Wow! This book deserves more than my top 5 score. I have enjoyed every book in this series but this is my favorite so far. I hope this series continues because I'm certainly invested in all the side characters at this charming boarding house, especially Dot and Mr Pete.

Alexandra and Magnus are the latest residents and Ms Long develops their characters to the extent that we know each of them intimately. I found it difficult to stop reading even when I could hardly keep my eyes open. This is a slow burn romance with a fireworks pay-off.

This book has more than one couples sexy scene. In fact there seems to be an aphrodisiac in the air at the Grand Palace.

I highly recommend that you curl up with this delightful romance.

Julie Anne Long can write! Obviously she can write, she’s a bestselling author. But her exquisite, gorgeous writing is next-level and keeps me riveted every time. Plus, her characters, stories, dialogue, and feelings she portrays make her one of my favorite authors.

The Beast Takes a Bride is yet another example. Right after witty and beautiful Alexandra marries military hero Magnus five years earlier, hurt and betrayal take him to Spain. Alone. Now, when scandal hits Alexandra, Magnus suddenly returns with a grudge and new orders for her—they’ll pretend to be happily married and rebuild their standing in the ton’s eyes. And then Alexandra must go to New York. Alone.

Circumstances bring them to the Grand Palace on the Thames, a quirky yet lovely boardinghouse filled with unique characters that made me laugh out loud—a lot! Alexandra and Magnus carry so much hurt and damage, and both are terrified to put their hearts on the line. But the close quarters, the accidental touches, the tension brewing, the underlying love…you know where this is going. And when they get together—fire!

The flashbacks to five years ago weave seamlessly into the story, where something triggers a memory and details come. And the characters—you KNOW these people, you see into their hearts and souls, you get what makes them tick, and the story stays so true to them. You see beyond Magnus’ gruff exterior and Alexandra’s charm. And another Julie Anne Long HEA that is absolute perfection.

Fun quote: “ ‘And I wanted you in my bed more than I wanted my next breath,’ he concluded simply. And as she sucked in a short, sharp breath, he touched his hat to her and firmly closed the carriage door. The driver snapped the ribbons and the carriage lurched away.” This one simple quote encapsulates the tension, the wanting, the longing, and Magnus’ one-liners that take over Alexandra’s thoughts.

I hope this series goes on forever, and really hope Dot and Pike get their story sometime soon!

Thank you to Avon Books, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

I’ve read every book in The Palace of the Rogues series *twice* now and was sooo excited to be given a chance to read an ARC of the 8th in the series, The Beast Takes a Bride! I’ve recommended the series to my mom and book friends who have recently gotten into regency romance and I’ll keep recommending Julie’s books to anyone who listen because they are just that good. Her story plotting is adventurous, the characters are memorable and, in this particular series case, very funny and I cannot get enough of the banter.

In the eighth book of the series we are introduced to the “beast” and his “bride” as they reunite after 5 long years apart. Without spoiling the story I will say this, the spicy tension is off the charts and I absolutely LOVE the *audacity* that Julie has in writing Female Characters who take what they deserve and don’t apologize for it. Along with the proprietresses at the Grand Palace on the Thames, the FMC in this book is so likable and, quite frankly, a badass. Standing up for herself and making the most of every situation - i just want to be her friend!

The only reason i gave it 4 rather than 5 stars this time around is because I wasn’t as big of a fan of the jumping around with the other characters - not sure if this is the wrap up of the series but it felt a little disjointed at times and took me out of the main romance where I felt like I wanted more time with the main couple. But otherwise, highly recommend and will probably be rereading the series again soon. Thank you NetGalley and and Avon for the ARC!

4.5/5. Releases 10/22/2024.

The Vibes:

—Beauty and the Beast (most obvi)

—weapon-grade pining

—big stern man meets lowkey bratty woman (his wife)

—covert boning (like... everyone is covertly boning in this book)

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

Alexandra Brightwall should be relieved when her husband, war hero Magnus, bails her out of prison. The problem? They haven't seen each other for five years. Not since the day after their wedding, actually. Stern and cool, Magnus knows their marriage was a huge mistake, so he has a proposal. He's on the verge of being created an earl; he just needs to present a good face until that happens. As long as Alexandra helps him put on the facade of a harmonious relationship, he's happy to give her a life of luxury... far from him. Needless to say, this is a lot easier said than done.

The Review:

Julie Anne Long is always funny; but the best kind of Julie Anne Long also punches you in the gut. This? Does just that. In fact, I think it's my third-favorite JAL, after What I Did for a Duke and After Dark with the Duke. It kind of gave me everything!

The thing I've struggled with when reading a lot of recent historical romances is that everyone is very... nice. Sedate, even. They don't act out, they're fundamentally good people who don't fuck up, and so on. This is not that kind of book. It's not that Magnus or Alexandra are so horrible. They're clearly good people with good hearts and good intentions.

They're just also... delightfully flawed. She's a bit bratty and flighty and tends to act on impulse. He's stern and struggles with forgiveness, and has a tendency to want to win at all costs. Neither of them are by any means monsters (though Magnus is referred to as a "beast" by the gossips, and in one of my favorite microtropes, IT KINDA HURTS BIG GROWLY MAN'S FEELINGS WHEN PEOPLE CALL HIM BEAST). But they have their issues, and they haven't dealt with them, and that's why their marriage combusts before it can really even start.

Also, they're both pretty bad at talking about their feelings, and make judgments about each other that aren't really fair. Here's the thing, though: All of this makes sense, because they were kind of strangers marrying. You get the most glorious pining thoughts from Magnus, and it's clear that he was besotted with Alexandra from the start... But he really didn't get to know her as a person. He didn't let her be a flawed person.

And it's a surprisingly complex thing, the way Long both lets us luxuriate in the swoony romanticism of Magnus's initial feelings for Alexandra (and my God, is it romantic... this is just an achingly romantic novel, in general) while never condemning Alexandra for her resistance. Because Magnus's feelings can be genuine, and he can be right about this inexorable chemistry between him and Alexandra; and he can also push Alexandra too far too soon and go about making their relationship a reality in a bad way. And then act affronted when she doesn't respond well to being pushed.

They're both messy people who nevertheless have, as Magnus, one of those guys with a Good Sense About Things (hence him being good at war) amazing chemistry. The kind of tension that just has to be fulfilled. It's delicious, and it's part of what makes this one of the hottest books I've read by Long. I mean. Holy shit.

It's also just like... so sweet? I felt as if I really got to know both Magnus and Alexandra, despite the narrative being brisk and also, like every book in this series, offering time to supporting characters. Few people can pull this off. Long is one of the best romance writers I can think of in terms of noticing the small details that have a big impact. The little notes about Magnus's past that tell you so much about why he is the way he is. The beats for Alexandra that remind you of a depth he doesn't necessarily want to see in her, five years after she broke his heart.

(And: I LOVE what drove them apart initially. Handled with such humanity! A thing I think a lot of authors wouldn't have done!)

Also—for Jane Austen fans. Imagine Colonel Brandon local pushing the marriage with Marianne, and then having it blow up in his face. With public sex. This is the look!

Of course, I have to note those supporting characters. I always love catching up with the regulars. When will Dot and Mr. Pike figure it out? How loud is Dot going to be when they finally do it? A small subplot in the book is basically a lot of supporting characters being pushed into horniness because of the awkward situations that arise when a honeymooning couple rooms at the Palace. It is glorious. It leads to some super funny yet sexy moments between our two mainstay couples, Delilah and Tristan (Lady Derring Takes a Lover) and Angelique and Lucien (Angel in a Devil's Arms). The way these books keep giving me Lustful Married Couples is. Everything!

The Sex:

Again... this is one of the horniest JAL books I've read! You do genuinely get more sex on the page than a few of the previous installments in this series (four scenes between our main couple, including one particularly exciting moment), plus a lot of hardcore flirting/implied sex between two other couples... and then the "it's funny, but now everyone is talking about loud sex and it's getting hot in the room" loud newlyweds.

I really loved how Alexandra and Magnus had sex, though. The impetuousness of it all. The way he just SNAPPED around her. And honestly? When he's right, he's right. He knew they'd be great in bed together, and, like... yes. I also super appreciated how he used Alexandra's Lust for His Body against her. So great.

Basically: It's funny! It's emotionally devastating at points! It's sexy! This is what we want from Julie Anne Long, and it's a damn good marriage in trouble/second chance book. So excited for everyone else to read this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I just finished reading the ARC yesterday and I can't wait for everyone else to read it too. If it wasn't already obvious, I'm a huge fan of The Palace of Rogues series and I would read anything that JAL writes 😆 But this one was soo good - I think it's my newest fave in the series! I can't get enough of the Grand Palace on the Thames, the different characters in these books - and Dot and Pike of course!

The Beast Takes A Bride features a second chance romance between Colonel Magnus Brightwall and Alexandra Bellamy - a married couple who've been separated for five years right after their wedding night. I love a good marriage-in-trouble story(okay tbh the angst usually scares me😂) but I think it was handled really well here because they never really knew each other completely to begin with!
Magnus pretty much purchases Alexandra's hand in marriage as her family had a lot of debts but an unexpected betrayal ends with him leaving for Spain on their wedding night - and after 5 years of no contact he ends up rescuing her from prison(okay that was just a misunderstanding😂). He's going to be named as an earl and doesn't need any blemishes on his reputation, so he basically asks her to present a united front when facing the ton before he sends her off to New York🤦‍♀️

This was such a slow burn romance and it suited Alexandra and Magnus so well - though there was a spark between them at first, there were a lot of hurt feelings and wounded pride in the way too. The yearning between them was off the charts 📈🥰 They were both amazing and strong but also flawed in many ways - and I loved seeing it from both of their perspectives as neither of their actions could be classified as right or wrong - just human. I loved the way JAL handles the conversations between them and the buildup to the final scene was amazing!
Anyway, maybe I should stop gushing but if you haven't already read this series - what are you waiting for?

Oh how I love this author! Julie Anne Long is a master storyteller (imo.) This story did not disappoint. It was like a gourmet chocolate- you wanted to savor it, but at the same time you wanted to hurry on to the next decadent morsel.

Alexandra and Magnus were such a lovely couple. I love that he is a big, broad, battle scarred war hero. He isn’t the type of handsome that gets swooned over in general. But oh his heart! He may be ruthless and strategic, but he hides a big teddy bear heart. ❤️ He’s rough and tender all wrapped together. I just loved him!

I also loved Alexandra. She was intelligent, lively, and charming. She wanted to make others happy in life. While she loved it, she realized it was also exhausting at times when it’s easy to get lost in doing so much for others.

Seeing how these two work through the past and work towards one another was such a beautiful experience. I loved how they are so emotionally mature, even while they are discovering ways they’ve hurt one another. Despite past hurts, they still respect the other from the start. This is so appreciated when many books have immature or bratty characters. The main and side characters were able to learn and grow in their relationships as well.

And don’t forget the comedy! Between all the various side characters staying at the boarding house, you get so much banter and humorous moments. I found myself laughing and snorting through the whole book. It was just a beautiful and exquisite book!

Magnus and Alexandra tied the knot five years ago after a whirlwind romance, but their marriage hit a major snag on the very night of their wedding (no spoilers here!). Since then, the couple has lived separate lives. However, fate intervenes when Alexandra lands herself in jail due to a minor mishap, and it's up to her estranged, war-hero husband to bail her out. In a bid to salvage their reputations, they strike a deal: pretend to live together for a while and then go their separate ways for good. But, being a romance novel, things don’t unfold quite as planned.

From the start, I found both Magnus and Alexandra to be incredibly likable. Magnus is the strong, silent type who hides his emotional scars from years of feeling overlooked and unappreciated. Alexandra, on the other hand, is charming and socially adept, but has never really had control over her own destiny. Their issues run deep, and the book expertly weaves in the tension, leaving you questioning whether a happy ending is even possible for these two.

As always, the antics at the Grand Palace added a lot of joy to the story. Dot, Mr. Pike, and the other colorful residents have their moments, and the charming subplots in this series never disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was a book of love. I want to preface this by saying two tropes I am not fond of are second chance and marriage in trouble, of which this story contains both. However, these two tropes were so deftly handled, that I was completely absorbed and enthralled by everything surrounding Magnus and Alexandra. Their story was engaging, although I tried to not rush while reading, so I could savor the feelings. I felt such empathy for both Magnus and Alexandra, as they struggled to understand one another and themselves. This is a marker of truly gifted storytelling and I want them to be my new friends. It was fun to be back at the Palace with all of our former friends, seeing their ongoing lives. This has been such a delightful series I am eager for more books. Disclaimer: I received and advanced reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

Oh my! What a sweet story! While there are others in the series if the Grand Palace on the Tames, this can be a stand alone. Magnus is the beast. He is a huge man- a decorated colonel who is known and celebrated for his bravery and accomplishments. Alexandra is his bride he left behind five years ago. But he is back now and soon ti be patented the Earl of Montcroix. He wants Alexandra to pretend theirs is a solid marriage so that he is approved to be the earl. Along the way, they discover their HEA. I truly enjoyed their story.

ARC REVIEW. (Thanks NETGALLEY!)

Omg get an axe and prepare for all the pining! I’m totally in my second chance era and this book is the reason! Ugggh the scenes of them together, they just *get* each other. I wanted more scenes with them together and maybe less of the goofiness of the palace- it seemed to be like a sitcom and cut scenes to alleviate tension or something. I NEED Dot & Pike to have their own book!!!

Welcome back to The Grand Palace on the Thames where the characters are like old friends welcoming new guests facing new challenges that always end happily. I love how the author develops the protagonists storied lives in detail leaving one to guess how things could possibly shake out, but they invariably do with humor and intrigue.
In this latest story, our heroine is in dire straights after a silly prank goes awry, Alexandra Brightwall is beautiful, mischievous, and likeable. So why has she lived apart from her husband for five years? Colonel Magnus Brightwall is all about duty to his country. He is stern and often unapproachable. But he is a man who always meets his goals. Why did these two marry and what went wrong? How can they possibly reunite or should I say reignite? The chemistry between them is sizzling and the author's timing superb, Add the humorous interactions of fellow residents at The Palace and this bumpy ride is fun! Alexandra and Magnus prove to be so much more than one would conclude early on in their story.
Julie Anne Long is one of my favorite authors for a good reason; she addresses challenges with humor and smoking hot preludes to truly romantic conclusions in all of the books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of the Beast takes a Bride.

I usually love a second chance romance involving a married couple. Magnus and Alexandra were both very well written characters. Unfortunately I didn’t find the plot super interesting outside of the boarding house that they stayed at.

This book is a real kick in the heart, and I say that in all the best ways.

Magnus and Alexandra were married five years ago after knowing each other for a very short time. On their wedding night, something happened (which I will not spoil here) that soured their relationship from the jump and since then, the two have lived separately. They are brought back into each other's lives when through a small mishap, Alexandra is thrown in jail and it comes down to her war hero husband to get her out. Afterwards, in order to repair their reputations, the two agree to live and be seen together for a short time and then they will part forever. Of course, given that this is a romance novel, nothing is as simple as that.

To start, I loved both characters from the jump. Magnus is stoic but he uses that to hide his true vulnerabilities after a lifetime of being discarded and discounted, while Alexandra is a social butterfly who always manages to figure out what to say but has never really been able to choose the course of her own life. Their problems are complicated and nuanced, and the book makes a compelling case to make you think that these two may not be able to find their way to a happily ever after.

The antics at the Grand Palace are, as always, a lot of fun in these books as well. Dot and Mr. Pike get some great moments here, as well as the other residents and I love these little subplots that are always littered into this series.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just amazing. I loved everything about it. Excellent angst and loved how Magnus and Alexandra are ablento look back and evaluate their history and forgive both themselves and each other. The setting of TGPOTT has started to feel stale to me. But this book had so many scenes away from the boarding house, that I enjoyed the scenes inside if it more. And I truely love the integrity of the individual characters that she has managed to keep true to themselves yet grow within the core group. Let's get Dot and Pike together and then maybe move out if the docks of London?

Long writes such smart, deep, nuanced romances and this was no exception. The conflict is always thoughtful, the banter is always witty, and the spice is always steamy! Love this series.

This was so very interesting to read . It started out as an enemy to lovers in the plot . The fcm is forced to be in an arranged marriage for convenience. She falls for a broken man with a broken heart. Yall need to read this !!! So worth the read.

The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long is the eighth book in her Palace of Rogues series and it is absolutely delightful!

Ms. Long's books are always a treat to read because she such a way with words and I fall into her stories from the first chapter. This is the story of Alexandra and Magnus. Magnus falls in love at first sight with Alexa and after helping to extricate her hat ribbons from a bush, he basically buys her hand in marriage for 5000 pounds. They don't get to discover whether or not they can be a good match because of something Colonel Brightwall witnesses on the afternoon of their wedding.

They are reunited after five long years and are staying at the Grand Palace on the Thames while their home is being prepared for sale. I won't give any of the circumstances so as not to spoil the story, but Alexa and Magnus can't seem to fight the attraction that is still there as they get reacquainted with each other.

It was a joy to reunite with our friends at the Grand Palace again and they are so much fun! Donkey races, young love, and scandalous "ghosts" all help to make this book wonderful.

I have read Julie Anne Long's books from the beginning and have enjoyed them all and this one is no different. I hope she finds new characters to keep visiting the Grand Palace on the Thames and sharing them with us. Don't miss this book, you'll regret it!

I was given this ARC by NetGalley and the publsiher for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

*Many thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 8th book in Julie Anne Long's The Palace of Rogues series. I have not read all of the books prior to this one (have read three so far), so it is not necessary to read all of the books to understand this one. It works quite well as a standalone. Of the four books I have read in this series, this one is the best to date. I would round up my rating to a 4.25. The only critique I would give is it took way too long to resolve the "big misunderstanding."
Alexandra's family was in dire financial straits when Magnus Brightwall comes to their rescue. An illegitimate foundling who rose above his circumstances and a war hero to boot, he is already wealthy by the time he is invited to a party at Alexandra Bellamy's family estate. Unfortunately that rescue is in the form of a marriage that feels like a purchase rather than a partnership. Something happens immediately after they marry that sends Magnus off to Spain for five years while Alexandra exists in a kind of purgatory - married but...Not. A lark gone awry finds Alexandra in prison where she is rescued once again by Magnus. They find themselves ensconced at the Grand Palace on the Thames while they work out the logistics of their future. What I loved about this book are the two main characters. I love that Magnus is not from the upper class and I love that Alexandra is a very kind person. Long builds the tension between them beautifully and the relationship feels authentic and not rushed. Since the story takes place over days with glimpses of their meeting five years before, it could have crossed over into an "insta-love" situation. It did not. I found myself rooting for their HEA and I bet most readers will too.

This is a surprisingly sweet romance between a gruff war hero and a younger noblewoman who marry and then promptly separate for 5 years after an indiscretion. I love a good marriage in crisis/second chance romance, and this Regency romance hits all the right notes. I appreciate that both main character’s perspectives were included. I didn't think either character was the good guy or the bad guy in their estrangement because their POVs provided nuanced insight into their thoughts.

I did feel like the scenes at the boarding house were unnecessary, as were the POVs of the boarding house workers. I have not read this series before, so I assume these parts were included because they're part of the overarching story. However, as a newcomer, it was confusing and not interesting, so I just skipped those pages, and I don’t think I missed anything.

I'll start off by giving an huge thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC. Secondly, Julie Anne Long does it again. I can't put into words how incredibly beautiful and heart wrenching I found this story. I've been a huge fan of Ms. Long since I devoured her Penny Green Royal Series, and I was beyond excited when she began releasing the installments of "The Palace of Rogues". While I'll be the first to admit that this recent series has been a bit of a hit or miss for me, all is forgiven and forgotten with this latest book.

There's nothing more captivating than two complex, imperfect, but otherwise inherently good people navigating life, love, and their desires. I loved the slow build up to what exactly happened five years ago that led to the present day estrangement between the main couple. Like most JAL books, the perfectly sprinkled comedy relief and secondary characters magnified my enjoyment of this story. This is a must read for all HR fans.

5/5 stars.