LORD OF DARKNESS (Maiden Lane #5) by Elizabeth Hoyt-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Released February 26, 2013

When Strangers In The Night

He lives in the shadows. As the mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, Godric St. John’s only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless young lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife.

Become Lovers…

Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and to the man she hasn’t seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more.

Desire Is The Ultimate Danger

When passion flares, these two intimate strangers can’t keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband—the game is up and the players must surrender…to the temptation that could destroy them both.

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REVIEW: Lord of Darkness is the fifth storyline in Elizabeth Hoyt’s historical romance Maiden Lane series and although I highly recommend reading in order, Lord of Darkness can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. The characters were first introduced in book one Wicked Intentions and their storyline has been building in each successive novel. The premise focuses on Lady Margaret Reading (who two years earlier) was forced into a marriage of convenience to Godric St. John when, her lover and father of her unborn child, was murdered by the Ghost of St. Giles. Fast-forward two years, Margaret lost her child within days of her wedding to Godric and has not seen the man in the ensuing years. But the time has come when Margaret wants a child and the only man available is her forgotten husband who sits alone pining for his long dead first wife.

There are several secondary characters throughout the storyline and many had been introduced in previous books. But Elizabeth brings together several additional members from both sides of the family as well as friends and neighbors with stories yet to be told. The secretive Ghost of St. Giles plays a prominent role throughout and it is Margaret’s amazing acceptance of his true identity that leads her to believe that she has been mistaken about her husband’s intentions all along.

Again, throughout the building of their relationship, Margaret and Godric must overcome the ghosts from each of their pasts. Margaret has for so long kept her deceased lover on a pedestal that no man could possibly do any better and the memory of Godric’s long suffering dead wife has forced the man into a secret life in the dark streets saving women and children from unseen evil. As the relationship between Margaret and Godric builds, so too does the danger for Godric as he forces himself to discover the truth behind the murder of Margaret’s first love and in doing so, hopes to open Margaret’s heart to the possibility that there is more to their relationship than a marriage of convenience.

I had a couple issues of spelling and context in the novel. At one point, names are interchanged and in doing so, Margaret is married to her brother 😉 These are issues of editing and proof reading that should have been caught.

Overall, Lord of Darkness is a sweet, wonderful romantic storyline where you know the two lead characters are right for each other. When the ghosts from the past keep Margaret and Godric from opening their hearts and their minds to the possibility that love can be found a second time around the sexual tension between the couple is both welcome and acknowledged. There was never any doubt that Margaret and Godric were meant to fall in love.

READING ORDER
1. Wicked Intentions
2. Notorious Pleasures
3. Scandalous Desires
4. Thief of Shadows
5. Lord of Darkness

Reviewed by Sandy