Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

October 24, 2011

And then it was over....
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Where to begin? Where to begin? I'm so excited! I can't tell you how much I loved Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt. The Maiden Lane series is one of the most entertaining story-lines I've read in a long time. And, sad to say, I'm afraid I can't talk about it without gushing all over the place; people will become sick to their stomach just reading my thoughts. However, I shall plow ahead anyway.

I didn't want to put Scandalous Desires down once I started reading it and it is one of those books I didn't want to end! And yes, there may be some spoilers ahead. One of the signs of a terrific writer is someone who has the ability to pique our interest with little hints/teasers, and then deliver on their promise. And, that is exactly what Elizabeth Hoyt is doing with the Maiden Lane series.

At last we have Silence and Mick's story! And, what a story it was! What a great couple! What a sexy hunk! Not Silence, but Mick. Mick is a truly amazingly written character. He is a pirate, a thief. He kidnaps, he blunders, he kills and he has no qualms about doing so or so it seems. It was refreshing to have a character that I didn't have to stretch my imagination in order to believe he is what he is because of where he came from. Mick's childhood is torturous, horrifying but at times poignant. And, there are a few surprises that we find out involving his past.

Silence, on the other hand, is closer to a standard romance heroine, or maybe it's just that Mick has such an overwhelming presence he just overshadows Silence. Now, don't get me wrong, I thought Silence was a terrific character. She's well-written, sympathetic and strong, it's just that her hero has a tendency to steal the show.

And then there are the secondary characters! Hold me back!!! There were a wonderful bunch of pirates, Harry Bert and Bran. I'm thinking we haven't seen the last of Bran. The Makepeace family puts in an appearance...all those virile men in one room. Yipes! There are the great group of women supporting the orphanage. All of these characters are interesting, different and well-written. Great teasers for future books in this story. We also find out who the Ghost of St. Giles is. Oh, of course, don't forget Lad, the dog. Spoiler of sorts. I have to admit, there is a surprise in this story. I didn't see it coming, all I can say is don't get too attached to one of the main secondary characters.

This was a wonderful book, with only a few quibbles. I found myself becoming irritated with the baby talk. And, I kept wondering why doesn't the orphanage have more money...didn't the previous sister marry a wealthy man? However, this seems to be a common occurrence in romance novels, so I will overlook it.

For all of you that have been waiting for this book, you're not going to be disappointed. And, for those of you who haven't read any of this series - get cracken! Oh, yes we have Winter's story to anticipate now. Also, ladies and gentlemen who are so inclined, make sure you read the preview of Thief of Shadows for a rather eye-opening description of Winter. He seems to be a tad bit more than what I had envisioned.

Time/Place: 1700's England
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot!!