Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane Book 3)

What a great story! I'm not a fan of pirate stories, but this one is just so wonderful it was worth the exception.Michael is the perfect imperfect hero: troubled, strong, criminal but somehow honorable, hardened by life but pure honey inside. He comes from the gutter and he does not repent of his sins.Silence is so pure, so naive, yet she is so strong deep down. She sees a part of Michael that his traumas in life had hidden even from himself. She sees the good man he had the potential to be.What remarkable characters!The story starts with Silence coming to Michael’s (Mick O’Connor) palace to demand the return of Mary Darling, a baby that has been left by Silence’s door a year before and that was raised by her like a daughter at the orphanage she managed with her brother Winter.Turns out Mary is Mick’s daughter and he stole the girl from the orphanage because he found out his greatest enemy had discovered the girl and intended to hurt her in order to reach him.He refuses to give Mary Darling back but offers Silence the possibility to stay at his palace with the baby and take her back with her once he is able to get rid of his enemy.What started as despise and aversion ends up turning into admiration and respect as both of them get to know (and understand) each other better.They are so very different, and yet, there is a clear common ground on which their relationship is beautifully built by Mrs. Hoyt.Some parts of the book are very sensual, but it fits the story well as Mick, after an infancy of hungry and violence, takes all pleasures life can give him with no half measures.Beautiful book! Great story! To read and read and read again...

Another enjoyable read from Elizabeth Hoyt. This was less steamy and more suspenseful than her previous books from the series. Tension was threaded through the pages from the start. I liked Mickey's crew, an odd bunch, yet brave and loyal. I loved Ghost of St. Giles and all that he's done for his people. I loved the fairy tale that author brought with every chapter, it resonated well with the story.At first I wasn't sure I liked Mickey, he was very unscrupulous and rude. I really didn't see them together at all until a certain pivotal point in the story: I wonder if it was Mick's past or how he started changing that made me see him in a different light, but I favored him in the end. There were incredible acts of heroism that made me admire him. With Silence, I guess, I finally warmed up to her when she shed her naive puppy love that she had for her husband and let some things go. It was very raw moment for her. From then on, it's like they were the same yet not, and they looked right together at last.There was so much going on. Constant danger kept the story edgy. What would have made it better for me, was if the author made the villain and the connection to Mickey and the traitor's identity a bit more covert and subtle. It was so obvious to me, I wanted a bit more subterfuge, I think. The ending though, man, I was biting my nails! It was nerve-wracking. Loved it! Last page dropped such a big revelation that I can't help but want to read the next one immediately! Overall, this was a book worth spending my time reading.

It seemed like I had been waiting for this book forever and so it was with great anticipation that I pulled it out of my mailbox yesterday. And I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the slow, developmental relationship between Silence and Mickey and the way they both had to undergo shifts in perspective and accept their feelings for each other. I also liked the supporting characters. The plot of Mickey versus his archenemy was strong enough to be believable and yet did not dominate the scenes. I was also happy to see the return of past characters. Temperance, Lord Caire and Lady Hero all made appearances but did not steal the show, which was a relief. This was Silence's story and she was a strong, compassionate heroine. I liked her, she had such a admirable quiet strength of mind, character and heart.I will be anxiously waiting for the next book, featuring Winter. He has thus far been the most captivating character for me and I very much liked the peek we got of his story. I do wish that the elder Makepeace siblings could have their own books and weren't already settled at the start of the series. Concord would make a good study, I think. However, Asa is intriguing and the hints at his doings are suitably mysterious.*SPOILERS AHEAD*I admit that I was half expecting Silence's husband to make an reappearance as well (maybe even hoping for it) but I understand why Hoyt did not take that route even though the "lost at sea" death allowed for it. I just think it would have been a far more effective way of showing Silence (and the readers) why William was not the love of her life instead of her introspection after his death. I felt that her relationship with him was depicted differently in the first novel than in this one which was a bit distracting. One other thing that disappointed me and gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 star was Mickey's alter ego. I felt the shipbuilder-in-the-country double life was a bit too easy. A cop out almost. Again, I understand why Hoyt wrote it in. However, I would have liked to see them start fresh, escaping to a cottage or something and building their lives together from the ground up together, instead of Silence being integrated into Mickey's other life.

I usually don’t like romance with murder in it, but the Maiden Lane books are a big exception. This is a really great hero and heroine pairing and I couldn’t put this one down.

Captivating as its narrative unfolds, transporting the reader to its imaginary world full of desire and love. One of the best authors.

Scandalous Desires is book 3 (I think) on the Maiden Lane series.You don't need to have read the earlier books to make sense of this one, but it will make you more fully appreciate the awesome talent of this author if you have.Silence is a widow, her beloved husband dies as sea and her remaining solace is a baby, Mary Darling abandoned on the steps of the Foundling Home she helps run. However, it turns out Mary Darling is the child of one Mickey O'Connor and it just so happens that Mickey is a dangerous river pirate, who's worst enemy is out to hurt him any way he can...and knows where Mary lives. As his enemy, the Vicar, closes in on him Mickey has no choice but to move Mary, and the woman the babe regards as mother, into his palace to protect them. But Mickey hasn't reckoned on falling in love with Silence and his daughter, and is faced with life changing decisions if he is to face up to his true feelings.I L-O-V-E-D this book. On so many levels it could have been a disaster - how can love flourish between such polarised good and bad people, how can a notorious gang man succumb to the soft attractions of a virtuous woman? And yet, somehow, Ms Hoyt manages it...and then some, with style.This book is perfection for its type - the only possible reason it could receive reviews rated anything less than 5 is if the reader isnt truly looking for a great, escapist historical romance in which to lose themselves.Highly recommended.

Another great read from Elizabeth Hoyt. This is the fifth maiden lane book I've read and one of my favourite's. There is a level of depth to the story that sets it above other novels of this genre. It's not just about the sex there is a great story and interesting characters to enjoy as well. I really like the continued theme of the ghost of st Giles and other characters from earlier and later novels pop in and out.

シリーズ物の３作目にあたる作品です。ヒーローは海賊です。暴力も厭わない法の外の世界に生きています。ヒロインは、亡夫を助けるためかつて一度だけ彼と夜をともに過ごしたことがあります。彼女が孤児院で育てている女の赤ちゃんが実はヒーローの子で、彼の敵から身を守るため、彼の屋敷に滞在し赤ちゃんの世話をする…ところから話が始まります。最初、ヒロインは過去の出来事もあってヒーローに固くなです。でも、彼の内に秘めた心に触れるにつれ、彼を海賊ではなく一人の男をして意識するようになります。お互いを意識しているのに、様々事件が起きなかなか結ばれることができず、読んでいてもどかしいくらいです。ヒロインが自分の心を捧げて彼を引き止める場面には彼女の強さを感じました。最後の最後まで二人がどうなってしまうのか分からない展開に、ハッピーエンドを信じてページをめくる手が止まりませんでした。