What a wonderful addition (6th) to this series!!

Lorcan is a man who has made his way from the slums of St. Giles (sometimes legally, sometimes not) to owning his own ship as a fearsomely respected privateer. After an unorthodox first meeting with Daphne (a Lady trying to save her family from financial ruin), they end up concocting a fake marriage to share a suite at The Grand Palace on the Thames during a week of flooding weather.

As Daphne begins to see the good underneath Lorcan’s brawny, scarred exterior, Lorcan admires but is exasperated by Daphne’s self-sacrifice for her family. As they grow closer, the difference in their stations/future expectations becomes more apparent.

This entire series is such a treat (as is ANYTHING Long writes). From her laugh-out-loud humor, her endearing and fully-fleshed out characters, her original storylines and her swoon-worthy romance, she has all the bases covered and then some. This story’s characters I found especially sweet. I find Long’s writing not as “typical” for this genre as many of her passages are downright poetic and so deeply emotionally felt…and not just on the romance side.

She NEVER disappoints. Recommended.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Avon for providing the arc of How to Tame a Wild Rogue for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was such a pleasurable read! The main characters were appealing; the minor characters were fun; the dialogue was witty, and the plot was interesting. I started reading it, planning to spend only an hour reading and ended up staying up until I finished because I was having such an entertaining time reading it.

If you’ve read the earlier books in this series about two women who open up a lodging house, the Grand Palace on the Thames, in a former notorious brothel located in a rough section of town, you’ll know what you’re in for with the delightful cast of characters who populate their GPOTT. Almost all the characters from the previous books are there and now have to interact with Lorcan, a privateer, and Daphne, a viscount’s daughter who has fallen on very hard times.

Daphne and Lorcan might seem like an unlikely pair, but soon they’re allied together and engaging in humorous conversations that illustrate their growing attraction to each other. Sure, Lorcan is extremely handsome in a piratical sort of way, complete with scar and hunky physique. But it was the interactions between the two that make this such a sparkling read.

You don’t have to have read the previous books, but it certainly helps and they’re such entertaining books, that you’ll be glad to go back and read them.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Listen, I don't know what else to say at this point: Julie Anne Long is the QUEEN of romance novels. Seriously, how do you do it, JAL?!? Every story is emotional and swoony and gut-wrenching and hilarious. I honestly have no idea how she does it. But let's get to the review....

Short summary: Lorcan is a privateer (and former smuggler) who catches Daphne (literally) climbing out of a window in the dead of night around the sketchy London docks. Both of them, needing quick lodging, make their quick way to the Palace at the Thames. Once inside, they have to pretend to be married to get a room. Throw in some forced proximity with a week-long rainstorm, the hilarious cast of characters at the Palace, and a large amount of sexual chemistry, and you have an excellent addition to the fabulous series that JAL has crafted.

This series is my favorite of Long's. It has a little bit of everything that I love in historical romances. The sixth book in the series, How to Tame a Wild Rogue, was wonderful from start to finish. Daphne is what I love in a HR heroine. She's smart, resourceful, loyal, and kind. Definitely no "too stupid to live" vibes from this gal. She's amazing. Lorcan, of course, is SWOON. He's scandalous with his facial scar and his gold earring. He exudes sexuality, but here's the thing: it doesn't overwhelm his character. In fact, I think "rogue" is a just a red herring. We soon learn that he's really NOT a rogue (he's not a virgin or anything, just selective). Lorcan's character is something that I want to flesh out a little, so indulge me for a sec. JAL is really good at these little things, so I want to acknowledge them.

Lorcan is a former smuggler, and current privateer for England. When we glimpse his earring and his charm, we think we know what we are in for: a rogue who makes clever sexual innuendos, touches the FMC whenever he can, steals her away for trysts in gardens, etc. Let me simply say THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS. And I mean that in the BEST way possible. During his sections, he never thinks about undressing her or sleeping with her. In fact, he seems as uncomfortable in this predicament as Daphne does. What he learns to feel for Daphne is a gradual respect and appreciation for everything she has went through in life. He sees that underneath her surface. Daphne, ironically enough, has more of an appreciation for his body than he for hers. She thinks about his body quite a bit (which is completely understandable). But Lorcan is just built differently, both emotionally AND physically. Yes, he looks like a sexy pirate, but his thoughts are anything but scandalous. He's straightforward about who he is when he's with Daphne. There are no innuendos with her; he just appreciates her for her kindness. It slowly evolves over the course of the novel that the love he feels for her is protective in nature. He abhors what her family has done to her, and will do anything in his power to make life better for her. Their love isn't overtly sexual; it's just pure and simple.

There is only one real spicy scene in the book, and it's almost at the end. That would be disappointing, except that Long writes their romance as if it is the most natural thing in the world, and sex isn't the endgame here. Here's an example: In the most recent book in the series, You Were Made to be Mine, Long uses sex to show how people can use it to heal. The FMC of that book had been sexually assaulted, and sex between the MCs was, in my opinion, only shown to highlight how two people have to trust each other to be that intimate. I think Lorcan and Daphne have a similar thing going on. Sex obviously isn't a big part of the story--or their "getting to know you" time. It happens as a natural result of pent-up feelings that surprised the hell out of the both of them. I mean, I think Lorcan is genuinely shocked when he realizes he loves her (or is even sexually attracted to her). It's such a gradual thing. Now, that's not to say there isn't any sexual chemistry. They start playing a parlor game between the two of them, and when they start making wagers, things get sexy. My fave part is how he plays the game with a straight face, all the while, talking about the dirty things he can do to women. He just keeps studying his next move in the game while he DIRTY TALKS. Yesssssss, please.

Daphne's story isn't that complex, and that's not an insult at all. In fact, I think the power of Daphne's backstory (neglectful, gambling father; indulged sons who are off gallivanting across Europe) is in it's ordinariness. Women during this time were constantly under the control of a man, and majorly dependent on them as well. Daphne is one of many women forced to pick up the pieces when things in the family go awry.

As for the rest of the book, it is full of humor (Lorcan and Mr. Delacorte in bed!) and emotion (Delilah and Tristan fighting!), and so much more. I laughed out loud quite a bit, especially when they start talking about cannibals (just trust me on this). A big part of this book is dedicated to the relationships between the other residents at the Grand Palace, not just Lorcan and Daphne. I was pleasantly surprised to find chapters of this book that were written between the OTHER couples in this book. This effect made it even more well-rounded than I thought it could. It was very communal in feeling. A bit like what I would imagine living at the Grand Palace on the Thames would be like. Even Lorcan finally admits that he wants a home like this, cozy and inviting. Something he's never had before.

The epilogue is a wonderful one, and avid readers of this series won't be disappointed. I'm already looking forward to the next one!!

**A huge thank you to Avon Books and Harper Collins for a copy of this book to read and review**

Thank you, NetGalley & Avon for my gifted advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own!

Glorious prose. Achingly raw emotions, characters, and both relationship and individual growth arcs. Sensual, tender, bursting with luminous hope. I loved it.

Also, divinely deployed tropes: forced proximity, fake marriage, opposites attract deliciousness. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for a DRC of this title.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue is my first book by Julie Anne Long, but definitely not my last. Long is a talented writer, imbuing Lorcan and Daphne with a poignancy and loneliness that shows how well-matched they are, despite coming from different worlds. Both characters are level-headed and mature; both have endured difficulties; both are used to being self-reliant— and neither ever expects to find love, which makes it all the sweeter when they do find it.

For readers of previous books in the Palace of Rogues series, they will get to see how two of these couples are faring (Delilah/Tristan and Angelique/Lucien). I’m sure that I would gotten more out of seeing these characters in HTTAWR if I had read the other books, but I still enjoyed meeting these characters and seeing their interactions with Lorcan and Daphne.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue is one of my favorite historical romances that I have read in 2023, and I will wholeheartedly recommend it to our patrons. 5 stars.

4.25/5. Releases 7/25/2023.

For when you're vibing with... fake marrieds, only one room in the middle of a crazy storm, pirate vibes without actual pirate problems, and a heroine who thinks it's too late for her to have passion (it's not).

Privateer Lorcan St. Leger runs into upper class Lady Daphne Worth when she's literally fleeing a bad job. Once untouchable, Daphne is now an on the shelf spinster, with no choice but to accept a dry marriage proposal from a sensible widower. Before she can do that, however, she's trapped weathering out a once-in-a-lifetime storm... with Lorcan posing as her husband, as he's the only one with money, and there's just a single room left at the Grand Palace on the Thames...

A classically romantic bottle episode of a book, How to Tame a Wild Rogue packs a lot of humor--and swooning heart--into a short timeframe. The Palace of Rogues has such a great setup, each book focusing on new guests at the same boarding house. Each one has its own unique flair, and I had a great time here.

Quick Takes:

--Here's the thing: this is a true whirlwind of a romance novel. Not much time passes, and for the most part, our characters are all locked in the Palace throughout the novel. The plot is pared down to some basic historical classics: a rogue and an uptight spinster virgin; she turns her nose up at him, he charms her; both have their own emotional scars to get past. But it's done so well, and there's a ton of charm and emotional progression executed in the short time they spend together on the page. It reads a lot like a classic romcom would, but with a historical twist... and better, because Julie Anne Long's writing style is so witty, so fresh, and so fun.

--In a lesser writer's hands, I think that in many ways Daphne and Lorcan's romance would read as a bit typical. But there was a real sense of melancholy to Daphne that touched me deeply. She had a chance at romance in the past, got burned, and due to the trauma of that experience, her leech of a father, and her own insecurities and lack of self worth, got relegated into this role of would-be maid, household manager, and withering would've, should've, could've been. It's quietly tragic, and this sense she has that the best of life has passed her by and there's nothing left to do but settle is kind of... relatable, honestly? I feel like like it's something everyone feels at some point, especially women.

It's cathartic to see her realize that not only has she not missed out on life--she's only now coming up on her best days. Right now, I kind of needed to read that, and I imagine I'm not alone. Obviously, it helps that she's rewarded by a hot privateer who somehow seduced me despite not being an asshole and actually having way less angst than the typical romance heroes I lean toward.

--One thing I found super interesting about this installment was how heavily it featured two previous couples in the series. Now, I do think this book can stand alone, as can any Palace of Rogues book. But the conceit of the series is that it centers on a boarding house run by two women, one of whom used to be a countess, and one of whom is that countess's dead husband's mistress (the husband sucked, they're friends now). In the first book, the widow fell in love; and in the second book, the former mistress. They're now both happily married, and you get a sizable subplot about them having light conflicts with their husbands--over past wounds, over financial worries regarding the boarding house. Very normal conflicts married couples would have, during which the two former heroines and the two former heroes have to work through their shit, bounce ideas off friends, and act in a very like... healthy... way?

I wonder how this will be received by fans of their books. For me, it was actually kind of refreshing to see two couples have actual issues to deal with in their HEAs. Nothing life-threatening, nothing too dramatic, but normal problems. And these two couples really haven't been married long in the series timeline--they're still getting to know each other and get used to conflict resolution. You got some humor, you got some emotion. I feel like I would normally be irritated with this amount of subplot taking away from the main romance, but it didn't really feel like that. It just offered a very interesting reading experience, and it added to the joy of reading a longer series like this one. There's been such a variety of love stories already; this "locked in by the storm" plot, some espionage-lite stuff, a very dark and dramatic previous installment, a bittersweet age-gap romantic comedy.

Also... I am so fucking interested in seeing what Julie Anne Long does with Dot, the kind of crazy, kind of ditzy maid we've seen throughout the series, now that there's a huffy-stern-hot footman working alongside her (and obviously falling for her). Am I gonna get a Dot/Pike novella? Or even a full-length book?

--The one thing I do think the timeline messed with a bit was the ending. It does get a bit rushed towards the end. Not to the point that anything is truly messed up, and Long's books usually do have a brisker pace. But there's a difficult balance to strike when you're having two people fall truly in love over such a short period of time, and I did kind of feel like a lot of things came at me at once in the last 25% or so.

The Sex Stuff:

Julie Anne Long doesn't write the most explicit or plentiful sex scenes, but she writes a hot book nonetheless. It's in the tension and the way it boils over, which this book exemplifies. There is a scene where the leads play a game that is so incredibly intense--and he's just describing things to her. But also: they do in fact bone down, and it is great.

I had a lovely time with this book. It's light without being unserious, and I think it will hit home for a lot of readers. So glad I got to read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

It's always wonderful to be back at the Grand Palace on the Thames! How to Tame a Wild Rogue started off with quite the epic meet cute/disaster and the sparks started flying immediately between Lorcan and Daphne. Their chemistry and banter was so good and the storm created the perfect forced proximity/fake marriage set up. It's a slower burn between these two, but I loved all the little ways they showed the other care and thoughtfulness (the sugar in the coffee and the orange *heart eyes*). Their struggles and concerns were understandable and I loved how they created this beautiful safe space for the other to just be. Lorcan's declaration at the end had me swooning and the epilogue was so satisfying. My Sagittarius heart was so full when I finished this one.

I loved seeing and getting updates on several of the characters from previous books and there's a particular scene with Mr. Delacorte that had me laughing so hard ("batten down the hatches")! I did feel that this took away from the main romance though and I do wish we would have gotten more time with Daphne and Lorcan. Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone, because of the abundance of cameos/POV shifts, I feel that this book would best be enjoyed after reading at least books 1 and 2. The interactions and moments between Tristan/Delilah and Lucien/Angelique will be much more meaningful. I'm hoping that little chapter of Dot and Mr. Pike means that we might someday see an enemies to lovers story for them too. This was a wonderful addition to the series and I can't wait to see who shows up next at the Grand Palace of the Thames!

CW: death of parent (past), financial insecurity due to parental gambling debts, emotionally manipulative/toxic parent, verbally abusive parent (past), history of/mentions of smuggling, MMC grew up in an orphanage/without housing or food security

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Julie Anne Long is my favorite author so I was looking forward to starting this book. And what a start!  We meet our leads in the first chapter. Lorcan St. Leger, a man at home on London's most dangerous streets is walking at night, headed for a famous brothel--readers of the series will know just where he is going--when he encounters Lady Daphne Worth escaping out a second story window with the help of a too short braided sheet. He offers to catch her--she's eight or so feet short of her goal and, very very warily, Daphne jumps. Straight into his arms. I cannot tell you how delighted this beginning made me. And I am pleased to report that the rest of the latest entry into Long's Palace of Rogues series is as excellent as its start.

After this very unusual introduction, Lorcan and Daphne make their way to The Grand Palace on the Thames  where, in true romance novel fashion, there is only one room--a suite--left in the inn. Even worse, Daphne is horrified to see that one of the proprietresses of the inn is none other than Lady Derring whom Daphne knows though the two have not seen each other in years. Thus, when Delilah asks, tentatively, if Daphne and the stranger (whom Dot, the housemaid, correctly assesses as a pirate) she's with are married, the answer has to be yes, something Lorcan goes right along with.

I loved this book.

Daphne, is exceedingly down on her luck. Daphne is one of three children of a viscount with a gambling habit. Their mother died when Daphne was eleven and Daphne took over the running of her home. Over the past twenty years, she's sacrificed everything for the men in her family all of whom seem utterly unaware of what her life is like. Part of that is on Daphne--she's worked to keep from her brothers, Charles and Montague, who are touring the continent, just how terribly things have become. First, Daphne was jilted by Henry, her fiancé, when he fell in love with his brother’s governess. Disaster struck again when she found out her father, a Viscount, gambled away their fortune along with her dowry. The two had to move into the caretaker’s cottage and rent out their home. Now almost thirty, with no way to pay their bills, Daphne had taken a job as a companion to the very unpleasant Mrs. Daggett, whose husband seemed to think part of Daphne's job was servicing him. After fending him off, Daphne escaped out the window, somehow hoping to find her way back home to her feckless father and come up with some other plan to save their family.

Lorcan was indeed a pirate--a smuggler--but became a respectable privateer for the king as a reward for helping Christian Hawks, Lord Redvers, the spymaster from You Were Made To Be Mine. Now he is back in England to pay off his ship and restock it for his next trip. He is familiar with the other men at the hotel. He saved Lord Bolt from pirates off the coast of Spain (Angel in a Devil’s Arms) and he and Tristan Hardy (Delilah’s husband) know each other from when they grew up in St. Giles. Hardy went on to make a name for himself as a blockade commander, tracking down smugglers for the crown. Tristan knew Lorcan was a smuggler but could never catch him and still doesn’t trust him. Lorcan tells himself the only reason he's helping Daphne is to get shelter on a rainy night. (It doesn't hurt that she has a lovely bosom.)

But the rain doesn't stop and the roads become flooded and impassable. Trapped in The Grand Palace on the Thames, Daphne and Lorcan work to become convincing as a married couple. Lorcan finds out Daphne loves oranges and finds her one. She says they are like the sun in the form of a fruit and Lorcan finds himself wanting to listen to whatever else she has to say. Lorcan appreciates the comforts of the hotel, the fresh sheets, soft bed, good food, companionship and of course, lovely Daphne. He, however, is just marking time until the rain ceases but Daphne, Daphne must make a plan for her future.

Thus, it should be a godsend when she receives a letter from the Earl of Athelboro with a wedding proposal. Yes, he is in his fifties, twice widowed with five children. She knows he's just looking for a mother for his children but if she married him she would be a countess and would have the money she needs to save her family. And, had she not met Lorcan, she most likely would have said yes.

But, as she and Lorcan share their suite--not a bed, they stay in separate rooms--she finds herself unable to commit to the Earl. Lorcan is fascinating, sexy, and surprisingly kind. There's a lovely scene where Lorcan braves danger to rescue a toddler who fell into the Thames. Lorcan, almost against his will, finds himself luring her into... something. He knows her virtue is necessary to her future as the bride of some toff, but oh how he wants her. I had to fan myself when the two played games of spillikins with very spicy wagers! Over the course of their week together, Lorcan falls hard for Daphne and she for him. And, as he listens to her story, he--like me--becomes enraged at how the men in her family have used her so poorly and made her think so little of herself. Lorcan sees her and he helps Daphne realize how precious she is. They are simply wonderful together.

Like other books in the series, we read lots about the inhabitants of the inn, many familiar and some new. We learn about Hardy and Bolt's business venture which is currently imperiled by a missing ship and more about Dot and Pike's continuing feud to see who should open the front door. While it’s fun to see favorite characters from earlier books, I felt like I was pulled away from the love story. It is so lovely and I wanted more time with Daphne and Lorcan.

Even with that caveat, How to Tame a Wild Rogue is a DIK. The ending of the book is so wonderful and uplifting and I finished the book with a great smile on my face. I'm happy to recommend this book as another entertaining addition to the Palace of Rogues series. I can't wait to see who Long writes about next!

Like most Julie Anne Long books, How To Tame a Wild Rogue is still one of the better of the historical romance genre in general, but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me in the ways that I wanted it to. I'll admit that I found the beginning to be rather slow and yet there still felt like a lack of build up between the two main characters.

It's hard not to love Lorcan - he's a privateer who wears an earring and never finds out that he's a secret gentleman or anything like that. He is who he first presents himself to be and that doesn't really change throughout the book.

Likewise, I enjoyed Daphne. She's very straightforward, no nonsense, and yet witty. Her past heartbreak added to a complexity of why she might be more inclined towards a loveless marriage.

And yet... I wish that the majority of the book had the same emotion that carried through for the last fifty or so pages. The ending really elevated things but everything leading up to it, including the secondary storylines that really didn't do much for me, all felt a bit low stakes and low suspense. I didn't really see why Lorcan and Daphne felt the need to lie about their relationship in the first place. I didn't know why Lorcan would do so, while I somewhat understood Daphne. The storm element never really felt like that much of a pressing issue, and there wasn't a huge amount of steam between the characters for a long while.

Like I said, I still love a Julie Anne Long book, but this one didn't hit as one of my favorites.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the latest book in the series and while characters from the other book play a role in this one, it can be read as a stand alone.
Lorcan is a privateer after years of being a smuggler after leaving St Giles. The night he returns home he sees someone trying to climb out of a window.
With a storm coming Lorcan and Daphne end up taking shelter at the Grand Palace on the Thames, only they must pretend to be a married couple in order to share a suite of rooms.
Sharing a room is one of my favorite tropes. I really liked how fast Lorcan fell for Daphne without even realizing. The side characters were okay but the time they spend alone was perfect. Lorcan was really charming and sweet and Daphne really came out of her shell with him.
The only thing I disliked for the name Lorcan. Can't wait for the next book.

I DEVOURED How to Tame a Wilde Rogue by Julie Anne Long! Her writing is captivating and beyond compare. How she could place the M/FMCs in a situation where not only are they trapped by a storm but they are stuck in a place with individuals who have connections to their past and how those connections correlate to their behaviours as we continue throughout the story.

I just loved how Daphne and Lorcan were with one another. Their interactions as strangers with their charade quickly became more, adding in the Spillikins wager, and their honest banter. I loved the sweet moments of kindness between them from Daphne putting the perfect amount of sugar into Lorcan's cup and him cutting up her scone the way she liked it to one of the most perfect fictional birthday gifts I have ever read in a novel. It literally brought me to tears. Actual tears. Julie Anne Long is an author who can write the most beautiful moving scenes where characters are simply having morning coffee together, or slicing and sharing an orange.

I LOVED how JAL gave us not only Daphne and Lorcan's POVs, but on occassion the POVs of our previous couples (Delilah & Tristan/Angelica & Lucien) and how being confined during the storm and with the arrival of Daphne and Lorcan, each connected to another charcter's past effects each couple. How with everything going on in the story and the tension from life and the storm things begin to feel as if they are slightly unraveling.
The notion that each character's past experiences effect their current behaviour no matter whether or not they have found what they believe to be their HEA is such a fascinating plot devise within this story. The shifting POVs especially with Delilah, Tristan, Angelica and Lucien provide such a wonderful backdrop for Daphne and Lorcan's story. And being able to see the evolution of their relationships is just a masterclass in Julie Anne Long's ability to create a story that can hold a reader's mind and heart.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a slow burn with a pirate and a nearly spinster, who are trapped together in an inn during a storm. And in order to be allowed to stay here, they have to pretend they are a married couple. Only they just met in an alley moments before when Lorcan stumbled upon Daphne climbing out of a window to escape.

The concept of this book is so good, This book is the gift-wrapped warm and fuzzy feelings from beginning to end. I absolutely love the fact that this is such a simple straightforward plot with a conflict that is not caused by miscommunication. Their relationship continues to develop and bloom the more they learn about one another. In fact, these two characters learn to be more confident around one another. They bring out each other’s personality and humor, which just shows how well matched they are for one another. And there is no reason for them to break up. The weather determines the timeline, and it is so smoothly done that I was fully immersed in the story the entire time. Nothing felt like this is unrealistic or that I wanted it to happen a different way.

There were also so many smaller details that I absolutely loved. All of the descriptions of the hero's hairy chest and forearms. And the scene when Daphne is mesmerized by his rolled up sleeves and bare forearms--I can 100% relate to her. The hairy descriptions just remind me of Roy Kent. Lorcan's personality and characterization are just amazing. I love when he spells out j-o-b- when speaking with Daphne. I love that he is so overprotective of Daphne when she tells him about how she needed to take care of her family: “What a fortunate thing it was then, that you had no feelings about your mother’s death at all”.

JAL does an amazing job of adding in personality to every line she writes:

"she was almost comically alarmed"
"Possibly as good as you are at..." she sighed "...fighting"
“Dropped it down over his head as if he were a parakeet in a cage. And perhaps a little too vigorously rubbed his hair. He squawked a little.”
“Have you seen my embroidery, Lorcan? Absolutely flawless. I can patiently render the most tedious of inspirational phrases on any pillow as smoothly as the finest calligraphy. My mending? Every stitch exquisitely straight and tiny. My knitting? Tell me whether you can see any light through these rows.”

And scenes in here just for humor, like the fart. That is for sure the funniest thing I have ever read in a romance novel. It was amazing, and Lorcan deserved it.

I guess my only critique would be that the characters did not undergo massive changes in order to be together--both of them had some subtle and non-heartbreaking positive changes. Lorcan maybe gave some things up whereas Daphne let some things go, but ultimately this was a very positive growth situation that made it so heartwarming.

I had also hoped that Lorcan would come across the letter and battle the Earl to a duel or something with how horribly he treated her, but I do like who and how he made some other people come to their senses, instead. Along these lines, I think he should have comforted her at least once when he heard her weeping in the other room, but as soon as he really was the one to mess up he waited a minute and then gave that speech though the door she didn’t have another night of crying.

And I do wish that he took her out to sea at least once, there is nothing more adventurous than traveling and for a woman who is trapped in a very restrictive society to get to set sail on new adventures. Though in my mind, they do this when they are in the honeymoon phase.

This is my first Julie Anne Long book, and it certainly won't be my last. I cannot wait to get a paper copy when this book comes out in July! I would also like to get this cover framed because this might be my favorite romance novel cover EVER.

Rating 4.5
Two people stranded together because of bad weather, Lorcan and Daphne poise as a married couple, and slowly come to the realization that they are better together than apart. This is an excellent story that tells of their growing attraction and the different people who come into their lives due to unforeseen circumstances. The story is very well written and entertaining. This is a story that is definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: historical romance
London docks, regency era

Lorcan St. Leger, rogue from the streets of St Giles turned smuggler and then privateer, has a fearsome reputation as “Your Lordship” commanding respect and awe on the streets and the seas. Lady Daphne Worth encounters Lorcan as she’s escaping through a window from a room near the docks. Raising obvious questions Lorcan knows better than to ask, he rescues her twice, before they make their way to the Grand Palace on the Thames seeking refuge from the storms bringing flooding to the London streets. When Dot greets them and informs them of the availability of only a suite, Lorcan and Daphne pretend to be a married couple. And thus begins their stay at GPOTT.

It’s always a pleasure to read a new book by Julie Anne Long. Wild Rogue has a delightful “snowed in” (it’s rain, not snow, but has the same effect), and it gives us a longer look at many of the other residents of the Grand Palace on the Thames. Like many of the other books in this series, this is a full cast ensemble. Alongside the primary romance arc of Lorcan and Daphne, we see bits of continued romance with Deillah and Tristan and Angelique and Lucien. I was very glad I recently reread the first two books of the series prior to picking up book six.

One of the things I love about Julie Anne Long’s writing is that she can bring subtlety to her writing as well as passion. Lorcan and Daphne silently agree to a fake relationship that they are suddenly forced to put additional effort into because GPOTT is “stocked with everyone we once knew.” And yet they make no rules, make no pretense with one another, and are simply interested in getting to know one another in such a way that their farce won’t be detected. There’s gorgeous longing and subtle small gestures to make you fall in love with Lorcan and Daphne as a couple.

In some ways, the later books in this series feel like a small town romance, where the small town is the Grand Palace on the Thames. Even with its comings and goings and bustling by the docks, it’s a reminder that the world is a small place, and two buildings can be a lovely beacon of homecomings.

Julie Anne Long is one of my favorite historical romance authors! She writes funny romantic historical romances with great characters! How to Tame a Wild Rogue doesn't disappoint. Thank you to net galley and the author for allowing me to read and review. Can t wait to continue to read more by this author.

Okay let me start with: would I stay at the Grand Palace on the Thames? Yes.

Would I read a book about Dot and Me. Pike? Also yes.

I really enjoyed How to Tame a Wild Rogue. Lorcan and Daphne were great characters. They meet when she’s using a bedsheet to climb out of a window. Talk about a meet cute. Then they end up sheltering from the storm of the century at the Grand Palace on the Thames… where they both know the owners so they have to pretend to be married.

Since they can’t really go out because of the storm, we’re treated to a fun cast of characters at the upscale boarding house. And some fantastic moments between Daphne and Lorcan.

They couldn’t be more different. He’s a privateer who looks like a pirate. She’s the daughter of an idiot viscount and is far too self sacrificing. But they help each other to see their worth and they can finally really be themselves around each other. She thinks oranges are like sunshine. He brings her an orange. I swooned.

Lorcan is a bad boy who can be a sweetheart and I was here for it. I really enjoyed them as characters, enjoyed their love story, and loved to see them grow!

I enjoyed this book, but was a bit confused at the beginning since I had not read any of the previous books in this series. I really liked how well Lorcan stood up for Daphne with her father. He was a great male main character.

What an esoterically romantic story. It was ethereal in it's beauty.
This review may contain spoilers.
This book is part of a series. This author is very talented in her ability to expose the reader to the beauty, fallacy and idiosyncrasies of love and romance. The reader is left grasping at the very air to try to capture the deep feelings that were drawn out during the reading of this book. I can honestly say, very few books leave me feeling so happy with life in general, knowing that someone has experienced a love so deeply fulfilling.
The heroine, Lady Daphne Worth, is older, about 30 years old and she is a spinster because the man she fell in love with at 20, and was supposed to marry, fell in love with his brother's beautiful governess. Then her father decimated their life with his gambling debts. The heroine's mother passed away when she was 11 years old, and from that time, she ran the house and took care of her father and brothers, who were lost in grief. She describes it as her duty and a showing of love for her family. But that dedication to duty had taken all of her. And she was trying to earn some money as a companion, when her employer's husband decided that part of her duties was a little 'slap and tickle'. The heroine is forced to make a sheet rope and leave out a window, in the middle of the night, during a storm, and seek shelter at a nearby boarding house. She miscalculated the length of her rope and to her luck, a man is waiting to catch her. He encourages her and she jumps, blindly, into his arms.
The hero, Loracn, St. Leger, is a scoundrel who has become a king pin in a semi-criminal ring. He has moved over to privateering, which is a legal criminal ring. He is referred to as 'lord', by numerous underlings and citizens of St. Giles slum. His life has encouraged him to pay attention but pay well and his workers are loyal to him. He has certain morals and values that are adhered to. And if not adhered to, he doesn't make that mistake again. His physical appearance is that of a pirate, right down to his earring and facial scar. He is a large man, but elegant.
One of the things that I really enjoyed about this story, was the amount of time spent on the hero's and other men's perspective and thoughts. I truly wish there were men who were so aware of what is going on. Usually we spend most of the story in the heroine's mind and thoughts. This story, spends more time with the men and how they are trying to be a good partner to their women. It was very refreshing.
And not once did the heroine run away instead of communicating. The heroine acted like a real.person who stood up for themself, like we should in real life. I have to say again, how refreshing.
This was a story that is worth every one of those 5 stars. Sometimes, I think I give 5 stars just for effort and I will try to adjust my rating in the future. I heartily recommend reading this book. I will say, there is an intimate scene, but it is more romantic erotica, than plain smut.

Just another beautifully written book by JAL. Her words are truly Heaven inspired and it always amazes me at how she can so clearly articulate emotion. This story has tons of the hilarious hallmarks of a JAL book, the midnight bed swapping, the fact that all the girls are a little in love with St. Leger. Loved seeing Dot's arc move forward a little and even the bits with St. John. A very fun book!

This is #6 in my favorite series! It won't be published until July, but I got an e-galley. Again, JAL knocks it out of the park. There is humor and pathos and despicable characters and heartbreak, and oh, yeah - a great love story.

Daphne has always been the nurturer, the caretaker, the planner - she took over running her father's household after her mother died. She did all the budgeting, menus, and more. She was ELEVEN. But she was really good at it. She got engaged to a lovely titled boy when she was 20, and life was good. But her father gambled away his fortune - including her dowry - and her fiance fell in love with a governess and dumped her.

Lorcan St. Leger clawed his way out of St. Giles and became a pirate. Now he's a semi-respectable "privateer" (which is basically a pirate with the blessing of the king). His veneer of respectability can't really hide his semi-feral state.

Lorcan and Daphne wash up at the Grand Palace on the Thames during a torrential storm. Getting the two of them to Happily Ever After is a lovely lovely tale. Also, it must be said, I ADORE DOT.