Sweetest Scoundrel (Maiden Lane)

Asa was yummy no doubt though many of his description were repeated he played out sensually and very reminiscent of how Ms Hoyt wrote wickedly the first books of the series. Eve was not bad though I did not appreciate her description of overly big long nose bony hardly there breast unattractive plain overly tall! I do not get why authors tend to go to extremes just to avoid cliché gorgeous I mean ok Asa fell for her not her looks I get but what I do not get is why do they have to resemble "The Scream" ? Very off putting, she can be plain without the overly effort of monsternising her! Also the villainy played out a little too lazily and the description of theater and the rest was overly done ! I also found Jean Marie extremely annoying he was everywhere and a little too over powering for the story he may have been mentioned more than the hero . I give it 4 stars because I did not want to stop reading also where is the epilogue we only got the end of the blurp story which I never read , annoying! I am looking forward to Montgomery hope he is super wicked! Also the word fu;/ ng was used to death and in the wrong structure it should of ended with -en not -ing , oh well!

Audio-book: Narrator - Ashford McNab
Another excellent performance by this narrator. I don’t think there’s anything I could complain about and there’s plenty that I could praise her over. The way she brings these characters to life is exceptional.

I was anxious to get to Asa’s story. As the owner of Hart’s Folly I was curious to see what his background would be. I must confess I was a bit disappointed at what is revealed. On the other hand, it seemed feasible and I accepted it as such. Eve was a perfect counterpoint to him and kept him on his toes. I loved that she challenged him pretty much every step of the way. Her background was definitely quite terrifying and I was spellbound as it was brought into the light. I am so glad she found her HEA and that along the way she brought a certain amount of peace to Asa.

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.

There really is such a magical quality in Elizabeth Hoyt’s writing, most notably in her Maiden Lane series. The combination of earthy passion and witty dialogue amid the hustle and bustle of Georgian England makes each book highly addictive and a must have for any historical romance fan.

Hoyt’s characters are unconventional in a genre that seems to value the “perfect” physical specimens of man and womanhood, yet those same unconventional characters bring an abundance of life and vitality to every story. Take Asa Makepeace for example. He’s a hulking bear of a man with the manners and loud voice to match yet for all his growling, shouting and crude behavior, he’s worth falling for. Actually his crude behavior and bawdy comments were kind of endearing to me which says more about me than him… Moving on. Asa was a dangerous man to be sure but he also had this natural kindness that was buried waaaay down deep and needed someone more stubborn than he was to bring it out.

Enter Eve Dinwoody. She was almost the complete opposite of Asa, proper, polite, quiet and cautious. But she was also very stubborn and that’s what kept Asa from bulldozing over her like he did with so many others in his life. Eve’s persistence and calm, cool logic had me loving her way before Sweetest Scoundrel. She was a sensible woman and in the face of disaster, someone you would want on your side. Naturally she was going to butt heads with Asa and while she taught him a thing or two about patience and kindness, she also learned how strong she truly was.

Together Asa and Eve made a great team professionally even if they did bicker like children over every detail of the theater, but that was mostly Asa’s stubbornness talking. Personally they were explosive together even when they weren’t touching. Their chemistry wasn’t instant; it was more like a spark that once it caught onto something solid burned hotter and brighter with each turn of the page. I loved the progression of their romance, the arguing that led to kissing that led to more arguing that led to deep thoughts that led back to kissing and more. I wouldn’t have expected anything else of Asa, he doesn’t like the distraction that Eve presents, much less the thoughts that plague him when for so long his only thought and love was his theater.

Then there was the building of the mystery surrounding Eve’s brother the devious and somewhat villainous Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery. Why does he need to collect information on people? How far will he go? Is he a bad man? Probably but I don’t think he’s all that bad if he’s getting his own book. One thing I do know and like about him is his devotion to Eve, even if he does use her for his own schemes; he was there when she needed him most. I am so curious about him it’s not even funny, but that’s the author for you. Hoyt can engage readers’ attention and affection for the main couple all while building interest for other characters in the story but she does it in a way that doesn’t distract from the main plotline.

Final Verdict: Sweetest Scoundrel is the latest in a long line of Maiden Lane series books and with each book I fall deeper and deeper in love. These books are not just about connecting with the main characters or reconnecting with old ones, they’re also about discovering new characters in the most unlikely places.

Finally -- another Makepeace in the Maiden Lane series. Asa Makepeace is a foul mouthed theater owner who is estranged from his family. However, you'll remember that his theater, Harte's Folly, was burned to the ground in an earlier book in the series. At the end of that book a very rich investor, the Duke of Montgomery, showed up and offered to invest funds in the rebuild.

The Duke of Montgomery was banished from England and assigned his illegitimate half-sister, Eve Dinwoody to oversee his investment in the project. Eve was the victim of an early childhood trauma and is shy and introverted and very, very afraid of men and dogs. She's also determined to manage her brother's money well - and Asa Makepeace is driving her crazy.

Asa Makepeace ignores every missive that has been sent by this E. Dinwoody who is the Duke's man of business. Asa is much too busy concentrating on the rebuilding and reopening of Harte's Folly to pay attention to anything else. So, when E. Dinwoody barges into Asa's rooms (while he's in bed with a lovely lady) and tells him she's cutting off all of his funds, Asa is NOT a happy camper.

Asa persuades her to leave the funds and he'll do better - but - then she moves into his office to directly oversee the funds and things get wild from there.

There is some villain who is trying to keep the Folly from being rebuilt and 'accidents' abound. Eve is threatened and they still don't know who or why.

Will they find the villain? Will Eve warm up to Asa? Read this exciting, action filled book to see!

BTW -- there is a wonderful scene in the book where there is a reunion with all of the Makepeace family, their spouses and children. It is a good scene.

Asa has been spending inordinate amounts of the Duke of Montgomery's money to rebuild his beloved pleasure gardens but Montgomery's sister, Eve, is about to put a stop to it. Her brother left her in charge of his affairs and she is determined to get a return on his investment. If that means sorting out the accounts herself and sparring with Asa, then so be it. Sparks fly fairly quickly while they try to get the pleasure gardens ready to open on time.

The good bits...
For all Asa's crude and rude language, he was surprisingly tender and supportive of Eve's PTSD. He knew that she was petrified of dogs and being touched so rather than forcing the issue he let her set the pace. Hoyt has given a wide range of heroes in this series and in Asa we find a man who isn't afraid to say what he thinks, is relatively angst free (compared to the other heroes in the series) and is full of passion for both his theatre and life. I particularly enjoyed his interactions with his estranged family who had no idea what he had been doing for the past few years.

It was a pleasure to see Eve develop from an inhibited woman who was slavishly devoted to her brother and terrified of men to one who was comfortable living in her own skin. By the end of the novel she had acquired a group of friends and a man who adored her. Asa annoyed and provoked her into living and these scenes were often quite humorous as he rarely realised the effect he was having. Given Eve's reticence for physical contact, there is a big build up of sexual tension and saucy encounters before they finally have sex.

Kudos to Hoyt for including an interracial relationship between two secondary characters as historical romances often tend to be exclusively white.

The not so good bits...
The mystery behind who wanted to destroy Harte's Folly was fairly lacklustre as there was only really one possible candidate. It could have been easily improved if a few more red herrings were sprinkled throughout. The reason for the attacks would have been more plausible if the guilty person had received a little more page time to hint at their motives.

The big conflict between hero and heroine was over so quickly that you could be excused for missing it. I get that Hoyt was trying to balance the book out so that Asa's growth was as strong as Eve's but it wasn't integrated well.

Verdict...
A strong historical romance that was a delight to read. You can read it as a standalone book but I think you would enjoy the characters and the plot more if you read the others first.

Elizabeth Hoyt does it again! She makes me want to be friends with her characters. She write stories with such eloquence but realism at the same time. She also writes some of the hottest love scenes I have ever read. I have been waiting to find out about Asa's story since there were first glimpses of him in the first two books. And it was worth the wait!

The main character, Eve Dinwoody, is a woman who has had a very traumatic past and has been very sheltered by her brother. She has this great duality of being very prim and strong willed but evokes such fragility when having to deal with her past traumas. I really loved that she is smart and does not apologize for it. She really grows as a character throughout the whole story.

Then we have the lovable rascal, Asa Makepeace! His larger than life personality and gruffness would make you think he is a brute. Trust me, he could be at times. But the tenderness and patience he shows towards Eve is swoon-worthy. He accepts her as she is but still encourages her to move forward at her pace and how best works for her. He doesn't treat her with kid-gloves but allows her all the control. Also, I never knew I liked some one so much with just threw out the f-word left and right!

Now let's talk about how sexy this book is. It is like a slow burn but before you know it is inferno! Asa is not shy when it comes to his body and letting Eve explore it the how she wants.

Also, Ms. Hoyt writes secondary characters that are fully developed and interesting. I am constantly wanting to know more about them. I loved Jean-Marie and Tess and would love a novella to know more about their full story.

Sweetest Scoundrel is a gem of a book and is another great addition to the Maiden Lane series.

I have loved this series from the beginning; and this book is one of my favorites. Asa and Eve are a delight, I enjoyed the enemies to lover’s trope and their witty banter is a plus, Asa knows how to talk dirty.

Eve Dinwoody lives quietly in London working for her brother the Duke of Montgomery, a mysterious man who knows no bounds when he wants something. Eve knows the type of man he is, but he saved her from harm and has treated her well, even though he is a manipulator. When she believes the money he is spending on the rebuilding of Harte’s Folly is excessive she goes in search of the elusive Mr. Harte to get some answers.

Mr. Harte, also known as Asa Makepeace is the owner and manager of Harte’s Folly, a pleasure garden and theatre in London that burned to the ground a year ago. He is in the middle of rebuilding, with the help of the Duke’s money. When the duke’s sassy sister threatens to take away his capital, he is angry but agrees to let her look at his books, or scraps of paper and they settle in to a peaceful routine. Things quickly turn dangerous when it is apparent that several accidents have turned dangerous and deliberate. Someone is trying to sabotage his theatre.

I love Eve and Asa together, they start out as advisories but the attraction is immediate and they are soon working together to complete the theatre in time. She has issues with men from a situation when she was younger and he is amazing with her, and oh so sexy, she has a hard time resisting.

Again Ms. Hoyt has knocked it out of the park. This series has evolved over time and I have enjoyed the ride from the beginning. This is the 9th book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone as the author makes sure new readers are informed.

Eve is a wonderful heroine, a bit damaged from an incident when she was younger but her brother has protected her over the years, just as much as he has manipulated her. She lives quietly without many friends but relishes the people she meets and works with at Harte’s Folly. I love how the dancers and actors accepted her and she them. As Asa and her work together, she allows him to get closer, letting down her guard over time, he is wonderful to her and lets her set the pace.

Asa is amazing; he is a perfect hero, a bit jaded around the edges but with a heart of gold. He has struggled throughout his life to make it after his father threw him out and last year’s fire almost destroyed him, but with the duke’s help he is almost back. Unfortunately someone is trying to thwart his efforts with so called accidents, and on top of everything he must deal with the duke’s sister and her threats about money. Yet they find common ground and work together and he realizes she is more than she seems and the attraction grows. I love the sexy scenes they share and the way he talks…

The pace of the story works well and I found myself wanting to read straight through to the end. I like the mystery and danger that the author weaves into the story which seems to continue into the next book as we get a little taste of Bridget and the duke’s introduction, I am very intrigued. Other secondary characters play large roles in this book, I enjoyed Eve’s bodyguard Jean-Marie, he is ever present as her friend and protector, and I also like seeing Alf, the mysterious person that runs errands in and out of St. Giles. We also get to see several of the Makepeace clan, Asa’s family, they have been prevalent throughout the series and I like how the family comes together in the end.

I highly recommend this series; whether you want to read from the start or begin with this book, they are all delightful.

Review also at Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Copy from the publisher for an honest review

Another beautiful, exciting addition to The Maiden Lane Series. Not only do you get to read a wonderful book full of remarkable characters and a story that will keep you enthralled throughout the whole book, you also get a truly original fairy tale that runs throughout the book at the beginning of every charter. That is one of the many reasons that I love Elizabeth Hoyt's writing. She is truly a writer with a vivid imagination and a writes with a unique style and flair that is rather amazing. The Maiden Lane Series is in my opinion one of the best ever in the Historical Romance Genre and I hope it goes on for a long time, I will never get tired of reading about the hero's and heroines who live in Elizabeth's stories. This story was an truly sensational in the scope of the two main protagonists..Eve and Asa...Eve is the sister of the villain in the previous Maiden Lane book and Asa is a member of the Makepeace family who has been a part of all the Maiden Lane Series. They are raw, vulnerable, flawed individuals who find common ground together and defeat their personal demons together. Also the language during the sex scenes are graphic and very hot! I enjoyed this book very much and cannot wait for Val's and Bridget's story!!!

Nothing is perfect...but honestly, this story is about as close as historical romance gets to it.
Seriously, Elizabeth Hoyt writes these beautifully flawed characters that start out so far from where they need to be in almost every sense of the word. And then she starts dusting them off, ironing out their creases and breathing new life into them. Slowly, but surely they blossom. It's a joy to read.

This is the publisher's summary:

"SHE'S TAKING CHARGE
Prim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.
HE'S RUNNING THE SHOW
Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.
BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL
In spite of her lack of theatrical experience-and her fiery clashes with Asa-Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them-and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all..."

Eve and Asa are like oil and water. They do not mix. Not at all. Or so it seems.

Eve is the younger sister of the Duke of Montgomery. He is a character in a previous book in this series and while we don't actually see him in this story he is a major part of it. He is the person who Eve loves most in this world. She would do anything for him and feels a sense of obligation to him because he allows her to live her life in a way that is safe and comfortable. In return for his generosity, Eve manages his financial investments. She is particularly focused on his investment in Harte's Folly, a pleasure garden that is in the middle of a very expensive renovation after a fire destroyed it last year. She is determined to assert her control over it's profligate owner...but she has no idea what is in store for her when she shows up, unannounced at his front door.

Asa Makepeace is the disowned son of a commoner. He has dedicated his entire adult life to Harte's Folly and has no patience for Eve's meddling. He has a vision for his pleasure garden and he's not about to let some plain, snippy, lady stop him from achieving it. He knows her kind and he decides that he will show her who is REALLY in charge when it comes to making decisions about Harte's Folly. Except, it turns out, that she really does hold the purse strings. There isn't anything Asa wouldn't do for his gardens so he is prepared to swallow his pride in return for Eve's promise to keep the line of credit open. What he isn't prepared for is the way this woman will make him question everything he thinks he knows about life and himself.

These two are both wounded souls. They haven't had an easy time of things. And they both realize, very quickly, how misleading first impressions can be. And as they start to see the real people under the armor that they both wear, they are helpless to fight against attraction that DEMANDS that they step into uncomfortable spaces. They will be required to be brave enough to take what life is offering them. Can they do it? Do they even want to?
They have both created lives that, while lacking the kind of passion they find in each other's arms, are safe and predictable.

I adored their love story. They made such huge strides individually and it really allowed them to bring out the best in each other. The sexual chemistry was ridiculous. I mean, burn up the sheet ridiculous. When this kind of heat can be achieved without the characters even touching each other, you know that you are reading the words of a truely excellent writer. Ms. Hoyt elevates the historical romance from the typical ballrooms and perfectly dressed ladies and impossibly handsome lords. She draws characters that are even more wonderful than the ones in the fairy tales we read as children because these characters FIGHT for what they want. They have nothing but their sheer grit and they earn their happily ever afters.
The secondary characters are colorful. There is even a dog that I saw as a metaphor for both Eve and Asa's emotional journey.

If you've read any of Ms. Hoyt's stories, then you will be familiar with her giving her readers something extra in the form of a story within the story that is told in pieces at the beginning of each chapter. This one is called the Lion and the Dove and it is an allegorical mirroring of Eve and Asa's story.

Another winner from this author who really can do no wrong for me!
The advanced copy of this was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

In October 2014 I read my first book by Elizabeth Hoyt called ‘Darling Beast’. Since this book was such a fun read I was super excited when I saw ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ lying in my mailbox. Although I don’t really like the book cover, I do think it fits this book perfectly. ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ is about a prim and proper girl, and this cover definitely has a proper feel about it.

I love reading Historical Romance novels and this book was no exception. The two main characters in ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’, are two very different people and I loved getting to know them. Eve Dinwoody is a girl with a lot of baggage. Eve is managing her brothers money and because of this she is forced to visit the home of Mr. Hardy, an Oprah house manager. Although Eve looks and sounds though on the outside, there is a lot she isn’t telling. And soon after meeting Eve, Mr. Hardy a.k.a. Asa Makepeace finds himself intrigued by the young woman. Slowly on they begin to get to know each other, and find out that first impressions really aren’t what they seem to be.

I love the slowly building romances, Historical Romance novels almost always contain. And in ‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ there definitely is a slowly building romance. And I loved it. I loved reading about how kind and sweet the ‘always’ playful playboy Mr. Hardy was for Eve. And I loved reading about how Eve slowly came to trust Asa.
There is also some mystery going on, and I’m really curious how this part of the story will end, since this part of the book ended with a little cliffhanger. I definitely need to read the next book because I’m so curious about what will happen with Eve’s mysterious and strange brother.

‘Sweetest Scoundrel’ is a fun, sweet, romantic read and I would really recommend it to other Historical Romance lovers. And the best part.. this book is book nine in the Maiden Lane series, so there are a lot more fun reads to get too.

No great scoundrel is ever uninteresting. - Murray Kempton

Asa Makepeace is anything but uninteresting. He is loud and proud of Harte's Folly - a pleasure garden, theater, and opera all in one for Georgian London to enjoy. Asa's love of theater earned him the wrath of his father and distanced him from his siblings. Although Harte's Folly burned down (presumably in a previous book in the series), Asa has a new sponsor (and fellow scoundrel) to help rebuild - the Duke of Montgomery.

The Duke tasks his half sister, Eve Dinwoody, to manage his financial investment in Harte's Folly. Asa is aghast to be audited ... and Eve is aghast to find Asa in bed with the opera singer. Yet Eve takes her job seriously to please her brother, the only person who cares about the mousy bastard of his father. She is soon drawn into the theater world, taking an interest in the dancers' welfare, participating in the rehearsals, and even rescuing a mangy dog despite her fear of dogs. Along the way, Eve appreciates Asa's passion for the arts. She blooms into a confident woman who realizes she wants more from life than simply relying upon her brother. Likewise, Asa allows Eve into his cynical heart. She inspires him to reconnect with his family (characters in previous books) and see that he can have a life other than the theater.

SWEETEST SCOUNDREL is my first entry into the Maiden Lane series. Somehow, I missed the previous eight books. Still, I was able to read SWEETEST SCOUNDREL as a stand alone book - the focus is on Asa Makepeace and Eve Dinwoody. Hoyt creates two unique characters who give readers a different perspective of the Georgian Era; its not all about the London Ton. Asa reminds me of Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeake in Love - his quest for theatrical perfection intersects with his growing love for Eve. Does he have enough passion for both? Is Eve willing to share Asa with the theater world?

Hoyt adds extra drama and humor to the story with the colorful cast and tidbits about theater. Hoyt sets SWEETEST SCOUNDREL apart from other historical romances with steamy scenes in which Asa teaches Eve about pleasure. Finally, Hoyt introduces each chapter with an excerpt from a fairy tale which symbolizes the upcoming action in SWEETEST SCOUNDREL. This added bonus reminds me of the fairy tales Hoyt included in her debut, THE RAVEN PRINCE. Since then, Hoyt has written 15 full length historicals. It was a pleasure to read SWEETEST SCOUNDREL to see how Hoyt has matured as a writer and even have confidence to take a chance on extraordinary characters.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from Forever Romance.

SWEETEST SCOUNDREL is a vibrant, fast-paced entry in Elizabeth Hoyt’s romantic and suspenseful Maiden Lane series. Eve and Asa are perfect together, and tawny Asa’s sweet, fierce protectiveness is all kinds of sexy. Eve and Asa meet at Harte’s Folly, which Asa owns and Eve’s brother, Valentine, the Duke of Montgomery, has invested in. Since Val has left Eve in charge of his investment, she wants to make sure that Val will get his money back and Asa isn’t wasting her brother’s money. However, Harte’s Folly is still rebuilding from a fire, and it seems someone is trying to sabotage the theater and Asa’s efforts to make it profitable again.

When they first meet, Asa sees Eve as plain, too thin, and an aloof, regal aristocratic. However, as time passes and they get to know each other, he begins to see her true beauty and desires to know her and protect her. It’s obvious by her paralyzing fear of men and reticence to leave the house without her bodyguard that something happened to her. Her combined strength and vulnerability touch Asa’s heart. Their bickering underscores their sexual tension and genuine respect for each other.

Asa patiently and gradually earns her trust, and his protectiveness and caring for her develop into real feelings. Their courtship is a kind of delicate thing, contrasting Asa’s violent instincts and their intense desires, and balances their distinct personalities–Asa is expressive, while Eve is reserved. She is traumatized and has buried her memories, but her unique attraction for Asa motivates her to heal from her past and grow into a sexually empowered woman. Asa and Eve bring unique gifts to their relationship; their love brings Eve back to life and Asa a renewed sense of home and belonging.

The novel also introduces the secretive Bridget Crumb, the Duke of Montgomery’s new housekeeper, and provides a little insight into Val’s questionable activities and mysterious schemes. My favorite recurring character, Alf, reprises her role as the enterprising, street smart urchin girl in hiding, an informant of sorts to these powerful aristocrats. And the new band of villains mentioned in this novel could lead to additional story and character arcs in future books.

I also liked that Eve’s bodyguard, Jean-Marie, wasn’t treated like a servant but was a free person, and that he told his story in his own words. I was glad that Jean-Marie didn’t remain indebted to Val and relieved that Val wasn’t glorified as his savior. Val isn’t known for his altruism but for manipulating people to get what he wants. It’s how Eve loves Val and how Val rescued Eve that humanizes him and makes him so interesting and an antihero worth redeeming.

I can’t wait for Val’s story next and to see if and how he redeems himself. One of the themes I love most about this series is the power of love bridging and healing the gap between the lower and upper classes. So, I’m very much looking forward for Alf to get her happy ending. That girl definitely needs to be rewarded for helping out these wealthy aristocrats!

The ending was a little abrupt, and the epilogue was unexpected and a bit perplexing, unless the reader is completely invested in the allegorical bits at the start of each chapter. As in most of Hoyt’s historical romances, the sex scenes are a little edgy for the genre, but don’t cross over into erotica. Asa was somewhat unrefined, but that was a large part of his sex appeal. He brought Eve out of her shell, and she grew to trust him.

*I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

--

Content warning: This book references instances of child molestation, PTSD, and violence against women and children.

Historical footnote: Though of African descent, Jean-Marie was given a French name because he was a slave in the French West Indies, on the island of Saint-Domingue. Saint-Domingue was a French colony from 1659 to 1804, and eventually became the Dominican Republic: “As of 1778, the French were importing approximately 13,000 Africans for enslavement to the French West Indies” (Source: Wikipedia)

Through nine books now, veteran writer Elizabeth Hoyt has created an entertaining, glamorous, and gritty world in her Maiden Lane series set in the St. Giles neighborhood of Georgian era London. Though the books need not be read in order, I feel it adds to the richness of the story as many past heroes and heroines are mentioned or make cameo appearances.
Readers first met Eve Dinwoody, the illegitimate daughter of a duke, in Dearest Rogue. Eve is the younger sister to Val, the outrageous and immature Duke of Montgomery. Val is a mysterious and enigmatic man who blackmails people for sport. And Eve is the only person who fiercely loves him despite his faults since he saved her from a childhood tragedy and also because he feeds and shelters her.
Eve is very smart and serious. She manages the books for her brother’s many investments and interests while he frequently travels. That’s how she meets Asa Makepeace, the owner and manager of Harte’s Folly, a struggling and magical theater garden in London. It’s her job to make sure that money is being spent efficiently and effectively and she clashes with the blatantly virile and shocking Asa.
Mr. Harte sprawled across her dainty settee like a Viking marauder in a pillaged Christian church.
At first, Asa finds Eve shrewish and uptight but she very quickly intrigues him with her contradictory nature of both discipline and her vulnerability in her fear of dogs and of touch.
The juxtaposition of the two–her iron core and her delicate exterior–was oddly fascinating.
Eve is also desperately lonely. She has no friends save her loyal servants. So when Asa literally crowds himself into her life, filling her small world with light, love, and addictive passion, she is overwhelmed, curious and, for the first time, dares to dream of a different future for herself. Above all, Eve realizes this is not a way to live, in constant fear and hiding.
If there was one thing Asa Makepeace knew how to do it was seduce a female. Even one with a poker up her arse.
Asa has long been estranged from his large, religious, and mostly conservative family–many whose stories have been told in previous Maiden Lane novels. Eve helps Asa to heal the rift and he helps her come out of her shell of reserve and trepidation. The scenes with Asa’s many lively siblings add color, humor, and humanity to an already lovely romance.
Eve is drawn to Asa and wants to experience all the passion he has to offer a woman. Their love scenes are playful, sexy, and daring. He tempts her and makes her want things she never thought she would ever have.
It was lovely to be wanted.
The relationship between Eve and her servants, especially Jean-Marie, her Creole bodyguard, is touching and vivid. Ms. Hoyt brings all her characters to life and, as in all the books in the Maiden Lane series, there are hints of another book in the glimpses into the mysterious Bridget Crumb, the very young and efficient housekeeper to the Duke of Montgomery, as she takes charge of the absent man’s London townhouse.
A big, bold, and beautiful love story.
This review first appeared on Romantic Historical Reviews.

The hero here, Asa Makepeace, is the brother to Winter Makepeace, hero of “Thief of Shadows” (5 star book in my opinion). Asa Makepeace is not like his brothers. He is totally rough around the edges. He is crass, crude, rude, flies off the handle and acts instinctively. He reminded me of John Wayne characters in old westerns. I worried about whether I could like him. Turns out, his “rough and ready” ways were just what prim and proper Evie Dinwoodie needed. She didn’t know it at first.

Evie appears stand-offish, but rather than snobbery, she lives in the shadow of terrifying memories, and it takes Asa some time to bring her into the sunshine, but he does, and he does it so well. There is no other character who could have done it like he did. That scene in the carriage… whew! I decided I liked that Asa was the way he was. He was like a healing balm to Evie.

Elizabeth Hoyt is almost unmatched in her ability to write hot, hot, hot, sex scenes. She does it here, and it is genuinely therapeutic! The sex scenes moved the story along in a surprising way. Quite …healing.

Asa’s relationship with his family is also explored in a fun way and we get to see how some of the characters from previous novels are getting on.

There are suspenseful, mysterious, and dangerous goings-on in this novel. The lives of Asa and Evie are put at risk as people are killed and injured during the course of the novel. The mystery and then the romance are wrapped up perfectly.

The reason for my 3.5 stars is because I felt the novel slow-going for about the first 60%. After the “carriage scene” I refer to, the pace picked up and all the pieces of the romance and mystery started to fall into place so I enjoyed it more then.

There are some gaps in my knowledge of the series as I have not read books 1, 7 and 8 yet. That did not matter. I’ll be going back for more stories in the Maiden Lane Series. Elizabeth Hoyt novels have the capacity to keep me riveted with the romance and sexual tension build-up culminating in very hot sexy times. So consider me addicted. Onto the next book I go.

P.S. I love the fairytale snippets at the beginning of each chapter. Just sayin’.

*contains sex scenes.

A very good and satisfying reading!! Hoyt never disappoints me and this new installment in her successful Maiden Lane series proves her great ability as writer.
I've waited for Asa's story since he made his short appearance in the first book but I wouldn't have imagined him to be like this! XD Asa is completely hot-headed, rough, rude and foul-mouthed! I adore him! ;P In the beginning, he doesn't treat our sweet heroine very well, I mean it's not nice to say to a woman she has a big nose, but after all Eve wanted to cut off his credit to rebuild the theather Asa has dedicated his whole life to. When he starts to really know Eve, Asa finds out something more important than anything else, and I enjoyed to see his tender and passionate side.
As for Eve, I really liked her character because though her tragic and traumatic past (that I never expected to be so dark) caused her to be fearful of dogs and the touch of men, she shows a strong determination, courage and stubborness. After many years spent not living for real, she opens herself to Asa in the sweetest and bravest way, and she discovers in herself a sensual and fiery woman. Eve is more than capable to hold her own with Asa and theirs banter and squabbles are fun and captivating. Their sexual affair is torrid and very erotic, and their feelings blossom slowly but relentlessly.
In the end I felt a deep sense of happiness and sweetness.
Now, I'm looking forward to reading Val's, the Duke of Montgomery as well as Eve's brother, story because I already know it'll be fanfuckingtastic!! He is diabolically deliciuos! ;P

I started Sweetest Scoundrel looking forward to reading a historical romance where the hero isn’t an aristocratic Lordy Lord who thinks everyone should bow down to him. Well, Asa’s not an aristocrat, but he does think his employees should bloody do as he says and if they’re bowing, good. Asa Makepeace owns Harte’s Folly, a pleasure garden. To be honest I wasn’t sure what a pleasure garden was. Me and my dirty mind, thought it was going to be some kind of kinky outdoor brothel. Alas, I was wrong. It’s a theatre where opera, music and performances can be enjoyed. If there was kinky stuff going on, it wasn’t the main focus of Harte’s Folly.

Asa’s pleasure garden is the most important thing in his life. Unfortunately, he is rebuilding it after it had burnt to the ground. One of his financial backers was The Duke of Montgomery. The Duke’s “man of affairs” is actually his sister Eve. She had been trying to get the owner of Harte’s Folly to supply accounts and reports of his expenditure, but every attempt made to get the information was ignored. Eve decides to take her footman to Mr Harte’s (the name Asa goes by) residence. When they arrive they find a very hungover Asa with a naked woman in his bed. To be honest, at this stage this did not really endear me to Asa. Anyways…Eve threatens to cut off his funding unless he supplies the accounts. Asa doesn’t take the threat well and they come to an agreement that Eve will come and get the accounts sorted herself.

This story takes us behind the scenes of how an opera is organised. Besides the building and grounds that need to be prepared, we also see how the music director, opera singers and dancers have to work together. We also see how childminding is not only a modern day problem. Some of the dancers have children and it’s not easy to find reliable and trustworthy carers, especially considering the hours they have to work. I found this part of the story very interesting.

Eve and Asa have demons from their past. Eve has a very real fear of dogs and men which is why her footman Jean-Marie has become her bodyguard for the last ten year. He is the only man besides her brother that she has learnt to trust. Asa is determined to find out where her fears stem from and help her to conquer them. Asa’s problems are family orientated and Eve very quickly encourages him to sort them out.

Sweetest Scoundrel packs a real punch when it comes to the steamy scenes. With Eve’s issues, it takes this couple awhile to actually connect, but the lead up is filled with sexual tension. Once the couple do become intimate, you can see that for both of them, it’s more than just a sexual connection.

Really enjoyed this story and found the characters to be lovable, at times funny and interesting in their individuality. I didn’t particularly like Asa’s character at first, but I think that was due to his insults towards Eve (when she was in accountant mode) and less than stunning introduction. This was number 9 in the Maiden Lane Series. Years ago I read the first in the series, Wicked Intentions, and always meant to go back and read more. Considering this, while it probably would have made it easier to know all the other characters and their stories, I still managed to follow along well enough to make it an OK standalone.

I received a complimentary copy of this story via Netgalley for an honest review.

Elizabeth Hoyt NEVER disappoints! Loved SWEETEST SCOUNDREL with its imperfect hero and troubled heroine. The entire Maiden Lane series has been wonderful, and I really enjoyed seeing some of the past characters showing up in this one, but I think this one was one of her best yet. I've read it twice already. I just get totally lost in her stories.

A must read for any fan of historical romance, Elizabeth Hoyt continues her addictive series of books, tying in story arcs from previous books and leaving us panting for more! Well worth the cost, set aside plenty of uninterrupted time to fully wallow in the experience.

Really enjoyed the heroine and the way the connection between the h/h played out and how he helped her work through her fears until she was the strong woman she portrayed to the world. She was not your typical pretty girl.

This is an excellent historical romance - steamy, passionate and forbidden. Elizabeth Holt has created in-depth, lovable characters that I was rooting for from the very first page. Highly recommended!

Asa Makepeace is a volatile and crude male protagonist, but he is also fiercely passionate and patient. Eve Dinewoody is not a typical heroine, she is quite plain looking and Asa doesn't find her attractive at all, but her personality and strength draw him in unlike beautiful looks. I enjoyed their story, how they sparred together, worked well together, and how Eve stood up to him. I enjoyed watching Asa win Eve's trust and help her with the scars from her past. Her traumatic past is definitely an obstacle and when she finally reveals the truth to Asa, it explains a lot about how Eve conducted herself in the beginning. The plot was fun, their love story beautiful, and the conflicts moved the story along well.

Audio-book: Narrator - Ashford McNab
Another excellent performance by this narrator. I don’t think there’s anything I could complain about and there’s plenty that I could praise her over. The way she brings these characters to life is exceptional.

I was anxious to get to Asa’s story. As the owner of Hart’s Folly I was curious to see what his background would be. I must confess I was a bit disappointed at what is revealed. On the other hand, it seemed feasible and I accepted it as such. Eve was a perfect counterpoint to him and kept him on his toes. I loved that she challenged him pretty much every step of the way. Her background was definitely quite terrifying and I was spellbound as it was brought into the light. I am so glad she found her HEA and that along the way she brought a certain amount of peace to Asa.