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    Wicked Intentions: A Maiden Lane Novel
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    Wicked Intentions: A Maiden Lane Novel
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    Wicked Intentions: A Maiden Lane Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Wicked Intentions: A Maiden Lane Novel

    Written by Elizabeth Hoyt

    Narrated by Ashford McNab

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From the New York Times bestselling author of To Desire a Devil comes this thrilling tale of danger, desire, and dark passions.

    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

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateAug 1, 2010
    ISBN9781607885115
    Unavailable
    Wicked Intentions: A Maiden Lane Novel

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    Reviews for Wicked Intentions

    4/5

    364 ratings37 reviews

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    • 2/5
      Swipe left, right, whatever but don't waste time you'll never get back mucking through a boring tale populated with laughable inaccuracies, centered around two unlikeable protagonists. Apparently the lowest rating Scribd allows is two stars because I *know* I clicked on *1* star. ?
    • 4/5
      This is an entertaining story. It's in the past, but she's a strong female lead. She runs an orphanage and needs a wealthy donor to help fund it. He needs a partner to help him try to find someone who is brutally murdering women, mostly prostitutes if I remember correctly. They develop feelings of course, but they both have other issues. She has a checkered romantic past. He has a fetish for tying lovers up. It was definitely worth my time reading it.
    • 2/5
      Book 1&2 in this series are a library loan through overdrive thankfully or I would be upset spending money on this book. Never read this author before but took a chance because of the reviews, did I miss something that other readers caught, personally this was dreck pure and simple.
    • 4/5
      The book that started it all.

      "I rarely feel anything. But like the legless man, I'm unaccountably fascinated by those who can dance."

      Our hero Lazarus started off the darkly mysterious, darkly intriguing, and darkly sexy man often found in romance. What distances him and makes him better than a lot was his layered personality of cool waters run deep and vulnerable and passionate soul. He was perfectly matched with our heroine Temperance with her mixture of kind spirit and desirous heart. As Lazarus searches for a murderer with Temperance's help, they poke and prod each other to break down the other's walls.

      Above her, he moaned. "Please." Oh, to hear him beg. There was something in her, something wicked and base that lapped up that plea in his voice.

      This is one hot potato book. It leans a little heavier on the sexual and steamy side of historical romance but never felt salacious. The sex scenes are quite descriptive but I would argue that the emotion between the two is what makes them hot. And ok, maybe the dirty talk, voyeurism, and neckties ;)

      Knowing that she could be herself---all of herself---and he would not turn away.

      When you first start reading this, you're going to think this is mainly Lazarus' story but a little more than halfway through, I realized this felt more like Temperance's story. Her guilt, self-punishing, joys, feelings, strengths, and weaknesses are all on display and as the reader, I was right there with her feeling them all. Again, she is a woman of her time, dealing with societal pressures of what is "proper" for women sexually. Through Lazarus' love and strength helping to bolster her own, she really comes into her own.

      The secondary characters are numerous with Temperance's brothers and sisters, aristocrats, and a "ghost". This truly felt like an assemble piece but with Lazarus and Temperance getting the spotlight (Silence, Temperance's sister, edges in too with her own side story). Knowing this is book one, of currently eleven, I have it on good authority more than a few of the characters seen here get to shine under their own spotlight eventually. This was just a great all around story and I see why this series is still going strong.
    • 3/5
      Audio-book: Narrator - Ashford McNab

      Excellent job of all the characters. Perfect hint of snobbery as well as gentle and sweet when both were required. Loving each one of the books I’ve listened to with this narrator.


      I started with book 2 of this series, listened through book 4 then came back to book 1. And I have to say had I started with this book I’m not really sure if I would have continued on. I enjoyed it and it was entertaining but it didn’t reel me in like the next few books did. Some of the story didn’t hold up for me and I found it hard to believe. However, I’m still a fan even if I didn’t feel a real connection with the characters here. And let me also say after listening to 4 of these books...there’s only been one “Maiden” and that bothers me a bit as well.

      Dual POV

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed The Raven Prince, which made me want to explore all of Elizabeth Hoyt's novels but upon doing so, I felt as though I was reading the same book over and over again. The same young widow, who has never expressed herself sexually except for the acceptable tamed way. Who is then shown that love and gratifying sex can be indulged in one relationship. The first time this plot was created it was fascinating the 2nd and the 3rd, it becomes very, very predictable.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      3.5

      Really interesting plot and fun overall. I always love an unfeeling hero and an overly tortured heroine. The end of the book wrapped up so nicely too. Easily left as a stand alone which is nice.

      I'll probably have to read more in the series because I have to find out who the ghost is.

      I also received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      loved the book. great characters. i have been surprised by this series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.This is the first in the Maiden Lane series, which I gather is best read in order. Here we meet Temperance, who runs a foundling home which was set up by her brewer father, but which is now on the verge of bankruptcy and closure. Lazarus, Lord Caire, agrees to help her find a respectable benefactor, if she uses her local knowledge to introduce him to people who might help him discover who murdered his mistress.Despite the fact that I struggled a bit with the historical setting - it seemed all very Dickensian, yet supposedly was 18th Century - and the utterly preposterous plot, this was quite an enjoyable story. I liked Lazarus and Temperance, although I hope he hasn't given her the pox, and their romance was very sweet. Lazarus' reconciliation with his mother was a bit of an unlikely surprise and Temperance's ability to "cure" Lazarus of his aversion to touch (by touching him) perhaps unlikely to work in real life... The Silence storyline was surprisingly dark and unresolved - maybe she appears again in a later instalment.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      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.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 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 b2b

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 read the first book and am ready to read the rest. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      '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 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
    • 5/5
      Elizabeth Hoyt is an auto buy for me and this didn't disappoint.
    • 4/5
      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 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 - 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.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      3.5

      Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is on a quest to find a Ripper-like murderer and he needs help. People will likely to talk to him if he is with someone trustworthy as Temperance Dews. The murders are horrific and she accepts because her family's home for abandoned infants needs a benefactor.

      They are both tortured souls. They both have issues, but it never crosses the line of becoming too much or boring. The changes in Caire are slow and at first, not even he knows where this new partnership is going. Temperance is a lovely character who first needs to accept herself to move on to the rest. The ending (and the way characters behave - it's the 1700s, after all) required a bit of a suspension of disbelief, but a lot of romances do, so it wasn't a problem for me.

      As for the erotic part of the story go, it is near perfect. This is definitely not one of those stories you want to skip the scenes because they are too long.

      Other characters and their stories are introduced in this first book. Temperance's sister Silence's story starts here and it adds a depressing layer to Wicked Intentions. Fortunately, those scenes are short enough not to mess up the main story. I hated Silence's husband. No, he isn't an abusive kind. He is even worse than that - he should have been a good guy.
      Silence is not the only one. More characters' stories start here: the Ghost of St. Giles (whoever he is; at the time of my reading this book I don't know), Temperance's brothers, Lady Hero and so on. So even if Temperance and Caire's story weren't good enough, there would still be so many characters I want to know about. Even if weren't, but it is.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 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

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I first read this book in 2010, so I nearly laughed my whatsit off when I noticed a review stating that it was a Grey knockoff (that nonsense was published in 2011). Although Lord Caire chooses to display himself as uncaring, he is wrapped so tight he is winched to the eyeballs and suffers at physical contact with another unless he initiates it himself. Temperance Dewes (her siblings have even odder names) is one who feels unworthy no matter what she does, and refuses to admit to seriously caring for any of the orphans in the Home which she runs with her overworked brother. The two come into contact with each other while he is looking for a murderer in the seedy part of town in which she lives, and it all goes on from there, including a devastating side story regarding one of her sisters. Also, at the beginning of each chapter, is a short segment of a short morality tale which syncs well with the book's storyline.The writing is sound and lures the reader onward. Many characters present themselves (this is Book 1 of a series) and are also well defined and complex. If explicit erotica which is less than gratuitous offends the reader, they only have to elide it (it does have a purpose, but is not vital).I wona a copy of the ebook (good! my print was in tatters), then got the audio on sale at Audible.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Couldn't put this down. Great voice, characters and story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 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!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      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 book 2 from this series waiting and I am excited to dig in.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      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. 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.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 manages an orphanage.
    • 4/5
      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, 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).


      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      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 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 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!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      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 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.)
    • 4/5
      Read for Fun/Friend Recommended it to MeChallenges: Read for FunOverall Rating 4.25Character Rating 4.50Story Rating 4.00First 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! 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!
    • 4/5
      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 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.
    • 4/5
      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 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.