I was excited to read this book after finishing the first two in the series, but upon seeing which couple it would focus on, I was immediately skeptical. Unfortunately, my skepticism was earned. I just didn’t buy the love story here, shut with such beautiful writing, I’ll be giving it a 3.5 and a recommendation for anyone who loves a groveling hero!

This third entry in "The Bareknuckle Bastards" series has been eagerly awaited by readers, and Sarah MacLean certainly does not disappoint. After much angst, the two remaining members of the group, Grace and Ewan, are finally able to find love and happiness despite the extremely bleak circumstances of their past. Covent Garden comes alive with a setting that is vivid and evocative (especially the rooftops!). Brothers (and previous heroes) Devil and Beast are a part of the action and resolution, bringing this unusual family saga to a most satisfactory close.

Absolute perfection. MacLean always creates a fantasy world, but I really love the way this series delves into another part of London than we have seen before in her work. I also love the fairy tale bent of this series.

The queen of historical fiction, Sarah Maclean, goddess of angst, has graced us with the conclusion to the Bareknuckle Bastards series. Could Sarah write a happy ending for evil Duke of Marwick? Wouldn't Grace just kick him to the curb after breaking her heart? How could this possibly have an HEA!?! Well you are in for a ride and Sarah does not disappoint. She could give Colleen Hoover a run for her money for the level of angst that is in this book.

We have seen Grace in glimpses through the two previously books and she seemed liked a goddess that would probably smite Ewan upon their first encounter. You will not be disappointed in how things are resolved. MacLean creates a tight plot that speeds towards a resolution that will have your heart pounding.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grace was raised as a boy in secret by her abusive guardian, a duke, who needs a male heir to carry on his line. When he locates three boys, Ewan, Whit and Devil, who are all his children from different mothers, he pits them against each other to see who will deserve the honor of being his heir. Ewan and Grace become childhood sweethearts but when the duke discovers their romance Grace is in grave danger. Ewan runs his brothers and Grace off the estate and they hate him for his betrayal. Now, years later, Ewan finds Grace again and she is thriving in her new environment. Enemies turn into lovers as Grace and Ewan find a new path forward. This is the third book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. Recommended.

I've been highly anticipating Ewan and Grace's story. It's the ultimate enemies-to-lovers, villain-to-hero tale that always makes me salivate. For the most part, it delivered. I loved these two separate, and I believed in their romance tenfold. The ending was everything I could have hoped for and more.

That said, I thought it got a little heavy-handed sometimes. Like we would have forgotten exactly how much Ewan has done and must atone for. It made the pace slow down quite a bit, and I found myself plodding through too much introspection that really didn't add anything new.

BUT, it's Sarah MacLean, and I always leave one of Sarah's book immensely satisfied and this is no different. Die hard fans of this author will definitely be pleased.

3.5 stars!

Let me start by saying I LOOOVE Sarah MacLean...Probably more than is healthy. I had super high hopes for this book because it was the one I was looking forward to the most. However, it did not exactly hold up to my expectations. I still enjoyed reading it and will of course read other MacLean books- duh. But this one just wasn't my favorite. Maybe my hopes were too high?

The story ebbed and flowed too much for me. The action (and of course the sex) was hot and a great read but the in between seemed to drag a little too much for me. I thought this book would come out swinging but compared to the other two books it didn't satisfy. It was still a great book but it wasn't my favorite. But in saying that, remember MacLean is a fabulous author and even the ones that don't pop like you want are still great.

For almost any other other I'd give this book 3 stars but what I loved about this book out ranked what I didn't like about it- hence 4 stars.

In the end, Beast will always be my love 😍.

This is the third and most anticipated book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series featuring childhood sweethearts turned enemies, Grace and Ewan. Raised together in a competition for a dukedom, then driven apart by Ewan's father, Grace & Ewan have been circling each other and trying to come to terms with what happened 20 years prior. Ewan, after being the villain of the first two books because he believed Grace to be dead, has changed himself to be a better man, to atone, and to become a man worthy of Grace's love. Grace meanwhile has been the proprietor of an exclusive club/brothel for women, and has become the Queen of Covent Garden, essentially. The two have to work to overcome the past in order to finally be happy.
This was a drop everything and read book for me, and while I loved certain parts of it, the drama was at times, a bit over the top and too much. The hatred and longing between Ewan and Grace was amazing, but the resolution and the way they talked to each other had me rolling my eyes at times. I do wish that Sarah MacLean would get away from the Greek myth retelling that she seems to use a lot in her books because it reminded me a lot of The Day of the Duchess. I liked this, but I was hoping to love it, but of course, I still love Sarah MacLean and can't wait to see what she does next.