The cover of this book gives you a great idea of the wild ride that you are going to go on. With great spicy scenes and chemistry between the two characters I found myself turning page after page and longing to return to the beginning upon finding the ending.

I have recently found historical romance reads to be boring with a similar storyline and no real substance to the characters. It was refreshing to read about a privateer and a "prickly" lady finding each other. Daphne is a fun character and not annoying as some regency characters tend to be. Lorcan is my pirate dream.

For lovers of Julia Quinn style books stop reading reviews and just dive into what will be your next favorite read!

Julie Anne Long REALLY knows how to tell a Story. I loved her Penny Royal Green series and now I am really enjoying The Palace of Rogues Series.

Yes - there are "spicy bits" but it doesn't overwhelm the story. This story has been my favorite in the series. She does a great job pulling in the original characters in the book to pull together the story. It is worth starting with the original book in the story. I can not wait to see what comes next!

I will say - the front cover doesn't "match" how I visualized the characters.

I just reviewed How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long. #HowtoTameaWildRogue #NetGalley

There are certain series that I simply love returning to, where reconnecting with the characters feels comforting and cozy. I don't really seek out m/f histrom so much anymore, but it's how I found my way into the romance genre and some of those first series I discovered do hold a special place in my heart (Bridgerton/Wallflowers/Ravenels etc.) Julie Anne Long's Grand Palace on the Thames series is one of those: it was my introduction to her as an author and I've come back to it over and over. That being said, there was really no way that I wasn't going to enjoy this sixth book. Delilah and Tristan and Angelique and Lucien and Dot and MR. DELACORTE feel like old friends.

"How to Tame a Wild Rogue" introduces two recognizable histrom character types, at least at first glance--we have Lorcan St. Leger (great name), a smuggler-turned-mercenary from St. Giles, and Daphne, Lady Worth, the daughter of an earl. But it becomes clear early on that all is not well in Daphne's family, and that Lorcan isn't what he appears to be, either.

The two arrive at the Grand Palace on the Thames during a storm, and end up pretending to be married because of Romance Reasons. Both turn out to have connections with the proprietors and the relationship unfurls from there.

This book is exactly what I expected, and I thought it was delightful.

A sweet snippet:

"I will love you as though we invented love."

And I admit this one made me giggle:

"What is your favorite thing to eat?" she asked. Into his mind flashed an outrageous and prurient, and, frankly, true, response."

Still keeping my fingers crossed for Mr. Delacorte's HEA...maybe book seven?

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.**

These type of historical romances are what started it for me in the romance novel world, and THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE reminds me of why I love the genre so much!!! I never read anything from this author but she made me fall in love with all of the characters on here, I couldn’t help myself. Omg Lorcan, he’s seriously EVERYTHING! Omg!!!! I wish I had read the other books because there are a ton of character crossings from other books, and at times I was getting a little lost. But aside from that, Daphne and Lorcan and the fake marriage trope!!!! I’m here for all of it!

An enjoyable read for a lazy Sunday afternoon! This is my first Julie Anne long book and I greatly enjoyed it. With so many series you meet characters from other books and they’re off handily mentioned but this book incorporates two other main character pairings from other books. Daphne’ and lorcan were a slow burn but worth the wait.

My only complaint is having two sets of characters with similar names— Daphne and Lorcan / Delilah and Lucien.

Ah, the thrill of a new Julie Anne Long novel! I’m forever in awe of the emotional development she imbues into each character, and her writing expertly skirts the line between sophisticated and approachable. There are always so many beautiful highlightable lines, too. “How to Tame a Wild Rogue” is no exception to these JAL rules. It’s her unique, affecting take on the “good girl/bad boy” and “just one room” tropes, and fans of the prior Palace of Rogues series books will love it because it heavily involves the current storylines of Delilah/Tristan and Angelique/Lucien. There’s some truly delicious tension in this one, and the arcs of the protagonists are deeply satisfying, though I knocked off one star for a couple of reasons. First, this may seem silly, but I kept getting the MC's names (Daphne and Lorcan) mixed up with Delilah and Lucien, and it took me a while to adjust. A small grievance, but it halted the flow of reading for the first third of the book. And second, I found the plot-hopping away from Daphne and Lorcan and into Delilah and Angelique’s storylines a bit too jarring. I tend to prefer when a story sticks to the MCs as much as possible, but I also see how this decision will likely delight big fans of the series. Overall, this is another Julie Anne Long triumph—as always, I anxiously await her next book! Gratitude to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure where to begin in describing the way this book absolutely dazzled me and vigorously tugged on my heart strings. Lady Daphne and Lorcan St. Leger are magic on the page!

Julie Anne Long's writing of these two-as well as our beloved ensemble cast of characters in The Grand Palace on the Thames-was brilliantly and deftly crafted. The pacing was absolutely beautifully done and the building of these complex characters and their interactions was a marvel and delight.

Trapped due to flooding and a rainstorm, Lorcan, Daphne, and the rest of the beloved characters of the GPOTT, are stuck with one another. For Daphne, this is a blessing in disguise as it gives her respite and a moment to decide what path she will choose to rescue her father and brothers from financial destitution. For Lorcan, a man not used to walking on land for long, residing in a cozy atmosphere and a fake domestic arrangement with Daphne, allows for him to see another way of life that he never once considered as he never planned on anything more permanent than his life at sea. My descriptions here are only the tip of the iceberg in what becomes a complex and gorgeous story about two unlikely people not only finding love when they least expected it, but discovering their own bravery and vulnerability in the journey.

I highly, highly recommend this book if you are a historical romance fan looking for a beautifully crafted scorching, slow burn of a romance! If you have been reading this series, you will enjoy seeing previous characters. If you have not yet read this series, you may find yourself a bit lost. I would recommend at least reading the first two books in the series before jumping ahead to this story. That way you will see how the Grand Palace began and the characters that made it so.

I read and reviewed a DRC of this book thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley. All honest opinions are my own.

Love, love, love!! One of the best that JAL has written for quite a while!

I was riveted right from the start - the way St Leger and Daphne presented themselves to the proprietors of the hotel, the dry wit dialogues between the two, the secondary characters, the plot, the funny scenes/ quarrels between husbands and wives, the super romantic proposal (swoon...), and so on. I love Lorcan's character: the toughness and cynicism he carries because of the circumstances of his life did not prevent him from showing utmost gentleness and consideration towards Daphne. I love the way the H & h interacted right from the beginning - there were no showing of tempers nor put downs but respect of opinions towards each other.

One of my better reads this summer!

Thank you for the ARC, Avon/Harper-voyager. This review is my honest opinion.

I adored this latest book in the Grand Palace on the Thames series from JulieAnne Long. Not only were the hero/heroine a great pair to get to know, but it was also so fun to revisit some of the previous couples and characters. I loved that Lorcan is a tough former criminal from the slums but is also so soft and treasures Daphne. Daphne is truly still getting to know herself and her own worth, and she truly learns it through the course of the book.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded up for Netgalley star rating)

I always look forward to a new addition in Julie Anne Long‘s The Palace of Rogues series, as heading back to the Grand Palace on the Thames (or TGPOTT as it’s referred to) is like heading home. How to Tame a Wild Rogue is another fantastic entry in this series with a romance that captured my heart between a bit of a bad boy rogue and the society lady who has given up everything for her family.

After her clawed his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to the top of a shadowy empire, nothing shocks Lorcan St. Leger. That is until he discovers an aristocratic woman, Lady Daphne Worth, escaping out a window using bed sheets near the London docks on the eve of a major storm. Together, they find shelter at the Grand Palace on the Thames but must pretend to be married as there is only one suite of rooms free. Trapped together in the Grand Palace on the Thames, Daphne finds that Lorcan is everything she never dreamed she wanted, but he can never be what she needs. But Lorcan is willing to take a risk, and if the stakes are a lifetime of loving and being loved by Daphne, he’ll move any mountain, confront any old nemesis, to turn “never” into forever.

The romance in this book was truly beautiful. In terms of tropes, I adored Long’s spin on the fake marriage and trapped at the inn trope as they were handled beautifully. It is a bit of a slow burn, but it’s masterfully done, as there is so much longing and tension between Lorcan and Daphne. With sexy parlor games, thought-felt gifts, and small, meaningful gestures, the emotions and love between them jump off the page. From their first meeting, there was a connection and a level of trust that carried over beautifully into their fake relationship. They vibe so well together despite how different their upbringing is and can play off the other incredibly well, which is why I feel everyone bought their fake marriage. I truly loved the quiet scenes between them as they were fraught with so much yearning and love. It truly gave me all the feels. The silence between them spoke volumes about their true feelings, as they didn’t need to be said because they both felt the same way. Their love story enraptured me as they seemed like the perfect fit for each other – both are worthy of the other’s love.

Lorcan St. Leger stole my heart. This man may look like a bad boy with his gold earrings, scar, and rough and straightforward way of talking, but he has a HEART OF GOLD. He’s worked his way up from out of the slums of St. Giles, doing whatever is necessary to make a name for himself – even if it wasn’t strictly legal. He’s now on the right side of the law as a privateer (essentially a legal pirate), but he’s dabbled with some dubious jobs in the past to provide for himself and those he cares about. And my god, does this man do whatever is needed to protect those in his orbit. He does it without even thinking! He never wants those he loves to feel hurt or pain. He goes out of his way to do small things for Daphne to make her happy, liking getting her incredibly meaningful birthday gifts since no one in her family ever remembers her birthday. He’s so sweet, tender, and caring; my heart melted for him.

Daphne took me by surprise with her inner strength. She’s got so much more gumption and grit than I think she even realizes. She’s shouldered the burdens for her family since she was 11 and is forever putting their needs before her own without any recognition for how much she’s sacrificed and given up for them. My heart ached for her as she was willing to do everything for her father and brothers, and they barely even recognized or acknowledged her actions. Her feelings and wants have always been an afterthought to the men in her life. Her interlude at TGPOTT is the first time she puts her desires front and center. And with Lorcan, she finds someone who values her and looks to help shoulder her burdens without asking for anything in return.

Like previous books in the Palace of Rogues series, we see many familiar faces, including Angelique and Lucien, Delilah and Captain Hardy, Dot, and Mr. Delacorte. There are a lot of callbacks to the previous books in the series, and I definitely recommend you read this series to understand and appreciate it fully.

More so than some of the other books in the series, this book also centered around Delilah and Angelique’s conflict with their husbands. Captain Hardy and Lucien seemed to be questioning their judgment when it came to admitting Lorcan St. Leger to stay at TGPOTT. Captain Hardy was vehemently against it as he always suspected Lorcan of being a smuggler. Captain Hardy was a bit pigheaded in how he handled this with Delilah, but then again, he’s always been my least favorite hero from all the books in the series, so that may have colored my opinion. While the scenes with Delilah and Captain Hardy and Angelique and Lucien did take you away from the main couple, I liked seeing the progression of their relationships as we’ve seen them go through “for better or for worse” throughout the series.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue is a heart-achingly beautiful romance that gave me all the giddy feelings while reading it. I was enamored with the romance and loved watching Lorcan and Daphne fall for each other. Long’s writing and storytelling continue to shine; she does a fantastic job of pulling at your heartstrings. I cannot wait to see who awaits us next time the door to the Grand Palace on the Thames opens up, as you’re always in for a pleasant surprise.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Pirate, Destiny, Spillikins:
A new author for me and I was impressed with the flourishing descriptive way the author seems to write.
Lorcan seems like a chivalrous flamboyant pirate looking for lodging for the night and escape a horrible storm that's on its way. He comes across Daphne in a most peculiar predicament and actually becomes a hero in saving her from possible injury. Needing to escape the storm they both wind up at the Grand Palace on the Thames.
Here is where this very quirky story begins with lots of humor, lies, marriage propels, and many down to earth heartfelt conversations.
I truly enjoyed the characters and their slow building desire. Their first kiss was beautiful, but their next few kisses had my heart pounding.
The last few chapters I had to stop and take a breath. The Spillikins game turned this story into a 5-star book for me.
The ending was everything I look for in an emotionally passionate and enjoyable romance story. Even a quirky one😉.
✔Mature Advisory🌶🌶🌶

This book was everything I hoped for and more! 💜

Lorcan and Daphne are such a delightful duo. They truly couldn't be more different. She's a lady, he's a pirate (not literally but go with me on this) and they are truly fascinated with each other from the moment they meet. They meet while Daphne is escaping out a window using a bed sheet before the storm of the century.

To get out of the storm, they head to The Grand Palace on the Thames. Of course, they must pretend they are married to get a room, but this gets complicated when they have history with half the other residents.

There is something magical about the way Julie Anne Long crafts her characters. They are all so vivid and unique. Lorcan and Daphne are no exceptions. They both have such lovely character arcs as they fall in love. I profoundly identified with Daphne. She was always doing for others, but nobody looked out for her.

In addition to our leads, there are some great scenes between Delilah and Tristan and Angelique and Lucian dealing with married life. It isn't all sunshine and rainbows, but there is always love.

Of course, there is all the humor you expect from this author. The bed hopping gave me life!

Also, I see you, Dot, with your hunky footman. 👀

5 glorious stars!

4.5 ⭐️

My first book from this series and I fell in love with historical romance books this year and let me say, I definitely read this so fast! Opened up this ARC to read during the gym and I was literally almost done and finished it as soon as I arrived! The forced proximity to fake marriage trope already has me smiling and the writing style of this book is so clever 👏. Lorcan and Daphne has great chemistry and their relationship was very developmental and on the slow burn side but so worthhhhh.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper, for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How to Tame a Wild Rogue
Book 6 in the Palace of Rogues Series
Rating: 5 amazing stars
Thank you to the publisher/author for the ARC given through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I'll start by saying that I have not read the previous 5 books in the series, but this one caught my attention because it followed one of my favorite tropes: pretend to be married because we're stuck in an uncomfortable situation and pretending to be married is the only hope we have.

This book was amazing!! I enjoyed it so much from start to finish!! It was so good! I love it when romance novels show us the two leads falling in love because they actually get to know each other and that their relationship is developed deeply because they care for each other and not just them wanting to get the other in bed. I loved Lorcan! He has been one of my favorite male leads for this year. He's just perfect and I loved how he treated Daphne, especially on her birthday. He did the sweetest gestures for her. He really was a true romantic hero.

I liked how even though they were pretending to be married, without them realizing it, those around them truly believed they were in love.
This story gave me all the feels! It was perfect and a much needed read after reading not so good books lately.

As an added note: There are two couples from previous books that appear in this story ( i looked them up) and I enjoyed reading about them too because we get to see what happens after their story ended in their book and just like any other marriage they have their ups and downs.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long

Julie Anne Long never disappoints, she delivers a stunning love, power, money, and betrayal that will put all in swoon-worthy between Lorcan St. Leger and Lady Daphne Worth. But can love heal all broken souls? It was a page-addicting book, that will not let you put it down.

I absolutely love and Thank You for allowing me to preview this worthy book!

For two days, I have tried to think of the most effective way to explain why I love this book so much without giving anything away. The first reason is easy: it is hilarious. Chapter 9 alone is worth twice the price of the whole book. I cried along with Lorcan, but mine were laughing tears. I'm going to be rereading that any time I need to be cheered up. In addition, Lorcan and Daphne have sparkling banter that made me laugh so much.
The second reason would be the characters. I have been with this series since the beginning, and I love all the denizens of the Grand Palace on the Thames. I loved getting to spend extra time with them and learn more about them. The recurring characters add so much depth and fun to each story. Lorcan and Daphne are a perfect addition to this crew, and I loved both of them.
The third reason is the hardest to explain but so important to my heart. I have no idea how Julie Anne Long manages to put into words things that I have so often felt without expressing, but this is absolutely what it is like to be married. She nails the emotion and frustration and exultation right on the head. She does it so beautifully that I cried tears for those emotions too. Absolutely the most gorgeous book I have read this year.

Julie Ann Long can be hit or miss for me, but she did write one of my all time favorite romances, What I Did for a Duke. How to Tame a Wild Rogue tapped into a lot of things I loved about What I Did for a Duke. Long takes these two characters who wouldn’t normally be in close contact and gives them reasons to question their assumptions about themselves and their place in the world. Because they are out of their usual milieu, they look at each other differently. Being forced outside of their roles creates the possibility of something different, something they never imagined. Daphne, Lady Worth, and Lorcan St. James (a privateer and formerly a smuggler) need shelter during a massive storm. They pretend to be married while rooming at The Grand Palace on the Thames (the Palace of Rogues), which happens to be owned and run by people they each know.

Though Daphne isn’t quite willing to look directly at it initially, she is tired of being a convenience to the men in her life. She has a marriage offer in hand, which would solve some of her father’s financial difficulties, but she isn’t excited about being yet another man’s furniture. Being in proximity to Daphne makes Lorcan start to consider what he may have missed along the way when he was striving to survive. He has considered himself to be experienced, and even jaded, but when he asks Daphne why she likes oranges, her answer upends his sense of himself. I thoroughly enjoyed their fake marriage.

If you have been reading the Palace of Rogues series, you get to spend more time with Delilah and Hardy and Angelique and Tristan and Dot. If you have not been reading the series, you won’t be lost, but you might be intrigued enough to go back and read the first earlier books. Long dips her toe a bit into the morality of smuggling, considering that there may be varying levels of culpability between the folks struggling to survive and the wealthy who want to wage war and have their luxuries.

CW: a child is endangered and rescued, discussion of past murder attempt, emotional neglect and abuse in the past, estrangement from a parent.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

It's a slower burn between these two, but I loved all the little ways they showed the other care and thoughtfulness (the sugar in the coffee and the orange *heart eyes*). Their struggles and concerns were understandable and I loved how they created this beautiful safe space for the other to just be. Lorcan's declaration at the end had me swooning and the epilogue was so satisfying. My Sagittarius heart was so full when I finished this one.

I loved seeing and getting updates on several of the characters from previous books and there's a particular scene with Mr. Delacorte that had me laughing so hard ("batten down the hatches")! I did feel that this took away from the main romance though and I do wish we would have gotten more time with Daphne and Lorcan. Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone, because of the abundance of cameos/POV shifts, I feel that this book would best be enjoyed after reading at least books 1 and 2. The interactions and moments between Tristan/Delilah and Lucien/Angelique will be much more meaningful. I'm hoping that little chapter of Dot and Mr. Pike means that we might someday see an enemies to lovers story for them too. This was a wonderful addition to the series and I can't wait to see who shows up next at the Grand Palace of the Thames!

This was my first book by Julie Anne Long — yes I started with the sixth book in a series — and it was divine. I absolutely fell in love with the cast of characters and the magical setting of The Grand Palace on the Thames and will be working my way through the series next!

Lady Daphne Worth encounters Lorcan St Leger when she is escaping from a wretched job in the middle of the night. He catches her climbing out of a window and they both seek shelter from an oncoming storm at The Grand Palace in the Thames. Of course there’s only one suite left, so they must pose as husband and wife to keep up appearances. Over the next several days, as the storm rages, they get to know each other and slowly fall in love.

Lorcan St Leger is the stuff historical romance heroes are made of. He’s dashing, handsome, witty and a little wicked. Daphne is wrapped up so tightly from a life of putting her father and brothers first as society expects her to. As Daphne gets to know the person she can be with Lorcan, we get to see her layers peel back like an orange. I also loved that the story intersperses the stories of other characters throughout from their POVs — it’s done so masterfully and seamlessly. Long switches POVs in the middle of a scene and we get to see things from two different perspectives which made this such a joy to read. I’m sure I would have appreciated the side character stories more if I’d read the series, but things weren’t so complicated that I couldn’t easily follow along.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

6 stars
I LOVED this. Truly one of the bestvrecent historical romance releases I've read in a long time.

Julie has such a witty, clever, and whimsical writing style and such a skill for creating realistic, multifaceted characters. And the tension and longing in this book?! Off the charts.

Lorcan and Daphne meet under some odd circumstances. She's climbing out a window and he offers to catch her when she jumps. A great storm hitting the town means the two are forced to share a room under the pretense of husband and wife.

The daughter of a viscount and former pirate turned privateer.

And the use of "My wife!" by Lorcan with PERFECT timing and sincerity? Chefs kiss.

This was so charming, so romantic, and in my eyes perfectly executed. I adored it.

I received an ARC for review.