Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Darling Beast
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre:  Historical Romance/Erotic
Series: Maiden Lane
Format: Paperback; 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 14, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1455586307
ISBN-13: 978-1455586301
Author's Website: http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/
Notes: I received and eARC loan from the publisher.

He's a wanted man with many secrets trying to clear his name.

She's the toast of London's theater district with secrets of her own which could ruin her.

Thrown together by fate, will they prove to be each other's down fall or each others saving grace?

This is the seventh book of the Maiden Lane series. It can be read without picking up any of the previous books in the series. You won't feel lost or like you've missed anything, although, after reading this book, I can't guarantee you won't feel the urge to pick up its predecessors and emerse yourself in some great stories. Sorry, I just can't. *Smirk*  

Lily Stump, who performs under the stage name Robin Goodfellow, is one of London's best comedic actresses of her time, but she's been blackballed by her former employer for taking an offer from one of his competitors, Mr. Harte had offered Lily an exorbitant amount of money, twice her current salary, to work exclusively for him. If all had gone well she would have done quite well for herself. Fate, however, had other plans when six months ago a fire broke out in the theater and spread to the surrounding pleasure garden burning the majority of the theater and garden to a crisp. With no means to make an income, she was forced to give up the elaborate rooms she, her son Indio, and his nurse maid, Maude, had shared. Mr. Harte feeling responsible for the blackballing had taken pity on them and was allowing them to stay in a portion of the theater which had the least amount of damage and was still safe to dwell in. What Mr. Harte had forgotten to do, however, was inform the other occupant of the area, Apollo Greaves, aka Viscount Kilbourne of the arrangement. This made for a humorous first meeting between the two. 

Apollo has been lying low and attempting to avoid notice after he escaped from Bedlam. Accused of murder, he's attempting to find out who did the deed so he can clear his name and get his life back. The key to his being able to do so is to keep anyone from finding out he resides on the ground of the pleasure garden. He's posing as a gardener which suits him as it's something he loves to do and is good at. Ms. Goodfellow's presence is bound to attract unwanted attention to the area and possibly cause someone who knows the Viscount to start poking around. As Apollo is the type of man who stands out like a sore thumb--over six feet tall and broad in the shoulders, he's the type people notice.

What I loved about this story is that while the two were instantly attracted to each other, they didn't immediately fall in love. Apollo, by the way, had suffered an injury while in bedlam that had taken away his ability to speak. His inability to speak created some fun situations which allowed him to see a side of Lily he might never have been privileged enough to have seen had they been introduced in polite society. Lily doesn't hold a high opinion of the aristocracy, with good reason, and would probably have never given Apollo the time of day had she known who he was. Likewise, his patient interaction with her son shows Lily a side of Apollo she'd never would have seen because she keeps Indio hidden from the rest of the world. 

Now, I have to mention the tale which is told piece by piece at the beginning of every chapter--The Minotaur. I recommend reading the pieces all together after reading the main story instead of piece by piece as the story progresses. I found it difficult to follow and figure out the link between the two when I attempted to read it that way. When I went back and read the Minotaur in its entirety all at once, I saw the similarities between the two stories much more clearly and I adored how the two fit together. Granted, Ms. Hoyt changed the tale from it's original version, but I found I quite liked her clever twist to the tale.

I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. This one held a wonderful combination of humor, suspense and mystery all wrapped up within a fabulously steamy love story. I loved how Apollo saw Lily for who she truly was and loved all of her, despite what the ton might have thought. I have to admit, however, she seemed to be held in high esteem by both the ladies and gentlemen in her audiences, which I'm guessing would have been unusual at the time. I also enjoyed how Lily was a bit more independent than most woman of her time which made the story that much more fun. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol Definitely a book I Highly recommend. Just be warned, Ms. Hoyt cranked up the heat in this one. :)

Order of the Maiden Lane series:

Early Review of Lord of Darkness (Maiden Lane, #5) by Elizabeth Hoyt

• Title: Lord of Darkness (Maiden Lane)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Format: Paperback, 384 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 26, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1455508306
• ISBN-13: 978-1455508303
• Author's Website: http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/
• Notes:  Quotes will need to be checked against the final copy as I read the ARC.           

Two years ago circumstances forced Lady Margaret 'Megs' to marry. Her fiance and lover had died leaving her with child. She believed her husband, Godric, had volunteered to keep her from being ruined. During her wedding breakfast, mere hours after saying 'I do' she miscarried and soon after retired to her new husband's country estate to recuperate. Her husband never came to visit nor ask her to visit him. Two years had gone by and the marriage had still never been consummated. At first Megs grieved for the child and fiance who were both lost to her. Now she longs for another child and has decided to go after what she wants and seduce her husband. Godric St. John's world is about to be upturned.

Three years ago Godric St. John lost his wife, Clara, after she suffered for 9 years from a fatal disease. He loved her dearly and vowed he'd stay true to her memory and never bedded another woman thereafter. Two years ago he was blackmailed into marrying Megs when her brother threatened to expose to all that Godric was the elusive Ghost of St. Giles. He was fairly set in his ways and was content to lead a separate life from his current wife. He had no intention of ever starting anything with her. He was the Ghost of St. Giles, "protector of the weak, a predator to be feared." He saved people. What he didn't realize, was that someone needed to save him.

This is the fifth book of the Maiden Lane series. If you haven't read the previous books, you will probably feel like you missed something and you'd be right. Some of what happened in this book is based off of what has happened in some of the previous books. I recommend reading the series in its entirety.

This was such a fun and delightful read. From the very first chapter we get a hint of a spark between Megs and Godric. I found it rather charming. Upon their first meeting in two years,"suddenly something inside of him (Godric)--something he'd thought dead for years--woke." Likewise, "she'd never expected, when she (Megs) finally met him, to feel so...so... So Alive." Granted at this point Megs didn't realize the Ghost of St. Giles was her husband, but I loved it.

Megs was not a natural born seductress and that endeared her to me. I loved her determination, spunk, and uncertainty as to how to get what she wanted. I loved how each understood what the other was going through as they tried to put the loves of their past to rest. Love doesn't die when a person does. It tends to linger and keeps you within it's grasp sometimes long after their gone.

I absolutely loved Godric although at times he could have used a figurative smack to the head. I loved how he'd been true to his first wife and was very passionate in nature. I loved how at times Megs maddened him, and at other times, drove him crazy. He was sweet, kind, and at times rather jealous. It was fun seeing him come to the conclusion he wouldn't be betraying his first wife's memory by actually living and loving Megs.

Ms. Hoyt masterfully integrated The Legend of the Hellequin into the book, which I'm pretty sure she made up as I could find no reference to it when I tried to google it. The Hellequin, however, is a character occasionally used  in French passion plays that is easily identified and is described as being a black-faced emissary of the devil and is said to have roamed the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. Ms. Hoyt craftily used this creature to emphasize the inner struggle going on inside of Godric. Megs manages to drag him out of a state of limbo between the dead and the living where he doesn't seem to quite fit in to either. I additionally liked her use of the apple tree to symbolize Godric. Everyone thought him as good as dead just like the tree.

Why is the name of the book Lord of Darkness? Well, I believe it has to do with both the Hellequin representation of Godric and the fact that Godric was the Ghost of St. Giles. As the Ghost, he tended to stay in the dark.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I absolutely adored Megs and Godric. The two just made sense. It was fun seeing Godric get unreasonably and insanely jealous and watching Megs put him in his place. I loved how each actually listened to what the other was saying and for once a couple actually communicated. Yay! I loved how each came to the realization of their feelings for the other gradually through the book and how Godric made such a grand gesture to his Lady love. It was very touching even if it was a crazy thing to do at the time. The book left me with a good feeling and a wish to read the next. There is a hint of what is to come, and I can't wait, but I fear I have to.

Now, I have to say the cover left me chuckling. In the book Megs initially thinks her husband looks rather old, but after looking at the guy in the cover, I'm wondering if she might need glasses? Perhaps it was the wig he supposedly wore? I don't know, but I found it rather funny.

On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol A wonderful blend of drama, healing, romance and, well, love. I HIGHLY recommend this one. I truly adore the series.

Oh, one last thing, I needed to share this lovely stepback. Isn't it gorgeous? *sigh*

Order of the series:

Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt

   

• Title: Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane #3)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Format: Paperback, 400 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (October 24, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0446558931
• ISBN-13: 978-0446558938
• Author's website: http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/
• Notes: contains language some may take offense to, but remember we're talking pirates here. 

Step 1: Entrap
      
     "I've come for Mary Darling."
     The pirate's eyes opened lazily as he swallowed his sweetmeat. "Who?"
     Oh this was too much! Silence felt her face heat as she shook off Harry's restraining arm and marched right up to the foot of the small dais on which the ridiculous throne stood. "You know very well who! Mary Darling, that sweet little baby girl I've taken care of for over a year. Mary Darling, who knows only me as her mother. Mary Darling, who you took from the foundling home where we both live. Give her back to me at once!"

They say patience is a virtue, but no one would ever accuse "Charming" Mickey O'Connor of being virtuous. Patience, however, is not only a device of the virtuous. The most skillful of predators will wait patiently for the right moment to spring the perfect trap to ensnare their victims and that is just what the notorious pirate had done. His victim? Silence Hollingbrook. For you see, he'd searched for that perfect woman and Silence Hollingbrook was it. He knew what he was doing when he left his daughter Mary with Silence. She was the one thing he could use to ensnare the virtuous widow...

Step 2: Seduce
   
     "Pay heed: the artichoke is a shy vegetable. She covers herself in spine-tipped leaves that must be carefully peeled away, and underneath shields her treasure with a barricade o' soft needles. They must be tenderly but firmly, scraped aside. Ye must be bold, for if yer not, she'll never reveal her soft heart."
     He finished cutting away the thistles and placed the small, tender heart on the center of the plate.
     She wrinkled her nose. "That's it? But it's so small."
     "Ah, and d'ye judge a thing solely upon size alone?"
     She made a choking sound.
     He paused, the knife and fork still in the air. "Now what is it yer think' about in that prim little mind?"
     She shook her head mutely and pointed at the artichoke heart. "Go on?"
     "Hmm". He took a bit of soft butter and spread it over the little heart."Well, I was thinkin' that sometimes the smaller the treasure the sweeter the pleasure."  
     He cut the heart in half and held it out to her on the tip of the fork and found he was holding his breath. Would she let him feed her? Let him care for her? 
     She stared suspiciously for a long moment before accepting the morsel into her mouth. His heart leaped in triumph. He watched as the taste in her mouth was reflected in her bright eyes.
     "So delicate, so buttery," he crooned to this fascinating woman. "Green and rich and smooth, but with a tiny bitter taste on top as if to keep yer interest." 

Seducing Silence would not be easy. Over a year ago he had made her take a walk of shame which made everyone believe he'd had his way with her. She had come to Mickey to save her husband and in the process she had ruined her reputation and damaged her marriage. It'll take more than mere words to win her over. Mickey will have to gain her forgiveness and acceptance if he'll have any chance of seducing her.

Step 3: You'll have to read the book to find out. <smirk>

Right from the start Hoyt uses carefully selected words to conjure up seductive images within her reader's imagination--"lavishly corrupt room", "Walls were lined with sheets of gold", and "illicit opulence." The imagery used throughout the story is beautiful and vivid. It makes the reader really connect to the story and feel a part of it.

Mickey is a complicated hero, a diamond in the rough, if you will. In the right hands, the many facets of his personality will be revealed. Silence will have to peel away the layers, like with an artichoke, to get to the heart of the man. He's not quite what he appears, but definitely not a saint or guilt free hero. He is a pirate and makes no excuses for it.

Silence, on the other hand, is the opposite of Mickey. What you see is what you get. She doesn't look down her nose at others and is a caring individual. She's also strong and stands up for what she believes in and isn't afraid to speak her mind.

I love the conflict created by Mickey's and Silence's past encounter. It adds another dimension to the story. It complicates the relationship and really shows what kind of person Silence is.

When the two finally come together they ignite the pages in some hot loves scenes. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a SHOWER rating - a warning label should be be attached which states you should make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order because a cold shower may be necessary when reading this book. Need I say more? Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I felt this was a wonderful combination of drama and romance.

Order of series: