My Season of Scandal is the 7th book in Julie Anne Long's enchanting The Palace of Rogues historical romance series. I missed the first two books, but I've read all the others. The romance in each stands alone, so you can jump in at any time. But you definitely will want to read what you missed. This book is honestly one of the BEST romances I have read in my 59 years on this planet. I dragged out reading it because I didn't want it to end! This is also one of my all-time favorite series. (I know I must read the first two, but my towering TBR pile grows ever larger. I'll be so glad when I retire and have more reading time to catch up on what I missed!)

Catherine Keating is the daughter of a country doctor who is in declining health. He manages to send her to London for a once-in-a-lifetime season so she can find a husband and security. Things don't start off well, however. Though she's quite beautiful and extremely witty, the ton doesn't look kindly on a young woman of two and twenty years who wears dresses from 2 seasons ago. At least she's loving the time she spends in the boarding house in which she is staying, The Grand Palace on the Thames. But then in the middle of one night, Lord Dominic Kirke arrives at The Grand Palace after his house goes up in flames. A fiery and jaded Welsh Whig member of the House of Commons who is 35 years old, Dominic has wrapped himself in cynical armor, but he is no match for Cat. When he discovers her chaperone spends all her time in gaming rooms instead of watching Cat, he takes it upon himself to be her secret chaperone. He's wrong for this woman in every way, but he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. But he knows in his heart that loving her means setting her free.

Oh, my, this is one swoon-worthy tale! I was totally enraptured from beginning to end. Cat and Dominic are near the top of my all-time favorite romance couples. Cat - who Dominic refers to as "Keating" (I loved that!) - is such a lovely, sweet young lady. She lost her mother when she was young, and her father had increasing heart issues and wanted her to be safe when he passed. Though raised in the country, she was sharp as a tack and had a wonderful and witty sense of humor. While in London, she was staying at The Grand Palace on the Thames . The Grand Palace, and its inhabitants, is a place you will wish was real and that you could visit! A chaperone was arranged for Cat, but once she hit the faro room, she didn't give her charge a second thought. But Dominic did. Ahhhh, Dominic! My newest book boyfriend, and one is who is quite near the top of that list. That man made me swoon! He was a beautiful man with dark hair and a Welsh accent that would weaken your knees with his rolling R's. He was also fiery, prickly, and had a wicked sense of humor. He could put foes in their place with his sharp tongue. But he was also a good man, one who fought for the downtrodden, especially children. He was well know for his oratory skills and passionate speeches. He had a secret past which was largely unknown, but it began to get out. The scene when he met Cat was hysterical! And you knew right away they were meant for each other. Cat was quickly smitten; it was obvious Dominic was, too, but he fought it as hard as he could. He knew he should keep far from her, but he just couldn't. She was eager to experience passion, but only with this man. He didn't take her virtue, but trust me, there were some amorous occasions! Then rumors and gossip began to swirl, and Dominic knew that he had to let Cat go because he loved her and wanted her to have a happy life. The dialogue between Dominic and Cat was absolutely exquisite! Clever, charming, and also heartbreaking, it was some of the best dialogue I ever read. You just knew that had to end up together! The romance was wonderful, but I was also thrilled to return to The Grand Palace of the Thames. I just love the proprietresses of the establishment, together with their wonderful husbands. Two of the best supporting characters EVER were also here, and I hope they never leave! Mr. Delacorte, who sold exotic potions, was forever having to put money in the Epithet Jar when he used bad language. He loved donkey races, singing and playing chess. He has got to be one of my favorite supporting characters of all time; the man is absolutely lovable. I was once again thrilled to see Dot, the maid. Her biggest thrill in life was opening the front door, as you never know just who would show up! She loved the story of The Ghost in the Attic, and had to be coerced into listening to another book. She could be ditsy - she once sewed her sleeve to her embroidery, and she was known for dropping the tea tray. But she is an intrinsic part of The Grand Palace, and I hope she always will be. I would remiss if I didn't mention this book had one of the most beautiful Epilogues ever...and made me pleased that there seems to be more stories coming. Oh, I certainly hope so!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Lots of hiding places for Miss Catherine Keating and Lord Dominic Kirke in “My Season of Scandal” by Julie Anne Long, seventh in the Palace of Rogues Series!

Miss Keating had one season to find a husband on the London marriage mart with the help of a Lady however it’s another The Grand Palace on the Thames guest who’s made it known her late night singing isn’t appreciated, handsome Lord Kirke, who helped her the most along the way.

As always, the TGPOTT is ever entertaining with the growing staff, loyal guests, and new guests. Thank goodness for the house rules and it’s forced proximity of the guests to get to know each other! I loved Dot and her growing pains with the new footman, Pike, and Delacorte with his continual addition into the swear jar.

I loved the fast friendship between Keating and Kirke! He looked out for her when her own chaperone was gaming. Their banter was humorous and sarcastic. And, their attraction to each other was perfect for their slow burn. His House of Lords speech with a hidden reference was such a great love letter to the one he never wanted scandal to touch.

If you enjoy a Lord with a life-long mission to look out for the less fortunate and right wrongs, plus a doctor’s daughter and assistant who found herself shifting from novice to popular, then ignored before a tear jerking love speech, then I highly recommend this book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Just when you thought that Julie Anne Long couldn't get any better, her next book comes along and makes you rethink what her best story yet is. And so it is with My Season of Scandal, a beautifully written, heartfelt love story for the ages between Lord Dominic Kirke, a Welshman in the House of Commons, and Miss Catherine Keating, a young woman 13 years his junior, who has come to London from Northumberland for her first and only Season. Theirs is a tumultuous, hard won journey to love and happiness, and I was content to strap in for their highs and their lows (which are quite low!) as they navigate the ton as well as the found family within the rooms of The Grand Palace on the Thames. In her typical fashion, Long dazzles us with her lovely prose and incredible attention to detail (think clover!), her searing love scenes and the depths of her characters' insight into the human condition. In short, I adored this book and highly recommend it. I will be thinking about these characters and their love story for many days to come.

If you have not checked out the Palace of the Rogues series, I highly recommend that you come to stay at the boarding house for a while.
A cozy environment where boarding guests such as Mr. Delacorte or the maid Dot will endear themselves to you through their humor and light. This was the best of the series! These books have been getting better and better but the story of Keating and Kirke was so delightful and stunning. The story of a Whig political savant and an innocent debutante from the countryside meet while taking a room at the Palace of the Rogue. Against their plans, Miss. Keating and Lord Dominic Kirke continue to find each other when seeking reprieve from the crush of a London ballroom and a spark blooms.

Something has really clicked in this series and the cast of characters are all stars. It is really like reading a historical romance sitcom. The humor is rich and the romance is definitely in the air. I loved everything about this!

I was so happy to be back in my favorite boardinghouse(wish it was real)!❣️✨ This one was just as emotional and funny as the other Palace of Rogues books!⁣
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Catherine Keating is the daughter of a doctor from the countryside and she has just entered London hoping to find a match during the Season. But with an unreliable chaperone and the cutthroat members of the ton, her chances of success seem to be dwindling until she meets Lord Dominic Kirke who'd been staying at the same boardinghouse as her. Older and cynical Dominic is quite the opposite of her in many ways but Catherine isn't afraid to challenge him verbally and she's one of the few who has been able to look past some of his emotional walls.⁣
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Though Catherine might seem a bit young and innocent at first I couldn't help but admire her courage. Sometimes she's braver than Dominic - who might be able to give amazing speeches in the parliament and elsewhere to convince people but he cannot bring himself to put down his walls and let anyone else in. There were so many emotional and tender moments between them and JAL has always been the best at writing these!❣️ There's some drama and mild angst that I wasn't expecting but it's a part of Dominic's past too. There was some OW drama which kept me from loving this one completely(but I think that's a personal preference and others might not mind it.)
My favorite was definitely the Clover speech near the end as that was so moving. I also loved meeting some of my favorite characters again and reading their hilarious interactions! Dot and Pike's interactions were just as humorous with their constant battles to open the door first and their banter. I hope we get to see their HEA too!😆 ⁣
Would definitely recommend this series if you're looking for some historical romance books with amazing characters and a wonderful found family! And I'm so happy that we'll be getting another book this year too!

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Opposites attract
Age gap
Forced proximity
He falls first
Multiple POV

I loved the way Catherine and Dominic bantered with each other. She kept him on his toes and that's why he fell in love with her. Catherine was so strong despite the constant struggle of dealing with the petty issues of the ton. I was rooting for these two from the very beginning. Loved their journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Death of a parent, sexual content, explicit language

So good and heartfelt! The chemistry in this book was so palpable, I loved it. If I were more invested in the world of this book from having read the previous entries in the series, it's possible this would be a five star read. But it's a little tough as a starting point.

To be honest I haven't read anything by Julie Anne Long in quite some time. I am happy to say that I will return and read the other novels that I haven't read in this "The Palace of Rogues" series. Her characters are concise and well thought out. I also like that her writing isn't overly descriptive, it won't take 5 pages to describe a single ball room.

Now on to the main characters. Catherine Keating is a great heroine because while a bit naive in regards to the vicious world of the "ton", Catherine isn't a shrinking violet. She listens to and absorbs all good advice regarding the "crocodiles" of the elite. She's competing in a world that's foreign to her and dodging backhanded insults, Feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, Catherine seeks solace in hidden alcoves, behind plants, and out in the cool gardens of the hosts. During one such ramble, she overhears an altercation between two men of the ton. Lord Dominic Kirke walks right to where Catherine is hiding. She offers him a handkerchief to stop his bleeding. She is a 22 year old daughter of a country doctor and has assisted him in various medical calls, and not afraid of a little blood. Kirke sees in her a young and a bit practical young woman. Witty, beautiful, talkative, and not afraid to express her opinions, Catherine is totally unlike any women in his circle. Kirke has a reputation as a rogue who is unable to carry out a relationship. Known for his fiery speeches championing the underclasses in the House of Commons, Kirke finds himself with a sort of writers block, his seat in the House is up for election and the wolves are chomping at the bit to de-throne him.

This love story takes a long time to come around. The attraction is there, but he has been hiding from real feelings for a long time, using any excuse to dismiss his feelings, she's too young, I don't need a woman only a mistress, etc...
Because of circumstances, both Catherine and Kirke find themselves residing at the same boarding house. This unconventional "home" has a reputation for eccentric guests. All guests are required to attend dinner a couple of times a week and to assemble in the parlor for conversation, book reading, games, and a strict curfew. This creates an opportunity for Catherine and Dominic to get more acquainted than they would have otherwise. There are a couple of side chapters involving a maid and a footman that add color but have no real contribution to the main story.

I did like this story very much and will look forward to reading more in "The Palace of Rogues" and other future series that Ms. Long shall write.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was so lovely, charming, fun, sweet and i couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

JAL is a new to me author and boy am I glad I requested an ARC of this one! I also am newish to historical romance and struggle to get into them but this one was fantastic!

We have the two main characters: Catherine and Kirke, on the outside it seems like they aren't a great fit for each other. Kirke is a politician and Catherine is a girl from the country. There is a bit of age gap romance and forbidden sprinkled in. I love a book that can make me laugh and also be emotional at the same time, and this did just that! I loved everything from the writing style, to the plot, to the main characters and side characters. I am foresure going to be reading more by JAL and hope that you pick this one up!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Anne Long is one of my favourite authors, so when she releases a new book, my expectations are incredibly high. Lucky for me, she never disappoints. My Season of Scandal, Book 7 of the Palace of Rogues series (which can also be read as a standalone), is another shining gem. The story follows 22-year-old Catherine Keating who has left her small town in Northumberland to find a husband during what will be her one and only season in London. Long creates yet another original meet-cute between the wise but innocent Catherine and the seasoned politician and statesman, 35-year-old, Welsh, Lord Dominic Kirke, a “conversational fencer” who’s also known as a notorious rake. During their respective stays at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a growing attraction develops between the kind, pragmatic Catherine, and the cynical, practical Dominic. I loved everything about this book from the beginning through to yet another wonderful and immensely satisfying epilogue.

JAL writes brilliantly. Dominic, famous for his eloquent, persuasive, take-no-prisoners oration, is given lots of room to demonstrate his skills. Long’s writing is wickedly good at showing us why this man is both feared and revered. Catherine, by contrast, is kind, sometimes to a fault, but shows that she can parry with her own conversational weapons when called upon. Her ability to disarm Dominic, seeing beyond the walls he’s erected around himself, is a delight to read. I loved the banter and teasing between these two as we witness their flirtation get more and more incendiary leading to some well-written steamy scenes. JAL weaves an intricate and compelling story about love, loss, vulnerability, compassion, integrity, and the defensive maneuvers used to shield oneself from the caprices of high society, and sometimes, from love itself.

Long infuses laugh-out-loud humour as we revisit some characters from earlier books and get to know the main couple. Her ability to balance the heart-wrenching moments with the clever humour we’ve come to expect from her, still leaves me a bit speechless. There’s not a passage wasted in this book; everything builds something important to the story. The emotional investment she teases from the reader pays off as we feel the incredible longing and yearning between Dominic and Catherine, become infuriated by the malicious forces of the ton, and fall a little more in love with the residents of The Grand Palace on the Thames. I loved the small gestures through which the two main characters reveal their love and understanding of one another, as well as the room and page time Long gives them to grow and get to know each other, showing us definitively that they truly belong together. I’ve come to appreciate the carefully thought-out grand gestures Long’s main characters make in her books, and Dominic’s is another amazing one that made me reach for my tissues while simultaneously grinning and cheering.

I highly recommend this book to readers who love exquisite writing; well-developed characters; some lightness mixed in with deeply emotional moments; clever, steamy romance; and a deftly crafted story with a happily-ever-after. Long is a truly gifted writer and there isn’t anything I would change about this book – it’s perfect.

4.5

it is so hard to rate Palace of Rogue books because you start rating them against each other and when they're all this good, is there really a hierarchy?

Why you want to read this one (so many reasons):

1. A JAL Hero. If you read my reviews you know that she is a pro at taking men I wouldn't care for in other author's hands and making them absolutely the most swoon-but-still-them hero to ever strut the boards.

2. And age gap that is not overplayed. It is more along the lines of "well, I'm so much older than her, we're just not a thing" - not something that has pages and pages of internal annoying angst. It's not a barrier so much as just "one more thing" with them. Also, the younger heroine is never infantilized - yay! He calls her by her last name and she sees it as him acknowledging her equality -- and she's not wrong.

3. Greenery Friends - enough said.

4. Banter, but of course bc it's a JAL book!

5. A realization and happy ending that is well deserved and a little peek to see how

A bonus #6: a little peek at how the maturing of St. John is going... I know it's probably not soon, but I'm looking forward to his book.

Genre: historical romance
London Docks, 1820

This Season brings new residents to The Grand Palace on the Thames: Catherine Keating, daughter of a rural doctor in search of a husband during the one Season she’ll be able to afford and Lord Dominic Kirke, blunt spoken MP with a fearsome reputation. Catherine is delighted to be staying at such a lively and charming boarding house. Kirke is a little less enthused - but his townhouse burned down when his mistress angrily threw something at the fireplace and it ignited, so he has limited options. While they are both staying at the TGPOTT, they continue to run into each other at the social events of the Season. The smallest step out of line may cause the invitations - and a potential sure future for Catherine - to cease, and yet Catherine finds herself drawn to the infamous Kirke, despite their ages and stations.

Julie Anne Long has a gorgeous way of creating love and emotions on page. The way she can bring two characters together is heartwarming even when the characters themselves cause each other pain. I never need much plot in a book from JAL because her characters speak for themselves, alighting the page with joy, mischief, love, devotion, and tenderness.

We know how much I dislike an age gap. I was tentative going into My Season of Scandal (and I admit, a little disappointed that this was the second age gap in Palace of Rogues). But Long handles potential power imbalances well. Kirke may be a 35-year-old MP with a blunt tongue and blunter reputation, but from the start Catherine has power over him. It’s evident in the way she holds his attention, to the use of her last name as nickname. We get plenty of both POVs to convince us that Kirke and Catherine belong together. Their intimate moments were desperate, evocative, and also tentative and somehow still passionate.

I always recommend a 380-page stay at The Grand Palace on the Thames, and this latest installment in Palace of Rogues is a crush in a ballroom and the breath of fresh air as you escape to the balcony. It’s book seven (!!) but this actually feels like a good entry point to the series. While I do highly recommend books one and two to orient yourself to the lives of the proprietress and TGPOTT origin story, My Season of Scandal has gentle references to past events without making a reader feel lost.

My Season of Scandal continues Julie Anne Long's series centered around The Grand Palace on the Thames, a boarding house of quirky characters run by the heroines of her first two novels. In this (pragmatic)sunshine/grumpy installment, Catherine Keating, a young woman from outside London has the opportunity to taste the season, and perhaps meet a husband. Her path collides with Lord Dominic Kirke (a confusing name choice, since there was a Valkirk in a relatively recent series novel!) who is known for his oratory skills in the House of Commons. He's also known for being a cold cynic, so when an angry mistress accidentally sets his house on fire, he finds himself at The Grand Palace on the Thames, where Catherine is also staying.

This is a meeting of opposites, as Kirke is much older than Catherine. But Catherine is the daughter of a physician, and both are not really ton, and it shows in their matter of factness, and wry senses of humor, which bond them together. Both resist the push and pull of their relationship, Kirke more so, but even Kirke cannot resist Catherine. When he tries to aid her in a spectacularly ill-advised manner, it blows up their friendship and relationship to set up one of Long's classic swoony endings.

I mention friendship because that is what Long establishes. While there is chemistry and romance, at the heart of this novel their bond was clearly established through how much they liked each other, something most authors never well establish. It helped make the heart of the story beat, along with all of Long's beautiful prose and witty word choices. If you long language, you will enjoy reading Long.

I received an ARC free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Julie Ann Long does it again! This time with a country debutante and a notorious rake with the power of persuasion.

I love The Palace of Rogues series, and if you haven’t been reading it, this is my moment to ask, why not? Besides a memorable cast of side characters that show up book after book, Long continues to show her depth in developing characters from all different types of backgrounds that make you care for them and also rope you into wanting them to find the person who will make them complete.

We have debutante Catherine Keating, new to London and for her first season. Without her Aunt guiding her way, her only chaperone is a woman with more interest in gambling, though she’s doing her best to make the most of this trip. Including getting the pleasure of staying at the Grand Palace on the Thames. Disaster would strike there because that’s where Catherine meets the fiery leader of the House of Commons, Lord Dominic Kirke, who’s only staying while his house is repaired from a fire. Let’s not mention he’s a rake or that he’s never been known to give any young woman singular attention… until now.

Watching Dominic fall for Catherine is glorious. Of course, she’s attracted to his mind, his kind manner (which he doesn’t have for just anyone), and his persuasive way of talking. He makes the simplest things sound seductive or romantic. Dominic sees Catherine as a young woman who will easily be eaten alive by the wolves of the Ton. Naturally, he finds her witty mind and pretty smiles so undeserving of such a fate and tries to help her avoid catastrophe. These two, as they fall head over heels, are equal parts maddening and can’t-stop-turning-the-pages.

April is definitely the month for slow burns because this one was another creeping, crawling path for two people coming together (with very good reason). Still, I was glued to keep going just to see if Dominic would ever kiss Catherine and then to see if he had the sense to stay away. Hehe… he did not. Thank goodness. Watching the fall is almost as sweet as the happily ever after.

I know you’re going to laugh at all my reviews this month and how they are all high, but the authors are bringing some fantastic stories to the table, and this one is no exception. P.S. You have to read it if you want to see how Dot continues to evolve because one day, she’s going to get her HEA.

~ Landra

I think this is the best of the Palace of Rogues series that I have read and reviewed. The romance brewing between Catherine Keating and Lord Kirke, Dominic was sweltering. I liked how he was able to use memories of his past growing up in Wales as a way of communicating to Catherine his love for her. I also like how Catherine, though a debutante and an innocent was able to read through all of the defenses Dominic put up to see the real man he had hidden beneath the layers. Looking forward to more from Julie Ann Long.

When your dreams lie shattered and you learn that sky blue dresses and shillings are a confession…
When her losses have made her wise and brave, and yours have left you brittle and petrified.

It starts with too much sherry, potted ferns, a handkerchief and glances caught and held.
It ends with the desperate need to assure yourself that the reason your lungs have seized is because someone else has stolen your breath. It ends with evisceration and a true dark night of the soul full of painful recriminations.

Dominic Kirke is a man of the world. Jaded and selfish by his own admission.
He is not the sort of man Catharine should be daydreaming about.
But Dominic Kirke goes through life with a veneer and she’s the only one who sees through it to the man beneath.

She’s in London because she’s known loss, and will soon know it again. She doesn’t want to live alone and unknown when that chapter comes.
He is a creature of London who’s clawed his way to the top of a political heap. He’s driven and charismatic. The walls he’s erected are so high and impenetrable, he thought they’d protect him forever.

But a girl who knows the line between grief and joy is precarious, can’t help but fall for the fiery tenderness when he looks at her.
And a man who thought he was invincible finds himself wrecked by the shrewd insight of this girl who sees straight to the core of him and subtly, methodically lays waste to his defenses.

This book is something to be savored and cherished. Like a refuge of bees and clover where you can languish in solitude and find shapes in the clouds.

Five screaming unhinged stars.

Some of my favorite excerpts:

Bloom and decay, birth and death—nothing instilled pragmatism and awareness of the rhythms of life more than growing up in a small town in Northumberland as the only child of the only doctor for miles and miles. She’d learned that everything beautiful and beloved was merely on loan. The gift in knowing this was that every moment now seemed as precious as currency, and every rare pleasure pierced.

“Ah, indeed I am Welsh, Keating,” he replied indulgently. “All the way from Satan’s Arse Crack, a little town near Cardiff.” Not even in her wildest dreams had she ever thought she’d hear the words “Satan’s arse crack” so exquisitely enunciated. She began to wonder if he was a lot drunker than he seemed. “It sounds lovely,” she decided to say. “And explains a good deal.”

Only he knew the truth: before the age of twenty he’d felt nearly everything a man could feel, in gruesome proportions. Soaring love and searing shame. Passion and joy, terror and struggle. Gutting loss. The whole bloody lot had dug such brutally deep channels through him that little he felt in the aftermath was capable of shaking him or leaving a mark. Nearly every emotion he’d felt since had seemed a mere echo by comparison.

She began to understand how difficult men could become an acquired taste, enjoyable in limited quantities, like espresso, or violent thunderstorms.

Kirke never dreamed he’d be so entertained by hearing Bolt and Hardy defend their masculine honor against a fictional genie.

Change is also the thing that makes things more precious, isn’t it? Knowing that anything in life can end in a heartbeat, at any time for any reason, and that things may not always be the same? And if you know that you’re going to live forever, and if someone you love lived forever, would you not then take them for granted? Do we love things and people because we know they’re temporary? I . . . I just wondered.

His chin brushed her temple. He closed his eyes because her hair against his cheek was silky and he wanted, for one mad moment, to feel only this ever again. Every muscle in his body locked against a furious onslaught of longing.

She didn’t know that one person could make the rest of the world seem flat and false by comparison, like so much stage dressing.

FINAL DECISION: A captivating and emotionally charged tale of an unlikely love between a world-weary man and an innocent country girl. Long's signature wit, lyrical prose, and masterful relationship-building are on full display in this seventh installment of the Palace of Rogues series.

THE STORY: Catherine Keating arrives in London for her first season, determined to find a suitable husband. However, the glittering ballrooms and societal expectations prove more daunting than she anticipated. When a chance encounter leads her to the Grand Palace on the Thames, Catherine finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Lord Dominic Kirke, a man known for his fiery speeches in Parliament and his ability to captivate any woman he chooses. As they navigate the season together, attending balls and sharing secret moments, Catherine and Dominic discover a connection that goes beyond mere attraction. But with Dominic's tragic past and Catherine's innocence, their love seems doomed from the start. Dominic must decide whether to protect his battered heart or risk everything for the woman who has captured it so completely.

OPINION: Once again, Julie Anne Long has crafted a delightful romance in returning to the Grand Palace on the Thames. The pairing of an older, cynical man and a young, optimistic woman is an unlikely combination that surprises even the characters themselves. Long's incredible use of language elevates the story, while cameos from beloved characters add depth and continuity to the series.

The emotional journey between Catherine and Dominic is the heart of this book. Their conversations are emotionally resonant, allowing them to understand each other on a profound level. The love they share brings out the best in both of them, a testament to Long's skill in building relationships. The "tragic past" trope is handled with a fresh perspective, making Dominic's story compelling and relatable.

The yearning and angst between Catherine and Dominic is palpable, creating a delicious tension that keeps the pages turning. Their secret meetings and desperate attempts to resist their feelings only heighten the slow-burn romance. Watching them navigate their big, scary feelings and put each other's hearts back together is a beautiful and rewarding experience.

Dominic, usually so eloquent in Parliament, finds himself tongue-tied and baffled by Catherine, who slips under his defenses like water through a leak. Catherine, in turn, refuses to let Dominic hide away from his pain and hurt. The result is a love story that is both tender and passionate, with a satisfying ending that will leave readers sighing with contentment.

WORTH MENTIONING: The secret alcove run-ins and rendezvous add a delightful touch of forbidden romance to the story.

CONNECTED BOOKS: MY SEASON OF SCANDAL is the seventh book in the Palace of Rogues series. While the romance stands alone, reading the series in order provides a richer experience and allows readers to fully appreciate the cameos and connections to previous characters.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

Love creeps up unawares!

Another sparkling episode set in London’s exclusive yet lively boardinghouse, The Grand Palace on the Thames. Once a brothel, now a place of superior accommodation with a non negotiable set of rules and a lively cast of permanent residents.
Catherine Keating is a doctor’s daughter. She’s been persuaded to come to London for a season and is ensconced in the Grand Palace. She will chaperoned by her new friend Lucy Morrow’s godmother Lady Wisterberg, who’s also a close friend of her aunt. Lady W is rather interesting, and unfortunately irresponsible from time to time, particularly when she’s swept away by the feverish call of the card tables. It’s the challenge you see! Any pretence of chaperoning tends to go out of the window when she’s ensnared in a card game, and there’s always a card room set aside at the balls they attend.
Lord Dominic Kirk is a Member of Parliament who champions laws to improve the lot of child workers.
He’s a rousing orator, splendid in his conviction. Originally from Wales, he’s come from nothing.(Shared a bed with six, as he describes it, semi feral siblings).
He ends up at the Grand Palace because his mistress, in a rage at him dismissing her, threw a lamp and burned down his town house.
Dominic finds he rather enjoys the Grand Palace . He is amused and challenged by Catherine. He calls her Keating. He also ensures Lady Wisterberg is recalled from the card room to get Keating home before the Grand Palace’s doors are irrevocably closed for the night. (I love him just for that action alone).
Of course they’re attracted to each other. However that is never voiced. Even though their stolen kisses sizzle and consume them both.
Before he walks away, Dominic dances one waltz with Catherine, determined her season would go well. Shocking! Why? Because he hasn’t danced in ten years, and society is agog. Catherine fast becomes a ton favorite until that’s dashed by cruel rumor and gossip forcing her to flee home.
Catherine returns to Little Bramble. Dominic? Well, he pines. Then he makes the speech of a lifetime!
Just brilliant, and wretchedly lovely!

An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

As usual, Julie Anne Long gives us the story of two perfectly-matched characters, even though they might seem mismatched on the surface. Kirke is a fiery politician; Catherine is a fresh-faced country beauty. They meet because they both happen to be staying at the Grand Palace on the Thames.

JAL writes books that are simultaneously hilarious (her touch with humor is incredible) and touching. This series in particular showcases her comedic skills: the ensemble cast of secondary characters, including former couples and longterm TGPOTT lodgers, works on so many levels! What's more, the central romantic relationship is just angsty enough to please everyone who likes a fraught emotional relationship. Final note: do we love an age gap relationship? Usually not. Here it works well, but we think that if you love an age gap, you'll be pleased!

All in all a great addition to the series!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.