Duke of Pleasure (Maiden Lane)

I really enjoyed this book - and I really enjoyed the previous one, 'Duke of Sin', after what I considered a fairly barren patch for the author in the Maiden Lane series. This book was so completely different from the last one, and I was impressed with what the author achieved with this very different story. I loved the main characters and indeed all the close supporting characters. The Duke, illegitimate son of the King, but recognised by him and given his title, is a very straightforward, essentially kind man, who is very different from his peers - he has been a soldier, and his thoughts and actions bear this out. Alf, now a grown woman, was a street child from St. Giles who adopted the mantle of the Ghost of St. Giles because she had a strong sense of honour and justice. What I really liked was that throughout, she remained true to her character - she fought [literally] for justice, protected the weaker people living in her appalling neighbourhood and continued with her disguise which allowed her to be an informant for the more powerful people [like the Duke] who couldn't move in the circles that she did. Even her growing attraction, turning into love, was handled realistically - she simply carried on with what she had been employed to do, while keeping her dreams and hopes to herself, knowing that they were unrealistic but clinging to them with optimism. The actions were more rough and ready - the Duke was a brawler rather than a skilled swordsman - and the language earthier, which also rang true from these two people who were similar despite their very different upbringings [or, in Alf's case, no upbringing at all!] It was clever writing to show the Duke as a man who didn't trust his own feelings when it came to women, after his disastrous first marriage - but there was no especial anguish played out about that first marriage, simply that it didn't work and he took himself away from it, at the expense of his relationship with his young sons, who each suffered in their own way because of the death of their mother and reappearance of their father. Clever, too, to use that same intense passion that he felt initially for his first wife for his initial feelings for Alf, because it underlined his doubts about his own lack of judgement. At no point was there any forcing of the issues of Hugh and Alf's relationship - they simply carried on doing what needed to be done with regard to the Lords of Chaos [presumably based on the Hellfire Clubs] and then the ending was just so sweet, also handled very plausibly. Hugh's two little sons were delightful and their reactions to the loss of their mother and reappearance of their father was entirely believable. Iris, too - Hugh's intended - wasn't a scheming, spiteful woman [as is so often portrayed] but actually realised that Hugh's affections were engaged elsewhere and even told him so! There was nothing I didn't like about this book, would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who, like me, thought the Maiden Lane series had run its course up until the previous book. I shall be interested to see how the author handles the next book, because the excerpt of the beginning is almost an exact set of circumstances as those which came towards the end of 'Duke of Sin'. Long wait, though, until next August! ** Only thing I wasn't sure about was what the title referred to - Hugh didn't strike me as a pleasure-loving Duke, rather a man with a strong sense of duty who found it difficult to show emotion. Doesn't matter, it certainly didn't affect my pleasure in reading this book!

I always find historical romances a fun escape for a few hours. I hadn't read anything by Elizabeth Hoyt before, and while this is part of the Maiden Lane series, it works well as a standalone book - I think each story follows a different pair, so while there is probably some overlap in characters, I didn't feel like I was missing out. Hugh quickly realises that the Ghost of St Giles, Alf in disguise, is female, although he is fooled into thinking Alf is a boy for much longer. When he puts the two together, he keeps the information to himself, protecting her identity and safety. But knowing that the Ghost, whom he has been fantasising about, is actually working with him puts him in an interesting position! The romance in this book is quite sexy, I think partly because unlike in a lot of historical romance novels, the heroine is not part of respectable society. So there is no expectation or assumption that sexual activity will lead to marriage. They are both able to be more free with their affections than in many cases, and it leads to some very steamy scenes! While the romance is of course a big part of the story, the intrigue of trying to uncover a secret society who are known to do awful things is also a big focus. I really enjoyed the mystery, and following the various characters as they put clues together. Overall I really enjoyed this book - it was a lot of fun! I don't know if I'll go back & read earlier books in the series, but I do want to read the sequel as it focuses on a character who we see a lot of in Duke of Pleasure. A fun historical romance with a dangerous plot to uncover, I'm giving Duke of Pleasure 7/10.

I love Elizabeth Hoyt's books, particularly her Maiden Lane series, which is historical romance set in Georgian England. The Duke of Pleasure is #11 in the series but you don't have to have read the others to enjoy the story. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the illegitimate son of King George II, who uses him as a kind of spy for the work he can't trust anyone else to do. Hugh's current investigation is into the Lords of Chaos, a secret society of aristocrats, similar to The Hellfire Club. One night Hugh is ambushed by their assassins, but fortunately rescued by a notorious vigilante known as the Ghost of St Giles - who turns out to be a woman. Ironically, the female 'Ghost' Hugh is now obsessed with is already known to him as the street urchin 'Alf', who lives on 'his' wits by dealing in information - for a price. It takes Hugh about half the novel to realise Alf's real identity, and me about the same amount of time to recognise a reworking of My Fair Lady, as Hugh trains Alf to pass herself off as an aristocrat to help him steal some important papers and finally catch the Lords of Chaos. I enjoyed The Duke of Pleasure because it wasn't the usual girl-meets-rake historical romance, it had lots of action and adventure, as well as a bit of a mystery, and I loved the character of Alf. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Georgian romance. The Ghost of St Giles (a kind of Georgian Batman) has appeared as a main character in three other Elizabeth Hoyt novels: Thief of Shadows (#4), Lord of Darkness (#5) and Duke of Midnight (#6). Alf has also appeared in other Maiden Lane books, mainly Lord of Darkness. So if you do want to read the other books in the series, you might want to start with those.

Loved the storyline, loved the characterisation. Love the Maiden Lane series, some of the books I enjoy more than others but they are all well written and interesting. I will definitely put this one in my favourites and will enjoy reading it again.

Great book

A touching romance about a couple who seemed to really need each other, although it of course took them some time to realise it! All the characters (two sensitive little boys, a damaged man, & a brave woman named Alf), found each other, and fulfilled a need each other, which is why I think this story worked so well. This 11th book is a favourite of mine in the Maiden lane series.

I have stuffed this book into my brain like stuffing my face with chocolate. I wanted to start reading it slowly and enjoy it over a few evenings, allowing it to linger, savouring it. No, failed. I have just finished it within 24 hours. I loved it; like all the other maiden lane books...and yet again a tempting nugget for the next book...

I have so looked forward to Alfs tale but feared it might disappoint. This was just wonderful. How Alfs true identity is revealed to the Duke of Kyle and they take on the Lords of Chaos makes for a magnificent adventure. Now I cannot wait for the next one !!