Wicked Intentions

Elizabeth Hoyt

When she is called upon to rescue an orphaned baby or child, Temperance Dew will brave the slums of St. Giles even at night. St. Giles is the most dangerous neighborhood in London. Temperance knows that if she were to leave a child until morning, the baby could either be dead or sold into ultimate slavery. It is her family's responsibility to rescue those that they can.

Their father owned a brewery and established a foundling home as part of their charitable efforts. Now the widowed Temperance and her brother Winter run the foundling home. Their oldest brother runs the brewery but in these days of gin addiction, the business is barely managing. The home had a wealthy patron, but he died. They are barely able to feed their children, let alone pay the rent.

Lord Caire has a reputation as the ultimate rogue in London society. His mistress was brutally murdered a few months earlier. He hasn't had any luck trying to learn any information in the St. Giles area. When he sees Temperance and her maid returning home with a newborn one night, he follows them. Then he approaches Temperance and asks to employ her as a guide in St. Giles. She agrees. The payment she wants is an introduction into Society so she can find another patron for their home. He agrees, also giving her money to keep the home going for now.

The two have an uneasy alliance. Lord Caire tries to fluster her with double entendre comments. While she is flustered, she won't let him know that. She introduces him to the lowest people in St. Giles. He introduces her to Society. He now has to avoid being killed in St. Giles. She has to avoid the roues in Society. Then there is the effect they have on each other...

Wicked Intentions is a frustrating book. Elizabeth Hoyt has a great imagination and portrays her scenes well in this historical romance. I was able to imagine the sense of St. Giles - the terror and squalor of the neighborhood without it getting too graphic (the streets are always clean in my imagination - but of course that wouldn't have been true). I like her characters - especially in the foundling home. Lord Caire is a bit over the top, but Hoyt usually keeps him toned down enough - despite his "base" desires.

But...this book won't appeal to some readers because of Lord Caire's nature and the soft porn scenes. These go beyond explicit sex scenes. Many a rogue gets reformed in a romance novel; Caire is another but some of his problems make it difficult to believe his sudden turn around. Of course, Temperance steps down from her too high ideals as well but that tends to be more believable.

More of this book takes place in the St. Giles neighborhood than in Lord Caire's Society world. At the end Temperance's concern for her acceptance is valid. Fortunately, with his reputation, it won't matter too much.

I like Hoyt's writing. I like the way she carries through scenes to set up a series. Wicked Intention leaves many loose threads for the books that will follow in the Maiden Lane series.

Notice:  Explicit sexual content, Non-graphic violence

Publicist provided a copy for review

Wicked Intentions
Notorious Pleasures
Scandalous Desires