I'm Only Wicked with You: The Palace of Rogues: 3

Alluring and sizzling in most parts I’m Only Wicked With You by Julie Anne Long was chosen purely as a breather after the harrowing The Push by Ashley Audrain. In that respect, the story did serve my purpose but there were portions of the story that felt indefinitely long.The author’s writing is magic, the first 50% of the book is solely focused on words, quips, and banter between the leads Lillias and Hugh. The story is centered in an inn with a set of quirky characters that does add to the charm of the story but one wonders if the love story could have developed without the proximity they are forced into at the inn. Julie Anne Long does capture the heightened desire between them that burns thru the pages, the looks, smoldering with intensity. Hence, till about halfway thru the book, it is all about the lustful thoughts they have about each other with excitement provided by the secondary characters. It is this part of the story that felt a tad too long and I wished for a faster pace.Honestly, it was the second half of the book that kept my interest coz it was fascinating to see the subtle war that Hugh wages to open the eyes of the aristocratic Lady Lillas. The romance has some lovely moments but it was the heart tugging bits about Hugh’s life that added the sentimentality. With so much being said about Hudson Valley, I wished for a change in location to that place but had to be content with an epilogue there.

The 3rd book in the series, The Palace of Rogues," does not disappoint. Extremely well written pages in her usual exemplary style, it details the emotionally charged characters within each captivating, explosively passionate story line. This proving that a witty, confident and extraordinarily gorgeous American entrepreneur can capture the heart and soul of a beautiful, high bred Lady of the aristocracy, despite the agonizing fact that both were promised to others.Filled with heartfelt passion, wit and sexy encounters the story is a total page turner from start to finish. I absolutely loved Lilias and Hugh who both portrayed an explosive attraction to each other that despite their attempts to deny, they were hell bent on seeing to its magnificently seductive completion.The secondary characters are also noteworthy. Some new and others we are endearingly familiar withfrom the 2 past series stories. They bring a world of sentimental charm and friendly, familial affection.Fair enough to say this superb book deserves the RITA Award for the Best 2021 Historical Romance.It was that AMAZING, in every, possible way.

Good story

I only tend to review books that I enjoy immensely and this is a corker. I love reading books where authors really know how to write realistic conversation that grabs, twists and turns. This book has huge amounts of fun in the conversation. It's very witty, dry, full of fun and there are many parts that are deliciously observant about life and the characters portrayed. If you like steamy, tension filled historical in the vein of Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean then this is for you. I highly recommend.

The characters residing at “the Palace” on the docks are becoming as endearingly familiar as those from Pennyroyal Green. Lillias and Hugh are two beautiful people who are spark and tinder to each other while caring deeply for the others in their lives.

FINAL DECISION: A solid entry in the series that was slow to develop, but ended in a satisfying fashion. The book is my least favorite in the series as I didn't find enough emotional conflict in the story, but even an average Long book is better than most books I read.THE STORY: Hugh Cassidy is an American who has traveled to London searching for a missing woman. Instead, he finds Lillias Vaughn, a lady who is a bit out of the ordinary and strains against acceptable lady behavior. The two meet at the Grand Palace on the Thames where the boardinghouse guests must adhere to rules which require them to interact with one another. Hugh and Lillias, however, have difficulties with the "civilly" part of the rules. Instead, they needle one another as each has interests elsewhere, and yet the two end up in a compromising situation necessitating a hasty engagement. But there is hope that the engagement could be unraveled with a little effort from both of them.OPINION: I struggled through the first third of this book. There was a lot of talking but not much conflict that felt interesting. Once the forced engagement occurred, the pace of the book picked up and I felt that the relationship between Lillias and Hugh became emotional and engaging. I was willing to give the story time to develop, but less dedicated readers might have given up by then. I'm not sure why that first portion of the book was so unengaging, but I think it might be because so much time is given to explaining Lillias's unconventional outlook on life. The real conflicts in the story (her other connection) are kept as a surprise and the reader doesn't really get a good sense of Lillias's interior emotional life.At the same time, once the surprise reveal occurs, the emotional depth between these two main characters had resonance. This was a book where I could see the first third of the book excised and then expanded in the last portion. I loved Lillias's parents who become real characters by the end.Why did I rate this so highly when the first part was disappointing? Because if that portion did not exist, the story would have been fulfilling just based on the last two-thirds. I finished the book satisfied with these characters' story even if it took a while to get to the good part.WORTH MENTIONING: Readers of Long's Pennyroyal Green series will be happy to know that this series takes place in the same universe. Watch for the reference!CONNECTED BOOKS: I'M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU is the third book in the Palace of Rogues series. This book can be read as stand-alone although the supporting characters appear in other books in the series.STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.