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.

The Beast Takes a Bride is the most recent book in the series The Palace of Rogues by Julie Anne Long. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but I did not feel lost when reading this book.
Magnus Brightwell is a returning war hero/diplomat, having spent the last 5 years in Spain, separated from his wife, Alexandra. The marriage started off on the wrong note, and Magnus and Alexandra have never spent more than a couple hours at a time together prior to their marriage. Upon his return to England, Magnus requires Alexandra to convince polite society that theirs is a happy marriage in order to receive an Earldom from the King, taking a suite of rooms in the boarding house known as the Palace of Rogues.
The book alternates between Alexandra and Magnus, but also tied in interstitials about the owners of the boarding house, Delilah and Angelique, which I'm sure would delight readers of the previous books. As the book progresses, we learn about what went wrong between Alexandra and Magnus while also seeing them work through their issues and hopefully find a happily ever after that won't require one of them to move away to a new country, which is the solution that Magnus proposes at the opening of the book. The love scenes were sufficiently spicy, with the buildup and tension between the couple was very satisfying. The ending, while being semi predictable, was enjoyable as well. I would definitely be interested in backtracking and reading the previous books in this series.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyage and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long is an absolute masterpiece, and as her #1 fan, I may sound a bit biased, but she truly never disappoints. Long writes with such raw emotion that this book had me crying out—it resonated with such powerful feelings. The way she captures the haunting aftermath of war, showing how someone may seem emotionless while breaking apart inside, is nothing short of brilliant. Yes, it's a romance book, but the strength of the love here is transformative, helping the characters become the best versions of themselves.

This is probably one of her best novels yet! And if you’re like me, you’ll absolutely adore Dot—her beauty, her blossoming character, and the love that’s blossoming around her like a blessing in the air. Julie Anne Long knows how to craft stories that touch the deepest parts of your soul.

4.25 stars. This was a little slow to start, but it did have a great payoff by the end. The plot set up took until 40%, but the rest of the story didn’t seem rushed, and I appreciate that JAL didn’t wait to make us see what tore this relationship apart the first time. Both MCs are approaching this broken relationship from a place of valid hurt, so they are deservedly tentative. Alexandra is absolutely fantastic and knows just how to kill people with kindness to get what she wants. Magnus is sweet and stern and oh so honorable. When the flame between them finally struck, it became an inferno quickly. Also, there’s a love letter!!

I do still love the cast of recurring characters at The Grand Palace, and I am dying for more of Dot and Pike’s romance. As a found family lover, this series always delivers on that respect.

Thanks so much to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
I am always astounded at how poignantly I feel the emotions of the characters in Julie Anne Long’s books. I got actual stomach flutters reading this one, which is exceedingly rare for me.
I am obsessed with this series and I hope it never ends.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NG.

I absolutely devoured The Beast Takes a Bride! The Palace of Rogues series is a favorite and when there is a new book available, I clear the decks to read it!

This book was a slow burn second chance romance with plenty of sly, brilliant humor. From the get-go you understand the magnetic pull of Alexandra Brightwall. Even in a Newgate cell, you can see that she is smart, kind and able to build a quick rapport with her cellmates. Her estranged husband Magnus is reminded of it as well when he shows up after a 5 year absence to spring her from that cell.

The reasons behind Alexandra and Magnus’ estrangement become clear in flashback. While it may seem that their divide cannot be healed, it’s under the roof of The Grand Palace on the Thames where fellowship, kindness, the most life changing apple tarts live where all things are possible.

I loved The Beast Takes a Bride for a hundred different reasons, but first and foremost was how Alexandra and Magnus were each other’s champions. Those five years didn’t dull what was deep in their hearts and it spoke to their characters that they would defend the other no matter the circumstances.

While Alexandra and Magnus are the main characters, it’s The Grand Palace on the Thames along with its proprietresses, the staff (I see you Dot & Benjamin!) and the residents who are the anchors. I love this series for the ebb and flow of the characters and the mystery of who Dot (or Benjamin) might open the door to next. I can’t wait to see who the next guest will be.