The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long: My Book Review
Julie Anne Long continues her amazing Palace of Rogues series with her latest release, The Beast Takes a Bride. Check out my book review of The Beast Takes a Bride below to see if this estranged marriage romance is a book worth reading.
The Beast Takes a Bride is the November 2024 Book of the Month for the She Reads Romance Books Book Club! Join today to join in the discussion!
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The Beast Takes a Bride
by Julie Anne Long
Category: Historical Romance
Tags: Married Couple, Forced Proximity, Wounded Hero, Strong Heroine
Series: The Palace of Rogues
Published October 2024
Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★
Book Boyfriend: ★★★★
The Beast Takes a Bride Summary:
He would pay any price to possess her. But even though Alexandra Bellamy sacrifices herself to save her family’s fortunes, a shocking betrayal sunders her marriage to a taciturn brute of a war hero, Colonel Magnus Brightwall, before it even begins. Five years of icy separation later, a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them, and Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever.
But alone in a suite at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a new battle begins—between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion stirring between them. The danger is real: Magnus rediscovers why Alexandra is the only woman who could ever break him. And even as she lays bare the beautiful heart beating beneath the battered hide of the near-stranger she married, Alexandra knows she may have already lost him—even as she finally falls fatally, irrevocably in love.
The Beast Takes a Bride: My Review
Julie Anne Long never ceases to amaze me with her talent in crafting such immersive historical romance novels that completely sweep you off your feet. She is one of my favorite historical romance authors and this book is yet another reason why she’s one of the best of all time.
The Beast Takes a Bride is book eight in her Palace of Rogues series. It can easily be read as a standalone but if you haven’t dived into this series be sure to circle back because they all are amazing and I wouldn’t want you to miss out.
In this book and every book she pens, Julie Anne’s words are a work of art. It’s why this book was our November 2024 selection for the She Reads Romance Books Book Club with no better historical author to introduce everyone to historical romance then Julie Anne Long.
I would honestly love to just get into her head and see the process for how she writes her masterpieces. From the opening scene at the jail, I knew that this book was going to be about another strong heroine who would hold her own against the strong, military leader in Magnus.
What would it feel like to have your hand in marriage bought by another and to have nothing to your name? That is where we find Alexandra, newly freed from jail and reunited with the man she married but whom she hasn’t seen since her wedding day five years ago.
Julie Anne Long does an amazing job of setting up their reunion in the present with flashbacks to the past where you can sense their connection then and now. The past scenes were so pivotal and illustrated not only what could have been but also the heartbreak from what happened after their ceremony.
I’m such a sucker for a quiet, stoic hero who every now and then comes out with these amazing quips as well as statements that just make you swoon. I totally fell for Magnus and the big heart that he guarded so closely.
Alexandra is the type of strong heroine that I adore in historical romances. She always put her family’s and other’s needs before her own and the one time she chose for herself, it started a period of purgatory that left her lonelier than ever. I loved her strength, her defiance and her ability to speak her truth even when it was difficult.
And maybe that’s what I loved best about this book. The ability for both Magnus and Alexandra to be truthful with one another, to be vulnerable, and to actually consider the other person’s feelings and viewpoint on such a pivotal moment in their lives.
Julie Anne Long never fails to evoke feelings that often times overwhelm me in the best of ways and I love her for it. I cannot recommend this book enough.
For audiobook lovers, Justine Eyre is the narrator for the series and is PHENOMENAL. There is just something about her delivery that makes listening to the audiobook the most immersive experience. I highly recommend them all!
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