This was a great book!! Loved Hattie right from the beginning for making it her year. Great story. I was afraid I would be lost reading this second book in the series without having read the first book yet. No problem. I will be reading the first one next though. Whit and Hattie definitely drew me in right from the beginning.

I am a sucker for a wounded but dangerous hero and a strong heroine who fights for what she wants. Sarah MacLean got this hero/heroine combo just right.

Beautiful and intense. This is the second in the Bareknuckle Bastards series but it can be read as a stand alone. This was an deeply emotional story. I loved Hattie and Whit and how perfect they were for each other. She's strong and intelligent but not what society values until Whit sees exactly who she is and what he needs. I loved every minute.

I loved absolutely everything about this book, which is no surprise given that it's Sarah MacLean. But for real, Hattie and Whit are just, amazing. Whit is obviously dealing with some childhood trauma (this is set up in book one of the series, Wicked and the Wallflower) and Hattie is determined that this is the year where she gets everything she wants out of life. When their paths cross, neither expects the other to derail their neat plans. It's adorable how Whit tries so hard to keep thinking that he can follow the plan and that making opportunities to see Hattie again is nbd. And Hattie is definitely not waiting on the sidelines! She's out there trying to make it all happen.

Also, I have a mighty need for both book three of this series and Sesily's story!! That's happening, right? I'm ready for it. Just saying.

(Also, also, the cute f/f side character relationship? PRECIOUS. I wish we'd gotten a little more of them, but I get that may have been difficult to pull off.)

I loved this book so much. I stayed up until 3AM on a weeknight because I just couldn’t put the book down. I loved the heroine Hattie. The hero was great too, but the heroine was the real star of the book. She was smart and a great businesswoman and should have been running her father’s company. The heroine decides to take matters into her own hands and go after what she wants. She could more than hold her own against the hero and the banter between the two of them was wonderful.

Devil and Felicity make an appearance in this book and we also get glimpses of some characters from the author’s previous series. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Another great by Sarah MacLean! One of my favorite authors and a series I'm loving. This book had it all, the funny laughter enduring moments, the shock and awe, as well as the scintillating romantic scenes. I loved this story from beginning to end and am dying to read the next installment of the Bareknuckle Bastards. Written with wit, charm, and feminine audacity it's the perfect summer romance read. A definite keeper for historical romance lover's bookshelves.

This book was too wordy, too repetitive, and the alpha hero's overprotectiveness was so annoying.

And I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Every imperfect minute of it. Something about the way MacLean is writing her main relationships right now just REALLY works for me. Overprotectiveness and all. There's something that thrills me about the way she's bringing two strong characters together. YMMV; these aren't for everyone, I bet.

Anyway, thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

As a long-time historical romance reader, this one is a tricky book to review. When I enjoy Sarah Maclean; when I don't, I really don't. On the one hand, Brazen and the Beast is well-written and the characters are engaging with strong banter amongst them. On the other hand, while romance always requires a strong suspension of disbelief, I couldn't disengage my brain enough to fully enjoy a novel that hangs on the concept of not one bastard but three being born on the same day/time-ish to one duke. That's some magic, prolific stuff he's got there! All of the characters have a bit too much Mary Sue to them, and there was too much insta-lust from the male hero for the heroine, who sees herself as too tall and unattractive--too much telling but not enough support from the rest of the novel.

Netgalley provided an ARC for my review; all opinions are my own.

Sarah MacLean doesn’t disappoint with this one. Hattie is a woman with a mission and she isn’t going to let the Beast stand in her way (well maybe she will let him stand by her side). The Beast doesn’t know what hit him (well maybe he does know that it was her brother, but....). Waking up in Hattie’s carriage just before she pushes him out starts the Beast on a new path so long as his brother doesn’t ruin it.

I really enjoyed this novel by Ms. MacLean. Hattie was such a unique character during this era, for she had intelligence and business smarts. Hattie did not back down from a challenge, outspoken, and is a loyal person. She wants to run her father's shipping business and has worked hard to prove it to him. If only she was born a man instead of a woman. Beast, aka Whit, in intrigued by Hattie from the moment he wakes. tied up in her carriage. Beast never backs down and has a reputation to uphold. Beast sees Hattie as an equal, not someone to whom he can dictate orders to. He agrees to help Hattie with her plan if she gives him the information he needs to stop those stealing his cargo. After all, everyone knows the reputations of the barenuckle bastards. Hattie is a bit harsh on herself, which explains why she has not married, but Beast sees so much more of her and respects her. Hattie and Beast fall in love with each other, but they are both still business rivals. Beast's choices push Hattie away, but Hattie knows how to get her points across. When Hattie's life is in danger, will Beast finally realize the best and safest place for her is by his side? Cannot wait to read about the next barenuckle bastard!

Rollicking tale of love, loyalty and fate.
I was taken right into the world of Covent gardens and the London docklands. Fascinating and wonderful.
One of her finest heroines Hattie is truly a warrior. What a great ride.

Sarah MacLean you slay me! This book was everything and more. After reading Wicked and the Wallflower I knew I needed the next book in the series and this did not disappoint. I think I like this book even better? Beast was always an interesting character as we get glimpses of him in the first novel but how knew that Hattie would be best friend material! If you love Sarah MacLean, you must read this novel!

A lady determined to raise the sails on her own future inadvertently brings an underworld king to his knees when she discovers him trussed up in her carriage on her birthday. Hattie wasn't looking for this man for her birthday, but he turns out to be her utterly perfect Beast. Watching this savvy business woman fight for her future and for the man she loves is an absolute delight, and a must read, especially for fans of other historical romance authors who bring together the ballroom and the smuggler's den, like Sophie Jordan or Julie Ann Long. If you haven't yet read Sarah MacLean, what are you waiting for?

Brazen and the Beast continues Sarah MacLean's Bareknuckle Bastard series, and the two main characters are Hattie Selby, the daughter of an earl famous for his shipping company, and Beast, one of the rulers of Covent Garden. Beast and Hattie meet when Beast is knocked unconscious and stuffed into the Selby family carriage, which Hattie is using for a very particular task. Hattie is on her way to be ruined because she wants to render herself completely unmarriageable and therefore eligible to inherit her father's shipping company. She’s ready to begin the Year of Hattie, where she’s going to claim her life and future through running a business and making a living. Unfortunately for Hattie, her wastrel brother has crossed Beast, and it's up to Hattie to set to rights what her brother has started. That puts Beast and Hattie in opposition as Beast is out to ruin Selby Shipping, and Hattie is trying to prove herself as the company's legitimate heir. Beast can't help but fall for Hattie's wit, independence, and warrior woman nature, and Beast, despite his name, is the most handsome man Hattie has ever seen. When Beast's awful brother Ewan threatens Hattie, Beast has to try to give Hattie up, but Beast and Ewan have never dealt with as powerful a woman as Hattie is, and what she wants, she gets.
Hattie is such a great character- she's tall, witty, plus size, and bold, and Beast recognizes all the great things about Hattie that other people fail to. To much of the ton, Hattie isn't wife material because she's not like many other women. She assumes that Beast will think the same about her, but it was so refreshing to see her perception of herself change as Beast pointed out just how great she really is. Beast comes off like a gruff criminal, but in reality, he loves to read, takes care of everyone around him, and worries about his own worth as well. Both characters are so much more than what they show to the world. This story was compulsively readable, and it sets up the next story with Ewan as the main character, which I'm really excited for. Another great book from Sarah MacLean.

Sarah MacLean always delivers excellent stories that keep her readers engaged from the first page to the last. Brazen and the Beast is another hit for MacLean as she continues to draw the readers into her Bareknuckle Bastards series with each new captivating story.

Great second installment to this series, loved both of the main characters. I actually liked it even more than the first book in this series. I also loved seeing some of the characters for her past books.

A fun title following Wicked and the Wallflower that's everything you expect it to be. It's a wickedly fun romp filled with powerful women, passion, drama and family. Recommend!

Hattie Sedley is a determined, whip-smart heroine determined to make her own way in the world; this book is about the challenges and opportunities she encounters along the way - including our hero, Whit (a.k.a. Beast).

There were two things in particular I really liked about this novel:

1. I felt the book was very realistic with regard to the stereotypes and prejudices that Hattie encountered due to her gender.

2. Hattie is a larger woman. Few historical romance novels seem to have fat heroines, and few do it right; this is only the second book I've encountered that does it right. Whit isn't interested in her because he has a fat fetish.

Speaking of our hero: did I mention the chemistry between Hattie and Whit was sizzling? The sex scenes were delightfully steamy!

This was one of the best romance novels I've read this year. Highly recommended.

A solid entry in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. Lady Henrietta is a perfect match for Beast and completely unattached to the trappings of nobility, more interested in running her father's business. This leaves us open for the final book in this trilogy, but does leave you wondering how on Earth you can redeem the last brother?

The second in the Bareknuckle Bastards series, Brazen and the Beast was a complete joy. Lady Henrietta Sedley is not a typical historical romance heroine in all of the best ways. Her ambition, brilliance and dreams come in a bold package. This is a woman who has plans and goes for what she wants, even as she deals with her own insecurities and the disadvantages she has been dealt by society. Whit is such a deep character. I did not really understand him in the first book in the series and getting into his head does wonders. We get more backstory to his past and its a heartbreaking one. Steamy, charming, and full of female empowerment, Brazen and the Beast is Sarah MacLean's best work yet.