REVIEW: Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long

Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long is the second book in The Palace of Rogues series. The author’s talent for writing witty dialogue and great descriptions were great as always.

Angelique Breedlove was previously a mistress to Lord Derring and upon his death was left with nothing. Angelique and Delilah Hardy (previously Lady Derring) opened The Grand Palace on the Thames, a boarding house, with the hope of providing their guests a comfortable place to live. They had rules which encouraged the guest to mingle together, creating a family atmosphere. Angelique had come to terms with her past and was happy with the future they had planned.

Lucien Durand, Viscount Bolt, was supposed to have drowned ten years ago in the Thames. He has returned to London for revenge on the person who had ruined his and his mother’s life. He was the bastard son of the Duke of Brexford and the Duchess had succeeded in having them removed from their home in his youth and then later had him thrown into the Thames. He didn’t understand how his father was so loving and then one day destroyed their lives at the whim of his new wife. He only saw the Duke through the eyes of a young boy and not the real man the Duke was.

Angelique and Lucien both fought the desire they felt build between them. Angelique was afraid of being hurt again and felt it best not to give into the temptations of Lucien. Lucien coming to terms with the truth of his father, realized that his future had changed, and he was determined to have Angelique part of it.

I am a huge fan of this author, but I was a little disappointed in this book. I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I missed the story of how Angelique and Delilah meet and opened a boarding house, The Grand Palace on the Thames. I missed the struggles and emotions the women had gone through to open the boarding house. That could have contributed to why I felt the book dragged and was hard to connect with during the first part of the book. Once I got to the middle of the book, my interest was caught, and the book became interesting.

The characters were great, and I loved their witty dialogue and conversations. It did seem hard to connect with them at first, but as the book progressed it was easier to feel their emotions.

Overall it was worth reading and could have been better if I’d have read the first book.

Book Info:

Traci| 4 Stars | HJ Recommends | No |
Publication: October 29th 2019 | Avon | The Palace of Rogues #2

He has devil’s blood in his veins. At least, that’s always been the legend. How else could the Duke of Brexford’s notorious bastard son return from the dead? The brutal decade since Lucien Durand, Lord Bolt, allegedly drowned in the Thames forged him into a man who always gets what—and who—he wants. And what he wants is vengeance for his stolen birthright…and one wild night in Angelique Breedlove’s bed.

Angelique recognizes heartbreak when the enigmatic Lord Bolt walks into The Grand Palace on the Thames, and not even his devastating charm can tempt her to risk her own ever again. One scorching kiss drives home the danger.

But in the space between them springs a trust that feels anything but safe. And the passion—explosive, consuming—drives Lucien to his knees. Now his whole life depends on proving his love to a woman who doesn’t believe in it…because his true birthright, he now knows, is guardian of Angelique Breedlove’s heart.