Another story about new guests at the Grand Palace on the Thames. Catherine is an intelligent and lively country girl who is having a season. Dominic is an intelligent and lively MP whom people are starting to notice in Parliament. When rake Dominic sees naive Catherine being picked on in society he steps in to protect her. Spending a lot of time together at the Palace, helps them to grow closer. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon for my honest review.

Julie Anne Long is one of my favorite authors, having read most of her books except a couple of her earliest novels. I love that she mixes romance, humor and angst with the historical elements and societal norms in her stories. But I’m afraid with this book, she deviated from her usual style of writing.

This story is about a country lass, Catherine, who is in London for her season and obviously to find a husband. The hero, Lord Kirke (Dominic), is an MP famous for his speeches. He met the heroine at Delilah’s boarding house because his house was being repaired having been torched by his mistress. As in most stories with a setting at the TGPT, these 2 protagonists fell in love here. And that’s about it!! There was very little plot, very little angst and very little conversation between the MC. Most pages contain paragraph after paragraphs of monologues of either the hero or heroine and what they were thinking. Even the BIG secret held no surprised! I also disliked that the heroine is close to being a Mary Sue – always shy, always agreeable, always flustered, with no character flaws. I contend that she was only 22yo but boy! I never saw a backbone in her! The saving grace is that I did like the epilogue with a longish explanation of what their life has become. This was a 2.5* upgraded to 3* because I really like the author.

Thank you to avon/harper voyager through netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions and statements here are my own.

This is yet another tale set in the Grand Palace on the Thames, a small, homey London boutique hotel not unfamiliar with controversy.
Catherine Keating is a twenty two year old woman whose widowed father, a country doctor, wishes for her to have a London season. He knows he isn't all that well and would like to see her settle into a happy marriage sooner rather than later. Unable to take her himself, he has made arrangements with friends in the city to host Catherine and for her to stay at TGPOTT. After all, the two married women who own the property are above reproach.
While staying at the hotel with several other colorful guests and employees, a notorious Lord Dominic Kirke has come to stay as his home is being repaired. That is an entirely different story and one of the many situations to have made Kirke notorious in the first place. Kirke is an experienced thirty five year old MP in the House of Commons with a reputation as a brash but talented orator and an unrepentant rake.
It is during this stay that the cynical Kirke starts to fall in with his companions at the hotel, gets comfortable, and begins to notice the young, innocent Catherine; then the fireworks begin.
The plot has several interesting turns throughout the tale. The characters, those that are new but especially those in previous stories from the Palace, are singular and often quite funny. This reader laughed out loud more than once or twice. The heat and longing between the H and h is palpable, as is their dawning comprehension of each other's feelings and motivations.

I loved this story and read it in one sitting. The author's use of language is very well done and so entertaining.
I certainly hope, as the epilogue insinuated, that there are more stories to come, as I will definitely be looking for them. I have read several others in this series, and each is memorable.
I highly recommend this book for any reader who enjoys historical romance as this is one of the most enjoyable I have had recently.

I ripped through this book in a night.

Julie Anne Long has a special hand when it comes to age gap romances: between What I did for a Duke, After Dark with the Duke, and now My Season of Scandal. The central theme of this book is love intermingled with loss, and how major losses in our lives can shape how we love.

The banter and flirting between the main characters left me with a goofy grin. As always, it was lovely to check in on the denizens of the Grand Palace on the Thames. Although Dominic and Cat's story still works as a standalone, your experience will be so much richer if you had previously read earlier books (at least the first two) in the series.

Julie Anne Long is an auto buy and read author for me and somehow I finish reading one and automatically decide it is my new favorite of her work. How is that even possible? If you love historical romance and you aren't reading her books I do not know what you're doing. I will keep on screaming about these books from the mountaintops because she never misses!

Julie Anne Long has always been an amazing writer, but this book is a masterpiece. Everything from the small, emotionally charged moments between Catherine and Kirke to the sweeping, impassioned speech that Kirke gives (and which gave me chills) are so well done. Her social commentary and observations about human nature are incredibly profound. I ended up highlighting several passages that were so beautifully written that I will go back to again in the future. These more serious moments are, of course, mixed in with the usual humor that comes with the recurring cast of characters at the Grand Palace on the Thames. Catherine and Kirke fit in seamlessly with the crew, including Mr. Delacorte and Mrs. Pariseau (who feature more here), and despite their differences, they all bring out the best in each other.

I also especially love the level of depth and emotional truth given to each of the characters. Catherine may be naive about how to navigate the social minefields of the ton during her season, but she has a strong backbone and a quiet but snarky sense of humor that matches Kirke's jaded views. For Kirke, instead of the usual storyline of being a rake who doesn't think he's capable of love (often for poorly explained reasons), the story here gives a detailed look at the emotional trauma he suffered as a young man and how he shut himself off from the world as a result. His struggles to keep those walls up while Catherine gently tries to help him overcome it feel organic and believable, rather than an artificial conflict for the sake of conflict.

Finally, I just want to acknowledge the added difficulty level from a writing perspective of creating a character known for his famous speeches and actually having to demonstrate how persuasive and compelling the speeches are, while simultaneously using them to advance the plot. The reveal of the signficiance to his comment earlier in the book that Catherine reminded him of clover was so romantic and emotional. (Also, with Kirke's Welsh background, I couldn't get Michael Sheen's voice out of my head during the speech after watching Sheen's own rallying cry videos a few too many times).

Although this could be read as a standalone, to more fully enjoy the callbacks and references to other couples and to the journey of the Grand Palace on the Thames itself, I highly recommend reading the full series.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Such a wonderful romance. I loved Catherine and Dominic's relationship. The good girl tempted by the rakeish hero is one of my absolute favorite tropes. This series is such a gem. 5 stars.

"Julie Anne Long continues to prove her mastery of storytelling with this emotional and captivating book. The inclusion of recurring characters adds depth and richness to the narrative, while the subtle crossovers with other books in her universe create a sense of cohesion and interconnectedness that readers will appreciate.

Kirke and Keating's dynamic relationship is a highlight, with the slow burn of their connection building into something truly sensual and compelling. While there may not be a significant age gap between them, their intertwining paths and the mutual respect they share set them apart as a unique and dynamic pair. It's refreshing to see a male character who listens to and values a woman's opinion, adding an extra layer of depth to their relationship.

With a perfect score of 10/10, this book is a must-add to any TBR list for 2024. Julie Anne Long's ability to savor every aspect of her stories shines through, making this one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Readers can expect an unforgettable journey filled with emotion, passion, and a touch of magic."

Truly perfect. I love this series with all my heart and this is one of my favorites in it!

Filled to the brim with pining, longing, and beautiful, romantic prose. I am always so swept away in JAL's writing and this was no exception!

Miss Caroline Keating is a country doctor's daughter who comes to London for the season. She's eager to dance at balls and has high hopes for finding a husband, but instead, she finds herself out of place and much more of a wallflower than she expected. Lord Kirke, a somewhat scandalous rake who is staying at the same boarding house as Caroline, tends to visit the same quiet alcoves and terraces that Caroline sneaks off to. . .so the two of them get to know one another and he winds up secretly chaperoning her and looking after her during her season. ...And obviously they wind up madly, hopelessly in love!! 💕

• Regency era Found Family 👌 I think it must be the absolute *coziest* steamy romance series ever written. It takes place at a boarding house called The Grand Palace on the Thames, so some of the characters, such as the owners and employees, appear throughout the whole series. You definitely get the most out of it by starting at the beginning!

• Obsessed with, loved, absolutely cannot stop thinking about: the chemistry, the age gap, innocent vs rake, his tragic backstory, his speeches and political passion, the clover, the scandal, Mr. Delacorte and the arse song, the whole "finding the person that feels like home" thing!

• I feel like it's been a while since we've had a Julie Anne Long with lots of balls (of the ballroom variety!) And I loved it! Reminds me of How the Marquess was Won in all the best ways!

• Dot and Mr. Pike (side characters) need their own bullet point. What I want is JAL to just slow burn this situation into eternity for me... OR dedicate a whole book to them. Honestly anything will do, because she is queen and whatever she does will make me so happy, but I love their banter and the way they drive each other crazy.... and if this is a thing that isn't actually happening and I am reading everything wrong, it's fine just leave me to my delusions!

• I honestly think this series gets better with each book! (If I'm forced to choose, You Were Made to Be Mine is probably my favorite one, but this was a close second!)

• Good luck putting this one down once you start!!! 5 stars from me!!!

I love the Palace of Rogues series and I love Julie Anne Long. This was wildly entertaining and the two characters had such depth. Also, I'm VERY invested in the overall happenings at the boarding house across this series. Just a wonderfully crafted historical romance.

I loved this book. A country girl comes to London for a chance at a season stays at a boarding house, the same boarding house a rake finds himself in as his home recently burned down.

They share shy smiles, witty remarks and heated glances. She is a novice to the season and he can’t help but look out for her. In someways she can never know.

This book was adorable. I really liked it. I absolutely loved their story.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Publishing for the ARC.

Curiosity, Secrets, The Blue Dress:
This was a slow-moving story for me. I had not read any of the previous books, but I didn't feel I missed anything.
I did like the two characters Catherine and Dominic. Each had good qualities that made me want to finish the book.
The first half of the story (I would rate as a 3-star read) was very slow with a large cast of characters we needed to get to know. We were introduced to main couple, and they held the story together for me until the romance finally started to take off and get interesting.
The second half of the story (I would give a 5-star rating) because it did heat up, became very intriguing and moved at a faster pace which was wonderful.
The epilogue was one of the best conclusions I have read in a long time. Excellent finish to this story.
I did shed a tear and needed my fan for some of the later scenes.
First half of book rating of 3 and 5 rating second half gives this story a solid 4 stars.
Mature Advisory: 🌶🌶🌶+

“My Season of Scandal” is the upcoming latest addition to “The Palace of Rogues” series. As I shared before I absolutely love this series and every book in it! Seriously, every book is great! In this next chapter of the series an unbreakable bond is formed between an unlikely pair. Catherine arrives for her debut season, but while young she has much life experience. She stays positive but things simply don’t seem to go quite as she planned. Friendship comes naturally with the much older Lord Kirke, a charismatic but tortured soul, but is there more there? Scandal ensues as we follow Catherine’s brave journey to her happy ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t recommend the series enough!

Loooooved it for how beautiful angsty, emotional, profound so romantic with one of the best grand gestures.

My one complaint was that it was a tad slow in the middle.

4.5 stars round it to 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am so excited to gush and recommend this book in our JAL channel in our HR discord server!

This romance was a bit angsty for my taste. Catherine and Dominic were good together, though, and their love story was satisfying. This book was worth the read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I love this series. The Grand Palace on the Thames is generally its own character in the series. It is a boardinghouse near the docks which attracts random people, but the proprietresses have rules for visitors and interview everyone before letting them stay.

In this book, Lord Kirke's house was burned, so he is spending months at the GPOTT. He is known for being a great orator and working to help poor children, but is also an outspoken person who doesn't let people close to him.

Catherine Keating is in town for her first Season and both are staying at the GPOTT. Her chaperone is always gambling and she is somewhat poor and cannot get a foothold in the Season.

Kirke finds a kindred spirit in Catherine, and helps her get started in the Season. Along the way they get closer but Kirke doesn't allow them to have more than a friendly relationship.

Of course both fit in very well at the GPOTT and enjoy being there, but when Catherine is gossiped about in the Ton, she decides to go home and Kirke moves to a different lodging.

The story is essentially of Catherine growing up, and Kirke allowing himself to love and be loved. This was one of the few age gap regency romances I think I've seen, and it was a great story. I really loved the characters and seeing both Catherine and Kirke grow and fall in love.

I can't wait to hear more about the GPOTT and hope there are more books about this wonderful place that fosters some wonderful relationships.

I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.

This is my first book by this author, as far as I can remember. She writes well developed characters that seem very real and a great storyline-very original. (Country bumpkin vs hardened Lord.-that is Catherine and Dominic). I felt a plethora of emotions, as the writer does a wonderful job of pulling out of each character their quirks and traits. That being said, I found the story too full of description, to the point that half way through I wasn’t sure if I could finish.. Some description is fine to get a feel for the environment, feelings, etc. But this seemed to weigh the story down, which weighed me, the reader down. The last 5 chapters were much better and the epilogue was absolutely tremendous! ( I wish more authors would do that). I especially loved Mrs. Pariseau’s needing brandy after awakening-that was hilarious!.All in all- a good story, just be prepared to read a lot of description-too much for me, thus the 4 stars.

I received this book for free and these are my own opinions.

Julie Anne Long can do no wrong! Catherine and Dominic are thrown together when circumstances go haywire, and opposites so very much attract in My Season of Scandal. So many swoon worthy moments, along with excellent dialogue and story.

Julie Ann Long is quickly becoming a new favorite historical romance author of mine, and it’s all thanks to this series. I didn’t think anything could top the previous entry, but My Season of Scandal is neck and neck. I loved it so much.

No one and I mean no one can make me emotional like JAL. Reader, I cried like a baby reading this epilogue.

I had expectations going into this. A jaded, older peer and an innocent young woman from the country traversing her first (and only) season cross paths at The Grand Palace on the Thames and fall in love. There was humor. There was banter. There was appearances and checkins with all of our favorite Palace residents.

What I didn’t expect was the angst and literal knot in my stomach watching Catherine and Dominick dance around each other. The yearning between them, the run ins in secret alcoves and balconies and gardens, the desperate way they want to be each others. I was on tenterhooks. Not only is this a slow burn, it’s an Angsty slow burn. It’s watching two idiots in love break their own hearts and each others because they don’t know how to navigate big scary feelings. And it’s watching them put each other’s hearts back together by finally acknowledging their mistakes.

Dominick is jaded and a world weary and Catherine doesn’t crash into his life. She slips in until he wonders how he even went without her. Between secret meetings at balls, run ins at The Palace, and rendezvous that could prove dangerous for them both, Catherine slips under his defenses like water through a leak. And he doesn’t know how to get her out. Nor does he really want to.

For a man that holds the nation captive with his speeches in parliament, he’s completely baffled and tongue tied by a young woman he never expected. And Catherine refuses to let him hide away from his pain and hurt. It was beautiful. And I don’t know how JAL will top this one for me. But I’ve said that before and look at me now.

Absolutely no notes. Not a one. Perfection.

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC. Julie, I’ll be sending you a bill for the tissues I went through.