I thought the characters were compelling. The setting was definitely unique for the time period. I hadn't read a book centered around a boarding house before. The female leads in this series are my favorite to read about as well. Strong and independent but still have a passionate side.

Last try:

Soooo, I finished it. And I didn’t even skip much. Read it whole way through. It’s between a 2 and a 3, but since it ended on a high note, I’ll give it a 3.

Here’s why I don’t like it:
* The MCs aren’t the most engaging, esp. Lilias. Spoiled, rich, privileged Diamond of the First Water, darling of the ton. She’s selfish. She wallows in woe-is-me how annoying all these men pant after her and propose to her every week and send her hot house flowers. They don’t SEE her! Boohoo.

What if some of those men are really enchanted or want to get to know her better. What if they knew of her disdain of them?

I wish she fell in love with not only an American commoner but also someone who wasn’t so gorgeous. I just don’t see a lot of depth in her. She’s not a bad person per se, but not a heroine I root for.

* I didn’t like Hugh all that much in the beginning, but over time he grew on me. I didn’t get the chemistry between the MCs apart from flaying each other with dry words and lust.

* I REALLY didn’t like the fact that through almost the entire book (until 75%!@) they were actually pining for other people. She was “in love” with Giles, a childhood friend, and he was looking at potentially marrying Amelia, who ran off on a jaunt.

And yet, they seemed perfectly happy to fool around with each other. Did that not show them they weren’t in love with the other people at all? And if they were and could separate their hearts from their bodies, then I really can’t stand either of them.

The writing is good as always. Hence the rounding to 3 stars. But I didn’t really get the LOVE between the MCs. It was just chemistry between 2 inordinately attractive ppl.

Handsome American meets the bored daughter of an English Earl in London. Hugh is in London looking for an American friend's daughter that has run away to England. The book has a fairly slow pace and really doesn't speed up until the last third. Their constant arguing hides their growing attraction..

I very much enjoyed Julie Anne Long's "I'm Only Wicked with You," book #3 of the Palace of Rogues series. Even though she hoped for marriage and family like most other young women of her class, Lady Lillias Vaughn seemed like a different type of Regency heroine to me. She cultivated an interest in fashion without coming across as vain or silly, was obviously intelligent though not a bluestocking, and had a keen sense of adventure. The last quality became more apparent after Lillias and her family came to stay at The Grand Palace on the Thames. Secretly heartbroken after learning of a family friend's impending engagement to someone else, Lillias's behavior had become erratic, worrying her parents. They believed that the solution was to marry her off, though American Hugh Cassidy would not have been their first choice of son-in-law. Sparks flew between Lillias and Hugh from the moment they met, and even though they came from different worlds, they somehow understood each other on a level no one else could.

While it was a bit slow to get going, the story really picked up in the second half, and I had a tough time putting it down. I loved Lillias and Hugh's witty banter, particularly the subtext inherent in their drawing room conversations. Their discussion of Greek mythology was so funny! The book's secondary characters were also a delight, especially Dot the maid and Hugh's friend and fellow guest Mr. Delacorte. I think I'd enjoy playing a game of chess with him. :-)

I'd recommend this book for all historical romance fans and look forward to the next one in the series.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This poetically written novel brings Regency manners, details and culture alongside natural history and allusions to Shakespeare and Greek mythology. A period romance, Hugh Cassidy meets Lady Lillias Vaughn when she and her family are staying at the same boardinghouse as he, and though she is essentially grounded for unladylike behavior, they are frequently forced in mandatory socializing (the rules of the Grand Palace on the Thames are a great construct to bring a diverse set of characters together!). He’s a veteran, laborer, and entrepreneur on a mission to recover a friend’s missing daughter, and while she is an enigma, quiet in the corner until provoked, an incorrigible young woman who chafes at societal expectations. Her exasperated father tells her she must find a man to marry or he will find one for her. Of course, he means a duke, not an ambitious American…

The narrative is steamy, emotional, humorous, and heart-pounding, and the slow tease of attraction is delicious. When Hugh and Lillias are inevitably caught in a compromising embrace, they are hastily engaged–with her parent’s blessings, much to Lillias’s shock. There’s just one small problem: they each believe they are in love with someone else. And so, in spite of the lust between them, Hugh offers to help Lillias catch the man she’s set her cap for, family friend Giles Bankham, who is betrothed to another. This only brings out Hugh’s competitive nature, and serves to show how well-suited Hugh and Lillias are. While everyone around her views her as “more,” they really mean, “too much” — but for Hugh, she’s just right.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #I’mOnlyWickedWithYou from #NetGalley.

American-British romance is catnip to me. The culture clash, the class concerns, the snootiness! This story is also emotional and dramatic.

Every time I read a Julie Anne Long book it's like discovering the magic of reading again after being trapped on a bookless desert island for decades. I honestly forget in between just how much her books make me feel. I am not exaggerating when I say that I sobbed while reading this one--the last 12% or so was one long sob fest (at least they were happy sobs at the very end--and she somehow made me laugh through my tears during the last bit of it, too!) I can't even begin to tell you how glad I was I was reading that entire portion from the solitude of my room, because I was not fit for public places at that point.

The dog may have been mildly concerned, but he bounced back nicely once I managed to collect myself.

I'm Only Wicked with You is a lovely (mild) antagonists-to-lovers, close proximity story featuring a hero and heroine who are fairly certain they know what they want their futures to be, though one of them has already (beautifully, as befits a heroine) despaired of ever achieving hers. Either way, they're both 100 percent certain that those futures are headed in opposite trajectories no matter how maddeningly drawn they may be to each other. Surely it's only a passing...infatuation?

Ha. We know better, don't we? As will they...eventually. ;)

Though the sparks between Lillias and Hugh positively light up the book, it's really all of the relationships here, romantic and otherwise, that make the story brilliant. Lillias's relationship with her family feels delightful and true, as does Hugh's love for his. Once again the motley little family of the Grand Palace on the Thames proved to be one of my favorite found families in existence--yes, even Mr. Delacorte with his bag of dodgy potions and potent backside.

I love that even when the characters are doing the exact opposite of what any reasonable reader would want them to, Ms Long is able to make us believe that *they* believe they're doing the only thing that they possibly can...and eventually she also manages to get them to do exactly what they need to in a way that feels just as genuine. Even if it makes me cry.

Especially when it makes me cry.

I'm Only Wicked with You is the third book in Ms Long's The Palace of Rogues series, and though technically it *could* be read as a standalone, why would you do that to yourself? The entire series--dare I say all of Ms Long's books?--should be read and savored.

Rating: 5 stars / A+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is the third book in The Palace of Rogues series. I loved the first two books in the series and I loved every book in The Pennyroyal Green series. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing for this book. I am unsure why, but I was unable to connect with Lillias at all. I also found that much of Long's trademark humor and wit was not present in this book. I never really bought into the romance between Lillias and Hugh. I hope that the next book is better!

I was provided an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.

An absolutely spell-binding novel! A heroine we all want to be and hero we can all fall in love with.

I adored Lillias and High's story! I loved watching these two banter back and forth with one another. Such a fun read!

I like this title a lot. The premise was different than others I have read before which felt fresh and new. The connection between characters was believable and sizzled on the page. They had depth and it was exciting to see them grow. I can't wait to see what this author brings next.

This book is part of Julie Anne Long’s “Palace of Rogues” series. As with the other couples who meet at the Palace, it's a situation where Lillias and Hugh would not have met except for their residence there and the mandatory socializing (required by the Palace owners of all its residents). I like stories with the trope of opposites attract with an opinionated woman and a stuffy man and a forced engagement. I enjoyed this book with it's slow build-up as the characters grow as a result of learning more about themselves and the other person. Julie Anne Long’s writing is beautifully detailed with wonderful dialogue and sensual love scenes. The couple finally get their HEA with an emotionally satisfying ending.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, there are recurring characters in the series and knowing more about the characters brings additional life to the story. Indeed, an enjoyable aspect of Long's “Palace of Rogues” series is how she creates a strong sense of family at the Palace bringing together people who would never have met under other circumstances.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

In Julie Ann Long’s I’m Only Wicked With You, the third installment in the Palace of Rogues historical romance series, this historical romance novel is deeply enriched with plenty of drama and suspense to keep you on your tenterhooks. Lady Lillias Vaughan wasn’t an ordinary daughter of an earl in London. She’s a bit wild and have done things in an extraordinary way like riding down the rails or mouthing off expletives for example. She might be the talk of the ton, when a duke might calling on her to court her. For American Hugh Cassidy, this Irish bloke was on a mission to find Amelia Woodley across the globe and landed in London to look for her. But then he had met his match with Lady Lillas Vaughan, his complete opposite from her, but understood where she came from. When they’ve gotten to know each other better, heads had turned when they were almost caught in the act. To do the right thing by her, he proposed to her in a fake engagement. But at the time of their announcement, a formidable rival wanted Lillias’ attentions which could be no match set for Hugh, and later break her heart. To find their true happiness, they would proclaim their love for each other and find how they were well-matched from the start.

This was a compelling and riveting historical romance novel. I loved how the opposites attract trope had worked its magic between these two love birds by the end of their love story. I instantly cared about Lillias and how she wanted to do things her way, even if she might have to break some rules in her wild temperament to show how different she truly was from each other. I’ve found Hugh was unique in his character on how he searched for Amelia and found his true love with Lillias on the same trip. The dual locations in central London and the Palace of the Thames and the Heatherfield estates had painted the scenic settings real clearly and vividly in my mind. The theme of the story is we might all different from each other, but we would find our true love where we might least expect it.

This historical romance novel was daring, riveting, and couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t find anything to nitpick on from start to finish since it was real good. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no specific reason. If you love historical romances, with non-stop romantic action, plenty of sparks of intrigue and a heap of heart-stopping dramatic moments, check out this title today. This book is recommended for those who love historical romances and Bridgerton on Netflix.

This book is a bit more of a slowburn than pervious Julie Ann Long books I have read. I like the American hero and the British Heroine, not something I've seen a lot with Regency, but more with Victorian/Gilded Age literature. I like the relationship between Lillias and Hugh. They had a lot of funny banter betwen them before their relationship really started.

I’m Only Wicked with You (The Palace of Rogues #3). By Julie Anne Long. 2021. Avon (ARC eBook).

I’m Only Wicked with You is the first book I’ve read by Long, and I found this romance to be thoroughly satisfying. Long’s writing is alluring and I plan to read more by her for sure. The characters are well-developed and the slow-burn nature of Hugh and Lillias’s romance really fit them well. There is great banter and humor, and a very likable cast of supporting characters. And the epilogue was really lovely.

I was really looking forward to reading, I’m only wicked with you. It really starts off slow and then it fell flat for me. The banter between Hugh and Lillian’s was entertaining to a point but not enough to carry the book for me. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.

I really liked this. The banter between Hugh and Lillias was fantastic! As usual, Julie Anne Long infused humor into the writing with such ease. I love the inhabitants of the Grand Palace on the Thames.

FINAL DECISION: A solid entry in the series that was slow to develop, but ended in a satisfying fashion. The book is my least favorite in the series as I didn't find enough emotional conflict in the story, but even an average Long book is better than most books I read.

THE STORY: Hugh Cassidy is an American who has traveled to London searching for a missing woman. Instead, he finds Lillias Vaughn, a lady who is a bit out of the ordinary and strains against acceptable lady behavior. The two meet at the Grand Palace on the Thames where the boardinghouse guests must adhere to rules which require them to interact with one another. Hugh and Lillias, however, have difficulties with the "civilly" part of the rules. Instead, they needle one another as each has interests elsewhere, and yet the two end up in a compromising situation necessitating a hasty engagement. But there is hope that the engagement could be unraveled with a little effort from both of them.

OPINION: I struggled through the first third of this book. There was a lot of talking but not much conflict that felt interesting. Once the forced engagement occurred, the pace of the book picked up and I felt that the relationship between Lillias and Hugh became emotional and engaging. I was willing to give the story time to develop, but less dedicated readers might have given up by then. I'm not sure why that first portion of the book was so unengaging, but I think it might be because so much time is given to explaining Lillias's unconventional outlook on life. The real conflicts in the story (her other connection) are kept as a surprise and the reader doesn't really get a good sense of Lillias's interior emotional life.

At the same time, once the surprise reveal occurs, the emotional depth between these two main characters had resonance. This was a book where I could see the first third of the book excised and then expanded in the last portion. I loved Lillias's parents who become real characters by the end.

Why did I rate this so highly when the first part was disappointing? Because if that portion did not exist, the story would have been fulfilling just based on the last two-thirds. I finished the book satisfied with these characters' story even if it took a while to get to the good part.

WORTH MENTIONING: Readers of Long's Pennyroyal Green series will be happy to know that this series takes place in the same universe. Watch for the reference!

CONNECTED BOOKS: I'M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU is the third book in the Palace of Rogues series. This book can be read as stand-alone although the supporting characters appear in other books in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 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.

I think the easiest sumup of this one is a forced proximity romance, in more than one way. Hugh and Lillias are both staying at a hotel, and they sure hit something when they first meet. Not exactly a slow burn, but I liked the way the two characters came together and realized that they were better together. I liked her family, but as far as the other secondary characters, they seemed kind of flat and boring.

Interesting take on the differences between Americans and Britons in the 19th Century. Otherwise, the usual sort of Regency romance, with a bit of a nod toward modern parenting thrown in.