This book was worth the wait! And for once, a book lives up to the hype. It was amazing and absolutely beautifully written. I was wondering if Ms. Hoyt would really be able to make us fall in love with Charming Mickey. I didn't think it was possible. He's a violent pirate who had utterly destroyed Silence in the first book of the series. But she did it. :) In amazing style too. I get goosebumps thinking about it again. I will definitely be putting this one on the keeper shelf to enjoy again (and again). I read through it so fast this first time, I want to read it again to savor it. A great love story, well told by the Master. Kudos to you Ms. Hoyt.
Karin A. (Jerseygirltoo) -
Helpful Score: 3
Luckily I got this book in the mail just as I was suffering from Regency romance burnout. There are a lot of books by great authors on my TBR list, but so many historicals use the same familiar scenes: Almacks, Vauxhall Gardens, carriage rides in the park, Prinny, the Battle of Waterloo, etc. etc. This book was refreshing because it takes place in 1738. London is a different city in a totally different era, and even more unusual, the characters are not lords and ladies and heirs and heiresses enjoying "the Season". The main setting is St. Giles, a poverty stricken and crime ridden part of the city.
For those who haven't been reading the Maiden Lane series, this is Book 3, and in my opinion the best so far. Maybe even the best thing Hoyt's ever written.(I do strongly recommend reading the series in order, so you understand the history of all the characters.) The heroine, Silence Hollingbrook, is a widow and the younger sister of the heroine of Book 1. Her and her brother are just scraping by, running an orphanage for abandoned children. The hero is Mickey O'Connor, a river pirate, and very wealthy due to ill-gotten gains. He is the king of thieves in that part of town, a sort of Mack the Knife character. Truthfully I did not care that much for either of them in the earlier books, and I was surprised how much they grew on me in this story. But Elizabeth Hoyt is a wonderful writer, and an automatic must-read for me. She could have made it easier for herself by making Mickey a Robin Hood type, but no, he's actually a pretty bad guy. Although I could see why the heroine found him sexually attractive, in no way did he seem like a candidate for her HEA. Also, he doesn't suddenly reform as soon as he meets the heroine. Silence seemed a bit dull at first, a little brown wren to his flamboyant peacock. But somehow the story grabbed me and got better and better as it went along, until I just couldn't put it down. The plot is gripping, and the physical (and emotional) relationship between them builds slowly, and wasn't consummated until a good two-thirds into the book, but is well worth the wait. From that point on, the love scenes are frequent, erotic, earthy, and on the hotness scale, right up there at habanero level. The heroine comes out of her shell, and the bad guy turns into a hero who would literally give his life for his beloved, but it's a cliff hanger almost to the end.
Conclusion: 5 stars, and sorry wishlisters, I'm keeping it to reread!
Bonus: in the epilogue we find out the identity of the mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, but I'm not going to be a spoiler here.
For those who haven't been reading the Maiden Lane series, this is Book 3, and in my opinion the best so far. Maybe even the best thing Hoyt's ever written.(I do strongly recommend reading the series in order, so you understand the history of all the characters.) The heroine, Silence Hollingbrook, is a widow and the younger sister of the heroine of Book 1. Her and her brother are just scraping by, running an orphanage for abandoned children. The hero is Mickey O'Connor, a river pirate, and very wealthy due to ill-gotten gains. He is the king of thieves in that part of town, a sort of Mack the Knife character. Truthfully I did not care that much for either of them in the earlier books, and I was surprised how much they grew on me in this story. But Elizabeth Hoyt is a wonderful writer, and an automatic must-read for me. She could have made it easier for herself by making Mickey a Robin Hood type, but no, he's actually a pretty bad guy. Although I could see why the heroine found him sexually attractive, in no way did he seem like a candidate for her HEA. Also, he doesn't suddenly reform as soon as he meets the heroine. Silence seemed a bit dull at first, a little brown wren to his flamboyant peacock. But somehow the story grabbed me and got better and better as it went along, until I just couldn't put it down. The plot is gripping, and the physical (and emotional) relationship between them builds slowly, and wasn't consummated until a good two-thirds into the book, but is well worth the wait. From that point on, the love scenes are frequent, erotic, earthy, and on the hotness scale, right up there at habanero level. The heroine comes out of her shell, and the bad guy turns into a hero who would literally give his life for his beloved, but it's a cliff hanger almost to the end.
Conclusion: 5 stars, and sorry wishlisters, I'm keeping it to reread!
Bonus: in the epilogue we find out the identity of the mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, but I'm not going to be a spoiler here.
Paulette (romantiqueraven) reviewed Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane, Bk 3) on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Yes- I agree with other review- It was a refreshing spin on the era. No Dukes or Earls here! Interesting and real characters with a plot that keeps you reading to see how it all ends up- Kudos again to Ms. Hoyt for weaving steamy romance and intrigue into another pleasurable read.
Helpful Score: 1
Widow Silence Hollingbrook has taken care of Baby Mary Darling since she found her on her steps. Now River Pirate "Charming" Mickey O'Connor claims to be Mary's father and has taken her to his palace. He then blackmails Silence into living at his residence to take care of the baby. Mick knows that his enemy, The Vicar of Whitechapel, will hurt anyone Mickey care about, so he wants to make sure Silence and Mary Darling are safe. Silence doesn't trust Mick. His actions a year ago caused a rift in her marriage that was never repaired. But as she gets to know the pirate, he shows her there is more to him than meets the eye.
I wondered if Mickey O'Connor could be redeemed after ruining Silence's life with his actions in the first book of this series. I'm happy to say that Hoyt did a great job with this character. Mick's actions were driven by his past. He believed himself unlovable, and became a pirate to gain riches and make sure he was never destitute again. He didn't plan on Silence and the affect she had on him. Silence is a person who always tries to do the right thing. Even though spending the night with Mickey was innocent, her husband and family never believed that nothing happened. Now in order to stay with Mary Darling and be protected from The Vicar, Silence must learn to live with Mick and forgive him. My rating: 4 Stars.
I wondered if Mickey O'Connor could be redeemed after ruining Silence's life with his actions in the first book of this series. I'm happy to say that Hoyt did a great job with this character. Mick's actions were driven by his past. He believed himself unlovable, and became a pirate to gain riches and make sure he was never destitute again. He didn't plan on Silence and the affect she had on him. Silence is a person who always tries to do the right thing. Even though spending the night with Mickey was innocent, her husband and family never believed that nothing happened. Now in order to stay with Mary Darling and be protected from The Vicar, Silence must learn to live with Mick and forgive him. My rating: 4 Stars.
