Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Unavailable
Thief of Shadows
Unavailable
Thief of Shadows
Unavailable
Thief of Shadows
Audiobook11 hours

Thief of Shadows

Written by Elizabeth Hoyt

Narrated by Ashford McNab

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

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.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 26, 2012
ISBN9781611132182
Unavailable
Thief of Shadows

Related to Thief of Shadows

Related audiobooks

Romance For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Thief of Shadows

Rating: 4.146634778846154 out of 5 stars
4/5

208 ratings25 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was STEAMY HOT!!! I fell in love with Winter and felt and understood Isabel's vulnerability. Both characters are awesome. They grow as people and as lovers/friends in the duration of the book. Mrs. Hoyt does a great job helping the reader to understand their views and feelings. The plot was engaging with action, suspense and a wee bit of humor. Also, I enjoyed reading a book that had a male protagonist with strong morals, integrity and values. In most books it's the lady who is unwilling to bend. I recommend this book. It lulled for me about 3/4 in but, it is engaging enough to keep you reading to find out what will happen next.

    I would like to that Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Now this is what a romance novel should be.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Winter and Isabel: my favourite so far. Funny and well plotted and romantic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Winter Makepeace is the staid manager of an orphanage by day and works as the Ghost of St Giles during the night. Isobel Baroness Beckinhall has a combative relationship with him but she finds herself attracted to the Ghost and then to him and eventually they find a way to have a good relationship.I should have liked this more, it has several elements that are like my thing, vigilante heroes and self-possessed heroines should be all my favourite things but it just didn't do it for me like it should have. Not bad, could do better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    good story but a little long
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very entertaing story. I haven't read anything from this author that isn't good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My second read was just as enjoyable as the first. The hero seems sort of unappealingly staid at first, but really becomes quite compelling as things unfold.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It seems like that was a long time for me to read one of these. I liked Winter, I just didn't love him. Ditto on Isabel. I cannot say what was missing only that something was off for me here.

    Still, it's better than like 72% of the books I read, and even more, I can't wait to read the next EIGHT books?!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 stars

    "Has anyone cherished you just for yourself?"

    I wasn't highly anticipating this couple but they showed me and had some great heat between them. Our hero Winter is the epitome of still waters run deep. His and Isabel's back and forth, especially in regards to their sexual innuendos, had some spine tingling moments. I posted my favorite secondary characters of 2016 just this afternoon but let me add a late addition, Joseph Tinbox. Gah, I NEED his and Peach's story (this pairing has to happen).
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Winter Makepiece has his day in this installment of Maiden Lane, and the Ghost of St Giles has an identity crisis. See publisher's blurb for clues, no spoilers here. I am rereading this series because I like it, and because there is a new installment coming. Ms. Hoyt has such a creative imagination and understanding of the emotions and motivations of people that her novels are always on target, and it is easy to relate her characters and feel as if they are real. As usual, there are surprises and plot twists galore, and the sneaky insertion of characters who will appear in another book.Ashford McNab gives a marvelous performance with this cast of characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    You know how I tell you that each of these tales in this series can stand alone? Well, this one doesn’t… come to think of it, none really do. Just forget what I said before! In order for you to get the full impact of these two, I think you’re better of reading the previous book. Better yet, read all of the earlier books in this series. They are all very good.

    This tale picks up right where ‘Scandalous Desires’ left off, and I loved it! Not because of fast moving pace, or how well it was written and plotted, but because of both main characters. If anyone was ever made for Winter and sorely unsuitable, that would be Isabel. And yet they meshed perfectly! I also loved the fact that she was the experienced one and a few years older.

    I can safely say that so far, this is my favorite in this series. Get it!

    Melanie for b2b
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Thief of Shadows
    3.5 Stars

    By day, Winter Makepeace is manager of The Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children (quite a mouthful, isn’t it), and by night, he is the Ghost of St. Giles, a Robin Hood type vigilant who protects the weak and innocent from the dark and seedy inhabitants of the slum. In order to appease the home’s wealthy patronesses, the staid and stoic Winter is forced to accept lessons in etiquette from Lady Isabel Beckinhall or lose his position at the home, but can he conceal is dual identity from a woman who tempts him to forget the world that he has pledged to protect...

    Isabel and Winter’s romance is unconvincing as they not only come from opposing social strata but have completely opposite personalities as well. Winter is monk-like and repressed while Isabel is sexually confident and uninhibited. He is open and caring with the children of the home while she is self-absorbed and emotionally distant. Although this opposites attract type romance is usually a favorite of mine, it fails to completely resonate here perhaps because they are too different and the compromises they make for each other don’t entirely make sense.

    The “Lassie Snatchers” sub-plot has the potential for an intense and exciting mystery but is, unfortunately, underdeveloped. The emotional impact of the children’s plight is unconvincing and the villain is more of an afterthought than a real threat.

    One or two bright spots in the book are the dynamic between Peach and Joseph, who will hopefully get their own story at some point, and Isabel’s relationship with Christopher it would have been even better if Isabel’s softening toward him had been more plausible.

    All in all, this is the weakest installment so far, which is disappointing as I was eager to read the Ghost’s story. Godric and Megs’ book is next and hopefully it will be better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    By day, Winter Makepeace is the manager of a home for foundling children in the St. Giles district of London. By night, he dresses as the Ghost of St. Giles, providing justice for those whom society has utterly ignored. But one day he is injured and brought into the carriage of Lady Isabel Beckinhall and his two worlds suddenly appear at much higher risk of colliding.I always enjoy Elizabeth Hoyt's historical romances and this one is no exception. While part of a series, this book stands well on its own without providing much in the way of spoilers for previous books. This one did, however, feature the most obvious of set ups for the next book as I've ever seen in one of Hoyt's romances. Enjoyable if you like strong female leads in your romance novels.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Definitely a story that kept my interest! Well-written. Well-narrated.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love Elizabeth Hoyt's books! Thief of Shadows is a great addition to the Maiden Lane series. Winter Makepeace is a delicious hero. Once his Alpha side appear, he is unstoppable. Isabel is his perfect heroine with a tender, gentle side that she hides behind a blithe facade.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good heavens do I love this story. The first sex scene between this hero and heroine just about scorched the pages it was written on. I did find the ending a little bit odd (as the hero's change from austere zealot devoted to his work to happy, retired husband) didn't ring particularly true.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was STEAMY HOT!!! I fell in love with Winter and felt and understood Isabel's vulnerability. Both characters are awesome. They grow as people and as lovers/friends in the duration of the book. Mrs. Hoyt does a great job helping the reader to understand their views and feelings. The plot was engaging with action, suspense and a wee bit of humor. Also, I enjoyed reading a book that had a male protagonist with strong morals, integrity and values. In most books it's the lady who is unwilling to bend. I recommend this book. It lulled for me about 3/4 in but, it is engaging enough to keep you reading to find out what will happen next.

    I would like to that Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Winter Makepeace aka The Ghost of St. Giles runs the orphange in this poor section of London. He has made silent personal vow to stay celibate so that nothing would ever become more important than his children at the orphanage or his job as ghost righting the wrongs of the poor. In other words, we have a virgin hero here readers.

    Isabel Beckinhall is one of the patronesses for the home for children. She is a widow, unable to have children, with no desire to marry ever again. she is older than Mr. Makepeace and of a much higher class. They have no future together for so many reasons.

    After a murder or two, child labour gone afoul and so many extremely hot passion scenes a thumb print is permanently burned into the pages of this book, the two finally decide perhaps their futures should be united. A wonderful read that has everything you would want in a period romance novel.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Each of the Maiden Lane books is chock-full of so much goodness (even the weaker ones)that my write-ups of the past three novels couldn’t capture all of the cool plot points. Case in point: the ongoing specter of the infamous Ghost of St. Giles, which I hardly mentioned! I found pretty intriguing the Ghost’s small but significant appearances in each book, where they added another layer of mystery in the background of the stories. But in Thief of Shadows, the Ghost finally comes to the forefront, and he turns out to be our super serious, upright (and uptight) manager of the orphanage, Winter Makepeace. His verbal sparring in book 3 with one of the lights of high society, Lady Isabel Beckinhall, paved the way for some romantic business in this book 4.

    In Thief of Shadows, Winter continues to dedicate all of his focus and energy to managing his orphanage by day, while by night he's secretly protecting the innocent of St. Giles against dastardly villains. Except now he’s being increasingly called out on his lack of social graces and its potential harm to the orphanage by its council of high society patronesses. The group volunteers Isabel to tutor him on these social graces, and she gets to continue doing what she did in book 3--poking and prodding Winter’s chilly, overly serious exterior with provocative questions and cheeky comments. Isabel’s tutoring sessions with Winter, plus her steamy encounters with the mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, set up lots of opportunities for fun banter and romantic interactions. Winter has his Ghostly mask, of course, but Isabel wears a social mask as well—to most people she’s this frivolous aristocrat, but Winter sees her for the smart, perceptive woman she really is. And then we have some hand-wringing about the differences in status and Isabel’s inability to have children that increased the drama quotient. Add into the mix the Ghost’s search for the head of a child kidnapping ring and voila, you have a book that is engrossing throughout. I gulped it down in a few sittings. Pretty good for a book that I was apprehensive about; before picking it up I wasn’t sure what to feel about this younger, inexperienced man and older woman setup, but the story was smooth sailing in that regard.

    Even though there seemed to be a lot of action, I found myself more focused on character in this installment of the series. Perhaps it’s because Winter is one of the characters we’ve consistently met up with throughout books 1, 2, and 3; readers feel like we know him by now. As his relationship with Isabel deepens, he comes to realize that the very rigid, disciplined life that he’s used to living is also a very lonely one. His struggle when Isabel tries to pull him “out of the shadows,” asking him to not take on the entire burden of all troubles himself is a deeply affecting one. If he doesn’t take on the cause of these oft-ignored denizens in St. Giles, who will? So far so good, but then 90 pages from the ending of the book, Winter does something so out of character and unbelievable that I kind of got angry with the plot stunt and knocked my rating down by a star, giving it just an average 3 stars. Lord d’Arque has had his eye on replacing Winter as the orphanage manager throughout the story, and near the end he offers a deal to Winter—if Winter leaves the orphanage, then d’Arque will give one of the orphans a naval commission. Just like that, with the snap of the fingers, Winter leaves the orphanage in the hands of d’Arque, who at this point by the way, hasn’t been cleared of our (and Winter’s) suspicion of being part of the this sweatshop ring. From what we know of Winter in past books as well as this one, he wouldn’t be a man who abandons all of those kids to lord-knows-what just to secure the future of one child, even if he’s a favorite. And after building up readers’ attachment to the orphanage--the kids, the staff, even the dog and cat--Hoyt just has Winter pack up his rucksack, wave bye to the orphanage without fanfare, move into Isabel’s house to become a tutor, and have lots of sex with Isabel? Really!!??? Nope, not convincing. Of course, it turns out that the change wasn’t traumatic for the orphans; the kids just made life really hard for d’Arque and Lady Penelope and Winter engineers his comeback to the orphanage, but I couldn’t get over my annoyance!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Winter Makespeace, lives a double life, one life during the daylight where he is the manager of Home for lost children of St. Giles, and the other life during the moonlit night, where he goes out looking for the innocent children, but his life becomes threatened when Lady Isabel shows up on the scene. Isabel, is charged by the committee to polish Winter Makepeace and if she is unable to he will be replaced. After seeing the way he cares about the children, she knows its his life's work, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to make him see reason. However Winter is more stubborn than she gave his credit for, and she knows it will take all her iron will to match his stubborness. But when a danger lurks to threaten their future, only their love for each other will see them through to the end....Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite authors, I recently discovered her last year, and ever since have just felt charmed by her love stories, and Thief of Shadows was no different. In previous books we have seen Winter and I was thrilled to have the chance to read his story....Winter is both complicated and simple at times. He is a charmer among the ladies, very stubborn and protective over his charges, and has dedicated his life to them even over love and marriage. Isabel is a perfect match for Winter, because she is the only woman that could ever bring him up to scratch. Thief Of Shadows was a beauitfully written story, which was a wonderful mix of romance, mystery, passion, and an exciting plot that will definitely keep the reader on their toes. I think what I loved the most about this book, was how wonderfully woven the characters were sewn into the story, one can't help but be endeared by them. A Charming Love Story!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What a charming surprise from my Netgalley list. It sounded like a classic wish-fulfillment adventure-tinged romance: lady rescues famous masked thief, whom she actually knows in his alternate (secret) identity, as the rather colorless administrator of an orphanage. And adventure-tinged romance was exactly what it was. I'm a little surprised to have given this four stars – but I had a lot of fun. It is enjoyable to see a woman rescuing a man. And it's always, always fun to have secret identities and avenging crime-fighters added to the mix – particularly in a Victorian setting. The setup for the latter is actually rather nice – it's at least as good as some of the superhero origins I've seen. Winter Makepeace is the head of an orphanage in St. Giles, one of the seamiest and most dangerous areas of London. He is utterly devoted to the home and to his charges – during the day. At night he forgoes sleep to roam the streets of the district in a mask and cape, carrying an illegal sword and looking to protect and avenge those who need it so badly. It's a charge that was laid on him by the one who taught him the sword, and he takes it seriously. Very seriously. I think to state how seriously would be a bit of a spoiler for the romance, so I'll leave it at very. However, his legend is muddled. Some hail the Ghost of St. Giles as a savior and avenger of the downtrodden – and others whisper that he is a ravager of women, a thief, an assassin. One night a mob who subscribes to the latter view almost manages to catch him, and he is wounded in escaping – to be found in the middle of the road by Lady Isabel Beckinhall and her servants. Isabel – finding this all very exciting and intriguing – has him tucked into her carriage and gets all of them to safety through sheer aristocratic will. In being treated for his injuries, the man recovers enough to demand that his mask be left on – and Isabel sees to it that his wish is respected, which may be partly because she enjoys the mystery. This sets the stage for all sorts of suspense and, of course, Clark Kent moments as Isabel becomes involved in the orphanage and is thrown together with Winter. The poor man is put through the wringer in this, in more ways than one. To paraphrase another review of another book, this isn't Literature, and makes no pretenses: it is an entertaining and fast-moving read with a vein of smut, and as such is very nicely written and very enjoyable. As I read, and as the supporting characters moved about the stage, I kept thinking that quite a few of those characters had stories of their own to tell. It wasn't obtrusive, just enough information here and there that intrigued me. And, of course, as it turns out, this is part of a series, and other books in the series do in fact feature those other characters. And I have to say: well done. My interest was very much piqued without my ever getting the feeling that the current story was being interrupted by ads for other books. Very nicely done. I'll be reading the others.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    *************Spoiler Alert***************Review contains spoilers for the Maiden Lane series. Wow! I'm beginning to think that Elizabeth Hoyt simply isn't capable of writing a bad book, and that's a very good thing.:-) I had really been looking forward to Thief of Shadows for a long time, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It ended up being another fabulous read in the Maiden Lane series and in a virtual tie with Scandalous Desires for my favorite book in the series so far. I just couldn't get enough of the scrumptious Winter and think he was the perfect match for Lady Isabel. The only thing that could possibly make this book better is if I could erase my memory of it, so that I could read and enjoy it all over again as though I'd never read it before.:-)I've been crazy about Winter since the series first began and am so glad that he finally got his own book. When Winter is himself, he's a simple, shy, unassuming schoolmaster whose commitment and devotion to the children of the Foundling Home is touching beyond measure. When he takes up his avenging angel alter-ego of the Ghost of St. Giles, he becomes a more confident man who dares to banter with and even kiss the woman he has come to admire. He also harbors a depth of emotion that drives him to keep playing the Ghost, because he simply cannot leave the children and other helpless souls of St. Giles unprotected. Winter is definitely a man in whom still waters run deep, and it was an absolute joy to watch as he gradually integrates the two personas. Winter thinks of the Ghost part of himself as an animal, but in reality, he's far more self-aware than most men, which in my book, makes him quite civilized. He's always very controlled in his actions and knows exactly what he's getting into before he does it. This made him falling for Isabel all the more heartfelt, because it was a deliberate action which he had no intention of ever recanting. Winter has been so focused on caring for the children all of his adult life that it is an unfamiliar feeling when Isabel cares for him and shows him some small kindnesses. He is a very intuitive man who recognizes that Isabel is hiding some secrets of her own, and against all reason wants to unmask her in the same way she is doing with him. He is quite masterful at reading between the lines and understanding all the things that Isabel doesn't say and occasionally shocks her with his astuteness. Winter is a very intelligent man who recognizes that same attribute in Isabel and respects her as his intellectual equal. Winter has the heart of a poet and utters a number of incredibly romantic and swoon-worthy lines that I'll not soon forget. I love the way he often says, "As you wish," and can't help wondering if the author was paying homage to The Princess Bride. I think the thing I adored most about Winter though is his view that making love is an intimate expression of love and commitment and not merely lust or sex. He knows from the moment he first makes love to Isabel that he is laying claim to her for now and always. When Isabel initially rejects his suit, he patiently bides his time until she comes to terms with the idea of marrying him. Even when it seems like everyone else has gotten the upper hand on him, we discover that Winter is an incredibly clever man who really had control of the situation all along and when it came to Isabel, he used that ingenuity to stay close to her and continue to carefully press his suit. Winter was a sweet, gentle man who leans toward the beta side, but when he takes up the mask of the Ghost has a streak of alpha protectiveness. Everything came together to make him an all-around delectable hero who has definitely earned a spot on my all-time favorite heroes list. Isabel is a woman who wears her own mask quite well. To society she presents the perfect picture of a poised, confident lady, but underneath she's broken and grieving for dreams that have been shattered. When Winter comes into her life, he slowly begins peeling away the layers, leaving her painfully exposed, but then soothes her with the balm of his love. During their first encounter in this story, Isabel bravely rescues the Ghost of St. Giles. At this point, I think she is somewhat taken with the danger and romanticism of Winter's alter-ego, but once she starts falling for Winter and realizes they are one and the same, she becomes sick with worry over his safety while in the guise of the Ghost. I thought Isabel was a very intelligent woman to put the pieces together and realize that Winter was the Ghost. As Isabel and Winter begin to get to know one another, Isabel seems to enjoy needling Winter in a good-natured sort of way in an attempt to loosen him up a little whenever he's being particularly reticent. I love that Isabel sees the whole man behind Winter's stoic exterior, and that she sincerely wants to get to know him better. She recognizes the intense passion that hides just beneath the surface and is intoxicated by the thought of him turning that passion on her. Isabel may get angry with Winter for not telling her the truth about being the Ghost, but she still can't resist him even when he's not really trying to seduce her. She's quite simply drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Isabel is obviously rather uncomfortable with the little boy, Christoper, and I correctly discerned her reasons for that. However, it's equally obvious that deep down she cares for him too, and through Winter's calming influence, she gradually becomes more relaxed around children in general. I like the way that Isabel supports Winter too. She seems to understand his devotion to the Foundling Home and when one of her cohorts in the Ladies Syndicate tries to get him dismissed from his job as the manager, she sincerely wants to help him keep his position. Isabel definitely gave Winter a challenge when she attempted to fight her feelings for him, but deep down, she's been hurt and was simply afraid to love him for fear that he might someday betray her, or worse yet, look at her as less than a woman and eventually despise her. Lucky for her, Winter was a patient and determined man who wouldn't take no for an answer.As a couple Winter and Isabel are a superb match. These two see and appreciate the parts of each other that no one else ever has. I love the way they flirt and banter but it's in a more reserved way than one would typically see in a historical romance. Winter is just too honest and direct for it to be any other way. Instead their dialog is like an exquisite dance, intricately choreographed to build sexual tension. Every look, every touch is more of the same, propelling them on toward the ultimate goal of falling in love and sharing passion. All this made their first kiss and their first intimate encounters explosively passionate, yet when Winter comes back to Isabel later, their love-making is deliciously slow and sensuous. He puts himself completely under Isabel's tutelage while unselfishly giving himself to her. His curiosity is adorable, and his attention to her needs bone-meltingly decadent. Virgin heroes like Winter are definitely an under-rated commodity in romance, and in my opinion, there should be a lot more of them.Thief of Shadows has a number of memorable secondary characters. It nearly broke my heart when the selfish Lady Penelope teamed up with Lord d'Arque to stir up trouble for Winter. It was hard to believe that she couldn't see what an amazing man Winter was and how devoted he was to the children, but complacent people like her rarely do have an understanding of such things. Her quiet companion, Miss Greaves seems like a decent person though, and I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of her in the future. Joseph Tinbox is so sweet the way he looks out for Peach, a little orphan girl Winter rescues after she escapes from the “lassie snatchers.” Even though Winter tries not to have favorites, he simply can't help having a special place in his heart for Joseph, and I think it's wonderful that Joseph recognizes on some level what Winter is doing and wants to emulate him. Joseph would make a great hero when he grows up, and this book left me with the feeling Ms. Hoyt may be heading that direction with his character. Griffin's sister, Lady Margaret finally found the love-match she'd been craving. However, I knew after taking a writer's workshop with Elizabeth Hoyt that Margaret's secret love affair was doomed, because she is set to become the heroine of the next book in the series, Lord of Darkness. Her hero will be Godric St. John, Caire's best friend from Wicked Intentions. Godric only appears in a couple of scenes in this book, and he seems to be very sad and depressed over the death of his beloved wife. I've loved both of these characters since I first met them, and think that they have the potential to make a fabulous match. After the teasers Ms. Hoyt gave us in her workshop, I can't wait to read their book.Thief of Shadows was a perfect book that had a little of everything. There was action, adventure and a little bit of mystery as Winter searches St. Giles for the missing little girls and tries to figure out which high-ranking aristocrat is responsible for their disappearances. There is decadent romance as Isabel tutors Winter in the social graces and a whole lot more. I also loved Winter's intelligent response to those who called for his resignation and the way he cleverly turned the tables on them. Then there was the surprising epilogue which revealed an intriguing secret that explains something I'd been wondering about since the beginning of the series. It also leaves the reader with a mini-cliffhanger, and with that to explore and an unsolved murder that I hope will be resolved, there's a lot to look forward to in Lord of Darkness. It's going to be difficult to wait eight months for it to be released.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love, love, loved this book! A terrific addition to the Maiden Lane series, my favorite so far in the series. I had no idea I'd love this story so much! Isabel Beckinhall, an aristocratic, childless widow in her early thirties becomes enamored of The Ghost of St. Giles after rescuing him from a mob out to capture him. Little does she know who the Ghost really is! This book is loaded with sensuality and heat - very well done as is often the case with Hoyt's romances. Set in Georgian England, the scenery, costumes and squalor of St. Giles comes alive! Winter and Isabel make a fabulous mismatched couple and I loved the fact he would not take "no" for answer! Winter is up there with Jamie Fraser in reinforcing my opinion that younger men and virgins to boot - make the most enthusiastic lovers! Lucky Isabel! A must read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have waited for Winter's story since book one and it did not dissapoint. The transformation of him from hard unfeeling school master to a man that will do anything for love made me sigh like a little girl. The sex was HOT and there was a great twist at the ending that I did not see coming. I can't wait for the next book. Elizabeth Hoyt has me as a fan for life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    ABOUT THE BOOK: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 adored this book! One word would sum it up entirely….WOW. The structure of the book was phenomenal and provided the reader with just the right amount of romance, sensuality, comedy and suspense. Ms. Hoyt did a great job in building the tension not only between these two but also on the secondary plot occurring behind the scenes. The work that went into creating drama in this story was simply amazing.I loved the two lead characters and love the interesting twist Ms. Hoyt did with the two of them. It was amazing how she brought two people from two entirely different backgrounds together. The surprise that occurred with these two was a knockout and the pairing simply terrific.The plot occurring behind the scenes was superb and gave the reader an insight into just how things were back in the days. I loved the fairy tale that ran along the actually story and found myself turning the pages wanting so much more.All in all, five out of five stars for a job well done.