Review - Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

This is a wonderfully tense mystery and romance.
Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane)

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (August 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044655894X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446558945

Rating 4.5 of 5.0

A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows the area like the back of her hand—she cares for its children at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk…

A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST
Caire makes a simple offer—in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as a cold bargain soon falls prey to a passion neither can control—and may well destroy them both.

Review: This book contains wonderful elements of murder, mystery and rather tortured characters.

I loved these characters.  Lord Caire is partially the typical stereotype of a cold, arrogant British aristocrat.  He is rumored to have wild, sexual behaviors.  It is a secret that he has a unique skin disorder that causes him to be even more “hands” offish. Caire doesn’t believe he is lovable nor deserving of love. Although his outward appearance is harsh and cold, inside his feelings run deep; so much so that he is willing to seek the murderer of his mistress even though he claims no great attachment or affection for her.

Temperance is a widow who devotes her life to helping her pious brother manage the foundling home located in the London slums of St. Giles.  She appears to be pure and saintly because she keeps a tight rein on her emotions.  But it quickly becomes clear that she has deep passions.  She believes that she is not permitted to experience her passions, whether it is love for the children or sexual interest in Caire.  She is not a physical beauty but she has wonderful strength of character that makes her a beautiful person and Lord Caire is able to see that in her.

I really liked the chemistry and the unusual courtship conducted while they are roaming the dark streets looking for a murderer.  The sexual scenes are rather graphic. I didn’t find them perverse or wicked as is intimated by the rumors of Caire’s activities.  It is just that they are described in detail.  I believe this presentation helps give the full impact of the emotional obstacles that Caire and Temperance had to overcome in order to come together for a healthy, loving relationship. I haven’t read any other books by Ms. Hoyt yet so I cannot say for certain if they are all this steamy.

The author is able to invoke a sense of darkness and mystery throughout the book.  You just feel that you are in a misty, dark place of danger and it is nice to have a strong man around for protection.  I enjoyed the mystery and the romance and look forward to reading more in this series.

xxx

Thanks once more to Anna and Hachette for providing this book for review and Giveaway.

Please enjoy the Author interview too!