Helpful Score: 5
This is one of those series that seems; at least to me to be gaining momentum instead of getting stale. In this Georgian era romantic mystery-thriller, Ms Hoyt has once again brought her A game to the pages. I have been waiting for Winter Makepeaces story, the mild mannered school teacher and manager of, The Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. But by night he is the Ghost of St. Giles.
The setting is St. Giles section of London, its a dangerous place and this book takes up just hours after the last leaves off. The Ghost of St. Giles has just rescued Charming Mickey OConner from hanging and the mob is out for blood. Mickeys or the Ghosts it doesnt matter whose. Enter Lady Isabel Beckinhall, Baroness Beckinhall. Who, to her irritation has been stood up by Mr. Makepeace, for the final inspection of the newly rebuilt Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. As one of the Lady Patronesses, she cant believe how rude this man is to stand her up, and top that off there is a body blocking the road out in this dangerous area, and there is a mob on the loose. As it turns out the body is not dead after all and as her maid says he is a comic actor, dressed in a harlequin costume, just like the Ghost of St. Giles. Isabel orders the man lifted into her carriage and off they go, in the nick of time.
This installment of the Maiden Lane series, has a bit more of the swashbuckling flavor to it, the theater fight scene was classic and worthy of any Errol Flynn movie. The Ghost of St. Giles is out to protect the poor and the down trodden those most vulnerable in society. Sexual content is hot and I like the older woman younger man dynamic, (pardon me is my cougar showing?). There will be another book in this series. This gets 5 stars, this one would be a get vacation read.
The setting is St. Giles section of London, its a dangerous place and this book takes up just hours after the last leaves off. The Ghost of St. Giles has just rescued Charming Mickey OConner from hanging and the mob is out for blood. Mickeys or the Ghosts it doesnt matter whose. Enter Lady Isabel Beckinhall, Baroness Beckinhall. Who, to her irritation has been stood up by Mr. Makepeace, for the final inspection of the newly rebuilt Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. As one of the Lady Patronesses, she cant believe how rude this man is to stand her up, and top that off there is a body blocking the road out in this dangerous area, and there is a mob on the loose. As it turns out the body is not dead after all and as her maid says he is a comic actor, dressed in a harlequin costume, just like the Ghost of St. Giles. Isabel orders the man lifted into her carriage and off they go, in the nick of time.
This installment of the Maiden Lane series, has a bit more of the swashbuckling flavor to it, the theater fight scene was classic and worthy of any Errol Flynn movie. The Ghost of St. Giles is out to protect the poor and the down trodden those most vulnerable in society. Sexual content is hot and I like the older woman younger man dynamic, (pardon me is my cougar showing?). There will be another book in this series. This gets 5 stars, this one would be a get vacation read.
Helpful Score: 2
When I get hold of a new book by Elizabeth Hoyt, everything else on my TBR list gets pushed aside. I liked the first two books in the Maiden Lane series, but I LOVED this one and the previous one(Scandalous Desires).
This is NOT a book with cliches like the rakish hero/virginal heroine. The heroine is older than average(over 30) and both the hero & heroine are fully functioning responsible adults. It takes place almost 100 years earlier than the Regency, which seem to be the most popular time period for romances, so we're in unknown historical territory. There's lots of action(climbing over the rooftops of London, swordfights), lots of emotion, and even a bit of humor, although dry and subtle. There are also a number of quite erotic yet tender love scenes, in Hoyt's very earthy, realistic style, but don't expect anybody to jump in bed in chapter 1; it takes a couple of hundred pages and by then the hero and heroine have formed a deep connection.
The hero, Winter Makepeace, was a cipher in the earlier books of the series, but here he really comes into his own as a highly moral and courageous man. Lady Isabel was also a little hard to fathom at the beginning, I didn't know why she would rescue a total stranger, & it seemed as though the attraction was all physical on her side. Later on she opens up and we find out what she's really thinking, and she had some deep hurts and feelings of inferiority. Naturally, the hero sees past her hard shell.
I really recommend that you read the series in order or you'll be missing a lot. Many of the characters from the other books make appearances, plus the mystery of the Ghost of St. Giles and the situation with the orphanage are running themes.
This is NOT a book with cliches like the rakish hero/virginal heroine. The heroine is older than average(over 30) and both the hero & heroine are fully functioning responsible adults. It takes place almost 100 years earlier than the Regency, which seem to be the most popular time period for romances, so we're in unknown historical territory. There's lots of action(climbing over the rooftops of London, swordfights), lots of emotion, and even a bit of humor, although dry and subtle. There are also a number of quite erotic yet tender love scenes, in Hoyt's very earthy, realistic style, but don't expect anybody to jump in bed in chapter 1; it takes a couple of hundred pages and by then the hero and heroine have formed a deep connection.
The hero, Winter Makepeace, was a cipher in the earlier books of the series, but here he really comes into his own as a highly moral and courageous man. Lady Isabel was also a little hard to fathom at the beginning, I didn't know why she would rescue a total stranger, & it seemed as though the attraction was all physical on her side. Later on she opens up and we find out what she's really thinking, and she had some deep hurts and feelings of inferiority. Naturally, the hero sees past her hard shell.
I really recommend that you read the series in order or you'll be missing a lot. Many of the characters from the other books make appearances, plus the mystery of the Ghost of St. Giles and the situation with the orphanage are running themes.
Helpful Score: 1
People in St. Giles know Winter Makepeace as the stoic headmaster of an orphanage his family founded. But they don't know he is also the infamous Ghost of St. Giles, a vigilante who helps those in danger. Lady Isabel Beckinhall helps the Ghost of St. Giles when she finds him injured, but doesn't discover his true identity. Winter knows she is one of the patronesses of the orphanage and avoids her as much as possible so she doesn't discover he is the Ghost. But avoiding Isabel can't be helped when she is sent to tutor him in the ways of society.
Since the first book in the Maiden Lane series, I've wanted to know more about Winter Makepeace. We finally get his book and I'm not disappointed. Winter has always dedicated himself to the running of the orphanage by day and rescuing people at night. He has avoided relationships, believing that he cannot split his attention between a woman and his alter-ego. That is until he meets Isabel. As Isabel gets to know Winter, she is immediately suspicious that he may be The Ghost. And she is determined to uncover the real man beneath the dour facade, a man full of love and passion. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Since the first book in the Maiden Lane series, I've wanted to know more about Winter Makepeace. We finally get his book and I'm not disappointed. Winter has always dedicated himself to the running of the orphanage by day and rescuing people at night. He has avoided relationships, believing that he cannot split his attention between a woman and his alter-ego. That is until he meets Isabel. As Isabel gets to know Winter, she is immediately suspicious that he may be The Ghost. And she is determined to uncover the real man beneath the dour facade, a man full of love and passion. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Helpful Score: 1
The intrigue is getting more complicated and looking forward it's going to get even more complicated.
I love the H/H of this story. Of course, we were left hanging with the Ghost at the end of the last book. In this book we get to see the H/Ghost come alive in both incarnations. No spoiler: We are getting a new home and more children. I think Ms. Hoyt has a way of making her characters come alive and jump right off the pages into my head. Still loving the series and am waiting for the next book to arrive in the mail! Recommend!
I love the H/H of this story. Of course, we were left hanging with the Ghost at the end of the last book. In this book we get to see the H/Ghost come alive in both incarnations. No spoiler: We are getting a new home and more children. I think Ms. Hoyt has a way of making her characters come alive and jump right off the pages into my head. Still loving the series and am waiting for the next book to arrive in the mail! Recommend!
Helpful Score: 1
The best one in the series thus far. Well written, exciting and suspenseful but of course sexy as well.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite Elizabeth Hoyt books. Loved the hero and heroine - a real case of opposites attract. Add in a crime mystery and lots of romantic back and forth and you have a winner.
Miranda M. (Governess4hire) reviewed Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane, Bk 4) on + 146 more book reviews
This series is simply amazing so far! I'm loving it.
There are so many reviews for this book already out there so I'm just going to quickly add my cheap two cents....
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fantastic. Lady Isabel is a bit promiscuous & Winter stole my heart. He's the quiet type, not usually the type I like to read about, but I loved him.
On to the next! Hoyt has me addicted!
There are so many reviews for this book already out there so I'm just going to quickly add my cheap two cents....
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fantastic. Lady Isabel is a bit promiscuous & Winter stole my heart. He's the quiet type, not usually the type I like to read about, but I loved him.
On to the next! Hoyt has me addicted!
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane, Bk 4) on + 1713 more book reviews
This is a great series, lots of adventure, tension, romance and humor.
Has great strong women characters that fall in love with a man doing good in the bad part of town. I like the past characters from the other books continuing to be in the storylines.
Has great strong women characters that fall in love with a man doing good in the bad part of town. I like the past characters from the other books continuing to be in the storylines.
After reading Scandalous Desires, I really was looking forward to this one (and like S.D., the epilogue sets up book 5). I wasn't disappointed. Winter was everything anyone could want in one of the main characters. Isabel was a good character too, even if I took a little longer to warm up to her.
But back to Winter. He is an unconventional character in a historical romance. He's not of the nobility. He's the son of a beer brewer who runs an orphanage. He is poor. He is younger than Isabel. He is a virgin. I can't think of anything I didn't absolutely adore! Bottom line: he and Isabel are perfect together.
I enjoyed the secondary characters. I would have liked a bit more on the mystery of the "lassie snatchers," like was Roger in on it? And who murdered him? Maybe book 5 will tell that story?
But back to Winter. He is an unconventional character in a historical romance. He's not of the nobility. He's the son of a beer brewer who runs an orphanage. He is poor. He is younger than Isabel. He is a virgin. I can't think of anything I didn't absolutely adore! Bottom line: he and Isabel are perfect together.
I enjoyed the secondary characters. I would have liked a bit more on the mystery of the "lassie snatchers," like was Roger in on it? And who murdered him? Maybe book 5 will tell that story?
