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Lady Derring Takes a Lover
Lady Derring Takes a Lover: The Palace of Rogues | Julie Anne Long
13 posts | 12 read | 7 to read
A mistress. A mountain of debt. A mysterious wreck of a building. Delilah Swanpool, Countess of Derring, learns the hard way that her husband, Dear Dull Derring, is a lot more interestingand perfidiousdead than alive. Its a devil of an inheritance, but in the grand ruins of the one building Derring left her, are the seeds of her liberation. And she vows never again to place herself at the mercy of a man. But battle-hardened Captain Tristan Hardy is nothing if not merciless. When the charismatic naval hero tracks a notorious smuggler to a London boarding house known as the Rogues Palace, seducing the beautiful, blue-blooded proprietress to get his man seems like a small sacrifice. They both believe love is a myth. But a desire beyond reason threatens to destroy the armor around their hearts. Now a shattering decision looms: Will Tristan betray his own code of honoror choose a love that might be the truest thing hes ever known?
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jdiehr
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Pickpick

My book club read book three in The Palace of Rogues series, and I just HAD to order the first two books to see how it all began.

I loved this story about two women left penniless after the death of the same man. One was his wife, the other was his mistress (gasp)!

They take a liking to each other, pool their resources, and vow to never have to depend on a man again.

I love Long's writing style and sense of humor.

Can't wait to start book 2

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jdiehr
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I had to work on Independent Bookstore Day so I sent my husband in to enter me in a raffle and pick up the books I had on hold.

Bless his heart.

Look at those titles/covers! 😂

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 11mo
Suet624 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 11mo
31 likes2 comments
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ElectricKatyLand
Mehso-so

This one didn't quite come together for me. Pros: the dialogue had sparks, and the set up of a widow and her husband's ex-mistress teaming up to run a boarding house was compelling. Cons: the hero was a cop trying to stamp out cigar smugglers, which I wasn't feeling at the moment, and the heroine's perspective felt overwritten at times. Overall a 7/10.

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SW-T
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Pickpick

This was a fun and refreshing read. A delightful romance with likable characters and a hint of mystery. 😊

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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

Book 3 done for #24b4Monday. This book was an absolute delight. A refreshing period #romantsy romp where our female protagonist is not the wallflower virgin but the widow so frequently maligned in the genre. The male protagonist isn‘t gentry but a Captain on a case. Very fun with a bit of mystery thrown in. Can‘t wait to read book 2!
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @jb72

Andrew65 Great total. 👏👏👏 5y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
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ScientistSam
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Pickpick

This was a lovely, charming, entertaining romance where a widow who is left destitute opens a boarding house... with an unexpected business partner. And when a Captain of the King's blockade stays undercover in search of a smuggling ring, sparks, of course, fly!

I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
4.5❤️

#romantsy

robinb I loved it too...but then again, I tend to love everything she writes! 🤣 5y
45 likes1 comment
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emtobiasz
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Panpan

I loved the idea of a man‘s widow and mistress working together to start a boarding house when he dies in debt and leaves them penniless. Unfortunately, the premise is the best part. I found the romance unconvincing and the two leads so invested in their traditional gender roles that I doubt this author and I will get along. Even the side plot of a smuggling ring mystery was childish.

Please give me feminist historical romance suggestions! #help

charl08 Tessa Dare's spinster cove - I love Miranda. 5y
Owlizabeth Eva Leigh‘s Wicked Quills of London! 5y
emtobiasz @charl08 @Owlizabeth thanks for the suggestion! Checking the first of both series out from Libby now 👍 5y
53 likes3 comments
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robinb
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Next up, a quick re-read of a 5⭐️ that I read about a month ago. I‘ve got a book club discussion about it on Thursday so I want to refresh my memory and highlight some favorite passages. It‘s always a pleasure to re-visit this author‘s stories. ❤️

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robinb
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Pickpick

There were so many good things about this book (and JAL‘s books in general). Her writing seems effortless as she literally crafts characters who become so real and dear that I never want to finish their stories. She is my very favorite historical romance author because I laugh out loud at her humor, feel deeply for her characters and become lost in her wonderful love stories. All the stars...5/5⭐️ Can‘t wait for next in series this fall! #romantsy

Angieville Yes!! All the stars. 5y
robinb @Angieville 👍🙌🏼🙌🏼 5y
ScientistSam I'm clearly going to have to read this series! 5y
robinb @ScientistSam 🤣🤣 I sounded a bit over-the-top, right??! 🤪😂 I‘m not sure if the book is just that great, or I‘m just so happy that she‘s writing historicals again...but I think it‘s both!! 😉🤷🏻‍♀️😀 And yes, I hope you‘ll read it...I‘d love to hear what you think. 😊 5y
56 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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robinb
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I‘m taking a break from the ARCs I‘m working my way through, to read one I purchased simply for the fact that I‘m 110% sure that I‘ll ❤️ it. This author has never disappointed me, either in historical or contemporary romance. And I‘m beyond thrilled that she‘s making a return to historicals with this first in a new series. I plan to savor this one! 😊😍
#romantsy

Angieville I loved this one so very much. 5y
robinb @Angieville I am loving every minute of it. 💜 Are you a Julie Anne Long fan too? (edited) 5y
Angieville Oh, yes! I binged the whole Pennyroyal Green series awhile back and then read her contemporary series. Which are your favorites? 5y
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robinb @Angieville I also loved the PG series and contemporary one (have only read the first one so far). I usually prefer historicals to contemporaries, but I‘d probably read a telephone book if she wrote it! 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♀️ I think my favorite of the PG was the last one (tagged)...I really, really loved that one! (edited) 5y
Angieville It was a fitting end to the series, I agree. I really loved 5y
robinb It has been YEARS since I read those early ones...I really need to do a re-read soon! 5y
robinb I think my favorite thing about her writing is her humor...I find myself laughing out loud (a lot!) in every book I read. 🤣🤣🤣 5y
58 likes1 stack add8 comments
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CoffeeK8
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My plan for this afternoon.

TheBookgeekFrau Such a cute mug! 5y
marie3blue Looks like a great plan! 5y
65 likes2 comments
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CoffeeK8
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This week‘s #libraryhaul, this should get me through Sunday‘s snowstorm 💕

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brownem
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Pickpick

Mature and nuanced romance. It‘s the story of a woman who is determined to be honest with herself, as well as others. Female friendships are well handled. The protagonists are respectful of each other as they navigate the historical setting. #romantsy