Book Title: Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane #4)
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Adult historical romance
Setting: London, England 1738
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Book Summary:
A masked man...
Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles—protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.
A dangerous woman...
Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society— flirtation, double entendres, and scandalous liaisons—Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar—and his lips so tempting.
A passion neither could deny...
During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed...But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything—the Home, Isabel...and his life.
My Review:
I read the first book in the Maiden Lane series sometime last year, so when I saw this on netgalley, and that it was Winter Makepeace story, one of the characters I was really curious about in Wicked Intentions, I was quite excited to read this. And I wasn't disappointed. There's that saying that goes, "Still waters run deep." After reading Winter's story, I totally agree with that saying.
St. Giles is part of London, ridden with orphans, prostitutes, almost every horrible thing one can imagine. Winter the schoolmaster and manager of the orphan home and The Ghost of St. Giles lives to right the wrongs. And then there is Isabel, one of Winter's home patrons. These two are brought together by the fortune event (or misfortune, I do prefer the fortunate) when Isabel saves The Ghost from a riot, and later on when the orphan home is in danger of falling into someone else's hands. As the story advances, so does the romance between these two as well as the mystery surrounding children disappearing in the streets.
I loved Isabel's character. On the outside, she is strong, confident always sure of herself.And she is older and more sexually oriented than Winter.Then her life is revealed through her POV. This is someone who had gone through alot in her life, and is still suffering. I really sympathised with her.
I loved Winter's character as well, maybe a little too much. On the outside, he is the boring, stern schoolmaster who has dedicated his life to the children in his home. On the inside, and also when he takes the role of The Ghost, he is daring, passionate, wields swords like flash of lightning. And he is younger than Isabel, inexperienced in the matters of making love. He is also stubborn, and straighforward. Never minces his words, and oh so gentle (could see that whenever he was with Isabel)
So when these two finally got together, the scenes left me breathless. And what a happy ever after.
I'm really looking forward to Lord of Darkness, which also features a character I adored and felt sympathy for in Wicked Intentions. Yay! In the meantime, I will play catchup with the other book in the series.
Fan of well written, action packed, and scenes which leave one breathless... I recommend this series.
