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Notorious Pleasures

(Maiden Lane #2)

Elizabeth Hoyt (Goodreads Author)

3.94 · Rating details · 11,015 ratings · 937 reviews

From the New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt comes the second book in her beloved Maiden Lane series.

Their lives were perfect . . .

Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 371 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Vision (first published 2011)

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Aug 19, 2017 Bibi rated it did not like it

For me, very few aspects sours a book faster than the Hs having smex time with OW/OM; still, if the author must include such, it HAS to be a fade to black.

Unfortunately, the reader's first glimpse of, Griffin, our H, is of him having a romp with a married woman. Worse is that he was found in flagrante by none other than the heroine, Hero.

Bad intro for sure, yet I held out hope that the rest of the book would slough away that awkward scene.

Except, it got worse.

• Hero was engaged to Griffin's

...more

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Dec 20, 2015 Karen rated it it was amazing

5 STARS

This one was a total winner for me! Loved it from beginning to end.

Lord Griffin Reading was somewhat of an arrogant arse... which I'm sure is why I loved him so much. Don't ask me why, buy I am just enamored by the total jerks in these books. His dirty mouth could light a glacier on fire. Sexy as fuck. That is all I can say.

"I dare," he muttered, "because I'm selfish and black-hearted and vain. I dare because you are what you are and I am what I am. I dare because I cannot otherw
...more

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May 26, 2016 Al George rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love this couple!

“You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”

OMG if this book got any hotter....I am just saying.

Setting / Time / Genre: Georgian, London.

Length: 371 pages

Series: Yep, book 2

Sexy times: Holy lord. Steam factor, high. Dude, it's a historical and Hoyt says "penis" or "cock" at least 3 times each. Penis, for goodness sakes. I. Can't. Eve ...more

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Jan 18, 2017 Jilly rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

Not as good as the first one, but I still liked it.

Our female's name is Hero and the male is... shit, forgot his name already. Let's just call him Bad-Brother, or BB for short.

So, Hero meets BB by walking in on him sticking it to a married woman at her engagement party. Engagement to his brother. Apparently, something must have been impressive because after this meeting, Hero is all aflutter over little brother and can't stay away from him. I'm guessing that little brother isn't so little, if yo ...more

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Jun 23, 2010 Rane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, georgian-era, keeper

It’s always a total joy to pick up an Elizabeth Hoyt book. Her characters always draw me into their world, with their emotions and what lurks behind the mask they wear, or what makes them tick. Hoyt’s newest series started off with a bang and just keeps getting better with Notorious Pleasures

Lord Griffin Reading is know to the ton and society as a rake with a lustful appetite, some shading dealing and rumors that fly around that cause no end of a stir for him. To add fuel to the fire, its well It’s always a total joy to pick up an Elizabeth Hoyt book. Her characters always draw me into their world, with their emotions and what lurks behind the mask they wear, or what makes them tick. Hoyt’s newest series started off with a bang and just keeps getting better with Notorious Pleasures

Lord Griffin Reading is know to the ton and society as a rake with a lustful appetite, some shading dealing and rumors that fly around that cause no end of a stir for him. To add fuel to the fire, its well know that his brother and he are on hardly talking terms, and Griffin could care less! He laughs at the rumors and turns his back on all those whom turn their noses up to him for telling tales or just going by rumors. Because there’s more to Griffin this some scapegrace rake mask he wears. Of course, he doesn’t let on this to any, more so then to Lady Hero, who happens to be getting married to his brother, and he can’t seem to get out of his head or keep his hands off either.
Lady Hero was born the daughter of a duke and now the sister of a duke. Knows her place in society and goes about with grace and dignity. Her upcoming marriage with help bond this fact home, but having her brother’s closest ally as his new brother-in-law. This of course go awry when Lady Hero meet Griffin, whom stirs up her emotions, like no other, and makes her like a woman then a perfect duke’s daughter.

Lady Hero and Griffin have condition themselves to be what they want the ton and others to see, but not whom they truly are. Hero wasn’t hard to like, just hard to understand her actions. For Hero she’s been told over and over to be the perfect daughter, to make her family proud by marriage and her actions. Drilled into her head, Hero is at a lost when she’s pushed out of her comfort zone by Griffin. This was a given to any of us that’s been forced to step out into the unknown, or place where we don’t feel safe. Sometimes the experience can be bad and we quickly go back into our safe zone, but sometimes in order to expanded our world and thoughts we have to take the first leap into the unknown. Hero has this inner struggle throughout the book, of what she felt was right, and what she learns is the right thing to do. She grows from her narrow cage and outlook to look into the bigger picture of the world. Not that she didn’t have her doubts and taking a few steps back, regarding her feelings to Griffin. Taking that first great leap into the unknown, Hero takes a chance on Griffin and love.

Between the two characters though, I was deeply dawn to Griffin. His life wasn’t some tragic soap opera. It was more of sink or swim, and Griffin chose to swim with some big sharks. He was a rake, and liked sex, but didn’t put much stock into anything more then a passing fancy. Until he met Hero, Griffin, chose to don the mask of the rake, and turn his nose up to those whom chose to look down upon him without proof of any wrongdoing. Griffin wasn’t a saint but he was far more innocent then he was painted to be. Griffin was passionate and use to working behind the scenes without anyone knowing. Though was tried of the society mask he won, tried of the life of shadows and secret he was forced to live due to his family’s lack of funds. With Hero he’s faced with what society thinks of him and what he’s done is in his face, not that it changes him, but he’s able to break free from the stigma that’s lurked around him like shadows. Like Hero he’s able to break free from the confines that society and himself have placed upon him.
Plus of course, every time Griffin is on the scene he burns up the pages with his earthly desires with Hero that have the reader reaching for something cool to drink!

The Maiden Lane series has revolved around a set of characters, with more being learned about them with each book but also more secrets being untold. We got to meet more of them like Hero’s older brother and younger sister whom I hope get their own books or at least get to know more about them. I was very excited to read the snippet for Silence’s and Mickey’s story, two characters who I can’t wait to read about.
This series is shaping up to be just another amazing series by Hoyt, and Notorious Pleasures was a true pleasure and joy to read ...more

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Nov 19, 2016 Choko rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with the incurable romantics at the MacHalos! We need more love in our lives:-)

This is the second book in the Historical Romance Series of Maiden Lane. The first introduced us to the seedy neighborhood of Saint Giles in London in the seventeen hundreds. This one picks up about 7 months later and Lady Hero, the brave and gentile sister of a Duke we got to know, who won our hearts by investing into the urchin children's home, meets a scoundrel, Griffin. At first, the sparks *** 4 ***

A buddy read with the incurable romantics at the MacHalos! We need more love in our lives:-)

This is the second book in the Historical Romance Series of Maiden Lane. The first introduced us to the seedy neighborhood of Saint Giles in London in the seventeen hundreds. This one picks up about 7 months later and Lady Hero, the brave and gentile sister of a Duke we got to know, who won our hearts by investing into the urchin children's home, meets a scoundrel, Griffin. At first, the sparks that fly are not of love, but of disapproval and the compromising position he is in, while on top of a married lady, does not do anything for Hero to develop respect for him. Thus, our Lady thanks her lucky stars that she is getting engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas, instead of the cad.

Thomas is a stick in the mud Marquis, who is a friend with Lady Hero's brother and the marriage is a contract between titled families, not a love match, but she hopes that love will come with time. Meanwhile however, she has to spend time with his family, which includes Griffin and things are very strained and stressful between them. Of course, there is the fact that Griffin is sexy, easy going, flirtatious, interesting, attentive and all those very attractive to the ladies qualities that make bad boys so very tempting!!! And she happens to be beautiful and rich, and kind, and inquisitive, and compassionate, and charitable, and all those other qualities that drive rakes to distraction, and tempt them to a point they might even consider settling down.. maybe... eventually...

So, the two of them get to spend a lot of time together, mostly attempting to keep it on the down low, because the world seems to be telling them that they should stay away from each other. But their attraction can not be denied and they keep finding ways to be together, despite having all the reasons to stay apart.

This was very well set up story, beautifully written and with some very exciting moments. The love story was very appropriate for the time period and the author dealt perfectly with the assumptions of the era while bringing a fresh, more relatable perspective to it. A perfect read for the fans of Romance!!!

I wish you all Happy Reading and may your heart overflow with love!!! ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rakes-and-lords, favorites, historical-read, book-boyfriends, best-of-2017, paperback

🌟🌟5 Incredible Stars!🌟🌟🌟

London, 1737

“You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.”

I'm convinced.

Elizabeth Hoyt writes magic. She has a magical, unicorn laptop and when she types the words just somehow magically appears and combines to make a fabulous story.

I'm convinced that only adjectives can adequately describe this book:

-Sensual
-Chivalrous
-Sexy
-Arousing ( ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 WhiskeyintheJar rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, series, 1700s

"How romantic," she drawled in a bored, social voice that set his teeth on edge, "to think that love has anything to do with marriage."

Our heroine, Hero (I'll pause to let you work that one out), is another woman of her time, thinking marriages are for enhancing your family and sex is for men and their mistresses. Our hero, Heroine, just kidding, Griffin, has somewhat erroneously bore the ne'er-do-well family title. He's the second born but manages the family finances and set them up in the "How romantic," she drawled in a bored, social voice that set his teeth on edge, "to think that love has anything to do with marriage."

Our heroine, Hero (I'll pause to let you work that one out), is another woman of her time, thinking marriages are for enhancing your family and sex is for men and their mistresses. Our hero, Heroine, just kidding, Griffin, has somewhat erroneously bore the ne'er-do-well family title. He's the second born but manages the family finances and set them up in the illegal gin business. Hero is engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas who thinks Griffin seduced his first wife, Hero's brother Wakefield is on a crusade to destroy all gin makers, Griffin is fighting off a rival gin maker, Thomas is fighting his love for his mistress, Hero's little sister Phoebe is going blind, and oh, with all that, Griffin and Hero are falling into sex, err, love, I mean love.

But he knew. Oh, yes, he knew---he was in over his head and sinking fast.

This story felt a little bit like a throwback to the old 80 and 90's, not quite full bodice ripper but there were melodramatics happening alongside numerous boot knocking scenes. I feel a little traitorous but the many sex scenes detracted from the story for me instead of making me feel the closeness of Griffin and Hero. I'm going to put some of the blame on my personal distaste for how Hero was engaged to Griffin's brother and still proclaiming to marry him until very late in the story; both Griffin and Hero's actions felt pretty icky to me. The author worked hard to make Thomas, if not villainous, pretty unlikable until the very end where she tried to redeem him through a love story, didn't work for me.

There was something else here as well. It was a terrible sorrow, a welling joy, as if all the emotion she'd ever held in check or pushed away was suddenly rising to the surface. She couldn't control her face, couldn't control her body. She was coming apart, and she'd never be able to pin herself back together again.

With the brother between them, I just had a hard time really warming up to Hero and Griffin as a couple; separately I thought they were good characters. The sex scenes became over played and I started to skim them a tiny bit, there were so many, but again my dislike could come from dang Thomas not being shoved out earlier. The gin story plot felt more like an introduction for Hero's brother Wakefield, his aggressive stance against it. The danger Griffin faced because of it (the villain wasn't given near enough pages to feel flushed out) and how it ended felt glossed over.

The surrounding world and characters felt full and real and I really liking Hoyt's London. I've already read Phoebe's story, so seeing glimpses of her here broke my heart but knowing what's in story helped to heal it. The secondary Silence story makes an appearance again and I can't wait to read about her and Charming Mickey. ...more

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Mar 07, 2017 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads, adorable-alphas, chocolate-pms-day-reads, cotton-candy, historical-happiness, sexy

What do you do when you finish the Huge Saga that is the Wheel of Time series? Well if you are me you binge read a bunch of Historical Romances and splash a little smut into the mix.

Okay so I really enjoyed the first book in this series and then I started this one thinking I’d made a horrible mistake. This starts off with two things that I really don’t care for in my books and so right off the bat it had two strikes against it.

#1 – I hated the meet cute (that the moment that the main love intere What do you do when you finish the Huge Saga that is the Wheel of Time series? Well if you are me you binge read a bunch of Historical Romances and splash a little smut into the mix.

Okay so I really enjoyed the first book in this series and then I started this one thinking I’d made a horrible mistake. This starts off with two things that I really don’t care for in my books and so right off the bat it had two strikes against it.

#1 – I hated the meet cute (that the moment that the main love interest characters are introduced). This isn’t a spoiler because it happens on page 1 of the book. Hero meets Griffin when she ducks into a room to fix a stocking and catches him balls deep in a married woman. She then thinks about how nice his ass is and how virile he appears. WTF. But she helps the couple from being caught by the woman’s husband who was just in the hall. Props for it being a bit different but it pretty much made me hate Griffin from the beginning.

#2 – The man Hero is intended to marry is Griffin’s brother. I rarely like a romance where siblings are vying for the same woman. Now granted neither Thomas nor Hero claim to be in love, in fact this is just a contractual marriage but still it isn’t my favorite trope at all.

So you’d think after those two strikes in the beginning that I’d hate the rest of the story. But it grew on me quite a bit. You have to love the idea of reforming a scandalous rake into wanting just one woman and not caring about bedding everything with two legs anymore.

“Then you’ve never been in love?”
“Never.”
She nodded. “Nor have I.”
“A pity,” he said, pursing his lips. “I wonder how it would feel? To be swept away by a grand passion? To give everything for only one person in the world?”
Her lips curved wryly. “So idealistic for a rake. Really, you do spoil my prior understanding of what the word entailed.”
“This is my social face,” he said lightly. “Don’t confuse it with the animal beneath.”

I started out hating Griffin but then he was just so damn likeable later. He really was charming and listened to Hero. You could see why she and Thomas were going to be all wrong for each other and how Griffin cared about her thoughts and feelings and really liked the individual she was.

So while this all started off pretty rough and there were/are moment in it I didn’t really care for since it is brother against brother I started to really enjoy Hero and Griffin as a couple later in the book. Griffin even gets a great speech near the end with Hero’s brother that I thought was fantastic and made him much more likable later.

Overall not my favorite of the series so far but I do like to go in order so on to Silence and the Pirate. ...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Krista (Miura Haruma-san, I will always miss you) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult, fave-rom-heroine, cfmf, own-ab, wall-banger, hero-not-just-alpha-heman, funny, historical-romance, yst, fave-romance

All right.

Characters:

Griffin.

That about sums up my reaction to him. He is offically my favorite romance hero of all time. He is funny, caring, warm, hard-working, sexy as hell, loving, and on top of that, he's described as not being handsome, which made me very happy. Yeah, that sounds weird, but it's true. His interactions with Hero were swoon-worthy. Also, he's such a sweetie to his mother, which is adorable. On top of this he works his beautiful butt off to support his family while his ass o ...more

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Dec 21, 2013 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nc-br-digital-library, audiobook, historical-romance

This second story in the series continues its edginess with two characters that test your acceptance of them and their behavior.

Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, has somewhat earned his rake reputation and the onset of the story won't endear him to you (probably). The opening scene is provocative and it took me a bit to get that out of my head. Lady Hero Batten, sister of a Duke and co-patroness of the children's home in St. Giles, has the unfortunate experience of witnessing his debauchery. Sh ...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Audrey rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical

Maybe 2-2.5. I'm stuck with a feeling of indifference and even a general distaste for the way things played out.

Lady Hero left me cold and was way too stubborn about her feelings for WAY too long. This book could have been finished in 100 fewer pages if she weren't such a coward about what she was feeling and if Elizabeth Hoyt didn't have word count requirements. For those of you who've read my review of

If He's Dangerous (Wherlocke #4) by Hannah Howell

, Lady Hero actually reminded me a bit of Sir Argus, and you know that's not a good thi Maybe 2-2.5. I'm stuck with a feeling of indifference and even a general distaste for the way things played out.

Lady Hero left me cold and was way too stubborn about her feelings for WAY too long. This book could have been finished in 100 fewer pages if she weren't such a coward about what she was feeling and if Elizabeth Hoyt didn't have word count requirements. For those of you who've read my review of

, Lady Hero actually reminded me a bit of Sir Argus, and you know that's not a good thing. She was supposed to be all prim and proper, but then she started knockin' boots with the H...while she was still engaged to the H's brother. But she refused even to consider marrying the H because they were "too different" and they "wouldn't suit," but oh...she couldn't resist his magic penis and ended up shagging him multiple times (while STILL engaged). *sigh* At least Griffin called her out on it, saying that she may not want his love, but he could at least give her something she did want: his cock. O__o (view spoiler)

Griffin was a good guy and he was working for me, but then he went a little emo when Hero refused his suit. His shift from "I'm in love" to kamikaze gin still fighter (literally - as in, he recognized the overwhelmingly unfavorable odds in his guns-and-swords fight with a rival gin distiller, and he practically welcomed death) to "Yay, you love me, too?" was a little too mercurial for my tastes. I mean, his readiness to die was sandwiched quite neatly between kissyfaced lovey-dovey hearts-and-rainbows feelings, and that just didn't work for me.

The secondary characters (and the secondary romance) were a little too conveniently evil villain types. It just seemed weird that Hero's brother, who earlier showed concern over her happiness with the match with the H's brother, would take an about face later on in the story to blackmail Hero into marrying the brother. *blink blink* I mean, really?

Not all is doom and gloom - there are some redeeming qualities here. I liked Griffin a LOT for 90% of the book - basically up until he turned emo. The sexytimes were hot and steamy. The non-romance plot points (i.e., the push to shut down gin production and the scenes set in seedy St. Giles with Silence, the gin distillery, the foundling home, etc.) were interesting.

~~More substantive review to follow. Maybe. Or not.~~ This is my more substantive review...I guess.

Elizabeth Hoyt is still one of my go-to authors, but I'm glad I got this one from the library. I look forward to the next story, but my expectations are a bit lowered. Charming Mickey's use of "me" instead of "my" in the sneak-peek sample of Scandalous Desires made me wince, and that was only within the span of 6 pages. :/

I will hold on to some faith, though, as that book was rated 4.3+ overall. *crosses fingers* Bring on Silence and Mickey! ...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, series-book, kindle-own, re-read, december-2016, historical-romance

Another awesome reread for me!!! I figured it out and it had been almost five years since I read this!! I did remember certain scenes very well, but I'm still very glad that I decided to refresh myself before starting book five!! My memory just does not seem to be that great anymore! LOL
Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my top fave authors for Historical Romances...and I totally understand why! She creates an entertaining story, and the sex is hot and steaming-even if it is "back in the old days"....LOL ...more

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Nov 30, 2015 Mo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

I enjoyed the first in the series but I really enjoyed this one. I loved both characters, Griffin and Hero.

Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .

GRIFFIN

HERO

Lord Griffin Reading is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. Ho

...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Daniella rated it liked it

Notorious Pleasures is the perfect example of a great story destroyed by annoying secondary characters. I would have given this 4 or 5 stars if only Thomas, the hero's older brother to which the heroine was engaged, did not exist.

Thomas was a lying, cheating hypocrite. He put up this air of perfection and morality, when in fact, he has less morals than a 10-year-old. He was such a bitch to Griffin, the hero. He had the gall to lecture him about being a gentleman when he was far, far from being Notorious Pleasures is the perfect example of a great story destroyed by annoying secondary characters. I would have given this 4 or 5 stars if only Thomas, the hero's older brother to which the heroine was engaged, did not exist.

Thomas was a lying, cheating hypocrite. He put up this air of perfection and morality, when in fact, he has less morals than a 10-year-old. He was such a bitch to Griffin, the hero. He had the gall to lecture him about being a gentleman when he was far, far from being one! For example, he never planned on leaving his mistress even though he was going to marry Lady Hero.

Here's what he said to his mistress:

He sneered his words, but she looked at him wonderingly. “Areyou jealous, Thomas? I can’t think why, since you’re the one who broke it off when you decided to marry Lady Hero.”
He looked away from her too-perceptive face. “I never said we had to quit, only that we wait a decent amount of time after the wedding. A year at most. I could’ve bought you a bigger house if you wanted it. A carriage and team.”
“The money never had anything to do with it.”
“Then what did?”
She sighed. “However provincial it might seem to you, I don’t wish to carry on a liaison with a married man. It’s rather sordid, don’t you think? Besides, I’ve seen your Lady Hero and she seems a nice girl. I shouldn’t like to hurt her.”
He grit his teeth, feeling the beginnings of a headache. “Are you saying you care more for my fiancée than me?”

And then he guiltripped Griffin and Lady Hero because of their budding attraction to each other. What a fucker.

This was such a waste, really. I loved Lady Hero. Others didn't like her priggish and uptight nature, but I did. I think it's because I'm really prudish and priggish in real life so I can relate to her. Griffin was delicious and amazing as well. It took me a while to get over my instant dislike of him (because of what he did in the first chapter) but he redeemed himself wonderfully in the story.

Unfortunately, my love for the leads was overshadowed by my hatred for Thomas. If there is one thing I absolutely hate in life it's cheating. So for all the Thomas characters out there:
description

...more

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May 20, 2011 Juliana Philippa rated it liked it

Shelves: romance-historical, romance-historical-georgian, 2011-reads, 2011-may-reads, series, favorite-romance-series, 0-reviewed, hr-hero-black-sheep-rebel-outcast, hr-heroine-nobility-aristocrat-lady, hr-opposites-enemies-attract

Worth a read, but my least favorite Hoyt book so far (3.5 stars)

Notorious Pleasures was not as bad as I at first thought it would, but it definitely doesn't compare to the other books I've read by this author. This is my fifth Elizabeth Hoyt book since I started reading her three weeks ago and so far, it is my least favorite. By no means bad, but it didn't have the something extra that most of her others did.

Separately, I liked her lead characters, with our hero, Griffin, easily taking the lead. ...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Mandi rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, favorite-2011

Favorite Quote: “Do you like it?” he asked grasping himself.

The first time Lady Hero Battan sets her eyes upon Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, she is utterly shocked. She doesn’t see his face, only his backside as he enjoys the offerings of the married woman underneath of him. Hero is horrified, but also knows the lady’s husband has arrived at the ball, and it would be best for Griffin to cover that backside up. After throwing her diamond earring at his rear, hence getting his attention, Griff ...more

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Aug 09, 2016 Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, least-favorites, historical-romance, romance, dnf

DNF - 60%

description

Well, I tried reading this one only to get to Scandalous Desires, as Silence's character appears in this book, too. But this is a total failure for me. As much as I liked Wicked Intentions, I dislike this one.

Hero and Griffin are a mess, Thomas is an arse, and Silence has too little book time. This is simply not worth my time. So I looked a little at the spoilery reviews, and found out that (view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 14, 2016 ♥Sharon♥ rated it it was amazing

Oh dear lord. Lord Griffin Reading you are one cocky bastard aren’t you. That and a dirty talker. His kisses, his touches and his whispers had Lady Hero’s lady parts all a flutter.

Notorious Pleasures was another fabulous story by Elizabeth Hoyt. I absolutely loved it. Just as much or if not more than Wicked Pleasures. Griffin Reading was shameless. Or so one thought. And Lady Hero appeared perfect even though her thoughts and desires were impure.

When their paths cross neither thought highly of ...more

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Apr 22, 2018 Melanie A. *mostly on hiatus* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, library

5 STARS!

"Most men at least pretend to be abashed when caught in wrongdoing, but you - you strut about like a feckless cockerel."

My historical kick continues with the fabulous Elizabeth Hoyt!

Griffin, Lord Reading works hard to keep his family's finances in the black, but he couldn't care less about what society thinks of him. Life is something to be lived and he takes his pleasure when and where it pleases him.

"For me, true love would be a complete and utter catastrophe."

...more

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Mar 07, 2015 Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, 2015

Gin, gin, gin...and more gin. A gin saturated plot about gin distillers, gin sellers, and the gin drinking masses. And politicians trying to get rid of all the gin.

Hero was a good heroine, intelligent, clever, fearless, and able to portray the role of a perfect lady. Only sour point is her preachy nature on gin, that the poor would all sober up & be wonderful if only there was no more gin. Like they wouldn't find something else to replace gin.

Griffin appears to be an utterly worthless rake, an ...more

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Oct 06, 2010 Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* rated it it was amazing

Absolutely loved this book and although it’s only the second book in the Maiden Lane series, I’m really hooked!

I adore Hero and Griffin and love the risque opening scene in which they meet for the first time, particularly as she has no idea who he is! I thought the part where Griffin jumps up and dives under the settee was hilarious. I kept picturing that in my mind.

They are so right together and, although very different in many ways, they share a great love of classical history. It’s a case of ...more

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Feb 11, 2018 Wendy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: feb-18, 5000-books, wom-2018

Another Scrumptious Read in Elizabeth Hoyt's "Maiden Lane" series!
Lord Griffen Reading (Lord Shameless) takes pleasure where it's to be found. In the first chapter we find him in a illicit "meeting" with a married woman. The man is a rake.
That is until Lady Hero Batten (Lady Perfect) brings him to his knees. She changes his ambitions and desires wanting him to be a better man and worthy of her. He desperately wants under her skin when he discovers she is newly engaged to his pompous brother, Tho ...more

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May 03, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it really liked it

Shelves: theme-bad-boy-reputation, genre-romance-historical, animal-dog-in-story, reviewed-by-me, era-georgian, authors-h, authors-e, series-m

★★★★✩ First, let me say I tried to read this book once before; the opening scene put me off. So, when it came up as a suggestion for a “buddy read” with discussion questions in one of my groups, I thought, “Why not?” Second, I really loved book #1 in the Maiden Lane series, Wicked Intentions; it has actually been one of my best reads this year. So much so that I listened to the well narrated audiobook to refresh the story right before this one. And third, I am looking forward to book #3, Scandal ...more

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Sep 19, 2010 Angelc rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, already-own-read

Wow!! This love story was intense! In a very good way. I don't think there's a person anywhere who doesn't want to be loved the way Griffin loves Hero.

As always, Hoyt's characters fly off the page. I found myself sympathizing with Griffin a bit more than Hero, just because he's so fiery and emotional. He loved her passionately, and she was still trying to sort out her feelings. Hero was much more closed off because she'd been raised to do everything a Duke's daughter must do. But still, every t ...more

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May 02, 2020 Wollstonecrafthomegirl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this back to back with Wicked Intentions and I am reviewing them together because: laziness.

Both of these were rereads because I was in a Hoyt kind of place. I wanted something well written and entertaining, yet wouldn’t expect too much from me or be too angsty. Some pure, joyful, bodice ripping escapism. For me, that is Hoyt.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: lady is dependable. I’ve enjoyed everything she’s written and I feel like she doesn’t get enough love in a romance world ...more

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Jul 11, 2019 Vintage added it · review of another edition

Shelves: bodice-ripper, cranky-pants-review, annoying-sibs, dnf, hes-too-good-for-her, bamboozled-hero, deception, angsty, apply-two-by-four-please, historical-fiction

Second DNF in two days. I'm on a Maiden Lane roll.

Despite really liking/loving this series as well as E. Hoyt's writing, this one did not do it for me.

The heroine cheats on her stupid and shallow fiancee with his younger, smarter, more handsome brother. I'd give her a pass, maybe, but, one, she still plans to marry the jerk even after falling in love with the H as well as falling in his bed, and two, I didn't like her. Her brother, another Duke, is going to make her marry him even after the fian ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 Lori Foster rated it it was amazing

Loved it - although this one caused me a lot more angst than the others. Very intense at times! Oh, and a great set up for other books. I can't wait! ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 ♥ℳelody rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-hero, annoying-heroine, frustration-alert, melody-cant-stand-you, angst-forlorn-couples, bad-boy, annoying-secondary-characters, kindle-read, arrogant-cocky-hero, love-triangle

Review up!
2.75 stars

Not what I was hoping it would be and fell short next to Book 1. This was lacking that punch and I had some problems with it overall. I knew I was in trouble from the start when I found out our heroine is engaged to the hero's older brother who everyone and their mother puts on such a high pedestal while completely disregarding the fact that ~~he's an unmitigated asshole~~ his own brother dislikes him. Red Flag #1 right there. I generally don't mind love triangles, in fact if han ...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Bronwyn rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I just finished the second installment of the 'Maiden Lane' series, and was thoroughly let down. I rate this book 2.5 stars because the gin distillery story line (didn't know what a gin still was till now!) was actually pretty interesting. I don't think I have ever read a romance that heavily highlighted the slums like this. I'm not just talking about having the 'cockney bruiser with a heart of gold' tertiary character, or Cinderella-esque slums to riches romance, but where major action and sett I just finished the second installment of the 'Maiden Lane' series, and was thoroughly let down. I rate this book 2.5 stars because the gin distillery story line (didn't know what a gin still was till now!) was actually pretty interesting. I don't think I have ever read a romance that heavily highlighted the slums like this. I'm not just talking about having the 'cockney bruiser with a heart of gold' tertiary character, or Cinderella-esque slums to riches romance, but where major action and settings are in St. Giles.

With THAT said, I was really disappointed with the overall romance story. Funny enough, I didn't really have an issue with Hero or Griffin for the first half or so of the book. I am willing suspend belief that a Duke's daughter/sister didn't have a man of business to conduct her affairs, and actually had no qualms visiting St. Giles. And I couldn't be bothered with Griffin's way of making money.

What fell apart for me, was Hero's schtick: 'Lord Shameless is so bad, but he's soooo hot! I will bed him (again and again) but not wed him! I'm sad that my future husband slapped me in anger, but I will marry him any way because it was my fault and brother dearest knows best. ' Like seriously, by the second half of the book I couldn't figure this chick out.

Now the sleeping together doesn't really bother me, as much as the fact that *when Griffin offered marraige she said no BECAUSE she thought it was insincere since he was doing it out of duty.* Huh?! You say you love him , you have sex with him while engaged to his brother, but you don't want to MARRY him because it's not the 'right thing' to do?!! But you're marrying his titled elder brother because THAT's the right thing to do?!!

Now I thought this part would have been the main conflict of the novel, but then we see that when Saint Hero comes to her senses, breaks it off with Thomas, she decides again that marrying him would be the right thing to do. WHY you say?! Because he slaps her full across the face, and her brother then decides the best course of action would be for her to marry him anyways. Because OF COURSE when someone tells you they're sorry for slapping you in anger, and they won't do it again, they're telling the truth.

Let me go off on a parallel point here, I think that Thomas' and Wakefield's characters got shafted to make the story move along. It's like Hoyt needed to find something intolerable to Thomas to do, to make the reader want Hero to get back with Griffin (I guess love wasn't enough huh Ms. Hoyt?) while simultaneously needing a reason why Hero HAD to marry him (hence the brother that at the beginning asked if she was happy with the relationship, is now steamrolling her to the altar.) I'm not even going to touch the sub story of Mrs. Tate and Thomas. When Thomas proposed marraige to Mrs. Tate , while Hero was still heroically thinking she would be marrying him, it was as if the character of the fiesty Mrs Tate was just put in and back written to give Thomas an excuse for not marrying Hero.

So that's my 2 cents on this book. Sorry I don't have a glowing 5 star review!! ...more

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Elizabeth Hoyt Fans: Notorious Pleasures (Book 2)	11	19	May 02, 2016 08:19AM
Elizabeth Hoyt Fans: Heroines engaged to men who are not the heroes -- your opinions?	1	10	Apr 14, 2016 12:34PM
Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish	1	2	Feb 22, 2015 12:53PM
♥♥ Serious About ...: Historical Series Group Read -Maiden Lane #2- Notorious Pleasures	20	18	Jan 05, 2015 07:21PM
Notorious Pleasures "Buddy Read"	5	72	Mar 11, 2013 05:59PM

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About Elizabeth Hoyt

Elizabeth Hoyt

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Elizabeth 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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“You say my name like a lover, so soft, so sweet. I want to lick the word from your lips, sip the exhaled breath from your mouth. I want to possess you utterly. Right now. Right here.” — 53 likes

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(Maiden Lane #2)

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