminism in my historical romance novels, and Sarah does not disappoint.

I heart this one so much. First of all, I love Sarah Maclean. This is her second in the bare knuckle bastards series, and it did not disappoint. It focuses on Beast and Henrietta Sadley, who is a freaken warrior heroine. I loved everything about it. The writing is impeccable, the story line exciting, and the love story swoon worthy. I can’t wait to read the final book. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!!