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Available
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Publication
Hachette Audio (2010), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, Downloadable WMA/MP3 Audiofile, 12 hrs 21 mins
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mythology. Historical Fiction. HTML: From the New York Times bestselling author who Lisa Kleypas hails as "too good to be true" comes the first book in her beloved Maiden Lane series. A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . . Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk . . . A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST . . . Caire makes a simple offer-in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control-one that may well destroy them both. A BARGAIN NEITHER COULD REFUSE.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member regencyera
Uneven.
That’s the most generous word that I can use to describe this book. Usually Elizabeth Hoyt’s books are a joy to read, but this one – not so much. It’s not a terrible book by any means, but it certainly doesn’t live up the reviews that I’ve read. Out of all of Ms. Hoyt’s books,
The premise is solid and interesting. The hero’s mistress has been murdered in a horrific and violent manner and he wants to find her murderer. He’s having difficulty because no one will talk to him since he’s an outsider & his rank, so he enlists the widow heroine’s help. Of course, this sets up my #1 question and pet peeve in this book- how come the mistress of a wealthy aristocrat is living in a horrible part of town, in a dump? I didn’t buy this at all. The author makes it clear that St. Giles is a very poor and dangerous place to live. Why would a mistress of a wealthy individual want to stay in squalor when she could live in a finer place? And he let’s her! Doesn’t make any sense. Especially since Lazarus, Lord Caire, isn’t a pushover. He may enjoy “unusual bedsport” but that doesn’t translate to “I like to conduct my affairs in awful locations.”
But off he and Temperance go looking for the murderer and I have to tell you, I don’t think Temperance was much help at all. At least while she and Lazarus were together. Towards the end, with his best friend Godric, she proved useful. Then there’s the quirky nature of Lazarus where he doesn’t like to be touched. In fact, it is painful to him if anyone touches him. Whatever… Honestly, I don’t know why this was in here. I thought it was distracting. I would buy that he preferred not to be touched by anyone. But finding it extremely painful to have someone touch him – come on. That’ s a bit dumb. I guess this dislike to touch was supposed to explain Lazarus’ need for unusual “bedsport.” I don’t know. Why couldn’t he just like to tie his partners up? Why the aversion/pain to touch? Of course, the power of love is able to cure Lazarus so he doesn’t feel pain when Temperance touches him. Again… whatever..
I can say that the character of Temperance did surprise me – especially the revelation that she was in bed with another man when her husband died in an accident. I think that was a first for me to read. I can’t remember EVER reading a romance book where the heroine cheats on her husband. I know this is terrible, but she became much more interesting after this revelation. (And no, I’m not condoning this behavior.) I was really surprised. I thought her guilt for her passionate nature was due to being told it was a “sin” or “bad”. I never expected a heroine named Temperance who works at the Home of Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children to have engaged in that behavior.
But my main problem is all the subplots: the Ghost of St. Giles; Temperance’s sister, Silence and her husband’s storyline of stolen cargo and suspected infidelity; Godric and Clara (this story was interesting); Temperance’s brother, Winter and his unusual injury – is he or is he not the Ghost? Perhaps it was the transitions between the stories, which were choppy. The only one that worked was the Godric and Clara storyline. I want to know more. But the other stories seemed tacked on and clumsy. They were jarring to read and took me away from the main storyline. Especially the Silence storyline. Again, an interesting premise but an extremely poor execution.
That’s the most generous word that I can use to describe this book. Usually Elizabeth Hoyt’s books are a joy to read, but this one – not so much. It’s not a terrible book by any means, but it certainly doesn’t live up the reviews that I’ve read. Out of all of Ms. Hoyt’s books,
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I would rank this one at the very bottom. True, she hasn’t written that many but it’s not in the same class as the others. First problem? There’s too much going on. This book is a good example of how a new series shouldn’t be launched. Too many characters and subplots to be explored in other books are introduced, and the inaugural hero/heroine’s story suffers because of it. Honestly, it was almost laughable how poorly this book was executed. Spoilers ahead so stop reading if you don’t want to know…The premise is solid and interesting. The hero’s mistress has been murdered in a horrific and violent manner and he wants to find her murderer. He’s having difficulty because no one will talk to him since he’s an outsider & his rank, so he enlists the widow heroine’s help. Of course, this sets up my #1 question and pet peeve in this book- how come the mistress of a wealthy aristocrat is living in a horrible part of town, in a dump? I didn’t buy this at all. The author makes it clear that St. Giles is a very poor and dangerous place to live. Why would a mistress of a wealthy individual want to stay in squalor when she could live in a finer place? And he let’s her! Doesn’t make any sense. Especially since Lazarus, Lord Caire, isn’t a pushover. He may enjoy “unusual bedsport” but that doesn’t translate to “I like to conduct my affairs in awful locations.”
But off he and Temperance go looking for the murderer and I have to tell you, I don’t think Temperance was much help at all. At least while she and Lazarus were together. Towards the end, with his best friend Godric, she proved useful. Then there’s the quirky nature of Lazarus where he doesn’t like to be touched. In fact, it is painful to him if anyone touches him. Whatever… Honestly, I don’t know why this was in here. I thought it was distracting. I would buy that he preferred not to be touched by anyone. But finding it extremely painful to have someone touch him – come on. That’ s a bit dumb. I guess this dislike to touch was supposed to explain Lazarus’ need for unusual “bedsport.” I don’t know. Why couldn’t he just like to tie his partners up? Why the aversion/pain to touch? Of course, the power of love is able to cure Lazarus so he doesn’t feel pain when Temperance touches him. Again… whatever..
I can say that the character of Temperance did surprise me – especially the revelation that she was in bed with another man when her husband died in an accident. I think that was a first for me to read. I can’t remember EVER reading a romance book where the heroine cheats on her husband. I know this is terrible, but she became much more interesting after this revelation. (And no, I’m not condoning this behavior.) I was really surprised. I thought her guilt for her passionate nature was due to being told it was a “sin” or “bad”. I never expected a heroine named Temperance who works at the Home of Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children to have engaged in that behavior.
But my main problem is all the subplots: the Ghost of St. Giles; Temperance’s sister, Silence and her husband’s storyline of stolen cargo and suspected infidelity; Godric and Clara (this story was interesting); Temperance’s brother, Winter and his unusual injury – is he or is he not the Ghost? Perhaps it was the transitions between the stories, which were choppy. The only one that worked was the Godric and Clara storyline. I want to know more. But the other stories seemed tacked on and clumsy. They were jarring to read and took me away from the main storyline. Especially the Silence storyline. Again, an interesting premise but an extremely poor execution.
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LibraryThing member Justjenniferreading
What a great story. There was so much going on I didn't want to put it down.
There's the story of Lord Caire and Temperance. There's the story going on with the foundling house and all the orphans. There's the story of the murder. There's the story of the ghost of St. Giles. There's the story
I really liked Temperance. She was willing to do what it took to keep the foundling house and her brother, from falling into ruins. Which is where Lore Caire comes into the story. Both Temperance and Lord Caire have so much "baggage" that their relationship seems is destined to never happen. Temperance's secret has haunted her for the last 9 years, and watching her unwrap that past, through Lord Caire's urging and help, was so engrossing.
This was beautifully written. Like I said there is so much going on. It would seem that with all the different stories going on within the main story that it would get confusing, but it was all weaved together so well that I didn't really notice it. The story is also fast-paced, there were very few lulls in the story. So not only didn't I want to put it down, but it moves so fast that I didn't really get a chance to put it down. I was able to finish the entire book in only three sittings.
There were a few things that weren't fully "tied up" in the end, but given that this is the first in the Maiden Lane Series I'm sure that was done on purpose. The loose ends really built up so much anticipation that I can't wait to get the next in the series.
There's the story of Lord Caire and Temperance. There's the story going on with the foundling house and all the orphans. There's the story of the murder. There's the story of the ghost of St. Giles. There's the story
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behind Temperance's family. So much going on, and yet it all flowed together so seamlessly that I didn't really realize how much was going on until I finished the book. I really liked Temperance. She was willing to do what it took to keep the foundling house and her brother, from falling into ruins. Which is where Lore Caire comes into the story. Both Temperance and Lord Caire have so much "baggage" that their relationship seems is destined to never happen. Temperance's secret has haunted her for the last 9 years, and watching her unwrap that past, through Lord Caire's urging and help, was so engrossing.
This was beautifully written. Like I said there is so much going on. It would seem that with all the different stories going on within the main story that it would get confusing, but it was all weaved together so well that I didn't really notice it. The story is also fast-paced, there were very few lulls in the story. So not only didn't I want to put it down, but it moves so fast that I didn't really get a chance to put it down. I was able to finish the entire book in only three sittings.
There were a few things that weren't fully "tied up" in the end, but given that this is the first in the Maiden Lane Series I'm sure that was done on purpose. The loose ends really built up so much anticipation that I can't wait to get the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member C.Ibarra
Temperance Dews is a widow who runs the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in the seedy area of St. Giles. One evening while retrieving an orphaned baby from her dead mother’s arms, Temperance and her maidservant, Nell, come upon the scandalous Lord Caire. Lord Caire’s
Later the same evening, Temperance finds Lord Caire waiting for her in her sitting room. He is searching for someone in St. Giles, and requests her assistance because of her knowledge of the area. She agrees in order to helps save the foundling home. He’ll help her find a patron for the foundling home, but she must act as his guide in St. Giles. The chemistry between the unlikely team escalates almost as quickly as the dangers surrounding them, as they get deeper into the unsavory depths of the St. Giles criminal world.
Wicked Intention is the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane Series. I was thoroughly riveted by this book, and couldn’t put it down once I started reading. It is the ideal combination of both mystery and romance. Temperance and Lord Caire have underlying issues that make it difficult for them to have healthy relationships. Together they find something neither thought possible. The author created damaged, but redeemable character perfection. When Lord Caire and Temperance were together the chemistry was so hot I was waiting for the pages to catch fire. I loved watching both characters grow as the plot progressed. We also catch glimpses into the lives of other London residents who I hope to see more of in future books.
This one is definitely on my list of favorites for 2010. If you are searching for a steamy historical to get lost in look no further. I am eagerly anticipating the next addition in this new series.
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reputation proceeds him, and Nell quickly warns Temperance of his evil ways. Temperance is left with a growing curiosity about the silver haired Lord Caire. Later the same evening, Temperance finds Lord Caire waiting for her in her sitting room. He is searching for someone in St. Giles, and requests her assistance because of her knowledge of the area. She agrees in order to helps save the foundling home. He’ll help her find a patron for the foundling home, but she must act as his guide in St. Giles. The chemistry between the unlikely team escalates almost as quickly as the dangers surrounding them, as they get deeper into the unsavory depths of the St. Giles criminal world.
Wicked Intention is the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane Series. I was thoroughly riveted by this book, and couldn’t put it down once I started reading. It is the ideal combination of both mystery and romance. Temperance and Lord Caire have underlying issues that make it difficult for them to have healthy relationships. Together they find something neither thought possible. The author created damaged, but redeemable character perfection. When Lord Caire and Temperance were together the chemistry was so hot I was waiting for the pages to catch fire. I loved watching both characters grow as the plot progressed. We also catch glimpses into the lives of other London residents who I hope to see more of in future books.
This one is definitely on my list of favorites for 2010. If you are searching for a steamy historical to get lost in look no further. I am eagerly anticipating the next addition in this new series.
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LibraryThing member Wombat
Lady Wombat says:
Not nearly as compelling as Hoyt's previous books. The period seemed almost incidental, the suspense plot only used to get the hero and heroine (improbably) to spend time with each other.
Not nearly as compelling as Hoyt's previous books. The period seemed almost incidental, the suspense plot only used to get the hero and heroine (improbably) to spend time with each other.
LibraryThing member sweans
I wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounded like it might be the book that got me interested in the romantic genre. Unfortunately, it didn't. It didn't seem unique to me. However, lovers of the romantic genre will surely like this book. I still bought a copy for my library!
LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
This book isn't just spicy hot, it's also on the naughty side! What surprised me was the thought process around the less conventional sexuality in the book.Temperance is a highly respectable widow, devoting her life to helping young orphans and foundlings.Lord Caire is highly disreputable, and for
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good reason. He has no interest in looking for a wife, but spends considerable time with mistresses and prostitutes that will allow him to indulge in his preferred activities.Unsurprisingly, Lord Caire needs to learn to love, and Temperance proves the teacher that he needs.Temperance's journey took a different path than I expected in the beginning, however. She needed to understand her past behavior and forgive herself. Discovering the power of her sexuality helped with this. Experimentation with Lord Caire brought new understanding to herself and to him as well.As is often the case for me with romance novels, I found the heroine interesting and compelling. I didn't see the appeal of the hero anywhere near as much, but I could tell that she did, and that was enough.There were a number of loose threads left hanging with other characters in the book. I'm attributing these to the "Book One in the Maiden Lane Series" designation. Show Less
LibraryThing member MickyFine
Temperance Dews is a widow who runs a home for foundling children in one London's most vicious slums with her brother. Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire has a reputation for his more scandalous preferences when it comes to bedsport and has begun to search for the identity of a savage killer stalking
Hoyt creates yet another fascinating historical romance. While Temperance is not one of her stronger female characters, she lives an intriguing life and the mystery of her past was one that surprised me when it was revealed. Caire is a fascinating man and one whom I enjoyed learning more about, trying to unravel why he is such a harsh human being. The relationship between is steamy as is standard for Hoyt's novels. The mystery was also very well done, with a minor plot left open ended to continue in the other books of the series, I assume. All of the supporting characters in this novel were well-drawn and none of them felt like caricatures, although some of them I would have loved to seen developed more. And of course, the fairy tale that Hoyt creates as a frame is another beautiful tale crafted to mirror the relationship of her characters. My only quibble is that Temperance and her siblings all have rather unique names (her brothers are named Concord, Asa, and Winter, her sisters are Verity and Silence) but at no point is it explained why. I don't mind unusual names, but a reasoning for it would have been nice. An enjoyable read.
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through the St. Giles slums. When Caire makes a deal with Temperance promising to help her find a patron for her struggling charity in exchange for her aid navigating through St. Giles, neither of them is prepared for the relationship that will develop between them or the profound changes it will bring.Hoyt creates yet another fascinating historical romance. While Temperance is not one of her stronger female characters, she lives an intriguing life and the mystery of her past was one that surprised me when it was revealed. Caire is a fascinating man and one whom I enjoyed learning more about, trying to unravel why he is such a harsh human being. The relationship between is steamy as is standard for Hoyt's novels. The mystery was also very well done, with a minor plot left open ended to continue in the other books of the series, I assume. All of the supporting characters in this novel were well-drawn and none of them felt like caricatures, although some of them I would have loved to seen developed more. And of course, the fairy tale that Hoyt creates as a frame is another beautiful tale crafted to mirror the relationship of her characters. My only quibble is that Temperance and her siblings all have rather unique names (her brothers are named Concord, Asa, and Winter, her sisters are Verity and Silence) but at no point is it explained why. I don't mind unusual names, but a reasoning for it would have been nice. An enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member mom2lnb
Although I didn't like it quite as well as Elizabeth Hoyt's incomparable Princes Trilogy, Wicked Intentions was a good start to her latest series, Maiden Lane. With all the action and mysteries (the serial murders, the stolen cargo and the ghost of St. Giles), and a large part of the focus being on
In addition to the suspense angle, Wicked Intentions also has some other elements that make it quite unique to the historical romance genre. Other than the hero and heroine's attendance at a couple of society parties in search of a new patron for the foundling home, the narrative is completely set in the London slums, far away from all the glitz and glitter of the ton. Maybe it was the setting being so different or perhaps the author didn't quite describe it thoroughly enough, but I did have a hard time picturing it at first. The heroine herself is a poor commoner who spends her days caring for a large group of orphans, while the hero is a wealthy nobleman, making this something of a Cinderella story. I did like the orphanage and all the children even though they didn't play a huge role. Everything just came together to give the book a very distinctive feel unlike any other historical romance I've read.
Lazarus was an intriguing hero. He has earned a scandalous reputation for his “unnatural” sexual proclivities. Although the reader is teased with exactly what it is he prefers in the bedroom, I had my suspicions early on and ended up being correct. Lazarus is also very unusual in that he seems to have an inability to feel emotions, and he is repulsed and feels pain when touched. I could tell that there were things in his past that had likely contributed to his condition, and as some of those things were revealed, I sympathized with him. However, there were a couple of times when I wanted to smack him for being a bit of a jerk. Not only was he overtly sexual with Temperance right from the start which wasn't entirely my cup of tea, he also said some things to her that seemed to be deliberately calculated to cause her emotional pain, and I never quite figured out why he did that. I'll allow that perhaps I misunderstood or misinterpreted his words and intentions, because otherwise, he was rather charming in a dark, sensual sort of way. The other thing I couldn't quite get a handle on was why Lazarus chose Temperance as his guide in the first place. It just seemed a little odd to me that a “gentleman” would pull a respectable lady into what he must have known could be a potentially dangerous, and at the very least, sordid, investigation.
After being widowed nine years earlier, Temperance has devoted her life to serving the orphans alongside her brother at the foundling home started by their father. She struggles constantly against her passionate nature, feeling that there is something wrong with her for having such strong desires. At first, she is almost as emotionally closed-off as Lazarus, but with him, she finally finds the freedom to be the person she truly is inside. Temperance harbors a dark secret that has controlled her actions since her husband's death, and while I don't feel that she should have punished herself indefinitely, I did have mixed feelings about what she had done when it was finally revealed. In some ways it made me loose a little respect for her, not only because of the nature of the secret, but also because it made her seem less charitable to me, like she didn't truly enjoy working with the children and only did it because she felt she had to. However, the risks she took to protect a couple of the children I think proved that she did have a good heart and cared for them very much. I also like that she was able to intuitively sense Lazarus' inner pain the first time she touched him, even though he put on a brave face, and that she was completely accepting and even understanding of his “kinks” and why he needed those things.
As a couple, Lazarus and Temperance were good for each other, but they didn't quite spark off the pages for me like Elizabeth Hoyt's other heroes and heroines I've read to date. I think part of the reason for this lay in them both being so emotionally aloof for a large part of the story. I know that Lazarus couldn't exactly help being the way he was, and Temperance had her own demons to battle, but it often seemed like they were two separate entities rather than a couple in the making. I initially had a hard time making a connection with either one of them, but it did get better as the story progressed. My favorite parts were when Temperance was caring for Lazarus after he'd been wounded, and then toward the end when they both, in turn, gently pushed each other to face their pasts. As always, Elizabeth Hoyt knows how to write some incredibly steamy love scenes, and I will forewarn sensitive readers that the ones in this book are barely this side of erotic. I certainly didn't mind though, as I happen to think that Ms. Hoyt writes some of the best sex in romance today.;-)
In Wicked Intentions, Elizabeth Hoyt has also created a wonderful palette of supporting players, giving herself an enticing array of characters to work with as potential heroes and heroines of future books. Lady Hero Batten is a very nice young woman who treats Temperance with kindness and respect. I found it interesting that she's the sister of a duke, but seems to long for a more “normal” life, and I'm excited to see she is the heroine of book #2, Notorious Pleasures. Temperance's sister, Silence, is sweet and lovable with her ineptness with household tasks. What she lacks in basic skills, she more than makes up for in love and loyalty for her husband. What she does for him in going to the notorious pirate, Charming Mickey, was very brave, but no one believes the bargain she struck with him. Charming Mickey is well...charming, in a devilish sort of way. I wasn't too certain about him initially, but was left wondering if he wasn't quite the villain he seemed. I must admit I'm incredibly curious about exactly what transpired between these too, but alas it is one of those things that Ms. Hoyt left to the imagination but will hopefully be revealed in their book, Scandalous Desires, due to hit bookshelves in November (2011). I was very intrigued by Lazarus's one and only friend, Godric St. John. He seems to be a very kind, intellectual man who loves his wife dearly, but she appears to be not long for this world, which could free him in the future to be a great hero. Temperance's brother, Winter, is such a good man. He is completely committed to the foundling home, working himself almost to exhaustion, and is always gentle and caring with all the children. He's protective of Temperance, but never unreasonable with her like their other brothers can be. I just read breaking news on Ms. Hoyt's website indicating that he will become the hero of Book #4, tentatively titled, Thief of Shadows due for release in the summer of 2012. (Hooray!:-)) Last but not least is another of Temperance's brothers, Asa, who is quite mysterious. We see very little of him in this book, but there is just enough to make me think he might have a fascinating story to tell.
Other than the few small issues I've already outlined and the author's overuse of the question, “What?” which seemed both repetitive and anachronistic, I thought Wicked Intentions was very well-written overall. I enjoyed following along as Lazarus and Temperance solved the murder mystery, and I'm still eagerly anticipating finding out more about the questions that were left unanswered. Perhaps I didn't always relate to the hero and heroine as well as I would have liked, but they were still good characters, and if my speculation is correct, the supporting cast has left me with a tantalizing taste of what's in store for the rest of the Maiden Lane series. I'm really looking forward to the release of book three. In the meantime, I still have one more volume to keep me busy, and I can't wait to find out if Hero makes as great a heroine as I think she will.
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Lazarus and Temperance's investigation of gory Jack the Ripper style murders, this book was actually a historical romantic suspense. Even though I thought the romance and suspense were fairly well balanced, I can see where there might have been more opportunities for relationship building without all the investigating, which could explain why some readers seemed to be less than enamored with the story. Ms. Hoyt also chose to leave readers in the dark about a couple of things, most likely intending to resolve those mysteries later in the series, and I'll certainly be waiting anxiously to find out the answers. In addition to the suspense angle, Wicked Intentions also has some other elements that make it quite unique to the historical romance genre. Other than the hero and heroine's attendance at a couple of society parties in search of a new patron for the foundling home, the narrative is completely set in the London slums, far away from all the glitz and glitter of the ton. Maybe it was the setting being so different or perhaps the author didn't quite describe it thoroughly enough, but I did have a hard time picturing it at first. The heroine herself is a poor commoner who spends her days caring for a large group of orphans, while the hero is a wealthy nobleman, making this something of a Cinderella story. I did like the orphanage and all the children even though they didn't play a huge role. Everything just came together to give the book a very distinctive feel unlike any other historical romance I've read.
Lazarus was an intriguing hero. He has earned a scandalous reputation for his “unnatural” sexual proclivities. Although the reader is teased with exactly what it is he prefers in the bedroom, I had my suspicions early on and ended up being correct. Lazarus is also very unusual in that he seems to have an inability to feel emotions, and he is repulsed and feels pain when touched. I could tell that there were things in his past that had likely contributed to his condition, and as some of those things were revealed, I sympathized with him. However, there were a couple of times when I wanted to smack him for being a bit of a jerk. Not only was he overtly sexual with Temperance right from the start which wasn't entirely my cup of tea, he also said some things to her that seemed to be deliberately calculated to cause her emotional pain, and I never quite figured out why he did that. I'll allow that perhaps I misunderstood or misinterpreted his words and intentions, because otherwise, he was rather charming in a dark, sensual sort of way. The other thing I couldn't quite get a handle on was why Lazarus chose Temperance as his guide in the first place. It just seemed a little odd to me that a “gentleman” would pull a respectable lady into what he must have known could be a potentially dangerous, and at the very least, sordid, investigation.
After being widowed nine years earlier, Temperance has devoted her life to serving the orphans alongside her brother at the foundling home started by their father. She struggles constantly against her passionate nature, feeling that there is something wrong with her for having such strong desires. At first, she is almost as emotionally closed-off as Lazarus, but with him, she finally finds the freedom to be the person she truly is inside. Temperance harbors a dark secret that has controlled her actions since her husband's death, and while I don't feel that she should have punished herself indefinitely, I did have mixed feelings about what she had done when it was finally revealed. In some ways it made me loose a little respect for her, not only because of the nature of the secret, but also because it made her seem less charitable to me, like she didn't truly enjoy working with the children and only did it because she felt she had to. However, the risks she took to protect a couple of the children I think proved that she did have a good heart and cared for them very much. I also like that she was able to intuitively sense Lazarus' inner pain the first time she touched him, even though he put on a brave face, and that she was completely accepting and even understanding of his “kinks” and why he needed those things.
As a couple, Lazarus and Temperance were good for each other, but they didn't quite spark off the pages for me like Elizabeth Hoyt's other heroes and heroines I've read to date. I think part of the reason for this lay in them both being so emotionally aloof for a large part of the story. I know that Lazarus couldn't exactly help being the way he was, and Temperance had her own demons to battle, but it often seemed like they were two separate entities rather than a couple in the making. I initially had a hard time making a connection with either one of them, but it did get better as the story progressed. My favorite parts were when Temperance was caring for Lazarus after he'd been wounded, and then toward the end when they both, in turn, gently pushed each other to face their pasts. As always, Elizabeth Hoyt knows how to write some incredibly steamy love scenes, and I will forewarn sensitive readers that the ones in this book are barely this side of erotic. I certainly didn't mind though, as I happen to think that Ms. Hoyt writes some of the best sex in romance today.;-)
In Wicked Intentions, Elizabeth Hoyt has also created a wonderful palette of supporting players, giving herself an enticing array of characters to work with as potential heroes and heroines of future books. Lady Hero Batten is a very nice young woman who treats Temperance with kindness and respect. I found it interesting that she's the sister of a duke, but seems to long for a more “normal” life, and I'm excited to see she is the heroine of book #2, Notorious Pleasures. Temperance's sister, Silence, is sweet and lovable with her ineptness with household tasks. What she lacks in basic skills, she more than makes up for in love and loyalty for her husband. What she does for him in going to the notorious pirate, Charming Mickey, was very brave, but no one believes the bargain she struck with him. Charming Mickey is well...charming, in a devilish sort of way. I wasn't too certain about him initially, but was left wondering if he wasn't quite the villain he seemed. I must admit I'm incredibly curious about exactly what transpired between these too, but alas it is one of those things that Ms. Hoyt left to the imagination but will hopefully be revealed in their book, Scandalous Desires, due to hit bookshelves in November (2011). I was very intrigued by Lazarus's one and only friend, Godric St. John. He seems to be a very kind, intellectual man who loves his wife dearly, but she appears to be not long for this world, which could free him in the future to be a great hero. Temperance's brother, Winter, is such a good man. He is completely committed to the foundling home, working himself almost to exhaustion, and is always gentle and caring with all the children. He's protective of Temperance, but never unreasonable with her like their other brothers can be. I just read breaking news on Ms. Hoyt's website indicating that he will become the hero of Book #4, tentatively titled, Thief of Shadows due for release in the summer of 2012. (Hooray!:-)) Last but not least is another of Temperance's brothers, Asa, who is quite mysterious. We see very little of him in this book, but there is just enough to make me think he might have a fascinating story to tell.
Other than the few small issues I've already outlined and the author's overuse of the question, “What?” which seemed both repetitive and anachronistic, I thought Wicked Intentions was very well-written overall. I enjoyed following along as Lazarus and Temperance solved the murder mystery, and I'm still eagerly anticipating finding out more about the questions that were left unanswered. Perhaps I didn't always relate to the hero and heroine as well as I would have liked, but they were still good characters, and if my speculation is correct, the supporting cast has left me with a tantalizing taste of what's in store for the rest of the Maiden Lane series. I'm really looking forward to the release of book three. In the meantime, I still have one more volume to keep me busy, and I can't wait to find out if Hero makes as great a heroine as I think she will.
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Read for Fun/Friend Recommended it to Me
Challenges: Read for Fun
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.50
Story Rating 4.00
First Thought when Finished: I don't think I read enough Historical Romance---Elizabeth Hoyt has a new fan girl!
Quick Review: This was just a FANTASTIC first in series book!
Final Thought: I highly recommend this to historical romance readers and want to thank Jenny for turning me on to the series!
Challenges: Read for Fun
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.50
Story Rating 4.00
First Thought when Finished: I don't think I read enough Historical Romance---Elizabeth Hoyt has a new fan girl!
Quick Review: This was just a FANTASTIC first in series book!
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Elizabeth Hoyt sets up a series that is sure to suck you in and make you want to read more. A damaged hero who has no emotions meets a headstrong, independent Widow who feels to much. Add that to the fact that she rescues children, will do almost anything to save their father's legacy, and has a quick tongue and you guessed it: the book was good from the beginning and never let you down!Final Thought: I highly recommend this to historical romance readers and want to thank Jenny for turning me on to the series!
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LibraryThing member Ridley_
I'll probably never win another book through Goodreads' First Reads again with this review. What an anachronistic, ungrammatical, unfinished book that was.
The book opens with the widow Temperance Dews wending her way through the dank and dangerous streets of St. Giles, clutching a loaded pistol.
Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching St. Giles for a brutal murderer and he needs help navigating the streets and the people of the dangerous slum. Seeing how easily Temperance moves around the area, and knowing that the home is in dire financial straits, he offers her money in exchange for her guidance around the slum. She accepts, but with the caveat that he also introduce her to polite society so she may find a new patron for the home.
When a book begins with a contrivance, it’s a bad sign. Why, oh why, would a scandalous peer of the realm contract the services of a respectable woman as a guide to a slum in 1737? A woman? 60 years before Mary Wollstonecraft and her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, I’m to believe a powerful man sees a lower-class woman as some sort of valuable helper?
Ok, but this is Romancelandia, you say, suspend your disbelief, you crone. Fine, I’ll ignore that absurdity. But must I also ignore the piano at the musicale many years before composers wrote for the pianoforte, much less the piano? Or how we never find out exactly what Caire’s title is? And all the anachronistic language? Why bother writing in a unique time period - the early Georgian era - if you’re going to go all wallpaper on me? Wouldn’t it be easier to just go with the familiar Regency period if you don’t want to set a scene? Constantly substituting “of the clock” for “o’clock” does not compensate for the modern tone. Quite the opposite, it grated on me. Set against a voice that could as easily have been telling a contemporary tale, it just glared at me, like a LARPer at the mall.
So, with the time period a silly theatrical setting, I would hope there’s a strong plot to make it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, I found the book alternately boring, absurd, untidy and confusing. Really, if I hadn’t won a copy and felt duty bound to finish and review it, I’d have quit the book at page 100. The suspense plot is poorly done with no clues or red herrings for the reader to use to play along, giving its resolution a shoulder-shrugging “Oh, that person” emotional impact. The hero’s motivation for undertaking the sleuthing is never resolved, just hinted at enough to raise unanswered questions. The side plot involving Temperance’s sister Silence adds nothing to this story but sequel bait. I don’t read romance to read about unresolved marital strife. The Ghost of St. Giles bit was freaking ridiculous. When Caire was ever fighting off hooligans back to back with a caped man in a harlequin mask with a long sword in one hand and a short sword in the other, I started to wonder if Hoyt had switched publishers and was now with Marvel Comics. There was so much going on that I never found myself invested in any of it.
I didn’t find much to like about the romance either. To begin with, I didn’t like either of the characters. Caire says terrible, insulting things to Temperance, mocking her and her dead husband because it amuses him to hurt her. He never makes amends, apologizes or grovels for it either. In fact, it’s Temperance who has to beg him to forgive her at the end. Not that she was much more likeable herself, being at times sanctimonious and others mindblowingly selfish. A breaking point came for me when her brother was sick, she just found out the home was again out of money and a baby was dying and she leaves the home unsupervised as she heads to Caire’s for some punishing rough sex. How could I respect someone so selfish?
***Slight Spoiler***
The bulk of their attraction was lust, rather than any sort of nuanced emotional connection. Throughout the first third of the book, a big to-do is made of Caire’s “unnatural desires,” all the secondary characters obliquely referring to them but not offering any details. As it turns out, Caire, who finds other people touching him to be mentally and physically painful (and bonus points for having the characters discuss mental pain 150 years before the birth of psychology), likes to tie women up during sex. Temperance, apparently, likes to be tied up and manhandled. Match made in heaven...except, Hoyt couldn’t commit to it. She tones down the bondage, having them grow out of it as a result of Twue Love, and ascribes its appeal to all sorts of psychological shortcomings. Now she decides to adhere to outdated medical info, nice. She has the characters freak out about bloodletting, which was definitely SOP then, but embrace the well-debunked idea that bondage is an unhealthy behavior one grows out of. FFS, girl, can we get some consistency please?
***And moving on...***
Added to the scatterbrained plot, unlikeable characters and unbelievable romance is some rather distracting writing. I admit to being a bit of a grammar pedant, but misusing reflexive pronouns in a published novel is just sloppy. Myself, herself and yourself are not fancier ways of saying “me,” “her” or “you.” It’s not okay when work email says “Please send all further inquiries to either Bill or myself” so it’s definitely not okay in something I pay for. See previous comment on “of the clock” for not making the voice sound like authentic 18th century.
I didn’t like the book, but I didn’t hate it either, so I give it two stars. Shamelessly setting sequel bait, more anachronism than a SCA event and a limp story just left me unsatisfied. After having enjoyed so many of her previous books I’m left to conclude that either she’s changed or I have. In any case, I’m reluctant to continue the series. Disappointing.
Also, the hero had long white hair. Long white hair = Sephiroth. Too weird.
The book opens with the widow Temperance Dews wending her way through the dank and dangerous streets of St. Giles, clutching a loaded pistol.
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She’s on her way back to the foundling home she runs with her younger brother, returning with her maidservant and an infant they pried from the arms of a dead young mother. Along the way, she overhears a scuffle in an alley and ends up fleeing from a frightening man with long white hair and a voluminous black cloak who she saw standing over an inert bleeding man. Not long after returning home, however, she discovers that the frightening man has let himself into her sitting room and has a proposition for her that she can’t turn down.Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching St. Giles for a brutal murderer and he needs help navigating the streets and the people of the dangerous slum. Seeing how easily Temperance moves around the area, and knowing that the home is in dire financial straits, he offers her money in exchange for her guidance around the slum. She accepts, but with the caveat that he also introduce her to polite society so she may find a new patron for the home.
When a book begins with a contrivance, it’s a bad sign. Why, oh why, would a scandalous peer of the realm contract the services of a respectable woman as a guide to a slum in 1737? A woman? 60 years before Mary Wollstonecraft and her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, I’m to believe a powerful man sees a lower-class woman as some sort of valuable helper?
Ok, but this is Romancelandia, you say, suspend your disbelief, you crone. Fine, I’ll ignore that absurdity. But must I also ignore the piano at the musicale many years before composers wrote for the pianoforte, much less the piano? Or how we never find out exactly what Caire’s title is? And all the anachronistic language? Why bother writing in a unique time period - the early Georgian era - if you’re going to go all wallpaper on me? Wouldn’t it be easier to just go with the familiar Regency period if you don’t want to set a scene? Constantly substituting “of the clock” for “o’clock” does not compensate for the modern tone. Quite the opposite, it grated on me. Set against a voice that could as easily have been telling a contemporary tale, it just glared at me, like a LARPer at the mall.
So, with the time period a silly theatrical setting, I would hope there’s a strong plot to make it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, I found the book alternately boring, absurd, untidy and confusing. Really, if I hadn’t won a copy and felt duty bound to finish and review it, I’d have quit the book at page 100. The suspense plot is poorly done with no clues or red herrings for the reader to use to play along, giving its resolution a shoulder-shrugging “Oh, that person” emotional impact. The hero’s motivation for undertaking the sleuthing is never resolved, just hinted at enough to raise unanswered questions. The side plot involving Temperance’s sister Silence adds nothing to this story but sequel bait. I don’t read romance to read about unresolved marital strife. The Ghost of St. Giles bit was freaking ridiculous. When Caire was ever fighting off hooligans back to back with a caped man in a harlequin mask with a long sword in one hand and a short sword in the other, I started to wonder if Hoyt had switched publishers and was now with Marvel Comics. There was so much going on that I never found myself invested in any of it.
I didn’t find much to like about the romance either. To begin with, I didn’t like either of the characters. Caire says terrible, insulting things to Temperance, mocking her and her dead husband because it amuses him to hurt her. He never makes amends, apologizes or grovels for it either. In fact, it’s Temperance who has to beg him to forgive her at the end. Not that she was much more likeable herself, being at times sanctimonious and others mindblowingly selfish. A breaking point came for me when her brother was sick, she just found out the home was again out of money and a baby was dying and she leaves the home unsupervised as she heads to Caire’s for some punishing rough sex. How could I respect someone so selfish?
***Slight Spoiler***
The bulk of their attraction was lust, rather than any sort of nuanced emotional connection. Throughout the first third of the book, a big to-do is made of Caire’s “unnatural desires,” all the secondary characters obliquely referring to them but not offering any details. As it turns out, Caire, who finds other people touching him to be mentally and physically painful (and bonus points for having the characters discuss mental pain 150 years before the birth of psychology), likes to tie women up during sex. Temperance, apparently, likes to be tied up and manhandled. Match made in heaven...except, Hoyt couldn’t commit to it. She tones down the bondage, having them grow out of it as a result of Twue Love, and ascribes its appeal to all sorts of psychological shortcomings. Now she decides to adhere to outdated medical info, nice. She has the characters freak out about bloodletting, which was definitely SOP then, but embrace the well-debunked idea that bondage is an unhealthy behavior one grows out of. FFS, girl, can we get some consistency please?
***And moving on...***
Added to the scatterbrained plot, unlikeable characters and unbelievable romance is some rather distracting writing. I admit to being a bit of a grammar pedant, but misusing reflexive pronouns in a published novel is just sloppy. Myself, herself and yourself are not fancier ways of saying “me,” “her” or “you.” It’s not okay when work email says “Please send all further inquiries to either Bill or myself” so it’s definitely not okay in something I pay for. See previous comment on “of the clock” for not making the voice sound like authentic 18th century.
I didn’t like the book, but I didn’t hate it either, so I give it two stars. Shamelessly setting sequel bait, more anachronism than a SCA event and a limp story just left me unsatisfied. After having enjoyed so many of her previous books I’m left to conclude that either she’s changed or I have. In any case, I’m reluctant to continue the series. Disappointing.
Also, the hero had long white hair. Long white hair = Sephiroth. Too weird.
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LibraryThing member Samchan
Wicked Intentions was an excellent start to my “Elizabeth Hoyt experience,” reassuring me that I’ll always be in good hands with Hoyt as far as plotting and characterization are concerned. I think this book is also my first foray into the Georgian period, leaving behind the reliable Regency
The set up that throws our couple together is Caire’s need for Temperance’s knowledge of St. Giles, which will help him navigate through this dangerous area as he conducts an investigation into the murder of his mistress. In exchange for being his guide, Temperance gets Caire’s help in introducing her to high society to nab a new rich patron for the financially-struggling orphanage that she and her brother, Winter, manage. Into this pretty simple set up though, we get a murder mystery that puts our couple in peril, an interesting look into the poverty and hardships faced in this forgotten corner of London, the drama of trying to keep afloat an orphanage, and our introduction to the notorious Ghost of St. Giles.
The strength of Wicked Intentions lies in the opposites-attract chemistry between the rakish, debauched Lord Caire and the uptight, seemingly saint-like Temperance Dews. The story had a slow start, but the flirtatious interactions and banter between the two quickly made the story interesting. As the two meet up to trawl through St. Giles or mingle with the aristocrats, their connection slowly develops from light and flirty to a deeper understanding of each other’s character and lives. Caire is intrigued by this woman who seems to care about everyone but who doesn’t seem to have anyone to care for her. She’s someone who feels so much, intriguing someone like himself who can’t feel anything. So of course, he tries to push her buttons. Meanwhile, Temperance sees through the rakishness and the smart-alecky remarks to the loneliness of the angsty hero. Sweet. And of course, it doesn’t hurt the entertainment level that there are lots of good love scenes. Four stars based on this chemistry of the hero and heroine alone.
But I have to knock off the fifth star because towards the end of the book, when Caire and Temperance have a major confrontation, the story’s a bit ruined by the introduction of some pretty tortured logic, which requires us to contort our brain so much just to kind of understand what the hell the two are thinking. I’m speaking specifically of when Caire accuses Temperance of using sex with him as a way to punish herself because she views it as a demeaning act. While he’s apparently off the mark on that conclusion, Temperance soon admits to herself that she had been using Caire for sex. What? This seemed totally out of left field and was not really hinted at in the previous sections. After the beautiful way that Hoyt developed their blossoming relationship—each recognizing the sense of loneliness in the other—this sudden realization kind of threatens to diminish all of that other sweetness in my view at least. It doesn’t make sense, and those hints about Temperance carrying around that secret affair and her guilt about it is neither here nor there. It doesn’t seem to jibe with the rest of the book.
I have to gush about one subplot that runs through the story, focusing on Temperance’s sister, Silence Hollingbrook. Even though I know that it’s setting up for a future book, I didn’t find the addition of her story to be a distraction at all. It’s too delicious. Here’s a woman who seems to love her ship captain husband more than he loves her. We see what happens when their marriage hits a dramatic bump in the form of one horrible, yet intriguing pirate, Charming Mickey. I loved when it’s revealed that Mickey didn’t do anything to Silence and that in a way, what he made her do was a test of her husband’s love--if her husband really loved her, he would’ve believed her when she insisted that she wasn’t compromised, despite looking as if she’s been ravished. After finishing this book, I couldn’t wait to get to Silence’s story!
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era of most of my romances. So far, so good, although I don’t like picturing all of these dashing heroes in wigs, so I’m going to ignore all references to the wigs, just like all of the book covers do. Ha! The set up that throws our couple together is Caire’s need for Temperance’s knowledge of St. Giles, which will help him navigate through this dangerous area as he conducts an investigation into the murder of his mistress. In exchange for being his guide, Temperance gets Caire’s help in introducing her to high society to nab a new rich patron for the financially-struggling orphanage that she and her brother, Winter, manage. Into this pretty simple set up though, we get a murder mystery that puts our couple in peril, an interesting look into the poverty and hardships faced in this forgotten corner of London, the drama of trying to keep afloat an orphanage, and our introduction to the notorious Ghost of St. Giles.
The strength of Wicked Intentions lies in the opposites-attract chemistry between the rakish, debauched Lord Caire and the uptight, seemingly saint-like Temperance Dews. The story had a slow start, but the flirtatious interactions and banter between the two quickly made the story interesting. As the two meet up to trawl through St. Giles or mingle with the aristocrats, their connection slowly develops from light and flirty to a deeper understanding of each other’s character and lives. Caire is intrigued by this woman who seems to care about everyone but who doesn’t seem to have anyone to care for her. She’s someone who feels so much, intriguing someone like himself who can’t feel anything. So of course, he tries to push her buttons. Meanwhile, Temperance sees through the rakishness and the smart-alecky remarks to the loneliness of the angsty hero. Sweet. And of course, it doesn’t hurt the entertainment level that there are lots of good love scenes. Four stars based on this chemistry of the hero and heroine alone.
But I have to knock off the fifth star because towards the end of the book, when Caire and Temperance have a major confrontation, the story’s a bit ruined by the introduction of some pretty tortured logic, which requires us to contort our brain so much just to kind of understand what the hell the two are thinking. I’m speaking specifically of when
I have to gush about one subplot that runs through the story, focusing on Temperance’s sister, Silence Hollingbrook. Even though I know that it’s setting up for a future book, I didn’t find the addition of her story to be a distraction at all. It’s too delicious. Here’s a woman who seems to love her ship captain husband more than he loves her. We see what happens when their marriage hits a dramatic bump in the form of one horrible, yet intriguing pirate, Charming Mickey.
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LibraryThing member 4leschats
The set up for this novel--bad boy meets good girl--is standard romance genre fair. Even the wounded hero and the secrets each is keeping are genre expectations. However, the author undermines the conflict with a weak premise--searching for the murderer--and convoluted plot with multiple subplots
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that seem more about creating a series than a good book. There didn't seem to be any reason for the 2 characters to be drawn together, and the Shades of Grey touches were anachronistic and seemed to be trying to hard to be erotica rather than romance. Finally, the ending was uninspired and left some threads unresolved (obviously for the series.) Show Less
LibraryThing member cranberrytarts
This novel started out slow for me. The first few pages intrigued me, but I didn't really fall into the story until the 3rd or 4th chapter. This novel is much darker than some of Hoyt's others. Although I've come to expect some dark humor, she's generally lighter than this. It totally worked,
Temperance is a strong character. Because of her actions in the beginning I thought she might be too headstrong, but that wasn't the case. Caire accuses her of being a martyr, and though she is, it's to a small degree. Mostly she's just punishing herself for what she considers a very great sin.
Caire's character is harder to describe. He's an unemotional person in the beginning, almost cold. He's also standoffish and aloof. He finds himself becoming fascinated by Temperance almost despite himself, and he can't help but fall into her. Watching him open up to her was wonderful. He shies away from touch, because it physically pains him, even with Temperance. I like that Hoyt didn't make her the exception to everything with him. He still had to struggle to let her close - both physically and emotionally - despite his desire for her. My heart broke for him as the novel progressed and he let Temperance see inside who he really is.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with the resolution between Caire and his mother. It was obvious they were headed for a confrontation, but it was wrapped up too neatly for me in the end. I was also disappointed with how the suspense plot was wrapped up. I would have liked to see a bit more attention focused in that direction (though I have to say I wasn't surprised at the identity of the villain).
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though.Temperance is a strong character. Because of her actions in the beginning I thought she might be too headstrong, but that wasn't the case. Caire accuses her of being a martyr, and though she is, it's to a small degree. Mostly she's just punishing herself for what she considers a very great sin.
Caire's character is harder to describe. He's an unemotional person in the beginning, almost cold. He's also standoffish and aloof. He finds himself becoming fascinated by Temperance almost despite himself, and he can't help but fall into her. Watching him open up to her was wonderful. He shies away from touch, because it physically pains him, even with Temperance. I like that Hoyt didn't make her the exception to everything with him. He still had to struggle to let her close - both physically and emotionally - despite his desire for her. My heart broke for him as the novel progressed and he let Temperance see inside who he really is.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with the resolution between Caire and his mother. It was obvious they were headed for a confrontation, but it was wrapped up too neatly for me in the end. I was also disappointed with how the suspense plot was wrapped up. I would have liked to see a bit more attention focused in that direction (though I have to say I wasn't surprised at the identity of the villain).
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LibraryThing member jkgrage
I'm really loving this new author and this series. Great characters, a story above and beyond the romance and a mystery thread to keep you reading. Can't wait for book 2!
LibraryThing member Dawn772
This steamy historical romance kept my attention but it seemed like forever for secrets to be revealed and I still wondered about a couple issues. Characters had some interesting names. Lord Caire is trying to find a murderer and asks widow Temperance to help since she knows the area because she
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manages an orphanage. Show Less
LibraryThing member Narshkite
Really loved this historical. A perfect lazy holiday weekend read. The main characters are delightful, smart, and sexy. The mystery actually held some interest, which is not often the case is these sorts of books. And the writing was excellent, as I have come to expect from Elizabeth Hoyt. I have
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book 2 from this series waiting and I am excited to dig in. Show Less
LibraryThing member rosetyper9
This book felt very different to me, very different from Elizabeth Hoyt's other novels and different from other historical romance novels. Different is not bad at all, just something I noticed, and I can't quite pin-point the exact thing that makes this story different, let me know if you figure it
So we shall start with my favorite part of any book: the characters. I enjoyed the heroine and hero in this story in equal parts, surprisingly. The hero is a self-indulgent love-starved man who just needs someone to let him out of the box and the heroine is a young women hiding behind her orphanage and widow status. They meet and sparks well, they spark. I love these two together, there is so much heat, it is amazing and seems perfect and real. I also have a love of gorgeous white haired men so...Caire has made it to my hunky character list.
On to the writing. The writing in this story I think is what struck me as different. It has a sleuth like feel, appropriately, in addition to the under-ground London feel as well, if you know what I mean. I also loved the surprising dip into some of the outer-limits for a sensual scene in romantic fiction, it was done well, tastefully; I just wish Ms. Hoyt could have taken it further! I do have to say I think there is something with the names of the Temperance and her siblings, they are all very unique, I can't wait to see what Ms. Hoyt does with that.
The plot. There is a lot of murder in this book, surprisingly, for a historical romance. Also the story starts out sort of slow, I had to make myself keep reading in the beginning to give it a proper chance. Once Caire and Temperance got together it picked up considerably and started putting me on the edge of my seat. Definitely pick up this new series by Elizabeth Hoyt and let me know what you think!
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out once you read it.So we shall start with my favorite part of any book: the characters. I enjoyed the heroine and hero in this story in equal parts, surprisingly. The hero is a self-indulgent love-starved man who just needs someone to let him out of the box and the heroine is a young women hiding behind her orphanage and widow status. They meet and sparks well, they spark. I love these two together, there is so much heat, it is amazing and seems perfect and real. I also have a love of gorgeous white haired men so...Caire has made it to my hunky character list.
On to the writing. The writing in this story I think is what struck me as different. It has a sleuth like feel, appropriately, in addition to the under-ground London feel as well, if you know what I mean. I also loved the surprising dip into some of the outer-limits for a sensual scene in romantic fiction, it was done well, tastefully; I just wish Ms. Hoyt could have taken it further! I do have to say I think there is something with the names of the Temperance and her siblings, they are all very unique, I can't wait to see what Ms. Hoyt does with that.
The plot. There is a lot of murder in this book, surprisingly, for a historical romance. Also the story starts out sort of slow, I had to make myself keep reading in the beginning to give it a proper chance. Once Caire and Temperance got together it picked up considerably and started putting me on the edge of my seat. Definitely pick up this new series by Elizabeth Hoyt and let me know what you think!
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LibraryThing member Jac8604
Until picking up Wicked Intentions, To Seduce A Sinner had been the only Elizabeth Hoyt novel that I had read. I remember being so impressed with the story, especially how real and raw it felt - suspense plot and all. The hero and heroine were so well-drawn and complex that they outshone the
The same holds true for Temperance Dews and Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, who are so much more than the lonely widow and emotionally unavailable rogue. Lazarus could easily have been unlikable with his demanding and slightly self-absorbed personality. He has long ago given up on his ability to emotionally and physically connect with others. Upon meeting Temperance, he finds that maybe he was too hasty in his assumptions. I loved watching him exercise his curiosity and eagerness to understand and share her emotions. Temperance is likewise intrigued by this gentleman's inexplicable interest in her. She doesn't have a very high opinion of herself, due to a past mistake, and is dedicated to her self-imposed punishments. She faults herself for her very humanness, yet it's this humanity that captivates Lord Caire and leads him to discover his own.
As a couple, they are one of the best. They reached out, grabbed my heart, broke it and put it back together so that it was even better than before. These two broken individuals find themselves in dire circumstances that require them to rely on each other. Their unlikely romance is made believable by their dependency on the other to help them fix their desperate situations and, ultimately, heal themselves. All that plus the most instant, undeniable and extremely hot chemistry.
There are plenty of other interesting and well-constructed bits to the story apart from the romance. The King Lockedheart vignettes at the start of each chapter are fun to read and tie in nicely with some of the novels themes. While there's no explanation as to why the story is included, it does such a wonderful job of connecting to the tale - and echoing Lazarus's journey in particular - that it's randomness is easily forgiven.
The murder mystery at the heart of the plot is also engaging. This is mostly due to the atmospheric setting of St. Giles and the dangerous, desperate and depraved citizens that inhabit it. In fact, the depth and urgency added by St. Giles and it's gin-swilling denizens well-suits the serious nature of the romance and makes the coming together of Temperance and Lazarus that much more necessary.
I also enjoyed reading about the dynamics and background of the other members of the Makepeace clan, Temperance's family. Their issues, both personal and with each other, made for some great conflicts in Wicked Intentions and promise even more to come in future Maiden Lane novels. The subplot involving Silence, Temperance's younger sister, is an obvious set up for a future story with her as its heroine. I didn't care much for her naiveté or storyline for the first 2/3, but (once the climax came around for her) I ended up enthralled.
Enthralled - that's an apt adjective for how I feel about the novel and Hoyt. Even though I've only read two of her works so far, I think it's safe to say that she's my new favorite historical romance author.
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typical rake and spinster archetypes.The same holds true for Temperance Dews and Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, who are so much more than the lonely widow and emotionally unavailable rogue. Lazarus could easily have been unlikable with his demanding and slightly self-absorbed personality. He has long ago given up on his ability to emotionally and physically connect with others. Upon meeting Temperance, he finds that maybe he was too hasty in his assumptions. I loved watching him exercise his curiosity and eagerness to understand and share her emotions. Temperance is likewise intrigued by this gentleman's inexplicable interest in her. She doesn't have a very high opinion of herself, due to a past mistake, and is dedicated to her self-imposed punishments. She faults herself for her very humanness, yet it's this humanity that captivates Lord Caire and leads him to discover his own.
As a couple, they are one of the best. They reached out, grabbed my heart, broke it and put it back together so that it was even better than before. These two broken individuals find themselves in dire circumstances that require them to rely on each other. Their unlikely romance is made believable by their dependency on the other to help them fix their desperate situations and, ultimately, heal themselves. All that plus the most instant, undeniable and extremely hot chemistry.
There are plenty of other interesting and well-constructed bits to the story apart from the romance. The King Lockedheart vignettes at the start of each chapter are fun to read and tie in nicely with some of the novels themes. While there's no explanation as to why the story is included, it does such a wonderful job of connecting to the tale - and echoing Lazarus's journey in particular - that it's randomness is easily forgiven.
The murder mystery at the heart of the plot is also engaging. This is mostly due to the atmospheric setting of St. Giles and the dangerous, desperate and depraved citizens that inhabit it. In fact, the depth and urgency added by St. Giles and it's gin-swilling denizens well-suits the serious nature of the romance and makes the coming together of Temperance and Lazarus that much more necessary.
I also enjoyed reading about the dynamics and background of the other members of the Makepeace clan, Temperance's family. Their issues, both personal and with each other, made for some great conflicts in Wicked Intentions and promise even more to come in future Maiden Lane novels. The subplot involving Silence, Temperance's younger sister, is an obvious set up for a future story with her as its heroine. I didn't care much for her naiveté or storyline for the first 2/3, but (once the climax came around for her) I ended up enthralled.
Enthralled - that's an apt adjective for how I feel about the novel and Hoyt. Even though I've only read two of her works so far, I think it's safe to say that she's my new favorite historical romance author.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Wicked Intentions
4 Stars
The initial set-up for the romance is contrived - why would an aristocrat seek the aid of a woman of a lower social class to solve a murder? Moreover, Temperance and Caire's physical relationship is quite erotic for the historical romance genre. Nevertheless, there is a
Temperance is an ambiguous heroine. On the one hand, she seems selfless and courageous but on the other, she hides a troubling secret that may turn some readers off once it is revealed -she admits committing adultery . While I usually have no patience for this trope, Hoyt manages to make Temperance's circumstances understandable although not completely forgivable and it is difficult not to empathize with her and feel that she deserves to be happy.
Lord Caire is a flawed hero. At first, he comes across as crude and hurtful but his underlying sense of honor and the slow revelation of his painful past make him very appealing.
The suspense plot is the weakest element. The story establishes a Jack the Ripper type scenario that never comes to fruition and the lack of clues, suspects and adequate investigation is disappointing. Moreover, the eventual resolution is a letdown as the culprit and motivation are illogical.
The secondary characters are engaging and Hoyt has laid the foundation for the next few books. The mysterious Ghost of St. Giles is particularly interesting and I look forward to seeing if my suspicions as his identity are correct.
4 Stars
The initial set-up for the romance is contrived - why would an aristocrat seek the aid of a woman of a lower social class to solve a murder? Moreover, Temperance and Caire's physical relationship is quite erotic for the historical romance genre. Nevertheless, there is a
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closeness and intimacy between the couple that makes their relationship intense and enjoyable. Temperance is an ambiguous heroine. On the one hand, she seems selfless and courageous but on the other, she hides a troubling secret that may turn some readers off once it is revealed -
Lord Caire is a flawed hero. At first, he comes across as crude and hurtful but his underlying sense of honor and the slow revelation of his painful past make him very appealing.
The suspense plot is the weakest element. The story establishes a Jack the Ripper type scenario that never comes to fruition and the lack of clues, suspects and adequate investigation is disappointing. Moreover, the eventual resolution is a letdown as the culprit and motivation are illogical.
The secondary characters are engaging and Hoyt has laid the foundation for the next few books. The mysterious Ghost of St. Giles is particularly interesting and I look forward to seeing if my suspicions as his identity are correct.
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LibraryThing member nautilus
Elizabeth Hoyt is an auto buy for me and this didn't disappoint.
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'
Where it all began! This series is such a winner! I loved each and every novel under the arc of Maiden Lane.
Like some other reviewers I first came across this series when reading The Duke of Sin and was swept away so much by that, that therein
Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire wants to avenge the murder of his mistress. Temperance Dews, a widow, cares for children in a foundling home her family began. The home needs a rich benefactor, Lazarus needs a guide to through the pitfalls of the dangerous slum known as St Giles. It seems they each have access to something the other wants and so a bargain is struck. The attraction that flares between these two is nicely done, sensual and explorative. Their story is the hinge that opens up the future fabulous possibilities that flow down Maiden Lane.
The fate of orphaned children in these times is a disturbing and a central theme for all the following books as the action flows in and around the home and St Giles. (The most depressing thought is that the abuse and trafficking in children has never stopped!)
The secondary story towards the end of Temperance's sister Silence is awesome. I was filled with admiration and deep sorrow for her. She is a rising star!
As in the later novels, I loved the juxtaposition between the fairy tale (this time, the cautionary tale of King Lockedheart) at the beginning of each chapter and the story. As I have said before, 'the employment of the fairytale as a lead in is superb. This use, as a foretelling of the events that follow is, put simply, just exquisite.'
Once again, and continually throughout the series I was amazed at how this tool works so effectively for each story. A fabulous use of a device that is as 'captivating as the main story that flows alongside.'
A NetGalley ARC
Where it all began! This series is such a winner! I loved each and every novel under the arc of Maiden Lane.
Like some other reviewers I first came across this series when reading The Duke of Sin and was swept away so much by that, that therein
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followed a solid few days of reading the Maiden Lane series from this the very first chapter. 'And I kept asking myself how had I never read the series before! It's really different, and wonderful as it's complexity morphs into the simplicity of selfless love conquering all.'Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire wants to avenge the murder of his mistress. Temperance Dews, a widow, cares for children in a foundling home her family began. The home needs a rich benefactor, Lazarus needs a guide to through the pitfalls of the dangerous slum known as St Giles. It seems they each have access to something the other wants and so a bargain is struck. The attraction that flares between these two is nicely done, sensual and explorative. Their story is the hinge that opens up the future fabulous possibilities that flow down Maiden Lane.
The fate of orphaned children in these times is a disturbing and a central theme for all the following books as the action flows in and around the home and St Giles. (The most depressing thought is that the abuse and trafficking in children has never stopped!)
The secondary story towards the end of Temperance's sister Silence is awesome. I was filled with admiration and deep sorrow for her. She is a rising star!
As in the later novels, I loved the juxtaposition between the fairy tale (this time, the cautionary tale of King Lockedheart) at the beginning of each chapter and the story. As I have said before, 'the employment of the fairytale as a lead in is superb. This use, as a foretelling of the events that follow is, put simply, just exquisite.'
Once again, and continually throughout the series I was amazed at how this tool works so effectively for each story. A fabulous use of a device that is as 'captivating as the main story that flows alongside.'
A NetGalley ARC
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LibraryThing member gpangel
Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt is a 2010 Grand Central Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the Maiden Lane series. As I began this book, it occurs to me that while I have at least ten books
As a person who complains long and loud about the saccharine sweet content in so many current historical romance novels, this book certainly appealed to my dark and twisty nature when it comes to books.
Temperance works in a foundling home with her brother, Winter, giving of herself so selflessly, but the home is in terrible financial straits at the moment. So, when she is approached by Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, out of the blue, to help him navigate certain areas in his search for a murderer, in exchange for a sponsor for her foundling home, she readily accepts, despite Caire’s outrageous reputation.
So begins a dark journey into the light for Temperance and Lazarus as they find they have more in common that anyone would ever guess, each taking from the other the thing they need most to make them feel whole again.
There were a few small complaints I had with the story, one of which is that erotica is not favorite and some of the sexual situations come precariously close to overstepping my boundaries, but… these passages were a part of the reason the story was so darkly seductive and it was handled with taste, so I didn’t mind all that much.
I was also puzzled by the big build up to Temperance’s admission, the revelation of her big dark secret, because it ended up being rather anticlimactic and, other than the horrible coincidental occurrence that wracked her with even more guilt, I had trouble mustering up much sympathy for her based on the information she provided, which was precious little.
Lazarus has a strange problem and while the reader is given some insight into his upbringing, which was far from warm, I’m not sure how that led to his having this… malady, if you will. Once again the reader is left without a full explanation, but I did enjoy seeing him find peace and solace with Temperance, who soothes him and opens the door for love to help him heal.
All of this takes place while the couple searches for a murderer in the underbelly of the city, which lent a truly sinister and dark atmosphere to the story, which I really liked.
The secondary characters and additional storylines are also compelling and I am hoping really hard that poor Silence will finally regain the happiness she lost.
For me the darker tone of the book was the clincher. I love the conflicted, flawed hero, and found it interesting that Temperance, who was so saintly on the surface, was also flawed and conflicted, which meant the couple didn’t judge, and accepted one another warts and all, loving each other despite of, or because of those flaws, which is what true love is all about.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
This is the first book in the Maiden Lane series. As I began this book, it occurs to me that while I have at least ten books
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by Elizabeth Hoyt in my TBR pile, I’ve only read one book by this author. I don’t know why or how that happened, but I am glad I was invited to review this one, because I now understand more fully why the author’s writing appeals to so many. As a person who complains long and loud about the saccharine sweet content in so many current historical romance novels, this book certainly appealed to my dark and twisty nature when it comes to books.
Temperance works in a foundling home with her brother, Winter, giving of herself so selflessly, but the home is in terrible financial straits at the moment. So, when she is approached by Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, out of the blue, to help him navigate certain areas in his search for a murderer, in exchange for a sponsor for her foundling home, she readily accepts, despite Caire’s outrageous reputation.
So begins a dark journey into the light for Temperance and Lazarus as they find they have more in common that anyone would ever guess, each taking from the other the thing they need most to make them feel whole again.
There were a few small complaints I had with the story, one of which is that erotica is not favorite and some of the sexual situations come precariously close to overstepping my boundaries, but… these passages were a part of the reason the story was so darkly seductive and it was handled with taste, so I didn’t mind all that much.
I was also puzzled by the big build up to Temperance’s admission, the revelation of her big dark secret, because it ended up being rather anticlimactic and, other than the horrible coincidental occurrence that wracked her with even more guilt, I had trouble mustering up much sympathy for her based on the information she provided, which was precious little.
Lazarus has a strange problem and while the reader is given some insight into his upbringing, which was far from warm, I’m not sure how that led to his having this… malady, if you will. Once again the reader is left without a full explanation, but I did enjoy seeing him find peace and solace with Temperance, who soothes him and opens the door for love to help him heal.
All of this takes place while the couple searches for a murderer in the underbelly of the city, which lent a truly sinister and dark atmosphere to the story, which I really liked.
The secondary characters and additional storylines are also compelling and I am hoping really hard that poor Silence will finally regain the happiness she lost.
For me the darker tone of the book was the clincher. I love the conflicted, flawed hero, and found it interesting that Temperance, who was so saintly on the surface, was also flawed and conflicted, which meant the couple didn’t judge, and accepted one another warts and all, loving each other despite of, or because of those flaws, which is what true love is all about.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
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LibraryThing member amdrane2
I love a man who talks dirty and Lazarus certainly knew what he was doing to Temperance. In reawakening her desires, he found a new partner that changed his own life. I love Elizabeth Hoyt's writing and have read a few of the books in this series completely out of order, so I love that I finally
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
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read the first book and am ready to read the rest. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
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LibraryThing member scoutmomskf
Excellent book that drew me into its world from the very beginning. Temperance is a widow who runs a foundling home and school along with others of her family, in the slums of the St. Giles section of London. When the book opens, she is heading back to the Home with the newborn baby of a dead
I liked both Temperance and Caire. She is an independent woman who does what she feels is right, no matter what others say. She loves her family, and will do what she must to keep their Home running. She is also haunted by something in her past, an event that has caused her to ruthlessly protect herself from feeling things too deeply. She also has a passionate side that she keeps buried deep.
Caire is a man with a dark reputation, including his bedroom proclivities. Not only doesn't it bother him, he seems to take a fair amount of delight in it. He's cynical about his fellow man and seems to delight in scandalizing society. He is searching the slums of St. Giles, looking for the person who brutally murdered his mistress, not because he loved her, but to try to give her life some meaning. Caire is also haunted by his own issues, believing himself to be incapable of giving or receiving love, and physically unable to bear being touched.
Their chemistry is incredible from the very beginning. Temperance isn't happy about the attraction to him, as it only serves to prove to her that she has a wicked nature that needs to be controlled. Caire is much more willing to pursue the attraction he feels for her. He's very good at getting her worked up, and it isn't long before they are finding physical satisfaction together. Temperance is surprised to find that the more time she spends with him, the more she actually likes him. She also starts to see that there is a lonely, vulnerable man under the sordid reputation, just as Caire gets to know the passionate woman behind the do-gooder reputation that she has. That knowledge also comes at a price, and an exchange of heated words ends in unexpectedly hurt feelings. It looks like their chances of happiness together have been ruined, until a near tragedy brings them back together. I loved Temperance's big moment, in which she goes all out to show him how she feels. The depth of trust and emotion was incredible and truly moving.
The suspense of the story, the search for the murderer, was really good. I loved Caire's determination to find out who it was, no matter the motivation. It was really interesting to see how a woman like Temperance was actually able to get more useful information than a large, intimidating nobleman could. The danger intensified as they got closer to the discovery. I was surprised by who it turned out to be. The final confrontation was intense, extremely dangerous, and nearly fatal for Caire. There were a couple of appearances by the mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, including a vital one at the end. I have a couple suspicions on his identity, and look forward to reading the next book to find out.
I also enjoyed the various secondary characters. Temperance's brother Winter was fascinating. He is protective of her, but also seems to be accepting of her independence. I also got the feeling that there is more to him than the teacher and foundling home shows. Her sister Silence is another interesting sibling. She is shown to be very much in love with her sea captain husband, to the point where she does something reckless when he gets into trouble. I ached for her over his reaction. Their situation was left unresolved, so I hope to see them in a later book. Lady Hero is another one who fascinated me. She is independent, and has interests outside of those expected of young society women. I liked how she and Temperance connected so quickly. I also enjoyed how she and Caire's mother came to the rescue of the foundling home at the end. Caire's mother is one who I wasn't sure of at the beginning, as she seemed rather cold and disapproving, but by the end she had grown on me.
A fascinating part of the book was a look at the seamier side of London. There was very little of the usual balls and other society pursuits. Instead, there was a realistic portrayal of the hardships of the prostitutes, orphans, and other residents of St. Giles.
*copy received from Netgalley in exchanged for honest review.
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prostitute. She happens across Lord Caire, bent over the body of a man who had just attacked him. Later that evening, Lord Caire appears in her sitting room, with a proposition for her. If she will be his guide around St. Giles, he will endeavor to introduce her to members of society who could serve as patrons for the financially struggling Home.I liked both Temperance and Caire. She is an independent woman who does what she feels is right, no matter what others say. She loves her family, and will do what she must to keep their Home running. She is also haunted by something in her past, an event that has caused her to ruthlessly protect herself from feeling things too deeply. She also has a passionate side that she keeps buried deep.
Caire is a man with a dark reputation, including his bedroom proclivities. Not only doesn't it bother him, he seems to take a fair amount of delight in it. He's cynical about his fellow man and seems to delight in scandalizing society. He is searching the slums of St. Giles, looking for the person who brutally murdered his mistress, not because he loved her, but to try to give her life some meaning. Caire is also haunted by his own issues, believing himself to be incapable of giving or receiving love, and physically unable to bear being touched.
Their chemistry is incredible from the very beginning. Temperance isn't happy about the attraction to him, as it only serves to prove to her that she has a wicked nature that needs to be controlled. Caire is much more willing to pursue the attraction he feels for her. He's very good at getting her worked up, and it isn't long before they are finding physical satisfaction together. Temperance is surprised to find that the more time she spends with him, the more she actually likes him. She also starts to see that there is a lonely, vulnerable man under the sordid reputation, just as Caire gets to know the passionate woman behind the do-gooder reputation that she has. That knowledge also comes at a price, and an exchange of heated words ends in unexpectedly hurt feelings. It looks like their chances of happiness together have been ruined, until a near tragedy brings them back together. I loved Temperance's big moment, in which she goes all out to show him how she feels. The depth of trust and emotion was incredible and truly moving.
The suspense of the story, the search for the murderer, was really good. I loved Caire's determination to find out who it was, no matter the motivation. It was really interesting to see how a woman like Temperance was actually able to get more useful information than a large, intimidating nobleman could. The danger intensified as they got closer to the discovery. I was surprised by who it turned out to be. The final confrontation was intense, extremely dangerous, and nearly fatal for Caire. There were a couple of appearances by the mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, including a vital one at the end. I have a couple suspicions on his identity, and look forward to reading the next book to find out.
I also enjoyed the various secondary characters. Temperance's brother Winter was fascinating. He is protective of her, but also seems to be accepting of her independence. I also got the feeling that there is more to him than the teacher and foundling home shows. Her sister Silence is another interesting sibling. She is shown to be very much in love with her sea captain husband, to the point where she does something reckless when he gets into trouble. I ached for her over his reaction. Their situation was left unresolved, so I hope to see them in a later book. Lady Hero is another one who fascinated me. She is independent, and has interests outside of those expected of young society women. I liked how she and Temperance connected so quickly. I also enjoyed how she and Caire's mother came to the rescue of the foundling home at the end. Caire's mother is one who I wasn't sure of at the beginning, as she seemed rather cold and disapproving, but by the end she had grown on me.
A fascinating part of the book was a look at the seamier side of London. There was very little of the usual balls and other society pursuits. Instead, there was a realistic portrayal of the hardships of the prostitutes, orphans, and other residents of St. Giles.
*copy received from Netgalley in exchanged for honest review.
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LibraryThing member bookworm2bookworm
In the year of our Lord 2010 I started to read this book and gave up on it. Fast-forward to the year 2016 and here's what I think of it today.
I started reading this series only last month, and I started with the last book, ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ which I loved a lot. And now after purchasing some
The story was intriguing and the mystery kept me interested, but the pace was so-so. It would move fast and then drag a bit.
If I started the series with this book, I’d never read the rest. That said, I have to admit that the book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as good as the last one. I’m not sure why that is. It might be the characters. The heroine wasn’t as likable or fun and the hero even less.
Now that I own all nine books, I’m committed to reading them all, but I am hoping that the next one will be more to my liking.
Am I recommending it? Yes, but please try to read them in order.
Melanie for b2
I started reading this series only last month, and I started with the last book, ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ which I loved a lot. And now after purchasing some
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of the books that I didn’t have, I am looking forward to reading them all.The story was intriguing and the mystery kept me interested, but the pace was so-so. It would move fast and then drag a bit.
If I started the series with this book, I’d never read the rest. That said, I have to admit that the book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as good as the last one. I’m not sure why that is. It might be the characters. The heroine wasn’t as likable or fun and the hero even less.
Now that I own all nine books, I’m committed to reading them all, but I am hoping that the next one will be more to my liking.
Am I recommending it? Yes, but please try to read them in order.
Melanie for b2
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Awards
AAR Annual Reader Poll (2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-08-01
ISBN
1607885115 / 9781607885115