Scandalous Desires: A Maiden Lane novel [Large Print] [Paperback]

Silence Hollingbrook once paid a pirate's ransom to save her husband. She stayed the night with St Giles's most notorious pirate king, Mickey O'Connor . . . one purely innocent night that ruined Silence's reputation forever, and destroyed her marriage.

When Silence's husband perished at sea she was heartbroken and drowning in grief, despite the fact that their marriage had been over ever since she'd agreed to Mickey's offer.

The small ray of hope that dragged Silence out of her misery was Mary Darling, an abandoned baby left on her doorstep. Little Mary, with her head of black curls and pansy-coloured eyes filled the void left by her husband's death.

But now Mary's father has come to take her away . . . the pirate king, Mickey O'Connor.

Mickey is in the middle of a St. Giles turf war against the scarred and terrible Vicar of Whitechapel. Mickey has been battling the Vicar throughout his childhood, spent on the dangerous streets of St. Giles.

The Vicar has somehow got wind of Mary Darling and her adopted mother, Silence. Mickey will do anything to protect them - not out of the kindness of his own heart, but because nobody touches what's his.

But when Silence agrees to stay at Mickey's `palace' and live amongst his looted treasures with Mary Darling, she starts to unravel Mickey's history with the Vicar. She sees beyond his affluent criminality to a dark, wounded heart . . .

`Scandalous Desires' is the third book in Elizabeth Hoyt's sublime historical romance series, `Maiden Lane'.

Silence and Mickey's romance has been brewing since first book `Wicked Intentions'. For two books now we have been reading their heated dance - between Mickey's impossibly cruel deals that tarnished Silence's reputation, to Mary Darling's appearance on her doorstep. Now `Scandalous Desires' delivers fans the romance we have all been waiting for - between a notorious Pirate King and his virtuous woman.

Hoyt's `Maiden Lane' is one of the best historical romance series I have ever read. So to say that `Scandalous Desires' is my favourite book thus far is big talk. . . and it's all thanks to Mickey O'Connor.

Forget Jack Sparrow - Mickey is pirate du-jour, the hottest swash-buckler you'll ever come across and a delicious fantasy. As is Hoyt's trademark, Mickey begins the book as a total scoundrel and womaniser. He's despicable and deplorable, greedy and unfeeling, utterly selfish in every way. The only reason he wants to protect Silence and Mary Darling from the Vicar is because they're his, and nobody touches what's his. Of course, Silence and all her virtue fascinated Mickey . . . she is his antithesis, pure and good, a sweet counterpoint to his black heart. But Mickey expects Silence to bend to his will and succumb to his charms.

Except Silence is nothing like the doxies Mickey usually beds. She is strong and self-possessed, viciously protective of those she loves and never afraid to speak her mind. Mickey is charmed, instantly and unfathomably.

Slowly, Mickey's heart thaws to Silence and his own daughter, Mary Darling. He becomes desperate to protect them both from the Vicar, not because they're his property but because if anything were to happen to them - he would never forgive himself.

Mickey and Silence have the most explosive romance of any Hollingbrook sibling thus far explored. It's partly thanks to Hoyt's masterful building of their romance over the last two books . . . but also simply down to opposites attracting and Mickey's climb to grace from such great depths.

A few new characters are introduced in this book, including Hollingbrook black sheep, brother Asa. And beloved secondary characters, like the prudish Winter Hollingbrook, are fleshed out and given glimpses into their upcoming books. I, for one, really hope that Asa Hollingbrook gets his own novel . . . because even the small, tantalizing little mention we get in `Scandalous Desires' had me crossing my fingers for unlimited instalments in the incredible `Maiden Lane' series!

`Scandalous Desires' is also the book that takes readers through the grimy streets of St. Giles, and reiterates the dangers of Maiden Lane. Because Mickey has lived in St. Giles all his life, and is its veritable King, Hoyt does some really masterful things with the descriptions of this sad little London town. Some of her scene-setting is truly magnificent for being mired in scum.

`Scandalous Desires' is my favourite instalment in an incredible historical romance series. Mickey O'Connor is a sublime pirate rake, and an instant fictional favourite. `Desires' ends on a delicious cliff-hanger concerning the Ghost of St. Giles . . . leaving me all aquiver for `Thief of Shadows' in 2012.

If you haven't read the first two books in the series, don't read any any more of this review and read the other two first.

An excellant early Georgian series set around an orphanage in Maiden Lane, St Giles, London. The Makepeace family run the orphanage in Maiden Lane. Since his father's death, the younger son Winter, a teacher, runs the orphanage. Until a year ago, the middle sister Temperance helped him. However, she is now married (1st book).

Silence Hollingbrook, the youngest sister, is married to a sea captain, William. She is relatively quiet and timid, in love with her husband and pure of heart. In the 2nd novel, William's ship's cargo was hijacked by Charming Mickey O'Connor, a river pirate and the owners of William's ship think that he is in on the theft. So Silence goes to Charming Mickey's "palace"
and begs him to give the ship's cargo back. Sinfully handsome Mickey agrees, on the condition that Silence stays the night with him. She knows that this will ruin her reputation, however, out of love for William, Silence agrees.

Mickey doesn't touch her. However, in the morning he insists that she undoes the front lacing on her dress, showing the curve of her breasts; lets her hair down and messes it up so that she looks as though she has spent the night having sex. He makes her walk back home in that condition. Consequently, nobody believes that she hasn't slept with the pirate, especially her husband William, who is ashamed of her. He goes back to sea.

Silence finds a pretty baby left on her doorstep and takes her to the orphanage, calling her Mary Darling. Silence decides to stay and help Winter with the orphanage and Mary Darling becomes her baby daughter. She then learns that William has gone down with his ship and she is a widow. In the last chapter of book 2, Mary Darling is kidnapped by Charming Mickey.

Book 3, this book. Silence storms to Mickey's palace and demands Mary back. Mickey tells her that Mary is his daughter and when Silence sees them together she can tell the truth of this. Mick tells Silence that he has a deadly ememy who would not hesitate in kidnapping and killing Mary and Silence also, for that matter. That they would now both be safer staying with him and his men at the palace. Rather than leave Mary, who she loves and who loves her, Silence agrees.

Ever since he made the original bargain with Silence Hollingbrook, a year ago, and humilitated her, Mick has been unable to get the loyal, loving, pure of heart, Silence out of his mind. He wants her and not just sexually. In Silence's presence he feels like a flower with its face turned to the sun. However, what Mick hasn't realised is that in the past months, timid Silence has discovered a backbone and she is not afraid of standing up to Charming Mickey and refusing his orders. Used to being in control and having his orders obeyed without question, Mick is bewildered, astounded and frustrated by Silence's "No".

As Silence and Mick get to know each other and become even more attracted to each other, Mick's enemy is plotting to take over St.Giles and kill Mick. He intends to capture both the baby and Silence first and kill them both, after first raping Silence.

A good, interesting book and interesting series. Needs to be read in sequence, and in writing this review of the 3rd book, I have made the assumption that you have read the other two.

Absolutely love this book and all the Maiden Lane books I have read I am eagerly waiting for the other 2. The characters in this book are beautiful it's written amazingly. It's difficult to put down you find yourself wanting to scream at the characters. Loved it.