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Maiden Lane #11
Duke of Pleasure
IN THE ARMS OF DANGER
Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.
IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE
Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.
ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER
When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?
Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.
IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE
Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.
ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER
When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
274 people are currently reading
5418 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Hoyt
48 books7,182 followersElizabeth Hoyt is a New York Times bestselling author of historical romance. She also writes deliciously fun contemporary romance under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with three untrained dogs and one long-suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 892 reviews
February 6, 2017
There are a couple of tropes here: the girl dressed up as a boy, and then the Eliza Doolittle thing where they teach her to be a lady. Neither of those are my favorite thing. Adding to that is the fact that the author brought back the very very played out storyline of the Ghost of Saint Giles. Just let it go, already! Nobody likes the stupid Ghost. It's about the lamest thing ever!
Oops, forgot about lumbersexuals. The Ghost of Saint Giles is the second lamest thing ever.
And, here's the other thing about this book, that kind of has a creepy factor. The guy, Hugh, knows Alf as a homeless teenage boy that he wants to protect and help out. He feels a fatherly type of thing for the kid. But, the second he finds out that this boy has boobies, he's all over her like a cheap suit. Or, cheap chemise or whatever... He gets into a sexual relationship with Alf the moment he realizes she's an inny instead of an outie. That seems... creepy? As a mom, I would never be able to switch the motherly feelings I have towards about 25 teenagers that are friends with my sons just because they have the right sex parts. As a matter of fact, I cringe to write those words. It's just gross. Either I feel motherly about someone, or sexual about someone, but the two shall never meet. Ever. So, I'm not all that sure about Hugh.
Oh, it's okay, Spidey, cuz that's a girl in disguise.
But, other than these problems with the story, I still enjoyed it. There is a new group of bad guys that are super bad and I like when their blood is shed. Also, the side characters were great. I look forward to Iris's story in the next book. Although, when in the hell are we getting Lord d'Arque's story? I need.
Oops, forgot about lumbersexuals. The Ghost of Saint Giles is the second lamest thing ever.
And, here's the other thing about this book, that kind of has a creepy factor. The guy, Hugh, knows Alf as a homeless teenage boy that he wants to protect and help out. He feels a fatherly type of thing for the kid. But, the second he finds out that this boy has boobies, he's all over her like a cheap suit. Or, cheap chemise or whatever... He gets into a sexual relationship with Alf the moment he realizes she's an inny instead of an outie. That seems... creepy? As a mom, I would never be able to switch the motherly feelings I have towards about 25 teenagers that are friends with my sons just because they have the right sex parts. As a matter of fact, I cringe to write those words. It's just gross. Either I feel motherly about someone, or sexual about someone, but the two shall never meet. Ever. So, I'm not all that sure about Hugh.
Oh, it's okay, Spidey, cuz that's a girl in disguise.
But, other than these problems with the story, I still enjoyed it. There is a new group of bad guys that are super bad and I like when their blood is shed. Also, the side characters were great. I look forward to Iris's story in the next book. Although, when in the hell are we getting Lord d'Arque's story? I need.
January 31, 2018
4 Stars!
1742
London, England
The Ghost of St. Giles is back. This was a thrilling, suspenseful, riveting and gripping read. Elizabeth Hoyt stands out in the historical genre with her tales of suspense, the intrigue and the mystery and woes that is St. Giles. This is not your usual fluffy, gentle romance and I love it.
I was dying to get my hands on this book. I mainly read contemporary romance, but once in awhile I need an HR, and Ms. Hoyt is one of my faves that I turn too.
Duke of Pleasure is a thrilling story about Alf, an informant who was born and bred in the slums of St. Giles, who we've seen in previous books. She knows her way around the worst parts of England and if you want information, it's Alf you turn to. Alf, revealed to be a girl, is not only a St. Giles informant, but she is the newest Ghost of St Giles trained by the previous Ghost, Godric St. John (The hero from Lord of Darkness). I definitely have my fave Ghost and I was surprised that this time the Ghost was female, but I enjoyed reading this character from a woman's point of view. Alf was complex, feisty heroine, no nonsense and I really liked her...I do wish there were more "Ghostly" scenes, but I'm not complaining.
Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, is the King's illegitimate son and he has one thing on his mind...bringing the secret club, Lords of Chaos, to justice.
"He had a mission to accomplish: to bring down the Lords. To avenge his dead wife and orphaned sons. To stop the corruption in the heart of England."
I loved Hugh. He was a bit rough around the edges for a duke, but there were softer sides to him as well. I loved the way they are brought together in the beginning and the chemistry between Hugh and Alf was sizzling. I do think this should have been named Duke of Passion, because Hugh loved hard, but he guarded his heart just the same and it was amazing how Alf, the lowest of the low, was the one to bring out the love and passion in him.
"She smiled. And he was amazed that anyone thought her a man."
Once again, Elizabeth Hoyt has stunned me with her writing and her captivating stories. Yes I have my favorites in this series, but this book is definitely a must read. AND THAT EPILOGUE!!! She left me wanting more and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.
1742
London, England
The Ghost of St. Giles is back. This was a thrilling, suspenseful, riveting and gripping read. Elizabeth Hoyt stands out in the historical genre with her tales of suspense, the intrigue and the mystery and woes that is St. Giles. This is not your usual fluffy, gentle romance and I love it.
I was dying to get my hands on this book. I mainly read contemporary romance, but once in awhile I need an HR, and Ms. Hoyt is one of my faves that I turn too.
Duke of Pleasure is a thrilling story about Alf, an informant who was born and bred in the slums of St. Giles, who we've seen in previous books. She knows her way around the worst parts of England and if you want information, it's Alf you turn to. Alf, revealed to be a girl, is not only a St. Giles informant, but she is the newest Ghost of St Giles trained by the previous Ghost, Godric St. John (The hero from Lord of Darkness). I definitely have my fave Ghost and I was surprised that this time the Ghost was female, but I enjoyed reading this character from a woman's point of view. Alf was complex, feisty heroine, no nonsense and I really liked her...I do wish there were more "Ghostly" scenes, but I'm not complaining.
Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, is the King's illegitimate son and he has one thing on his mind...bringing the secret club, Lords of Chaos, to justice.
"He had a mission to accomplish: to bring down the Lords. To avenge his dead wife and orphaned sons. To stop the corruption in the heart of England."
I loved Hugh. He was a bit rough around the edges for a duke, but there were softer sides to him as well. I loved the way they are brought together in the beginning and the chemistry between Hugh and Alf was sizzling. I do think this should have been named Duke of Passion, because Hugh loved hard, but he guarded his heart just the same and it was amazing how Alf, the lowest of the low, was the one to bring out the love and passion in him.
"She smiled. And he was amazed that anyone thought her a man."
Once again, Elizabeth Hoyt has stunned me with her writing and her captivating stories. Yes I have my favorites in this series, but this book is definitely a must read. AND THAT EPILOGUE!!! She left me wanting more and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.
October 30, 2016
Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt is a 2016 Grand Central Publication.
A delectable mix of danger and passion!
The eleventh installment in the Maiden Lane series finally gives fans the story they've been waitng for!
When Hugh, the Duke of Kyle is attacked, Alf saves him. He then commissions him/her to help him ferret out the members of the ‘Lords of Chaos.’
But, when Alf is injured, she moves in with Hugh to recuperate, and quickly becomes a favorite of Hugh’s children, Kit and Peter. But, living under the same roof with Hugh has the inevitable result, when he figures out that the Elfin boy he’s hired is a girl.
However, he still respects Alf's ability to help him, but not in a way Alf would ever have considered… until now. The scruffy boy everyone knows will soon be transformed into a beautiful and dangerously seductive woman, although she remains unaware of her power until Hugh awakens a longing in her she’s never experienced before…
This is one of the best books I’ve read in this series. While there is some disdain toward ‘Cinderella’ type stories these days, this one does have that ‘rags to riches’ trope going on in the background and frankly, I liked it.
But, have no fear, Alf remains the strong, independent character we know and love, while growing into a feminine young woman filled with passion and desire. I loved watching her blossom and receive all the good things in life she deserves!!
Hugh is a man I respect and admire. He never wavers in his faith in Alf, even after discovering her secret. He treats her as an equal, admires her courage and trust her in a way he unable to trust most anyone else. Through her, he learns to love again, and is able to become a better father and a better man.
This story is filled to overflowing with adventure, danger, and intrigue, but also with deliciously witty and seductive dialogue, with strong themes of faith and trust, and most importantly, hope.
Overall, this is a very, very solid outing for EH. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance, a genre I’ve been holding at arm’s length these days. So, if I’m giving it a thumbs up, it’s good…. Really good!
4.5 stars
A delectable mix of danger and passion!
The eleventh installment in the Maiden Lane series finally gives fans the story they've been waitng for!
When Hugh, the Duke of Kyle is attacked, Alf saves him. He then commissions him/her to help him ferret out the members of the ‘Lords of Chaos.’
But, when Alf is injured, she moves in with Hugh to recuperate, and quickly becomes a favorite of Hugh’s children, Kit and Peter. But, living under the same roof with Hugh has the inevitable result, when he figures out that the Elfin boy he’s hired is a girl.
However, he still respects Alf's ability to help him, but not in a way Alf would ever have considered… until now. The scruffy boy everyone knows will soon be transformed into a beautiful and dangerously seductive woman, although she remains unaware of her power until Hugh awakens a longing in her she’s never experienced before…
This is one of the best books I’ve read in this series. While there is some disdain toward ‘Cinderella’ type stories these days, this one does have that ‘rags to riches’ trope going on in the background and frankly, I liked it.
But, have no fear, Alf remains the strong, independent character we know and love, while growing into a feminine young woman filled with passion and desire. I loved watching her blossom and receive all the good things in life she deserves!!
Hugh is a man I respect and admire. He never wavers in his faith in Alf, even after discovering her secret. He treats her as an equal, admires her courage and trust her in a way he unable to trust most anyone else. Through her, he learns to love again, and is able to become a better father and a better man.
This story is filled to overflowing with adventure, danger, and intrigue, but also with deliciously witty and seductive dialogue, with strong themes of faith and trust, and most importantly, hope.
Overall, this is a very, very solid outing for EH. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance, a genre I’ve been holding at arm’s length these days. So, if I’m giving it a thumbs up, it’s good…. Really good!
4.5 stars
May 16, 2017
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
Book Eleven of the Maiden Lane series
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: November 29, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
IN THE ARMS OF DANGER
Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.
IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE
Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.
ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER
When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?
What I Liked:
This book is yet another stunning addition to a wonderful and heartwarming historical romance series. Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite authors, and this series is one of my favorites. It's no surprise that I loved this book, because Hoyt has yet to disappoint me. I know I can count on her to deliver a sweeping romance, adventurous plot, and lovable, well-rounded characters.
In previous books of the series, we find out that Alf, the street urchin of St. Giles, is actually a woman. She's disguised as a teenage boy, but she's actually a twenty-one-year-old female, orphaned sixteen years ago. She also happens to be the new Ghost of St. Giles. One night, as the Ghost, she saves the Duke of Kyle from certain death. The next morning, the Duke calls on her services as Alf the urchin to find out who wanted to kill him. The pair work together when they realize that the Lords of Chaos are behind the attempt of the Duke's life, as well as for another crime that never went punished.
I liked Alf as a street urchin, doing odd jobs for the aristocracy. Godric St. John took her under his wing, and has been training her properly as the Ghost. Alf is fierce and brash and loyal, honest and stubborn and a little mischievous too. She comes from nothing, with no secret past. Sixteen years in St. Giles by herself has taught her how to survive, and endure.
Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, is quite an interesting man. He seems detached and immovable, but underneath, he is in pain. His wife died months ago, and the gap she left has not grown smaller. Hugh did not love her, but she was a good mother, and his two sons are not the same without her. The older boy, Kit, hates Hugh (Kit is seven), and the younger boy, Peter, has nightmares and terrible tantrums (Peter is five). Hugh is gentle and patient with his sons, but you can tell how much Hugh is hurting, and how badly he needs something bright shining in his life.
Usually I don't love stories that involve children, especially children not from our main couple. But I adored Kit and Peter (especially Peter). Kit is a lot like his father - silent, brooding, admonishing at times, and rather lordly for a seven-year-old. Peter is more rambunctious and playful. Both boys are adorable, even as they are hurting from the loss of their mother.
So, a significant part of this book was about Hugh's relationship with his sons, and how it changes at this point in time. Kit thinks he hates his father, but this changes gradually. Peter's tantrums and nightmares lessen. Hugh makes himself more and more present in his children's lives, and this makes a difference.
Of course, Alf's presence makes a difference too. At first, no one knows that she is a woman. Peter and Kit become comfortable with her (she's living in Hugh's home while she is an informant for him). But then Hugh finds out that she is a woman, and the boys do, and the boys start to love her. Hugh as well, for that matter.
I love how, in every book of Hoyt's, she makes her protagonists (and secondary characters!) so unique. There is always something (or things) that sets the pair apart. In this book, Hugh is the son of the King and has two children and he's a widower, and Alf is an untitled street urchin who disguises herself as a boy. Different, I tell you.
I loved watching these two fall in love. The first third of the book (a little more, perhaps) has Alf still known to be a boy, and then before the halfway point, Hugh finds out. Keep in mind, Hugh has kissed the Ghost several times (knowing the Ghost is a woman), but he had no idea that the Ghost was Alf and that Alf was a female. Then he finds out and... things get steamy really quickly. Hugh was taken with the Ghost, and when he realizes that the Ghost and Alf are one and the same, he is all in.
I like how drama-free their relationship was. They wanted, they took, they had. Neither of them is concerned about one being a Duke, the other a poor orphan who is disguised as a boy. These two are really hot together, but they're also really good together. Alf is what Hugh needs, and Hugh is what Alf needs, and they are perfect for each other.
At first I thought it was strange that the author included another perspective in this book - the perspective of Hugh's wife's best friend. Initially, it looked like she and Hugh were unofficially planning to become engaged (because in this society, a widower with children would kind of have to get remarried), but Iris (Lady Jordan) shuts this down really quickly when she realizes that Alf and the Duke have a connection. There are no feelings involved, between Hugh and Iris. Iris is incredibly intelligent and astute, and one of my favorite characters in this book.
Aaaaand, on that note, she's the protagonist of the next book! I am SO intrigued. As soon as this one particular man was introduced in this book, I KNEW he would be her love interest. And goodness! I am so intrigued.
I think I'll wrap this up here! This book was a beautifully written story about a broken man and a lost woman who needed to find each other and find their way. I loved reading about Hugh and Alf. This story had me going through so many emotions, and I loved it.
What I Did Not Like:
I can't think of anything specific that I didn't like, though I would have loved to see more cameos from other Maiden Lane couples. We see Godric and Megs, but no one else. I hope the next book features some more pairs!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like historical romance novels, then this book - and series - is one not to miss. I can't recommend this series enough. Some of my favorite historical romance novels have come from this series/author, such as Duke of Midnight and Duke of Sin. Hoyt's romance novels have such good depth to them, and the stories are all so intricate and well-written. It would be criminal not to read this series!
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (simply because it's not a new series favorite, though I do love the book). I am incredibly excited to read Duke of Desire! Iris and Raphael are going to be an extremely unconventional couple, I can feel it.
Pre-publication squees:
Quite possibly my favorite cover of the series. Look. At. IT.
Check out the official cover reveal!
Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
Book Eleven of the Maiden Lane series
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: November 29, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
IN THE ARMS OF DANGER
Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.
IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE
Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.
ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER
When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?
What I Liked:
This book is yet another stunning addition to a wonderful and heartwarming historical romance series. Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite authors, and this series is one of my favorites. It's no surprise that I loved this book, because Hoyt has yet to disappoint me. I know I can count on her to deliver a sweeping romance, adventurous plot, and lovable, well-rounded characters.
In previous books of the series, we find out that Alf, the street urchin of St. Giles, is actually a woman. She's disguised as a teenage boy, but she's actually a twenty-one-year-old female, orphaned sixteen years ago. She also happens to be the new Ghost of St. Giles. One night, as the Ghost, she saves the Duke of Kyle from certain death. The next morning, the Duke calls on her services as Alf the urchin to find out who wanted to kill him. The pair work together when they realize that the Lords of Chaos are behind the attempt of the Duke's life, as well as for another crime that never went punished.
I liked Alf as a street urchin, doing odd jobs for the aristocracy. Godric St. John took her under his wing, and has been training her properly as the Ghost. Alf is fierce and brash and loyal, honest and stubborn and a little mischievous too. She comes from nothing, with no secret past. Sixteen years in St. Giles by herself has taught her how to survive, and endure.
Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, is quite an interesting man. He seems detached and immovable, but underneath, he is in pain. His wife died months ago, and the gap she left has not grown smaller. Hugh did not love her, but she was a good mother, and his two sons are not the same without her. The older boy, Kit, hates Hugh (Kit is seven), and the younger boy, Peter, has nightmares and terrible tantrums (Peter is five). Hugh is gentle and patient with his sons, but you can tell how much Hugh is hurting, and how badly he needs something bright shining in his life.
Usually I don't love stories that involve children, especially children not from our main couple. But I adored Kit and Peter (especially Peter). Kit is a lot like his father - silent, brooding, admonishing at times, and rather lordly for a seven-year-old. Peter is more rambunctious and playful. Both boys are adorable, even as they are hurting from the loss of their mother.
So, a significant part of this book was about Hugh's relationship with his sons, and how it changes at this point in time. Kit thinks he hates his father, but this changes gradually. Peter's tantrums and nightmares lessen. Hugh makes himself more and more present in his children's lives, and this makes a difference.
Of course, Alf's presence makes a difference too. At first, no one knows that she is a woman. Peter and Kit become comfortable with her (she's living in Hugh's home while she is an informant for him). But then Hugh finds out that she is a woman, and the boys do, and the boys start to love her. Hugh as well, for that matter.
I love how, in every book of Hoyt's, she makes her protagonists (and secondary characters!) so unique. There is always something (or things) that sets the pair apart. In this book, Hugh is the son of the King and has two children and he's a widower, and Alf is an untitled street urchin who disguises herself as a boy. Different, I tell you.
I loved watching these two fall in love. The first third of the book (a little more, perhaps) has Alf still known to be a boy, and then before the halfway point, Hugh finds out. Keep in mind, Hugh has kissed the Ghost several times (knowing the Ghost is a woman), but he had no idea that the Ghost was Alf and that Alf was a female. Then he finds out and... things get steamy really quickly. Hugh was taken with the Ghost, and when he realizes that the Ghost and Alf are one and the same, he is all in.
I like how drama-free their relationship was. They wanted, they took, they had. Neither of them is concerned about one being a Duke, the other a poor orphan who is disguised as a boy. These two are really hot together, but they're also really good together. Alf is what Hugh needs, and Hugh is what Alf needs, and they are perfect for each other.
At first I thought it was strange that the author included another perspective in this book - the perspective of Hugh's wife's best friend. Initially, it looked like she and Hugh were unofficially planning to become engaged (because in this society, a widower with children would kind of have to get remarried), but Iris (Lady Jordan) shuts this down really quickly when she realizes that Alf and the Duke have a connection. There are no feelings involved, between Hugh and Iris. Iris is incredibly intelligent and astute, and one of my favorite characters in this book.
Aaaaand, on that note, she's the protagonist of the next book! I am SO intrigued. As soon as this one particular man was introduced in this book, I KNEW he would be her love interest. And goodness! I am so intrigued.
I think I'll wrap this up here! This book was a beautifully written story about a broken man and a lost woman who needed to find each other and find their way. I loved reading about Hugh and Alf. This story had me going through so many emotions, and I loved it.
What I Did Not Like:
I can't think of anything specific that I didn't like, though I would have loved to see more cameos from other Maiden Lane couples. We see Godric and Megs, but no one else. I hope the next book features some more pairs!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like historical romance novels, then this book - and series - is one not to miss. I can't recommend this series enough. Some of my favorite historical romance novels have come from this series/author, such as Duke of Midnight and Duke of Sin. Hoyt's romance novels have such good depth to them, and the stories are all so intricate and well-written. It would be criminal not to read this series!
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (simply because it's not a new series favorite, though I do love the book). I am incredibly excited to read Duke of Desire! Iris and Raphael are going to be an extremely unconventional couple, I can feel it.
Pre-publication squees:
Quite possibly my favorite cover of the series. Look. At. IT.
Check out the official cover reveal!
June 26, 2018
I just raised the rating to 5 stars from 4 per my original read. This might even be my favorite Lords of Chaos book if not the fav in all of the Maiden Lane (Ghost) books.
I absolutely LOVE the heroine Alf. She's my fav heroine by far in this series, and perhaps in all of EH's books, which is saying something!!
And BTW, I don't usually love a book for the heroine. I usually fall head over heels for the Hero and the heroine is an afterthought. Here, tho, she's front and center, and I absolutely adore her. Why?? She's smart, brave, a fighter (and a damn good one), resourceful, a survivor, yet innocent, loyal, passionate, I mean, I could GO ON!!! She doesn't push and demand (the way some of the other heroines do in ways that really annoy me) with the Hero. She goes after what she wants but also respects his boundaries. She's just freakin perfect!!
And then there's the Hero, who, is by no means an after thought. He's just PERFECT for Alf. Strong, (big and tall which never hurts), a wonderful loving father, patient and understanding (really fell for him all over the floor during the first scene he was with his sons, aawwwwwww, gushhhhhhh). He's also passionate, true, protective, I mean, PERFECT husband material on top of lover and friend and father. He's THE PACKAGE!!
(Don't like the cover model tho). I think he looks more like this:
Better pic here: but you get the gist, except Hugh's eyes are brown, not blue.
Anywho, never really got past the two main characters, was so absorbed in them. The story just flowed, no plot holes, distractions minimal, loved the boys too. Loved just about everything about it!
Well done, Ms. Hoyt!
I absolutely LOVE the heroine Alf. She's my fav heroine by far in this series, and perhaps in all of EH's books, which is saying something!!
And BTW, I don't usually love a book for the heroine. I usually fall head over heels for the Hero and the heroine is an afterthought. Here, tho, she's front and center, and I absolutely adore her. Why?? She's smart, brave, a fighter (and a damn good one), resourceful, a survivor, yet innocent, loyal, passionate, I mean, I could GO ON!!! She doesn't push and demand (the way some of the other heroines do in ways that really annoy me) with the Hero. She goes after what she wants but also respects his boundaries. She's just freakin perfect!!
And then there's the Hero, who, is by no means an after thought. He's just PERFECT for Alf. Strong, (big and tall which never hurts), a wonderful loving father, patient and understanding (really fell for him all over the floor during the first scene he was with his sons, aawwwwwww, gushhhhhhh). He's also passionate, true, protective, I mean, PERFECT husband material on top of lover and friend and father. He's THE PACKAGE!!
(Don't like the cover model tho). I think he looks more like this:
Better pic here: but you get the gist, except Hugh's eyes are brown, not blue.
Anywho, never really got past the two main characters, was so absorbed in them. The story just flowed, no plot holes, distractions minimal, loved the boys too. Loved just about everything about it!
Well done, Ms. Hoyt!
February 4, 2017
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Amazingly, we’ve reached the eleventh of Elizabeth Hoyt’s books, and the author shows no sign of running out of steam! Duke of Pleasure is another strong addition to the series, a beautifully-written, well-paced story that achieves just the right balance between romance and action; and which is, in part, a charming Cinderella-type story that sees everyone’s favourite street-urchin – Alf – get her man in the shape of the formidable Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle.
Alf has made brief appearances in a number of books in the series, most prominently in the previous one (Duke of Sin) in which she was employed by the Duke of Montgomery as a spy/informant. She lives in the stews of St. Giles and is ideally placed to ferret out information about the many nefarious deeds that are cooked up in its numerous rookeries and gin palaces and has been instrumental in helping our heroes to uncover and foil a number of evil schemes. Not many of those heroes, however, know that Alf is anything other than the boy on the edge of manhood she pretends to be. Left on the streets of St. Giles when she was just five years old, Alf was fortunate to be taken under the wing of a lad called Ned, who looked after her and told her that it would be safest for her to live as a boy; as a girl she would be almost certain to end up working on her back, and sooner rather than later given the proclivities of some of the visitors to the district’s brothels. Now aged twenty-one, Alf continues to pass as a boy and has spent so many years living as one that it’s practically impossible for her to imagine doing otherwise - or even wanting to.
Recently, however, in addition to her daytime disguise, Alf has taken on another identity – that of the Ghost of St. Giles, the masked crusader who leaps from rooftop to rooftop, dropping to the streets to lend assistance – usually armed assistance – to those in danger. Quick-witted, agile and skilled with her blades, one night she leaps into the fray to aid a single man being attacked by a large group, a man she has met once before when she was Montgomery’s employ and who, at that time, wanted her to work against him. That doesn’t stop Alf though, and she helps the man to fend off his attackers, pausing only to pull him to her for a kiss before running off into the night.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle (a bastard son of the King, George II) is pretty sure who is out for his blood – a dangerous group of men who term themselves the Lords of Chaos, a select club that indulges its members’ unnatural tastes for satanic rites, blood sacrifice and many other degenerate practices. In the previous book, Kyle was tasked with discovering the identities of the Lords and bringing them down – but even though the man believed to be its leader – the Duke of Dymore – is now dead, it seems the Lords are thriving and are as determined to stop Kyle as he is to hunt them down. Fighting for his life, he is amazed at the sight of the slight figure coming to his aid – and even more surprised to discover that the Ghost of St. Giles is a woman.
The story of the duke and the street-urchin may be highly implausible, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. Kyle is an upstanding, honourable man who has cultivated the art of self-control to a high degree. His marriage to a society beauty with whom he was head-over-heels in love was a tempestuous one, founded on an explosive passion which ultimately led to disappointment and disaster. He adores his two young sons and deeply regrets that he missed so much of their early childhoods because he couldn’t face living with his difficult (now deceased) wife. As a result, he is mistrustful of strong feelings and convinced that giving into them again will only lead to pain and sorrow. Yet there’s something about Alf – her resilience, her courage and her free-spirited nature – that calls to him and begins to turn attraction into something more.
Alf has become so used to her life as a boy that the idea of living as a woman is thoroughly alien to her. She can’t imagine feeling comfortable or safe as anything else, so when Hugh asks her to accompany him to a society event – as a woman – in order to help him to look for evidence against the Lords, her initial reaction is to refuse. But when she realises that there really is no-one else able to do what she can, she musters her courage and agrees, willing to set aside her own fears to help the man she has come to love.
It’s the working relationship between the couple that does much to bridge the immense social gap between them. Hugh may be a duke, but he respects people for who they are and what they can do; and nowhere in the book is this more apparent than the couple of times where he gives Alf (knowing her to be a woman) a dangerous task perform, fully confident that she is up to it. Of course, he struggles against his instinct to protect her, but he also knows she’s capable and trusts her to get the job done – and I loved that about him.
Ms. Hoyt does a wonderful job in showing the depth of Hugh’s love for his two sons, who are both written in such a way as to come across as actual children and not just cutesy moppet plot devices. Hugh’s confusion at the way that his elder boy – Kit – seems so angry at him all the time is palpable, and to see this big, powerful, confident man at a loss as to how to build a relationship with these little boys makes for some moments of true poignancy in the story.
The author also delivers a perfectly lovely romance full of passion, tenderness, and understanding, all ingredients that bring readers flocking to her books time after time. The chemistry between Alf and Kyle leaps off the page, the love scenes are a delicious mix of sweet, sexy and earthy and there’s a real sense of equality to their relationship that allows it to work, in spite of their difference in station. We all love a good rags-to-riches story once in a while, don’t we?
Ms. Hoyt’s writing is lush and wonderfully intelligent, her characterisation is extremely strong throughout, and as ever, the descriptions of the less salubrious areas of London are so evocative as to put the reader in the middle of those dank, smelly and dangerous streets! A passionate romance wrapped around a thrilling suspense story, Duke of Pleasure really is a pleasure and I devoured it in a couple of sittings. Fans of historical romance shouldn’t miss it.
Amazingly, we’ve reached the eleventh of Elizabeth Hoyt’s books, and the author shows no sign of running out of steam! Duke of Pleasure is another strong addition to the series, a beautifully-written, well-paced story that achieves just the right balance between romance and action; and which is, in part, a charming Cinderella-type story that sees everyone’s favourite street-urchin – Alf – get her man in the shape of the formidable Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle.
Alf has made brief appearances in a number of books in the series, most prominently in the previous one (Duke of Sin) in which she was employed by the Duke of Montgomery as a spy/informant. She lives in the stews of St. Giles and is ideally placed to ferret out information about the many nefarious deeds that are cooked up in its numerous rookeries and gin palaces and has been instrumental in helping our heroes to uncover and foil a number of evil schemes. Not many of those heroes, however, know that Alf is anything other than the boy on the edge of manhood she pretends to be. Left on the streets of St. Giles when she was just five years old, Alf was fortunate to be taken under the wing of a lad called Ned, who looked after her and told her that it would be safest for her to live as a boy; as a girl she would be almost certain to end up working on her back, and sooner rather than later given the proclivities of some of the visitors to the district’s brothels. Now aged twenty-one, Alf continues to pass as a boy and has spent so many years living as one that it’s practically impossible for her to imagine doing otherwise - or even wanting to.
Recently, however, in addition to her daytime disguise, Alf has taken on another identity – that of the Ghost of St. Giles, the masked crusader who leaps from rooftop to rooftop, dropping to the streets to lend assistance – usually armed assistance – to those in danger. Quick-witted, agile and skilled with her blades, one night she leaps into the fray to aid a single man being attacked by a large group, a man she has met once before when she was Montgomery’s employ and who, at that time, wanted her to work against him. That doesn’t stop Alf though, and she helps the man to fend off his attackers, pausing only to pull him to her for a kiss before running off into the night.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle (a bastard son of the King, George II) is pretty sure who is out for his blood – a dangerous group of men who term themselves the Lords of Chaos, a select club that indulges its members’ unnatural tastes for satanic rites, blood sacrifice and many other degenerate practices. In the previous book, Kyle was tasked with discovering the identities of the Lords and bringing them down – but even though the man believed to be its leader – the Duke of Dymore – is now dead, it seems the Lords are thriving and are as determined to stop Kyle as he is to hunt them down. Fighting for his life, he is amazed at the sight of the slight figure coming to his aid – and even more surprised to discover that the Ghost of St. Giles is a woman.
The story of the duke and the street-urchin may be highly implausible, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. Kyle is an upstanding, honourable man who has cultivated the art of self-control to a high degree. His marriage to a society beauty with whom he was head-over-heels in love was a tempestuous one, founded on an explosive passion which ultimately led to disappointment and disaster. He adores his two young sons and deeply regrets that he missed so much of their early childhoods because he couldn’t face living with his difficult (now deceased) wife. As a result, he is mistrustful of strong feelings and convinced that giving into them again will only lead to pain and sorrow. Yet there’s something about Alf – her resilience, her courage and her free-spirited nature – that calls to him and begins to turn attraction into something more.
Alf has become so used to her life as a boy that the idea of living as a woman is thoroughly alien to her. She can’t imagine feeling comfortable or safe as anything else, so when Hugh asks her to accompany him to a society event – as a woman – in order to help him to look for evidence against the Lords, her initial reaction is to refuse. But when she realises that there really is no-one else able to do what she can, she musters her courage and agrees, willing to set aside her own fears to help the man she has come to love.
It’s the working relationship between the couple that does much to bridge the immense social gap between them. Hugh may be a duke, but he respects people for who they are and what they can do; and nowhere in the book is this more apparent than the couple of times where he gives Alf (knowing her to be a woman) a dangerous task perform, fully confident that she is up to it. Of course, he struggles against his instinct to protect her, but he also knows she’s capable and trusts her to get the job done – and I loved that about him.
Ms. Hoyt does a wonderful job in showing the depth of Hugh’s love for his two sons, who are both written in such a way as to come across as actual children and not just cutesy moppet plot devices. Hugh’s confusion at the way that his elder boy – Kit – seems so angry at him all the time is palpable, and to see this big, powerful, confident man at a loss as to how to build a relationship with these little boys makes for some moments of true poignancy in the story.
The author also delivers a perfectly lovely romance full of passion, tenderness, and understanding, all ingredients that bring readers flocking to her books time after time. The chemistry between Alf and Kyle leaps off the page, the love scenes are a delicious mix of sweet, sexy and earthy and there’s a real sense of equality to their relationship that allows it to work, in spite of their difference in station. We all love a good rags-to-riches story once in a while, don’t we?
Ms. Hoyt’s writing is lush and wonderfully intelligent, her characterisation is extremely strong throughout, and as ever, the descriptions of the less salubrious areas of London are so evocative as to put the reader in the middle of those dank, smelly and dangerous streets! A passionate romance wrapped around a thrilling suspense story, Duke of Pleasure really is a pleasure and I devoured it in a couple of sittings. Fans of historical romance shouldn’t miss it.
October 28, 2023
Stays at 4 stars on the reread, I really like Alf but Hugh was the usually idiot Duke. I think the best of this series is behind me. Still Hoyt is a great writer.
March 12, 2017
*** 4 ***
A buddy read with the Historical Romance Buffs at the MacHalo Freaks:):):)
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle is the one we met in last book and his gruffness and primary function in his father's service, (yes, he is the bastard son of the king), which is something in between a fixer and a clean-up after intelligence leaks and bad mojo for the royals. He is not appreciated and his failing marriage with the mother of his children had driven him to take missions outside of the country. Now he is a widower and is perplexed as to how to win his grieving sons' love and trust once again.
Alf we have followed almost from the first book, when we first discovered that the cocky waif was actually a girl, who lived as a boy, which is her best protection against unwanted advances on the streets of Maiden Lane in Sr. Giles, a very tough and poor neighborhood... This is years later, and the "boy" has taken on the ever-changing role of the Ghost, protector of the week and needy. This is how she runs into the Duke of Kyle and her femininity is awakened abruptly by the instant desire she experiences for this mountain of a man. They exchange a kiss and it is the catalyst for the rest of both their lives! Soon a case brings them together and they join forces in trying to bring down the Lords of Chaos, the murderous, abusive, secretive monsters!!!!
I have to say, this book was probably the most improbable of them all and that is saying something. The insta everything, as well as it taking soooo looooong for the Duke to figure out she is a woman, were things I just pretended that could possibly be true.... in a fairytale, and kept on with the story. It was fun and it did keep me interested form beginning to end. As always, the sexy times were nice as well, although I could take more passion and less explanation of the act itself... The kids were adorable and I wanted to grab little Peter and hug him and his little dog Pudding!!!The picture of his dragging the dog and his dad showing him how to support his but as well, was more than adorably and played on my heartstrings! Alf was so strong and no-nonsense, I loved that!!! She had a horrible childhood, but she never used it as an excuse to be weak or annoying. She turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the series so far:) The writing, as always, was flawless!!! I am planning on continuing to read with my wonderful friends at the MacHalos for as long as the author keeps on going:):):)
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in a good book!!!!
A buddy read with the Historical Romance Buffs at the MacHalo Freaks:):):)
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle is the one we met in last book and his gruffness and primary function in his father's service, (yes, he is the bastard son of the king), which is something in between a fixer and a clean-up after intelligence leaks and bad mojo for the royals. He is not appreciated and his failing marriage with the mother of his children had driven him to take missions outside of the country. Now he is a widower and is perplexed as to how to win his grieving sons' love and trust once again.
Alf we have followed almost from the first book, when we first discovered that the cocky waif was actually a girl, who lived as a boy, which is her best protection against unwanted advances on the streets of Maiden Lane in Sr. Giles, a very tough and poor neighborhood... This is years later, and the "boy" has taken on the ever-changing role of the Ghost, protector of the week and needy. This is how she runs into the Duke of Kyle and her femininity is awakened abruptly by the instant desire she experiences for this mountain of a man. They exchange a kiss and it is the catalyst for the rest of both their lives! Soon a case brings them together and they join forces in trying to bring down the Lords of Chaos, the murderous, abusive, secretive monsters!!!!
I have to say, this book was probably the most improbable of them all and that is saying something. The insta everything, as well as it taking soooo looooong for the Duke to figure out she is a woman, were things I just pretended that could possibly be true.... in a fairytale, and kept on with the story. It was fun and it did keep me interested form beginning to end. As always, the sexy times were nice as well, although I could take more passion and less explanation of the act itself... The kids were adorable and I wanted to grab little Peter and hug him and his little dog Pudding!!!The picture of his dragging the dog and his dad showing him how to support his but as well, was more than adorably and played on my heartstrings! Alf was so strong and no-nonsense, I loved that!!! She had a horrible childhood, but she never used it as an excuse to be weak or annoying. She turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the series so far:) The writing, as always, was flawless!!! I am planning on continuing to read with my wonderful friends at the MacHalos for as long as the author keeps on going:):):)
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in a good book!!!!
December 13, 2016
Alf, in the face of a dismal childhood, was a spirited young woman with a zest for life. Growing up on the streets of St. Giles could wreck anyone, but Alf has survived and kept herself safe by posing as a boy, earning her way as an informant by day and battling evil by night as the Ghost of St. Giles. I loved her character! Alf’s quick witted, irreverent, and a badass with swords! Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the first man to capture her interest, and if she isn’t careful, her heart.
The Duke of Kyle needs information to help him thwart the Lords of Chaos, a sinister society comprised of England’s upper crust. When his investigations lead to an attempt on his life he goes to Alf for information and finds she is quite quick and clever, and immediately decides to use her in his pursuit of these horrible men. Little does he know that Alf is a woman.
Hugh’s been disappointed by love in the past. He had a quick, turbulent, passionate marriage that crashed and burned, and he’s scared, understandably, of another romantic disaster. But Alf is a completely different person than his late wife. Alf’s definitely not a society woman her talents are far less conventional: sword fighting, information gathering and enemy evasion, right up Hugh’s alley. They’re well matched in spite of coming from completely different backgrounds.
I was surprised Duke of Pleasure ended being one of my favorite Maiden Lane installments since I was worried about the progression of romance with Alf disguised as a boy. Thankfully, that wasn’t much of an issue. This installment was filled with action, adventure, danger, and romance, and I was glued to the pages!
A copy was kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Duke of Kyle needs information to help him thwart the Lords of Chaos, a sinister society comprised of England’s upper crust. When his investigations lead to an attempt on his life he goes to Alf for information and finds she is quite quick and clever, and immediately decides to use her in his pursuit of these horrible men. Little does he know that Alf is a woman.
Hugh’s been disappointed by love in the past. He had a quick, turbulent, passionate marriage that crashed and burned, and he’s scared, understandably, of another romantic disaster. But Alf is a completely different person than his late wife. Alf’s definitely not a society woman her talents are far less conventional: sword fighting, information gathering and enemy evasion, right up Hugh’s alley. They’re well matched in spite of coming from completely different backgrounds.
I was surprised Duke of Pleasure ended being one of my favorite Maiden Lane installments since I was worried about the progression of romance with Alf disguised as a boy. Thankfully, that wasn’t much of an issue. This installment was filled with action, adventure, danger, and romance, and I was glued to the pages!
A copy was kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
I read this for the Virgin square (heroine is one) for Romance bingo.
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hugh is the bastard son of the King but with the given title of Duke of Kyle, he finds himself existing in two worlds. Tasked with bringing down a secret society called The Lords of Chaos, he finds he'll need some help from an unexpected source.
Alf was born and bred in St. Giles and has masked her true identity as a woman since she was five years old. However, clashing with Hugh has brought desires and thoughts she never knew she could have.
To bring down The Lords of Chaos, Hugh and Alf are going to have to work together and become who they were meant to be all along.
Never let them see you cry, he'd said. Never show them your weakness.
If you've been a frequent Maiden Lane series reader, you'll remember Alf. We've had fleeting glimpses of her and how she has navigated and survived St. Giles. It's hard for me to get excited about the woman dressed as a man trope because of its past frequency but Alf's reasons weren't frivolous, done for comic relief, or scandal. Dressing as a boy was survival for Alf and Hoyt did a great job showing how this seemingly innocuous action emotionally shaped Alf; how it affected her thought processes and how it psychologically wore on her.
I've said it before but I miss how long romance books used to be and I think this particular story would have benefited greatly from a longer page count. The first 40% or so gave us a wonderful building up of Hugh and Alf; we got to know them separately. I cared about these characters and my anticipation for them to come together was only heightened because I had the solid foundation for how right their relationship was going to be. I miss this gradual weaving that seems to be left behind for instant lust and gratification.
Even though I was anxious to see them together, I was a little disappointed when it did happen. Not because I didn't feel they belonged together but because Hugh's love felt a bit instant. He doesn't know Alf is a woman until around the 40% mark and while he knew the Ghost of St. Giles was a woman and felt drawn to her, he didn't know it was Alf. I think he had 3 or 4 encounters with the Ghost, they are sexually attracted to one another but their conversations aren't lengthy or anything. It felt, to me, like a quick loving without knowing because Alf was basically unknown to him.
He admired her even as he feared for her.
I liked the bonus of Alf being the Ghost of St. Giles, even if I felt she didn't get to shine in the role as much as others. I would have liked to have seen more scenes with her and St. Godric. Hugh's support and belief in Alf as a competent being was one of his sexiest attributes and how it was obvious that he completely accepted Alf for who she was. Their star gazing scene was my favorite and I thought beautifully showcased the author's talent for creating two characters that felt so right for one another; even if I felt it was a bit rushed.
I like the villainous Lords of Chaos' storyline but they were somewhat regulated to naked men in animal masks here and I wanted a little more of their workings or stratagems. I hope there's more to their plot than occasional nighttime naked gatherings to unsuccessfully rape women. Don't misunderstand, I'm very glad they're unsuccessful, but there were rumblings about how they infect all of society, even the government; I'd like a new devious plot.
The ending felt a bit awkward to me with a misunderstanding you could see a mile away and a resolution that came super quick. The lack of building conversations between our leads before the love made it feel instant. I want to clarify though, that I felt this couple belonged together, I just wanted more scenes to prove and deepen what I was feeling.
I'll definitely be reading the next in the series because I liked Iris, the heroine of the next, right off the bat and am intrigued by the dark and scarred hero. Hoyt's talent in creating a world and characters can't be denied but I hope she's given more pages to really let them breathe and take off.
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hugh is the bastard son of the King but with the given title of Duke of Kyle, he finds himself existing in two worlds. Tasked with bringing down a secret society called The Lords of Chaos, he finds he'll need some help from an unexpected source.
Alf was born and bred in St. Giles and has masked her true identity as a woman since she was five years old. However, clashing with Hugh has brought desires and thoughts she never knew she could have.
To bring down The Lords of Chaos, Hugh and Alf are going to have to work together and become who they were meant to be all along.
Never let them see you cry, he'd said. Never show them your weakness.
If you've been a frequent Maiden Lane series reader, you'll remember Alf. We've had fleeting glimpses of her and how she has navigated and survived St. Giles. It's hard for me to get excited about the woman dressed as a man trope because of its past frequency but Alf's reasons weren't frivolous, done for comic relief, or scandal. Dressing as a boy was survival for Alf and Hoyt did a great job showing how this seemingly innocuous action emotionally shaped Alf; how it affected her thought processes and how it psychologically wore on her.
I've said it before but I miss how long romance books used to be and I think this particular story would have benefited greatly from a longer page count. The first 40% or so gave us a wonderful building up of Hugh and Alf; we got to know them separately. I cared about these characters and my anticipation for them to come together was only heightened because I had the solid foundation for how right their relationship was going to be. I miss this gradual weaving that seems to be left behind for instant lust and gratification.
Even though I was anxious to see them together, I was a little disappointed when it did happen. Not because I didn't feel they belonged together but because Hugh's love felt a bit instant. He doesn't know Alf is a woman until around the 40% mark and while he knew the Ghost of St. Giles was a woman and felt drawn to her, he didn't know it was Alf. I think he had 3 or 4 encounters with the Ghost, they are sexually attracted to one another but their conversations aren't lengthy or anything. It felt, to me, like a quick loving without knowing because Alf was basically unknown to him.
He admired her even as he feared for her.
I liked the bonus of Alf being the Ghost of St. Giles, even if I felt she didn't get to shine in the role as much as others. I would have liked to have seen more scenes with her and St. Godric. Hugh's support and belief in Alf as a competent being was one of his sexiest attributes and how it was obvious that he completely accepted Alf for who she was. Their star gazing scene was my favorite and I thought beautifully showcased the author's talent for creating two characters that felt so right for one another; even if I felt it was a bit rushed.
I like the villainous Lords of Chaos' storyline but they were somewhat regulated to naked men in animal masks here and I wanted a little more of their workings or stratagems. I hope there's more to their plot than occasional nighttime naked gatherings to unsuccessfully rape women. Don't misunderstand, I'm very glad they're unsuccessful, but there were rumblings about how they infect all of society, even the government; I'd like a new devious plot.
The ending felt a bit awkward to me with a misunderstanding you could see a mile away and a resolution that came super quick. The lack of building conversations between our leads before the love made it feel instant. I want to clarify though, that I felt this couple belonged together, I just wanted more scenes to prove and deepen what I was feeling.
I'll definitely be reading the next in the series because I liked Iris, the heroine of the next, right off the bat and am intrigued by the dark and scarred hero. Hoyt's talent in creating a world and characters can't be denied but I hope she's given more pages to really let them breathe and take off.
December 1, 2016
He was like a star in the night sky above and she but a sparrow. No matter how high she might try to fly, she’d never reach him.
This series just continues in strength!! Maiden Lane is definitely one of the best HR series’ out there.
Oh, she wanted him, this aristocrat, this duke, this rich cove built like a prizefighter. She wanted him with every breath she drew, a painful longing inside her lungs, until it felt as if she’d break apart and shatter into tiny pieces of glass if she could not touch him.
I have loved Alf, the young boy from the streets of St. Giles, who is actually a young woman, since she was first introduced in this series. By day Alf is a young boy, known for his ability to procure difficult information, and by night she’s the Ghost of St. Giles, protecting the people from murderers, rapists and robbers. So much was revealed about her painful childhood, and my heart just broke for all the terrible things she had to survive. I love that despite her hard and difficult life, she still kept her hopes and dreams, dreaming of one day having a family of her own even while knowing that it’s an impossible dream for a young woman everyone thinks is a boy. I loved how brave she was in pursuing Hugh, even when she knew there could be no future for a woman of her status and the son of the King.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is a disillusioned man, whose late wife taught him that intense desire only turns to ashes. Their constant fights, and her constant infidelity forced him to travel the world on assignments for the King, which meant he wasn’t there for his two young sons. When his wife died he returned hoping to connect with his children, but his eldest son hates him, and the youngest is lost is his grief for his mother. While being ambushed in an alley, he is rescued by the Ghost of St. Giles, whose alluring curves and love of danger proves an irresistible allure. And when he finds out that Alf the boy he hired for information on his attacker, is actually a woman and also the Ghost, ignoring the powerful attraction he has had for her becomes impossible.
He laid his forehead against hers. “I do love you, heart and soul and body, Alf, my imp. I love you now and forever, and I will trust and I will hope in your dreams and hope.”
I loved the romance between Alf and Hugh, who were so alike in their love of danger and adventure. Their passion was intense and so very sexy, and I loved how out of control he was with her. His sons were adorable, and I love how great Alf was with them.
The plot was excellent with the Lords of Chaos still at large, and Hugh hired by the King to put a stop to this evil group of men who influences their government, and who prey on little girls and boys.
Now the next book about the scarred Duke of Dyemore, Raphael de Chartres, who is the estranged son of the previous Lord of Chaos, and the very ladylike and prim Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, I’m REALLY looking forward to. Is Raphael just as evil as his late father, or is there more to him? I can’t wait to read this book.
I love this series, and once again the author has written a winner. Highly recommended to all HR fans.
March 3, 2018
2.5 stars
My rating is based in comparison to the previous Maiden Lane books, which is why giving this book only two stars is even more painful, seeing what else I have rated with two stars over the years. But I’ve decided to take a different approach and compare Duke of Pleasure within the series, not outside. I’ll get to that later. But let me tell you, I feel like a spoiled child at the moment, whining on a very high level.
If I hadn’t been already aware of the somewhat lacklustre story line (Lords of Chaos), the following incidence would have made sure my alarm bells went ballistic:
Last night, I am reading this book. I’m not bored, just reading along. And I do what I do often when I read on my iPad instead of my Kindle – I tab out, read a couple of articles, browse Amazon (I know, I know, Jeff Bezos is already the richest man in the world and a Robber Baron at that but I’m shallow, okay? All those little shiny and useless things on Amazon!!!), I answer/comment on GR, go into the kitchen to have a glass of water, linger a little, put the salter and the unused fork away, and go back. I open my Kindle app, my eyes take a few moments to focus on the words….I blink…and blink again…BAM!….I had unconsciously tabbed out in the middle of the first sex scene of an Elizabeth Hoyt book! I blink for a third time and think to myself ‘This didn’t just happen.’
The reason why it hurts to give this book such a low rating is because Duke of Pleasure is still miles better than most books. It didn’t bore me at all, despite my unconscious tabbing out. Besides, with the Ghost of St. Giles back on the scene, we also have the swashbuckling feeling of the first books back.
So, on the contrary, Ms, Hoyt’s story flows effortlessly, once again evoking the disparity between the poor of St. Giles and the outrageously decadent and hedonistic life style of the aristocracy.
And Alf - those who have been reading this series will know this - is the very definition of what St. Giles stands for. Abandoned by her mother at the age of five at a street corner because she couldn’t/wouldn’t look after her daughter any longer, Alf had to learn to not only survive on the streets of St. Giles but also hide her sex, pretending to be a boy, having had to learn that bad things happened to abandoned little girls.
Alf has never been much on my radar, although she’s been an integral part of the whole series. Once it was clear she was a girl, I knew she’d get at least her own novella, if not a full-length novel. I commend Ms. Hoyt for not working a ‘lost daughter of an Earl’ trope into Alf’s story. No, Alf's story is sad but not filled with sugary sentimentality. In her own words:
Up to the point where I’m still wondering what she found so attractive about Hugh.
This is where my problems with Duke of Pleasure started. First of all, it takes a whopping 42% of the book for Hugh to find out that Alf’s a woman. In the meantime, he has two-three encounters with the fascinating female Ghost of St. Giles, obviously not knowing it’s Alf. 42%. You have to let that sink in for a moment. 42% before any true emotional growth between the main characters can start. At least from Hugh’s point of view. As for Alf’s attraction for Hugh, it’s there before the 42% mark but nothing she can really do about it, is there? Not if she doesn’t want to expose her identity.
Duke of Pleasure seems to have accumulated all the little bits and pieces that I considered to be flaws in previous books, but chose to ignore because the overall stories were better.
The occasional lack of development of one main character in favour of the other main character – Valentine in favour of Bridget.
The extremely rushed ending – Asa and Eve.
The tendency of giving future main characters more page time than really needed, in my opinion – choose any couple/book of the Maiden Lane series.
All the points mentioned above can be summed up to one main problem: Too much, not enough pages. Is it me, or did her older books used to be longer? Or were they structured differently? I can’t remember, if I’m honest. But whatever it is, this ‘too much, not enough pages’ is probably also the reason why the whole series has been hit and miss for me, really. I can think of only one book that was truly emotionally satisfying: Lord of Darkness., in spite of giving three more books five stars. But those I re-read every now and then and I love them, hence the five stars.
Nonetheless, whilst I could overlook those flaws in previous books, in conjunction with the 42% mark, Duke of Pleasure fell flat for me. It didn’t help that I found Hugh to be underdeveloped. I liked him well enough, I understood his hesitance regarding his feelings for Alf, but if I look at it from a distance, I see parts that were either too slow (42%) or too rushed – Hugh’s feelings for Alf change very quickly. Admittedly, that she’s the Ghost of St. Giles, for whom he has developed an attraction and admiration, helps. That she turns out to be Alf, only amplifies his initial attraction. But. But. But. It’s not fleshed out well enough, deeply enough for me to buy it. Same goes for Alf. All I could think of was ‘Give me more pages please. No, I don’t care about Iris and Hades, at the moment. Can we please go back to Alf and Hugh?’ And the ending? The term ‘rushed ending’ has to be re-defined, as this book sets a new bar, to be honest.
And now I’m actually laughing at myself for my own frustration. As I said at the beginning, I feel like a 2-year-old throwing her toys out of the pram, because – once again – compared to so many, many other mediocre books, this one was still entertaining. I deliberately waited quite some time to read Duke of Pleasure, knowing how much I had loved Val’s book, and I wanted to give this a fair go. I want to shake my fist at Ms. Hoyt’s editor and give her proper telling off for not letting this woman evolve her stories more thoroughly. I know EH can do it. I just have to pull out my all-time favourite of hers: The Raven Prince.
And the icing on the cake? Even the sex scenes were rather uninspired.
I’ll go sit in the corner and sulk a little more at my own whininess.
My rating is based in comparison to the previous Maiden Lane books, which is why giving this book only two stars is even more painful, seeing what else I have rated with two stars over the years. But I’ve decided to take a different approach and compare Duke of Pleasure within the series, not outside. I’ll get to that later. But let me tell you, I feel like a spoiled child at the moment, whining on a very high level.
If I hadn’t been already aware of the somewhat lacklustre story line (Lords of Chaos), the following incidence would have made sure my alarm bells went ballistic:
Last night, I am reading this book. I’m not bored, just reading along. And I do what I do often when I read on my iPad instead of my Kindle – I tab out, read a couple of articles, browse Amazon (I know, I know, Jeff Bezos is already the richest man in the world and a Robber Baron at that but I’m shallow, okay? All those little shiny and useless things on Amazon!!!), I answer/comment on GR, go into the kitchen to have a glass of water, linger a little, put the salter and the unused fork away, and go back. I open my Kindle app, my eyes take a few moments to focus on the words….I blink…and blink again…BAM!….I had unconsciously tabbed out in the middle of the first sex scene of an Elizabeth Hoyt book! I blink for a third time and think to myself ‘This didn’t just happen.’
I honestly felt shell shocked for a moment. This is an Elizabeth Hoyt book I’m talking about. At the very least, the sex scenes are always this side of a little dirty and crude and usually leave me with a big humming grin on my face; not tasteless or smutty (I have Tessa Bailey for my smut addiction) but hot and sensual. And just so it's clear, I had been waiting for it for 231 pages, already not really feeling it.
The reason why it hurts to give this book such a low rating is because Duke of Pleasure is still miles better than most books. It didn’t bore me at all, despite my unconscious tabbing out. Besides, with the Ghost of St. Giles back on the scene, we also have the swashbuckling feeling of the first books back.
So, on the contrary, Ms, Hoyt’s story flows effortlessly, once again evoking the disparity between the poor of St. Giles and the outrageously decadent and hedonistic life style of the aristocracy.
And Alf - those who have been reading this series will know this - is the very definition of what St. Giles stands for. Abandoned by her mother at the age of five at a street corner because she couldn’t/wouldn’t look after her daughter any longer, Alf had to learn to not only survive on the streets of St. Giles but also hide her sex, pretending to be a boy, having had to learn that bad things happened to abandoned little girls.
Alf has never been much on my radar, although she’s been an integral part of the whole series. Once it was clear she was a girl, I knew she’d get at least her own novella, if not a full-length novel. I commend Ms. Hoyt for not working a ‘lost daughter of an Earl’ trope into Alf’s story. No, Alf's story is sad but not filled with sugary sentimentality. In her own words:
She was nothing. Just a guttersnipe from St Giles, dirty and stinking, without education, women’s clothes, elegant ways, or the knowledge of how to flirt with a man.It is what it is, and she is who she is. Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, and bastard son to the king, calls her cynical at one point. She points out that she’s realistic, and right she is. She is feisty, cocky, independent but – unlike the wannabe-feisty characters I so often encounter in HR’s – she’s had to be in order to survive. To give her character a little more dramatic twist: She’s now the Ghost of St. Giles, tutored by none other than my favourite male character of this series (even more so than Valentine Napier), Godric St. John. All in all, however, her character made sense to me. Up to a point.
Oh, it wasn’t fair, it wasn’t.
Up to the point where I’m still wondering what she found so attractive about Hugh.
This is where my problems with Duke of Pleasure started. First of all, it takes a whopping 42% of the book for Hugh to find out that Alf’s a woman. In the meantime, he has two-three encounters with the fascinating female Ghost of St. Giles, obviously not knowing it’s Alf. 42%. You have to let that sink in for a moment. 42% before any true emotional growth between the main characters can start. At least from Hugh’s point of view. As for Alf’s attraction for Hugh, it’s there before the 42% mark but nothing she can really do about it, is there? Not if she doesn’t want to expose her identity.
Duke of Pleasure seems to have accumulated all the little bits and pieces that I considered to be flaws in previous books, but chose to ignore because the overall stories were better.
The occasional lack of development of one main character in favour of the other main character – Valentine in favour of Bridget.
The extremely rushed ending – Asa and Eve.
The tendency of giving future main characters more page time than really needed, in my opinion – choose any couple/book of the Maiden Lane series.
All the points mentioned above can be summed up to one main problem: Too much, not enough pages. Is it me, or did her older books used to be longer? Or were they structured differently? I can’t remember, if I’m honest. But whatever it is, this ‘too much, not enough pages’ is probably also the reason why the whole series has been hit and miss for me, really. I can think of only one book that was truly emotionally satisfying: Lord of Darkness., in spite of giving three more books five stars. But those I re-read every now and then and I love them, hence the five stars.
Nonetheless, whilst I could overlook those flaws in previous books, in conjunction with the 42% mark, Duke of Pleasure fell flat for me. It didn’t help that I found Hugh to be underdeveloped. I liked him well enough, I understood his hesitance regarding his feelings for Alf, but if I look at it from a distance, I see parts that were either too slow (42%) or too rushed – Hugh’s feelings for Alf change very quickly. Admittedly, that she’s the Ghost of St. Giles, for whom he has developed an attraction and admiration, helps. That she turns out to be Alf, only amplifies his initial attraction. But. But. But. It’s not fleshed out well enough, deeply enough for me to buy it. Same goes for Alf. All I could think of was ‘Give me more pages please. No, I don’t care about Iris and Hades, at the moment. Can we please go back to Alf and Hugh?’ And the ending? The term ‘rushed ending’ has to be re-defined, as this book sets a new bar, to be honest.
And now I’m actually laughing at myself for my own frustration. As I said at the beginning, I feel like a 2-year-old throwing her toys out of the pram, because – once again – compared to so many, many other mediocre books, this one was still entertaining. I deliberately waited quite some time to read Duke of Pleasure, knowing how much I had loved Val’s book, and I wanted to give this a fair go. I want to shake my fist at Ms. Hoyt’s editor and give her proper telling off for not letting this woman evolve her stories more thoroughly. I know EH can do it. I just have to pull out my all-time favourite of hers: The Raven Prince.
And the icing on the cake? Even the sex scenes were rather uninspired.
I’ll go sit in the corner and sulk a little more at my own whininess.
November 29, 2016
Elizabeth Hoyt’s Duke of Pleasure is the aptly named novel that seduced me with its sense of adventure, mystery and titillating romance. Although a first time reader of EH, the synopsis left me with no doubt I’d be thoroughly entertained by what promised to be a highly untraditional and captivating romance.
Charged with a mission to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, finds himself in a perilous position on the murky depths of London’s streets. His much welcomed saving grace comes in the guise of folk-like legend the Ghost of St. Giles. Not only is Hugh amazed by his saviours swordsmanship, he’s also amazed to discover that he is rather a she. Branded by their enticing encounter, feelings that have lain dormant resurge with a vengeance, and brusque Hugh finds himself begrudgingly smitten.
I often find myself attracted to the underdog and Alf proves to be among the scrappiest of them all. I found her to be a wonderful character who overcame her abandonment at a young age, and survives by trading information for the cause of the greater good. Her reinvention to Alf serves not only for protection for herself, but also those in danger of the Lords of Chaos. With a common goal, Alf and Hugh set a course to bring down the dangerous outfit.
On a whole I found my first EH experience a huge success. There were moments of great levity, as well as some surprisingly emotive moments also. I felt Hugh and Alf were perfectly matched and it was incredibly heart-warming to see a transformation in them both.
December 4, 2016
Not gonna lie. The name Alf bothered me for a bit because in my mind, I see this:
But once I got over it, I was able to enjoy the cloak-and-dagger, spy-esque romance between the Duke of Kyle and Alf. I love the lover in disguise trope, and Duke of Pleasure offers that in spade with Alf being revealed (not a spoiler since it's in the blurb) as the Ghost of St. Giles.
The chemistry between the two is palpable. I loved the banter and just the story in general. It's exciting and it's refreshing to read about a historical romance where the role is reversed. Here, it's the female who dons a secret identity while the hero is just a boring, duke. Okay, maybe not so boring but you know what I mean.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
ARC provided by the publisher for a review.
But once I got over it, I was able to enjoy the cloak-and-dagger, spy-esque romance between the Duke of Kyle and Alf. I love the lover in disguise trope, and Duke of Pleasure offers that in spade with Alf being revealed (not a spoiler since it's in the blurb) as the Ghost of St. Giles.
The chemistry between the two is palpable. I loved the banter and just the story in general. It's exciting and it's refreshing to read about a historical romance where the role is reversed. Here, it's the female who dons a secret identity while the hero is just a boring, duke. Okay, maybe not so boring but you know what I mean.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
ARC provided by the publisher for a review.
December 11, 2016
Serious case of disappointment. This stuck on shiny thingies, clothes and trusting and woe is me woman was not how envisioned Alf.
The story is so cliché in its basic form, I saw my brain a time or two whilst reading.
What a let down, after books of building this intriguing character... This book didn't feel like a Hoyt book at all.
The story is so cliché in its basic form, I saw my brain a time or two whilst reading.
What a let down, after books of building this intriguing character... This book didn't feel like a Hoyt book at all.
October 15, 2023
“Cinderella had never sucked her prince’s prick” pfffffft
October 13, 2017
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW - Publication Date: November 29th
This is the 11th book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s fabulous Maiden Lane series and it still amazes me that she can consistently enthral me with her fascinating characters, engrossing plots and sensual romances.
Ms Hoyt excels in writing unconventional heroines, none more so than Alf who first appeared in Lord of Darkness where it was revealed that this young street urchin is in fact a woman. Alf survived the dangerous streets of St Giles, where she was born and bred, by disguising herself as a boy. Bold, tenacious and quick-witted, she had made a living as an informant. Godric St John (hero of Lord of Darkness and retired Ghost of St Giles) saw her potential and trained her to become the Ghost of St Giles. During the day, she is Alf, but at night she is the Ghost of St Giles, willing to put her life on the line to protect those weaker than herself.
At night she was the Ghost of St Giles. She protected the people of St Giles—her people, living in the big, dark woods. She ran out the monsters—the murderers and rapists and robbers. And she flew over the roofs of the city by moonlight, free and wild. During the day she was Alf, a boy.
I was pleased to see the return of the Ghost especially as Ms Hoyt chose a woman for the role. I had this wonderful vision of Alf gracefully “darting, wheeling and spinning” whilst wielding her two swords.
Hugh is the illegitimate son of King William but had been formally acknowledged by his father and granted the title of Duke of Kyle, together with considerable land, money and an education befitting a duke. The King has now charged Hugh with destroying the Lords of Chaos, a secret club committing terrible acts of debauchery.
Hugh suffered emotionally in the past. A man of deep passions, he married Katherine with whom he was besotted, but it wasn’t long before he realised that he a had made a terrible mistake. Desperate to get away, he took a commission in the army and went abroad; his only regret was leaving his two young sons, Christopher and Peter. When news reaches him that his wife has died after falling from her horse, he resigns his commission and returns home. He has vowed never again to be swept away by passion for a woman.
…never let passion for a woman sweep away reason, self-preservation, and sense, for that way led to devastation.
I like how Hugh’s relationship with his sons is explored because it gives his character greater depth. It is obvious that he loves them but both boys are still coping with the recent loss of their mother and he doesn’t know how to reach out to them. The eldest, Christopher, hates his father for not being there for them, while the youngest, Peter, suffers from terrible nightmares. Some of the scenes where Hugh tries to comfort Peter are heart-rending to read.
In this series, Ms Hoyt always pairs the most unlikely hero and heroine but she makes the romance work beautifully. A duke and a street urchin shouldn’t work on many levels but it does, and I was rooting for Hugh and Alf to find the happiness they deserve.
I understood why Hugh fights his feelings for Alf but it is a lost cause because…
She made his heart beat fast. Freed all those wild emotions he thought he’d safely locked away when he’d left England three years ago.
and Alf’s feelings are just as potent…
She wanted him with every breath she drew, a painful longing inside her lungs, until it felt as if she’d break apart and shatter into tiny pieces of glass if she could not touch him.
The air positively sizzles when these two are together and there is a particularly erotic scene where Alf has a rather inventive way of evading capture when they are being chased by members of the Lords of Chaos!
I love the scenes between Alf and Hugh’s children. She connects with them in a way that he hasn’t been able to, but she also paves the way for Hugh to reconcile with his children. It also gives Alf something she has never had before – a family.
It was as if her heart had been a tiny seed, alone in a dark box, and Hugh and his boys had shone light on it.
Murder, kidnapping and code-breaking – there’s plenty of action, danger and mystery to keep the story moving as Hugh and Alf work to track down the Lords of Chaos.
Godric St John and his wife, Megs, make an appearance and two new characters are introduced.
- The widowed Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, a friend of Hugh’s who takes Alf under her wing when plans require Alf to dress as a woman for the first time.
- The mysterious, scarred Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore
After reading the Epilogue, I can’t wait to read their story in Duke of Desire!!
MY VERDICT: Another highly recommended addition to this outstanding series.
The Maiden Lane series so far (click the book cover for more details):
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. **
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
This is the 11th book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s fabulous Maiden Lane series and it still amazes me that she can consistently enthral me with her fascinating characters, engrossing plots and sensual romances.
Ms Hoyt excels in writing unconventional heroines, none more so than Alf who first appeared in Lord of Darkness where it was revealed that this young street urchin is in fact a woman. Alf survived the dangerous streets of St Giles, where she was born and bred, by disguising herself as a boy. Bold, tenacious and quick-witted, she had made a living as an informant. Godric St John (hero of Lord of Darkness and retired Ghost of St Giles) saw her potential and trained her to become the Ghost of St Giles. During the day, she is Alf, but at night she is the Ghost of St Giles, willing to put her life on the line to protect those weaker than herself.
At night she was the Ghost of St Giles. She protected the people of St Giles—her people, living in the big, dark woods. She ran out the monsters—the murderers and rapists and robbers. And she flew over the roofs of the city by moonlight, free and wild. During the day she was Alf, a boy.
I was pleased to see the return of the Ghost especially as Ms Hoyt chose a woman for the role. I had this wonderful vision of Alf gracefully “darting, wheeling and spinning” whilst wielding her two swords.
Hugh is the illegitimate son of King William but had been formally acknowledged by his father and granted the title of Duke of Kyle, together with considerable land, money and an education befitting a duke. The King has now charged Hugh with destroying the Lords of Chaos, a secret club committing terrible acts of debauchery.
Hugh suffered emotionally in the past. A man of deep passions, he married Katherine with whom he was besotted, but it wasn’t long before he realised that he a had made a terrible mistake. Desperate to get away, he took a commission in the army and went abroad; his only regret was leaving his two young sons, Christopher and Peter. When news reaches him that his wife has died after falling from her horse, he resigns his commission and returns home. He has vowed never again to be swept away by passion for a woman.
…never let passion for a woman sweep away reason, self-preservation, and sense, for that way led to devastation.
I like how Hugh’s relationship with his sons is explored because it gives his character greater depth. It is obvious that he loves them but both boys are still coping with the recent loss of their mother and he doesn’t know how to reach out to them. The eldest, Christopher, hates his father for not being there for them, while the youngest, Peter, suffers from terrible nightmares. Some of the scenes where Hugh tries to comfort Peter are heart-rending to read.
In this series, Ms Hoyt always pairs the most unlikely hero and heroine but she makes the romance work beautifully. A duke and a street urchin shouldn’t work on many levels but it does, and I was rooting for Hugh and Alf to find the happiness they deserve.
I understood why Hugh fights his feelings for Alf but it is a lost cause because…
She made his heart beat fast. Freed all those wild emotions he thought he’d safely locked away when he’d left England three years ago.
and Alf’s feelings are just as potent…
She wanted him with every breath she drew, a painful longing inside her lungs, until it felt as if she’d break apart and shatter into tiny pieces of glass if she could not touch him.
The air positively sizzles when these two are together and there is a particularly erotic scene where Alf has a rather inventive way of evading capture when they are being chased by members of the Lords of Chaos!
I love the scenes between Alf and Hugh’s children. She connects with them in a way that he hasn’t been able to, but she also paves the way for Hugh to reconcile with his children. It also gives Alf something she has never had before – a family.
It was as if her heart had been a tiny seed, alone in a dark box, and Hugh and his boys had shone light on it.
Murder, kidnapping and code-breaking – there’s plenty of action, danger and mystery to keep the story moving as Hugh and Alf work to track down the Lords of Chaos.
Godric St John and his wife, Megs, make an appearance and two new characters are introduced.
- The widowed Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, a friend of Hugh’s who takes Alf under her wing when plans require Alf to dress as a woman for the first time.
- The mysterious, scarred Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore
After reading the Epilogue, I can’t wait to read their story in Duke of Desire!!
MY VERDICT: Another highly recommended addition to this outstanding series.
The Maiden Lane series so far (click the book cover for more details):
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. **
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
January 30, 2018
Out of all the books in this series, this one felt the most unrealistic. Obviously all the books are of the romance genre, so there's a lot that's unrealistic, but Hoyt always seemed to keep her books more on the side of historically accurate.
The romance is between a street urchin, Alf, and Hugh, Duke of Kyle. He's the product of the King and an actress. She's a street urchin disguised as a boy who runs errands for money. Do you see here how this is completely unrealistic that these two would come together? It's not just other side of the tracks, Pretty In Pink happening here, this is planets apart. In a previous book in this series, the forbidden romance is between a Duke and an impoverished aristocrat and that was highly looked down upon and unfeasible. Yet the royal Duke and an urchin are totally fine? Yeah, not happening, and that fact kept me from ever really getting into the book.
The whole book is a lot of Alf helping Hugh investigate the Lords of Chaos club and bring them down. This is cool for Alf because that's what she does and what she's good at. Hugh spends the book brooding, admiring Alf, trying to fix his relationship with his sons, and not get killed.
The romance is odd. It's kind of a reverse beauty and the beast. Hugh is the fancy aristocrat and Alf is the bedraggled urchin boy girl. He has to fall for her kind of sight unseen a bit since she's always in disguise. This didn't work for me because I kept imagining dirty clothes and hair and yeah, dirt. Alf has one change of clothes and never used a bathtub. Dirt!
I most enjoyed Alf's interactions with Kit and Peter. I thought I loathed Iris, but she redeemed herself halfway through the book by growing a spine. Hopefully her book will be better. Fingers crossed Deymore is a bit villainous. I've thoroughly enjoyed the antihero more than the hero in this series.
The romance is between a street urchin, Alf, and Hugh, Duke of Kyle. He's the product of the King and an actress. She's a street urchin disguised as a boy who runs errands for money. Do you see here how this is completely unrealistic that these two would come together? It's not just other side of the tracks, Pretty In Pink happening here, this is planets apart. In a previous book in this series, the forbidden romance is between a Duke and an impoverished aristocrat and that was highly looked down upon and unfeasible. Yet the royal Duke and an urchin are totally fine? Yeah, not happening, and that fact kept me from ever really getting into the book.
The whole book is a lot of Alf helping Hugh investigate the Lords of Chaos club and bring them down. This is cool for Alf because that's what she does and what she's good at. Hugh spends the book brooding, admiring Alf, trying to fix his relationship with his sons, and not get killed.
The romance is odd. It's kind of a reverse beauty and the beast. Hugh is the fancy aristocrat and Alf is the bedraggled urchin boy girl. He has to fall for her kind of sight unseen a bit since she's always in disguise. This didn't work for me because I kept imagining dirty clothes and hair and yeah, dirt. Alf has one change of clothes and never used a bathtub. Dirt!
I most enjoyed Alf's interactions with Kit and Peter. I thought I loathed Iris, but she redeemed herself halfway through the book by growing a spine. Hopefully her book will be better. Fingers crossed Deymore is a bit villainous. I've thoroughly enjoyed the antihero more than the hero in this series.
March 11, 2022
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2022/...
No llegaría a las 5, pero le falta poco,
Mi última pega es que pese a esa escena final que rompe el corazón, me ha faltado una conversación más larga. Egoísmo puro por mi parte porque la escena queda genial, pero necesitaba más
Alf me ha encantado, sabía que podía ser un personaje estupendo, y lo ha sido. Dulce y tierna, valiente y decidida, es capaz de darlo todo por el ser amado.
Hugh me ha conquistado, esa fachada fría que esconde ese enorme corazón. Honesto, leal y justo.
Una pareja perfecta con un entorno lleno de aventuras. Hasta los niños son niños!!!
Iris, como secundaria, me ha gustado mucho. No tardaré en leer su historia
Una lectura muy recomendable, algo predecible, pero una lectura fantástica
No llegaría a las 5, pero le falta poco,
Mi última pega es que pese a esa escena final que rompe el corazón, me ha faltado una conversación más larga. Egoísmo puro por mi parte porque la escena queda genial, pero necesitaba más
Alf me ha encantado, sabía que podía ser un personaje estupendo, y lo ha sido. Dulce y tierna, valiente y decidida, es capaz de darlo todo por el ser amado.
Hugh me ha conquistado, esa fachada fría que esconde ese enorme corazón. Honesto, leal y justo.
Una pareja perfecta con un entorno lleno de aventuras. Hasta los niños son niños!!!
Iris, como secundaria, me ha gustado mucho. No tardaré en leer su historia
Una lectura muy recomendable, algo predecible, pero una lectura fantástica
November 29, 2016
I didn't love this one, and I'm bummed! I didn't hate it or anything - I actually liked the hero and heroine separately. Just not together - which kind of is a bad thing when reading a romance book. I don't remember the last time I wasn't thrilled with a Maiden Lane book (okay, I looked it up on Goodreads and my last less than 4-star rating was in 2013 for Duke of Midnight. Book #6! So we've had a good run!) Am I getting tired of the Ghost of St. Giles? Yes. Am I getting tired of trying to kill all of the evil Lords of Chaos? Yes. And those two things were very prominent in this book.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, does super secret work for The King. His latest assignment is to stop the Lords of Chaos, a secret group of elite men who do terrible things - including abusing small children, and they have power far and wide. The King wants them disbanded - but unfortunately for Hugh, others want him dead, and he gets attacked one night in an alley. Overpowered by men, he thinks this is it for him before the Ghost of St. Giles jumps down from a rooftop and helps him fight. The Ghost has been a recurring character in this series but played by different people, and helps those unfortunate people who live in the bad part of town, . This time the ghost is a woman (gasp!) and Hugh can't believe it either. Hugh and the ghost fight, they win, and the Ghost runs off into the night.
The Ghost is actually our heroine, Alf. You may think Alf is an odd name for a heroine, but our heroine who is twenty, has almost always pretended to be a boy her entire life. It is how she has survived the streets of St. Giles and now makes money being an informant. She has learned to talk and walk like a man and look people in the eyes. Hugh hires Alf to help him track down the Lord of Chaos members, and then Hugh ends up feeling responsible for Alf when she (Hugh has no idea Alf is a girl) gets injured one night.
In the first half of the book, Hugh has no idea Alf is a girl and no idea Alf is also the Ghost of St. Giles. Hugh develops a crush on the Ghost (which is reciprocated) but nothing really happens between them. I think it was at least the 45% mark before Hugh knows Alf is a woman, and that's a long time to go when you are waiting for the romance to develop. I enjoyed Alf - her charm, and wit and survival skills. But I had this image of her in my head dressed as the boy Alf, so when all of a sudden she is a woman, I had a hard time transitioning from dirty street imp to woman. It didn't work for me. Their romance scenes in the second half of the book lacked passion and again were overshadowed by the suspense.
The romance is definitely overshadowed by the suspense in this book and because it's recycled ghost and Lords of Chaos drama, I got bored.
I liked Hugh and I liked Alf. I liked Hugh's kids (his wife died five months previous to the book starting). I liked a lot of the characters in this book. I just didn't like the romance. After Alf reveals she is a woman, Hugh then asks her to do some secret work as a woman, and she freaks out because she has lived her life as a boy and doesn't know how to act as a woman. That freak out made sense and was done well. But at the same time, when Alf is honestly telling Hugh she can't work as a woman, his response is that his cock knows she is a woman, so she should too! I didn't love that response, your grace
I believe the next book is Duke of Desire, and I have high hopes.
Grade: C
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, does super secret work for The King. His latest assignment is to stop the Lords of Chaos, a secret group of elite men who do terrible things - including abusing small children, and they have power far and wide. The King wants them disbanded - but unfortunately for Hugh, others want him dead, and he gets attacked one night in an alley. Overpowered by men, he thinks this is it for him before the Ghost of St. Giles jumps down from a rooftop and helps him fight. The Ghost has been a recurring character in this series but played by different people, and helps those unfortunate people who live in the bad part of town, . This time the ghost is a woman (gasp!) and Hugh can't believe it either. Hugh and the ghost fight, they win, and the Ghost runs off into the night.
The Ghost is actually our heroine, Alf. You may think Alf is an odd name for a heroine, but our heroine who is twenty, has almost always pretended to be a boy her entire life. It is how she has survived the streets of St. Giles and now makes money being an informant. She has learned to talk and walk like a man and look people in the eyes. Hugh hires Alf to help him track down the Lord of Chaos members, and then Hugh ends up feeling responsible for Alf when she (Hugh has no idea Alf is a girl) gets injured one night.
In the first half of the book, Hugh has no idea Alf is a girl and no idea Alf is also the Ghost of St. Giles. Hugh develops a crush on the Ghost (which is reciprocated) but nothing really happens between them. I think it was at least the 45% mark before Hugh knows Alf is a woman, and that's a long time to go when you are waiting for the romance to develop. I enjoyed Alf - her charm, and wit and survival skills. But I had this image of her in my head dressed as the boy Alf, so when all of a sudden she is a woman, I had a hard time transitioning from dirty street imp to woman. It didn't work for me. Their romance scenes in the second half of the book lacked passion and again were overshadowed by the suspense.
The romance is definitely overshadowed by the suspense in this book and because it's recycled ghost and Lords of Chaos drama, I got bored.
I liked Hugh and I liked Alf. I liked Hugh's kids (his wife died five months previous to the book starting). I liked a lot of the characters in this book. I just didn't like the romance. After Alf reveals she is a woman, Hugh then asks her to do some secret work as a woman, and she freaks out because she has lived her life as a boy and doesn't know how to act as a woman. That freak out made sense and was done well. But at the same time, when Alf is honestly telling Hugh she can't work as a woman, his response is that his cock knows she is a woman, so she should too! I didn't love that response, your grace
I believe the next book is Duke of Desire, and I have high hopes.
Grade: C
December 11, 2017
You’d think that I’d be getting tired of these. I mean this is book 11 of the series which really means that you’re on the 14th story in this world if you stopped and read the novellas too. But there is something about the way Elizabeth Hoyt tells a story that sucks me in and this is by far my favorite Historical Romance series.
The best thing about this book is Alf. I wondered forever ago when we met the girl that dresses as a boy and frequents the streets of Saint Giles if she would get her own story and finally she does. Not only is she our heroine of interest she is also the new Ghost of Saint Giles. I adored this premise.
I have loved Alf forever and to see her finally get to match wits one on one with someone else and have adventures of her own was fantastic. Alf and The Duke of Kyle are a great match in that they both thrive in the face of danger. Kyle was tasked by the king to put an end to The Lords of Chaos and to do that he is going to need the best spy and information gatherer out there to help him find a few leads. Little does he know that the boy he just invited into his house is going to change his entire life.
Alf and Kyle worked so well together that it was easy to see how they could always be a team. Plus some one of their adventures led to the sexiest getaway yet. Alf, I didn’t know you had it in you.
The Duke of Kyle is one of those heroes I like because he wasn’t a rake. He is a widower who lived apart from his wife since she was the one that couldn’t keep it in her pants and had lovers on the side. Instead of sticking around to watch her sleep around Kyle decided to serve the king instead in somewhat of a spy capacity. So Kyle is a guy that you want to find a good strong woman who is going to love him and stay faithful.
Granted I thought Alf was younger but apparently the little rapscallion is a 21 year old girl pretending to be a 15-16 year old boy most of the time. Well while I think it was a bit of a stretch from the other novels I don’t care I’ll totally allow it because I enjoyed this story so much.
It was fun to have a story that wasn’t about a prim and proper lady for once in a HR but a girl that was completely a girl even if she wasn’t sure how to be a girl since she had played the part of a boy for so long.
Mostly this is just a good time. I was happy to get to see some cameos with Megs and St John again I liked their book (#5 that was so long ago) and so it was good to see how they are after so many other couples books in-between.
Overall another solid story in the Maiden Lane series.
P.S. for those counting this is #4 in my romance road to recovery after Oathbringer.
The best thing about this book is Alf. I wondered forever ago when we met the girl that dresses as a boy and frequents the streets of Saint Giles if she would get her own story and finally she does. Not only is she our heroine of interest she is also the new Ghost of Saint Giles. I adored this premise.
I have loved Alf forever and to see her finally get to match wits one on one with someone else and have adventures of her own was fantastic. Alf and The Duke of Kyle are a great match in that they both thrive in the face of danger. Kyle was tasked by the king to put an end to The Lords of Chaos and to do that he is going to need the best spy and information gatherer out there to help him find a few leads. Little does he know that the boy he just invited into his house is going to change his entire life.
“Why, imp, you’re a romantic.”
A blush lit the boy’s downy cheeks. He lifted his chin. “And that’s not allowed, is it? That an urchin from St Giles should have romantic dreams? Is romance only for rich coves?”
“Oh, it’s allowed,” Hugh said. “Just be sure to take care with your romantic’s soul. I have the feeling Fate doesn’t give a fig where you hail from or what the state of your finances when she decides to crush your dreams.”
Alf and Kyle worked so well together that it was easy to see how they could always be a team. Plus some one of their adventures led to the sexiest getaway yet. Alf, I didn’t know you had it in you.
The Duke of Kyle is one of those heroes I like because he wasn’t a rake. He is a widower who lived apart from his wife since she was the one that couldn’t keep it in her pants and had lovers on the side. Instead of sticking around to watch her sleep around Kyle decided to serve the king instead in somewhat of a spy capacity. So Kyle is a guy that you want to find a good strong woman who is going to love him and stay faithful.
Granted I thought Alf was younger but apparently the little rapscallion is a 21 year old girl pretending to be a 15-16 year old boy most of the time. Well while I think it was a bit of a stretch from the other novels I don’t care I’ll totally allow it because I enjoyed this story so much.
It was fun to have a story that wasn’t about a prim and proper lady for once in a HR but a girl that was completely a girl even if she wasn’t sure how to be a girl since she had played the part of a boy for so long.
Mostly this is just a good time. I was happy to get to see some cameos with Megs and St John again I liked their book (#5 that was so long ago) and so it was good to see how they are after so many other couples books in-between.
Overall another solid story in the Maiden Lane series.
P.S. for those counting this is #4 in my romance road to recovery after Oathbringer.
December 3, 2025
The book flowed very easily for me
That moody, somber atmosphere from the first book is completely lost by now, but I'm not too mad about it.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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That moody, somber atmosphere from the first book is completely lost by now, but I'm not too mad about it.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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November 29, 2016
This seals the deal. The Maiden Lane series is the top Historical Romance series to beat. Every book in this series has quickly become a new favorite. Not only does Elizabeth Hoyt keep things fresh with each new premise, but the characters continue to be intriguing and unique. This is especially true for the hero and heroine of DUKE OF PLEASURE.
If you’ve read the previous book in this series then you’re already familiar with both. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, made quite the cameo in the last book and so did Alf. We know Alf as a cocky and clever boy, but he’s not a boy at all, as many of you already know. He’s a girl just pretending to be a guy. As if that wasn’t already exciting enough, she’s also the Ghost of St. Giles by night. See what I mean when I say this series is the one to beat? Just the premise alone is fascinating! When you factor in Hoyt’s amazing writing, it’s really something special. There’s no other series that as fun and exciting on the market right now and if you’re not already reading this series, then you’re really missing out. I loved the Maiden Lane series in the beginning, but as the books continue to get better, this series is quickly becoming my new favorite. I read this book so fast, I almost regretted devouring it so quickly because of the book hangover I had after.
DUKE OF PLEASURE is the eleventh book in the Maiden Lane series and I would say that you should read the stories from the beginning. Quite a lot has happened already and while you can probably still enjoy the romance, the threads lining the books together will be underappreciated if you haven’t read them all. Also, I want to say that I’m claiming Hugh for my harem, as I have all the heroes in this series. One simply cannot read a Hoyt novel and walk away without falling in love.
April 14, 2021
This relationship is one of the more complex ones in the series. We have a woman Ghost of St. Giles and she was a FIRECRACKER. A bit of a discussion on gender stereotypes which was nice and a broody hero, a widower, who took in his wife's Bastard children and raised them as his own.
FANTASTIC
FANTASTIC
July 31, 2022
//RELECTURA//
Una gozada total que no pierde en la relectura.
Alf y Hugh son maravillosos y su historia de amor, sin sobresaltos emocionales pero muy emotiva, es de esas que quieres que no acaben nunca.
El libro combina a la perfección la acción, el amor, lo sentimental y el guarrerismo (que es top top -y no muy abundante-), y Elizabeth Hoyt logra que te interese todo lo que te cuenta.
Ambos protagonistas son espectaculares y disfruto mucho de que, más allá del "malentendido" inicial, su relación no tenga malos rollos, mentiras o egoísmos. Hugh es maravilloso por completo pero es que Alf es mejor aún, no creo que la Hoyt escriba una heroína mejor.
Ha sido un gustazo volver a disfrutar de esta historia ❤.
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Fantástico, el mejor de la serie 😍
Una gozada total que no pierde en la relectura.
Alf y Hugh son maravillosos y su historia de amor, sin sobresaltos emocionales pero muy emotiva, es de esas que quieres que no acaben nunca.
El libro combina a la perfección la acción, el amor, lo sentimental y el guarrerismo (que es top top -y no muy abundante-), y Elizabeth Hoyt logra que te interese todo lo que te cuenta.
Ambos protagonistas son espectaculares y disfruto mucho de que, más allá del "malentendido" inicial, su relación no tenga malos rollos, mentiras o egoísmos. Hugh es maravilloso por completo pero es que Alf es mejor aún, no creo que la Hoyt escriba una heroína mejor.
Ha sido un gustazo volver a disfrutar de esta historia ❤.
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Fantástico, el mejor de la serie 😍
November 29, 2016
4.5 Stars
“The Ghost was there. On the ground, her half cape a black whirl as she danced with her swords, their prey cornered.”
“She smiled. And he was amazed that anyone thought her a man.”
The Ghost of St Giles is back! Elizabeth Hoyt never ceases to amaze me, with her riveting storytelling, elegant writing style, richly drawn setting and wonderful characters. She once again delves into Georgian England and the dangerous world of one of the poorest areas of London, St Giles. Her vivid and detailed descriptions really bring the world of Maiden Lane to life. And I never can get enough of it!
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, has been tasked to bring down the Lords of Chaos, a secret club of powerful and corrupted aristocrats meeting to revel in debauchery. Searching for information, he makes a foray into the dangerous world of St Giles and is attacked by ruffians. Trapped in a desperate position, he is rescued from sure death by the Ghost of St Giles. And this time around the Ghost is none other than Alf, a street urchin and... a woman. During the day, Alf makes her living as an informant, disguised as a boy and at night, she is the Ghost of St Giles, protecting the people.
Hugh is broken. He was recently widowed and his marriage ended as a disaster, with two young boys devastated by their mother’s death. He hires Alf to find out who sent assassins after him. Although she is an enigma to him, he trusts her instinctively. They come from different worlds, Hugh is wealthy, Alf has nothing and nowhere to go. As the story unfolds, their emotional connection can’t be denied. Hugh is stern, abrupt, and used to being in control, but he is a good man. He is fascinated by Alf’s boldness and disarmed by her close relationship with his kids. I enjoyed their battle of wills. Alf has lived by herself in St Giles, she is tenacious, strong and brave. She refuses to let Hugh dictate what she can or can’t do, although he only intends to protect her and truly cares for her.
“He touched her as if she were something-someone- precious. Someone beautiful.”
I loved this beautifully written story combining witty dialogue, emotionally charged, steamy scenes and two very different characters who together complete each other perfectly and are the best allies in the face of danger. Not to mention a breathtaking, nail-biting ride of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat! “Duke of Pleasure” is a great addition to the Maiden Lane series and I can’t wait for the next installment featuring a very intriguing character. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend Elizabeth Hoyt’s signature series as a whole! The first novel in the Maiden Lane series “Wicked Intentions” is currently free.
An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher, via Netgalley.
“The Ghost was there. On the ground, her half cape a black whirl as she danced with her swords, their prey cornered.”
“She smiled. And he was amazed that anyone thought her a man.”
The Ghost of St Giles is back! Elizabeth Hoyt never ceases to amaze me, with her riveting storytelling, elegant writing style, richly drawn setting and wonderful characters. She once again delves into Georgian England and the dangerous world of one of the poorest areas of London, St Giles. Her vivid and detailed descriptions really bring the world of Maiden Lane to life. And I never can get enough of it!
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, has been tasked to bring down the Lords of Chaos, a secret club of powerful and corrupted aristocrats meeting to revel in debauchery. Searching for information, he makes a foray into the dangerous world of St Giles and is attacked by ruffians. Trapped in a desperate position, he is rescued from sure death by the Ghost of St Giles. And this time around the Ghost is none other than Alf, a street urchin and... a woman. During the day, Alf makes her living as an informant, disguised as a boy and at night, she is the Ghost of St Giles, protecting the people.
Hugh is broken. He was recently widowed and his marriage ended as a disaster, with two young boys devastated by their mother’s death. He hires Alf to find out who sent assassins after him. Although she is an enigma to him, he trusts her instinctively. They come from different worlds, Hugh is wealthy, Alf has nothing and nowhere to go. As the story unfolds, their emotional connection can’t be denied. Hugh is stern, abrupt, and used to being in control, but he is a good man. He is fascinated by Alf’s boldness and disarmed by her close relationship with his kids. I enjoyed their battle of wills. Alf has lived by herself in St Giles, she is tenacious, strong and brave. She refuses to let Hugh dictate what she can or can’t do, although he only intends to protect her and truly cares for her.
“He touched her as if she were something-someone- precious. Someone beautiful.”
I loved this beautifully written story combining witty dialogue, emotionally charged, steamy scenes and two very different characters who together complete each other perfectly and are the best allies in the face of danger. Not to mention a breathtaking, nail-biting ride of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat! “Duke of Pleasure” is a great addition to the Maiden Lane series and I can’t wait for the next installment featuring a very intriguing character. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend Elizabeth Hoyt’s signature series as a whole! The first novel in the Maiden Lane series “Wicked Intentions” is currently free.
An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher, via Netgalley.
December 6, 2016
I loved Alf in the previous books and I loved her here! ):
She's a very unusual heroine: disguised as a boy, grow up and living in St. Giles, an informant for hire, a clever, intelligent and sensual woman! All wrap-up together! WOW!!!
For my taste Kyle was too much stick-in-the-ass type, but I liked him too! He was just what Alf needed to emerge as a beautiful woman and leave her street urchin persona behind!
I also loved Alf's ability to wrap Kyle around her finger! In every way, outside and inside the bedroom! LOL
Here we get the resurrection of the Ghost of St. Giles: Alf - the one and only female Ghost! Wonderful!!!
This is a wonderful love story. A little less wonderful mystery story - I found the Lords of Chaos too naive and too stupid in their actions. But as this this romance they made a nice villains!
I'm so looking forward to the next book! :)
P.S. I love, love, love the fairy-tales Ms. Hoyt tells us piece by piece at the beginning of each chapter! :)
She's a very unusual heroine: disguised as a boy, grow up and living in St. Giles, an informant for hire, a clever, intelligent and sensual woman! All wrap-up together! WOW!!!
For my taste Kyle was too much stick-in-the-ass type, but I liked him too! He was just what Alf needed to emerge as a beautiful woman and leave her street urchin persona behind!
I also loved Alf's ability to wrap Kyle around her finger! In every way, outside and inside the bedroom! LOL
Here we get the resurrection of the Ghost of St. Giles: Alf - the one and only female Ghost! Wonderful!!!
This is a wonderful love story. A little less wonderful mystery story - I found the Lords of Chaos too naive and too stupid in their actions. But as this this romance they made a nice villains!
I'm so looking forward to the next book! :)
P.S. I love, love, love the fairy-tales Ms. Hoyt tells us piece by piece at the beginning of each chapter! :)
December 25, 2016
As mentioned in previous reviews, after a pretty epic binge of this series and some plot repetition that would've bothered me even had I not binged, I was getting a little weary about the Ghost of St Giles plot.. but DUKE OF PLEASURE has completely turned that around!
I loved Alf. I loved Kyle. I loved them individually and as a unit. I loved the personal growth of a character we've seen flitting about this series for so long. I loved Kyle's boys. I loved the sweetness of a female friendship that I didn't expect considering the circumstances. This book made me even sorta like Godric St John and Megs, which I didn't think was possible after that disappointing installment. Not to mention, the action, the attraction, the angst.. it was all perfectly balanced and not one overshadowed or overwhelmed the other.
I was going to slap this with a 4.5 as I will admit I didn't feel as !!!! as I did for the other five star books in this series, but when I thought back through this read to see why I couldn't just bump it up.. I had no answer for myself.
Hoyt, you did it again.
I loved Alf. I loved Kyle. I loved them individually and as a unit. I loved the personal growth of a character we've seen flitting about this series for so long. I loved Kyle's boys. I loved the sweetness of a female friendship that I didn't expect considering the circumstances. This book made me even sorta like Godric St John and Megs, which I didn't think was possible after that disappointing installment. Not to mention, the action, the attraction, the angst.. it was all perfectly balanced and not one overshadowed or overwhelmed the other.
I was going to slap this with a 4.5 as I will admit I didn't feel as !!!! as I did for the other five star books in this series, but when I thought back through this read to see why I couldn't just bump it up.. I had no answer for myself.
Hoyt, you did it again.
October 26, 2017
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Alf: the heroine
Hugh: the hunky, hairy hero…woof
Kit and Peter: adorable and well-developed kids,, the anti-plot moppets
Duke’s gang ofmerry men
And drum roll please…
Lady Iris: the Duke’s potential MOC option aka the game changer
Another solid addition to the Maiden Lane series with Alf/girl Zorro as the latest Ghost of St Giles and the hunky alpha Hugh, Duke of Blah blah coming together to hunt down and fight evil. Lots of action sexy and otherwise with a gang of not-so-merry-but-effective men of the Duke, believable but cranky young dukely sons, masked balls, subterfuge, sword fights, kidnapping, evil guys Death Eater-style, and a deserved HEA. Hugh is a little anal as he is trying to recover from his tempestuous marriage and win his sons’ affection, and Alf is just trying to survive physically and emotionally. But who cares about them? He’s hunky; she’s strong but the real acer of the story is Lady Iris.
Lady Iris was Hugh’s wife’s best friend and is the up and coming marriage prospect when Hugh gets his act together. She just fits the bill. Hoyt could have gone down the path we have seen before of a vapid wannabe heroine that wants the Duke for his status and is snotty to the real heroine and possibly mean to the kids. Instead we get the lovely, seemingly vapid woman that figures out Alf is a girl about five minutes after she meets her when the Duke actually has to feel Alf up to figure it out.
It reminded me of the audition scene in Walk the Line where Johnny Cash is called out for We've already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just... like... how... you... sing it.
The audition clip. Sorry it’s not shorter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnNW...
It gets better..
Sorry to go on and on about a secondary character, but it was refreshing to escape the same old cliche. Besides she's the heroine of Duke of Desire.
Although not perfect, Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series may be one of the better series as her writing is consistently superior, her characters are well-developed, but most importantly she remembers to bring back past characters that are relevant to the story. One of my disappointments with Sarah Mccarty’s Hell’s Eight series is fun characters were created than rarely seen.
In honor of the Lady Iris, the next addition and because it's fun...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJHMM...
or maybe this one..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1XY_...
Alf: the heroine
Hugh: the hunky, hairy hero…woof
Kit and Peter: adorable and well-developed kids,, the anti-plot moppets
Duke’s gang of
And drum roll please…
Lady Iris: the Duke’s potential MOC option aka the game changer
Another solid addition to the Maiden Lane series with Alf/girl Zorro as the latest Ghost of St Giles and the hunky alpha Hugh, Duke of Blah blah coming together to hunt down and fight evil. Lots of action sexy and otherwise with a gang of not-so-merry-but-effective men of the Duke, believable but cranky young dukely sons, masked balls, subterfuge, sword fights, kidnapping, evil guys Death Eater-style, and a deserved HEA. Hugh is a little anal as he is trying to recover from his tempestuous marriage and win his sons’ affection, and Alf is just trying to survive physically and emotionally. But who cares about them? He’s hunky; she’s strong but the real acer of the story is Lady Iris.
Lady Iris was Hugh’s wife’s best friend and is the up and coming marriage prospect when Hugh gets his act together. She just fits the bill. Hoyt could have gone down the path we have seen before of a vapid wannabe heroine that wants the Duke for his status and is snotty to the real heroine and possibly mean to the kids. Instead we get the lovely, seemingly vapid woman that figures out Alf is a girl about five minutes after she meets her when the Duke actually has to feel Alf up to figure it out.
It reminded me of the audition scene in Walk the Line where Johnny Cash is called out for We've already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just... like... how... you... sing it.
The audition clip. Sorry it’s not shorter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnNW...
It gets better..
Sorry to go on and on about a secondary character, but it was refreshing to escape the same old cliche. Besides she's the heroine of Duke of Desire.
Although not perfect, Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series may be one of the better series as her writing is consistently superior, her characters are well-developed, but most importantly she remembers to bring back past characters that are relevant to the story. One of my disappointments with Sarah Mccarty’s Hell’s Eight series is fun characters were created than rarely seen.
In honor of the Lady Iris, the next addition and because it's fun...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJHMM...
or maybe this one..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1XY_...
July 10, 2017
Duke of Pleasure
4.5 Stars
Tasked by the King to unmask the Lords of Chaos, England's most malevolent secret society, Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, enlists the aid of Alf, the cocky young street urchin capable of ferreting out the most elusive tidbits of information. However, will Kyle still trust Alf once he learns that she is not only the Ghost of St. Giles but female to boot? Can Alf become the woman Kyle needs to destroy the Lords once and for all?
Alf's character has been developing slowly, but steadily over the past few books, and, thankfully, her romance with Hugh more than lives up to expectations.
Those familiar with Maiden Lane will know that the series deals with the harsh realities of life in the slums of Georgian London including the mistreatment and abuse of children. Thus, readers sensitive to these issues may be disturbed by the plot revolving around the Lords and their despicable proclivities. Nevertheless, Hoyt handles the topic with aplomb and the story is both intense and satisfying.
Alf and Hugh's romance is delightful. She is such an endearing mix of strength and vulnerability with her street smarts alongside her desire for love, children and family. Hugh is charming albeit somewhat oblivious when it comes to women.
The secondary character are wonderful, especially Hugh's men whose dedication and loyalty are admirable, and Lady Jordon who it could have been easy to hate if she weren't such a lovely person.
Sadly, the next book, Duke of Desire is the final installment in Hoyt's adventures inMaiden Lane, and it will a bittersweet goodbye to a fantastic series.
4.5 Stars
Tasked by the King to unmask the Lords of Chaos, England's most malevolent secret society, Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, enlists the aid of Alf, the cocky young street urchin capable of ferreting out the most elusive tidbits of information. However, will Kyle still trust Alf once he learns that she is not only the Ghost of St. Giles but female to boot? Can Alf become the woman Kyle needs to destroy the Lords once and for all?
Alf's character has been developing slowly, but steadily over the past few books, and, thankfully, her romance with Hugh more than lives up to expectations.
Those familiar with Maiden Lane will know that the series deals with the harsh realities of life in the slums of Georgian London including the mistreatment and abuse of children. Thus, readers sensitive to these issues may be disturbed by the plot revolving around the Lords and their despicable proclivities. Nevertheless, Hoyt handles the topic with aplomb and the story is both intense and satisfying.
Alf and Hugh's romance is delightful. She is such an endearing mix of strength and vulnerability with her street smarts alongside her desire for love, children and family. Hugh is charming albeit somewhat oblivious when it comes to women.
The secondary character are wonderful, especially Hugh's men whose dedication and loyalty are admirable, and Lady Jordon who it could have been easy to hate if she weren't such a lovely person.
Sadly, the next book, Duke of Desire is the final installment in Hoyt's adventures inMaiden Lane, and it will a bittersweet goodbye to a fantastic series.
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