Covers to Covet

Lord of Darkness

by Elizabeth Hoyt

(Maiden Lane # 5)

WHEN STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
He lives in the shadows. The mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, his only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife . . .

BECOME LOVERS...
Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and the man she hasn’t seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more . . .

DESIRE IS THE ULTIMATE DANGER
When passion flares these two intimate strangers can't keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband, Godric St. John—the game is up and the players must surrender . . . to the temptation that could destroy them both.

Available February 26, 2013  
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ARC Review: Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

Thief of Shadows

(Maiden Lane #5)

by Elizabeth Hoyt

I wondered how Elizabeth Hoyt would top the fascinating and well-written pirate hero, Mickey of the last book. However, it was obvious from the very beginning that Hoyt had a plan for Winter Makepeace. One that worked so well that it may have become my favorite book of the series.

As the headmaster of the home for foundling children, Winter is stoic, but caring. I wasn’t sure how I would handle his story because he has never quite been a favorite of mine. That has changed after reading this book. As the sun sets and the skies darken, another side of Winter appears. At night, Winter is the Ghost of St. Giles, the protector of the streets and the boogeyman of criminals. In the fourth book of the series, Hoyt delivers yet another story that reigns you right in. With her eloquent and descriptive writing , a spit-fire heroine and fascinating hero, THIEF OF SHADOWS is sure to be a hands down winner for loyal readers and new fans alike.

 I was literally blown away with the romance in this one. Hoyt develops their relationship slowly, adding that mysterious allure that really drew me in. The book starts off strong, giving us readers a taste of the dark side where the Ghost does what he is meant to do. I loved this side of Winter because it added mystery, danger and a sexiness to the story that wasn’t in his character previously. Hoyt created a magnificent hero in Winter Makepeace, making him one of my new favorites in historical romance.

Now, there was the hard task of finding someone suitable for Winter and I think Hoyt did a great job of balancing him with Lady Isabel Beckinhall. She was fun and smart, the perfect complement to Winter. Their interactions with one another displayed both their palpable chemistry and each other’s personalities well:

“Where am I?”
He kept his voice to a low, barely audible rasp. Perhaps if he whispered, she wouldn’t recognize him. “My home.” She cocked her head.”I won’t touch your mask if you don’t want me to.”
He watched her, calculating. He was naked, in a strange house, and wounded. The odds were not in his favor.
She raised one elegant eyebrow. “If you’d let go of my wrist?”
He opened his hand. “Your pardon.”
She rubbed her wrist, her eyes lowered demurely.
“I saved your life earlier, and you’re quite at my mercy now” – her eyes flicked over his nude body- “yet I don’t think you truly ask my pardon.” 
She raised his gaze to his, intelligent, humorous, and utterly seductive.
The danger was palpable.
Winter’s lip twitched. “Perhaps I’m just a rude fellow.”
“Rude, undoubtedly.” She flicked a finger over the small bit of material covering his pelvis, and his base flesh stirred in mindless respond. “But ungrateful as well?”
 He raised his eyebrows. “I trust you do not blame me, madam, for my present state of undress. I do vow, I woke thus and know not who to blame but you.”
 Her eyes widened just a fraction and she bit her lip as if to quell a tremor of laughter. “I assure you my, uh, curiosity was prompted merely by a desire to find out there you were wounded, sir."
“Then I am honored by your curiosity."

With heart and heat rolled into one, THIEF OF SHADOWS is a definite must-read for historical romance fans! Hoyt really has outdone herself...yet again.

Favorite Quote:

“I would do violence for one glimpse of your naked breasts. Bleed for one taste of your nipple on my tongue.” 

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: The Ice Princess by Elizabeth Hoyt

 

The Ice Princess

(Princes Trilogy #4)

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Elizabeth Hoyt takes us back to the Princes Trilogy with this wonderful novella, The ICE PRINCESS.

Beautifully written and enchanting, Hoyt continues to be one of my top favorite Historical Romance authors. Not many are able to capture my attention as much as Hoyt has, especially with a novella. But Hoyt manages to do this again and again.

THE ICE PRINCESS brings us readers into the bawdy houses of England and more specifically to Aphrodite’s Grotto. They make a business out of sin and Coral aka Aphrodite is its queen. Forced to sell her virginity to the highest bidder to feed herself and her sister, Coral has been a prostitute since she was fourteen. Now at twenty-four, she is no longer selling her body, but men still yearn for just one touch.

Men including the handsome Captain Wargate.

In a move only meant to make some money, Coral finds herself the object of desire when several men bid for one week of her time. Shocked and a little scared for her safety, she holds her breath as she finds out the results. And in the end, the winner shocks her when he does something unexpected...

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It was short, but filled with all the good things Hoyt brings to the table. There is suspense, there is sexiness and there is seduction and Hoyt does it all to perfection. I only wish this were a novel because I felt that there was so much more to the characters that readers did not get to see. Nevertheless, it was nice to go back to this series to read about Wargate and Coral.

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

To Seduce a Sinner

by Elizabeth Hoyt

(Legend of the Four Soldiers # 2)

Melisande Fleming has been in love with Jasper, Lord Vale for six years, but never expected anything to ever happen, he can't even remember her name. However, when she is attending the second wedding in which he has been jilted she decides to take fate into her own hands and asks him to marry her. To her shock her says yes. But Jasper is still haunted by his time in the army and a slaughter in which nearly every man died, and his closest friend was crucified and burnt to death in particular and when he learns there is a traitor amongst the men there he becomes obsessed with finding out who it is.

I am fast becoming a great fan of Elizabeth Hoyt, this book was both funny and touching with an unusual couple as the main characters. Vale, although a rake he wasn't very handsome and was clearly suffering from PTSD, he could not sleep in a bed and instead had a pallet on the floor in which he kept a knife and a packed bag next to him, even though he was safely ensconed in his London residence. And Melisande, although a "plain Jane" heroine wasn't shy and retiring and wasn't a blushing virgin bride either, I loved that she went for what she wanted, both inside and outside the bedroom, and challenged Vale. Together they made a very entertaining couple.

This book also has a mystery to it as well, a mystery which I believe is a thread through out the whole series, and I can't wait to see when I read the last book who the traitor was. The massacre at Spinners Fall gives the book some gravity and direction as Melisande and Jasper get to know each other, but this book, despite both characters rather tragic pasts, is actually very light hearted and I found the dialogue between the couple witty and humourous.

A great read, and I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Review: Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

(more like 4.5 feathers)

Scandalous Desires

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Maiden Lane # 3

Hoyt’s latest hero, Charming Mickey O’Conner will probably be one of my favourite heroes this year. As a river pirate, Mickey is as dangerous and as cunning as they come. With instincts as sharp as that of a wolf, it’s no wonder why Silence is unnerved by him.

Silence has such a big heart and Mickey uses this knowledge to his advantage. Using her love for his young daughter, Mary Darling, Mickey persuades the widowed Silence to live in his home to protect his child from his enemy, the Vicar.

But as days pass by, Mickey seems to grow more and more fond of Silence until he finds that he will do anything to protect her and his child. However, his enemy is closing in and Mickey finds himself finally questioning himself.

Scandalous Desires is my favourite book by Elizabeth Hoyt. I fell in love with Mickey right off the bat. He had such presence in the book and I thought that Silence complimented him well. She was patient with him where another would have stalked away from him for his ruthless ways. I thought that their love progressed well and while at times I thought some parts were slow, the majority of it was intriguing. With Silence still mourning the death of her husband, William and Mickey not so in tune with his feelings, there were a few rough spots between them that made their romance in the end shine brighter.

But it’s the latter half of the book that really made this book for me. Hoyt takes readers on a little ride as she tugs on those heartstrings after building such great characters and having readers bond with them. It makes the latter half of the book much more entertaining because we fall so hard for the characters.

For readers who follow the series, familiar faces are present. Lord Caire and Temperance appear, along with Winter and some of the other Makepeace brothers. Hero, the heroine of Notorious Pleasures also makes a few appearances.

Needless to say, this book certainly lives up to its hype! I would even go as far and say that Scandalous Desires is Hoyt’s best book so far! I would definitely recommend it!

P.S. Mickey is mine. Sorry everyone.

P.P.S. Isn’t the cover absolutely gorgeous? I’m in cover love!

Favourite Quote:
He let get nearly out of the room before he spoke,” I may not have the right, Silence, me love,” he drawled so soft she nearly didn’t catch the words. “But I would’ve listened to ye. I would’ve believed ye.”

 

 Purchase Links: Amazon