Series: The Palace of Rogues, #4
Traits & Tropes: class difference; titled hero; soldier; age-gap
Publication Date: 11.30.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Heat Level: 6
Rating: 5 stars!
Driven from her home by a scandal-crazed mob, opera singer Mariana Wylde arrives late at night and nearly penniless at the Grand Palace on the Thames. To the ladies who run the Grand Palace, Mariana’s tarnished reputation is no matter, they’re confident they can repair the damage and earn some much-needed patronage for their establishment in the process, as long as they can keep her from scrapping with their other esteemed guest.
General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, is famed for being the most honorable man in England. Granted a dukedom for his exemplary military service, he is lauded on an untouchable pedestal by society, but not truly known by anyone. He immediately clashes with Mariana, as she stands for everything he loathes, but she renders him all too vulnerable. The desire between them is as palpable as it is irresistible, but any happiness they find together can only be fleeting. Soon Valkirk will do anything for Mariana, but if he hopes to keep her, he’ll have to change everything he’s ever believed in for this final battle for his future happiness.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect of this book when I first started reading it, especially as it takes Mariana and James a while to even appear on the page together and quite a while longer for their sniping banter to evolve into something more cordial. I wasn’t sure I would like it given that initial animosity and James’ judgmental tendencies, but I surprised myself with how much I loved this story. The romance between Mariana and James has a gradual build up in friendship with an undercurrent of lust and the progression from those things to full blown love was very believable and a delight to read. James’ grand romantic gesture was everything I want to read in a romance, and I loved that Mariana was able to render such a strong and self-assured man into a bumbling idiot as he tried to express himself. This made his one faux pas, one that would normally be a total turn off for me, something bearable and even a little endearing. Mariana challenged James when no one had done so for some time and that was so fun to read. I was skeptical at first of their age difference, but now I understand why so many readers love the stern older hero. It also must be said that this book was sexy, and I adored the beauty and purity of the intimate scenes between Mariana and James as they truly showed the deepening of their feelings for one another. In sum, this was an excellent book, and I can’t wait to see what Long comes up with next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4286096289
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1530089936
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