Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt

Synopsis:  Lady Margaret Reading loss the love of her life to the Ghost of St. Giles and promised revenge on her return to London. Little did she know that the kindly gentleman who married her to save her from scandal was the same man she sought. She had another more pressing reason for returning though- to consummate her marriage and to get herself with child no matter how unwilling her husband.

Godric St. John preyed on those who harmed the weak in the vilest part of London- St. Giles. He had no intention of curtailing his activities when his wife unexpectedly arrived at their house not even when her attempts to murder him almost succeeded. His wife in a passion is a most distracting thing and though he tries to keep her at arm length he feels his armour melting but he must be strong, for the memory of his first wife.

Rating:  4/5

Comments: Had my reservations with the age difference but their shared loss of the love of their life and their initial unwillingness to move on put them on an even footing.  The book ran the emotional gamut from amusing to endearing to embarrassing (for the characters). As usual it was good to see the characters from previous books and happily they did not interrupt Megs and Godric’s story .The entire Maiden Lane series is well written and entertaining. I love especially the lack of explanation and mere mentions of the links between the books in the series. Can’t wait for the next book!

The Arrangement by Mary Balogh

Synopsis: Vincent Hunt may be blind but as Viscount Darleigh, his value as a suitor has not diminished. It is only through the mercy of Ms Sophia Fry that he did not end up marrying her scheming cousin. For her trouble, she is kicked out of her cousin’s house. With nowhere to go and no one left to take her in, she spends the night at the rectory with the intent to make her way to London to find employment.

Unwilling to be a burden by accepting Viscount Darleigh’s proposal, Sophia at first rejects it. Darleigh comes up with a plan that they marry and live together until she gets with child then they can go their separate ways. Grateful beyond belief, mousy Sophia promises to be the best wife she can be. It was not difficult to fall in love with Sophia. The hardest part is convincing her she is lovable.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It’s a great young love book.

Twelfth Night Secrets by Jane Feather

Synopsis: When Lady Harriet Devere`s brother died so did her part in helping him as  a British spy. The sudden appearance of her brother`s ex-commander requesting she assist them in determining if her brother`s partner was also his betrayer, was a shock but she could not refuse. It was almost too convenient that the chap had been invited to spend Christmas with her family. All she had to do was observe and report but this man was with her family she had to do more to keep them safe if he was indeed a traitor.

Rating: U

Comments: Oh my gosh. I couldn`t read past the first few pages. The plot had such potential but the wording and the resulting activities was such a snore I skipped too many times to know what the story was really about.

Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall

Synopsis: Forced by her dead husband`s will to acquiesce to her mother in law`s rule or she would forfeit the care of her son, Lady Isobel Maitland had little joy in her life. The night she spied the notorious rake, the Marquess of Blackwood, enticing another lady at a costumed party she could not look away. When he approached her she was dumbfounded, when he flirted she boldly reciprocated in her disguise. She did not mean for their encounter to end in passion but she promises herself it would never happen again.

Phineas was under orders from the government to ferret out the whereabouts of the hostess` husband but the lady proved immune to her charms. When he espied a form studying him, he had to determine if his cover was blown. Instead he found a witty and charming lady he thoroughly enjoyed but it seems the lady wished to remain mysterious. Pineas didn`t care if she was a spy. There was no one he had yet to meet who ensnared his attention. He had to find out who she was and repeat the encounter again and again.

Rating: 4/5

Comments: The entire plot was wonderful. I loved how the dawdy lady hid in plain sight from the handsome hunter yet was both irritated and relieved that he did not recognise her.

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

Synopsis: Silence Hollingbrook had been scarred the last time she`d had dealings with River Pirate and ruler of St. Giles, `Charming` Mickey O`Connor. She hated him for that night and what it had cost her but she had no choice but to move into his home when he told her that she and the babe she cared for were in danger from his enemies. She knew she would live like a gilded prisoner but she would show him that he could not rule her.

Mickey raised himself from the gutters to be the most feared and respected ruler of the vilest city in London. Known to some as the darkest evil, he recognised his polar opposite in Silence. When he realised he was a father he immediately sent the child to Silence to be protected from his enemies. His enemies were drawing nearer however and he had to protect what is his even if the stubborn lady didn`t care for him, he had claimed her and he had no intention of letting her go even after he dealt with his foes.

Rating: 5/5

Comments: It had all the qualities i like in a plot: reformed rake, baby, pirates and a flabbergasted male confused when a female doesn`t bend to his will, shocking turns in the plot and moments of levity. Best of all it`s the story in the Maiden Lane series I was waiting for!

The Handbook to handling his Lordship by Suzanne Enoch

Synopsis: Retired spy since inheriting his Earldom, Nate Stokes entertains himself by locating object for the ton. His recent case is his most challenging, locate a murderess ex-governess from four years ago. A hunch sent him to the Tantalus club where he suspected his hostess was hiding something. Ever curious he worked his wiles to discover her secret knowing there was a possibility she was doing the same to him.

Emily Portsman was her most recent name. for the last few years she had kept out of the public rooms of the Tantalus Club just in case one of the powerful patrons recognised her even though she changed the color of her hair. On overhearing the conversation between the supposed studious and unassuming Earl of Westfall and his younger brother she determines to get closer to him in order to discover how much he knew.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Loved the spy games and the strong connection between the two even though they didn’t trust each other. Thought her foolish to sleep with him just for information when she suspected he was out to murder her.

Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath

Synopsis: Lady Anne Hayworth needed a ship to escort her to her fiancé. Crimson Jack came highly recommended, on meeting however, she labeled him a cad for his advances to her. No other sea captain would take her afterward however on orders from Jack. When he propositioned her in her bedroom- the trip for one kiss of his choosing she would have said no if she did not feel instinctively that she could trust him.

Crimson Jack was the name he lived by since his twin brother sold him to a captain to protect him from his murderous uncle. His uncle was dead and he`d reclaimed his place in society but he felt more comfortable on the ocean. When the elegant lady presented herself, he set himself to seduce her even if she did have a fiancé. He felt something for her so intense he could not describe. His place was at sea however and hers was in the ballrooms of the ton.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It was good. Loved the overprotective yet jealous brother and the polite suitor who turned a blind eye to the obvious attraction between the two. Adored his supportive brothers and can`t wait to read their stories.

Surprising Lord Jack by Sally MacKenzie

Synopsis: Frances Hadley was so mad she left for London the same day. Her goal was to see her family solicitor, get her money and disappear in the countryside. She had enough sense to cut her hair and dress as a lad on her journey but not enough to take provisions with her. Thankfully the owner of an inn took pity on her and offered her a room for the night. She was a sound sleeper so didn’t realise until morning that she’d shared the room with someone else.

Jack Valentine was running away from his mother. The famously known Duchess of Love had already enchanted one of her sons, it was time to escape before she read too much into the young lady that kept stalking him. When the inn keeper’s wife requested he escort his young roommate to London he was hesitant until he realised how innocent ‘he’ was. He just had to make a few pit stops in the red light district to check on his contacts. A murderer was on the loose and young women of disreputable reputations were his prey.  He had no idea his travel companion was the next target.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It was good. The world thought Jack a wastrel but that was a cover to his philanthropic tendencies. When he discovered Frances’ true identity he enlisted his mother’s aid to dispel any rumours about her reputation and usher her into the society she belonged to but was previously denied.

 

With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland

Synopsis: With his brother at death`s door, Laird Robert Cameron raced to the McLeod witch. He felt a tingle passing through her door but it was the reluctant woman herself that unnerved him. She was indeed a witch for not only was she comely but the clothes she wore was strange and even stranger she kept asking what the date was.

Sunshine Phillip had stayed in Scotland because she loved it. She did not however like the time period she was pulled into. Her brother in law Jamie had warned her of time gates but she`d passed through her own doorway often enough to believe it was not one or so she thought. When the handsome stranger insisted she was needed, she raced to help thinking it was her family in need, when she realised the truth she still felt compelled to aid him. To say his clan did not take to her was an understatement. After almost being drowned for being a witch, she and Cameron were attacked constantly by his own men. When she made it to the time gate, he stayed back to fight. The last image she`d seen of the man of her dreams was a weapon entering his body.

Back in her own time, she was shocked to find her love in her brother in law`s modern castle conducting business in an expensive suit.  Worse, he did not recognise her. Some digging revealed he`d been adopted eight years ago in a hospital by a wealthy relative. He had amnesia and he was engaged to a socialite. He was rich and had obligations in the lime light, she preferred her garden and the quiet. She was devastated but ready to move on, if only he would stop hanging around her so she could do so.

 

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Entertaining but the ending was drawn out and unnecessary. A common enemy from the past was working to slowly destroy his company and kill her when he got too close. Brought back some characters from other books.

The Mistress Memoirs by Jillian Hunter

Synosis: Sir Colin Boscastle had dedicated 13 years of his life to uncovering his father`s murderer and his latest information brought him to the house of his first love. Gorgette is now the most sought after courtesan of the ton and had not forgiven the rogue who seduced and left her forcing her to marry when she discovered she was pregnant with their son. Colin was determined to wait until her latest lover returned to mete out justice.  He never expected Georgette`s children`s governess would distract him from his obsession nor how much danger the ladies were truly in.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Fascinating. Love the children interaction and when he realised he had a son.