Twice as Nice: Paula’s Take on Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt
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Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane) by Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical / Regency
2012-06-26 (Grand Central Publishing)
Heroine: Isabel Beckinhall – Aristocrat, Widow
Hero: Winter Makepeace – Vigilante, Virgin
Setting: England
Review:
I admit, I started this series with Scandalous Desires and not only did I love that book but I also fell in love with the mysterious Winter Makepeace. What I didn’t expect is to love Thief of Shadows just as much too. Well, I was wrong. Elizabeth Hoyt wrote a fantastic, fun and adventurous romance with delightful characters.
Winter Makepeace is not your typical hero. He is the headmaster of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in St. Giles by day. By night, he wears a mask and fights to help protect the poor and helpless citizens of St. Giles. His commitment to the orphanage and his role as the Ghost of St. Giles takes precedence over a personal life where he has taken a vow of celibacy. Who doesn’t love a virgin hero? In Thief of Shadows we really get to know Winter and a wowing hero he turns out to be! He comes across as a quiet and reserved man but what he doesn’t show anyone is that he is kind, witty, thoughtful, selfless, and disciplined. More than anything, he is a true hero to the children of St. Giles where he rescues them from dangerous and poor situations and brings them back to the orphanage for safety. And because of the overwhelming need to take care of the children of St. Giles, Winter has taken on the task to solve the “lassie snatchers” mystery where someone is snatching young orphaned girls off the streets of St. Giles. Winter Makepeace is a one of a kind man and in essence, a superhero.
Isabel Beckinhall is part of the Lady’s Syndicate that supports the orphanage. When the Syndicate decides Winter is not a proper manager for the home they support, they decide they want to replace him with someone in the aristocracy. Isobel takes on the task to help Winter by teaching him social etiquette lessons that will help him impress the aristocracy so he can keep his manager position. Begrudgingly, Winter decides to take on the task to learn good manners because he would do anything to keep the children’s home. Isobel is a wealthy widow and not your traditional heroine. She is strong, independent, and straight-forward. She is also drawn to Winter like a moth to a flame. She’s attracted to this man who has bad manners and doesn’t care for frivolous things. Her meddling finds out who Winter is and so much more. I found it refreshing that it was Isobel who was the aggressor in this relationship. Winter wants to keep his distance but she wants him in her bed. Winter is like a caged animal that is waiting to be released and Isabel is the one who wants to release him. When Winter finally let’s himself have Isobel, he’s a man on a mission.
Isabel bit her lip. “What are you doing here?”
He removed his tunic but didn’t bother looking up as he sat to take off his boots. “I want you to show me.”
“Show you what?”
He did look up at that, one boot in his hands, and his eyes bored straight into her woman’s soul. “Everything.”
Oh my.
Winter surprised me continuously with his naughty ways in the bedroom and the sweet and romantic words he confesses to Isabel.
“I adore your hair. Do you know that?” he whispered. “I used to dream it in my lonely monk’s bed, long mahogany locks twining themselves about my limbs in my sleep. I’d wake aroused and aching and cursing you.”
Isabel and Winter both don masks to keep themselves from being exposed emotionally. Winter tries to be the good and kind man but distant, like his father. Isabel has faced disappointments in her life which makes her afraid to open up to anyone. In each other, they are able to let down their masks and love each other openly and freely.
The author writes an amazing and original love story. I can’t wait to see what happens next because at the end of the story we get a little sneak peak at what’s to come and what a surprise ending indeed! I really need to go back to read the first two books to get a little more background information on the hero in the next book. Luckily, they are already sitting in my TBR pile
Thoughts While Reading:
65.0% - "Winter, you have completely seduced me..."
Letitia’s Review: Click here for another take on Thief of Shadows!
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