givemaribooks's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was not great. I found the pacing to be slow, and it took forever for the story to get going. It also felt like the side characters took up too much time, and took away from the focus on the MCs. And since the couple do not meet until like 30% this means that it felt a bit too insta-love for me, which I usually do not mind but I don't think it worked in this story. Christian was crushing on Aurelie just from a picture and then fell for her right away, which made me wonder if it was in part due to his obvious PTSD from his time in prison. And Aurelie falling so fast and trusting him so much came off as naive. She had literally just learned that not all people can't be trusted and she has been very sheltered, but trusts this man right away. And do not even get me started with this author's continuous disregard for the pregnancy. I had the same issues with the previous books because it makes me dislike the men for not trying to prevent pregnancies considering they are the more experienced ones and the ones with less to lose if the women become pregnant.
*small spoilers* I know not everyone reacts the same to sexual assault, but the author chose to make rape a plot point and then did not have follow through. She had Aurelie not acting with the caution someone who had been recently raped would likely act. Aurelie even mentions that she trusted the wrong man because of her naiveté and need to be loved, but then jumps into the relationship with Christian with very little thought or fear. I get that the author likely did not want to make the story darker by actually exploring Aurelie's feelings about the rape, but then she should not have used rape as a plot point and come up with a different reason for her to have run away. *end spoiler*
I also do not like that the author did not include a content warning.
CW: rape of fmc off page, possible PSTD from time in prison.
*small spoilers* I know not everyone reacts the same to sexual assault, but the author chose to make rape a plot point and then did not have follow through. She had Aurelie not acting with the caution someone who had been recently raped would likely act. Aurelie even mentions that she trusted the wrong man because of her naiveté and need to be loved, but then jumps into the relationship with Christian with very little thought or fear. I get that the author likely did not want to make the story darker by actually exploring Aurelie's feelings about the rape, but then she should not have used rape as a plot point and come up with a different reason for her to have run away. *end spoiler*
I also do not like that the author did not include a content warning.
CW: rape of fmc off page, possible PSTD from time in prison.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: War
solacelight's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So close to a 5, I just wished there was more romantic buildup.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Cursing, and Rape
Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, War, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol and Pregnancy
kathleenmcg's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’m no longer giving 5 stars to books without diversity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Rape, and War
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
overflowingshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Returning to The Grand Palace on the Thames ( or TGPOTT as it’s referred to) is like being welcomed home by a dear friend. I adore the Palace of Rogues series so much, and every book I read from Julie Anne Long solidifies her place as one of my favorite historical romance writers. You Were Made to Be Mine is one of the more emotionally heavy books in the series, but Long crafts a beautiful tale of love and resiliency with the romance of Hawkes and Aurelie.
Lady Aurelie Capet fled from France and her fiancé, the Earl of Brundage. To get her back, Brundage enlists the help of legendary spymaster Christian Hawkes, recently released from a French prison for spying. While Hawkes agrees to help Brundage, he has his own motives for doing so as he suspects Brundage is a traitor to the Crown and the reason he ended up in prison. After having her worldview shattered, Aurelie escapes France and ends up at the Grand Palace on the Thames – a little heaven of safety – before making her way to America to meet with her brother. However, when Hawkes falls through the front door of TGPOTT – literally – an unexpected spark alights between Hawkes and Aurelie as they slowly unravel each other’s secrets. Hawkes must balance his growing attraction to Aurelie with his employment by Brundage and his duties to the Crown, while Aurelie needs to reconcile what she wants from her future.
If there were ever a book to make me believe in soulmates, this would be that book. Hawkes and Aurelie felt meant for each other and found each other at the exact right time. It’s risky to have the couple meet for the first time nearly a third of the way into the book, but somehow it worked perfectly in this book. From Hawkes and Aurelie’s first conversation, everything just felt…right. The banter and conversation flowed naturally, and they had a connection that couldn’t be denied. While a lot of the development of their romantic relationship happens in the last 20% or so of the book, I didn’t mind as it just felt right. There was chemistry and attraction between them, but their emotional connection went much deeper than that, making the relationship timeline work.
When it comes to Hawkes and Aurelie, these two were incredibly nuanced and well-drawn characters. Both had been betrayed by those closest to them and dealt a cruel hand by fate. They both suffered different kinds of pain, but I admired that they didn’t let that break them. They turned their pain into strength.
I quickly fell in love with Hawkes as I admired his tenacity, humor and protective nature. This man has a vendetta about Brundage, but he’s willing to go about it slowly and methodically to destroy the man. He knows what he wants and will do anything to get it. I loved his protectiveness – it’s not an overbearing type of proactiveness but one more driven by love and preventing someone you love from feeling pain. His personality sparkled and drew me in as he frequently made me laugh with his little quips. He’s good at what he does and getting others to give him the information he needs, and I loved that. Oh, he’s also got a tattoo, and that’s just hot in a historical romance.
Aurelie is a different kind of strong female lead than I expect. This girl – I just wanted to hug her. All she wanted her whole life was to be loved and wanted. When she thinks she got that, she’s betrayed and violated in the worst possible way. Her worldview got upended, but she doesn’t let that destroy her or define her but instead takes her fate into her own hands. She has a quiet sort of strength to her and confidence that most people overlook. She’s a survivor, and I love how Long handled her emotional journey following what happened to her with Brundage.
Speaking of Brundage, my god, is that man the WORST. He’s an entitled, narcissistic, traitorous pig and I loved watching Hawkes work alongside Hardy, Bolt and the Duke of Valkirk to bring him down. I also really enjoyed the spy/espionage intrigue woven into the plot of this book, as it brought more action than I was expecting.
Outside of our main characters, You Were Made to Be Mine featured many familiar faces from previous books. More so than other books in the Palace of Rogues series, this felt like a full ensemble piece as we got many scenes with some of our previous couples, primarily Angelique and Bolt and Delilah and Hardy. I loved some of the callbacks to earlier books and seeing how these characters and their relationships have grown. My favorite secondary characters, Dot and Mr. Delacorte, continued to steal scenes, and I adored seeing them again. And the whole saga with the footman, which opens and closes the book, was perfectly fitting for TGPOTT.
As I’ve said before, Long has a way with words. Her writing is fantastic as she’s able to masterfully balance all the emotional beats of the story and fully capture the feelings of falling in love. She seamlessly blends the humor and lightheartedness with the serious and emotional. Her characters jump off the page, fully formed with their own unique voice and personality. In this book, I found myself highlighting so many beautiful lines that hit me straight in the emotions, with my favorite being: “She was the heroine of her own story. She would be the victor.” Hawkes and Aurelia’s story is beautifully written, and I adored reading it.
You Were Made to Be Mine was a beautiful, emotional entry to the Palace of Rogues series. Long’s writing and storytelling continue to shine, and I highly recommend picking up this series if you haven’t already. It’s best read in order to appreciate what TGPOTT represents and the characters who inhabit it. I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment of the series to see who the next guests will be and what their romance may entail.
Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse
jlee76's review
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was highly conflicted by this book. The first half of the book moved slowly, and so much was going on with so many characters that it got confusing at times. Christian and Aurelie do not meet until thirty percent into the book. There was too much setup in the first half. Also, there is a significant trigger warning with this book which I felt should have been disclosed in the blurb/synopsis.
That being said, here is why I gave the novel four stars. Once the couple meets, the story kicks into a new gear. Some of the scenes between Christian and Aurelie are exquisitely romantic. Christian is an older, experienced spymaster trying to get his life back together after a harrowing three years. Aurelie is young and disillusioned, running from an abomination done to her by her fiancé. Christian is paid to find Aurelie, but everything changes when the two meet.
There is a passage in the novel that says the couple felt as if they had always loved each other; the quality of the romantic dialogue and vivid description of the sweetly passionate love scenes convinced me of the truth of that statement. My heart broke and soared at the achingly sweet way Christian is with Aurelie. Aurelie’s trust in Christian is all-encompassing. These are two damaged people who have been through tremendous trauma and pain that find the cleansing and healing power of unconditional love. I fell head over heels in love with Christian and Aurelie’s journey to happiness.
You Were Made To Be Mine is the fifth book in The Palace Of Rogues series. This book started on the wrong foot; however, once Christian and Aurelie meet, we discover a sensual, pure love between two lost souls. The last thirty percent of the book is romantic writing at its best. Julie Anne Long has created hauntingly tragic characters who live and breathe and learn to trust and love. The romantic connection in this novel is phenomenal; that is why I gave it four stars. I understand it is a slow start going in, but I believe this is a romance well worth reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was highly conflicted by this book. The first half of the book moved slowly, and so much was going on with so many characters that it got confusing at times. Christian and Aurelie do not meet until thirty percent into the book. There was too much setup in the first half. Also, there is a significant trigger warning with this book which I felt should have been disclosed in the blurb/synopsis.
That being said, here is why I gave the novel four stars. Once the couple meets, the story kicks into a new gear. Some of the scenes between Christian and Aurelie are exquisitely romantic. Christian is an older, experienced spymaster trying to get his life back together after a harrowing three years. Aurelie is young and disillusioned, running from an abomination done to her by her fiancé. Christian is paid to find Aurelie, but everything changes when the two meet.
There is a passage in the novel that says the couple felt as if they had always loved each other; the quality of the romantic dialogue and vivid description of the sweetly passionate love scenes convinced me of the truth of that statement. My heart broke and soared at the achingly sweet way Christian is with Aurelie. Aurelie’s trust in Christian is all-encompassing. These are two damaged people who have been through tremendous trauma and pain that find the cleansing and healing power of unconditional love. I fell head over heels in love with Christian and Aurelie’s journey to happiness.
You Were Made To Be Mine is the fifth book in The Palace Of Rogues series. This book started on the wrong foot; however, once Christian and Aurelie meet, we discover a sensual, pure love between two lost souls. The last thirty percent of the book is romantic writing at its best. Julie Anne Long has created hauntingly tragic characters who live and breathe and learn to trust and love. The romantic connection in this novel is phenomenal; that is why I gave it four stars. I understand it is a slow start going in, but I believe this is a romance well worth reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
megloveswords12's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual content
skudiklier's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I haven't read the others in this series, but I have read many of Julie Anne Long's other books--specifically, her Pennyroyal Green series. This book absolutely works as a standalone, but given the context of her other books, I'm sure it references many of the earlier ones in the series, and I'm definitely intrigued enough that I'll be reading the first few to catch up.
This is also my first time reading one of her books in print, because all the others were audiobooks. I enjoyed it just as much, which was honestly a bit of a surprise to me.
My only critiques of this book would be things that are forgivable and an understandable part of a lot of romances; it's basically, and some of the explanations of the characterizations were a bit on-the-nose. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book, as I do all of Long's period romances. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the genre.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read and review this ARC.
This is also my first time reading one of her books in print, because all the others were audiobooks. I enjoyed it just as much, which was honestly a bit of a surprise to me.
My only critiques of this book would be things that are forgivable and an understandable part of a lot of romances; it's basically
Spoiler
love at first sightSpoiler
I also think she handled the sexual assault plot line well, and that it hopefully shouldn't be too triggering to anyone who's worried about it. It mostly deals with the aftermath of it, without having a very graphic scene.Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, Blood, and Physical abuse
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: incarceration and PTSD
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