New York Times Bestselling Author Sarah MacLean returns with the next book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series about three brothers bound by a secret that they cannot escape—and the women who bring them to their knees.
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 … 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.
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Can’t wait for the third installment of The Bareknuckle Bastards. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading Wicked and the Wallflower first for more of the back story.
I couldn’t put this down!
You may think you’re ready for Hattie. You’re not. She is amazing! Love, love, LOVE this book!
This book was simply beautiful.
I am going to spend most of my review discussing Hattie. She is everything. She is every insecurity and imperfection we all have. She is smart, funny, charming and so brave. And these are things she has no doubt of. However, she still feels like she’s less. Not pretty enough. Or thin enough. Or petite enough. We all live in these insecurities (maybe not these specifically) and while she knew where she came up short, she plowed through where she came up strong. It was such a treat to see her agonizing over the things she thought every man wanted but going head to head over business and her love and shine so brightly.
Not to mention the world we live in, this misogyny still rings true. But Hattie didn’t care. This is her world and we’re living in it. She really was completely perfect with vulnerabilities and strengths that made her so relatable.
And Whit. What can I say? Hard headed. Possessive. Protective. Damaged. Fears he can’t love. Hattie brought all those feelings to the surface; she brought out the best in him. I’m relieved there was a Whit POV or else he would have come off like a mega jerkface.
It was everything i could have wanted.
I am quite curious how Ewan is going to be redeemable. I suppose we’ll find out next year.
This is #2 in the Bareknuckle Bastards series.
“The Lady’s Plan”
Lady Henrietta Sedley’s 29th year will be her own. She has plans to inherit the family business, and make her own fortune and way in the world. She has planned to visit brothel to have a taste at the intimacy she won’t have as a spinster. She thinks everything is going as planned until she finds a very handsome man tied up in her carriage.
“The Bastard’s Proposal”
When Whit comes to in a carriage at the feet of Hattie, he is intrigued by the woman who lets him loose from the ropes. He is known to all the world as beast and he is a king of Convent Garden. When he finds out Hattie is headed for an episode of pleasure in his own part of the Garden, he offers Hattie his own bargain to fulfill her desires.
“An Unexpected Passion”
Next thing they both know, Hattie and Whit are equals in pursuits of pleasure and livelihood. She has no intentions of giving up her plans, and he has none for giving up his control. Once they find themselves in close connection with each other, they will have to compromise. Will they lose everything along with their own innermost feelings?
I just adore Sarah MacLean and her books! This one was romantic, humorous and steamy. I loved that Hattie was not your typical heroine. I loved how she stood out against the norm and made her life what she wanted.
I just can’t express how much I loved this book. As an author, it reminded me what I love about romance and rekindled my passion for writing it.
Whit is the best hero so far in this series. So romantic. Best Meet-Cute ever.
10 stars!!!
This story had me right from the beginning. The opening scene was entertaining, and it only got better from there. The romance blew a little hot and cold, which isn’t usually my thing, but I loved the rivalry and the emphasis on them being each other’s equal. Hattie was a breath of fresh air compared to other regency heroines in that she knew exactly how clever she was and what she was worth, and wasn’t afraid to say so. Whit might be one of my favorite of McLean’s heroes (although he’ll need to get in line behind Duncan West). I loved how much he cared for people and I’m a sucker for gruff heroes, especially ones who like to talk dirty!
“Oh my.” Indeed! “The man had the most beautiful face Hattie had ever seen. The most beautiful face anyone had ever seen. She leaned closer, taking in his warm, bronze skin, the high cheekbones, the long straight nose, the dark slashes of his brows, and the impossibly long lashes that lay like sin against his cheeks.” Sigh… So that is Hattie’s first glimpse of Whit, or rather known as Beast, a king of Covent Gardens. He and his brother Devil (scrumptious book 1) are known as the Bareknucke Bastards. He ends up trussed up in Lady Henrietta’s carriage somehow and she just pushes him out so she can go on with her planned night since it is her 29th birthday. Oh yes, she has plans, but we all know how those often go?
Sarah MacLean has written a wonderful story with all the amazing ingredients of a heroine who knows her own mind and is determined, an unexpected meeting that led to all kinds of adventure, a sigh worthy hero, humor and great dialogue, an attraction off the charts, betrayal, emotions off the scales, good and bad, and a journey to a happy ever after fraught with a few challenges! Oh and let’s not forget the steam rising off the pages!
Amazing! Loved this story so much!
Beauty and the Beast? No, thank you, I’ll take Warrior and the Beast!
Where do I even start with how much I loved this book?! From the Year of Hattie, to Whit the protector, to Nik and Nora (I’m going to need that story Sarah MacLean!) everything just hit with the right note for me.
I know some readers had issues with Hattie’s weight being an issue, but for me it was so real. I’ve been Plus-size my whole life and while I’m extremely confident in who I am, I still have moments of doubt and hurt that get in my head and impact the way I see myself, others, and certain situations. So thank you, Sarah, for making that a part of the story.
I absolutely adored how much and how fast Whit loved his Warrior Hattie and how she was the hero of not only her story but his as well! As I was drooling over the cover of this book, I asked myself why Sarah’s books never have the hero on the cover. After reading Brazen and the Beast I would say that this book unequivocally featured the hero of this story on the cover in a stunning teal dress with a full bosom and hips!!!
Sarah came through with a plus size heroine, an amazing, to-die-for, hero and a humorous, rich story that kept me turning pages until I finished at 4AM. It’s not necessary to read Wicked Wallflower firs, but I would recommend it only because it makes this story feel so much richer if you know the world.
A must read!
Because this is the second book in the series and because there is an overarching arch plot involving all three brothers, there was a danger that it could become a gap fillers until the last book is released which is usually the fate of some books in other series. Not so Brazen and the Beast. In fact it was almost jarring when that overarching plot was introduced past the middle of the book, since Hattie and Whit has charmed and made me so invested in their relationship. I loved how these two finally get together and how Hattie did get her independence not so it was given to her but she took control simply by outsmarting all the men including Whit. I am now ready for the next book, bring on Ewan and Grace!
Hattie is unforgettable. Whit is a great match for her. Cried and cried. Loved it! Can’t wait for Ewan and Grace’s story.
Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean is book 2 in The Bareknuckle Bastards Series. This is the story of Saviour ‘Whit’ Whittington and Henrietta ‘Hattie’ Sedley. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book.
Hattie is turning 29 and feels this is her year to do as she wants. Which is to learn about passion and be running her father shipping businesses. On her first night of moving forward in her goal she finds a man passed out in her carriage. Of course she wakes him up he ends up kissing her but she kicks him out and moves forward to meet her goal of passion. Whit is known as the Beast and his brother is known as the Devil…they are named together the Bareknuckle Bastards. They know most everything going on in the Covent Gardens. So when was attacked and placed in that carriage he knows that the women he kissed knows more of what happen to him. So he goes forward to find her. Hattie did learn that her brother was involved with the incident and that it is worst than she thought. A deal is struck between Whit and Hattie but the passion they have between them might just change the ending.
Loved their story and this series.
I adored this book. Like, ADORED.
For real I would buy anything Sarah MacLean writes. A novella, a blog post. A shopping list. *Anything* at all. But also, this book resonated with me in 2019 in a new way. Hattie is not taking any more sh*t from anyone. The story opens and she is DONE, ready to take charge of her life. She is so unapologetically independent and I love it.
Whit is the perfect hero for Hattie. He believes in her and only wants to get out of her way (at first) so that she can live her best life. He respects her when no one else does, and I pictured him with heart eyes every time he and Hattie were in the same room.
There is a theme about seizing the day that runs through many of Sarah’s books, but it’s very apparent in Brazen and the Beast. Live NOW because you may not have tomorrow. Do all the things before it’s too late. It’s your life, you only get one, so make the most of it.
And the plot is bonkers.
It’s so, so good!
The Year of Hattie is extravagantly, delightfully Delicious!!!
Brazen and the Beast should come with a warning label. My thermometer read 97 outside and while chilling in the air conditioning, the heat from the pages of this book almost caused me a case of heatstroke. Lady Henrietta Sedley has declared her 29th year to be the year of Hattie. This year she will secure her career, happiness, and her future and the only thing standing in her way is her pesky chastity that she already has plans for. Plans have a way of going awry, especially when the most beautiful man she has ever seen is tussed up in her carriage and she knows her brother is to blame. The Beast is feared by all but Hattie as she stands head to head with him protecting her family and plans. Bold and sassy, Hattie goes after what she wants and makes a deal with the Beast. Caring more than he should, the Beast must give up what he loves in order to save it. Stubborn as mule, Hattie doesn’t take no for an answer. Clever and amusing, Brazen and the Beast entertains from page one with unforgettable characters and an incredible story line that left me a little bit in love with the Beast.. Hattie and the Beast’s love story will have you cheering, crying, and laughing before it plays out in a satisfying HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
Each Sarah MacLean book in this series makes me crazy for the next one. I’m sure the next one (two? Please?) will be BANANAS.
This is Book #2 of the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I bought Book #1 Wicked and the Wallflower and thought it was OK. This book was. much better. The Beast “Whit” is the hero of this book. The book begins with him unconscious and bound in a carriage and discovered by Lady Henrietta Sedley “Hattie”. She is leaving her home with her friend Lady Nora for a night of adventure. When he wakes up she questions him and figures out who he is. She throws him out near Covent Garden and resumes her trip. This begins a dance of attraction, banter and flirting. Both have a great deal to overcome. Hattie wants to achieve freedom and run her father’s shipping business – to prove she is a worthy heir despite her being born a female. Whit is a caretaker/protector who is trying to overcome the trauma he experienced when he was a child. All of the Bareknucle Bastards experienced trauma and abuse at the hands of the Duke of Marwick. I won’t spoil the story but there is hint at who will be featured in the next book.. Beacuse this book was so good, I am now looking forward to the third one.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Avon for this ARC