Brazen and the Beast The Bareknuckle Bastards Book II

Didn’t like this as much as the first, but it’s probably because I like the chemistry between Dev and Felicity more

Not my fave of hers tbh

A return to historical romance ... When authors that you follow share a book ... then you add it to your TBR pile or library hold. Hattie and Beast’s story has it all ... ups and downs; sadness and love; witty dialogue and some steamy nights. This story has heart and HEA. It’s a story old as time and I never get sick of it.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy!! SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS SERIES!! As a Sarah Maclean fan, it’s no surprise how much I absolutely completely ADORE this book. I’ve fallen in love with Covet Garden and this world that Sarah has created and this book you guys! ITS SO WONDERFUL! The plot of fast paced and the writing is so addictive. Plus it’s so REFRESHING to read this kind of hero and heroine who are so STRONG and bring out the absolute best in each other by falling in love. Hattie is without a doubt a new favorite heroine of mine and I’m still swooning over Whitt. Hattie decides to take control of her life and begins the Year of Hattie with a bang when she finds a man tied up in her carriage and then eventually they propose a deal. She’s determined to rid herself of her virginity and take control of her father’s business no matter what it takes. The two fall into a fun chase of cat and mouse as they become “rivals” and fall head over heels in love. I love how strong Hattie is and how insecure she was with herself. I related to her so strongly that some of the things she said even made me get emotional because I totally understood exactly where she was coming from. I love how she learned how to accept herself and love herself. She knew exactly what she deserved and what not to settle for and it was so admiring. I think every girl who reads this book is going to see a bit of themselves in Hattie and then strive to be like her. Whitt, how I completed adore this man. Oh my god, he is wonderful. But of course he does have his flaws but the things that he would say to Hattie just had me swooning and fanning myself. He has such a beautiful way with words and I loved how he showed Hattie how much she was appreciated and loved. We know his past from the first novel but you could definitely pick this one up if you haven’t read the first one, although I highly recommend reading the first book in the series before coming into this one as they’re both fantastic and you get more time with the Bareknuckle Bastards because let me tell you, this is a world you won’t want to leave. And this book is HOT!!! SO SO STEAMY!!! SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION! And the sex scenes, WOW! So so good!! Sarah’s writing just continues to blow me away with each novel I pick up from her and I can’t even begin to tell you all how much I’m dying for the next book in this series! I’m so ready for Ewan and Grace!! IM SO EXCITED!! But I’m also super excited for everyone to get their hands on this book when it comes out July 30th!!

I really enjoy this series and this book was just as enjoyable as the first, if not more. One thing I preferred is that the main male character isn't always called his moniker "beast" by the heroine. She calls him Mr. Whittington, or Savior, or Whit in addition to Beast. I thoroughly enjoyed how less deceitful Beast was than Devil. It was a wonderful and thrilling read, full of steamy romance. One element I love about this series is that it features strong women shucking society's expectations of women at that time. Hattie, the main character, is considered a spinster and decides she is going to get everything she wants starting on her 29th birthday. Body, Business, Home, Fortune, Future. And Whit or Beast is more than happy to help her accomplish her dreams. They end up being equals, and I find that truly wonderful. Especially, when Hattie pulls off a major accomplishment in retaliation for something stupid Beast does. It was truly a remarkable historical romance, and we got teasers for Grace's story and what will happen to Ewan. I can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend you pick up this series if you enjoy historical romances that are well thought out and full of women empowerment.

I have meh feelings about this one. It didn't stick with me as much as the first. Still good.

I official own three copies of Brazen and the Beast and sorry not sorry I'm keeping them all. I re-read my favorite book of 2019 via audio book, and let me tell you a grunting hero is a glorious thing to hear. Hattie and Whit are my ride or die couple and I'll be re-reading their story for years to come. Sheer and utter perfection. I am here for #yearofhattie, Carrick bend knots used for sexy reasons (OMG JUST WAIT), and Beast, oh Beast. MacLean has done it again and I cannot wait for everyone to read this book. Full review to come closer to the publication date. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reading copy! A lady determined to raise the sails on her own future inadvertently brings an underworld king to his knees when she discovers him trussed up in her carriage on her birthday. Hattie wasn't looking for this man for her birthday, but he turns out to be her utterly perfect Beast. Watching this savvy business woman fight for her future and for the man she loves is an absolute delight, and a must read, especially for fans of other historical romance authors who bring together the ballroom and the smuggler's den, like Sophie Jordan or Julie Ann Long. If you haven't yet read Sarah MacLean, what are you waiting for?

I really, really wish I didn’t struggle with this series like I do. Sarah MacLean is one of my favorite historical romance authors (she gave us the Rules of Scoundrels series, which I worship), but the Bareknuckle Bastards series just doesn’t seem to be working for me. It’s not BAD, but it’s not that great either. I found myself bored more than anything with Brazen and the Beast, which was the same issue I had with book one, Wicked and the Wallflower. The plot moved too slowly that I had to skim parts of the book. The only saving grace to this book was Hattie, but even she wasn’t enough to make me love this one. Henrietta “Hattie” Sedley decides to make her 29th birthday the start of “The Year of Hattie,” in which she claims control of her life in terms of fortune, business, home, and future. I LOVED Hattie in the first half of this book. She was an awesome, head-strong woman who took charge of her life and didn’t look back. Unfortunately, one major bump in the road to The Year of Hattie is Whit, the second half of the Bareknuckle Bastards and co-ruler of the darker side of London. He sees Hattie and wants her, though he thinks he’s not good enough for her. What he will help her out with is her body – he’s determined to show her all the carnal pleasures of life, but nothing more. The first half of this book went great – I was excited for Hattie, excited to see how she’d manage her new life with the addition of Whit. She is very much an endearing, relatable heroine. The second half of the book however, went a little downhill for me. The plot felt like it stalled – Hattie claiming her father’s business didn’t go anywhere, Whit kept going on and on about not being good enough for Hattie and going hot and cold with her. The only thing that happened was more and more sex – which is great, but I also wanted to see more of The Year of Hattie besides her learning about her body. So yeah, I struggle with this. I think by the end of the book I was reading it for the secondary characters more than anything. I liked Hattie but didn’t care for Whit. SM tried to make Whit (and his brother) seem dark, dangerous, and broody, and while he is broody, he’s just not the dangerous character she writes him out to be. SM’s writing is great, and I did enjoy seeing little snippets of past characters from the Scandal & Scoundrel series. I’m clinging onto this series for the couple in the third and final book – Grace and Ewan’s story. They have been teased and hyped throughout the series and I am PRAYING that it won’t disappoint!

As fun as this series is, this book felt very similar to the first one, plot-wise, until about the last ten percent or so. I still enjoyed it, but some scenarios and conversations made me feel like they could have been swapped with similar ones in the first book and I’d have never known. Plus, the chemistry and angst in the first book just felt more natural. That said, I am ready to love the next book. It’s the story I’ve been dying for in this series!