I'm loving this series by Elizabeth Hoyt! Once again, she's written some characters that have stolen my heart. I also enjoy reading those little stories at the beginning of every chapter.

The hero in this story is Apollo Greaves. He is pure sin just waiting to happen. I really love that he is unable to speak in the first part of the book. I find him seductive and totally sexy (even though he is written to not be very good looking), I look past all that. He captures my heart by how he befriends Indio AND Daffodil, the way he oozes sex appeal around Lily (the heroine), and how he is just pure MALE.

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"I'm sorry it ever happened to you," he whispered, catching her chin and lifting her face to his. "No one should have to bear witness to the worst that men can do, and especially not you."

Her lips curved in amusement. "Especially me? Why should I be sheltered in particular?"

"Because," he said, pulling her into his lap, "you are my light and my laughter, and if you would let me, I would spend the rest of my life protecting you from everything that is ugly."

"That can't be done," she whispered. "To live is to see both the beauty and the ugliness of life."

"Perhaps not," he said stubbornly, "but that wouldn't stop me from trying. Every day I want to see your eyes alight with happiness."
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Lily is a great heroine. She's easy to like and enjoy. She's not overly emotional like some heroines. She loves Indio and is a wonderful mother. She's smart and I love the fact she writes amazing plays. She and Apollo take things slow (love this in a story!) and develop a steamy relationship. The love scenes are wonderful.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a fantastic historical romance. It has a little bit of everything from action, murder, suspense, and humor. I love when humor is throughout a book. And a sweet little dog by the name of Daffodil had me laughing more times than I could count! This seriously didn't take me long to read. I was finished before I wanted to be.

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When Lily Stump's young son tells her there is a monster in the garden, she doesn't believe him. But she is startled when she runs into the monster one day. He is a simple man working in the gardens that were destroyed by fire. As Lily and her son, Indio, come to know the man, she begins to think there is more to him than meets the eye. Wrongly accused of murder, Apollo Greaves has escaped Bedlam and hides in a pleasure garden blackened by fire. Injured while he was imprisoned, Apollo cannot speak. His days are spent working among a crew of gardeners, trying not to call attention to himself. It isn't working since a down on her luck actress and her son are always hanging around him. As Lily gets to know Apollo and learns his secret, she decides she must help him find out who actually murdered his friends and framed him for the crime.

This is the seventh book in the Maiden Lane series. Apollo is described as a big brute of a man whose face isn't much to look at. I expected him to be violent with a chip on his shoulder because of the years he spent in Bedlam. Actually he is a loving man looking for peace in his life. Lily is a strong woman who will do anything for her son. Currently she is out of money and forced to live in the burnt out theater. As she falls in love with Apollo, she realizes that he is actually part of the Aristocracy and would never have a serious relationship with an actress. She is realistic about her chances of ever living happily ever after with the man she loves.

I liked the story, but thought the revelation of the villain was a bit of a let down. I loved that we got to see some past characters from the series. The author sets up the next book for Phoebe and Captain Trevellion which I hope to read soon. I also like the addition of The Duke of Montgomery who is a very unique character. My rating: 4 Stars.

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Recently freed (escaped) from Bedlam, Apollo is working on restoring the garden's at Harte's Folly. The theater and gardens burned in the previous book (if memory is right). He is also living in one of the burned out areas. Lily is also living there since she is out of work and can't get a job as an actress in London (she was blacklisted by her former employer when she left to work exclusively at Harte's Folly. She writes plays for money and her brother (Edwin) sells them and they split the profits. Captain James Trevillion is working for Marcus as a bodyguard/helper for Phoebe. James is also the one who arrested Apollo.
This brings Apollo, James, Asa, and Valentine together to figure out who setup Apollo. Unsure of Valentine's motives, but in this one it appears he wants Apollo's architectural designs for the garden. He's an investor (as is Apollo). I liked that Lily was able to stand up to her brother.
Lily is AKA as Robin Goodfellow. Asa Makepeace is AKA Mr Harte, Valentine Napier the Duke of Montgomery is introduced. He collects information (for blackmail?)

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