Helpful Score: 2
This was not well written. The characters were predictable and wooden. And the language was way too crude. I doubt I will read anything else by this author. I had not found her earlier books this offensive.
Helpful Score: 1
I have really enjoyed all of the Maiden Lane series...until this one. The "hero" right from the start was not anyone I could empathize with at all. All of Ms. Hoyt's other heroes have been flawed, yes, but still had qualities that were endearing. This Duke of Sin was a turnoff for me right from the start, and the language, as well as certain situations, made him even more unlikeable. I was quite disappointed in it.
This book is bound to elicit some strong reactions. On the one hand, the 'hero' is evil - unrepentant, sneaky, sly, scheming, and quite unlikable. Yes, he has had a horrific childhood, with multiple unspeakable traumas. He is so vile and hated that someone tries to poison him. Enter our heroine, who is there under false pretense, to nurse him back to health. And so they form a bond of sorts, he seduces her, and in the end we find out he is not the blackhearted knave we think he is. That said, I still don't like him. It doesn't excuse the evil he has done.
The author, Ms. Hoyt, has honed her craft well. Her writing is wonderful. The character development exceptional. The sex scenes are graphic and very well written. The entire book was intense and I read it in one sitting. I probably would have given the book 5 stars - the writing was that good - but I really, really disliked the hero.
The author, Ms. Hoyt, has honed her craft well. Her writing is wonderful. The character development exceptional. The sex scenes are graphic and very well written. The entire book was intense and I read it in one sitting. I probably would have given the book 5 stars - the writing was that good - but I really, really disliked the hero.
Well this one was interesting and did have a great storyline going but the language was so crude and raunchy that it was distracting from the story.
I couldn't give it 4 stars. The happily-ever-after was wonderful, but the journey to get there was too dark for me. There was no other way considering the hero, but still I will thinking about it for a long time. Still recommend the series.
I have read a lot of romance novels and quite frankly, I thought this one stunk. The hero was cardboard, and the heroine was too. I mean, HER name was Bridget Crumb. Can you get any more silly? They were both incredibly dull. The story was completely predictable too. He's dark and disturbed, with a terrible childhood; she's able to understand and heal him. Also, the author describes the hero as having "azure" eyes. No one in life has "azure" eyes. Piercing blue eyes; crystal blue eyes, I can believe, "azure" I just ... can't. And she uses that word to describe his eyes more than once. The storyline was so unbelievable, I was just laughing with disbelief for the entire read. But it was dull as well as stupid and predictable. Thank goodness I only borrowed this from the library.
First: I am a sucker for villainous (tortured, reformed) heroes. Second: I only give 5 stars if the book makes me cry...
5 stars.
5 stars.
I believe this is one of Elizabeth Hoyt's finest books. The situations are unique, the characters are interesting and credible, and the story has romance, humor and pathos. Even the romantic parts are fresh with a new-found passion. It makes us cheer for the villain who is eccentric and broken. And for the woman who tries to save him. Who says that only the good guys win???
Bravo, Mrs. Hoyt! Job well done!
Bravo, Mrs. Hoyt! Job well done!
Spoilers for previous books.
This is Val's (Eve's brother) and Bridget's (the housekeeper) story. In the previous books, Val is the villain (blackmail, kidnapping) and he seem to relish it. He wants power and sees this as a way to get it. After reading Eve's story and her background, you can guess Val had a similar experience. Their father was an abusive asshole. It was worse too that Val's mother didn't seem to care for her son either. The reason given was because he looked like his father. As a result, Val doesn't know how to love and show it (he gifts Eve a dove for example). Val also came across as a bid socially awkward.
Bridget entered Val's employ to find some letters that were used to blackmail her mother into introducing Eve into a social circle (for the orphanage). Bridget shares her mother's distinctive hair color. She wasn't raised by her mother, but a foster family. Her foster mother loved her as her own. She chose to enter into service to be able to provide for herself.
I liked that Bridget really saw through Val and she sees him do some ugly things. Some of the things were necessary (what he did to the Duke of Dyemore) and not (what he did to Cal, more kidnapping) for example. I liked that they both accept the other as they are. I did think the ending was a bit rushed; glad for the epilogue. And yep- he never left England.
Next is Alf's story (and Hugh (Duke of Kyle) that was introduced in this one).
This is Val's (Eve's brother) and Bridget's (the housekeeper) story. In the previous books, Val is the villain (blackmail, kidnapping) and he seem to relish it. He wants power and sees this as a way to get it. After reading Eve's story and her background, you can guess Val had a similar experience. Their father was an abusive asshole. It was worse too that Val's mother didn't seem to care for her son either. The reason given was because he looked like his father. As a result, Val doesn't know how to love and show it (he gifts Eve a dove for example). Val also came across as a bid socially awkward.
Bridget entered Val's employ to find some letters that were used to blackmail her mother into introducing Eve into a social circle (for the orphanage). Bridget shares her mother's distinctive hair color. She wasn't raised by her mother, but a foster family. Her foster mother loved her as her own. She chose to enter into service to be able to provide for herself.
I liked that Bridget really saw through Val and she sees him do some ugly things. Some of the things were necessary (what he did to the Duke of Dyemore) and not (what he did to Cal, more kidnapping) for example. I liked that they both accept the other as they are. I did think the ending was a bit rushed; glad for the epilogue. And yep- he never left England.
Next is Alf's story (and Hugh (Duke of Kyle) that was introduced in this one).
Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is known around London has a blackmailer and kidnapper. That is what got him exiled in the first place. Now he has returned home with more information he can use to blackmail many aristocrats...including the King. What he finds is his housekeeper, Bridget Crumb, searching his bedroom. Bridget took the job in the Duke's household to find letters her mother had written years ago. Val is intrigued to discover that his no nonsense housekeeper is actually spying on him. He uses his charms to try and uncover exactly who she is and what she is looking for.
The tenth book in the Maiden Lane series has a very unique hero. He is vain, ruthless, and seemingly doesn't seem to know the difference between right and wrong. I really didn't know what to think of Val, but I found him fascinating. Bridget was also a great character. She isn't as prim and proper as she pretends to be. She believes she is immune to Val's charms, but she finds out that isn't true.
I'm guessing the ratings for this book will be all over the place because of the darkness of the hero. I found it riveting. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
The tenth book in the Maiden Lane series has a very unique hero. He is vain, ruthless, and seemingly doesn't seem to know the difference between right and wrong. I really didn't know what to think of Val, but I found him fascinating. Bridget was also a great character. She isn't as prim and proper as she pretends to be. She believes she is immune to Val's charms, but she finds out that isn't true.
I'm guessing the ratings for this book will be all over the place because of the darkness of the hero. I found it riveting. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
