Elizabeth Hoyt

Lord Caire, who needs help searching for a killer in London's most notorious slum, turns to Temperance Dews, a young widow who knows the area well, and agrees to help launch her in high society if she will assist him.

Wicked Intentions

From the New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt 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

Haley Murray

Sarina Sherman

5+ stars 🌟 omg! I absolutely LOVED this book! It’s the first I’ve read by this author, and I can gladly say I’ll be reading more. Lazarus is the perfect brooding, alpha male with a sensitive side, while Temperance is a sweet woman who knows what she likes. The characters were complex, interesting, and well written. The mystery aspect was compelling, and I was committed to the side characters’ stories as well. I also loved the mini story that each chapter started with about King Lockedheart! Can’t wait for a reread.

b.andherbooks

EXACTLY what I needed right now. Bless the internet and bless internet friends for persuading me to start this much beloved series.

Described to me as a historical series both complex and dark as IAD, I feel this hit the bill.

Temperance Dews is a widow who is atoning for a past "sin" by helping her brother (one of many siblings identified, so many AND LORD THE NAMES) run the foundling/orphanage home their father left to them. She holds herself apart emotionally from the children and does not find much joy in the work, but feels it is her due.

She meets Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire after he seeks out her assistance in trying to find the person responsible for the horrific death of his mistress. Lord Caire also has some secret sins, namely that he has some special proclivities in the bedroom that require mistresses willing to indulge them. And maybe just maybe the Widow Dews may also be interested in them as well.

As they hunt for the killer the reader meets a wide cast of characters I'm sure will be showing up in subsequent books. There are a few additional POVs besides Caire's and Temperance's, but they did not distract from the romance ARC.

And oh what a luscious romance. Caire, with his long silver hair and, his sword cane, and hang ups about being touched was so intriguing, and having a heroine who enjoys sex but is also ashamed of her joy in it because of PATRIARCHY was also great to see on page, especially as she learns there is nothing sinful about it at all if one is with a partner who consents.

Caire's scandalous proclivities were a bit tame after some of the stuff I've read, but hey, I'm all in for a some light BDSM. 

Great start to this new journey and I cannot wait to read more!

CW for violence, child endangerment, sick infants, fear of infant death, implied sexual assault/rape (off page, secondary character).

*checked out from Overdrive during COVID19

Saayan

Started off okay enough but I lost interest after a certain eye-roll-worthy event. I decided to finish it anyway because I want to read the books that come later in the series. I love Winter already and can't wait to read his story!

lilreaderSakura

This book leaves little in understanding what type of plot or suspense dynamic the author was trying to convey. Am I reading a Romance with a hard driven woman who wants to save children No? Yes, Who’s a this man who on the verge of finding a killer No , Yes , both leads were scattered and I couldn’t find myself liking either of them.

And what’s with these names for these kids oh lord,

Christina Baltimore 

I put off reading this for a while because of it being historical. It’s not my favorite book type and I’m sure I picked this up while trying to convince myself that I need to branch out. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a pretty good book but it did seem to drag on a bit. I liked the basis for the characters. I enjoyed the interactions. I like the underlying murder mystery theme. Overall, it was a lot better than I expected to continue with this series. The characters are well developed and likable in their own ways. Lazarus is gruff and his main goal is self-focused. Temperance is a complete opposite of Lazarus. She is this sweet, innocent, too good to be true type of person. Oh, and she devotes everything to the children. It could happen I suppose so I can look past it. It all comes together though and her characterization makes more sense in the story. It was good and enjoyed reading it.

Anna // read.all.night 

Can’t focus on a plot when there are characters named Silence and Winter and 20 kids each named either Mary or Joseph... honestly interested in the book about Silence but I don’t think I can bring myself to do it if I have to keep hearing about the orphanage and the dumb names

Chantale

I very much liked this book . It is very well written and it kept me reading until the very end. 

I had not read any other books by Elizabeth Hoyt before but I know I will be reading more in the near future. 

I do highly recommend this book.

kate

Lover of Romance 

Lisa H

Ainoa

Preye

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

Wicked Intentions

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