Grading system:
1 star — wallbanger, don’t waste your time
2 stars — mildly interesting but still flawed
3 stars — average
4 stars — good read
5 stars — excellent
Thief of Shadows
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing.
ISBN: 1455508322
5 stars
Maybe it’s because when I was a young, impressionable reader I read a disproportionate number of historical romances, but whatever the reason, when I read for pleasure, I adore a good, juicy historical romance. I love the lush language, the attention to detail, the restrained social exchanges and lastly, the slowly building romantic tension between the characters. However, not all historical romances are created equal. There’s a special, unique blend of style and fact that I crave and sadly, I don’t always find the necessary elements for a great read. I am happy to say, Ms. Hoyt satisfied my craving with the third installment of the Maiden Lane series. My time is valuable. Although I love to read, I seem to have little opportunity to enjoy my favorite way to relax. But the minute I started reading Thief of Shadows, I blew off all my commitments and allowed myself to enjoy the talented prose of someone else. And it was sublime.
The Blurb: Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he’s the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles — protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide…
My Take: Well-written, sparkling dialogue, attention to detail without becoming cumbersome — for me, this one was a winner! Although it’s the third in a series and reading all the connected stories certainly deepens the reading experience, I can say that this story can stand alone so don’t feel that you can’t pick it up unless you’ve read the previous installments. If you’re a fan of historical romance, check out this smart, entertaining read by the talented Ms. Hoyt.
Kimberly Van Meter, kvanmeter@oakdaleleader.com, offers reviews (her opinion) on current fiction-length, traditionally published novels that catch her fancy.
