Thief of Shadows

Starred review from May 7, 2012
Hoyt’s fourth Maiden Lane Georgian-era romance (after Scandalous Desires) is an expert blend of scintillating romance and mystery. The masked Ghost of St. Giles rescues orphaned children from the streets of one of London’s less than savory neighborhoods. Widowed baroness Isabel Beckinhall rescues the unconscious “ghost” after finding him injured in the street; before she can ascertain his identity, he awakens and begs her to leave his mask in place. Little does she know he is Winter Makepeace, manager of a local orphanage, whom Isabel finds “dour” as she tutors him in charming potential donors. Neither anticipates the passion blossoming between them, a passion that will likely end in heartbreak in their class-conscious society. Suspense adds intensity as “lassie snatchers” kidnap orphans before the Ghost can save them, and the romance between the beautiful and quick-witted Isabel and the masked champion of the downtrodden propels this novel to the top of its genre. Agent: Susannah Taylor, Richard Henshaw Group.

June 1, 2012
Who would have thought that Lady Isabel Beckinhall has a gift for saving gentlemen? Of course, the first time was just an accident. After all, what was Isabel to do when she came across the wounded Ghost of St. Giles? If she left him behind, a cranky mob of Londoners was certain to tear him limb from limb. So Isabel takes the Ghost home with her only to have him vanish the next day. Now Isabel finds herself roped into saving Mr. Winter Makepeace, the manager of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. If someone doesn't teach Winter how to fit into polite society, the insufferable man risks losing funding for his charity and his position. Isabel has no other choice but to act as social tutor to Winter, who, for some odd reason, seems awfully familiar. In the fourth installment in the Maiden Lane series, all of Hoyt's signature literary ingredientswickedly clever dialogue, superbly nuanced characters, danger, and scorching sexual chemistryclick neatly into place to create a breathtakingly romantic love story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)