This is a great opposites attract story with a straight-laced Duke and a free-thinking Opera singer. Mariana arrives at a boardinghouse after news of her disastrous breakup hits the scandal sheets and she has nowhere to go. There she meets James - a widow and war hero who has been staying at the same boardinghouse to write his memoirs. James feels that most of the excitement is behind him and he is content to live out his days knowing that his son is happily married and settled. Mariana is there to show James that he still has so much more life to live for himself.

These two have chemistry right from the start. A Duke and an opera singer were never really going to see eye-to-eye and these two are no exception. James is lauded for being a national war hero while Mariana has been called terrible things in the public eye. After an encounter gone very wrong, James apologizes to Mariana by offering to teach her Italian. I really like a relationship that builds over conversation as it does with these two. I'm not a huge fan of insta-lust. While this wasn't exactly that, it definitely bordered that line. I wanted more depth to their discussions in order to explain the major change they went through rather quickly. That being said, I enjoyed their banter and the steam they did have. The other characters in the boardinghouse were great. I smiled throughout much of the book.

If you love historicals but want a different twist than what is normally written, I would try this one out. I enjoyed it and look forward to trying out another Julie Anne Long book in the future.

oh my! This is my favorite in the series so far! This was wonderful. The banter between Valkirk and Mariana was fantastic. There were several times I laughed out loud. And even with the lighter moments, you knew heart break was coming. The slow fall into love for James and Mariana flowed off the pages. This is something I will reread in the future.

Side note, I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Justine Eyre. She brought this to life and made this even more enjoyable.

Sexy, sensual and oh, so romantic!!
I have to admit that I haven't read a s many of this author's books as I quite possible should have, but the ones I have read as this and I have thoroughly enjoyed them.
I really liked the richly descriptive story, the fantastic characters who ooze sex appeal and charisma and I liked how easy it was to read, A real winner for any historical romance fan!

It's definitely a character driven story. Everything happened in one place which is the Grand Palace on the Thames. If you're looking for non-stop action, this book isn't it.

After Dark with the Duke (The Palace of Rogues #4). By Julie Anne Long. 2021. Avon (ARC eBook).

Installments of Long’s The Palace of Rogues series have been automatic adds to my TBR since book one. After Dark with the Duke places opera singer Mariana Wylde and war hero, General James Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, in each other’s path at the Grand Palace; she, to hide from scandal and he, to write his memoir. Known for his valor, the ever serious Valkirk has no interest in Mariana who has salaciously been printed about in the papers. Battle lines are drawn, but over time she begins to crack his stalwart walls and lay siege to his heart. The story is well written and blended with emotion, romance, wit and comic relief. Valkirk and Mariana are well developed characters and it is also always a delight to revisit the Grand Palace’s long-term guests: the widowed Mrs. Pariseau and the peddler of apothecary goods, Mr. Delacorte.

I'm really enjoying this series, Julie write book that give you all the feels.. Here characters are always a joy to read about. Mariana and James are a wonderful couple. A very emotional story that will keep you turning pages to the very end. This enemies to lovers is a must read. The whole series is fantastic.

I adored James and Mariana's story! I loved watching these two come to know one another during their tutoring sessions. So much fun!

First of all, I want to say that I think it would have been better for me to read the rest of the series before this one. I like having background information so this was on me. This is my first book my the author and I actually requested this because I saw Chloe Liese recommend it. I did enjoy this book but I don’t think that the romance was entirely believable. The sexual attraction was though! Thank you for a chance to read this book, all opinions above are my own.

I really enjoy this author! Her stories are so wonderful and well written! Mariana & James are perfectly matched together! I really loved that there was an age gap between them also! Mariana is a popular opera singer who gets in a scandal. As she fears for her safety, Mariana trades her talents for a room at the boarding house. James, a Duke, general is writing memoirs. He’s a widower and has a son. He’s also honorable, struck, and strait laced in life and title. James doesn’t want to at the boarding house with a scandalizing opera singer. These two have a lot of tension and heated looks as James gives Mariana Italian lessons and pleasure! I really loved that this was a slow burn bc Mariana and James really had to work toward lovers than to love and an HEA! I’m looking forward to reading what is next from Julie Anne Long!

I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoy going back to the Grand Palace on the Thames! Julie Anne Long has been one of my go-to historical romance authors since I fell in love with her Pennyroyal Green books. I just enjoy the very straightforward way she does romance –the struggles and conflicts of her heroes and heroines generally make sense –I understand their problems and they rarely feel contrived. This latest story was no exception. After Dark With the Duke hits forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers tropes with a little class disparity and May-December elements thrown in. (That last part is my least favorite, but I will get to that in a minute.)

Mariana is an opera singer, trying to hide from the ire of society after two men fought a duel over her. She scrapes the bottom of her accounts to seek refuge at the Grand Palace, and the ladies who run the place are more than happy to take her in on the promise that she star in a musical performance under their roof. At the same time, the Duke of Valkirk is there, trying to write his memoirs. Valkirk is a national hero, known far and wide as honorable and revered, the polar opposite of Mariana. And while Valkirk is a “good guy,” he is more than a bit judgmental over what the gossip columns have to say about her. Basically, he’s a jerk, and rather than just take it, Mariana finds joy in poking holes in his perfect exterior. Their small clashes in the sitting room escalate, but in time, they start seeing beyond the broad strokes they’ve painted of each other –and find they each becomes a better version of themselves when they are together.

The Grand Palace is all about forced proximity because of the rules to stay there. They must socialize with each other to remain guests, and I adored their initial bickering. Valkirk was kind of a stick in the mud and Mariana a little flighty, but I liked them both. They made delicious enemies with an animosity between them I totally believed, just like I believed it when the tide turned between them.

I didn’t love the age gap. I never do. But it could have been worse. At least Mariana was 25, rather than 18 or so, and she was no wilting virgin. She knew what she wanted and went for it. It was kind of creepy that she was basically the same age as his son, but I just tried to put that out of my head, since at least she was clearly an adult. And in regard to the class thing, Valkirk really steps in it at one point, which was not unexpected as a black moment, but still kind of disappointing. Still, he does a good job correcting his screw-up in the end.

The side characters are great. I love Dot and Mr Delacorte and of course Delilah and Angelique. I will definitely keep reading this series as it continues.

The short version:
Despite a disastrous first meeting, sparks fly between a grumpy duke and a scandalous opera singer in Julie Anne Long’s After Dark with the Duke.

When Miss Mariana Wylde meets James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, it’s disdain at first sight. Mariana’s bad reputation precedes her: A disastrous duel was fought over her favor, and she was lambasted in the press as the “Harlot of Haywood Street.” Although Mariana didn’t encourage the duel or welcome the media attention that followed, this is 19th century England, and women are usually blamed for men’s bad behavior. James, an upright former general who places a great deal of importance on reputation, needs no further information to judge her harshly.

Mariana and James should make no sense together, but their interactions are delightfully chaotic and charged with an explosive sexual chemistry that shakes them to their bones. The more time they spend together, the more they see past each other’s outward appearances. The combustible chemistry of opposites breaks down their defenses, leading to mutual respect, support and love in this sublime and steamy historical romance.

Full review at Bookpage.com: https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/after-dark-with-the-duke/

After Dark with the Duke
Mariana Wylde is an opera singer who is at the center of a scandal with duel over her, where one of the duelists is wounded. Fallen from grace and called a harlot in the papers, Mariana escapes a mob outside her apartment and retreats to The Grand Palace of the Thames to throw herself on the mercy of its proprietresses. Meanwhile, celebrated war hero General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, has moved to The Grand Palace of the Thames to write his memoirs. He has lived his entire life honorably and above reproach. However, the Duke is experiencing writers block, and has trouble writing his memoirs.

Meanwhile, the proprietress of the inn believe they can help restore Mariana’s reputation and encourage patrons to their establishment by offering an exclusive one-night-only benefit concert with the infamous opera singer. Mariana is hoping that ticket sales from her performance will help her repay her hostesses for her accommodations and help her travel to her next singing role.

Responding to stereotyped, preconceived notions of each other, the Mariana and the Duke trade insults until the proprietresses require an apology from the Duke as a condition of his staying on at the Palace. His penance is to teach Italian to Mariana, who until now has only learned it phonetically for her operatic roles. The pair gradually get to know and develop feelings each other through the lessons.

This is the fourth book in Long’s “Palace of Rogues” series. Although the book can be read as a standalone, there are characters that appear in other books and knowing more about these characters enhances the story. Supporting characters such as Dot the maid bring additional life to the story. For example, for the concert, Dot seats and arranges the guests by color, moving them around to fit her fancy, while the concert attendees wonder if it's due to some unknown social hierarchy.

I really enjoyed this book! Julie Anne Long’s writing is beautifully detailed with lovely dialogue and sensual love scenes. The enemies-to-lovers trope developed slowly as the Duke gradually gets to know Mariana. Mariana is a wonderful character, who retains sense of self even though the press has called her the Harlot of Haywood Street. She is resilient and is working on obtaining another singing role in Paris while not really knowing for certain if the role is either a mermaid or a lobster. The couple finally get their HEA with an emotionally satisfying ending.

With its slightly shady (for the time) heroine, After Dark with the Duke explores the predicament of Marianna, an opera diva with her reputation in tatters. Sparkling banter, an appealing hero and heroine plus an adorable array series' secondary characters add up to delightful and satisfying resolution, not to mention a fairytale happily-ever-after with the now-besotted James, Duke of Valkirk.

I was honestly surprised at how much I ended up liking this book. I had not read much by this author in the past, but I will certainly be reading more!

The chemistry was built up slowly, which sometimes irritates me, but it worked well for this story. You really feel connected to these characters, so when they encounter challenges, you feel for them. I recommend having tissues handy!

duel over her, and one emerges quite wounded. Fallen from grace, called a harlot in the papers, and facing a growing mob outside her apartment, she escapes and finds refuge at The Grand Palace on the Thames, where the celebrated war hero and widow General James Duncan Blackmore the Duke of Valkirk has retired to write his memoirs (and half-heartedly look for a new wife).

Based on preconceived notions, the two butt heads until their insults reach a peak that results in the hostesses forcing an apology from the Duke. He also agrees to make amends by teaching Italian to Marianna, who until now has only learned the parrot by ear for her productions. They get to know one another's histories and traumas, catch feelings, and of course, finally give in to their simmering passions and a series of late-night trysts ensue.

Marianna is also planning a one-night only benefit concert to pay for her accomodations and thank her generous benefactors, but as on the outs with society as she is, it's unclear if anyone will purchase tickets and attend. Meanwhile, she is also seeking her next gig (a subplot about whether she is to play a lobster or a mermaid for an open in Paris is delightful). The duke, convinced they come from two different worlds, asks her to allow him to make "arrangements" for her (translation: be his mistress, with all expenses covered, which for Marianna translates to sex for money) and a rift occurs, just before the concert. Will they resolve things and get a HEA?

Set in the Regency period, the writing is luscious--beautifully detailed, with period allusions and vocabulary and turns of phrase. The description of the concert is particularly excellent, from the detailed set to the maid arranging the guests by color and moving them around to fit her fancy, while they wonder if it's due to some unknown social hierarchy. Supporting characters such as Dot the maid come to life off the page. The flirtation that takes place across two languages is rich and wonderful, and the love scenes are sensual, consensual and unapologetically shameless. Themes of honor, reputation, and judgement carry through the story.

This is the fourth book in the Palace of Rogues series, and while past incidents are alluded to, reading in order is not required.
I received an advance reader's review copy of #AfterDarkWithTheDuke from#NetGalley

Unique, excellent writing, characters, and storyline! Julie Anne Long manages to write a book where the two main characters could be all alone in the book and it'd still be great. As though they were alone after dark! No traumatic events or scandals were necessary to develop the relationship. Excellent book!

I received an advance reader copy. These are my honest opinions voluntarily given.

I just loved this. Kind of a quiet book (as are the others in the series). However, being a classical musician, I am always drawn to stories about the world off classical music. I cannot imagine how difficult Mariana's situation would have been. Even having the gift of a beautiful voice could not save her from the pettiness of the ton. Thank goodness for The Grand Palace on the Thames and it's quirky inhabitants. I had serious reservations about the Duke of Valkirk and his self righteousness, but thankfully he saw the light, or should I say "heard the nightingale" in the end.

This was okay? I didn’t love. I didn’t hate it. I was kind of indifferent about the main characters.

My favorite part was Dot and the other people who lived at the boarding house.

I was afraid this wasn’t going to be steamy at all, it was but it was kind of a slow burn so it just took a while to get to that point.

Rating: 3.5/5

Oh my word! Another outstanding book by JAL. This is a May-December Romance which I typically don’t like but this was wonderfully done. Miss Mariana Wylde is an opera singer who is in the middle of a scandal (a duel fought over her) and decides to hides out at The Grand Palace of the Thames, if the proprietresses will take her, that is. The Valorous Duke Of Valkirk is also at the boarding house, hoping for some quiet so he can finish his memoirs. He couldn’t be more opposite from Mariana - he was a general, a Duke, a national hero and always does the right thing. His last bestselling book was called “Honor” for goodness’ sake! And he annoys Mariana so much just by being his imposing, stern, judgy self. She takes it in her head to needle him, just to see if she can get a reaction out of him. And that’s when the, surreptitiously hidden, sparks start to fly.

I will say I wasn’t a fan of the cover. With the red and green, I almost thought this was a Christmas novella at first. And, I think the male model is much too young looking.

Julie Ann Long delivers another stellar romance among the guests at The Grand Palace on the Thames with this latest installment of the Palace of Rogues series.

Being introduced to this world has been nothing short of my own form of checking into an establishment and finding my own family. I've had ups and downs with this series but Mariana and Valkirk solidify that there's no where I'd rather be than among the guests of the The Grand Palace on the Thames.

The banter and sexual tension with these two was perfect along with the language lessons. It was a joy watching them fall for each other despite their class and age difference.

This is definitely a favorite for me within the series.