I finished this book on a train ride surrounded by people and cried my eyes out. I sobbed. Once again, JAL proves why we christened her Goddess Divine. She has the most unique way with words and describing the human spirit. Each of these characters tries so hard to resist the other but as Kirke himself is described as "an absolutely unstoppable force" so is the attraction he and Catherine have for one another. Watching them slowly reveal their true selves to one another (as well as to themselves) was so beautiful. And I'll always remember "clover."

As with all of the Palace of Rogues books, the secondary characters are present and accounted for with all the humor and wit we've grown to expect. How I look forward to each book even more now that the footman, Pike, is there to tangle Dot's life and feelings.

5 stars as Goddess Divine does it again.

A great addition to the series. I loved the main characters and of course the setting. This book like the ones before it is very cozy to me. If you know the characters you get sucked in and discover more as you go.

The latest tale from The Grand Palace on the Thames s does not disappoint. This series has grown to be one of my favorites of this genre, and My Season of Scandal may be my favorite of the series. Catherine Keating has come to London to experience the Season, but an inattentive chaperone and snide companion threaten to ruin her experience. The only bright spots are her evenings at the Grand Palace on the Thames and the presence of Lord Dominic Kirke, a passionate and brilliant MP whose quick wit is both startling and appealing to Cat, the daughter of a country physician. What I enjoyed most about this novel was how much the hero and heroine please each other. They genuinely LIKE one another, attraction and romance aside, which was really fun to read. Highly recommend this trip to the Palace.

I have read some but not all of Julie Anne Long's "Palace of Rogues" series and I really do need to go back and catch up. "My Season of Scandal" is a lovely story of two isolated people finding the perfect company in each other. Catherine and Dominic are, on the surface, little alike. Their ages, social positions, attitudes, childhoods - all mark them as different people. Yet they somehow have an innate understanding of each other. They have a friendship first, with banter and attraction that develops into something more. Dominic is far from perfect and makes choices that he should have known would backfire, but Catherine is able to focus on the intent and forgive the impact. Long's writing style is also lovely and the recurring characters of The Grand Palace on the Thames provide an entertaining backdrop as they also help move the main love story along. I loved the recurring clover theme and its reminder that so many of the good things in life come down to the luck of being in the right place at the right time - such as being a guest at TGPOTT when your other half happens to need a room there, as well.

4 solid stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

My Season of Scandal is the story of Catherine and Dominic. Catherine is the twenty-two year old daughter of a doctor from Northumberland. She has been invited to London for a season her family can’t really afford but she has a lovely room at the Grand Palace on the Thames and lots of pretty dresses from a couple years ago. Catherine can’t wait for parties, new friends, and hopes to fall in love with a friendly gentleman (possibly one with a title). Dominic is a scandalous, self-made success story, the child of a poor Welsh mining family, a talented and dedicated Whig politician, and a peer (gifted by the monarchy for his service). He takes a room at the Palace after his mistress burns down his lodgings during an argument.

They meet when Dominic knocks on her door asking her to (hilariously meanly) be quiet. They meet again at a ball in a moment of privacy and strike up a sort of friendship.

As they continue to run into each other at balls and the Palace, their friendship changes. Dominic, initially dismissive of her youth, realizes Catherine is sharp, funny, and deeply kind; he sets out to protect and support her season, almost from the start. Catherine is almost instantly swept up in her imaginations about him, while remaining wary. Secrets he’s kept for almost two decades come to light and despite his fears otherwise, Catherine is gracious and supportive.

Eventually, Catherine becomes quite a sensation but when the attention she gets becomes too much for some, she learns the truth about the crocodiles of the ton.

Dominic makes an egregious error with a gift for Catherine and when she confronts him he bungles it spectacularly. She returns to Northumberland heartbroken and furious. Knowing he’s f*cked up royally, Dominic makes a public grand gesture and grovel (clovers are romantic flowers you guys) that’s at the same time private, leaves all of the power in Catherine’s hands, and makes zero spectacle of her. It’s perfect, and we’ve already reread the ending several times.

At its core this is a romance about two lonely and isolated people who find friendship and love where they weren’t looking and through their time at the Palace begin to understand “home.” If you’ve read a Long book you know she’s a skilled banter writer and she shows that to perfection with this book but also gives the readers a look into the real intellectual and spiritual connection, over a number of very serious conversations, between the MCs.

This book gives you age gap, class differences, forced proximity, secret friendship, grumpy sunshine, a slow burn, and a top 5 grand gesture/grovel moment.

This is book 7 in the series and can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend them all.

I think Julie Anne Long is so underrated in the historical romance space! I've been following this series since the beginning and this one might be my favorite so far. I loved the slow burn and the banter.

This book took me by surprise (even though it really shouldn’t because JAL is a master). Somehow these two completely opposite main characters attracted and were perfectly meant for each other.

Our politician hero and heroine from the country take lodgings in the Grand Palace on the Thames. They see each other through events through the season and are inexorably drawn together again and again. Our hero ends up being her secret chaperone to guide her through the season but feelings develop that are more than friendly.

Our hero is fiery, opinionated and a talker, our heroine is a country miss and somehow they compliment each other beautifully with a foundation of friendship that leads to more. Once again the compliment of secondary characters not only makes this book charming but witty as well. I honestly can’t wait to see what adventures follow next in this series.

Catherine Keating daughter of a doctor in Northumberland, goes to London for a season to make her father happy, to have new experiences, and find a husband. She lost her mother a few years ago and her father's health is failing. He wants to make sure is is provided for.

Cat’s Aunt Keating, who was to be her chaperone injured herself right before the trip. Aunt Keating's friend, Lady Wisterberg, is her sponsor. They met at a party and Lucy Morrow, Lady Wisterberg’s goddaughter, became a friend for Cat.

Cat/Catherine is staying at The Grand Palace on the Thames.. She feels at home here and loves all the residents, even Mr Delacorte,.


Lord Dominic Kirke, arrives at The Grand Palace late one night after his mistress In a pique fit throws a lit lamp and burns his house down, well partially. He is an MP and striving to better the lives of children and orphans forced to work long hard hours for little to no pay, poor housing and rancid food. His speeches are stirring, eloquent, and heartfelt.

Come join the parlor, play chess with Delacorte,, listen to Mrs Pariseau starts a new book which Dot, the maid, is excited and nervous about. Catch up with Captain and Mrs Hardy, Lord Bolt and his wife Mrs Durand. Enjoy a new season from a country girl's eyes.

Find out how the two meet, real funny, and what mischief Cat gets into. As the season progresses, not the way Cat hoped, join in as she dances with hopeful outcome, but longs for something. SCANDAL gets attached to her, but the out coming is what makes this story so endearing and poignant, oh and have a tissue handy.

Great read to relive childhood memories that brighten our lives!

In London’s glittering yet cruel social season, smalltown-girl Catherine’s search for a husband falters. She’s rescued by Lord Kirke, a man famed for his fiery passion and roguish charm. Kirke’s cynicism crumbles before Catherine’s guileless wit and captivating charm. Will he sacrifice his own desires to save her reputation, or find the strength to trust in their love?

This book touched my heart. Lord Kirke is broken by the lack of love in his life, but he doesn’t recognize it. Catherine helps put him back together again. There are heart-wrenching moments of insight that took my breath away. If you’re looking for a historical romance with all the feels, don’t miss this one.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

My Season of Scandal is the 7th book in Julie Anne Long's enchanting The Palace of Rogues historical romance series. I missed the first two books, but I've read all the others. The romance in each stands alone, so you can jump in at any time. But you definitely will want to read what you missed. This book is honestly one of the BEST romances I have read in my 59 years on this planet. I dragged out reading it because I didn't want it to end! This is also one of my all-time favorite series. (I know I must read the first two, but my towering TBR pile grows ever larger. I'll be so glad when I retire and have more reading time to catch up on what I missed!)

Catherine Keating is the daughter of a country doctor who is in declining health. He manages to send her to London for a once-in-a-lifetime season so she can find a husband and security. Things don't start off well, however. Though she's quite beautiful and extremely witty, the ton doesn't look kindly on a young woman of two and twenty years who wears dresses from 2 seasons ago. At least she's loving the time she spends in the boarding house in which she is staying, The Grand Palace on the Thames. But then in the middle of one night, Lord Dominic Kirke arrives at The Grand Palace after his house goes up in flames. A fiery and jaded Welsh Whig member of the House of Commons who is 35 years old, Dominic has wrapped himself in cynical armor, but he is no match for Cat. When he discovers her chaperone spends all her time in gaming rooms instead of watching Cat, he takes it upon himself to be her secret chaperone. He's wrong for this woman in every way, but he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. But he knows in his heart that loving her means setting her free.

Oh, my, this is one swoon-worthy tale! I was totally enraptured from beginning to end. Cat and Dominic are near the top of my all-time favorite romance couples. Cat - who Dominic refers to as "Keating" (I loved that!) - is such a lovely, sweet young lady. She lost her mother when she was young, and her father had increasing heart issues and wanted her to be safe when he passed. Though raised in the country, she was sharp as a tack and had a wonderful and witty sense of humor. While in London, she was staying at The Grand Palace on the Thames . The Grand Palace, and its inhabitants, is a place you will wish was real and that you could visit! A chaperone was arranged for Cat, but once she hit the faro room, she didn't give her charge a second thought. But Dominic did. Ahhhh, Dominic! My newest book boyfriend, and one is who is quite near the top of that list. That man made me swoon! He was a beautiful man with dark hair and a Welsh accent that would weaken your knees with his rolling R's. He was also fiery, prickly, and had a wicked sense of humor. He could put foes in their place with his sharp tongue. But he was also a good man, one who fought for the downtrodden, especially children. He was well know for his oratory skills and passionate speeches. He had a secret past which was largely unknown, but it began to get out. The scene when he met Cat was hysterical! And you knew right away they were meant for each other. Cat was quickly smitten; it was obvious Dominic was, too, but he fought it as hard as he could. He knew he should keep far from her, but he just couldn't. She was eager to experience passion, but only with this man. He didn't take her virtue, but trust me, there were some amorous occasions! Then rumors and gossip began to swirl, and Dominic knew that he had to let Cat go because he loved her and wanted her to have a happy life. The dialogue between Dominic and Cat was absolutely exquisite! Clever, charming, and also heartbreaking, it was some of the best dialogue I ever read. You just knew that had to end up together! The romance was wonderful, but I was also thrilled to return to The Grand Palace of the Thames. I just love the proprietresses of the establishment, together with their wonderful husbands. Two of the best supporting characters EVER were also here, and I hope they never leave! Mr. Delacorte, who sold exotic potions, was forever having to put money in the Epithet Jar when he used bad language. He loved donkey races, singing and playing chess. He has got to be one of my favorite supporting characters of all time; the man is absolutely lovable. I was once again thrilled to see Dot, the maid. Her biggest thrill in life was opening the front door, as you never know just who would show up! She loved the story of The Ghost in the Attic, and had to be coerced into listening to another book. She could be ditsy - she once sewed her sleeve to her embroidery, and she was known for dropping the tea tray. But she is an intrinsic part of The Grand Palace, and I hope she always will be. I would remiss if I didn't mention this book had one of the most beautiful Epilogues ever...and made me pleased that there seems to be more stories coming. Oh, I certainly hope so!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Lots of hiding places for Miss Catherine Keating and Lord Dominic Kirke in “My Season of Scandal” by Julie Anne Long, seventh in the Palace of Rogues Series!

Miss Keating had one season to find a husband on the London marriage mart with the help of a Lady however it’s another The Grand Palace on the Thames guest who’s made it known her late night singing isn’t appreciated, handsome Lord Kirke, who helped her the most along the way.

As always, the TGPOTT is ever entertaining with the growing staff, loyal guests, and new guests. Thank goodness for the house rules and it’s forced proximity of the guests to get to know each other! I loved Dot and her growing pains with the new footman, Pike, and Delacorte with his continual addition into the swear jar.

I loved the fast friendship between Keating and Kirke! He looked out for her when her own chaperone was gaming. Their banter was humorous and sarcastic. And, their attraction to each other was perfect for their slow burn. His House of Lords speech with a hidden reference was such a great love letter to the one he never wanted scandal to touch.

If you enjoy a Lord with a life-long mission to look out for the less fortunate and right wrongs, plus a doctor’s daughter and assistant who found herself shifting from novice to popular, then ignored before a tear jerking love speech, then I highly recommend this book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Just when you thought that Julie Anne Long couldn't get any better, her next book comes along and makes you rethink what her best story yet is. And so it is with My Season of Scandal, a beautifully written, heartfelt love story for the ages between Lord Dominic Kirke, a Welshman in the House of Commons, and Miss Catherine Keating, a young woman 13 years his junior, who has come to London from Northumberland for her first and only Season. Theirs is a tumultuous, hard won journey to love and happiness, and I was content to strap in for their highs and their lows (which are quite low!) as they navigate the ton as well as the found family within the rooms of The Grand Palace on the Thames. In her typical fashion, Long dazzles us with her lovely prose and incredible attention to detail (think clover!), her searing love scenes and the depths of her characters' insight into the human condition. In short, I adored this book and highly recommend it. I will be thinking about these characters and their love story for many days to come.

If you have not checked out the Palace of the Rogues series, I highly recommend that you come to stay at the boarding house for a while.
A cozy environment where boarding guests such as Mr. Delacorte or the maid Dot will endear themselves to you through their humor and light. This was the best of the series! These books have been getting better and better but the story of Keating and Kirke was so delightful and stunning. The story of a Whig political savant and an innocent debutante from the countryside meet while taking a room at the Palace of the Rogue. Against their plans, Miss. Keating and Lord Dominic Kirke continue to find each other when seeking reprieve from the crush of a London ballroom and a spark blooms.

Something has really clicked in this series and the cast of characters are all stars. It is really like reading a historical romance sitcom. The humor is rich and the romance is definitely in the air. I loved everything about this!

I was so happy to be back in my favorite boardinghouse(wish it was real)!❣️✨ This one was just as emotional and funny as the other Palace of Rogues books!⁣
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Catherine Keating is the daughter of a doctor from the countryside and she has just entered London hoping to find a match during the Season. But with an unreliable chaperone and the cutthroat members of the ton, her chances of success seem to be dwindling until she meets Lord Dominic Kirke who'd been staying at the same boardinghouse as her. Older and cynical Dominic is quite the opposite of her in many ways but Catherine isn't afraid to challenge him verbally and she's one of the few who has been able to look past some of his emotional walls.⁣
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Though Catherine might seem a bit young and innocent at first I couldn't help but admire her courage. Sometimes she's braver than Dominic - who might be able to give amazing speeches in the parliament and elsewhere to convince people but he cannot bring himself to put down his walls and let anyone else in. There were so many emotional and tender moments between them and JAL has always been the best at writing these!❣️ There's some drama and mild angst that I wasn't expecting but it's a part of Dominic's past too. There was some OW drama which kept me from loving this one completely(but I think that's a personal preference and others might not mind it.)
My favorite was definitely the Clover speech near the end as that was so moving. I also loved meeting some of my favorite characters again and reading their hilarious interactions! Dot and Pike's interactions were just as humorous with their constant battles to open the door first and their banter. I hope we get to see their HEA too!😆 ⁣
Would definitely recommend this series if you're looking for some historical romance books with amazing characters and a wonderful found family! And I'm so happy that we'll be getting another book this year too!

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Opposites attract
Age gap
Forced proximity
He falls first
Multiple POV

I loved the way Catherine and Dominic bantered with each other. She kept him on his toes and that's why he fell in love with her. Catherine was so strong despite the constant struggle of dealing with the petty issues of the ton. I was rooting for these two from the very beginning. Loved their journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Death of a parent, sexual content, explicit language

So good and heartfelt! The chemistry in this book was so palpable, I loved it. If I were more invested in the world of this book from having read the previous entries in the series, it's possible this would be a five star read. But it's a little tough as a starting point.

To be honest I haven't read anything by Julie Anne Long in quite some time. I am happy to say that I will return and read the other novels that I haven't read in this "The Palace of Rogues" series. Her characters are concise and well thought out. I also like that her writing isn't overly descriptive, it won't take 5 pages to describe a single ball room.

Now on to the main characters. Catherine Keating is a great heroine because while a bit naive in regards to the vicious world of the "ton", Catherine isn't a shrinking violet. She listens to and absorbs all good advice regarding the "crocodiles" of the elite. She's competing in a world that's foreign to her and dodging backhanded insults, Feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, Catherine seeks solace in hidden alcoves, behind plants, and out in the cool gardens of the hosts. During one such ramble, she overhears an altercation between two men of the ton. Lord Dominic Kirke walks right to where Catherine is hiding. She offers him a handkerchief to stop his bleeding. She is a 22 year old daughter of a country doctor and has assisted him in various medical calls, and not afraid of a little blood. Kirke sees in her a young and a bit practical young woman. Witty, beautiful, talkative, and not afraid to express her opinions, Catherine is totally unlike any women in his circle. Kirke has a reputation as a rogue who is unable to carry out a relationship. Known for his fiery speeches championing the underclasses in the House of Commons, Kirke finds himself with a sort of writers block, his seat in the House is up for election and the wolves are chomping at the bit to de-throne him.

This love story takes a long time to come around. The attraction is there, but he has been hiding from real feelings for a long time, using any excuse to dismiss his feelings, she's too young, I don't need a woman only a mistress, etc...
Because of circumstances, both Catherine and Kirke find themselves residing at the same boarding house. This unconventional "home" has a reputation for eccentric guests. All guests are required to attend dinner a couple of times a week and to assemble in the parlor for conversation, book reading, games, and a strict curfew. This creates an opportunity for Catherine and Dominic to get more acquainted than they would have otherwise. There are a couple of side chapters involving a maid and a footman that add color but have no real contribution to the main story.

I did like this story very much and will look forward to reading more in "The Palace of Rogues" and other future series that Ms. Long shall write.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was so lovely, charming, fun, sweet and i couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

JAL is a new to me author and boy am I glad I requested an ARC of this one! I also am newish to historical romance and struggle to get into them but this one was fantastic!

We have the two main characters: Catherine and Kirke, on the outside it seems like they aren't a great fit for each other. Kirke is a politician and Catherine is a girl from the country. There is a bit of age gap romance and forbidden sprinkled in. I love a book that can make me laugh and also be emotional at the same time, and this did just that! I loved everything from the writing style, to the plot, to the main characters and side characters. I am foresure going to be reading more by JAL and hope that you pick this one up!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Anne Long is one of my favourite authors, so when she releases a new book, my expectations are incredibly high. Lucky for me, she never disappoints. My Season of Scandal, Book 7 of the Palace of Rogues series (which can also be read as a standalone), is another shining gem. The story follows 22-year-old Catherine Keating who has left her small town in Northumberland to find a husband during what will be her one and only season in London. Long creates yet another original meet-cute between the wise but innocent Catherine and the seasoned politician and statesman, 35-year-old, Welsh, Lord Dominic Kirke, a “conversational fencer” who’s also known as a notorious rake. During their respective stays at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a growing attraction develops between the kind, pragmatic Catherine, and the cynical, practical Dominic. I loved everything about this book from the beginning through to yet another wonderful and immensely satisfying epilogue.

JAL writes brilliantly. Dominic, famous for his eloquent, persuasive, take-no-prisoners oration, is given lots of room to demonstrate his skills. Long’s writing is wickedly good at showing us why this man is both feared and revered. Catherine, by contrast, is kind, sometimes to a fault, but shows that she can parry with her own conversational weapons when called upon. Her ability to disarm Dominic, seeing beyond the walls he’s erected around himself, is a delight to read. I loved the banter and teasing between these two as we witness their flirtation get more and more incendiary leading to some well-written steamy scenes. JAL weaves an intricate and compelling story about love, loss, vulnerability, compassion, integrity, and the defensive maneuvers used to shield oneself from the caprices of high society, and sometimes, from love itself.

Long infuses laugh-out-loud humour as we revisit some characters from earlier books and get to know the main couple. Her ability to balance the heart-wrenching moments with the clever humour we’ve come to expect from her, still leaves me a bit speechless. There’s not a passage wasted in this book; everything builds something important to the story. The emotional investment she teases from the reader pays off as we feel the incredible longing and yearning between Dominic and Catherine, become infuriated by the malicious forces of the ton, and fall a little more in love with the residents of The Grand Palace on the Thames. I loved the small gestures through which the two main characters reveal their love and understanding of one another, as well as the room and page time Long gives them to grow and get to know each other, showing us definitively that they truly belong together. I’ve come to appreciate the carefully thought-out grand gestures Long’s main characters make in her books, and Dominic’s is another amazing one that made me reach for my tissues while simultaneously grinning and cheering.

I highly recommend this book to readers who love exquisite writing; well-developed characters; some lightness mixed in with deeply emotional moments; clever, steamy romance; and a deftly crafted story with a happily-ever-after. Long is a truly gifted writer and there isn’t anything I would change about this book – it’s perfect.