Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane)

Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, has been kidnapped by the notorious Lords of Chaos, who mistakenly believe that she is married to the Duke of Kyle. Iris and the duke did have an informal courtship, but he fell in love with another and married her. Though the Lords now realize their mistake, they also know that Iris can't be allowed to live. When one of the masked Lords claims Iris for himself, the leader agrees, under condition that she be killed when he's finished playing with her. This man is Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore, who has infiltrated the secret society with the intent of destroying them, and only intends to rescue Iris. When he deposits her in his coach, she finds a gun under the seat and shoots him, not realizing his real purpose.

Raphael, though badly injured, finally convinces Iris of his innocence and takes her to his nearby home. He decides that the only way he can fully protect her is to marry her, and they wed that very night. Raphael trusts no one, and won't summon a doctor, so Iris calls on the knowledge she absorbed while following her now-deceased husband and soldier, James, and removes the bullet herself. She nurses Raphael through the ensuing fever and ponders her fate and her new husband. He would be one of the world's handsomest men, if not for the slashing scar down one side of his face from brow to chin.

As Raphael begins to recover, he knows it's just a matter of time until the Lords realize that Iris is still alive, and come to kill both of them. He starts to formulate plans on how to keep Iris safe and still destroy the Lords, while resisting the lovely charms of his new wife. Raphael's own father was the leader of the Lords of Chaos until his death last year. His evil and perverted actions destroyed Raphael's childhood, and left him a man who feels he is sullied and unfit to be loved. It's heartbreaking to watch such a strong and vibrant man shy away from any intimacy with Iris. He's courteous, attentive, and generous, but whenever Iris tries to get close physically, his walls go up.

Iris is determined not to give up. She endured a three year marriage of convenience, and she wants this marriage to be different. She can see the desire in Raphael's eyes, but he won't give in. I love how she shows her own desire to Raphael and is sensitive to his vulnerability. When Raphael finally opens up and confesses some of his past, it's obvious that the thing Iris most desires in the world is the one thing Raphael will never give her. If they even survive, it would seem they have no chance at happiness.

DUKE OF DESIRE is a fantastic all around read. The mystery dealing with the Lords of Chaos is well written and intriguing. Raphael, the wounded hero, is to die for, and his sad history broke my heart. Iris is well deserving to be Raphael's love and salvation, and their eventual sexual intimacy is off the charts steamy. Elizabeth Hoyt delivers on all levels, and reading DUKE OF DESIRE is bittersweet, as it's the final full length novel in the magnificent Maiden Lane series. To me, this series never got old or stale, and I'm truly saddened to see it come to an end, though this final book is a stellar conclusion. I know that I'll be revisiting Maiden Lane many times in the future.

As reviewed for rosesareblue dot net. I received a complimentary copy.

Iris is mistakenly kidnapped by the Lords of Chaos. Raphael is there and happens to rescue her but she shoots him in the carriage thinking he plans to hurt her. The only way that Raphael can now protect her is by marriage. Will it be a marriage of convenience or can it become more? I was hooked on the read from beginning to end. Raphael is a wonderful hero and Iris perfect for him. The story is fast paced with loads of drama and suspense. I loved it!

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. I haven't loved this series and haven't read all of the books but when I saw the the store blurb, I was tempted. I have enjoyed 3 of the books in this series very much and decided to give this one a go. I think that because I wasn't invested in the series or it's subsequent winding up, I didn't have any expectations. I love a good old tortured H and this one certainly met the requirements. The H is a very scarred duke who could have been handsome except for a gruesome scar cutting across his face. He is taking part in some debauchery with the Lords of Chaos (I had no idea who they were but it didn't matter) when the kidnapped h is brought before the leader. The H then rescues her after promising the leader, the Dionysus, that he'd kill the h. Once he's in the carriage with her, she shoots him and he nearly dies from the wound to his shoulder. Before he becomes extremely feverish, he insists on marrying the h to protect her reputation. I also love a good arranged marriage story. The h is a lovely character and I don't agree with the negative reviewers who say we didn't really get to know her. She was the light in the H's darkness as described by the author. The H is tortured and gives the h a run for her money almost to the last but I was expecting that. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but could have done with the explicit sexual language and sex scenes but others might enjoy them.

The Maiden Lane series was a complete obsession, binge-fest for me over the last year. And after reading The Duke of Pleasure and meeting the Duke of Dyemore, I considered Duke of Desire to be one of my most anticipated books this year. I don't know what it says about me, but I do so love a scarred hero. I didn't feel strongly one way or another about Iris, Lady Jordan, going into this book. I really just wanted the Duke's story and Iris was along for the ride. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Iris stole the show for me. She was a strong heroine who always tried to make the best of her circumstances, no matter how dire they could appear. She was the complete driving force of the story and the relationship. And, as always, Elizabeth Hoyt is amazing when it comes to setting up the atmosphere of any book. I always describe this series to others as "dark, gritty, and a dirty." When recently asked for recommendations for something similar to this series, I had a lot of trouble coming up with anything because this series is so completely unique.

I do want to say, though, that partly due to my high expectations for this book, it was not quite what I wanted it to be. I wanted more of the Duke's background to be explored in depth, and I felt that things wrapped up too quickly by the end. I had my own vision of the way I thought things would go. That's my own fault and problem though and not the author's. But nevertheless, I still very much enjoyed this book and this world that Elizabeth has created... it's always gritty and shows the darker side of this time period. I'm really sad to see this all come to an end, but looking forward to two more novellas to close out this fantastic series

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What’s it About? After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Lords of Chaos you’d think Iris, Lady Jordan, would be more grateful to her savior right? Wrong. She shoots him out of fear and then realizes her error as Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore spirits her away to his estate to keep her safe. Unfortunately the only way he can hope keep Iris safe is to marry her but what’s worse is that Iris isn’t content to be his wife in name only, she insists on making the best of her circumstances and being a real wife to him. And Raphael can only fight his attraction to her for so long even as their enemies close in on them from all sides.

Overall reaction to the story? Duke of Desire is captivating, passionately raw, and completely original in a way that only Elizabeth Hoyt can pull off. It was a bittersweet feeling reading Duke of Desire given that it is the last book in the Maiden Lane series. It’s fitting though that Raphael and Iris be the last couple in the series since he was so deeply connected to the nefarious Lords of Chaos. I first picked up the series with Thief of Shadows back on its release day and have faithfully followed the series since (And read the first few books since then). I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do without this series and these characters because they’ve become such a big part of my life. I read through this book in two days with both excitement and a bit of sadness. What a fitting end to the series that I’ve always placed on my top five favorite series list.

Describe the hero in five words: Damaged. Vulnerable. Protective. Gruff. Stubborn.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? I half expected to see Raphael under the definition of “stubborn” because dang he was almost as immovable as a mountain. He was so convinced of his path that it was almost his downfall. As scary and dangerous as he was, Raphael hid a vulnerable side to him that made him impossible not to love and want to protect. Seriously, he was a terrifying character to everyone around him but man I just wanted to swoop in and protect the little boy he once was. I defy anyone to read about his childhood and not be moved. I liked Raphael from the start but as more and more of his personality came out I just fell in love. He has such a blunt way of stating things but that was one of the things I liked about him the most because when he’s tender it’s such a stark contrast to his usual personality.

Describe the heroine in five words: Stubborn. Caring. Intelligent. Courageous. Sassy.
Did you like her? 90% of the time.
Why? Let me just get this out of the way, the one thing about Iris that I definitely did not like was her lack of care over the dangerous situation she in. She wasn’t just being told that the Lords of Chaos were after her, she had been rescued from them and she knew that they would come to kill her sooner or later. Yet she did some pretty silly *coughs* stupid *cough* things like traipsing about town without a care and yup, being discovered by known members of the Lords of Chaos. Pretty foolish right? But at the same time, Iris faced her predicaments head on, including having no choice but to marry Raphael for protection. I loved that she wasn’t a hysterical woman and believe me, she landed in some pretty stressful situations that called for hysterics but she never gave in. Another thing I really enjoyed about Iris was her conviction that Raphael needed to be taken care of even when he was snarling at her and trying to push her away she countered that with a strong resilience mixed with snarky responses.

Let’s talk about the romance: Raphael and Iris’ first meeting was memorable to say the least but their connection was undeniable. I loved that Raphael saw Iris as a light in his life of darkness because without knowing it, that’s what she became. It was more than just their physical attraction, it was her giving him a chance to see what he could become instead of what he had resigned himself to being. Their relationship was built on a forced trust, she had to trust that he would protect her and he had to trust that she would keep his secrets. I loved their relationship that was a combination of sexual chemistry, friendship, trust, and reluctant affection.

How about that supporting cast? Raphael and Iris are mostly alone in their fight against the Lords of Chaos but with Iris being close friends with Hugh, the Duke of Kyle, I was expecting to see him again and of course I was thrilled to see Alf too.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. Duke of Desire does the Maiden Lane series justice and as sad as I am that it’s over, I’m glad it ended with Raphael and Iris.

* I received a copy of this book via Netgalley for the purpose of an honest review.

DUKE OF DESIRE is the twelfth installment in Elizabeth Hoyt’s adult MAIDEN LANE historical romance series. This is the Duke of Dyemore Raphael de Chartres, and Lady Iris Jordan’s story line. DUKE OF DESIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty . Any important information from previous installments is revealed where necessary. We were first introduced to our heroine in book eleven DUKE OF PLEASURE. Iris is Hugh Fitzroy’s sister.

NOTE: DUKE OF DESIRE contains references to pedophilia, rape, abuse and torture, and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives DUKE OF DESIRE is a story line that focuses on a dark secret within the notable society of Georgian England. Kidnapped just days after her brother’s marriage to Alf, Lady Iris Jordan comes face to face with the evil that permeates the rich and famous-the Lords of Chaos- a group of sick, twisted and perverted aristocratic men who use their power and position to kidnap and destroy the innocent and young. Enter Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, Iris’s savior, and the man with whom our heroine will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Iris and Raphael, and the potential fall-out as Raphael seeks revenge against the Lords of Chaos for destroying his life, and the lives of so many others.

DUKE OF DESIRE is a darker story line that follows the abduction and rescue of our story line heroine, and the subsequent search for the leader of the Lords of Chaos. Raphael is the reluctant Duke of Dyemore but with his father’s death, Raphael assumes more than his rightful place as Duke but that of his father’s membership and mantle within the group that destroyed Raphael’s life.

Iris never thought of herself as a potential target until the Lords of Chaos kidnapped our heroine in a plot against her newly betrothed brother. Her would-be rescuer is familiar; possibly evil but definitely the man with whom Iris would fall in love. Raphael wants nothing to do with consummating his marriage while our heroine struggles to seduce a man who isn’t willing to play along. The $ex scenes are intimate although Raphael battles too many demons, and memories from his past making for some heartbreaking moments between our newly married couple.

DUKE OF DESIRE is an emotional read about one man’s struggle to move on from the past. Raphael’s need for revenge is all consuming to the point of suicidal actions that could very well end his life, as well as the life of the woman with whom he is falling in love. The premise is sensitive, dramatic and tragic; the characters are broken, strong, passionate and intense; the romance suffers with one man’s inability to let go of the past.

My only concern is the cover image that does not match our hero’s horrific physical scars.

*Review of ARC from author newsletter offer* which means I generally adore anything this author produces and had a complete book nerd moment getting the latest book before publication/arrival at my local library.

This is the final book in a lengthy series based in Georgian England/London, so it is best enjoyed in context of the other eleven books, but if this one falls into your hands it works just fine on it's own to entertain and then lure you back to the rest of the series. (fair warning) Also going to assume you've read the cover blurb...professionals summing up the book better that I can, even as I'm waving it at you saying *read this.*

The series has taken us thru the multitude of ways people can be hurt, physically and emotionally, how it changes them, and then how they heal, who and what around them makes the changes possible-necessary-alluring...without falling into the Love of a Good Woman fallacy.

The sex scenes are diverse and smoldering for their consensual intimacy, with desire starting in the mind, not just body parts and zero purple prose. It's also nice that H&H don't go from zero to sex everywhere immediately.

All of Hoyt's books have parallel original fairy-tales heading each chapter, a dear wish that someone will collect them into one volume, illustrate them, and make them available to fans. *tosses wish into the world*

Iris is an interesting heroine in normalcy. She isn't traumatized; she wants some basic life goals: her own home, kids, a multi-faceted relationship with a husband/partner. She's attractive but not a Diamond or Heiress. She's generally kind, doesn't do anything too stupid to live (even in the book opening when she could), is caring but isn't a doormat. Her family seems fairly normal, not too distant, nor tight clan-ish. Her Every Woman-ness is appealing.

Raphael also manages to be conflicted/tortured without being a complete Drama Queen. He survives similar childhood to a previous hero in the series with very different reactions/results from age 12 right thru the HEA. I do wish the cover showed his scar or put him in profile to hide the scars. His communication with Iris drives the plot as much as external forces.

Part of what I really enjoy with this series is the overarching look at society, how power/patriarchy/entitlement, violence, perversion, can damage individuals/society and then how perseverance, compassion, and hope can heal the damage...complete with scars. Dark themes are addressed throughout while being hopeful.

So curl up in a chair, or the tub, and settle in for an enjoyable read by a master of the genre.

Kidnapped and brought as an offering to the Lords of Chaos, Iris improbably finds herself rescued by the towering Wolf.
Now a man and ready to take on the insidious Lords of Chaos, Raphael, finds himself saving a woman he can't forget a shared waltz with.
Raphael's scars run deeper than just the surface but Iris is determined to show him he's worthy of love.
With the Lords of Chaos looming over them, Raphael and Iris will show that love is the greater strength.

The twelfth installment in the Maiden Lane series brings us to a resurgence of the Lords of Chaos. Previously thought snuffed out in the last book, a new Dionysius leader has emerged and stronger than ever. You actually wouldn't need to read any other books in the series, maybe just the previous one as you get an introduction to the Lords of Chaos. As this is placed in the Maiden Lane series, I was a little disappointed that we didn't get any previous characters to check up on; the Duke of Kyle from the previous book makes an appearance but that is all.

"You need to marry me."

If you read the previous book, you'll remember the Duke of Dyemore, Raphael, introduced as a hulking scarred beast who waltzes with Iris. Here he rescues her and in order to keep her safe from the Lords of Chaos, he marries her. Iris was a bit dull as heroine but with the focus so heavily on Raphael's past with the Lords of Chaos, she didn't get a fully rounded out story. We know she didn't have a loving marriage and she cares for Raphael, but I didn't feel why she cared for him so soon. Iris ended up being a ghost on the pages to me.

Raphael's childhood trauma dominated the story and was extremely heavy. Frankly, that's all it felt like his character was, I didn't learn anything else about him. His attraction to Iris seemed to be based on one waltz and because she seemed like a golden light to him. A lot of their relationship was Raphael wanting to keep Iris on some sort of pedestal, away from his defiling hands, but this also creates a blank spot of him never really knowing and connecting with her.

After a darkly adventurous start, the story took a bit of a slow turn. The first half was basically Iris wandering around Raphael's gloomy Abbey, trying to learn his servants’ names, and disregarding Raphael's warnings of danger. Iris' lack of understanding or listening to Raphael about the danger ended up making her feel pretty vacuous at times, too.

With the focus so much on childhood pain (childhood sexual abuse is discussed prominently here), it made it extremely hard to switch gears and follow along to a sex scene, no matter how it was handled. In fact, the whole heavier tone of this one had a very uneven feeling with the usual Hoyt naughty sexual scenes.

The romance was lacking for me here with Iris not showing up completely and Raphael dealing with extremely traumatizing pain. Their lack of romantic connection kept me from feeling them and the Lords of Chaos brought such a heavy disturbing emotional toll, this ended up not being a very fun read. Hoyt's atmospheric writing can't be denied but after following along with the Maiden Lane series for so long, I guess I was personally looking for a more uplifting, sigh, and smile ending.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“Duke of Desire” is the wrap up of an outstanding series. As the last full length installment in the Maiden Lane series, this book was one of my most anticipated read of the year. And I just loved it! The characters are so beautifully drawn, the growth of their love, and the obstacles to it, so believable, that I was completely captivated by their story. It was gripping, intense and heartbreaking, the pace of the story, the angst and the action kept me riveted to the pages!

Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, has been kidnapped by the Lord of Chaos, a secret society of rapists and murderers. She is saved from sure death by Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore. Raphael is a fascinating hero, deeply scarred and damaged. As the son of their former leader, he was a victim of the Lord of Chaos’ debauchery. He has vowed to take revenge for their crimes and, after years of planning, he has been able to infiltrate their secret order, with the intention of bringing them down. And yet, he risks everything to rescue Iris.

After a chance encounter, Raphael’s attraction to Iris fuels his drive to protect her. But he has set a strict path for his life, and she is a distraction he can’t afford. I loved this character, he is arrogant, dark, secretive and yet so vulnerable and broken. His past is similar to the Duke of Montgomery’s childhood. But their personalities are completely different. Raphael is a good person, he is plagued with feelings of guilt because he hasn’t yet destroyed the Lords of Chaos. The man he is at the start of the story is very different to the hero we end up with. This story is his journey of healing, and you get the feeling that it could only happen with the heroine by his side, she is his game changer. I loved how protective, possessive, and caring he was with Iris. He marries her to protect her, but their marriage of convenience soon becomes so much more.

Iris is a strong heroine, kind, thoughtful, she has a sweet personality. She wants a real marriage, a family life with Raphael. And even though it is very difficult for her to break through his pain, she stands her ground. I loved seeing Iris and Raphael’s relationship slowly blooming and growing. It is a slow burn that was perfectly executed by the author.

Elizabeth Hoyt never ceases to amaze me, with her riveting storytelling, elegant writing style, richly drawn setting and wonderful characters. I have read each and every book in her Maiden Lane series and all of them have been perfect or near perfect reads for me. A novella featuring Mary from the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children, all grown up, will soon be released. But it seems that this outstanding series is coming to an end. It is definitely time for me to plan a re-read! I highly recommend this book and the Maiden Lane series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it

For a romance novel, the ending was rather bittersweet and realistic, meaning Raphael’s memories and pain don’t go away forever even though he and Iris are together in the end, have defeated the villain, and resolved the conflicts in their relationship. This novel was fast-paced and easy to read but emotionally difficult. I liked Raphael and Iris very much. They were both so well-drawn and their romance was convincing. Though Raphael wanted to push Iris away, she didn’t give up on him. Their caring for each other was beautiful and powerful and moving. It made me cry in some places. I think Raphael really did fall in love with Iris the first time they waltzed, and this book clearly showed why they were right for each other.

Because of what Raphael went through, he is a rather tragic character, and I think this book would have felt more complete if readers got to see him laugh more and be happy not just in the epilogue. But though Duke of Desire was by far the darkest Maiden Lane novel, it was very good, well-written, and one of the better books in the series. I wish Raphael never had experienced so much trauma in his childhood, and I wish that people in real life would never have to go through what Raphael went through and what he had to do in order to survive. It’s just so sad. When I was reading this, he seemed so vulnerable at times I wanted to care for him too! Beneath his icy exterior, he was really a nice, sweet guy. He was loyal and protective, and I could tell that he loved Iris very much even though he was afraid to.

The saddest part was when he spoke to Iris in the end about his father, but I had hope for him and their future because he was no longer driven by revenge but to seek justice. I like imagining that he could have friendships with the other characters in the Maiden Lane series, such as Hugh, the Duke of Kyle, and Alf and Iris’s other friends. I think the tone of this novel could have been lightened if other characters from the series appeared in it. Either way, it’s still worth reading, if you’re a fan of and invested in the series, and if you’re willing and able to undergo the emotional toll of this book.

*ARC received from NetGalley

The Twelfth book in The Maiden Lane Series is the last full-length novel in the Series. I can honestly say that this is one of my top five Historical Romance Series that I have read, and I have read hundreds of Historical Romances so far.

It is fitting that the last one should be about Raphael de Chartres, The Duke of Dyemore, the darkest of the heroes in this Series. A man tormented by the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his own father. He has returned and will do what he should have done years ago, destroy the Lords of Chaos even if it means he must die to accomplish his mission. He knows that the same evil that made his father a monster runs through his blood and is determined that his line dies with him.

Iris, Lady Jordan is kidnapped and is convinced she is about to die at the hands of men wearing masks and nothing else. When one of the men grabs her and whisks her away to his carriage she finds a gun under the seat and shoots him, injuring him in the shoulder, only to find out he was rescuing her from certain rape and death. He is a Duke and he insists that they must marry so he can protect her from the Lords who will do whatever it takes to feed their perverted desires and keep their group a secret.

Iris's first marriage was an arranged and her husband was older, cold-hearted and treated her like a piece of property. Now she finds herself married again to another man who doesn't want a true marriage. Only this time she sees something in Raphael that calls to her and she will stop at nothing to make him see that he is not a monster and he can allow himself to be happy.

Raphael is doing all he can to keep Iris at a distance and finish his mission to destroy the Lords of Chaos. But he is finding it hard to push Iris away, she wants a real husband and a family and he believes that he can never have that kind of happiness.

There are truly evil monsters in the world, but Raphael is not one of them. Can Iris convince Raphael that he deserves to be loved?

Elizabeth is an exceptional storyteller that will keep you enthralled from the first paragraph to the last.
Her plots are intricate, addictive, full of action and mystery. Her characters are wonderfully flawed, complicated and honorable. I am very sad to see The Maiden Lane Series end, but I do own all twelve of the books and can go back and read them whenever I wish. There are two novellas coming that will put this Series to bed forever, but all the memorable characters and wonderful stories will be with me forever.

I really, really recommend that you read this book and if you have not read the other books in The Maiden Lane Series now is the time!!

Every time I open a new Elizabeth Hoyt book, especially one in the legendary Maiden Lane series, I’m always engulfed in magic. I just adore this author’s way with words, how she brings characters to life in this particular time-period, how she deftly integrates anti-heroes with dark pasts and the fierce maidens who bring them to their knees.

Duke of Desire is no exception.

Iris is in a bit of pickle. Kidnapped, Iris is saved from a horrible fate by a man she met once—a scarred duke who hasn’t been able to get Iris out of his head. Whisked away, Iris finds herself married to Raphael, the Duke of Dyemore, but Iris wants a real marriage. Something that can’t be with the secrets and shadows looming in the duke’s eyes.

But the Lords of Chaos are formidable and they expect Iris to be dead. Time is running out for them both.

Iris is a spectacular character! She came off very sweet in the previous books, but she’s also got one heck of a backbone, and she needs it to slay the duke’s dragons. I really enjoy that it’s she who wants to jump the duke’s bones, but the duke can’t quite commit to anything of a sexual nature.
Too bad Iris is a force to be reckoned with and he’s tempted.

Oh, is he tempted! (*fans self*)

The Duke of Dyemore is such a tortured hero. I cried for him. He’s got a scar that leaves people talking, a family built of nightmares, and a quest that has him keeping himself away from his new wife.

Between the chemistry, the mystery and the constant maneuverings, I was breathlessly anticipating each new scene. Every moment. Ms. Hoyt always brings something new to the table, and it’s a perfect blend of spine-tingling adventure and toe-curling lovemaking.

Anyone who loves historical romance—that feeling of being swept away into another era and time, of being lifted to the heights of pleasure and passion, intrigue and danger—needs to read this book. This entire series. It’s a guarantee that I’ll be kept on my toes and charmed to my bones, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

5 stars!

except for one last novella, which will hopefully bring together some old favorite characters, the maiden lane series comes to a close with duke of desire. we've met both raphael and iris before, namely in duke of pleasure, and i was happy to see both characters again.

when raphael saves iris from the lords of chaos she isn't sure she can trust him. and maybe she shouldn't because once he has her in his home, raphael finds he can't let her go. he says this is for her safety, but it runs deeper than that. it's something he's not ready to explain or explore. but he knows all the same that letting iris go is not an option for him.

and once iris gets over her initial distrust, she doesn't want to leave. she sees the things that have hurt and damaged this beautiful, broken man and she doesn't shy away from them or from him. she never sees him as the monster he sees himself as. but until he lets go of this warped view of himself, their future together hangs very much in the balance.

on top of that there is still imminent danger from the lords of chaos. the new dionysius is possibly more evil and depraved than raphael's father was. and he knows that raphael wants the lords destroyed and intends to do everything in his power to get to raphael and iris first.

it's hard to say what is more challenging to raphael and iris's romance, the lords of chaos or raphael's demons. needless to say there is a lot of healing and acceptance that needs to happen in this book for everything to work, and i think it is handled quite beautifully.

i've so enjoyed this series, even as it tackles some heavy topics like child abuse, rape, and poverty, the romances are heartfelt and emotionally satisfying.

**duke of desire will publish on october 17, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Iris Daniels, the Lady Jordan has found herself in a rather interesting predicament and she believes she is going to die. Imagine her surprise when one of the masked and nude Lords of Chaos removes her from the situation. When the man throws Iris into his carriage she finds a guns and ends up shooting him. What she didn't realize was that the man was Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore and he was actually trying to rescue her. From there the fun begins!

Raphael is trying to bring down the Lords of Chaos for personal reasons but he also wants to protect Iris. He decides that in order to protect her, they must marry! Iris, being a widow would rather remarry for love but Raphael convinces her it is for the best. Iris accepts but wants a real marriage along with marital relations. Too bad Raphael is against that. It was hysterical when Iris kept trying to seduce Raphael. Love a girl who knows what she wants!

While Iris is trying to put herself into Raphael's life, he is trying protect her and bring down the Lords of Chaos. It was so enjoyable watching these two start to become more meaningful to each other. When Iris starts pushing harder, she realizes that there are some ugly things from Raphael's past. Only the power of love could really help Raphael escape from his past. It was such an emotional road for these two to get to their happy ending but is was so worth it!

I just have to say....where have I been? This was the first time I have read this author and all I can say is wow! I can't believe there have been 11 other books in this series! These characters are wonderful and perfectly flawed....and their story is beyond wonderful. Plain and simple....read this story!

Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore, is determined to bring down the secret Lords of Chaos and their evil doings. His deceased father was their leader when he was a boy and had him marked with their tattoo. At their spring revels he recognizes Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, as the sacrifice. The masked lords believe her to be the new Duchess of Kyle. Raphael tells their leader, the Dionysus, they made a mistake and claims her as his. He takes her to his carriage and locks her in. She finds a hidden gun and when he returns, she shoots him in the shoulder. When she pulls off his mask, she recognizes him and tries to stop his bleeding. He informs her the only way he can protect her is to marry her.

His guards bring the vicar to his house and they married before he passed out from his wound. Iris removed the bullet but doesn’t know if he’ll survive. She hopes he does as she would very much like to have a family. Raphael survives but informs her he doesn’t want children. His goal is to end the Lords of Chaos by discovering the identity of the Dionysus.

When he is visited by 3 of the Chaos members, he immediately takes Iris to his London home as he thinks she’ll be safer there. Iris learns about his childhood from his aunt who resides in his London house while he tries to find the Dionysus. The Duke of Kyle is also working to destroy the group but Raphael does not want his help until she is in danger.

There is a lot more going on in this book, but I do not like to write plot spoilers. I believe that too much info will ruin your enjoyment of the story. I loved this wonderful book and couldn’t put it down.

This book is very dark and emotional. The hero had been extremely effected by his upbringing, his father being apart of the Lords of chaos. I found it alittle hard to read due to the subject. But i loved the heroine, who stood by her man and helped him through this difficult time. A time to let go of the past and begin anew with the future.

4.5 stars. I often have mixed feelings about Elizabeth Hoyt's books. I greatly admire that her heroes are so diverse and imperfect. And there is no question that I find her books very compelling (I can't put them down once I start). I think this was one of the best books in the Maiden Lane series even though it dealt with some very dark subject matter. Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore is a very damaged man, bent on revenge for the sins of his father and the Lords of Chaos. When he first sees Lady Iris Jordan he is attracted to her internal light. Iris is mistakenly kidnapped by the Lords of Chaos. Raphael rescues her and marries her to protect her from scandal and the Lords. Thus begins an emotionally confused marriage in which their attraction grows, but is inhibited by the emotional damage Raphael has suffered.
I read the book very quickly and had trouble putting it down when necessary. It consumed my thoughts and I cared very deeply about the characters. I particularly liked that the epilogue did not give the impression that Raphael changed into a jolly fellow. Damage of the type he endured would never go away; he just learned to live a happier life because of his love for Iris. Iris was tough and loving -- just what he needed. This is the last full length book in the Maiden Lane series and it is a strong contribution to this excellent and much-loved series.

An ARC of the book was provided in return for an honest review.

The Duke of Desire is a dark, gritty, and captivating historical fiction romance.

Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore returned home for one purpose, and that was to infiltrate the Lords of Chaos and bring them down. His depraved, now deceased, father, had once been the head of that vile organization. When Iris Jordan, a woman Raphael had secretly desired, was kidnapped, by the Lords of Chaos, Raphael was compelled to save her. He knew of all the horrid things that Iris would have to endure before the despicable group would end her agonizing torture and put her to death. Raphael couldn’t allow that to happen. It didn’t matter that Iris tried to murder him, or that he would never enjoy a consummated marriage with her; he just needed to keep her safe.

Iris couldn’t stop her traitorous heart from falling for Raphael, the man who forced her to marry him. Raphael considered himself a hideous and detestable man. How could he not be? He had his father’s evil blood running through his veins. Iris, however, knew differently. She just had to convince Raphael of that, before he sent her away, or ended up getting himself killed.

The Duke of Desire is an engrossing adult historical fiction romance. If you like dark and gritty, then this book is for you.

Thank you, Forever-Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy.

The next installment in the Maiden Lane series brings us the dark and moody scarred Duke of Dyemore who we glimpsed at a ball where he warned Iris to leave immediately. Since then she was kidnapped and found herself surround by nude men in masks who planned to rape and kill her, and Dyemore deciding to rescue her from the Lords of Chaos.  Of course, he didn't expect to get shot in the process by the very woman he set out to rescue or married to her to protect her from the other Lords. He thinks this will be a simple thing, marry her to protect her and then continue on with his quest for revenge. He doesn't expect that his new wife has dreams and desires of her own and that includes children and a husband who isn't afraid to come to her bed. The story was full of tension, banked and controlled passion, a woman who isn't afraid to fight for what she wants, and a man who can't resist the wife that has come to represent the light amongst all of his darkness. I enjoyed their adventure. The Dionysus was definitely hard to figure out, which kept you guessing as to who the bad guy was and it, of course, took almost losing her for Raphael to realize that he can't live without Iris. The conclusion of the story was emotional and I am glad that Iris didn't give up fighting for Raphael and their marriage.

Duke is Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt is an Amazing Read. I could not stop reading it for a second. The Author has done a Marvelous job with the characters and the plot that it becomes difficult to put the book down.

I Highly Recommend all the Readers to Grab Duke of Desire now. It's Really Good.

Duke of Desire is a deeply emotional story that brings together a scarred hero with horrible dark secrets and a woman whose light he craves, but is afraid to reach for.

Believing she is the new wife of the Duke of Kyle, the leader of the Lords of Chaos has Iris kidnapped as sacrifice in the group’s evil ceremony. Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, interrupts his quest to destroy the Lords of Chaos to rescue Lady Iris Jordan. To protect her from the group, he marries her. There are actually two themes to the rest of the story. Raphael is still determined to crush the Lords of Chaos. Iris is determined to break through Raphael’s barriers, gain his trust, and give them both a happily ever after. Tough challenges for both.

The Maiden Lane series ends with a heart wrenching love story and a battle to end the nightmare of the Lords of Chaos. Memorable characters and a captivating plot make Duke of Desire an exciting end to a fantastic series. A great read.

Elizabeth Hoyt has done it again with another amazing Maiden Lane book. The characters are well written and you can feel their pain in her writing. Iris, Lady Jordan is a strong, independent widow willing to fight for her live and for what she wants. Raphael, the Duke of Dyemore is a scarred man - both inside and out. When circumstances throw them together and she is forced to marry him, their lives become even more dangerous.
Throughout most of this story, Emma is in the dark about her husband's past but when she begins to uncover the pain he has been through it only makes her love him more and gives her the strength to fight for him and his love.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I’ve followed this series from the beginning. What I’ve loved most about it is that it depicts not only the parts of the era we find exciting- the balls, fashion, upper society, but also the darker, grittier elements of the era- poverty, crime, desperation. And #12 in this series, Duke of Desire gives us a duke completely unlike our usual romance hero. In most stories, the hero is usually forceful, protective, and dominant. While the Duke of Dyemore definitely had those qualities, he was also a victim, violated, and vulnerable. That made him an even more complex character for me and especially deserving of someone sympathetic to his pain and worthy of his trust.

Lady Iris Jordan had lived a rather dull life. Refined, kind, and intelligent, she’d lived a calm, uneventful existence. Until the night she’d been abducted on her way home from a wedding, mistaken for the bride. She found herself bound and surrounded by naked, masked, tattooed men bearing torches and intent on destroying her. When her mistaken identity was discovered, one of the masked men claimed her for his own and whisked her away. When his mask was removed, Iris recognized his mutilated face. The Duke of Dyemore. The man who, upon meeting him, she had thought resembled Hades, the god of the underworld.
Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Dyemore, had but one goal, to destroy the Lords of Chaos, a notorious, evil, secret society of aristocrats who enjoyed power and the rape and destruction of women and children. Having been the child of their former leader, Raphael knew the depraved group well and had vowed to infiltrate the group and destroy them all. But years of anguish and planning, and his dreams of revenge collapsed when he looked into the eyes of Lady Iris Jordan.
Raphael had no choice but to rescue Iris and take her away. Knowing that the Lords of Chaos would now not only want to destroy him, but Iris as well, he had no choice but to marry her. Even though Iris knew little of Raphael, he was her only hope and she did feel safe with him. Iris had been married before. Her marriage to her deceased husband had been a loveless one. She had hoped to marry again for love. Or at least affection. And more than anything she longed for a family. Raphael was intent on making sure his stigma never touched Iris. They would share a bed but he wouldn’t touch her. Wouldn’t corrupt her. No matter what it cost him.
Iris had other plans though. She was determined to be a wife to Raphael. To share his life, his secrets, and his bed. She vowed to make this marriage a real one and to try to break down the walls Raphael had built around his heart. Raphael soon realized he’d deceived himself about his ability to resist Iris. The power of her lure and his own desires were dangerous to his life’s mission. In Iris’s arms, “he was in danger of forgetting the real world and all he owed it”.

What a great conclusion to a series that has been nothing short of captivating. We finally get to learn who is behind the Lords of Chaos, but not without a few twists and turns and a lot of suspense. And not without a lot of passion too. Iris and Raphael’s chemistry sizzled on every page.
I liked that we quickly learned of Raphael’s miserable childhood and his feelings of distrust, shame, and self-hate. Otherwise, he might have come across as kind of an ass. But knowing his history helped me understand why he seemed aloof, arrogant, and sometimes even cruel. It led me to understand his need to do the right thing even if it destroyed him. He’d lived a lonely life by choice, not wanting to pass on the evil that ran through his blood. But once he experienced the light that was Iris, he didn’t want to let it go. She was the only light that could lead him out of his despair.
Iris was just what Raphael needed. She was strong, courageous, brave, and hopeful. She knew when to back off and when to push. I loved that she dared to speak up and say what she wanted. To have conversations she’d never been able to have in her first marriage. She was attracted to Raphael. He evoked feelings in her she’d not had before. She cared for him. Saw his physical and emotional pain and wanted to help. She encouraged Raphael to envision a life beyond revenge. She brought him hope.
If you’re looking for more than your typical historical romance, this is the series for you. Fast-paced, intense, dark with lots of steam and suspense, and with a beyond evil villain, you won’t be able to stop with just one book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.

A far different tone and weight than earlier titles in the series, Holt is telling the story of Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Draymore. Scarred, aloof and determined to bring down the Lords of Chaos once and for all, he’s a rather anti-heroic hero, and full of trauma and pain from his past. Believing that the Lords had been disbanded, everyone in society had breathed a sigh of relief until a new leader is chosen, one believed to be more ruthless and unconcerned with society’s censure than ever before.
When Lady Iris Jordan discovers she is the target of their next plot, and is hied off to a carriage by a man, the story starts. Unfortunately for Iris, her story almost stalls here, and while she is determined to play a part in Raphael’s investigation, and has agreed to marry him despite his not really wanting a relationship, particularly not with someone who won’t do his bidding, her story and character becomes a sort of window dressing: always there, constant, allowing Raphael’s story and struggle to take center stage.

And Raphael’s story is a traumatic one: scarred and closed off from much real emotion BUT anger and his desire to do something major, a childhood of sexual and emotional abuse stalled and hindered his well-being, and his attraction to Iris was like a plant turning to the sun – he wanted it, but at a distance. Unfortunately he was so broken and closed off for so much of the book that interactions (what few there were) that could be considered ‘romantic’ and allow the development of true feelings between Iris and he were few, and lacked much of the quick-fire banter, flintiness and lightness of Hoyt’s previous works. Yes, I understand this is a new character with plenty of baggage and a little black cloud that seems to follow him, but even Iris’ attempts to show him (as telling wasn’t even close to acceptable) that she was in his corner, wanted to be there and he was worth having that didn’t make much of an impression. Sadly, the balance of issues with hope and light was off, and the pacing in the first and second halves of the book were uneven, leaving me with conflicted feelings. Hoyt gave us a character in Raphael who was palpable and developed, with enough issues to warrant empathy and sympathy, but he didn’t move from that aloof and suspicious man until far too late. And Iris never really grabbed me: it would take a strong and determined woman, one not afraid of conflict and willing to push, prod and insert herself, challenging his reserve and remove – and she never quite hit those marks.

An interesting installment that diverges greatly from others in the series, and works well on its own as none of the other characters from this world of Maiden Lane appear or move their own earlier stories forward in this one. The highlight for me in this book was Raphael and his own struggles with a past and present that were not the easiest, and his determination to move on, if not exactly forward.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

To start with, this book should come with a trigger warning. Beyond this, the book is very descriptive and you can feel the emotional pain the hero, Raphael, feels. The heroine, Iris, is strong and independent and I absolutely love her character. Scattered throughout the book are messages of strength that I wish the world took to heart. I would recommend Elizabeth Hoyt based on her writing style, but if you are easily triggered then I would not recommend this book.

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***