Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane)

WOW, I adored this book!! Winter is NOT your typical hero ~ he's poor, he's a virgin (yes, VIRGIN hero!) and his whole life is about the children of St. Giles. He's not looking to impress anyone ~ least of all some loose moraled woman who is trying to turn him into something he's not. But you can actually FEEL him and Isabel being drawn closer and closer together ~ she appears to be totally out there, but Winter digs in and discovers the true heart of Isabel, the woman who has too many feelings. It was such a pleasure reading how they made each other happier, more open people!

With a thread of mystery running through the book, what with Winter determined to find the 'lassie snatchers' Ms. Hoyt kept me glued to pages until well into the a.m.! Her writing is smooth and seamless, the characters are developed wonderfully, and there was not a single thing I didn't love about this book!
I couldn't put this down ~ it's a story that will make your heart smile!

Audio-book: Narrator - Ashford McNab

This is my third audio narrated by Ms. McNab and I am officially a huge fan at this point. She does an incredible job of bringing these characters to life. Even if I find myself not loving the story itself, the narration is enough to keep me returning!

I have to admit, I read/listen to historical romance because generally I’m looking for the old fashioned kind of romance that pretty much holds to the era’s traditions and beliefs. This one was so over the top of it I almost wanted to chuck my audio player. The hero is a virgin and younger than the heroine while she has slept with more men than her husband. While I don’t mind a little twist here and there, I was disappointed in this set up. The mystery and drama were very well executed and I enjoyed the secondary characters very much. The steam level was quite high and after I got past the H/h pasts I was able to move forward.

Thief of Shadows is the fourth book of the Maiden Lane Series by Elizabeth Hoyt. Thus far, it is my least favorite of the four. Not to say that I didn't enjoy it, I just found the previous two books to be more entertaining and the characters to be more colorful than those in this book. I mean, it's hard to compete with Mickey, a naughty pirate from the previous book. Am I right?

This time, we follow Winter Makepeace, who we have gotten to know fairly well over the course of the series, thus far. I expected his story to come sooner than later, so I was not surprised to find him in book number four. He is the manager of a children's home as well as a vigilante harlequin-masked man who rights wrongs in the shadows of St. Giles.

We've actually gotten several glimpses of the Ghost of St. Giles in past books. I was not shocked to find out that Winter was behind the mask. Or at least, one of them. And I must say that the mystery of the children snatching villains was fascinating. I tried to follow the clues the best I could and still didn't guess who was responsible.

On the romance side, our lady is Isabelle, a widowed woman with a kind but sheltered heart. In order to save Winter's job, she somehow becomes his tutor in an attempt to make Winter more gentlemanly than he currently is. I found this plot to be less exciting than those of previous books. I'm not sure why attending balls would be required of a manager of a children's home, anyway.

I liked Isabelle, for the most part, though I did find her to be a little dull of a character, overall. Eventually, she does begin to impress me, but for most of the book we are stuck in a loop of tutoring, talking about good manners, and pointless public outings. I do not envy the people of this time period. It sounds like a dreadfully boring way to live.

There was some excitement here and there, though. I found Lady Penelope to be just annoying enough to dislike but not enough to become bothered by her. I laughed at her, often, and she was probably the only real spark of humor I found in the entire book. Her and her companion, Miss Greaves, brought me many chuckles.

The highlight, for me, was the narrator of this audiobook. I have tried listening to other audiobooks and sometimes a female speaker can be downright terrible when voicing male parts. I thought this narrator did a fantastic job and did not overdo it on the male lines. The love scenes were nicely read, as well.

In closing...
This was a good read and a pleasure to listen to and I plan to do an audiobook for the next book of the series, too. 3 suns!

Full review on Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog

I was intrigued by Winter Makepeace, Temperance and Silence's brother, since his first appearance in the first volume of this remarkable series. And like the three previous novels, Hoyt amazed me once again creating an incredibly compelling and touching story with two unforgettable protagonists.

Winter is a strong and proud man who does not show his feelings openly, neither to the members of his family or to the children he takes great care of. But Winter is much more than what appears. In fact, if during the day he is a stern and calm teacher, at night he wanders the dark streets of the neighborhood under the disguise of the infamous Ghost of St. Giles in order to help those in danger and, above all, to save innocent children from the clutches of evil. Ever since he was just a boy, Winter swore that he would dedicate his life to help others, refusing to start a family of his own and, consequentially, avoiding the pleasures of the flesh. Winter believes the sexual act is something important and deep and thus an act to do only when you are in love. Moreover, he knows that if he ever falls in love it will mean the end of his life as the Ghost of St. Giles. That's the reason why the attraction he feels towards the charming and beautiful widow Isabel Beckinhall makes him restless.
Isabel is one of the new noble benefactors who helped to provide a new building for the poor children of St. Giles. She is a spirited, witty, cheeky and determined woman. Yet, like any woman, she hides sorrows, fears and a fragility inside herself and that she never shows up in public.
Since the first encounter with Winter, theirs is a battle of wills. They both wear a mask to hide their true nature and do everything to bring the vulnerability of the other to light. Isabel is fascinated by this man apparently so rigid and inflexible because she can see in his eyes a passion and a desire repressed, and she has every intention of discovering the real man that lurks within his soul.

It was incredibly touching to see how Winter gradually surrenders to the feelings of love and passion Isabel awakens in him. Initially determined to not become emotionally attached to any woman, Winter turns out to be a passionate, tender and sympathetic lover. The love he feels for Isabel helps him realize what are his true desires, and that after all the sacrifice is not always the best solution. His desire to live close to the woman he loves is so immense that Winter is willing to do a little-big sacrifice for the sake of Isabel.
It is also very moving to see how the growing feelings of Isabel toward Winter help her to drop the mask she has worn for so many years upon her heart and soul. Isabel shows herself emotionally naked before her beloved's eyes aware that he does not judge her for her faults but he accepts and loves all her nuance.
The author enriches a story in itself already enchanting with incredibly passionate and hot-blooded moments. Her erotic scenes are described with an impeccable sensuality and always imbued with feeling.

Once again, Elizabeth Hoyt amazed me with her natural ability to put on paper the deepest and hidden feelings of the human soul. Her characters suffer, rejoice, laugh, get angry, and with them also the readers experience these extraordinary emotions. With her stories, her adventures and her words, Hoyt is always able to touch my heart and makes me spend extraordinary hours in the company of men and women who in their imperfection are unique and exceptional.
Everyone should read Elizabeth Hoyt's novels because there is no romance without her! The world would be a much darker place without Elizabeth's fabulous books!

I love historical romances set in this period! This one is unusual because Lady Isabel Beckinhall joins a group of women to assit a charity that houses infants and small children that are orphans in one of the poorest and most corrupt parts of London. The headmaster of the foundling home is Winter Makepeace, a man whom the ladies decide needs more polish in order to mix with the influential and affluent to gain more funding for his home. Lady Isabel is chosen to "polish" Winter!

In addition to being headmaster of the foundling home, Winter goes out at night disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles determined to protect the people of St. Giles from predators that would harm them, steal what little they have or press unprotected orphans into work as slaves fro their profit.

A very interesting look at the time period!

Overall I was impressed with this book. I have read one other Hoyt book (The Leopard Prince) several years ago and both books share a few things in common. Both have women of a social standing much higher than the men. The men are working men, the women are women of leisure. She has money he doesn't. There is also a story within the story. I thought parts of the book seemed to drag a bit but overall it kept me wanting to get back to it. The story within the story was told in short parts at the start of each chapter and it made me want to hurry up and get to the next chapter.

Winter was a pretty good hero but perhaps not as 'mysterious' as Hoyt tried to make him. His 'inner beast' came across a bit silly as he is more of a Beta hero than an Alpha (I don't care what he does in his spare time he is still a Beta....but still wonderful...truly). Isobel comes across as cold and not quite likable but Hoyt does an excellent job of showing us that she really isn't cold despite her various actions throughout the first half of the book that would lead us to believe the worst of her. I think as characters go, standing alone, they would be average but together, as a couple, Isobel and Winter are just stunning.

And what can I say about the love scenes? You will rarely hear me say this but most of them were absolutely wonderful. For someone who tends to skip the moist parts I read a couple of them twice.

As far as the plot goes, the pace seems a bit slow in spots but this is easily overlooked as we get wrapped up in Winter's need to save the innocent and Isobel's need to save Winter. The mystery aspect of the plot is a bit overshadowed by the romance between Isobel and Winter but not in a bad way, as this is a book one wouldn't read for the mystery anyway.

I am so glad I read this book and after reading a teasing sample of the next book in this series (Lord of Darkness) I can't wait to read it. Elizabeth Hoyt has made me a fan.

My favorite quote: "Never volunteer. Not even when pleasantly filled with warm scones and hot tea. Warm scones were obviously the work of the devil....."

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt
Book Four of the Maiden Lane series
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Publisher - won a giveaway

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

A MASKED MAN . . .

Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.

A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

What I Liked:

I did like this book, but not as much as the odd numbers of this series. The protagonists had strong personalities in this book, and definitely fit well together. I usually love the hero, and in this case, it was no different with Winter Makepeace.

Winter is different from the other heroes of the series, because he isn't a lord, or a Duke, or some rich and mighty noble. He's a poor schoolteacher and orphan home manager. He has so much depth, but in a different way from the other male protagonists of the series. His background isn't troubled or dark (though he thinks it is), but he is filled with angst and bitterness from his work as the Ghost. Winter is so complex; he feels he has to save everyone, but he can't save himself from his depressive ways.

Isabel is a feisty heroine, and a good match for Winter. She is different from the other heroines, save Hero, because she is a lady of rank. Maybe this is my problem with the even numbered-books? They're of ladies of rank, not poor ladies. But then. Book Five deals with Lady Margaret, so maybe not. Anyway. Isabel is a widow, and she has her own problems. I like her with Winter.

The chemistry and romance between these two are different, because of Isabel's situation, and Winter's situation (not telling!). But, I found it at times endearing, and a tad irritating. It didn't take away from my overall opinion of the book though.

Another fabulous ending! I already knew the ending to this particular book, as I read Book Five before I read any of the other books. It was an excellent ending, and I am happy that this book was so fulfilling!

What I Did Not Like:

This book wasn't my favorite of the series. Like Book Two, I didn't really connect with the heroine. I didn't really feel Isabel as a person, and I didn't really like her intrusiveness. It just didn't work for her.

I was also a tiny bit bored at times. Winter isn't your, um, typical male, so the chemistry between the two characters is different. Sometimes, it's a good different, but other times, not really.

Otherwise, I really liked this books :)

Would I Recommend It:

YES! It's not my favorite (that would probably be Book One, Book Three, or Book Five), but I really liked this book. As always, this series is a fine example of amazing historical romance.

Rating:

4 stars. This one was excellent, as was the rest of the series, but it wasn't my favorite. It's definitely a great addition to the series though!

It's like Hoyt asked herself, "What if Batman lived and loved in the Georgian Era?" and then proceeded to answer her own question with this unique, engaging novel.

Winter struck me as a kind, ethical, self-sacrificing outer beta who turns out to be as protective, fiery and badass as a classic alpha, though thankfully without the rageaholic jackassery that afflicts far too many alphas these days :) In other words: he's an immensely likable and compelling hero, despite my not necessarily agreeing with some of his choices. (Sorry for the annoying vagueness; I'm always worried about spoiling potential readers!) Isabel, meanwhile, is beautiful, confident, smart, sassy, witty, bold, and embraced and admired by society. I tend to better relate to and connect with heroines who are more flawed---(I'm a sucker for a bluestocking or slightly socially awkward underdog!)---but I found myself liking Isabel anyway, and deep down she does have just enough insecurities to make her very human.

The sex scenes are a bit raunchy for my personal taste, but I'll readily concede that my preferred temperature zone for love scenes is lower than most. If you like your sex scenes very explicit and super steamy, you are going to love this one! Either way, rest assured that isn't one of those romance novels that uses sex scenes as a substitute for actual story or characterization: there's plenty of both. You may have to suspend your disbelief on a couple of issues, but those of us who read romance are pretty accustomed to doing that, and for the most part I was enjoying the characters and writing style too much to care.

Since I seem to be incapable of ever reading series in their intended order (don't ask!), this was my first Maiden Lane book. It was actually my very first Elizabeth Hoyt book, though not my last. It's possible that I missed certain subtle references and nuances which reading the preceding books would have allowed me to pick up on, but I never felt as if my unfamiliarity with the series hindered my ability to understand and appreciate this novel.

I deducted one star not for anything this very well-written book included---(I never deduct for sex scenes that I personally find uncomfortably steamy, since that's clearly just a matter of personal taste and I know that most appreciate them far more than I do!)---but just because it was missing that undefinable, grabs-your-heart-as-well-as-your-head magic that screams "five stars!" to me. I was wholly engrossed while reading it and would happily recommend it to fellow romance junkies. But somehow I fell just short of truly falling in love with it in that inexplicably deep five star-ish way, where I'm eager to immediately reread parts of it before I can bring myself to move on to a new book and where I wonder about how the H and h are doing as if they're a real couple who I know and care about. (Um, I'm not alone in doing that...right?! ;)

I plan to catch up with Mickey and Silence's story sometime this summer. And, yes...that will mean I'm still not reading this series in the intended order :)

The fourth installment of the Maiden Lane series is a wonderful story of love and devotion.

Winter Makepeace has spent the last nine years working as the Manager of the orphanage founded by his family. He takes his responsibility very seriously and works hard to help the children of St. Giles. What no one else knows is that he is also the Ghost of St. Giles - a mysterious vigilante who roams the streets at night trying to keep the people safe. I love, love, love Winter Makepeace. In the previous books he came across cold and unemotional, but in Thief of Shadows the real Winter is revealed. He feels more than he will admit for the children at the home and for the people of St. Giles. He feels it is his responsibility to take care and protect. They are his number one focus and his own desires are always pushed away.

Lady Isabel Beckenhall is almost Winter's opposite. She is privileged, rich, and doesn't take care of anyone - nor does she feel the responsibility to take care of anyone. After the death of her husband she was happy to discretely take lovers and enjoy her freedom. She plans to continue living her life as she chooses, but all that changes when she becomes a patroness to the orphanage and meets Winter Makepeace. Isabel is an unusual heroine for a historical romance. She is flirty and sexy and doesn't care who knows it. She is tempted by Winter and doesn't believe that she should have to hide those feelings. She goes after what she wants, even though she doesn't understand why she wants it.

One of the things I most loved about this book was that Winter Makepeace was a virgin. His decision to remain celibate made so much sense for the character - he didn't believe that anything should be more important to him than his "mission." His sacrifice proved that he was committed to his beliefs and that he wouldn't change them for anyone - until Isabel. She makes him rethink his entire world. The scene when he finally succumbs to the attraction between him and Isabel is one of the hottest things I've read in a while. The way he asks her to teach him everything is seriously sexy. I really enjoyed how unique these scene was and how much power the heroine was given. Isabel tells him what she wants and revels in the fact that he actually cares about what she feels and what gives her pleasure.

A lot of the story focuses on the Ghost of St. Giles and his search for children who are being taken and treated terribly. This search shows who Winter is and helps Isabel learn things about him. Both Winter and Isabel change throughout the book and learn who they truly are and what they want from life. Winter learns that he doesn't have to put others first all of the time. It is enough for him to take care of the children and that he can love Isabel at the same time. Isabel learns that she is more than she thought. That she had hidden her own emotions behind an invisible mask like Winter hid his behind the Ghost of St. Giles.

Thief of Shadows is a wonderful book and will delight fans of the series that have been waiting for Winter's story.

Reviewed by Carrie

This review was originally posted on The Season site (theseasonforromance dot com)

Winter Makepeace is a hard man, while he loves his sisters and is very happy for them he is also quite isolated. He lives with this idea that he has to hold himself in rigid control because he believes that is how he should be and as his father would want him to be. The other reason is that Winter is living a double life on as the head and manager of a orphans home and the other as the Ghost of St. Giles and Winter is fine with that. Until the one of the ladies of the home stars to believe that Winter may not be the best head for the home and plan to replace him. Lady Isabel is chosen to help tutor Winter in social graces ironically in the same period Lady Isabel also comes face to face with the Ghost. Between Winter and Isabel's battle of the wills they soon see beyond the mask that they each wear, and in the meantime someone is stealing and hurting children.

After watching Winter in all of the other books I have been looking forward to watching him break his stone cold hold on everything. I was hoping he could have a strong woman who wanted him and this story delivered just that. I also liked Lady Isabel and she is a great heroine, it was interesting to get a sense of how much of herself that she kept suppressed. Especially around Christopher and I just loved how that worked out!The story moves smoothly and really fast. The child labor plot also kept things interesting.

My only real complaint well there is two and the first is I wish his sisters would have take a more active role in the book. The other is I really did not understand why the ladies of the ..this that or other...orphanage cared about his social skills and furthermore why would a titled man be willing to take the job?? Even though that later did not make sense to me it did not distract me from the story.

Praise to Elizabeth Hoyt and a definite new favorite of authors for me! Although at first I was a bit skeptical about getting engaged in this story since it commenced rather slow for me, it really took an adventurous return. The adventure was never second guessed and it flowed at a good and suspenseful speed. I very much enjoyed the wit between the characters and yes, they were EXTREMELY erotic during their encounters.

Our hero is very much like the Zorro character in that he is seeking to right the wrongs inflicted on the poor and innocent children of the St. Giles district. He is very passionate about his role as the "Ghost of St. Giles" and feels the heavy burdens when he cannot save the innocent on any given night. Our heroine, is not at all like Zorro's demure love interest, Esmeralda, but quite the opposite. She has social status since she is the widow of an aristocrat, but having been somewhat passionately neglected has sought companionship by taking on several lovers in her past. She sometimes comes across as a bit to bold for her time. Furthermore, she is also very astute and intelligent to the point that she immediately uncovers the true identity of the Ghost of St. Giles almost immediately; as his kiss was so ardently passionate as the schoolmaster that she is always battling wits with. Unfortunately (CAUTION_SPOILERT ALERT HERE--->_ our author decided that our Ghost was so overwhelmingly passionate, that he decided to take on a life of celibacy upon his "ordainment" as the Ghost of St. Giles; a characteristic that at times did not parallel his at times "naughty wit." Moreover, our author kept reminding us that in order for our hero to maintain such a strict and saintly-like moral ethical standard, that he often had to deal with this passionate thirst as "locking up the beast." This character was being paralleled to a beast throughout several chapters in such a "Wolverine-like" manner, that it lost its appealing quality in that our Ghost of St. Giles came across as "controlling the rage" most often than not followed by moments of intense sensitivity. The character gyrated from one extreme to the other resulting in an unrealistic personality. How can a celibate virgin male be so extremely inexperienced and asking our heroine to teach him the art of lovemaking (where to touch her, what to actually do during his performing), to then talking dirty and performing so erotically the next minute. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this character, but I had to roll my eyes here and there at his inconsistent qualities. Our author's excuse of our hero having to "control the beast" to then "unleashing the beast" was not quality enough into maintaining this character real down to the core.

And now regarding our heroine; well, her falling in love with our hero whether or not he was the schoolmaster by day and the Ghost of St. Giles at night did maintain its authenticity throughout the book in my opinion. She is extremely persistent in breaking through his rough and tough exterior wall in order to win her game of seduction, but her inability to immediately harness this true love, despite her (CAUTION-SPOILER ALERT HERE--->)inability to conceive issues was a bit demeaning to the romance. She was already raising her former husband's bastard, even at an emotional arms length, but the reader can still conclude that she did already love this child and hence our hero's love for other children besides his very own should have been completely evident enough for her to realize that their genuine love for one another can truly result in a successful marriage; our hero proposed over and over again to the point or railroading himself into our heroine's life in order to make her see the light of day that they are imprinted to their very souls for one another. Thus, with this constant "infertility" barrier being brought up by our heroine, I found myself skimming rapidly in order to end the triteness. Moreover, when our heroine noticed that our hero was so lost in the "unleashed beast," she would always resort to seducing him and "patting him" in order to tame said beast. This act came across as a bit condescending and controlling on her part, and although the author would make up on the authenticity of the romance, I felt that she came across as overly too experienced and way older than our hero; even though their true ages were never stated.

But luckily our author was able to wrap it up in a realistic and genuine "Happily Ever After" and a beautiful ending that is set to kick-off the next installment into a must read. I very much appreciated the little excerpt of the next installment to this series, and it looks just as eventful, if not even a bit more exciting as the torch is passed on to the next Ghost of St. Giles.

I am definitely looking forward to more reads from Elizabeth Hoyt. GOOD WORK.

Last night I was able to finish Thief of Shadows. I have been hearing a lot about this book. The main thing I kept hearing was the hero was a virgin. I know. You don't find too many virgin heroes. Instead of focusing on the fact that the hero is a virgin let me tell you what the story is about.

Well, this is the fourth book in the Maiden Lane Series. All the stories of Maiden Lane take place in St. Giles. Not the safest place in London. We meet up with Lady Isabel Beckinhall who is to meet up with Mr. Winter Makepeace, the manger of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. Yeah, I know a mouthful. Unavailable at the time she arrives she decided to head home, but Lady Beckinhall finds something in the road. Not really a something, but a someone, The Ghost of St. Giles.

The mysterious Ghost of St. Giles, goes around St. Giles saving the people while prancing around in a Harlequin outfit. No one knows who this masked man is, but the one who wears the mask. Which would surprise everyone. No one ever figure that the mild manner man, Winter Makepeace, would be the Ghost of St. Giles. Until he came across Isabel started figure out who the masked man is.

An amazing book by Elizabeth Hoyt. I love Winter's and Isabel's chemistry, each of them wears a mask in front of society not wanting the world to see their true selves. However, they are able to break down the walls for each other. Conquering fears that they both have to find their ultimate happiness. Such a wonderful book, which y'all should check out if you have a chance.

Elizabeth Hoyt's novels never disappoint. She is queen when it comes to dark plots with thoroughly captivating characters.

I've read Wicked Intentions, the story of Winter's sister, so it was fun to be able to delve back into that world again. I still have to read all the one's in between, but I've been waiting to see Winter again. It seemed obvious she was going to make one, I just didn't know how she was going to make him into hero material.

I enjoy how to the world Winter Makepiece shows this stuffy do-gooder personality, when in reality he is just reining in his emotions and sense of righteousness. He puts his all into the orphanage and champions the orphans of the city by night as the Ghost of St. Giles. And suddenly he meets Lady Isabel Beckinhall and you see this other side of him that is charming and a little cheeky.

As usual, Ms. Hoyt's plots are wonderful, the books run together smoothly, and the characters are wonderfully complex.

Thief of Shadows is definitely my favorite of the series thus far! Winter just made my heart all aflutter. And Isabel is exactly the type of heroine I love to read about! When it starts, Isabel has just stumbled upon the Ghost of St. Giles bleeding in the road. There’s a mob, since he just saved Micky from hanging (it picks up immediately after Scandalous Desires), so she has her coachmen scoop him up and head for home. There she tends to his injuries, but never unmasks him. But then she meets with Winter Makepeace at the orphanage and something about him is quite familiar….

Obviously, Winter is the Ghost. It’s in the description and we’re told it at the end of the previous book. Thief of Shadows tells us exactly how he came to be this masked crusader, and each chapter has an excerpt from the legend behind his character. I loved that Isabel isn't shocked or appalled about Winter’s double life, and that it doesn’t drag on forever. This is not a case of no one knowing Clark Kent is Superman just because he’s wearing glasses. Isabel puts the pieces together and is glad that the man she has feeling for is also the same strange, masked man that she has an undeniable attraction to.

My favorite part of Thief of Shadows was how sex was handled. This should surprise no one. Isabel is originally tasked with giving Winter lessons in manners and how to navigate polite society now that the orphanage is gaining esteem. If he doesn’t learn how to interact, he’ll lose his life’s work. Of course, Isabel instructs him in much more than just how to bow and give compliments. Winter has zero experience with the ladies, and Isabel is not shy about admitting that she enjoys sex, and to hell with anyone who will judge her! This makes for many heart fluttering moments and Winter is just so darn adorable!

Thief of Shadows just has many, many little things that I absolute adored that all added up to one great story. Winter is more than just a simple man and more than just the Ghost of St. Giles. He knows what he wants and will go after it! He will not let Isabel use his age and lower station to push him away! And then that ending! What?! This series just keeps me wanting to read more!

I received this book at the Romance Writers of America Convention and it came highly touted -- so I was anxious to see why.

To be honest, I have gotten away from reading modern day romances and I must say that, as some other reviewers mentioned, that I found this story somewhat contrived. Why would someone dress up as a Harlequin and roam the streets at night to rescue children? And why, after he is identified as a criminal, would he continue to dress as said Harlequin and continue to roam the streets? It would seem to me he would want to disguise himself.

The idea of Winter being a male virgin was kind of interesting and handled pretty well. But personally, the sex scenes bothered me. A little too explicit for my tastes.

What really bothered me though was the end of the book. Nothing is said about a society woman who turned up pregnant after her lover was murdered. Neither of these loose threads was resolved in the book. Perhaps they will be in a sequel, I don't know. I doubt I will be reading it.

Winter is FANTASTIC. But it was a real challenge not to picture him as Bing Crosby. Anyone who has watched "Robin and the 7 Hoods" starring the Rat Pack will know what I'm talking about. The Alan A. Dale character is the dour, respectable, Plain Joe manager of a foundling home. And he is played by Bing Crosby. And Bing Crosby is not an attractive man.

I had to actually concentrate on not picturing Winter as Bing Crosby. I failed most of the time.

But OMG I loved Winter/Isabel. I kind of hate that he's not the Ghost anymore. :/ SADZ. And did I read the end right? SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE WARY OF SPOILERS, DON'T READ ANYTHING BELOW!

Did both Godric AND Griffin have Ghost masks? So at some point Griffin was the Ghost, too? Was that mentioned in his and Hero's story? Did I miss it? Also, why does everyone have weird names? Temperance, Silence, Winter, Godric (not that weird, but still). IDEK. Maybe I'm the weird one. For all I know, those were relatively common names in mid 18th century England. *kanye shrug*

Thief of Shadows is definitely my favorite of the series thus far! Winter just made my heart all aflutter. And Isabel is exactly the type of heroine I love to read about! When it starts, Isabel has just stumbled upon the Ghost of St. Giles bleeding in the road. There’s a mob, since he just saved Micky from hanging (it picks up immediately after Scandalous Desires), so she has her coachmen scoop him up and head for home. There she tends to his injuries, but never unmasks him. But then she meets with Winter Makepeace at the orphanage and something about him is quite familiar….

Obviously, Winter is the Ghost. It’s in the description and we’re told it at the end of the previous book. Thief of Shadows tells us exactly how he came to be this masked crusader, and each chapter has an excerpt from the legend behind his character. I loved that Isabel isn't shocked or appalled about Winter’s double life, and that it doesn’t drag on forever. This is not a case of no one knowing Clark Kent is Superman just because he’s wearing glasses. Isabel puts the pieces together and is glad that the man she has feeling for is also the same strange, masked man that she has an undeniable attraction to.

My favorite part of Thief of Shadows was how sex was handled. This should surprise no one. Isabel is originally tasked with giving Winter lessons in manners and how to navigate polite society now that the orphanage is gaining esteem. If he doesn’t learn how to interact, he’ll lose his life’s work. Of course, Isabel instructs him in much more than just how to bow and give compliments. Winter has zero experience with the ladies, and Isabel is not shy about admitting that she enjoys sex, and to hell with anyone who will judge her! This makes for many heart fluttering moments and Winter is just so darn adorable!

Thief of Shadows just has many, many little things that I absolute adored that all added up to one great story. Winter is more than just a simple man and more than just the Ghost of St. Giles. He knows what he wants and will go after it! He will not let Isabel use his age and lower station to push him away! And then that ending! What?! This series just keeps me wanting to read more!

I received this book at the Romance Writers of America Convention and it came highly touted -- so I was anxious to see why.

To be honest, I have gotten away from reading modern day romances and I must say that, as some other reviewers mentioned, that I found this story somewhat contrived. Why would someone dress up as a Harlequin and roam the streets at night to rescue children? And why, after he is identified as a criminal, would he continue to dress as said Harlequin and continue to roam the streets? It would seem to me he would want to disguise himself.

The idea of Winter being a male virgin was kind of interesting and handled pretty well. But personally, the sex scenes bothered me. A little too explicit for my tastes.

What really bothered me though was the end of the book. Nothing is said about a society woman who turned up pregnant after her lover was murdered. Neither of these loose threads was resolved in the book. Perhaps they will be in a sequel, I don't know. I doubt I will be reading it.

Winter is FANTASTIC. But it was a real challenge not to picture him as Bing Crosby. Anyone who has watched "Robin and the 7 Hoods" starring the Rat Pack will know what I'm talking about. The Alan A. Dale character is the dour, respectable, Plain Joe manager of a foundling home. And he is played by Bing Crosby. And Bing Crosby is not an attractive man.

I had to actually concentrate on not picturing Winter as Bing Crosby. I failed most of the time.

But OMG I loved Winter/Isabel. I kind of hate that he's not the Ghost anymore. :/ SADZ. And did I read the end right? SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE WARY OF SPOILERS, DON'T READ ANYTHING BELOW!

Did both Godric AND Griffin have Ghost masks? So at some point Griffin was the Ghost, too? Was that mentioned in his and Hero's story? Did I miss it? Also, why does everyone have weird names? Temperance, Silence, Winter, Godric (not that weird, but still). IDEK. Maybe I'm the weird one. For all I know, those were relatively common names in mid 18th century England. *kanye shrug*

By day, Winter Makepeace is the staid headmaster of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in St. Giles. By night, he dons a mask and harlequin's motley and roams the streets as the Ghost of St. Giles, protecting London's poor from those who seek to prey on the weak. But Winter's secret life is fraught with danger and his luck cannot last forever...

Lady Isabel Beckinhall isn't quite sure how she was chosen to represent her fellow benefactresses when it comes time to inspect the newly built orphanage in St. Giles. She does know there is something about the orphanage's headmaster that makes her want to needle the oh-so-proper man. Then Winter fails to show for their appointed meeting, and as Isabel makes her way out of St. Giles she comes across the notorious Ghost lying beaten and unconscious in the road. She cannot leave the man to be killed, so she rescues the Ghost and heals him, not knowing that the tempting fugitive and the frustrating headmaster are one and the same. But when Isabel volunteers to tutor Winter on how to navigate society and impress potential benefactors, she begins to see that beneath the rigid façade of Winter lies a man who is so much more than what he seems.

Drawn together by desire, Winter and Isabel must overcome their own stubbornness, class differences, and more if they have a hope of being together. Even then, their burgeoning relationship may come to a swift end. Someone is kidnapping little girls in St. Giles and Winter will risk everything -- even his life -- to save them.

Elizabeth Hoyt takes readers from the dazzling ballrooms of London society to the darkest corners of the city's slums in Thief of Shadows. The contrast between the two -- mirrored by the contrast between Winter and Isabel -- makes Thief of Shadows a fascinating story. Only an author like Ms. Hoyt could successfully pull two so seemingly disparate elements together into one engaging book.

Winter is a man at war with himself. He sees his identity as the Ghost as a "beast" he lets out, not realizing that it's truly a part of himself he needs to accept if he ever hopes to be whole. He's neither as coldly good or as ragingly dark as he believes, and I enjoyed watching him find himself in Thief of Shadows. The catalyst for his change is, of course, Isabel. She's a delightful heroine who seems slightly shallow and is society's version of perfect...until one looks beneath the surface. Like Winter, Isabel isn't all that she seems. Yes, Isabel is strong, witty, and charming, and those aspects of her are delightful. But she also has a generous heart that's been scarred by past wounds and there's a vulnerability to her that touched me. Together, Winter and Isabel are an intriguing pair. Over the course of the story, they become the best versions of themselves when together. Not to mention the heat. Like his siblings, Winter was cunningly misnamed -- he isn't cold at all. The sexual tension in Thief of Shadows is deliciously hot, and when fulfilled... Well, I'll leave what happens then for readers to discover.

Thief of Shadows is the fourth book in Ms. Hoyt's Maiden Lane series, but it can be read as a standalone. In fact, Winter and Isabel's book seems to be the beginning of a trilogy within the Maiden Lane series. The identity of the Ghost of St. Giles has long been a mystery, so it's no surprise that Thief of Shadows contains spoilers for the first three books. That being said, even if you read Thief of Shadows first, don't miss out on the fabulously entertaining Wicked Intentions, Notorious Pleasures, and Scandalous Desires; they're just too good to pass up.

I've been following Ms. Hoyt's work since her debut, and to me she just gets better and better. My only problem with Thief of Shadows is that it ends with a cliffhanger that has me on edge for the next Maiden Lane book. Oh, how I want Godric St. John's book! But until Lord of Darkness is released, I'll have to content myself with re-reading the Maiden Lane series. And when it comes to books by Elizabeth Hoyt, re-reading is never, ever a hardship ;)

Reviewed by Shayna
For Joyfully Reviewed

The Ghost of St. Giles is unmasked to the delight of Isabel, Lady Beckenhall. Before long she too let's down her own mask to reveal a better person than she seems. Winter tries to control his interest in the person he discovered beneath her mask. He also must try keep his wits about him while searching for the lassie stealers and keeping his orphanage. If he can't be the Ghost or the manager of the orphanage, then who is he? Likewise, Isabel isn't entirely happy with her lot in life and desires more. Hoyt shows how these two people can love, live, and laugh without their masks. We also learn more about the Ghost, Lady Margaret, and Mr. St. John.

4.5 stars!

I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.

Winter Makepeace has been the manager of an orphanage for years. He is known as a serious man completely committed to the home, to say the orphanage is his life would be an understatement. But at night he moonlights as the Ghost of St. Giles. The Ghost is a hero to some, a villain to others, but legendary to all. Winters risks his life nightly to right the wrongs in impoverished St. Giles. When he is injured and left for dead after his most recent mission he is rescued by Lady Isabel Beckinhall. Isabel is fascinated by the Ghost, she nurses him to health and he disappears soon after.

Isabel happens to be a part of the Ladies' Syndicate that finances and oversees the orphanage. When Winter's manners and managerial skills are called into question she is asked to tutor him, to try to soften his edges. Soon she discovers there is much more to Winter than meets the eye.

I have been fascinated by the stoic Winter since the first book, I was thrilled with how his story turned out. The romance between Winter and Isabel isn't easy as they both have such different lives and both feel strongly about the paths their lives should take, but there is no denying their chemistry. Page after page things heat up and I loved every moment.

Although romance is at the forefront there is also the mystery of missing children and a heavy dose of action as the Ghost of St. Giles fights to find the truth. This series has been wonderful so far and this book is an excellent addition. I am practically twitchy with anticipation for the next story and I hope this series continues on even further. I would love to see some of the orphans like Joseph Tinbox and Peach find their happily ever after.

I highly recommend this book, but if you haven't read the first three I suggest you do so before reading this one.

There are many reasons Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite authors and this book just proves what excellent taste in authors I have! :)

Cherise Everhard, July 2012

Had not read this author before...and wasn't expecting much, but I was incredibly surprised. I tend to like my heroes to be experienced, strong, and independent but a little surprised at how much they actually need the heroine. Winter (the hero) has never allowed himself to love a woman or even have relations with one, but inexplicably finds himself quite taken with Isabel. This was not only an interesting reversal of roles, but also Isabel has the money and social standing while Winter is from a different social class. Though this plays into the angst in the relationship it in no way overshadows the story. The sexual tension and passion between the main characters is quite amazing. Would highly recommend. Look forward to reading more by this author.

Lady Isabel Beckinhall has become one of a group of benefactors for the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children ~ and for her pesonally, she's become the biggest supporter of the Home's current Manager, Winter Makepeace. It seems that one of the benefactors has taken it upon herself to find a replacement for Mr. Makepeace, as he's not 'refined' enough for what she thinks the Home needs as representation. So Isabel is going to help refine Winter...she'll tutor him in the ALL the things he needs to know...

Winter Makepeace is not only the Manager of the Home, he's also quite a bit more to the people of St. Giles ~ he's the Harlequin of St. Giles, who risks everything time and again to save children, to help out those who have been victimized and those down on their luck...but the Dragoons grow closer and closer to capturing him, and while Winter has dedicated his life to this cause, he's being tempted away from it by none other than Lady Isabel.

Isabel at first thinks Winter is cold and unfeeling, but as she begins to realize there is a true fire burning under that prim and proper facade, she knows she wants this man...and as a widow with some means, she CAN have him.

WOW, I adored this book!! Winter is NOT your typical hero ~ he's poor, he's a virgin (yes, VIRGIN hero!) and his whole life is about the children of St. Giles. He's not looking to impress anyone ~ least of all some loose moraled woman who is trying to turn him into something he's not. But you can actually FEEL him and Isabel being drawn closer and closer together ~ she appears to be totally out there, but Winter digs in and discovers the true heart of Isabel, the woman who has too many feelings. It was such a pleasure reading how they made each other happier, more open people!

With a thread of mystery running through the book, what with Winter determined to find the 'lassie snatchers' Ms. Hoyt kept me glued to pages until well into the a.m.! Her writing is smooth and seamless, the characters are developed wonderfully, and there was not a single thing I didn't love about this book!
I couldn't put this down ~ it's a story that will make your heart smile!

The depth of emotion hidden under Mr. Winter Makepeace stoic facade is mind boggling. He brings the to a whole new level. I simply fell in love with him.
During the day he is an orphanage headmaster, at night he is the Ghost of St. Giles.
One night Lady Isabel Beckinhall saves the Ghost of St. Giles from a mob. Now she must teach Mr. Makepeace the ways of polite society. She starts to learn how deep his emotions run.

I loved their connection, their banter and flirtation. How he got jealous of her previous lovers, and then got all possessive.

There was also a little side story about Lady Margaret, more of a preview of the next book in the series to wet my appetite.

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Ashford McNab
Maiden Lane series #4

5 Stars

This book was great! I loved Winter Makepeace. He is such an honourable man and he keeps himself this way until Lady Beckinhall threatens his sanity. These two together are fantastic! I loved how the roles were reversed, she the more experience and he the innocent. She the aggressor and teacher, though Winter stole that role some times.

There was some great action.. How could there not be when the Ghost of St.Giles is around. The lead characters had some wonderful moments, great banter and awesome chemistry. Who knew I would have to say yet again: that this is my favourite of the series so far!!

This may sound foolish, and I know they are just children… but I really want Joseph Tinbox and Peach to get a story later in this series. He could be all grown up and comeback to her after years of letters.. Yes.. I know, I am ever the romantic!!

I have already downloaded book 5 in this series and can’t wait to read it! I am sad to see that the narrator is not the same... as Ashford McNab is fantastic! Here's hoping this new narrator can compare!

Original review posted at: [...]

I admit, I started this series with Scandalous Desires and not only did I love that book but I also fell in love with the mysterious Winter Makepeace. What I didn't expect is to love Thief of Shadows just as much too. Well, I was wrong. Elizabeth Hoyt wrote a fantastic, fun and adventurous romance with delightful characters.

Winter Makepeace is not your typical hero. He is the headmaster of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in St. Giles by day. By night, he wears a mask and fights to help protect the poor and helpless citizens of St. Giles. His commitment to the orphanage and his role as the Ghost of St. Giles takes precedence over a personal life where he has taken a vow of celibacy. Who doesn't love a virgin hero? In Thief of Shadows we really get to know Winter and a wowing hero he turns out to be! He comes across as a quiet and reserved man but what he doesn't show anyone is that he is kind, witty, thoughtful, selfless, and disciplined. More than anything, he is a true hero to the children of St. Giles where he rescues them from dangerous and poor situations and brings them back to the orphanage for safety. And because of the overwhelming need to take care of the children of St. Giles, Winter has taken on the task to solve the "lassie snatchers" mystery where someone is snatching young orphaned girls off the streets of St. Giles. Winter Makepeace is a one of a kind man and in essence, a superhero.

Isabel Beckinhall is part of the Lady's Syndicate that supports the orphanage. When the Syndicate decides Winter is not a proper manager for the home they support, they decide they want to replace him with someone in the aristocracy. Isobel takes on the task to help Winter by teaching him social etiquette lessons that will help him impress the aristocracy so he can keep his manager position. Begrudgingly, Winter decides to take on the task to learn good manners because he would do anything to keep the children's home. Isobel is a wealthy widow and not your traditional heroine. She is strong, independent, and straight-forward. She is also drawn to Winter like a moth to a flame. She's attracted to this man who has bad manners and doesn't care for frivolous things. Her meddling finds out who Winter is and so much more. I found it refreshing that it was Isobel who was the aggressor in this relationship. Winter wants to keep his distance but she wants him in her bed. Winter is like a caged animal that is waiting to be released and Isabel is the one who wants to release him. When Winter finally let's himself have Isobel, he's a man on a mission.

Isabel bit her lip. "What are you doing here?"
He removed his tunic but didn't bother looking up as he sat to take off his boots. "I want you to show me."
"Show you what?"
He did look up at that, one boot in his hands, and his eyes bored straight into her woman's soul. "Everything."

Oh my.
Winter surprised me continuously with his naughty ways in the bedroom and the sweet and romantic words he confesses to Isabel.

"I adore your hair. Do you know that?" he whispered. "I used to dream it in my lonely monk's bed, long mahogany locks twining themselves about my limbs in my sleep. I'd wake aroused and aching and cursing you."

Isabel and Winter both don masks to keep themselves from being exposed emotionally. Winter tries to be the good and kind man but distant, like his father. Isabel has faced disappointments in her life which makes her afraid to open up to anyone. In each other, they are able to let down their masks and love each other openly and freely.

The author writes an amazing and original love story. I can't wait to see what happens next because at the end of the story we get a little sneak peak at what's to come and what a surprise ending indeed! I really need to go back to read the first two books to get a little more background information on the hero in the next book. Luckily, they are already sitting in my TBR pile

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance -June 26th, 2012
4 1/2 stars

As the forth in the author's Maiden Lane series, Thief of Shadows centers around a home for orphans in the poor and treacherous streets of London. Full of heart and dramatic romance, Elizabeth Hoyt only gets better!

Winter Makepeace lives austerely and strictly. He fights to avenge and protect those who are underprivileged in the dark and dangerous streets of London. By day, he is the aloof and stern Master of a foundling house devoted to protecting and caring for orphans. But by night, he plays a dangerous game with his life as he prowls the streets saving the unfortunate as the masked Ghost of St. Giles. However, his exploits have made him a target for the law. Winter's life is further complicated by the lovely and vivacious Lady Isabel Beckinhall, a fluttery socialite who has far more depth and perception that he is comfortable with. She has been named his `mentor' to help him polish his image since his position as Master of the orphanage is in jeopardy. But Isabel soon discovers his secret. To complicate matters further, a dangerous group in St Giles has been stealing young girls. Winter must risk his life, reputation, and a budding love on his quest to rescue them.

I could not stop reading this story! I have been anticipating Winter's story and was not disappointed. Winter is an idealist with strong convictions and is clever enough to help those in need. That he is the mysterious masked man who saves the day makes him a very compelling and dashing hero. He was a combination of Robin Hood and Zorro -so sexy! And Isabel felt a little bit like Maid Marion, a strong woman who discovers his identity and will sacrifice herself to protect him even as she tries not to fall in love with him. Winter's passionate nature is only expressed as the masked Ghost. But is soon unleashed with the tempting and alluring Isabel. HOT! His intensity for justice and his final capitulation to let himself love Isabel were heartwarming and mesmerizing to read. I have not read such a worthy hero in years and cheered when he found happiness. I also enjoyed reading about the wealthy and independent Isabel. She knows her own mind and finds an unexpected attraction to a younger man of little wealth and no title throws her view of her life totally off balance. But in the end, these two characters are meant for each other.

Touching, romantic, and unforgettable. The Thief of Shadows is a book to remember and re-read! I loved the tension between the main characters as a clever Isabel suspects Winter's true identity and Winter tries to hide his affection for Isabel to protect her from his dangerous life.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Lady Isabel Beckinhall is returning home from being a representative for a special home for unfortunate infants and foundlings when she has a startling experience in the seamier St. Giles part of London, England in 1738. Her carriage comes to a halt when the driver spies a dead man in the street, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, who really is severely wounded but not dead at all! Against the advice of others and her own reason, she has him stuffed into the carriage and covered. After a frightening moment of being stopped by the police, she returns home and has the injured man carried inside. She sees he has a deep wound that needs sutures but never sees his face as he regains consciousness before she can remove the face covering which disguises his real person. What she sees in his eyes and he in hers is enough to kindle a light that at first appears to go nowhere!

He soon recovers and leaves and she is back to her society responsibilities. These concern being asked to teach high society manners to the manager of the home for orphans, a brusque cold fish of a character when in society but a warm, generous, big-hearted man for the children whose lives he manages. However, the foundling home's Board of society snobs don't know that and are threatening to replace him unless Isabel can re-educate him to rise to the level of those whose finances are necessary for the survival of the home. Let the games begin!

What follows are some funny moments as Winter Makepeace learns to act like a boring, stuffy member of the aristocracy by participating in Isabel's lessons. But something else is happening in this supposedly neutral relationship - both are cautiously but rapidly falling for each other. He must learn to dress in a more fashionable style and learn to speak general nonsense that means nothing and yet everything to the "right" people. What further will happen when the rising peace between Winter and Isabel gets fueled by their private and then public meetings?

Finally we learn who the real Ghost of St. Giles is, the background behind his name in story form and the incident that led him to discovery that children were being kidnapped for financial gain by the most unsavory characters. Who is the aristocrat behind these kidnappings still occurring? A strong sense of justice fills The Ghost's being and he vows to save as many children as possible. What will happen to such a group of honest businessmen who profit from the work of young, young children? Will the Ghost of St. Giles be able to fill a larger goal of helping those in distress?

Remarkable, passionate story, Ms. Hoyt - well-told and oh so romantic!

Winter Makepeace, the serious and austere manager of a home for abandoned children, finds love and comfort with a lady of quality, a woman who hides her true nature behind society’s frivolous facade. Set amid the dangerous streets of St. Giles in 1730s London, the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt is an exciting mix of glamour meets grit.
Lady Isabel Beckinall is a wealthy widow, but she’s also intelligent, clever, and has a soft heart. She affects an air of frivolity when she mixes in society but she is a good person who has been hurt in the past. She is now one of the patrons of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children, a worthy cause for bored aristocratic ladies.
Winter, the son of a beer brewer, is the brother of both Temperance and Silence, a serious young man who has denied himself life’s pleasures in order to save the abandoned children of St. Giles. He is the manager of the Home. Isabel likens him to a martyr and indeed, he has devoted his days to taking care of children and his nights to saving them from the evils of child labor and abuse as the infamous Ghost of St. Giles.
When Isabel first meets Winter, she playfully flirts with him, much to his chagrin and annoyance. But she does capture his interest. At the beginning of the book, she saves the Ghost of St. Giles from a mob—after the exciting events of the third book in the series—and is fascinated by his tall, muscular figure but she does not remove his mask.
Later, Isabel is designated as tutor to make Winter more able to mingle in society. In short, they are now considering replacing him as manager because he is rather cold and often rude. He doesn’t care about fashion, propriety, or courting the aristocracy even though he realizes he must if he wishes to have funds to improve the Home. So he goes along very reluctantly.
A strong attraction flares between Winter and Isabel as each discovers their deepest fears and vulnerabilities. They are fascinated with each other and the sexual tension created between them crackles. But Winter has devoted his life to save abandoned children and realizes that Isabel is far above his station, making any relationship between them impossible. If he puts a wife and family first, he cannot devote the time he needs to the Home. But he is torn the closer he becomes to Isabel.
I love their playful banter, the innuendos, her surprise at his quick wittedness and his at her kind heart.
“Many men considered women either ethereal beings to be placed on a pedestal or childlike and unable to hold logical thought. Winter talked to her as if she were as intelligent as he. As if she would be interested in some of the same things that enraged him. As if he might want to know what she thought about. He talked to her as if she mattered.” (p147)
Isabel is a woman of the world, has had some affairs after her marriage, and suffered in silence when her much older husband kept a mistress and she could not bear children. She enjoys sex and it’s interesting and different to see her matched with a virgin hero, a man as devout and dedicated to his life as a monk or priest. He has denied himself all pleasures.
When she announces her barrenness, his response is touching and beautiful and, as a child free by choice woman, brought tears to my eyes:
“‘I cannot deny that I would’ve liked to have made babies with you. A little girl with your hair or eyes would’ve been the delight of my life. But it is you that I want primarily, not mythical children. I can survive the loss of something I’ve never had. I cannot survive losing you.” (p266)
Winter also sees the private Isabel, the woman he falls in love with. She is shocked but heartened by his response when she breaks down:
“‘I’m privileged to see you like this,’ he said, his eyes fierce. ‘Wear your social mask at your balls and parties and when you visit your friends out there, but when we are alone, just the two of us in here, promise me this: that you’ll show me only your real face, no matter how ugly you might think it. That’s our true intimacy, not sex, but the ability to be ourselves when we are together.’” (p318)
The love scenes are extremely sensual and graphic but they are not gratuitous in the least; they move the story forward.
The exciting thread of the Ghost of St. Giles continues in the juxtaposed raw atmosphere of St. Giles and the glittering polished society of London. I like how Hoyt exposes the horrors of the fate of abandoned children alongside a very seductive and romantic love story. I also like reading about their friends. Here, Lady Margaret—Griffin’s sister from Notorious Pleasures is seen capturing the possible interest of Lord Caire’s grief-stricken friend, Sir Godric, a lonely widower. And there is more than one Ghost of St. Giles bringing excitement and conquering evil in St. Giles. More thrills to come in this exciting and gripping series.

Giving this book a 4, only because of question of historical accuracy. Brewers, as I understand from my readings of Georgian history, were a part of the gentry, especially wealthy ones. A certain Mrs. Hester Thrale of Streatham Park (a friend of Samuel Johnson and later know as Hester Lynch Piozzi) was married to Henry Thrale, a politician and son of a wealthy brewer of the same name. Their home was in Southwark and they moved somewhat freely in society. There may have been some constraints at the highest reaches, as his family was not of the same rank as her Welsh one, but he attended Eton and Oxford and was an MP. Hester had a lively salon that included Johnson (who lived with them), Fanny Burney, and other literary, political and artistic notables. Hester and her husband dined with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and one of her daughters married a nobleman. So, definitely not lower class..

That quibble aside, I really loved this book and the characters. It's not often you see the trope of inexperienced man and older, more experienced woman, but the older I get, the more I like it, and it was deftly used in this book. Aside from the aforementioned social issue, the characters were wonderful. Lady Isabel is a very assured, beautiful woman with a penchant for subtly teasing Winter Makepeace. As they come to know each other, they both open up in surprising and beautiful ways.

I am not reading this series in order. I recalled some of the characters and not others, but there were no gaps that affected the plot. Lady Penelope and her companion were good to see again.

“Thief of Shadows” follows the romance of two very improbable characters: Lady Isabel Beckinhall, widowed, rich, and a woman of leisure and Winter Makepeace, the serious headmaster of an orphanage in St. Giles. Even though they come from distant corners of the London social spectrum, it is there very oppositeness that brings them together. Isabel is tempted by Winter’s seriousness, his obvious impatience with all matters high society to goad him into losing his temper. And it is very impatience with the fluffy of high society that goads Winter into treating Isabel as an equal and not some empty headed society matron meant for nothing except flirtation.
They’ve both withdrawn into their own shells by the beginning of the story and it takes the hero and heroine to at first see the other character as they truly are (literally, under their masks they present to society) and to transform, so by the end up the book Winter and Isabel are different and better people than they were in the beginning.
This was a very emotional journey for both the hero and heroine. I loved all the minor characters who stole my heart, Joseph Tinbox and especially little Peach and her dog, Dodo. Christopher, Isabel’s ward, a son from her husband’s affair were all essential this story.

Reviewed by Crystal
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

I have read many books by Elizabeth Hoyt and they just get better and better.

Thief of Shadows is the fourth book in the Maiden Lane series. Even though I haven’t read the other three. I wasn’t ever lost and I never thought that I was missing anything. I love reading a series like this.

Isabel is a woman who never shows her true face to anyone. She is a very strong willed woman who loves to read mysteries instead of romance. She is unlike any woman of the ton. She is a widow and is left with enough money that she can buy whatever she wants.

Winter is a man who is living a double life. He is the Ghost of St. Giles, and he is also the manager of the home for infants and children. He has vowed to never get married and to help St. Giles and the kids that he is in charge of.

When these two meet it is because the Ghost of St. Giles is wounded for saving a man from hanging. Isabel doesn’t know who the man is under the mask. I loved watching Isabel and Winter fall in love. They both fight it, and have different reasons for doing so.

Isabel is an aristocrat and her husband had a child with his mistress. She doesn’t find this out until after he’s dead. I feel so sorry for Isabel because she has suffered four miscarriages and can never get pregnant again. She has vowed to just take in lovers and to never love and marry another man.

Winter has vowed to never have anything to do with a woman so in other words he’s in his twenties and is still a virgin. He has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Little does he know that he won’t be able to fight Isabel. When she finds out who he truly is all bets are off. She was supposed to tutor him on how to act a gentleman in public. She ends up being his tutor in sexual matters.

Winter has to decide on what he should do. Should he fight for Isabel or should he try to find the girls that keeps coming up missing.

I can honestly say that I really enjoyed Thief of Shadows. It has one sex scene that some might call a little dark, when Winter lets his beast out. I enjoyed it because I never knew what was going to happen next.

Thanks Elizabeth for taking me on this wonderful journey.

Favorite Quote: He pulled away, only far enough to whisper with smiling lips, “You’ve well and truly compromised me this time, Lady Beckinhall. I think you ought to save my poor reputation and marry me.”

I had high expectations for this. I really liked the synopsis and thought this would be an exciting read. Instead it was a bit boring. I liked both hero and heroine but something was missing and I can't put my finger on what is was.

The twenty-six year old hero being a virgin was a total turn-off and I'm not sure what the point of that was. Other than that, I like the man he is and the good deeds he's doing for children under cover of night.

I too liked the graphic sex scenes and that the heroine wasn't a dried up young widow. Since her husband's death, she's had a few lovers. I also liked little Christopher. I'm not ususally too happy about children being in romance books but I enjoyed his character a lot and found him to be a little cutie who was just looking for a mother's love. I'm not happy with the way Isobel was cold to him but I understand it a bit.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Elizabeth Hoyt's latest in her Maiden Lane series certainly lives up to the standard set in the first three novels. Winter Makepeace, whom we've come to know in the first three books, comes vividly to life in this novel as a flawed character with the capacity for great love and passion. The action is fast-paced and, like all of Hoyt's novels, we have much more to appreciate in the both the plot and characters than is typical in romance novels. Tragedies are faced, the characters have depth, and, even with the requisite happy ending, the novel does not descend to shallowness as many in the genre do. Hoyt takes a situation that appears hopeless--a couple who would appear to have no future together--and weaves a wonderful story. She draws us into the loneliness and disappointments, the passion and sensuality, the hopes and dreams and disappointments of the world she creates, leaving us both satisfied and thoughtful. I can't wait for the next one!

This series is simply amazing so far! I'm loving it.

There are so many reviews for this book already out there so I'm just going to quickly add my cheap two cents....

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fantastic. Lady Isabel is a bit promiscuous & Winter stole my heart. He's the quiet type, not usually the type I like to read about, but I loved him.

On to the next! Hoyt has me addicted!

THIEF OF SHADOWS by Elizabeth Hoyt is an exciting Georgian London historical romance. It is book #4 in the "Maiden Lane" series, but can be read as a stand alone. See," Scandalous Desires","Notorious Pleasures",novella,"Wicked Intentions"and "To Desire a Devil". Fast paced and full of desire,passion,secrets,danger,sensual tension,romance,and love. I have patiently been waiting for the Ghost of St. Giles' story and was not disappointed.Mild mattered manager of his family's orphanage home, Winter Makepeace is in for a run for his sanity with the scandalous Lady Isabel Beckinhall. What a pair they are! You do not want to miss "Thief of Shadows" for shadows come to life and can find happiness and peace with the right incentive of course. A must read for any historical romance readers,series readers will not be disappointed either, and any one who enjoys a good romance read full of healing and compromise. I enjoyed "Thief of Shadows" as I enjoy this author's stories. She can pull the readers into a story with her strong characters and intriguing plots. Can hardly wait for the next installment in the "Maiden Lane" series. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley. Details can be found at Grand Central Publishing,the author's website, and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

Winter's tale was fabulous! Fantastic strong and silent hero, who slowly thawed and became one of the best leading men in historical romance. The Ghost of St Giles's storyline was exciting, without being overdone. Most importantly, Hoyt never strayed from the strong characterizations and heart of the story - the complex romance between Winter and Isabel.

Isabel took some warming up to. She didn't impress as a very likable heroine at first - and I'm still not sure how realistic is was during that time period for her to have so much leeway in her public behaviour. But she slowly changed and the layers peeled away to reveal a complex but loving lady, who ended up being a great match for Winter!

Historically, again not sure how realistic it was for aristocratic ladies to tramp around in St Giles and visit Orphanages so frequently. But this Maiden Lane tale is defintely a keeper and Winter is my favourite Hoyt hero. He'll be right up there on the top tier of heroes (rubbing shoulders with almuni like St Vincent and Derek Craven)!

Absolutely Love This Series! There, had to get that out. Now on to the much anticipated story of Winter Makepeace and the woman who captured his heart. Once again Elizabeth Hoyt has woven a beautifully written, suspenseful romance that brings the reader into the world of the dark and dangerous St. Giles district of 1730's London.

We first met Winter Makepeace at the beginning of the series in Wicked Intentions. Ever since then I've been curious about this quiet, intellectual man. He is very proper, coming off a little too stiff even for this time period. We finally get to really know Winter and I couldn't be happier! He is an alpha hero in beta clothing. Winter cares deeply for the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. It's not just a family obligation but very dear to his heart. I loved seeing him with the children, his patience and love for them show what a fascinating man he is.

Lady Isabel Beckinhall has made previous appearances in the series but little is know about her. She's a proper lady who tends to hide her quick wit behind her manners. I simply adored Isabel with her intelligence and need to love and be loved. She seems to have it all for a woman of her time period, independence and wealth but she doesn't have what she needs. I loved Isabel's bravery and her ability to take control of a situation. She's a bit older than Winter, six years, and more experienced. It was a pleasant surprised to have the tables turned.

The mystery of young orphan girls disappearing in and around St. Giles is the focus of Winter's night time ventures. He is obsessed with not only protecting his children at the orphanage but the other children of St. Giles. Winter has such an overwhelming desire to care for and protect it was nice to see someone take care of him when Isabel came into his life.

I found Winter and Isabel's romance charming in how Isabel was the aggressor with Winter attempting to maintain some distance. He is very good with the word play but Isabel is certainly intelligent and able to keep up. Their dialogue is a lovely prelude to their more intimate moments.

There are a number of secondary characters who play into Winter and Isabel's developing relationship, all associated in one way or another to the home. I love this sense of connection the characters have, whether they be a house maid or a titled lady. Hoyt shows how each character views the home, the Ghost and the place each of them have in society. It's a very enlightening look at the society of the day.

One thing I got a thrill out of was the swordplay scenes. They were exciting and so very well written. Hoyt makes the reader feel as if you are right there, front row to the action. This series continues to surprise me. Just when I think Hoyt can't top her previous book, she gives us a different type of hero who is as complex and captivating as previous heroes. Add in the strong, intelligent heroines and you have a lovely historical romance series worth reading.

Rating: A

I received Thief of Shadows, free, in a Goodread's First Read's Giveaway! Thank you! Loved the romance between Winter Makepeace, the hero protector of innocent children and Lady Isabel Beckinhall, the rich, beautiful and slightly older baroness! This story has lots of suspense and sword fighting and the bad guys get their "just desserts"! Awesome!

I thought this was a good book. Both main characters were fully fleshed out and very realistic, their "romance" happened very organically and the reader could see and feel the attraction instead of just the author telling us they were attracted and in love. I also liked the quippy dialogue between the two. The "mystery" wasn't really the best but it didn't overtake the story.

As a previous reviewer noted, it was kind of stupid to have d'Arcy and Lady Penelope actually take an interest in running the children's home- that part wasn't very realistic, but I didn't think that it overshadowed the rest of the story at all. Overall, a very, very good read, better than I was expecting, honestly.

The hero, Winter Makepeace, makes this story. He's a man of strong moral character but has his walk on the wild side as the Ghost of St Giles. He's officially my favorite historical romance novel hero. I wasn't as impressed with the heroine- she came off as a little cold at first but Winter thaws her out. The love scenes in this book are smoking hot. This is a gritty story with flawed characters that make mistakes but redeem themselves. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series, Lord of Darkness that comes out the end of this year!

Elizabeth Hoyt has crafted a stunning, sensuous love story and mystery set in the Georgian era. The story is rather dark, with a serious hero dedicated to a higher cause and a cynical, experienced older heroine. I don't usually like straitlaced heroes, and fortunately, when this hero dons his Harlequin costume, his persona changes also. Both hero and heroine are risk-takers, and by the end of the book they have taught each other how to love fully--but of course we wouldn't expect anything less in a romance! The story of the heroine and the little boy she is raising is also quite compelling.

This is the fourth book in the smartly written and exciting Maiden Lane series. It does not disappoint.

Winter Makepeace does an excellent job managing The Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. There is another side of him, however, which he keeps hidden. At night, he is the Ghost of St. Giles. Abandoned young girls are being taken by the "lassie snatchers" because of their small nimble fingers required for fine work. The Ghost of St. Giles wants to put an end to this and find out who is responsible for these horrible abductions. Baroness Isabel Beckinhall is a member of the Ladies' Syndicate for the benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. Isabel and Winter appear to be complete opposites but due to a series of circumstances must work together and so they begin to learn from each other that they are not quite that different.

The growing love between Winter and Isabel is riveting romance as they reveal their true selves to each other and it turns out to be quite a rocky journey. The mystery of the Ghost of St. Giles and his pursuit of the "lassie snatchers" is an exciting quite gritty adventure.

I waited anxiously for this fourth book as I love this series with its wonderful characters and fascinating plots. I could not put this book down and highly recommend anyone who loves true romance, mystery, suspense and unexpected twists, read this series.

I think I have read every book written by Elizabeth Hoyt, with my favorite being The Raven Prince. I have enjoyed everyone of her books and this is no exception. The editing on the Kindle copy I had was poor, but I received the book from netgalley.com, so my copy might not have went through final editing.

I am really enjoying the Maiden Lane series and the next book in the series, Lord of Darkness, is scheduled to be released in February 2013. From the preview it looks to be just as enjoyable. I am eagerly waiting its release.

-- A Romantic Book Affairs review

Rating: B+ ... Heat: Hot

While this isn't my first novel by Hoyt (I loved my affair with The Raven Prince very much indeed), it was my first Maiden Lane. And it worked great as a standalone. It didn't feel like I was missing anything vital by not having read the previous three books. But that's not to say that now I don't want to go back and start at the beginning - because I definitely do!

From nearly page one, there is action and intrigue and heat. From the moment Isabel happens upon the injured, and costumed, Winter, there is no going back for either of them. As oddly matched as they seemingly are - as Isabel is a lady, a widow, and nearly ten years older and Winter is a commoner, a schoolmaster, and a vigilante - they are like magnets. Pulled together or forced apart, depending on how they're arranged. Their chemistry was evident from the very first.

And the plot is this odd mix of one part Historical Romance with another part Oliver Twist and a dash of Zorro. Might sound strange, but it was a wonderful combination. It added a touch of whimsy and imagination to the usual fare. It was refreshing. And it honestly touched the kid in me, reading about a masked vigilante that dresses up as a Harlequin.

Which brings me to the story within the story featuring the Harlequin Ghost of St. Giles. Often I'm not a fan of those types of chapter beginnings, featuring prose or quotes or snippets or some such, but that wasn't the case this time. The tale of the Harlequin and his True Love was cute and entertaining and mirrored the story nicely.

The other Ghost of St. Giles, Winter Makepeace, is the hero of this tale however. And what a hero he is! I will admit to a certain affinity for the virgin hero - there is something endearing and tempting about an untried man. This is especially true of Winter, as his reasons for remaining pure are special and personal. A man saving himself for only his wife? Is there any gesture more romantic than that? I don't think so! And for a man so inexperienced, Winter has definitely mastered the art of talking dirty. Dear lord. The things he'd say - whew.

Isabel is one lucky lady. Well, except that previous to Winter, she faced some serious disappointments in life and love. But she doesn't dwell on them and she isn't oblivious to her fortunate circumstances. Isabel is a very strong and caring woman, even if it is often hidden under a public mask. Or tucked away deep inside, afraid to be exposed and thus vulnerable.

Winter is very good at seeing behind her mask and burrowing himself under her skin. And Isabel is the only one able to see behind Winter's own mask - both figurative and literal. Which is one of the best aspects of the story. Watching them unmask each other and themselves.

Now, what you really want to know: This book is hot. There are a number of scenes of sensuality. And Miz Hoyt sure can write `em. She isn't afraid to go there, that's for sure - and I thank her for it! Watching Winter discover his own sexuality, learning all that intimacy has to offer... it was potent, sheet-scorching stuff while still managing to be tender.

Favorite Quote:
He removed his tunic but didn't bother looking up as he sat to take off his boots.
"I want you to show me."
"Show you what?"
He did look up at that, one boot in his hands, and his eyes bored straight into her woman's soul.
"Everything."

Winter Makepeace is pleased to finally have a new building for his Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children but he is still a bit restless so when he hears of a 'lassie snatcher' he sets about to find out all he can and stop them. As his alter ego, the Ghost of St. Giles, he learns what he can about the orphaned girls being forced to work in horrible conditions with no fresh air and rotten food. As he tries to save these girls, his day job starts to give him a distraction in the form of one Lady Isabel Beckinhill. Some members of her Ladies' Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children feel that Mr. Makepeace is not an appropriate headmaster for the foundling children now that they have wealthy matrons supporting them and Isabel is chosen to teach Winter the refining points of being a gentleman. However, as these two do not always see eye to eye, passions rise between heated banter and Winter tries to keep a rein on his inner demons and protect all the innocents of St. Giles without giving in to his desires.

Isabel Beckinhill shocks herself when she suddenly rescues the mysterious, supposedly deadly, Ghost of St. Giles. But just as quick as they can sew him up he is gone, leaving a lasting impression behind. When her instructional meetings with Winter start awakening her passions, she starts to question how Winter seems to be missing when he should be present and the Ghost is around instead. A daring escape finally forces her to confront the Ghost and together they answer questions and give into the blazing passion between them. But with Isabel having a sad secret and Winter unable to give up being the Ghost, how will this unlikely couple find happiness?

Sigh, what a book. Winter. He seemed so uptight in the previous books but trust Elizabeth Hoyt to turn that all around and make a delicious, sexy, strong, loyal, protective hero. And to top it all off... ***minor spoiler--he's a virgin!*** Swoon. And Isabel, again I wasn't too sure about her in the previous books, but she turns out to be the perfect woman (slightly older!) woman for Winter. I loved watching Winter wrestle with himself as he tries to protect all those that can not protect themselves in St. Giles. As he believes that this is his life work, he knows he has no time for a wife and family but then there is Isabel at every turn, tempting him, making him question if it is right for one person to uphold all this by himself. When he finally lets Isabel in, it is forever and he will stop at nothing to convince Isabel of that fact. Elizabeth Hoyt has one again proven why she is on my auto buy list--she can take a woman not well liked, who seems cold and bitter (there is a side story with a young boy that is so well done) and shape her into a warm, caring, lovable heroine who will do whatever it takes to be with the man she loves. And while Ms Hoyt is crafting this heroine, she delivers a hero who is the perfect balance, who brings the love and passion and even some daring stubbornness to meld together beautifully all while set amongst the dirty side of London, away from the balls and glitter, make you feel like you are there with them. This is another passionate winner from the obviously talented, top of her game, Elizabeth Hoyt and I am so happy there is more to come in this Maiden Lane series! 4 1/2 stars

*review copy*

Thief of Shadows did not meet my expectations. Before reading this book I was looking forward to Winter's story, but I didn't find either his character or the character of Isabel all that appealing in this book. They were both a little too cold and self-righteous in their own ways, and I didn't get the sense that they were emotionally compatible or in love with each other. It was more a case of curiosity and sexual attraction, which wasn't enough to justify the end of the book or their future together.

In and of itself, the plot has elements that are appealing: two people from different stations in life, both lost in their own way, find each other; a secret identity; a criminal conspiracy to unearth. The problem is that the characters of Winter and Isabel aren't sufficient to drive the story forward, so I couldn't engage in the story or invest myself in their lives. I'm generally a fan of Hoyt, but in this case I can't recommend this book as one of her best.

If you want Hoyt at her best, I would suggest the Four Soldiers series, particularly To Seduce A Sinner (The Legend of the Four Soldiers) or To Desire a Devil (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)over this book.

***

For those of you purchasing the Kindle edition, my only comment about the formatting is that the font was really small; I had to adjust the size quite a bit in order to read comfortably.

In 1738 Baroness Isabel Beckinhall knows better than to volunteer as she stupidly did when coaxed by Lady Hero Reading. Thus she is in St. Giles on her way to meet aloof Winter Makepeace, manager of the Ladies' Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. However, the coach stops to find a not so dead corpse in the road. Her servants pick up the unconscious body of the Ghost of St. Giles, protector of the weak, as a mob charges at them. Lady Isabel takes the Ghost to her home, but not before he steals a kiss. By the next morning like his name he is gone.

Lady Hero expects Lady Isabel to tutor Makepeace on the Ton's charitable enterprises as he needs to raise money and awareness for his orphanage. His eyes look familiar to her, but she is unsure why. When they kiss she knows why. As they fall in love, both knows someone wants him dead before he identifies who is behind the abduction of little girls.

The fourth Maiden Lane Georgian romance (see Scandalous Desires, Wicked Intentions and Notorious Pleasures) is an engaging tale as a previous key player takes the male lead role. Action-packed from the rescue until the final confrontation, readers will enjoy this exciting romantic historical mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Winter Makepeace is an unforgettable character. His selflessness and innocence endear him to us. Winter has an awakening when he meets Isabel Beckinhall. Isabel is older and more worldly than he. When Winter asks Isabel "will you teach me?" She asks, teach you what? He says "everything. This is a wonderful romance that brings home the point that happiness is within everyone's reach.

A viscount wants Winter's job managing 28 orphans in St. Giles? Are you kidding me? I paid $7.95 for this ridiculous plot?

I have been dying for Winter's story, pre-ordered the first day possible. Shame on you Ms. Hoyt. Poor, poor effort, Winter Makepeace deserved much better.

Winter Makepeace is a very proper, very boring, very uncolorful headmister of an orphanage built by his father. Lady Isobel is a rich and respected widow with a prominent social life and interested a lot in fashion and gowns. These two would make for a very unlikely -and very uninteresting- couple if not for these facts:

-Winter is also the Ghost of St. Giles, running around at night, trying to save the children of St Giles and punish the guilty
-Behind his dour and cold facade, Winter is a passionate young man, who just happens to believe that taming those passions is what he must do in order to fit better in his Ghost personna. But it only takes a very determined lady, to set those passions on fire
-Isobel is kind-hearted and willing to do anything to help the children in the orphanage she's sponsoring, even if it means working close with a very drab and severe headmister like Winter
-Lady Isobel is not the frivolous lady she seems: she's also intelligent, crafty, strong, willful and courageous. It takes her little time in Winter's and the Ghost's company to realize they're one and the same. Since's she's already been fascinated by both, she sets her mind on seducting Winter and proceeds to do just that

There's also a mystery subplot about little children mysteriously disappearing from the streets of St Giles which the Ghost tries to solve, but to be honest it's not the book's main focus: Winter and Isobel are. Not only as a couple, but as persons who evolve and mature and get to know themselves better during this book's course. None of them is perfect and they both hide their own inner demons. And since perfect people are not my cup-of-tea, I ended up really liking both of them. I also liked how well those two fit together: they compliment each other completely, Isobel with her lighter, happier disposition and inner strength, and Winter with his intensity, passion and loyalty. Their sex scenes are HOT but still tender, and even though the language can be crude sometimes, it fits perfectly with their characters.

Objectively speaking, Thief of Shadows is one of the more -if not the most- solid additions to the series. The pace is fast, the characters lovable and still imperfect enough to connect with, the romance hot and passionate, the mystery never oveshadowing the more important aspects of the story. And yet, I can't say why, but I didn't come to love it. In my opinion, there's in many scenes a forced drama (which I happen to call 'melodrama' even if I'm not sure it's the right term), a feeling that the writer is trying to make the reader feel sorry and heartache for the heroes, even if the circumstances are not always dire enough to justify these feelings. Thus we have our heroes often thinking or speaking aloud of how unworthy or selfish they are, how doomed their romance is, how lonely they are, in order to make the reader pity them. Being the stubborn and contrary person that I am, I don't react well when I feel pushed to act or think one way; it usually has the opposite results. But having a deep and abiding love for dark and angsty romances and having read more of that kind than anything else, I believe I'm in a position to discern when the heartache comes naturally from the story or feels forced and methodic by the writer. So, knowing what Hoyt is capable of (she has written 2 or 3 of my fave books ever), this felt a bit like a cheap trick to me.

Still, this is a great book, a book that most readers will fall in love with and even re-read in the future. The ending itself was one of the best and more memorable ones I've read in a long time! Personally though, I can't wait enough for the next book in the series, with a hero I've long waited for (since book 1) and one of my favorite premises in romancelandia (=marriage of convenience).

Loved Winter's Story, Although it's not my favorite Elizabeth Hoyt book, I have enjoyed reading all four of her Maiden Lane Series books and I always make sure to pick up all of her books. I'm looking forward to her fifth book in the series about Lady Margaret's (Meg's) story "Lord of Darkness"

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt is an exciting tale with the allure of The Legend of the Harlequin Ghost of St. Giles to entice us further. It is a wonderful story of saving the orphaned children off the streets of London using an urban legend of the times, to do so. Isabel and Winter spice up this story with their fiery passion, especially when a secret identity looms close to the surface. I was delighted when Winter's character became a chest thumping, alpha male and took Isabel in hand. This is the first book in the Maiden Lane series I have read, and I am looking forward to reading its predecessors.