Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt (Maiden Lane Series #1)
August 1, 2010
Historical Romance
Paperback, 416 Pages
Grand Central Publishing
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: “Temperance,” he growled.
”Hush,” she whispered, and kissed him.
Temperance Dews runs the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children and makes a dash out in the dangerous streets of St. Giles to rescue an abandoned baby. While out she is noticed by Lord Caire or Lazarus Huntington for her knowledge of the alleys and back streets of the city. Lazarus is searching for the murderer that killed his mistress three months ago and needs someone who knows their way around town. Lazarus is infamous for his strange taste in women – or I should say whores. Unable to stand the touch of anyone, he ties up his women and has his way with them. He proclaims he is unable to love anyone but when he finds his “little martyr” in Temperance, his emotions come to the forefront.
Temperance is widowed and with the help of her brother Winter, takes care of twenty-eight children, but the cost of running the home has caught up with her. She is desperate to find funds to keep the house open and Lazarus offers her a deal. In exchange for her help to track down the murderer, he will pay some of her debts and help her find a patron to support the house. With no other alternative, Temperance agrees. She soon finds herself in the dark alleys of St. Giles at night, and in the clutches of Lazarus.
Wicked Intentions is a great book by Elizabeth Hoyt and a wonderful start to a series. I loved the hero and heroine so much! Lazarus is a very mysterious, dark hero with a sordid past with many whores and dislikes the touch of anyone. He has possessive feelings over Temperance from the beginning although would rather die than admit that to anyone. Their romance builds slow the first 200 pages and then all of a sudden Elizabeth Hoyt gives us some of the most sensual scenes in a historical I have read this year. Both hero and heroine have such tough exteriors but deep down they are hurting – and I love how Hoyt slowly unravels and exposes their pain, and eventual love for one another.
This book wouldn’t make it onto my favorite list without the exceptional supporting characters as well. Temperance gets much grief and concern from her brothers Winter, Concord and Asa. Her sister Silence gets much page time as she welcomes her husband home from sea, only to have a devastating occurrence happen in their marriage. We also get a wonderful character with Lazarus’s friend, St. John – the quiet, stoic man who has a deathly ill wife and tries his best to keep Lazarus on the straight and narrow.
Wicked Intentions is a dark book for Elizabeth Hoyt and she really does a great job delivering the the poverty stricken, dangerous city of St. Giles. Through much of the book Lazarus has a non-existent relationship with his mother which I think is addressed too quickly at the end. I was a bit let down in that side story. I also wish the issue Lazarus had with people touching him was explained more, or worked out better between him and Temperance. Otherwise, I adored this book. Wicked Intentions will make it onto my favorites of 2010 and will be reread with enthusiasm until book two makes it way to the shelves.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recent Reviews:
Book Binge – 4.5/5
My Reading Addiction – 4.5/5
All About Romance – B
This series includes:
Wicked Intentions
Notorious Pleasures – February 2011
Thanks to Hachette, I have FIVE copies of Wicked Intentions to giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment. Contest open to US/Canada only through Friday, August 13th.
August 9, 2010 at 8:58 am
Fab review Mandi.
I like the thought of a tortured hero. I may have to give this one a try.
August 9, 2010 at 9:05 am
Great review. This book looks like my kind of read.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
August 9, 2010 at 9:25 am
I WANT TO READ THIS BOOK!!
August 9, 2010 at 9:37 am
Great review!! I'm looking forward to reading this!!
aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
August 9, 2010 at 9:43 am
I love her books. Please count me in.
August 9, 2010 at 9:49 am
That book sounds like an emotional rollercoaster, and I love them. Even better that is a series, perhaps a family one? It reminds me of one of my favorite – The Knight series by Gaelen Foley. I will give it a try…
Thanks Mandi.
August 9, 2010 at 9:56 am
I really need to try Galen Foley..have heard good things!
August 9, 2010 at 9:58 am
The cover looks somewhat darker so I guess it fits the mood of the book. Though I do love my fluffy happy HR, but then again I love reading all sorts of things
August 9, 2010 at 9:59 am
I love the cover..the colors and the way it is drawn is very appealing to me
August 9, 2010 at 10:33 am
Love the cover
follower
vidishamun@gmail.co
August 9, 2010 at 10:55 am
This one sounds so good! Great review.
August 9, 2010 at 11:18 am
Great review, I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
myra0502@yahoo.com
August 9, 2010 at 11:25 am
Great review Mandi!!! I have seen this book enough, to want to get my hands on it N.O.W.!
I do love your reviews!!!
And thanks for the giveaway!
Please count me in!
alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com
August 9, 2010 at 11:37 am
Oh, I forgot – I'm not in the contest (I live in Brazil and I know you have a hard time with the mail).
If you decide to give Gaelen Foley a try, be shure to choose an older book (Ascencion series or Knight Series – both great – her latest work is not her best).
August 9, 2010 at 11:45 am
Great review – I'm dying to read this!
~Lindy
August 9, 2010 at 11:52 am
Hello,
I haven't had a chance to read Elizabeth Hoyt, yet. I do like books with a darker hero now and again. Thanks for the giveaway.
August 9, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Sounds interesting – thanks for the opportunity!
August 9, 2010 at 12:33 pm
What a tantalizing review. Hoyt is one of my favorites. Glad to see this book is getting such glowing comments. Can't wait to read it.
August 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm
The characters…and hero in particular, sound awesome Mandi ;D I really enjoyed the first books of Elizabeth Hoyt,haven't read her latest quartet though, but this series starter is again on my radar.
August 9, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Hoyt is my favorite historical author and I had been waiting for this book since last year. I *really* enjoyed this one. A great start to a new series. Her writing has a 'fairy-tale' quality to it that I just love.
The Leopard Prince remains my favorite of hers but WI makes it to me keeper shelf. Lazarus was yummy…=)
No need to enter me in the giveaway.
August 9, 2010 at 12:40 pm
This looks like a great read!
*hugs*
Anna
s7anna@yahoo.ca
August 9, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Sounds great. Please count me in. Thanks!
August 9, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Sounds like a book that should be on my TBR. =)
kylee.journal AT gmail.com
August 9, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com
August 9, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I would LOVE a copy of Hoyt's latest.
August 9, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I wasn't sure if I wanted to give this one a try. Her last series didn't do it for me, and I think I'm one of the only people who can say that! I'm definitely intrigued with this book though and would love to try it out.
August 9, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Sounds amazing…count me in!
bubsgrl03@yahoo.com
August 9, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Sounds amazing…count me in!
bubsgrl03@yahoo.com
August 9, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I read all Elizabeth Hoyt books, please count me in!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
August 9, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I totally bought this book after reading your Top 10 list!
August 9, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I've been focused so long on paranormal romance I think I'm beginning sprout fangs, not to mention that I am obviously missing out on some really great books.
Anna
vampchixreadbooks@gmail.com
August 9, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Sounds goooooooood!
August 9, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I really enjoy Elizabeth's stories and have been looking forward to this new series. From the reviews, it looks like another winner.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
August 9, 2010 at 3:28 pm
This looks like the start of a great series!
August 9, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for the contest. Count me in!
chilty1014 at gmail dot com
August 9, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I really would have liked to know more about why he fears touch too…other than that though I loved this one! Nice Review!
August 9, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I *loved* Hoyt's book 'The Raven Prince', but haven't picked up a book of hers since.
Definitely adding this one to my TBR.
Great review!
August 9, 2010 at 6:24 pm
I can not WAIT to read this!
August 9, 2010 at 6:48 pm
This is me entering
Thanks for hosting the contest!
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
August 9, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Hi Mandi:
Don't enter me, I already have Wicked Intentions! I just moved it up the stack thanks to your review! I really like Elizabeth Hoyt's voice and I'm delighted to see this one is getting such good reviews!
Thanks for sharing.
August 9, 2010 at 8:06 pm
This book sounds fantastic!
chey127 at hotmail dot com
August 9, 2010 at 11:17 pm
This book is on my WISH list. Count me in!
August 9, 2010 at 11:45 pm
this book sounds great, please enter me.
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
August 10, 2010 at 12:03 am
I love her books! Please count me in for this one. The new series looks awesome.
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
August 10, 2010 at 12:20 am
I've enjoyed all of Elizabeth's Hoyt's books. I can't wait to read this one. My favorite is The Raven Prince. Please enter me in this giveaway.
jen at delux dot com
August 10, 2010 at 12:24 am
Thanks so much for this giveaway!
allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com
August 10, 2010 at 1:11 am
A new book by Elizabeth Hoyt is an automatic addition to my must buy list, and I'm looking forward to reading Wicked Intentions.
August 10, 2010 at 2:12 am
This books sound like a good one and i can't wait to read it.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
August 10, 2010 at 3:32 am
This is one I've been eyeing, count me in!
alternate email from blogger
magenta 2 red [at] gmail [dot] com
August 10, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Great review!! I love Elizabeth's previous work and have had my eye on this series for awhile now. I just knew this one was going to be a good one…annhonATaolDOTcom
August 10, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Lovely review Mandi! I too like a tortured hero. I have a question if I may please? Elizabeth Hoyt is know (well, to me
for not having conventionally beautiful heroines. Would that be the same with this book? (I'm just so not in the mood for the most beautiful heroine ever yet again 
Oh, and I'm out of bounds for this contest, so please don't include me
August 10, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Great review Mandi and thanks for the giveaway. I added this book to my wishlist recently because of the good stuff I've been hearing.
August 10, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Orannia – I don't remember any particular flaws with the heroine's beauty – but I also don't remember her being described as a great beauty. She does wear all black with the white mop cap a lot…and she lives in poverty so she doesn't really flaunt her looks.
Lazarus is in his mid-thirties but with long silver hair. Very different..I liked
August 12, 2010 at 5:18 pm
This sounds super good! I'd so love to get my hands on it.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
August 15, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I have never read anything by this author but after reading your comments and from Seductive Musings this went on my list to buy~ Hoping I can win one instead since no buying for a while!
tinadudley at sbcglobal.net