Not a very authentic regency romance, however it was an interesting read. I enjoyed the mystery of finding the killer.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1454175945

This was the very excellent story of Lazarus and Temperance. They are both tortured souls trying to find their way in life. The story is very intense and mysterious as Temperance agrees to help Lazarus find a murderer in exchange for his help in finding rich patrons for her Foundling home. There are attempted murders, grave injuries to overcome and the release of pent up emotions and passions that all add up to a very exciting read.

The story is complex and the characters are very well developed. It was an emotional read for me that I truly enjoyed. I loved this book, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended!

I completely forgot that I had this book in my pile to read, Lol. I started this a couple of days ago and decided to finish this off yesterday. This was a delightful read for me, I have read many historical romances in my life time so far, and was intrigued by this story. This is the story of Temperance and Lazarus Huntington. Lazarus agreed to help out Temperance within high society as he needs her direction in getting around St. Giles. Temperance has a hidden side that is brought out when she encounters our Lazarus. Together the two are explosive and I found the sex scenes awesome! we also have the usual banter between the heroine and hero. Well developed and well written, though I was thrown off a bit with the other characters.

So, I'm really late to the Elizabeth Hoyt party. My GR friends have been telling me for ages to try her books. I don't read a lot of historicals so I hadn't gotten around to this. I'm glad I gave it a try though. I really enjoyed this story. Both they heroine and the hero were great characters and I really liked the overall plot. I thought it had a lot of depth to it.

I can't wait to read more by this author.

**review copy provided by publisher through Netgalley**

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I haven't inhaled a book like this in awhile and feel like I just won a major prize in reading my first book by this author. This book had everything from suspense to romance to hot/steamy scenes and lastly a strong hero and heroine.

Temperance was a great character with her caring side at home helping her brother run a house for orphaned children. She meets Lazarus one night while out and his looks along with his mysterious countenance drew me in. I thought there might be a paranormal aspect to this story but there wasn't. There is suspense though as there's a murderer in the book that's at large. Lazarus makes an agreement with Temperance that's out of the norm and we see her backbone through their meetings.

Lazarus is described as having premature white hair and sapphire eyes which along with certain proclivities made him known in the ton. As the reader, you don't know what his perks initially but you find out as does Temperance. Then it seems our heroine has some secrets of our own which kept me turning the pages. The dialogue between these two was forthright yet provocative. The author's writing was rich in my opinion and had a nice balance between the growing romance between these two while keeping up other story lines.

This may be my first book by Ms. Hoyt but it won't be my last.

I loved the difference this book was to the usual historical romance. The pain the hero carries and the courage of the heroine. She from a poor area of the city, Him the rich lonely guy and the way they came together to care for others. Well worth the read and it will keep you on your toes and stir your emotions.

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 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.

NOTE: this is a re-read.

Re-reading this as a arc this time. Always enjoyable to read Maiden Lane series. Trying to remember what the similarities between King Lockheart and the story are. It takes a bit to get into the old London world with some of the clothing terms being thrown around. Need to go re-read this series again.

This is a voluntary review via netgalley. Thoughts are my own!

I really enjoyed this book. I will eventually be reading the rest of this series.

“Every word you have ever uttered, is engraved upon my heart.”

Hoo boy! It has been a while since I had last read a historical romance novel and what better way to start off the new year than to read a historical romance novel by a new author? When NetGalley offered me a new historical romance book online, I was tempted to try this novel “Wicked Intentions” by Elizabeth Hoyt out, since I had never read a romance novel by Elizabeth Hoyt before, despite hearing her name pop up in many romance discussions. After reading this book, I was so blown away by the raw and real romance shown in this novel!

SUMMARY

Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, was known throughout London as being a notorious rake who would pleasure himself with any woman he came across. However, his main goal in this story is to find the person who murdered his former mistress Marie and he ends up enlisting the help of Temperance Dews, who was a widowed woman running a foundling home that her family established. Unfortunately, Temperance and her family were having a hard time trying to maintain the home since they did not have enough money to support the home. So, Lord Caire decided that he will introduce Temperance to high society so that way she can find a benefactor who could support the foundling home. But in exchange for that, Temperance must help Lord Caire find Marie’s killer in the dangerous streets of St. Giles and even though Temperance and Lord Caire did not get along with each other at first, they both soon realize that their feelings for each other might grow into a passion that might consume them both!

PROS

Wow! I must admit that this was a pretty awesome read for my first novel by Elizabeth Hoyt! I was amazed by the dangerous yet sensuous world that Elizabeth Hoyt had crafted and how the characters all try to survive in this type of world without being corrupted themselves. Elizabeth Hoyt has done a fantastic job at intertwining the murder mystery plot of Marie’s murder into the romantic plot line between Temperance and Lord Caire as it was interesting in not only trying to discover who Marie’s murderer is, but it was great seeing the growing romantic relationship between Temperance and Lord Caire! But what I loved the best about this book was how Elizabeth Hoyt wrote each character, especially Temperance and Lord Caire! I loved the fact that both Lord Caire and Temperance are shown as both having flaws (Lord Caire is a rake, while Temperance has a dark past that she has trouble telling people about) and I loved the fact that Lord Caire was trying to get Temperance to open up about her past and Temperance was trying to show Lord Caire what true love is all about. Although, the only nitpick I have about the characters was that I wish we knew more about Temperance’s family members like her brothers Winter, Concord and Asa and especially her sister Silence who has her own side story in this book. Also, I have to say something about the…. SEX SCENES. I must say that this novel probably has the most graphic yet sensual depiction of sex scenes I have ever read in any romance novel and it was quite an unusual yet mesmerizing experience to behold!

CONS

For anyone who does not like strong violence and sex scenes, this novel has plenty of violence and sex scenes that might make some readers squirm a bit. Regarding the strong violence, there are scenes where the victims of the murders have their stomachs torn open by the murderer and it is described in graphic detail. The same goes for the sex scenes are they are described much more graphically in this novel than in any other romance novel.

OVERALL

Overall, “Wicked Intentions” is a fantastic read if you are into historical romances that manage to combine murder mystery into the plot line and I definitely cannot wait to read more stories from the rest of the characters in this story!

My first E Hoyt book, requested after hearing many great things. And it didn't disappoint. I've read two more in the series since then and have two more waiting to be read. I'm now officially an E Hoyt fan!!

A wonderful trip back to regal London. Temperance and Lazarus took me on an amazing journey with little hunks of Jack the Ripper and Fifty Shades of Grey, but with a totally different spin on both. The romance was the perfect blend of heat, discovering and healing.

This is one of her darker books -- one that has so many subplots. This book has it all...romance,, mystery, intrigue and redemption. The heroine, Temperance, takes in babies that have been abandoned or unwanted. Her home is on the fringes of St. Giles. The benefactor for her home died, and left nothing to keep the home afloat in the will. She is faced with losing the home and the future of the babies she cares for in the home.

The hero is known for his nefarious and sensual needs, He frequents the prostitution homes and finds his pleasure there... in sexual acts that have minimal touching and no intimacy.


Jack-the-Ripper is roaming St. Giles and the underworld areas of London; at the same time, a masked man is out saving people and seeking to find The Ripper.

There are more subplots...it reminds you of life, where nothing sits still, and everything that can go wrong, seems to find its way to do that in threes! And then, like with life, the sun comes up and the clouds clear.

Elizabeth Hoyt's book keeps you turning the pages. - it delivers the entertainment and the escape that you look for when reading. A very good read!

Great read! The story had me hooked and this is definitely my kind of book. I loved the history and the clothes and manner of this generation. The hero was wonderful! He had me from the very first! The heroine was a spitfire and was a perfect match for the hero. Can't waitfor more by this author!

I’ve read a few of Elizabeth Hoyt’s books in the past. They’ve always been very enjoyable. So when I had the chance to read her newest book, Wicked Intentions, I was very excited.

Ms. Hoyt is quite the storyteller. She manages to pull the reader in and not let them go. And if you’re into romance novels, she’s an exquisite writer. Wicked Intentions is no different.

Set in London, the story opens upon the widow Temperance Dews. Now a co-owner of her father’s charitable orphan home, she and her brother Winter are fighting to find a way to keep the home open and help the children of St. Giles.

One evening she is approached by a mysterious Lord Caire who seeks her help in an investigation. By doing so, he will introduce her to the high and mighty of society to see if she can find a patron for the home.

The characters are loveable (and frustrating at times). The story flows well and leaves no questions unanswered. However, the erotic scenes in the book seem oddly placed in context with the storyline. Not only that but there is a touch of BDSM in the scenes which makes me feel like Hoyt is simply trying to ride on the success of Fifty Shades of Grey. I’m not opposed to this but it feels as if this detail was put in the story simply to attract the same audience. As the story comes to an end, it’s almost as if Hoyt became weary of writing and just wanted the story to end. Very anticlimactic.

For a quick and easy read, this book is perfect. It doesn’t require much thought to follow the progression of the story and allows for some mystery throughout. If you’re looking to get into Elizabeth Hoyt’s novels, this would be a good first choice.

I have never read an Elizabeth Hoyt book before, but I’m a sucker for any romance with a Duke, and I use that term very loosely. I like princes, barons, counts, viscounts… you get the idea. So while I realize there are flaws in the reasoning of a lot of instances in this book, I can overlook all that to say it was an enjoyable read.
The writing is descriptive, the characters complex and well written and the storyline that delicious mix of tormented bad boy and strong heroine in a dire situation. Highly recommend!