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Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane #3)
by Elizabeth Hoyt (Goodreads Author)
★★★★★ & a Wow! Loved every word of it. It is so neat when a book lives up to my hopes and desires. Charming Mickey and Silence have had an unusual history in the Maiden Lane series, with plenty of aching hurt ー the kind that goes bone-deep ー and it is so neat to see the fabulous Ms. Hoyt pull this one off. The pacing is spot-on, the mystery palpable, and their HEA believable. Amazing secondary characters too! I really don’t like it when an author uses the epilogue to set up the next volume; nevertheless, after this wonderful endeavor ー and since it is a continuation of the storyline from this entire series involving the Ghost of St. Giles ー I’ll forgive her. Can’t wait for the fourth installment, Thief of Shadows, coming out in July, 2012!
BTW, if you love romance book cover art, and want to see the “set back” or inside cover on this one, go up under the bookcover and click on where it says “more photos (1)” – for a nice bath scene – sans dog! (Thanks Punya for posting!)
Also, while I strongly suggest you read this series in order, here is a link to Elizabeth Hoyt’s website listing the Maiden Lane Cast of Characters in case you need a refresher.
by Elizabeth Hoyt (Goodreads Author)
Lisa Kay's review
bookshelves: genre-romance-historical, animal-dog-in-story, buddy-read, theme-baby-in-story, season-winter, reviewed-by-me, authors-e, authors-h, all-time-favorites, challenge-disney-princess-reading
Dec 28, 11
bookshelves: genre-romance-historical, animal-dog-in-story, buddy-read, theme-baby-in-story, season-winter, reviewed-by-me, authors-e, authors-h, all-time-favorites, challenge-disney-princess-reading
Read from December 26 to 28, 2011
★★★★★ & a Wow! Loved every word of it. It is so neat when a book lives up to my hopes and desires. Charming Mickey and Silence have had an unusual history in the Maiden Lane series, with plenty of aching hurt ー the kind that goes bone-deep ー and it is so neat to see the fabulous Ms. Hoyt pull this one off. The pacing is spot-on, the mystery palpable, and their HEA believable. Amazing secondary characters too! I really don’t like it when an author uses the epilogue to set up the next volume; nevertheless, after this wonderful endeavor ー and since it is a continuation of the storyline from this entire series involving the Ghost of St. Giles ー I’ll forgive her. Can’t wait for the fourth installment, Thief of Shadows, coming out in July, 2012!
BTW, if you love romance book cover art, and want to see the “set back” or inside cover on this one, go up under the bookcover and click on where it says “more photos (1)” – for a nice bath scene – sans dog! (Thanks Punya for posting!)
Also, while I strongly suggest you read this series in order, here is a link to Elizabeth Hoyt’s website listing the Maiden Lane Cast of Characters in case you need a refresher.
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Quotes Lisa Kay Liked
“Humph.” She peered down suspiciously as he parted the leaves to reveal the choke. “That doesn’t look very tasty.”
“That’s because it isn’t,” he said. “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 her 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.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“That’s because it isn’t,” he said. “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 her 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.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“There, there, sweetin’,” he murmured into her hair.
“He loved me, he truly did,” she gasped.
“I know he did,” Michael said.
“And I loved him.”
“Mm-hmm.”
She raised her head, glaring angrily. “You don’t even believe in love. Why are you agreeing with me?”
He laughed.
“Because”—he leaned down and licked at the tears on her cheeks, his lips brushing softly against her sensitive skin as he spoke, “ye’ve bewitched and bespelled me, my sweet Silence, didn’t ye know? I’ll agree that the sky is pink, that the moon is made o’ marzipan and sugared raisins, and that mermaids swim the muddy waters o’ the Thames, if ye’ll only stop weepin’. Me chest breaks apart and gapes wide open when I see tears in yer pretty eyes. Me lungs, me liver, and me heart cannot stand to be thus exposed.”
She stopped breathing. She simply inhaled and stopped, looking at him in wonder. His lips were quirked in a mocking smile, but his eyes—his fathomless black eyes—seemed to hold a great pain as if his strong chest really had been split open.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“He loved me, he truly did,” she gasped.
“I know he did,” Michael said.
“And I loved him.”
“Mm-hmm.”
She raised her head, glaring angrily. “You don’t even believe in love. Why are you agreeing with me?”
He laughed.
“Because”—he leaned down and licked at the tears on her cheeks, his lips brushing softly against her sensitive skin as he spoke, “ye’ve bewitched and bespelled me, my sweet Silence, didn’t ye know? I’ll agree that the sky is pink, that the moon is made o’ marzipan and sugared raisins, and that mermaids swim the muddy waters o’ the Thames, if ye’ll only stop weepin’. Me chest breaks apart and gapes wide open when I see tears in yer pretty eyes. Me lungs, me liver, and me heart cannot stand to be thus exposed.”
She stopped breathing. She simply inhaled and stopped, looking at him in wonder. His lips were quirked in a mocking smile, but his eyes—his fathomless black eyes—seemed to hold a great pain as if his strong chest really had been split open.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“She swallowed, watching as the servants and Harry and Bert trooped out of the room. Lad, apparently not the brightest dog in the world, sat down next to Mickey O’Connor and leaned against his leg.
Mr. O’Connor looked at the dog, looked at the damp spot growing on his breeches where the dog was leaning, and sighed. “I find me life is not as quiet as it used to be afore ye came to me palace, Mrs. Hollingbrook.”
Silence lifted her chin. “You’re a pirate, Mr. O’Connor. I cannot believe your life was ever very quiet.”
He gave her an ironic look. “Aye, amazin’, isn’t it? Yet since yer arrival me servants no longer obey me and I return home to find me kitchen flooded.” He crossed to a cupboard and took down a china teapot, a tin of tea, and a teacup. “And me dog smells like a whorehouse.”
Silence glanced guiltily at Lad. “The only soap we could find was rose scented.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
Mr. O’Connor looked at the dog, looked at the damp spot growing on his breeches where the dog was leaning, and sighed. “I find me life is not as quiet as it used to be afore ye came to me palace, Mrs. Hollingbrook.”
Silence lifted her chin. “You’re a pirate, Mr. O’Connor. I cannot believe your life was ever very quiet.”
He gave her an ironic look. “Aye, amazin’, isn’t it? Yet since yer arrival me servants no longer obey me and I return home to find me kitchen flooded.” He crossed to a cupboard and took down a china teapot, a tin of tea, and a teacup. “And me dog smells like a whorehouse.”
Silence glanced guiltily at Lad. “The only soap we could find was rose scented.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“Why?” he whispered as he leaned over her, supported on one arm. “Why must ye be the one that haunts me dreams? I’ve seen ye weepin’ night after bloody night since the day I sent ye from me palace with yer dress half undone. If I had it to do over again, I’d cut me own right hand off rather than hurt ye so. Will ye never be able to forgive me, Silence love?”
“I already have,” she replied, cradling his cheek in her hand. “Long, long ago.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“I already have,” she replied, cradling his cheek in her hand. “Long, long ago.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“At her gesture Michael cursed and caught her hand, falling suddenly atop her.
She stared up at him wondering what bedchamber faux pas she’d committed.
He groaned at her look. “I’ll let ye pet and play all ye want—after. Now I need”—he pushed her chemise to her waist, parted her thighs, and settled between them—“to be inside ye.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
She stared up at him wondering what bedchamber faux pas she’d committed.
He groaned at her look. “I’ll let ye pet and play all ye want—after. Now I need”—he pushed her chemise to her waist, parted her thighs, and settled between them—“to be inside ye.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
“The butterfly startled at Mary’s gesture and floated up, drifting on the breeze, its wings sparkling blue and bright in the late afternoon sunshine.
Silence watched it, enthralled, and then her eyes met Michael’s.
A corner of his mouth cocked up. “Welcome home, m’love.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
Silence watched it, enthralled, and then her eyes met Michael’s.
A corner of his mouth cocked up. “Welcome home, m’love.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires
Reading Progress
| 12/26/2011 | page 106 |
|
29.0% | "Loving this book so far. Ahhhh... Charming Mickey is an Irish Devil." |
| 12/27/2011 | page 217 |
|
59.0% | "O.M.G. Mary Darling is right; Charming Mickey is “Bad!” LOL!" |
Comments (showing 1-17 of 17) (17 new)
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Baba ♥♥♥ Marcus, Tyler, Tate, Dan, Ty, & Hunter
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Dec 28, 2011 11:04am
Wonderful pic, Lisa Kay - such beautiful colors. :)
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![.þµŋψà. [Punya Reviews...]](http://d.gr-assets.com/users/1363347489p1/3840999.jpg)
Great review and informations Lisa! I love those snippets/character pages in EH's website. I added like 21 quotes from the book, loved EH's writing so much! I always like to add quotes myself but don't think personally I've been so drawn to any book to add so many before. :)
Thanks, Punya! I know what you mean about the quotes. I was going to click more, but now that they attach to the reviews, didn't know if it would go on for pages, LOL! Thanks for adding so many. ☺
Great review Lisa Kay! I can't wait to start this series. The Raven Prince is one of my fav books ever. I have to say you guys in the US got much better covers than is available over here in the UK - love that bath picture!!
Love your review , Lisa Kay! I loved this book and it exceeded all expectations. Can't wait for Thief of Shadows!!!
Lynsey wrote: "Great review Lisa Kay! I can't wait to start this series. The Raven Prince is one of my fav books ever. I have to say you guys in the US got much better covers than is available over here in the..."Lynsey, I bought the UK version and then I also bought the US version from Amazon Marketplace just for the cover!
Carol wrote: Lynsey, I bought the UK version and then I also bought the US version from Amazon Marketplace just for the cover!What a good idea Carol! I will try that too. Why have the UK versions got such boring covers? I want the sexy covers!! The boring ones really put me off and I don't understand why they do that anyway!
Oh, Lisa Kay, I love the picture! Beautiful! I LOVE butterflies and that is my favourite colour! Great review, too. ^_^
Loved this wonderful review Lisa Kay! This is one of my all-time favorite series. Can you walk me through how you add the quotes following your review? I would love to do this!
Lynsey wrote: "I have to say you guys in the US got much better covers than is available over here in the UK - love that bath picture!!"Thanks, Lynsey. That's what I often think of the UK cover, LOL! I guess it is a case of "the grass is always greener."
Okay, KatLynne, this one is for you. ☺ In case you haven't already found it, here is the link to: How to Add a Quote (and thus, make it appear under your review…) Also, How to Edit a Quote, if you are a GR Librarian
