Reviews

This is a great series, and I don’t think JAL can write a bad book. It was lovely to revisit the GPOTT, and I recommend reading prior books first in order to fully appreciate the cast of characters.

That said, this book was not for me. The age gap is a strong theme in the book, as both Dominic and Catherine spend large portions of the book thinking about it. Catherine is starstruck by Dominic; at one point she thinks of him as a Man, who has Done Things. Suitors her age, while pleasant and eager, are untested and cannot compete. Dominic is repelled by Catherine’s hero worship yet also helplessly drawn to it. He castigates himself for lusting after a woman 13 years younger, referring to himself as a lecher. It is hard to disagree.

The age difference, when combined with Catherine’s naïveté and Dominic’s fame and influence, throws the power balance out of whack. For most of the book, when Catherine and Dominic meet she is unequal to him. It is only towards the end that she stands up for herself and their roles equalize.

This is also a book that is primarily about Dominic and his journey. He is scarred from past tragedies and must learn to overcome his fear of vulnerability in order to love again. In contrast, Catherine starts and ends the book basically the same: a strong woman who knows and accepts who she is; who has matured but not fundamentally changed. While I liked Dominic, I read romance mostly for the heroine’s journey and to read a book that centers the heroine.

This book has a lot to recommend it: it’s funny, the banter is often excellent, and it is tender and romantic. But ultimately I could not get over the difference in age, experience, and maturity between the characters.

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5.0

This series just keeps getting better and better. The clever and witty writing style draws you in and makes you feel as if you are in that parlor in The Grand Palace on the Thames. Speaking of parlors, there is one scene where the group has to decide on what book to read aloud next that had me laughing, the dialogue is superb. Dot is still one of my favourite characters, but all of them add so much dimension and pure reading pleasure. As for Dominic and Catherine, they had spades of chemistry between them and I enjoyed their emotional relationship journey. Usually, I'm not bothered by an age gap, but for some reason this one didn't sit that well with me at all times. But Catherine is plenty mature despite her youthfulness and she handled difficult situations with poise and grace. This series is well worth it if you like steamy historical romance. I think it's best to read this series in order.

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

My Season of Scandal is another fine addition to JAL's Palace of Rogues series, with offbeat characters -- especially for historical romance -- found family, and a gorgeous prose style. I love that these books have an ensemble cast with lives of their own, because so often romance series leave perfectly good characters to bland domestic bliss, moving on to the next pairing.

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

CW: Death of a parent (off-page); bullying; references to child abuse, pregnancy, abandonment, fire

I’ve been trying to figure out how to put my feelings into words for over a week now, as this book was so magical. It’s been living rent-free in my head since I finished it, and I think it might be one of the most romantic books I’ve read in a long time. And just when you think The Palace of Rogues series can’t get any better, Julie Anne Long knocks it out of the park again.

I always say that returning to the Grand Palace on the Thames (TGPOTT) feels like coming home, and that’s so true with this book. Even though it felt like we spent less time here than usual, as this book features a lot of balls and activities of the Season, TGPOTT continues to play a central role in Catherine and Lord Dominic Kirke’s love story. The fact that there is just a floor separating the two of them lends itself to a great first meeting and adds a delicious tension to the story that left me swooning at points.

Dominic is not your traditional lord. First, he’s Welsh and earned his title through his years of dedicated service in the House of Commons, where he fights for those who are voiceless. He’s known as a great orator, and boy, does he prove that in the end! He’s scandalous, incredibly direct, and a bit cold, but he is also passionate about what matters to him. He will move mountains to make things right but also shows that he cares in small ways. He’s a complex character that I couldn’t help but be drawn to as he’s got this air to him that draws people in, yet it also feels like he’s keeping people at an arm’s distance. I couldn’t wait to uncover all the layers of him.

With Catherine, there is an innocence to her, but she also feels like an old soul, so much so that I kept forgetting she’s only 22. Having lost her mother at a young age and having helped her physician father over the years as an assistant, she also understands that life isn’t always kind and the importance of living for the now. She’s not good at all the mind games that come with being a part of the Season – she just wants to find a husband, security, and hopefully, happiness so that she won’t be alone once her father passes.

These two don’t seem like a match on paper, but my god, the chemistry between them! The romance is a slowburn, but it’s the best kind of slow burn with all the feelings that are just simmering under the surface. And all those little moments – a touch of the hands, a caress of the cheeks, a whisper of a name – really build the tension, as well as the intimacy between them. They truly get to know each other on a deeper level, which makes the whole story feel romantic and tender. They cannot help but be drawn to each other and I love how they keep unconsciously seeking each other out at Society events. As they get to know each other, the feelings just build and build and I just wanted them together so badly.

Seriously, I loved this romance so much, but it was also killing me. It’s so tender, emotional, and romantic. But it’s also tinged with sadness and a bit of pain. I feel I’m doing a terrible job describing this, but just know this romance hit me right in the FEELS. They both feel so deeply for each other, but he has an incredibly high wall up that he doesn’t want her to climb until he’s ready to let her see the truth of him. And he’s so scared she’ll push him away, but the way she understands him and empathizes with him is beautiful. Ugh, my heart! I also kept forgetting that this is a bit of an age gap (he’s about 13 years older than her), which is not my favorite trope, but somehow, Julie Anne Long can always make it work.

The conflict towards the end really added to the tension in this story. I was so heartbroken for both of them! But all this leads to one of the most beautiful, epic declarations of love I’ve read in a long time. It’s a declaration of love for the history books (literally!) and one that brings a tear to my eye just thinking of it. It also fits these characters so well, making it all the more special in the end. It’s the perfect culmination of all the feelings and emotions, and literally so incredibly beautiful – I love it so much!

I feel like I’ve truly done a terrible job capturing all the emotions this book gave me while reading it. Every beat of the story just hit the right note for me every time, leading to an utterly captivating historical romance. There is the perfect amount of angst in this that gave me all the feelings. I fell deeply in love with Catherine and Dominic and their love story. Words really cannot do justice to the feelings this book gave me and how beautifully crafted the story is.

I literally cannot recommend this book enough! Do yourself a favor and pick it up, even if you haven’t read the other books in the series. You don’t have to read the previous books in The Palace of Rogues to enjoy this gem, but I swear there isn’t a single bad book out of the bunch. So, if you haven’t read this series yet, now is the time to dive in so you can treat yourself to this delicious historical romance series.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas. and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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