Another charming entry in Long's Palace of Rogues series. I will confess I was less eager to read this one, as a major selling point to me of her preceding books in the series is that they feature more mature, older characters. While it isn't about seventeen year old girls like many Regency romances (the heroine is 20) it does have more of a traditional Regency structure which is not really a selling point to me. I did find this a unique entry in a crowded field and would recommend it.

First of all, Julie Anne Long is an auto-buy for me. She's an excellent writer. Her characters are unique, her dialogue is clever, and her plots are so romantic. I may not always like a particular trope that she uses, but that is definitely a "me" thing, and not a reflection of her and writing. That being said, the "ice princess" character is not my favorite trope. My heart is usually breaking for the hero (even though we know that they get a happy ending). This story was no different. I spent most of my time with my heart broken for Hugh: his dreams, his life, his family. It all made me emotional.

That being said, I LOVE Long's series. This is the third book in the series (my favorite is still the first one), Long always writes a powerful love story--they're rarely simple. She does such an excellent job with story. Hugh is an ambitious American who is in London trying to retrieve the missing daughter of a friend. Lillias is the sort-of snobby daughter of an earl. They are staying at the Palace due an an unfortunate--and funny--circumstance that leaves them needing a place to stay. Both Hugh and Lillias are immediately attracted to each other, and the sexual tension is so thick, you can cut it with a knife. Seriously, Long as a knack for writing a sexy, strong man. His virile masculinity is super American, but also tender. How they end up together is part of the charm, so I won't spoil it.

Even though I'm not a fan of the "ice princess" trope, Long is always an excellent writer, and she will always be an auto-buy for me. This story was tender, sexy, witty, and emotional. I will definitely be recommending this book to people!'

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' 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' 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.

Reviewers Caz and Evelyn both read I’m Only Wicked With You and got together to discuss - and share - their very different thoughts on the novel.

Caz: I’ve read and enjoyed a number of Julie Anne Long’s historical romances and enjoyed them.  Are you a fan?

Evelyn: Yes! A big fan. I loved many of the Pennyroyal Green books and have read and enjoyed all of the Palace of the Rogues books so far.

Caz:  I read the first one - (Lady Derring Takes a Lover) and enjoyed it very much, but I didn’t get around to reading the second one.  That said, I don’t think this is one of those series that needs to be read in order, as the books work as standalones.  So - what did you think of I’m Only Wicked With You?

Evelyn: I thought it was terrific. I agree that they can be read as standalones but the ensemble crew is excellent and part of the reason I like the books so much.

Caz: Well, this is going to be an interesting review, because I thought it was pretty dull.  I agree that the ensemble cast is excellent and I loved their interactions - I also really liked Lillias’ family - but the book was really slow to start, and I felt like I’d come in part way through the story; Hugh and Lillias were already in lust with each other from the get-go and I had no idea why!

Evelyn: Ah, well you did come in after it had started because the end of book two (Angel in a Devil’s Arms) shows the initial interaction between Hugh and Lillias - so maybe you do need to read all the books after all!

Caz:  That’s a good point – but series such as this are usually designed to be read as interconnected standalones so it’s more than irritating to discover that important information has been included in an earlier volume – especially when that information contributes to the reader’s understanding of the characters and their relationship.

Evelyn: I agree that it starts slow but I was invested right off the bat. Hugh has been a lovely character throughout and I was itching for his background info so spending time with him (and his adorable smiles) was interesting for me.

Caz: I did like Hugh - although part of me wondered why he was such a meanie in reporting Lillas’ cheroot-smoking to her father! - but he was definitely the highlight of the book.  A self-made man who knows who he is and what he wants, with ambition to succeed and brains to boot - he’s a very attractive hero, and I enjoyed his interactions with the other residents of the Grand Palace.  But… I wish he’d had a more interesting, likeable heroine.

Evelyn: I get that. I was pretty meh about Lillias for the first part of the book. But then I thought that she is pretty true to her times, and that she behaves exactly how a beautiful daughter of an earl would behave. But soon I saw that she was just playing a part - and that she was in the process of realizing that she was just playing a part. Her yearning to see a bigger vista was very symbolic to me of her aching to break out of the mold created for her. I’ve read the book twice and I got a much better sense of Lillias the second time, when I was reading it slower and seeing more nuances to her character.

Caz:  I agree with the fact that she behaves as expected - and it’s obvious from the get-go that she’s hung up on someone she believes is going to marry someone else.  Actually, the way she’s described sometimes made me think she was mildly depressed - such as when she’s unable to draw or paint, and her general listlessness - but I don’t know if that was the intended interpretation.  I did understand her desire to do and be something else and her desire to be genuinely seen,  but unfortunately, all that took quite a while to come through and by the time it did, I’d sort of lost interest in her.

Evelyn: I agree that the story is slow-moving. Almost all the action takes place at the Grand Palace, which might be a drawback for some readers. Me, I don’t mind slow-moving love stories. The yearning kept me coming back for more.

Caz: I didn’t have a problem with the location of the action - I liked spending time at the GP.  I also love a good slow-burn.  My problem was that it was all “slow” and no “burn” - I didn’t feel there was much chemistry between the leads and I didn’t feel particularly connected to them as a reader either.

Evelyn: Oh - I felt lots of chemistry between them. I loved Hugh’s thought - he’d never so profoundly disliked a woman while simultaneously wanting to take her up against a wall. And their silent battles in the drawing room were wonderful. We’ll have to kindly disagree about the chemistry!

Caz: Oh, of course. We all see things differently and life would be boring if we all liked the same things!  But I’m Only Wicked With You got off to such a slow start that by the time things started actually happening after the half-way point, JAL had mostly lost me :(

Moving on… I said earlier that I liked Lillias’ family, especially her father.  He’s not one of those overbearing “you must get married or else” types and I appreciated that while he did want her to be married, he also wanted her to be happy - and that he eventually realised where she would most likely find that happiness.  I liked his dry sense of humour as well. Did any of the secondary characters stand out for you?

Evelyn: I loved her father too. So refreshing! Dot and Delacorte offered so much comic relief. JAL really does a good job interjecting some hilarity into this book (and series). I also thought Gilly was well done. Easy to like but a good foil to Hugh. I like that JAL didn’t make him into a villain. He was a good guy-  just not the right guy.

Caz: I really enjoyed the evenings in the parlour at the GP - there’s a lot of gentle (and naughty!) humour there.

Evelyn: The Epithet Jar is hilarious and the “naked” discussions had me in whoops!

Caz: And you’re right about Gilly - those scenes at Heatherfield (his family estate) were really well done - the oh, so politely veiled insults and Hugh’s clever responses.  I also liked that he was sensible enough not to delude himself about what Lillias really wanted. I think ultimately, the things I liked about this book were the “smaller” things - the secondary characters, the parlour evenings, the ball and visit to Heatherfield... and I liked Hugh.  But even with those later insights into Lillias’ character I couldn’t warm to her.

Evelyn: I think the scene at Heatherfield was masterful! The second half of the book certainly moved faster. I’m curious if you will continue with the series?

Caz: I was wondering if there would be any more books because everything feels quite wrapped up in this, with no obvious “next hero/heroine” showing up (unless Gilly is getting a book!)  But Goodreads lists a fourth book – After Dark With the Duke – (I’m guessing this is the duke who gets a cursory name-check near the end). This is the first of JAL’s books I’ve read that I haven’t liked that much, so I’ll put it down as a misfire and hope the next one works better for me.  You?

Evelyn:  That’s good news – I thought it seemed like a lot of background and characters for only three books! I’m wondering if it won’t be as long as the Pennyroyal Green series. I would love to see Delacorte get a small novella - what a hoot that would be!

Caz:  Hah! I’d read that!  But returning to the book in question, it’s crunch time.  I really wanted to like it more than I did and I don’t think I can go higher than a C+ - mostly for Hugh, the secondary characters and the humour they brought to the story.  But the romance didn’t work for me, and I wasn’t wild about Lillias as a heroine.

Evelyn: Big gap here because I’m going for an A. I really enjoyed the whole thing! The angst between Hugh and Lillias, the delightful characters at the Grand Palace, the self-discovery Lillias made, and the humor made it a total win for me!

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4.5 stars rounded up. After a slowish start this really picks up and becomes engaging. There’s something so comforting about this series — it feels like you are returning to visit good friends among the long-term inhabitants and proprietresses of the Grand Palace on the Thames. I was a little skeptical at first about the romance between Hugh and Lillias, since Lillias comes off as a spoiled brat at the beginning. As the story unfolds, though, she becomes more sympathetic and reveals how her real interests and dreams are in conflict with the life everyone around her expects to lead (herself included). Hugh is as charming and solidly decent as we saw in the previous story, and his willingness to sacrifice himself for those around him makes him a compelling hero (and a refreshing change of pace for a romance hero).

Julie Anne Long’s writing style adds so much emotion and heart to the story and engages the reader in the characters’ internal struggles while still moving the story forward. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next entries in this series!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

This book was a STRUGGLE for me. I literally started it when I received the ARC in November 2020, read about 15% but didn’t care about any of the characters because all it was was side characters talking, put it down for six months, read 100 other books, and then forced myself to finish it six months later because I was tired of seeing it on my NetGalley list. Honestly if it wasn’t a NetGalley book it would have been a DNF. The book was extremely slow, like the ruination (a kiss) that is referenced in the description doesn’t happen until 60% of the way through the book. Slow burns are fine, but a glacial pace with no building attraction is a problem. It also didn’t help that I did not care about any of the characters. I know this is the third in a series that I think has a lot of overlapping characters, so maybe if I had read the other books I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Hugh and Lillias honestly seemed incompatible. He was standard romance hero, but she seemed very young and naive. Hugh literally calls her “little girl” multiple times which just seems misogynistic bordering on creepy. This book really just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always enjoyed a Julie Anne Long books and this one was extra special. It was a bit of a roller-coaster ride. I don't want to give anything away but you will be surprised by the adventure she takes you on. So refreshing and I can't wait for the next book.

Julie Anne Long never disappoints. Love this latest installment of the Palace of Rogues series and can't wait for the next one.

I will “happily and forever” cherish this raw, enchanting, wild story!

At first, I struggled to grasp at any inclination towards the plot or characters. It started rather slow for me, but by god. When it did hit me, it assaulted me like a tidal wave: pulling up the sands of my deepest emotions and pulling each grain along to be slammed along the shore. I laughed and I cried and I screamed and I sat wistfully wishing I was Lillias Vaughn.

This book was as ravishing a romance as any other I’ve read and I’m so grateful that I stumbled upon it.

So I'm gonna start with an admission: I'm not a big fan of the main characters of a story being in love with other people at the time they meet. It's so damn hard for an author to make me believe that all of a sudden they completely forget about the other love interest. But if somebody could make it work it would be Julie Anne Long.

The first 30% were a slower pace than I'm used to from this author but once I got past that I really started to connect first with the characters. Lillias's antagonism at the beginning felt a little childish but then I thought back to a time when I was that young and, honestly, I was probably just the same kind of brat. Hugh was dreamy, his thoughts about the headstrong young woman were so incredibly tender and affectionate and that started to shine through.
“Lillias . . .” She’d never heard her name said in such a way. It had facets; it fairly shimmered with shades of emotion. Wit and exasperation and tenderness and frustration.

Hugh and Lillias had a strong sexual attraction right from the start but they also were both carrying a torch for other people. I loved how it became more and more obvious that they held serious affection and liking for one another. That it would only a matter of time until they'd fall head over heels. So this part definitely worked for me. I felt that Lillias and Hugh understood one another from the base up.
"Nothing is like us."

I saw someone comparing this book to What I Did For a Duke and I concur. It does have that feel because like Hugh and Lillias Alexander and Genevieve start out as antagonists but it still doesn't feel as if JAL just repackaged the trope. No, it's a completely different story.

Julie Anne Long's writing is so breathtakingly and achingly beautiful. She truly is one of a kind. I also love the smart dialogues, the banter and the humor she always uses to make her characters multi-dimensional. I'm looking forward who Delilah and Angelique will host next!
“I thought love was meant to be an easy, peaceful thing, Lillias. But it’s like life itself. It’s maddening. And beautiful. And changeable and funny and passionate. It’s . . . like a Hudson River Valley sunset. Underneath all that fire and glory the sky is ever constant. It’s like you. For me, it is you."

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.


If emotionally stunning, poignant stories w/ steam are your jam please read Julie Anne Long’s Palace of Rogue series & prepare to fall in love. Often.

I’m Only Wicked with You is 3rd in the series & it’s a somewhat circuitous journey to love that had me emotionally invested—stressing at moments & swooning at the end.

When the book opens, American Hugh Cassidy, a self-made man visiting London, has recently tattled on his fellow guest at The Grand Palace on the Thames, Lady Lillias Vaughn, resulting in her being effectively grounded. Lillias, a beautiful, ice cold queen, was smoking a cheroot, something that an Earl’s daughter does not do.

The tension between Hugh & Lillias, the acrimony & the sexual attraction, is strong & both leads feel the latter’s pull even as they acknowledge the former.

But when they’re caught together, these enemies must marry unless they come up with another plan.

First, this book—like the others in the series—is full of beautiful language & humor & warmth, & also lines that bring a flush to my cheeks. Like a line about Hugh wanting to pin her down on a mattress. The lust is top-notch, urgent.

Both leads are imperfect (bc of course!); they aren’t always likable, sunshine & rainbows, & I liked that too—even if it sometimes made me a little uncomfortable (bc I have some long-held beliefs about how women “should” act that I’m still working through.)

But the nuance to them both is beautiful; also their guardedness & the ways they’re affected by the vulnerabilities in the other.

Though the wait for them to admit feelings was a little challenging for me (I could have used some more softness, earlier), the payoff is huge. The sweet moments between Hugh & Lillias are lovely & the epilogue is *chef’s kiss.*

IOWWY is powerful & sexy & I can picture Hugh & Lillias running the world & falling more in love w/ every milestone. Though the dynamic between them isn’t my fave couple dynamic of the series, the whole lot is stellar & I am a huge huge fan.

4.5⭐️. Release Date: 08/24

3.5 stars
This book definitely started off really slowly..Which I normally don't mind, but it didn't seem like Lillia and Hugh really liked each other, or really interacted all that much, except when everyone in The Grande Palace by the Thames got together for their meals.. They did seem to have some chemistry between them, from their first meeting when he catches her smoking a cheroot. Mostly of the sarcastic banter sort which I did enjoy.
Despite the chemistry I had a hard time seeing them together as a couple, at least until the end when they realized they loved each other. Then ending was really very sweet, and really saved the story for me.

I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really really wanted to like this book. I love Julie Anne Long and have been a long time fan. This writing doesn’t even feel like her though! It was all over the place, punctuation was wrong, sentence structure was weird. I know it’s an arc, but it was hard to get into. The author used too many descriptions and similes that just seemed too elaborate.

On to the story... Hugh, an ex soldier, businessman from America and Lillias, an English rose set to marry a Duke.
The characters are but introduced right away, and the story starts with minor characters who merely discuss Hugh. It’s very slow to start. I appreciate slow-burn romances that the H and h aren’t immediately jumping each other’s bones, but in this book I just didn’t feel the chemistry at all.

So much fun!
I was not aware that this was part of a series, and while I recommend reading the others I read this okay as a standalone.
This is a romance between two people who come from different classes and countries. This was sweet and enjoyable. I liked seeing these two slowly get together and open up with each other.
I also love the cover.

I love it!!!💖
I adore this entire set of books and this new installment is just as enjoyable to read. The characters are great. The storyline is unique in Georgian romance novels.

Fun read. Takes a while to get going but the minor characters are as developed as the major ones, which is unusual for a romance novel! Loved the lovers, Hugh and Lillias, and how they could finally "see" each other. The repartee and banter was excellent and the ending worth the read! If you love language that is sophisticated and almost flip, you will love this book! Some steam, but not too much, and when it comes, it blows your socks off! A new author for me and I will be looking at other of her works for sure.

I received this book for an honest review

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this story. An amazing historical romance full of passion.

I absolutely loved this book ! I loved the characters , loved the writing , loved the narration . This was the first book by this author I have read and it won't be the last !

3 Stars! This is the 3rd book in the series and can be read as a standalone but I’m sure reading the first 2 books would make this book better. I never read the first 2 books and sometimes felt like I was lost or missing something. The first half seemed to drag on a bit but I did love the ending. Ambitious American meets spoiled British daughter of an Earl - what could go wrong?!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an ARC that was provided to me by the publisher!*

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Hugh Cassidy meets lady Vaughn and his captivated from the start. He knows nothing can come of it because they are from two different worlds. I enjoyed the chemistry between Hugh and Lady Vaughn.

We absolutely loved the third entry in the Palace of Rogues series! Julie Anne Long may be one of the funniest writers working in romance today. She manages to balance her sly dialogue and situational humor without losing any of the sentimental romance we romance readers love. I'm Only Wicked with You is a perfect example of her strengths.

Although the first two books focused on the proprietresses, this book branches out two of the boarders, Hugh Cassidy and Lady Lillias Vaughn. While we have read many historical romances featuring American heiresses in England, here we have an American man with no pretensions to nobility thrown together with a high society beauty. Lillias is suffering from a romantic disappointment, while Hugh's greatest desire is to complete his work in England so he can return to New York. They are immediately attracted to each other even as they realize their life goals and backgrounds make their chances for a permanent relationship very slim. When they are caught in a compromising situation, they have to negotiate their conflicting desires. Many romances use miscommunication as an easy way to foster conflict, but here, Lillias and Hugh's unwanted engagement forces them to be clear about their aspirations and expectations.

Highly recommended!