I'm Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long

USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long continues her Palace of Rogues series with a brand-new romance about an ambitious American and a headstrong British heiress. He's the battle-hardened son of a bastard, raised in the wilds of New York. She's the sheltered, blue-blooded darling of the London broadsheets, destined to marry a duke. Their worlds could only collide in a boardinghouse by the London docks...and when they do, the sparks would ignite all of England. Nothing can stop Hugh Cassidy's drive to build an American empire...unless it's his new nemesis, the arrogant, beautiful, too-clever-by-half Lady Lillias Vaughn. The fascination is mutual. The temptation is merciless. And the inevitable indiscretion? Soul-searing-and the ruination of them both. Hugh's proposal salvages Lillias's honor but kills their dreams for their futures...until they arrive at a plan that could honorably set them free. But unraveling their entanglement inadvertently uncovers enthralling truths: about Lillias's wounded, tender heart and fierce spirit. About Hugh's stunning gentleness, depth, and courage. Soon Hugh knows that as surely as he'd fight a thousand battles to win her...the best way to love Lillias means breaking his own heart. Editorial Reviews Julie Ann Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers. - Amanda Quick Long finds that delectable sweet spot with Angel in a Devil's Arms, welcoming us all to the cozy warmth of the Grand Palace on the Thames with the peculiar blend of humor and pathos she writes with such aplomb. - Entertainment Weekly Deploying her usual perfectly calibrated mix of irresistibly dry wit and superbly nuanced characterization, RITA Award-winning Long adds another winner to her Palace of Rogues series with this lushly sensual, exquisitely emotional, and gracefully written tale about two people desperately trying not to fall in love with each other. - Booklist (starred review) for Angel in a Devil's Arms Delightful...refreshing. Readers will enjoy this rich depiction of how the past informs but does not dictate the future. - Publishers Weekly for Angel in a Devil's Arms Sparkling banter, deep character insights, and a colorful supporting cast bring a clever scheme to life, setting up a series to savor. Historical readers will rejoice with Long's return to the subgenre and will be intrigued by hints of the next 'Rogues' title. - Library Journal (starred review, editor's pick), on Lady Derring Takes a Lover Julie Anne long is a fantastic writer. - New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz Smart, funny, and brimming with passion. - Julia Quinn - From the Publisher Long finds that delectable sweet spot with Angel in a Devil's Arms, welcoming us all to the cozy warmth of the Grand Palace on the Thames with the peculiar blend of humor and pathos she writes with such aplomb. - Entertainment Weekly Smart, funny, and brimming with passion. - Julia Quinn Deploying her usual perfectly calibrated mix of irresistibly dry wit and superbly nuanced characterization, RITA Award-winning Long adds another winner to her Palace of Rogues series with this lushly sensual, exquisitely emotional, and gracefully written tale about two people desperately trying not to fall in love with each other. - Booklist (starred review) for Angel in a Devil's Arms Julie Ann Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers. - Amanda Quick Julie Anne long is a fantastic writer. - New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz Deploying her usual perfectly calibrated mix of irresistibly dry wit and superbly nuanced characterization, RITA Award-winning Long adds another winner to her Palace of Rogues series with this lushly sensual, exquisitely emotional, and gracefully written tale about two people desperately trying not to fall in love with each other. - null Booklist (starred review) for Angel in a Devil's Arms Julie Ann Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers. %COMM_CONTRIB%Amanda Quick - *2021-01-27 An unexpected interlude turns antagonists into allies--and lovers--in Regency England. In the third addition to the charming Palace of Rogues boardinghouse series, Lady Lillias Vaughn butts heads with American merchant and aspiring politician Hugh Cassidy. Hugh is in England to locate the runaway daughter of his mentor, and Lillias is temporarily lodged at the women-run rental property with her family while their grand home is under renovation. From their first encounter, the two headstrong protagonists are like duelists, with every scene a battle against each other and their attraction. But Lillias is also secretly grieving thwarted hopes, and Hugh is trying to reconcile his pull to her with his dream of a biddable helpmate who will aid his political ambitions in New York. As their fiery interactions start to compete with Lillias' yearnings and Hugh's plans, a moment of indiscretion forces the couple into facing their true desires. Then a third plot turn leaves their choices hanging in the balance. Though tonally nimble and similar to Mary Balogh's novels in its layered meditation on loss, sacrifice, and mature desire, the story valorizes American classlessness and freedom against British hierarchy and constraints in a way that strikes an off note. Yet Long's distinctive metaphor-rich style is a treat, a visual and textural tapestry that expresses the characters' emotional lives through their senses. She suffuses the prose with images of fire and musical reverberations, distilling into them the erotic affection, sensual banter, and crackling chemistry that arcs between the combatant lovers. You'll be seduced by this fake-engagement romance set at the London docks. - Kirkus Reviews