Angel in a Devil's Arms: The Palace of Rogues

(4.5 stars) Lately I've been on a losing streak with my HR reads, even new HRs written by my favorite authors. Most of them start out well but don't hold up all the way to the end. And the romance aspect of most has been bland or a bit tepid, not giving me the swoony "feels" a good romantic relationship should.I've been a fan of Julie Anne Long's style of writing and way to get love and attraction onto paper since her first books from 2004/2005. Those books were flawed and not as good as her Pennyroyal Green series but even they showed the promise of her abilities as a writer of romance. She has not always lived up to the word "historical" in the acronym HR nor has she done enough research into titles and forms of address in the peerage but she has always excelled in that "love" thing. This second in the Palace of Rogues series is no exception.We met the heroine here, Angelique Breedlove, in the first book, LADY DERRING TAKES A LOVER, when she, mistress of the late Lord Derring, and Delilah Swanpoole, Derring's widow, develop a friendship and together convert the old, no longer in use, disreputable Palace of Rogues (the only thing Derring left to Delilah in his will) into a reputable boardinghouse, The Palace on the Thames.Although you can enjoy this new story as a standalone, the background in the first and the friendships and comradery which develop there among all those struggling to make a success of the boardinghouse adds to the pleasure of this second book, which builds on that backstory.Angelique is a "fallen" woman. She came from a respectable family but, when young, she was used and discarded in turn by two men she had thought loved her. Disowned by her family and in desperate straits she saw herself forced to become Lord Derring's mistress. But now she's in a happier situation, with friends and a respectable position as co-owner of the above-mentioned boardinghouse. She's content, but she's not open to ever again being vulnerable to men and love.And we have our hero, Lucien Durand, Lord Bolt, illegitimate son of the Duke of Brexford. Lucien had been recognized as Brexford's son, even awarded a viscountcy, given an aristocrat's education, and a membership in White's. Yet when it was time for the duke to marry and produce his legitimate heir, his new duchess insisted on Brexford disavowing Lucien and Lucien's mother.Then ten years ago Lucien was believed to have drowned in the Thames after one of his usual nights of revelry and notorious behavior at the Palace of Rogues (yes, the place that is now Delilah's and Angelique's boardinghouse). But he's now back in London and he's out for revenge on whoever it was that set upon him on the waterfront and dumped him into the river to drown.What better place to camp out while planning his revenge than the site of his "murder"? And so begins our romance. Lucien starts out as a man only intent on revenge. Angelique as a woman who refuses to allow any man, however attractive he may be, to have power over her via her heart. Long does a beautiful job of showing us how their love develops as they open themselves up to each other and to the possibilities life offers.Watching Lucien evolve from a man only living for revenge to a man ready to forgive those who betrayed him and to live instead for a relationship with Angelique is heartwarming. And Angelique also needs to learn to forgive, but to forgive herself, and not only to forgive but to admire her younger self and her ability to survive and even thrive.This is a lovely story. Not just because of the plot and the romance, but also because of Long's writing talents. Her humor, descriptive abilities, clever dialogue, and insight into the human condition make for just the kind of romance I like, full of feels and warmth. Yep, I was like a pig in mud with this one. When Lucien says things like, "...only two imperfect people could create such a perfect love. I am yours and you are mine," I turn all gooey inside. Yes, I admit it. Sometimes I'm a hopeless romantic and lover of schmaltz.As long as JAL continues to produce romances like this one, I'll be reading them.

After enjoying the first book in this series so thoroughly, it was hard to imagine giving the second book any less than five stars, but alas, here we are. The whole cast and crew we were introduced to in book one were spectacular. Perhaps it was the excitement of starting a new series, but getting to know everyone involved in the Grand Palace on the Thames gave me more merriment than I've felt in a while about a series. Angelique, in particular, was a favorite of mine from the first book, so I was very eager to start her story. Unfortunately, for me, this fell a little flat. On paper, Angelique and Lucien seemed like a good couple. Hard knock life. An aptitude for extricating themselves out of particularly unpleasant situations. However, Angelique's half of the attraction just didn't work for me. For the better part of the book, it didn't seem as genuine as Lucien's. I also felt like the conflict between her Lucien was a little contrived. I did enjoy hearing about Lucien's backstory, and am very glad that certain things regarding his past were able to be resolved. Overall, a solid read, but I am hopeful the third book will be better.

FINAL DECISION: A book that just lifted my spirit and heart. Beautiful, lyrical and filled with acceptance and redemption.  Some books just fill my heart so much that I can't find the words to express how much it touched me. This is one of those books.THE STORY: Angelique Breedlove has begun to build a new life for herself. After failed love affairs and a turn as the mistress of her now business partner's deceased husband, Angelique knows that men are trouble. Trouble walks into the Grand Palace on the Thames in the form of Lucien Durand, Lord Bolt. Ten years after his supposed death, Lucien has returned to London seeking revenge. Angelique is deeply attracted to Lucien, but that is a reason she is determined to keep her distance. Lucien ends up having to decide if he wants to pursue Angelique or seek his own justice.OPINION: I loved this book. It didn't feel huge in the story (in that it didn't feel like the world was at stake), but the heart of it was large and emotional and it lingered in my thoughts. Long has become a favorite of mine because the story is always centered on the emotional journey of the characters. The heart is always unabashedly center her books.Angelique is a woman who has a disappointing past love life, but she accepts her life without apology. She is not a virgin and doesn't see that as shameful but rather as a person who looked for love and was disappointed by the men she trusted. Indeed, a theme of both this book and the prior one are the ways that men disappoint and use women and how those women find strength to go on. I liked Angelique's brassy and bold personality which hides a deeply hurt and vulnerable heart. She has loved too unwisely because she loves deeply. The question here is whether she is willing to risk again. How does she know that Lucien is a man who will not be yet another disappointment for her.Lucien is always dealing with his own disappointment. Rejected by his father and left for dead in a plot which send him on a decade journey to make himself, Lucien has returned for revenge. But it is clear that what Lucien really wants is to belong. His question is whether he is willing to give up the chance for revenge in order to have his chance to be a part of something. Lucien, like so many of Long's heroes, have a deep emotional center. They feel so much and indeed his emotional core is quickly unlocked in this book. Much of the book is him finding a way to show his worth to Angelique.I'm impressed how this book creates and expands a community that is primarily based in a few rooms in what is essentially a bed and breakfast. The characters and their relationships have significance and there are some nice payoffs from what appeared to be peripheral issues in the first book.Lyrical and emotional, this is another winner by Julie Anne Long.WORTH MENTIONING: I love the found family in this series and want to know more about the characters as the series develops.CONNECTED BOOKS: ANGEL IN A DEVIL'S ARMS is the second book in the Palace of Rogues series. Although the romance here is self-contained, I think the series is better read in order because the interconnected relationships between the characters are important.STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This is the second entry in Ms. Long’s Palace of Rogues series. It is a beautiful sometimes lyrical love story about loves redemptive power. Nice little sexy bits as well, teehee!

Snuggle down with this on a cold winters night

Living this series. Really great central characters .Only gripe- pence is plural. If you're putting one in the sweat box it's a penny!

Thoroughly enjoyed the second in the 'Palace of Rogues' series. I am not sure of the historical accuracy but I was so caught up in the story that it didn't matter to me. In Lucien, I think the author created a really engaging hero - not only outrageously good-looking, but a man who, having returned with revenge and revenge only in mind is big enough to turn from that goal when he finds that there is more to life - and love - than following that road. He and Angelique make a wonderful couple, and it is the progression of their relationship that shines through. However, the cast of characters, from the co-owner to the other guests to the lowliest maid are all given roles in the unfolding story, and makes for delightful reading. The author's dry wit, her way with words and her turn of phrase make this an absorbing read and I found myself galloping through the book to find out how everything was resolved. Delightful

I gulped this down. The characters are awesome, vulnerable, and strong. The secondary characters are quirky and lovable and the dialogue is sharp and snappy. This book made me bawl in the best possible way. I cried through at least the last third, if not more. The author's writing and story telling is wonderful. I never get tired of her books. Definitely one for my keeper shelf.

Well this was a great surprise. The main characters are both really strong and come with their own respective baggage but are clearly made for each other. A great read with some laugh out loud moments.