Angel in a Devil's Arms by Julie Anne Long

November 11, 2019
Gush Alert!

http://www.julieannelong.com/
Wow! Have we voted for the best book of the year yet? Well, if not, Angel in a Devil’s Arms gets my vote. In the continuation of her Palace of Rogues series, Julie Anne Long delivers a book that is everything a romance should be.

Where to begin? Where to begin?  Well, in case you don’t know, Angel in a Devil’s Arms is a part of The Palace of Rogues series. If you don’t remember this series, this is the one about a dead Lord Derring. He has died and left his wife a run-down old building that used to be a brothel. To his mistress, he left nothing. As luck would have it, while Lady Derring is conferring with the solicitor, the mistress, Angelique Breedlove, barges in. Long story short: Delilah, aka Lady Derring, and Angelique confer over a cup of tea, they go to the dilapidated house, see possibilities, become partners in establishing a boarding house. They call their venture The Grand Palace on the Thames. Then Delilah and Angelique become friends. Friends. There is a strong sense of camaraderie in this series.  Ms. Long is building a small little world contained within the walls of The Grand Palace on the Thames. While Angel in a Devil’s Arms is a romance, the supporting cast contributes a strong narrative. I, for one, am enjoying this world and the people who inhabit it.

Let’s start with the hero, Lucien Durand, Viscount Bolt, and his heroine Angelique Breedlove. Both of these characters have troubled past, so they could really be over-the-top angst-filled boo-whoers, but they are not. They have a right to hold grudges against the world. In fact, when the story begins, Lucien is contemplating revenge. Thankfully, the revenge is never anything horrible, nor does it diminish the story. Why is he contemplating revenge? Well, I’ll tell you in a condensed form. He and his mother were living a comfortable life, until his father married another woman. The other woman didn’t like the idea of her husband’s bastard son calling attention to himself, so she hired someone to shove him in the Thames. For a number of years, it was thought he was dead, but he wasn’t. He was out being a pirate or something, and becoming rich. Now, he is back in London. That’s where the revenge comes in. While he’s seeking revenge, he’s living at Delilah and Angelique’s The Grand Palace on the Thames. It is there that he first encounters Angelique Breedlove. He plans to seduce her. Time to ponder this seduction.

Hot Lucien. Lucien is one of the most seductive heroes I’ve come across in a long time. It isn’t just his looks, which by the way are devastating. It’s his words. He has a way with words that would turn anyone into a big puddle of blubber. I know my heart would go pitter-pat if his words were directed my way. Well, Angelique is made of sterner stuff. She’s one unique, smart cookie. She’s not having any of his charms. So, they become friends. When Lucien becomes Angelique’s friend, he makes a conscious choice to change for her, to become what she needs.

Angelique was also a great character. She’s been hurt by a number of men from her past whom she trusted. She is a little skittish when it comes to showing her true self to people. She is comfortable with the group of people who reside at the boarding house. And, Lucien makes her very uncomfortable. The dialogue between Lucien and Angelique is magical. At no time in this story did I become tired of the narrative.

Let’s talk about the secondary characters. What a great bunch of supporting cast! All the characters are unique, with their own little oddities. They bond together to make a strong friendship. They are almost like a family in their care and respect for one another. Do you remember Mr. Delacorte from Lady Derring Takes a Lover? Let me refresh your memory. He is the one who is marketing the ground-up testicles of exotic animals. Well, he’s back, and he’s just as outrageous as he was in the previous back.

Historical accuracy. For all of you historical accuracy naysayers out there who will question how an illegitimate person became a Viscount, let me say one word. Inherit. Yes, inherit is the magic word. While it is impossible for an illegitimate person to inherit a title, it is possible for a person to have a title conferred upon them. There were two ways to do that: by writ of summons, and by a letter of patent. To be honest, I don’t know anything about the process. I would guess if a father, or another person of power had enough money and clout, they could get what they wanted. Let me just drop a few names: James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, and Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset. And, that’s just three. Yes, their fathers happened to be kings, but while monarchs do the conferring, I would imagine if one kissed a royal behind or two, one could get a title conferred. From what I was able to grasp, even illegitimate women were eligible to have a title conferred upon them. Rule of thumb, don’t always go with your gut. Sometimes your gut is not completely right. It doesn't hurt to do some checking, even when some of the things you're checking make your itty-bitty gray cells hurt - like English peerage laws.

Overall. I loved this book. It was a pure joy to read. The heroine was a strong, adorable woman, and the hero was delicious. The secondary characters were fabulous. I’m running out of adjectives! And, the words, ahhhh, the words. The Angel in a Devil’s Arms is a book full of beautiful, textured words, and those words make for a flawless story.

What are you waiting for? You must read The Angel in a Devil’s Arms!

Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Hot