Title: Thief of Shadows
Series: Maiden Lane #4
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 26th, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance
A Masked Man . . .
Winter
Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a
home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of
Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles—protector,
judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a
beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about
to collide.
A Dangerous Woman . . .
Lady
Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's
asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society—
flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons—Isabel can't help
wondering why his eyes seem so familiar—and his lips so tempting.
A Passion Neither Could Deny
During
the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their
passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing
from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to
sacrifice everything—the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.
Review: I don't really know how Elizabeth Hoyt does it but umm...diz-amn! She had me hooked again with "Thief of Shadows." This fourth installment of her Maiden Lane series was well worth the months I eagerly anticipated its release.
This book focuses primarily on the story of Winter Makepeace - meek and saintly manager of an orphanage during the day; dashing and quick masked hero by night. Yes, I
know it sounds cheesy but trust me, it really works! Winter has basically taken what amounts to a vow of celibacy. It's probably just as well because he's drab, kind of rude, and really humorless. That is...until Lady Isabel Beckinhall unleashes a side of him that has long since been suppressed.
What I Loved: Well, I don't think I need to gush more about Elizabeth Hoyt but...woman really knows how to write! The love scenes are loaded with anticipation and so much deliciousness that it practically makes you squirm. The story itself flowed so well and there were parts when I was truly affected by revelations made within the book
::sniffle::.
I really loved Lady Isabel, as well. She was such a strong, feminine, and yet fragile figure (not in the "wilting flower" way that kinda irks me, either). As the book progressed she was revealed to be a truly multifaceted character who I'd really love to know in real life. I know there's book boyfriends out there. Can she be my book BFF?
What I Didn't Like: Well...it's not so much that I
didn't like this but...holy hell Winter sure got on my nerves! It was really frustrating to read some of the things he did or didn't do because, frankly, he has always come of as rather rude to me. I didn't care for him from the previous books so I was definitely a little jaded going in.
Without giving anything away, I must mention that there were two or three points that I kinda thought to myself "WTF Winter?" But the positive of this is that he mostly did redeem himself by the end.
Yay or Nay: A big 'ol resounding YAY! There's a lot going on in this book...and some of it isn't pretty. Although the fluffiness that we all enjoy is still there, there are moments of sadness, vulnerability, and desperation. They are beautifully countered with the true happiness, romance, and deep resounding love that we all enjoy in romance novels.
I would strongly suggest to any historical romance lovers to pick this series up! Although this installment can read as a stand-alone story, it's worth it to read the whole series because the sum of the story is really that wonderful!
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Author's Site
4/5 Teapots!
