The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Palace of Rogues, #8

Release Date: October 22, 2024

When Alexandra Brightwall finds herself thrown into Newgate Prison following an incident involving her cousin, Lord Thackeray and the Duke of Brexford’s phaeton the very last person she expected to get her out was her estranged husband, Colonel Magnus Brightwall. The husband she hasn’t seen or heard from since her wedding night five years ago. He needs her cooperation to convince the ton that things are well between them and that the dustup Alexandra was involved in was not what it appeared to be. This will mean spending time with the man she hurt all those years ago, but Alexandra is a fixer, can she fix what is wrong between them or is it too late?

A national hero known by most as Brightwall the Beast, Magnus Brightwall fell in love at first sight with Alexandra and made her father an offer he could not refuse to win her hand in marriage. But on their wedding night he witnesses what he believes as an unforgivable betrayal by Alexandra and makes the decision to leave for his post in Spain without her. But when the King decides to honor him with a peerage title, he returns to England only to find his wife in jail. He needs to work with Alexandra to smooth over the scandal and to present a united front to the ton until his title is secure. After that, since divorce or annulment are not an option, he plans to send her to America and have them move on with separate lives. But he never expected to fall in love with her all over again, will he be willing to risk his fragile heart a second time?

This installment of the Palace of Rogues series is a very emotional second-chance story with wonderful new characters and existing characters. This book has a bit of everything, emotion, betrayal, heartbreak, witty banter, donkey races, redemption, steamyish love scenes, forgiveness, acceptance and finally a HEA complete with a touching epilogue. As much as I liked this book, I was left with questions that were not answered like was Magnus faithful to his vows? Why clarify that he was getting a hereditary title when his plan was that he would remain married to a woman he would never have a child with and a few other things. While these things by no means ruined the book for me but I did find them unusual for a JAL book and a bit disappointing. Overall, it was a great addition to the series and a book I would happily recommend to my fellow HR readers. This is the eighth book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title without issue but if you have been following the series, you will be delighted to catch up with the inhabitants of the Grand Palace on the Thames.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Highlander’s Untamed Tempest by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Brothers of Wolf Isle, #5

Release Date: September 30, 2024

With all his brothers happily married, Eagan Macquarie is getting sick of everyone looking to him to marry and finally breaking the curse cast on his clan. He has nothing against love or marriage, but he isn’t sure if that is his destiny, he wants to broaden his horizons and travel before he has to think about that. In fact, his bag is packed, and he plans on leaving in the morning following tonight’s Samhain celebration. But when he is asked to row over to Wolf Island to collect Grissell to help with a difficult birth – all his plans go awry when he meets Claudette “Tessa” Tempest Ainsworth, and soon more than just his plans change when her connection to the Macquarie’s great enemy is revealed.

Tessa has been living on Wolf Isle for the last year. Her father found her in Paris barely getting by after the death of her mother and brought her to Wolf Isle with the promise to return for her soon. Tessa believes he will return her to France, and they will live on his family’s estate and she will finally have the security that has been missing in her life. But for now, she waits, and as an accomplished midwife, she is sent in Grissell’s stead to help with a birth on Mull and feels an immediate connection and attraction to Eagan. Soon the two become lovers, and at first neither is willing to change their future plans for the other. But the more time spent together, the deeper their connection grows, and she isn’t sure what she will do when/if her father returns. But when he does, everything she thought she knew is challenged and it becomes clear that heartbreak will be inevitable.

This was a very good end to the Wolf Isle series; it is well-written and ties up all the story lines that have been ongoing throughout the series. It did start a bit slow and took a couple of turns that made me wonder where the author was going and how it was going to all work out – but it does, and it is very satisfying. This book has a bit of everything; intrigue, insta-lust, great characters, witch hunters, old enemies, impossible choices, steamy love scenes, the entire Macquarie family, a centuries old curse, twist and turns, shocking revelations, heartache, and a happily ever after that didn’t seem possible as well as an epilogue. This is the fifth and final book in the series and while it could be read as a standalone title, I would strongly recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience. It also should be mentioned that there are some scenes that might be upsetting to some readers, and I would suggest checking out the content warning before reading this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *