Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt (Maiden Lane #6)
Releases: October 15, 2013
Historical
Grand Central
Reviewed by Mandi
The Duke of Wakefield or Max is a dark and broody guy. Years ago he witnessed the murders of his parents on the streets of St. Giles and he blames himself. He has guilt and shame and now as an adult, he has taken to the streets at night as one of the Ghosts of St. Giles. A vigilante who rids St. Giles of the bad guys. He wears a mask and a cape and is a superhero of sorts.
One night while out as the ghost he sees Penelope, who is a lady of the ton, and her companion Artemis. He saves them from danger, but as doing that he loses his father’s ring. Artemis finds this ring and keeps it with her. Artemis doesn’t have family and is at the mercy of Penelope. She wears brown, keeps out of the spotlight and tries to accept the fact that she is a companion and will never be wed or have a family of her own. But this is a hard fact to accept, and Artemis truly wants more out of her life. Max is determined to get married and marry well and chooses Penelope as his conquest. But it is Artemis who keeps catching his eye. Artemis’s brother was accused of murdering three people and was sent to Bedlam for madness. Artemis’s father also had madness, so Artemis is tainted goods. But Artemis knows her brother isn’t mad nor guilty of the crime and she turns to Max for help.
This book disappointed me a bit. I really enjoy this series, not only for the Ghost of St. Giles action but the romance is always so passionate. That was missing here. I liked Max and Artemis individually. Artemis is a strong and stubborn heroine and I felt for her status in life as a lady’s companion. I liked her brother’s story a lot. Max is a little more stuffy, but he is dark and broody and this author writes that type of hero well. Together though – they really didn’t do it for me. There just wasn’t a lot to excite me about their relationship. They meet, they eventually start a physical relationship, there are problems, they solve them and happy ever after. It just kind of bumped along with nothing to grab me.
I highly recommend this series overall, but this one I’ll push aside and wait for the next.
Rating: C
Recent Reviews:
All About Romance – A-
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Oh, disappointing review. I love this series, and I love the premise of this story. I’m still going to read it, although now I’m not nearly as excited as I might’ve been.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean when you claim they lack passion…do you mean the physical isn’t steamy enough, or the build-up to the physical isn’t convincing enough? I can totally overlook the first, but if the build-up isn’t convincing, that’s a real bummer.
Their love wasn’t grand to me. There is some build up but then when they go forward with a physical relationship it fell flat. It didn’t have the energy I’ve come to know from Hoyt
Well, I read it. This is an interesting one because, individually, I really liked so much about each character. And I did feel a lot of emotion/passion between them. I also thought the plot moved at a great pace. Lots to love.
What didn’t work, for me, however, was the nearly abusive way he spoke to her at times (calling her a b*$&%, using very gruff language about sex, etc.). I honestly felt like there was an attempt to try to capitalize on the 50 Shades effect by having him be this damaged guy who needs to dominate a woman to heal. And she, normally so strong-willed, seemed to bend pretty easily to him at the end of the day.
I know the hardcore “alpha male” dominance masquerading as over-protective love stories are wildly in demand lately, but they just don’t ring as true love to me. These stories keep showing the woman as ‘wanting’ to be so sexually dominated. I know statistically rape and bondage fantasies are not unusual for many women, but ultimately I’d hope what women really want is to be treated with tenderness and respect. Not to be “owned” like sexual chattel.
I would have preferred to see more softness in this story (or at least an increasing amount of tenderness in the story arc), but I still would give it a “B” simply because she writes an engaging, well-paced tale with well-developed characters.
PS I loved the old Duke chasing after Penelope. :-) He made me smile in almost every scene (even though I pitied him, too).
Interesting. I never picked up on his abusive speech to her.
Where you found it engaging I found it flat. This is the first book in the series that I struggled with. High hopes for the next one
I enjoyed the earlier books in the series – to bad you didn’t like it as much.
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series too.
I felt the same way. The romance was seriously lacking. Unlike you, I’m tired of the hero being the Ghost of St. Giles. I need a break from it.
Ah – feel you there. I was surprised to have THREE ghosts. LOL