Brazen and the Beast was seriously entertaining right from the start. It flowed so well and I was wrapped up in the characters’ lives, learning their histories, their dilemmas, feeling their pain, I was caught up in it all. It was riveting!

I loved Hattie. She was such a strong woman, a fighter. I loved her tenacity and how she stood up for herself and just kept on pushing forward. She was so smart and witty and just an incredibly likable and enjoyable character. Whit. Oh Whit, oh dear Beast... it's always those gruff ones that totally make me melt. He was so fantastic, loyal but quiet, so very commanding. And sexy. Hattie and Whit coming together was perfect, they were such a great match. The dialogue was excellent, I loved their verbal sparring and antagonist banter. It was so fun and I couldn't stop smiling. I could feel that chemistry building between them and when the sparks flew, it was freaking hot!

Their story was just so well thought out with all these really great details. Excellent writing and descriptions with wonderful character development. It was entertaining yes but it had the perfect blend of emotion happening. I had these little flips in my stomach as special moments were happening and beautiful words are said.

I love the bond the Bareknuckle Bastards have, their good-natured ribbing and how they're there for each other. There are all these great characters, some small and don't play a big part but it helped to paint this elaborate picture of this world. To make it full and rich. It was awesome!

This is officially one of my favorite reads of 2019! I was smiling and tearing up and fanning myself and just was thrilled to be reading it. It was exciting and engaging and just really well done. There were times I had to stop myself from reading fast because I didn't want to miss a thing but I was so consumed. I loved everything about this!

You know what? Every time I read a historical romance I love it and immediately wonder why I don't read more, more often. I definitely need to broaden my horizons and read more in this genre because it is such a delicious escape from the trials and troubles of the modern world.

Brazen and the Beast was a wonderful escape into the world of Covent Garden and the escapes of Hattie and her bestie and Whit and his comrades. I loved how bold and independent both of these characters were --they definitely smashed the mold of what I normally think of when I think of historical romance. I also loved how they clashed and sparked on the page. Their interactions had me smiling and wanting more.

I loved everything about this novel and look forward to reading more of the series!

Wicked and the Wallflower was one of my top books of 2018, and I was basically screaming when I got approved for Brazen.

I love love loved Hattie and Beast. They’re both so smart and so opinionated and the bickering was the best. I adored their arguing and reading how their relationship unfurled in the most deliciously slow way and of course the chemistry was insane. I loved Nora and was beside myself at seeing Devil and Felicity again.

Plot wise it was perfect. From Hattie taking charge of her year to everything with Ewan to the best ending and epilogue: I loved all of it. I was captivated at the first scene and didn’t want to stop reading.

Overall, this was another book from Sarah I know I’ll be reading again. I can’t wait for Grace’s story and I’ll be over here hoping for Nora’s.

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

Once upon a time, I read nothing but historical romance. From Johanna Lindsey to Julie Garwood and everyone in between, I read them all.  Then I started reading indie authors and contemporary romance became my go-to and historicals didn't have the same appeal.  The historicals I was used to were too tame compared to the contemps I was enjoying.  However, I saw Brazen and the Beast on NetGalley and decided to give a historical a sentimental whirl.  Turns out, historicals have come a long way from the days of petals, staffs and fade to blacks.  Looks like I may be opening more historical themed books in the future.

Brazen is 29-year-old Hattie who has decided that she is going to take life by the balls and become the woman she always felt she could be; independent, a business owner, and single.  In preparation for her new life, Hattie decides that going to an infamous pleasure house to get a taste of passion before she embarks on the rest of her life is the way to go.  The Beast is Whit (Saviour Whittingham),  the King of Covent Gardens who ends up in Hattie's carriage, unconscious, that night. Sparks fly, and so begins a cat and mouse game between the two where they find that their lives are intertwined and their chemistry cannot be denied.

The story alternates seamlessly between serious (Whit's rise from embattled child to co-ruler of the Gardens and Hattie's struggle for recognition and independence), humorous (Hattie's creativity in getting rid of Whit and her dock skills), to steamy (Whit has a mouth on him!).  The characters have depth, emotion, and wit making them instantly likable.   Ms. MacLean addition of intrigue and suspense to her romance of kindred souls finding each other, even if they don't recognize it right away lends a perfect edge to the romance.

This is a really good modern historical that keeps with the times it is set in while keeping up the heat with it's edgier contemporary counterparts  has.

Heat Factor: I love the way MacLean writes sex. A+
Character Chemistry: The bickering-because-I’m-into-you is great
Plot: bananas
Overall: I wouldn’t mind being Hattie

I so hope I can adequately describe this book. It has all the hallmarks of a MacLean novel, which is to say, it’s delightful. It’s dramatic and emotional and lively and a little bit outrageous.

So. What might one pretty much always find in a MacLean novel?
- A heroine who thinks there’s something wrong with herself that makes her unloveable
- An alpha-ish hero with 1000% too much testosterone and a serious case of emotional constipation
- Something threatens the heroine that seems to require brute strength but actually requires unlocking an emotional vault
- Characters from other books are mentioned or crop up throughout the story

I can’t get enough. It’s the perfect combination of everything I like in a historical romance and just enough over-the-top everything else to be riveting and, as I had previously stated, delightful. Brazen and the Beast is no exception. It has been some time since I read book one (Wicked and the Wallflower) of this new series, the Bareknuckle Bastards (which, come on--it’s hard to take seriously...and then it’s impossible not to), but I would say that Brazen and the Beast is stronger. It also doesn’t start with the somewhat cryptic and overly dramatic prologue that began Wicked and the Wallflower and seemed like it’d be plugged into the beginning of every book in this series, so that’s already a good start.

The story centers on Hattie, who is turning 29 and has decided that her 29th year will be the Year of Hattie. She will seize her life, take control of her future! Nine years ago she might have thought she was going to get married and have a family but now… It’s time to get real. No one is going to marry Hattie, and she is really good at running her father’s business. Unfortunately, her father thinks she needs to fill that womanly role and is not on board with handing over the family business to her. Therefore, phase one of the Year of Hattie is: lose virginity. Then marriage is out of the question. Checkmate, Daddy!

Unfortunately, as she is about to embark on phase one, she finds a man in her carriage. A big, unconscious man, who is the handsomest man she’s ever seen. That man is Beast (not for his looks, obvi), and he is a Bareknuckle Bastard. A King of Covent Garden. A powerful man in the darkness of the streets. I’m gonna be honest--it’s a little ridiculous...and it’s also compelling. Dukes don’t have all the power. Sometimes men who run criminal enterprises and have hearts of gold also have power. Also Beast’s real name is Saviour Whittington. A++ to MacLean for a name like that.

So Beast, a.k.a. Whit, wakes up in Hattie’s carriage as she’s on her way to be debauched, and the rest is history. They’re adversaries, they’re allies, he falls in love with her, his crazy third brother the-evil-Duke-who-is-illegitimate-and-will-be-a-hero-we-love-in-the-next-book threatens her, they become adversaries again because he can’t risk her safety even if it means he never sees her again (I mean, really, can you BE any more stubbornly romance-heroey?), he tries to protect her, he FAILS HARD…. There are BOMBS and underground SURGERIES and SEX ON BOATS.

I wasn’t at first sold on the Bareknuckle Bastards because I do love an alpha aristocrat hero, but MacLean has created an environment in which Beast and his brother, Devil, have the power and the money that parallels that of aristocratic heroes. They even have their own little world in Covent Garden with bird whistles and cane tapping and other delightful mysterious secret methods of communicating so they can manage their kingdom in secret. The result is a level of power that rivals or even outstrips that of most aristocrats in these novels. At the same time it’s impossible to say that a Covent Garden crime ring and the London aristocracy are the same thing, so there’s going to be a lot of baggage for Beast/Whit as he navigates his feelings for Lady Henrietta. Hattie’s father came from humble beginnings and has been elevated to Earl, but he’s a life peer, so she’s got one foot in Society and one foot outside of it, which is a nice flourish on the relationship problem in an Uptown Girl scenario.

The way Hattie and Whit navigate their relationship as they playfully antagonize each other makes all the other drama feel fresh and engaging. This book could easily be over the top, with secret fights and murderous dukes and a crime family called the Bareknuckle Bastards (of all things), and maybe it is a little bit over the top. But in such a good way.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Strong female character

Brazen and the Beast is the 2nd book in Sarah MacLean’s Bareknuckle Bastards series.
I thought the first meet between Hattie and Whit(Beast) was clever. While I happily read about the non-traditional independent future Hattie had planned for her life and believed the chemistry between her and Whit there was just something missing in this story for me to give it 4 stars. I found myself skim reading hoping I’d get to a part that really captured my attention. Alas, I never found that part. This book can be read as a stand alone however there is a very important arc that runs through the first 2 books in the series that I believe will be resolved in book 3.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

Brazen and the Beast should come with a warning label. My thermometer read 97 outside and while chilling in the air conditioning, the heat from the pages of this book almost caused me a case of heatstroke. Lady Henrietta Sedley has declared her 29th year to be the year of Hattie. This year she will secure her career, happiness, and her future and the only thing standing in her way is her pesky chastity that she already has plans for. Plans have a way of going awry, especially when the most beautiful man she has ever seen is tussed up in her carriage and she knows her brother is to blame. The Beast is feared by all but Hattie as she stands head to head with him protecting her family and plans. Bold and sassy, Hattie goes after what she wants and makes a deal with the Beast. Caring more than he should, the Beast must give up what he loves in order to save it. Stubborn as mule, Hattie doesn't take no for an answer. Clever and amusing, Brazen and the Beast entertains from page one with unforgettable characters and an incredible story line that left me a little bit in love with the Beast.. Hattie and the Beast's love story will have you cheering, crying, and laughing before it plays out in a satisfying HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Henrietta "Hattie" Sedley wants one thing in life, her father's business. But she is a woman and, even though she is better at the business than her brother, Augie is the one that has been put in charge. Unfortunately, Augie's an idiot's. Example: The man who's tied up and in Henrietta's carriage when she goes out to start the first night of the Year of Hattie. The man is built like a Greek God and she is immediately attracted but she's got a plan and even the most beautiful man isn't going to stop her.
Beast Wakes up to a beautiful Woman tapping his face trying to get him to wake up. And then she unceremoniously throws him out of the carriage. But not before stopping for a kiss. Luckily she throws him out in the area of London that he runs and he's able to find her almost immediately. He discovers that she is a part of the family that has been systemically robbing him. And that's an issue.
The pre-end was a little fast as was the wrap up but generally a fun book and nice addition to the series.

Four stars
This book comes out July 30th
Follows Wicked and the Wallflower
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Book Title: Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards #2)
Author: Sarah MacLean
Pub Date: July 30, 2019

***ARC was provided to me by Net Galley and the Publisher for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 5/5 I loved this story of a lady and her dark king and would definitely read it again.

Heroine (Lady Henrietta “Hattie” Sedley): 5/5 Hattie, the daughter of an earl, is celebrating her 29th birthday making her life entirely her own. She believes herself undesirable to the men of the ton and due to her full figure and so she speaks her mind and is unafraid to show off her head for business.

Hero (Saviour “Whit” Whittington): 5/5 Whit is the king of working class and they all know him as Beast. He believes the job of protecting those around him falls squarely on his shoulders and so he could never find an equal.

Plot: 5/5 Hattie endeavors to have her 29th birthday kick off the ‘the year of Hattie’ and sets off to start her four point plan at a brothel. But before the carriage can begin its journey she finds a man tied up and unconscious inside. Whit wakes to find he’s tied up and at the mercy of a beautiful woman, and finds she’s headed straight into his domain to take her pleasure. He is happy to oblige her but it comes at a price. They find themselves rivals in business yet possible partners in bed. Both want to keep their secrets, but if they do they could lose more than their hearts along the way.

Personal Review: Sarah MacLean is one of my favorite romance authors and she does not disappoint with Brazen and the Beast. I absolutely love Hattie and her unwillingness to accept less than what she set out for. I love Whit’s story and his protective nature and how it is used against him. I would love to see how Nik and Nora are faring in the next installment.

Hattie is a true heroine, she is not simpering, she doesn’t wait for Whit to come to her she’ll march right to his door if need be. I loved the feminine bravery she exhibits and how she rarely minzes words. I will probably read the story again at some point and eagerly await the next installment.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy!!

SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS SERIES!! As a Sarah Maclean fan, it’s no surprise how much I absolutely completely ADORE this book. I’ve fallen in love with Covet Garden and this world that Sarah has created and this book you guys! ITS SO WONDERFUL! The plot of fast paced and the writing is so addictive. Plus it’s so REFRESHING to read this kind of hero and heroine who are so STRONG and bring out the absolute best in each other by falling in love.

Hattie is without a doubt a new favorite heroine of mine and I’m still swooning over Whitt. Hattie decides to take control of her life and begins the Year of Hattie with a bang when she finds a man tied up in her carriage and then eventually they propose a deal. She’s determined to rid herself of her virginity and take control of her father’s business no matter what it takes. The two fall into a fun chase of cat and mouse as they become “rivals” and fall head over heels in love.

I love how strong Hattie is and how insecure she was with herself. I related to her so strongly that some of the things she said even made me get emotional because I totally understood exactly where she was coming from. I love how she learned how to accept herself and love herself. She knew exactly what she deserved and what not to settle for and it was so admiring. I think every girl who reads this book is going to see a bit of themselves in Hattie and then strive to be like her.

Whitt, how I completed adore this man. Oh my god, he is wonderful. But of course he does have his flaws but the things that he would say to Hattie just had me swooning and fanning myself. He has such a beautiful way with words and I loved how he showed Hattie how much she was appreciated and loved. We know his past from the first novel but you could definitely pick this one up if you haven’t read the first one, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series before coming into this one as they’re both fantastic and you get more time with the Bareknuckle Bastards because let me tell you, this is a world you won’t want to leave.

And this book is HOT!!! SO SO STEAMY!!! SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION! And the sex scenes, WOW! So so good!! Sarah’s writing just continues to blow me away with each novel I pick up from her and I can’t even begin to tell you all how much I’m dying for the next book in this series! I’m so ready for Ewan and Grace!! IM SO EXCITED!! But I’m also super excited for everyone to get their hands on this book when it comes out July 30th!!

Brazen and the Beast is the perfect continuation in the Barenuckle Bastards series. The dark, mysterious king of the underworld goes toe to toe with the lively daughter and hopeful heiress of a shipping company. Hattie and Whit have explosive chemistry from their first meeting and it fuels their story. Both are strong personalities, and it was a pleasure to watch them challenge and banter with each other.

Henrietta Sedley has decided she's done waiting for her life to happen and she is going to take matters into her own hands. She has life carefully planned until she finds a man tied up in her carriage. Her plans go awry, but her new path is never dull and in the end it may work out better than anything she could have managed on her own. Fun, exciting romance.

I enjoy everything about Sarah MacLean’s books, especially the characters and Brazen and the Beast was no exception there; Hattie and Whit were great! For some reason, this book took me along time to finish, over a week to read a book that should have taken me no more than 2 or 3 days. When trying to analyze why, the only thing I could come up with was the lack of antagonist/protagonist action in the romance. For example, from the beginning both characters described the other as “beautiful” and “magnificent” continually! I knew the book would have a HEA, as most romance novels do, but I guess I needed more friction between the characters to keep me interested. 3stars.

Sarah MacLean knows what she's doing. This book was steamy, fun, and super enjoyable. I loved the characters and their story.

Well Sarah MacClean, you have done it again - created a romance filled with complex characters that you cannot help but root for. I mean, Hattie is simply amazing. I think she may be my absolute favorite of all of Sarah's heroines. And that is saying a lot as Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake is my all time favorite romance as was Lady Calpurnia , my favorite heroine. Both women are not what Society deems as worthy and yet they are fierce, intelligent, and brave always going after what they want. They don't allow those criticisms of being to plain, to loud, to big to stop them and yet that doesn't mean they don't still feel them. They acknowledge it but continue pursue what they want. And I think that is why I so connect with Sarah's books the women are not perfect, they know don't fit into society 's standards and yet they still create the lives they want while not allowing their insecurities to define them.

Brazen and The Beast is a five star read for me. The Year of Hattie was beyond entertaining. She is a force to be reckoned with, and only Beast was up to the task of being her partner. Speaking of Beast, AKA, Whit - how absolutely delicious a hero he is. Silent, and brooding with a strong sense of responsibility and honor - perfection.

The Bareknuckled Bastards series is turning out to be a fabulous series and after finishing this one I cannot wait for the next. I am just sad that we have to wait a year for it! I would highly recommend you pick this one up if you enjoy romances with smart, independent women who are willing to go after what they - Society be damned!

This was an enjoyable addition to the series. It can be read as a stand alone if you have not read the first book, but after you do you will definitely want to read the first one. Sarah MacLean writes such wonderful characters, I loved Hattie. I can't wait to see what is in store for Ewan and Grace.

Another winner from Sarah MacLean! I really enjoy Sarah's focus on the underworld and strong, independent women. I can't wait for the next installment!

Oh boy, did I love this. I laughed out loud, I cried actual tears, and my grew three sizes. This book gave me so many feels, and I couldn't get enough of it. I can't believe this is my first experience with a Sarah MacLean novel, but it definitely won't be my last. As soon as I finished this ARC, I immediately bought [book:Wicked and the Wallflower|35695972] and started it right away. I can't get enough of these brooding Bareknuckle Bastards, and this fantastic world MacLean has created. Five stars, and I would give more if I could!

I’ve read numerous books by Sarah Maclean and she is a very talented author. This was my first read of this new series, but the novel can be read as a standalone. Our heroine, Henrietta Sedley has developed a plan for “the year of Hattie”. Her father owns the very successful Sedley Shipping, and Hattie is tired of never being enough or of being too much for everyone, so she sets out to make this year for herself. What she does not plan on is to find a man bound in her carriage while she is setting out to begin her new year. Saviour Whittington, better known as “Beast”, wakes to find himself in the carriage with Hattie. Our heroine has the answers that our hero seeks about who has been sabotaging his business. What follows is a fast paced book, full of intrigue and romance. This book just fell flat for me. I really liked Hattie, she was a well fleshed out character and I felt as though I connected with her. Maclean does very well with making you connect with her and understand her frustrations. I believe that Whit was supposed to come off as the suave, sexy, dangerous hero. For me it just didn’t happen. I didn’t actually feel that they were falling in love, and some of their actions just didn’t make sense to me. I won’t spoil anything, but there are parts in the book that just made me shake my head! The romance and the heat just were not there. It almost felt forced, and in a sense, Whit came across like all of the other men in Hattie’s life. This annoyed me. I found myself not minding if I put the book down, it just didn’t keep my attention. Overall, a decent read, but not something that I would read again.

Hattie Sedley is nearing spinsterhood and decides to take matters into her own hands via the "Year of Hattie." First step, visiting a brothel, where things don't go exactly as planned when she meets Savior Whittington, a man known as Beast in the Covent Garden of London. Hattie and Whit spark from the start in this historical tale full of mystery, adventure and romance. The closer they grow to each other, the farther apart a happy ever after seems! This novel had great writing, wonderful, engaging characters and a story that kept me guessing chapter after chapter. I'll be anxious for the next in The Bareknuckle Bastards series! Note: I hadn't read the first in the series and the book and I had no problem understanding the characters and setting. (*I read an uncorrected advance copy of this courtesy of NetGalley, opinions are my own.)