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Review: Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards #2) by Sarah MacLean
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Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #2
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published July 30th 2019 by Piatkus
Goodreads Synopsis
The Lady’s Plan
When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun.
The Bastard’s Proposal
When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires…for a price.
An Unexpected Passion
Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power . . . and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything . . . including their hearts.
Goodreads
Review
As soon as I had finished Wicked and the Wallflower, I knew I had to start book 2. Brazen and the Beast follows Lady Henrietta Sedley, also known as Hattie, as she tries to prove to her father and brother that she is more than capable of leading the family business, what should be her business, and the fact that she is female is no handicap. When she decides that her twenty-ninth year is the 'Year of Hattie', starting with a visit to the exclusive Covent Garden bordello, she's shocked to find one of the Bareknuckle Bastards tied up in her carriage. Realising her brother has got them into a world of trouble, she comes to an agreement with Beast to restore their his wealth, with interest, in exchange for the safety of her family, and for him to help her in her endeavours. Beast has no intention of keeping all of his promises - after all, no one crosses the Bastards - but he can't help being intrigued and drawn to Hattie at every turn. When it becomes clear that Ewan is involved in the thefts, and he knows all about Beast's feelings for Hattie, can Beast let her go?
I was always intrigued by Beast/Whit in Wicked, and knowing that the second book was his book, I couldn't wait to see who his better half would be. And, my god, is Hattie, perfect for him. They are equals in every way, and, honestly, it's as if they were made for each other. Hattie has never felt special, sort of how Whit felt as a child in Marwick's clutches, but when she is with Beast, it's like she is everything! I love how powerful she is too, and how she is trying to take control of her life, for once, and not letting the fact she's female stop her achieving her goals. She knows what she wants and she's going to grab it. Beast was charming, and gruff, and a complete softy at heart once we saw the softer side to him. Since he, Devil, and Grace escaped for Marwick, he's always felt as though he had to prove something, and that's when he started fighting, and developing his 'Beast' persona. He couldn't let his guard down, not really, not when Ewan has returned, but his frosty outside was definitely crumbling the more his was with Hattie. I mean, the scene towards the end at the dockyards, and after, just killed me! Talking of fantastic scenes, I knew that the final book would be Ewan and Grace's story, but knowing that Grace now has him in her clutches, is making me more overjoyed I have an ARC of Daring and the Duke, because I can't wait!
Dates Read:
May 28, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
