This is the eighth book in The Palace of Rogues series and is about a marriage in trouble. The book is emotional and full of the best kind of angst while still offering the humor Long excels at. Though there are a few things that held it back from being a DIK, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing our leads fall in love at the Grand Palace on the Thames Hotel.

When she was twenty-two, Alexandra’s life was a mess. Her father made some bad investments and they were on the verge of losing their home. She’d known Magnus for several months and they liked each other. For his part, he admired her beauty and kindness. He also wanted her in his bed. He offered her father 5,000 pounds for her hand and they were wed.

On the night of her wedding, Alexandra made a foolish mistake that hurt Magnus terribly. He left the next day to go to Spain to work as a diplomat and did not take her with him. Now, five years later, Magnus is a famous war hero and people gossip about the couple’s status. She tells everyone it’s so she could be near her family while he is in Spain, but she and Magnus know what really happened. She has tried to keep her name out of the gossip sheets but when Magnus finally returns home from Spain, he has to rescue Alexandra from jail after she was arrested the day before for stealing a carriage with her cousin (who insisted he had permission to borrow it). Magnus takes Alexandra to the Grand Palace on the Thames hotel, because he has been making plans, which don’t include her, and they need place to stay while he is selling her town home.

Magnus has been called Beast all his life because of his size and now his battle scars. When he was a baby, he was left on the doorstep of a Yorkshire Manor where he was taken in and raised. He worked hard, mucking out stables, and emptying slops and then the squire took an interest in him and taught him to shoot. When he won a contest, he used the money to buy an ensign’s commission and rose up the ranks in the army. He became a famous war hero when he saved General Blackmore, The Duke of Valkirk (After Dark with the Duke) and the king is considering giving him a courtesy title of Earl. Magnus is worried Alexandra’s carriage scandal might be a problem and asks her to help him for a week by attending events and pretending they are happily married. Then he plans to banish her to his property in America near where her father and brother now live. She agrees. 

Alexandra sparkles and shines at the balls and banquets–these were my favorite parts of the story. In her kind way, she convinces the ton Magnus is a hero and not the Beast the papers like to call him.  She also manages to convince everyone that she was never in jail–she says it was just a wild rumor and they believe her! Magnus appreciates how she defends him and realizes he is in love with her, though he doesn’t think he can forgive her for what happened on their wedding night. As they share their room at the Hotel, they get to know each other and it doesn’t take long before they are sharing steamy passion. 

There are a few things that kept this just short of being a DIK for me. I wanted more of Alexandra and Magnus and less of the characters from the hotel that we’ve gotten to know in previous books in the series. They felt more like distractions in this story. I also wanted a better understanding of what the two did in the five years they were apart. I especially wondered if Magnus was faithful to Alexandra the five years he was gone or if she was ever tempted? The parts of the story where Magnus and Alexander were on the page together were the best. They became friends and lovers and were so good together–and yet Magnus seemed determined to send her away–it was heart-wrenching.

I think historical romance fans will drink this up – Julie Anne Long has written a spicy love story with depth, and feeling. I think readers will be happy with this latest addition to the beloved Palace of Rogues series.