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Notorious Pleasures
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Notorious Pleasures
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Notorious Pleasures
Audiobook11 hours

Notorious Pleasures

Written by Elizabeth Hoyt

Narrated by Ashford McNab

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Their lives were perfect . . .
Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .

Until they met each other.
Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire - desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 1, 2011
ISBN9781611138269
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Notorious Pleasures

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Rating: 3.8765690397489543 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good book, though I liked the first book, Wicked Intentions, better. In this book, we have Lady Hero, her fiancé, Thomas, and Thomas's brother, Griffin. The story opens at a ball where Hero's engagement to Thomas is to be announced. Hero stumbles upon a couple in a very compromising position, considering the lady's husband is close by and looking for her. I thoroughly enjoyed Hero's way of getting the man's attention, and that she helped the woman. The sparks flew between Hero and the man, as she read him the riot act for his behavior, and he refused to be the least bit ashamed of it. He, of course, cements his reputation with her by stealing a kiss. Both are horrified a short time later when she discovers that he's her fiancé's brother, and he discovers that she is going to marry his brother.These three characters were very interesting. First, there was Lady Hero. She comes across at first as very prim and proper. She is quite proud of her reputation and works hard to protect it. Her match with Thomas has been arranged by her brother. Though she doesn't love him, there is respect that she hopes will grow into love. Behind the façade of "Lady Perfect", there is also a caring, kind, and stubborn woman. As one of the patronesses of the Foundling Home in St. Giles, she is currently in charge of supervising the building of a new residence for the orphans. Unbeknownst to her brother and fiancé, she regularly goes into St. Giles, an extremely dangerous place for a woman.Then there is Thomas, Hero's fiancé. I'll say right out that I didn't care for him at all. He is a boring, stuck-up prig. Hero's biggest appeal for him is her brother, the duke, and that she always behaves with grace and dignity. He doesn't love her and has no intention of loving her. He'd been married before to a woman who betrayed his trust, and he won't risk that again. Thomas also spends a great deal of the book lusting after another woman, though we don't find out about their history until near the end. Thomas also does something that, to me, is so terrible that I could not forgive him. He deserved far worse than what he got. His relationship with Griffin is strained because of something that he believes happened several years earlier. I didn't like the way that Thomas treated Griffin, especially considering everything that Griffin was doing for the family.For the most part, I really liked Griffin. He is charming, flirtatious, and there is more to him than expected from the initial meeting. Griffin has the reputation of being an unrepentant rake. He carouses at night and sleeps the day away. He is also the unsung hero of his family. When his father died, he left the family in dire financial straits, and Thomas is no better when it comes to managing money. So Griffin took over managing the family estates and used his own inheritance to start a gin distillery in London to make money as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, gin distilling is illegal. Griffin is also very protective of those he cares about. I loved his relationship with his mother and sisters. He's very sweet with them. That protectiveness extends to Hero.I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Griffin and Hero. Though it started out as a contentious one, with him sneering at "Lady Perfect" and her looking down her nose at "Lord Shameless", there was no denying the attraction that was also there. Their confrontations continued when Griffin insisted that she no longer go into St. Giles alone. She would allow him to accompany her or he would rat her out to her brother and his. Hero was horrified when she found about his gin distillery and made it her mission to get him to stop. During their times together, Griffin tried very hard to break through Hero's prim exterior to the passionate woman underneath. The attraction between them built until it could no longer be denied and became explosive. I loved that Griffin accepted his feelings and knew what he wanted right away. Hero made me want to shake her, repeatedly and hard. She let expectations rule her actions longer than she should have. I ached for her when she did finally stand up for herself because of what both Thomas and her asshole brother said and did. I loved Griffin's reactions to Thomas and Wakefield. His heartfelt words to Wakefield showed the depth of his feelings for Hero. I loved his big moment at the end as everything came together.A big part of the story was the gin distilling. There was Griffin's use of it to repair the family finances. He also is fighting off attacks from a rival distiller whose actions have deadly consequences for some of those on Griffin's team. Those attacks grow more intense as the book goes on. On the other side is Hero's vehement dislike for anything having to do with gin. She sees the effects on the people of St. Giles, especially the children. I loved seeing her efforts to turn Griffin away from his part in it. Then there is Wakefield. He blames gin for the death of their parents and has set his considerable influence on ending the presence of gin completely. It's obvious there will be trouble when he and Griffin collide. The way that confrontation was handled was clever, exciting, and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.The secondary characters were well done and had important parts in the story. Hero's brother, Wakefield, was a royal pain in the tail. He was such a stiff, judgmental man. I hated the way that he treated Hero after she tried to break her engagement. I expect that there will be a story for him, and hope to see a woman that will break that stick up his butt and bring him to his knees. I liked Hero's sister, Phoebe, and Griffin's sister, Meg. Both of them obviously love their siblings and know them quite well. Each of them has a talent for making those siblings see past the difficulties to what is possible. Though we didn't see much of her, I really liked Mrs. Tate. I loved how she stood up to Thomas and stuck to her principles.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Hero and Griffin: I liked this one, although I skimmed the bits about the defence of the gin still.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    long dull and boring i have been listening to this writer books for some days now and all the stories are the same the characters are transparent and so predicatable i can tell the story the women are no ladies they have no back bone i am just happy i didn't have to buy it i would be crying now
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Audiobook: Narrator – Ashford McNab

    Wow! This narrator did an exceptional job with this story! The characters were each unique and even her male voice, especially that of the hero, was satisfying. Her voice for the brother was a bit annoying but after my first response to it, I realized it was supposed to be. He was a real snob and that is exactly what her voice conveys. I’m hoping she does the other audiobooks I have in this series.


    Hero first meets Griffin in a manner that I absolutely hate but so did Hero so that consoled me some. Their initial meeting sets them up as enemies but when Griffin finds her in the worse part of town a woman of her standing should be, he forces his company on her to keep her safe. That opens the door for this couple to get to know one another and what Hero learns is that there is much more to Griffin than the gossip mill allows.

    I really enjoyed this book and the sparing then the angst between this couple and all they had to overcome to find their happy ever after. The steam is off the charts – this ain’t the historical romances my momma introduced me to – and the chemistry felt real as well as their progression from enemies to lovers. There are other stories brewing beneath this couple’s and I was thrilled when one ended in a satisfying manner and the other opened the door for the next book.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Second book I tried by this author and will not read any more even though I got them on library loan. This is not historical romance just soft porn with trappings.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    "How romantic," she drawled in a bored, social voice that set his teeth on edge, "to think that love has anything to do with marriage."

    Our heroine, Hero (I'll pause to let you work that one out), is another woman of her time, thinking marriages are for enhancing your family and sex is for men and their mistresses. Our hero, Heroine, just kidding, Griffin, has somewhat erroneously bore the ne'er-do-well family title. He's the second born but manages the family finances and set them up in the illegal gin business. Hero is engaged to Griffin's brother Thomas who thinks Griffin seduced his first wife, Hero's brother Wakefield is on a crusade to destroy all gin makers, Griffin is fighting off a rival gin maker, Thomas is fighting his love for his mistress, Hero's little sister Phoebe is going blind, and oh, with all that, Griffin and Hero are falling into sex, err, love, I mean love.

    But he knew. Oh, yes, he knew---he was in over his head and sinking fast.

    This story felt a little bit like a throwback to the old 80 and 90's, not quite full bodice ripper but there were melodramatics happening alongside numerous boot knocking scenes. I feel a little traitorous but the many sex scenes detracted from the story for me instead of making me feel the closeness of Griffin and Hero. I'm going to put some of the blame on my personal distaste for how Hero was engaged to Griffin's brother and still proclaiming to marry him until very late in the story; both Griffin and Hero's actions felt pretty icky to me. The author worked hard to make Thomas, if not villainous, pretty unlikable until the very end where she tried to redeem him through a love story, didn't work for me.

    There was something else here as well. It was a terrible sorrow, a welling joy, as if all the emotion she'd ever held in check or pushed away was suddenly rising to the surface. She couldn't control her face, couldn't control her body. She was coming apart, and she'd never be able to pin herself back together again.

    With the brother between them, I just had a hard time really warming up to Hero and Griffin as a couple; separately I thought they were good characters. The sex scenes became over played and I started to skim them a tiny bit, there were so many, but again my dislike could come from dang Thomas not being shoved out earlier. The gin story plot felt more like an introduction for Hero's brother Wakefield, his aggressive stance against it. The danger Griffin faced because of it (the villain wasn't given near enough pages to feel flushed out) and how it ended felt glossed over.

    The surrounding world and characters felt full and real and I really liking Hoyt's London. I've already read Phoebe's story, so seeing glimpses of her here broke my heart but knowing what's in story helped to heal it. The secondary Silence story makes an appearance again and I can't wait to read about her and Charming Mickey.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4.5 Man, I loved this. Everyone was f*cking around but no one was.

    This series so so much fun!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    2nd read- I quite enjoy this book. The main characters are likable and the story is compelling. A few flaws here and there, but even on a second read it was great.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Second in the Maiden Lane series, this one takes secondary character from the first and adds three more who are important to the tale and places the earlier players in secondary status. Except for a Makepiece sister whose story meanders in and out of this one. And we have come to note that there is a few paragraphs of a morality tale at the beginning of each chapter. We also learn more about gin distilling and the economic problems of the time than we thought we wanted to know. Well crafted.Ashford McNab does well enough as narrator.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I simply couldn't put this down. Loved the storyline, the characters and the romance.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I alway love books that is intriguing, and more entertaining inflaming to the soul. This novel has more of the sensationally sexuality that sent you feeling of excitment. Never taken a book and was captivating by so much action at the same time involving.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another wonderful escapist read from Elizabeth Hoyt. This book is a compelling story about the haves and have nots in 18th century London, and also very much a romance. I absolutely loved both main characters, and was pretty fond of the secondary characters as well. (Which is good since I am pretty sure most will have their own stories told in this series.) I already ordered book 3. I have hundreds of books of every type waiting for me to read them, so and I almost never read romance series in order - hard to justify buying more when there are so many books waiting, but for this series I did. Great stuff!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Notorious Pleasures
    4 Stars

    On the whole, Notorious Pleasures is an enjoyable book with interesting if not always likable main characters.

    The hero, Griffin Reading, is a rake of the first order but, as is usually the case in historical romance, there is more to him than meets the eye. Despite his questionable behavior in the opening scene (and his choice of occupation), Griffin a caring, responsible and yes, even honorable, character and it is difficult not to like him.

    The heroine, Hero (what an unfortunate name! It kept me thinking of Kate Beckinsale in Much Ado About Nothing), is initially depicted a prim and proper lady but still waters run deep and she ultimately allows her passions to get the better of her. One of the main criticisms of her character, is that she betrays her fiancé with his brother. However, this situation is somewhat mitigated by the type of person Thomas is and by the circumstances surrounding the engagement.

    Griffin and Hero are well-matched and their love/hate relationship leads to some particularly entertaining banter not to mention some sizzling scenes.

    The gin still plot takes a back seat to the romance and the secondary characters are not as developed as they could have been but the writing flows smoothly and the build up to Silence and Mickey’s book has me eager to continue with the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I won this book through Goodreads giveaways and I must say I really enjoyed it. The characters are well-rounded and it was a good story. It was steamy enough without being "too much". There was action, suspense and romance.

    My only complaint? I find the names of some of the characters a bit strange. Other than that, a great book!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It has been some time since I read the first of the Maiden Lane books, and I found myself wishing that I could remember more of Silence's encounter with Charming Mickey. I'll refresh my memory before moving on to book three. Hero and Griffin are well matched and charming in their own right, I enjoyed their story immensely. Though this won't challenge THE RAVEN PRINCE as my Hoyt re-read favorite, this was a nice story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    In this second book of the Maiden Lane series, Lord Griffin Reading is so dreamy that I can’t help but think Lady Hero Batten pales in comparison; and indeed weeks after reading this book, I barely remember anything about her except that she has a kind heart and sharp tongue. Griffin’s a rake who has no compunction about seducing women; there are even rumors that he seduced his late sister-in-law. Oh, and to compound that notorious reputation, he also runs a gin distillery in St. Giles. But Hero comes to find that he’s also charming and super devoted to his family, and not nearly as reckless and thoughtless as his image suggests.

    Of course, tender feelings and attraction develop; too bad Hero's engaged to Griffin’s brother, Thomas, the marquis. However, that doesn’t stop them from falling in love as they keep meeting up—mostly when Griffin accompanies her to St. Giles for her business as a patroness of the orphanage that we came to know and love in book one. While the two sneak off for tons of steamy encounters, Hero can’t break off her engagement because her pairing with Thomas is the responsible one. He is a key political ally of her brother, the Duke of Wakefield and his rally to eliminate the scourge of gin making and consumption.

    Hero goes through her list of all of the reasons that she can’t get together with Griffin, and it gets a bit tiresome. You know whose story was a bit more interesting? Thomas and his angst over his love for an older widow. He tries to suppress his this love in favor of his practical match with Hero. Thomas' story could’ve been a good book on its own.

    Notorious Pleasures is a perfectly okay romance. It wasn’t memorable for me but then again, maybe I didn’t give it a fair shake because I zipped through it in a hurry to get to book 3 and Silence’s story!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lady Hero Batten knows exactly how to fulfill her duties as the daughter of a duke, and as such is very pleased with her engagement to the Marquess of Mandeville, a leading parliamentarian. However, when she encounters his younger brother, Griffin, Lord Reading, whose reputation as a rake is well-known, he upsets her dutiful approach to life. As the two bicker, they discover a deeper passion and discover that opposites may be more complimentary than they had ever thought.Hoyt's historical romances are always enjoyable. As the second book in the Maiden Lane series, characters from the previous novel crop up but reading the first book isn't necessary to enjoy this one. Hero and Griffin's romance is enjoyable and although some of the conflict surrounding their relationship seemed poorly explained and existed only as a stumbling block before the inevitable happy ending, the plot trips along so quickly that it's easy to just enjoy it. The supporting characters are well-developed and not just cardboard figures to fill out scenes. And as always, the fairy tale Hoyt has created to frame her main narrative is nicely crafted and serves as an excellent means of foreshadowing. Not the best of Hoyt's historical novels, but enjoyable nonetheless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed Notorious Pleasures from start to finish. The manner in which Lady Hero and Lord Reading meet is hilarious. I knew from the moment Lady Hero threw her earbob at Lord Reading's naked bum, this book was going to be a winner! Lady Hero and Lord Reading are true opposites. She disapproves of his lifestyle and he disapproves of her rigidness. This leads them to giving each other nicknames: Lady Perfect and Lord Shameless. They call each other this throughout the book. I found it cute. As they continue to find themselves in each other's company, the bantering continues with a heated sexual undertone. Lady Hero is a stickler for social norms and behaviors but she finds herself breaking those norms whenever she's around Griffin (Lord Reading). Suddenly, marrying Griffin's dull as dirt brother, Thomas, doesn't seem like such a great idea. Notorious Pleasures is part of the Maiden Lane series but can be read as a stand alone. The plot is pretty predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. The story is humorous and sexy; beyond sexy it was downright steamy!! I enjoyed Hero and Griffin. They are great characters that kept the story interesting. A definite read if you're a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt and historical romance. I haven't read Wicked Intentions (Book 1 of the series) but will definitely be reading it in the future!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Notorious Pleasures was a really good second installment in Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series. I liked it better than the first book, Wicked Intentions, in large part because I connected with the characters more deeply. Also, unlike the first story which is set almost entirely in the London slum of St. Giles, I would say that the narrative was about equally split between St. Giles and the high society functions to which I've become accustomed in historical romance. I have to say that I began reading Notorious Pleasures with some doubts. I'm not a fan of love triangles, and it was clear from the synopsis that this was going to be a big part of the story. However, “love” might be a bit strong of a word since Thomas and Hero's impending nuptials are nothing more than a business arrangement and there is no love between then to speak of. I think in this case I wasn't as bothered by it as I might otherwise be, because I never felt like a great guy was going to be left out in the cold. I also spent a large part of the book wondering just how Hero and Griffin were going to get together. In Elizabeth Hoyt's capable hands, it became a romance of ups and downs that was full of passion as each of them comes to terms with their love for one another.Right from the start, I could sense some hurt beneath Griffin's devil-may-care facade. Even though he was the second son, he has a much stronger head for business than his brother, Thomas, the Marquess. As such, Griffin has made sacrifices and taken risks for his family in order to secure their finances. At first, I had very mixed feelings about how he had accomplished this. I understood why he did it, but there were times when he seemed to have lost touch with how his business affected other people. Much like with Wicked Intentions, Ms. Hoyt took a chance on a character who had made questionable choices in his life, but in the end, he saw the light and not only found a way out of his shady business dealings but also found a way to made things better for those he had previously harmed. Griffin may have had some moments when he came off as hard and cynical, but he also had a vulnerability about him, especially when he thinks of loosing Hero or the respect of his mother whom he adores. There were times when Griffin seemed completely overwhelmed by how strong his feelings were for Hero. It was like he was a man adrift and drowning until she came into his life, bringing meaning and purpose, and then he became utterly immersed in his love for her, unable to live without her.Hero is the daughter of a duke, but I had sensed during her few scenes in Wicked Intentions an inner desire to live a more normal life. Ms. Hoyt definitely built upon that in Notorious Pleasures. Hero has been groomed from the cradle to accept her place in society and therefore is very controlled in every aspect of her life, leading Griffin to dub her Lady Perfect. Underneath it all though, she longs to break free from her gilded cage and really soar but is too afraid of what might happen if she does. Hero is a very generous woman who is a patroness of the foundling home in St. Giles which was such a large part of Wicked Intentions, and which burned down at the end of that book. She is working very hard to see the orphanage rebuilt and the children properly cared for, but is running into trouble at every turn which is where Griffin comes into the picture, offering his help. She is very perceptive, not only about Griffin not being as bad as he allows everyone to think he is, but also about Thomas not being quite as perfect as he seems. Even though Hero initially didn't want to be attracted to Griffin, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Although she had her doubts and uncertainties about a relationship with Griffin, she always gave very freely of herself to him every time they were together. It was rather frustrating to see Hero take so long to give into her feelings for Griffin, but ultimately, I thought she was brave to finally break free from society's expectations and just follow her heart.Griffin and Hero have an inauspicious first meeting that was both sensuous and funny when she catches him in flagrante delicto with a married woman. Afterward, the pair engage in some deliciously sharp, witty bantering that perfectly expressed their mutual underlying attraction. I like how the author showed that their interest in one another wasn't merely lust. As Griffin was helping Hero with her work in St. Giles, they discovered an intellectual connection through a shared affinity for classical Greek literature. During these times, I thought their dialog was great. Their getting-to-know-you conversations just flowed very naturally. When they consummate their relationship, the love scenes were very intense right from the beginning and only grew more so as the story progressed. Sometimes, it felt like they weren't merely making love, but their very souls were connecting.Much like with the first book of the series, the supporting players were strong and varied with some characters returning and new ones being introduced who may become future heroes and heroines. Griffin's brother and Hero's fiancé, Thomas, seems outwardly perfect, but could be a bit self-absorbed. Underneath it all, he wasn't a bad guy and was a lot like Hero, wanting to do things that society would frown upon but his title and position in Parliament weighed heavily on him. I was glad to see that things worked out for him in the end. Griffin's sister, Margaret, is a very nice young woman who wants to help Hero with the foundling home. She also wishes to marry, but wants it to be for love and so far, is having no luck finding the affection she so deeply desires. At first I thought Hero's brother, Maximus, might support her when it came time to break her engagement, but his stalwart stand against the gin trade which he holds responsible for the murders of their parents, ends up causing some friction between them. Much like Thomas, his friend and political ally, he wasn't a bad guy, just very staunch in his opinions. If Ms. Hoyt deigns to make him a hero, I think the right woman could certainly loosen him up a bit.;-) Hero's sister, Phoebe, is a sweet girl who is loosing her sight, and I think she would make a really interesting future heroine. It was great to see Winter and Silence again. Silence has not too surprisingly become a mother to Mary Darling, the baby who was left on her doorstep at the end of Wicked Intentions, and I'm pretty sure I now know who left the baby and continues to anonymously bring gifts for her. Silence continues to suffer from a lack of self-confidence and weathers through a tragedy as well. She sights Micky O'Connor, the man who both frightens and intrigues her, a couple of times, and I'm eagerly looking forward to their book, Scandalous Desires, which is coming in October (2011). Winter is still hard at work, running the orphanage, and is to become the hero of the fourth book, due to be released in the summer of 2012 and tentatively titled, Thief of Shadows. The Ghost of St. Giles returned as well. Once again, I thought I had figured out who he/she was, and once again, I was apparently wrong. This is a mystery I'll definitely be looking forward to solving. Last but not least, were the matrons of the Remmington and Batten families, Griffin's mother and Hero's Cousin Bathilda. Both were wonderful supportive ladies who were always ready with a word of wisdom and always looking out for everyone's best interests. Cousin Bathilda's little dog, Mignon, was adorable too, and knows a good man when she sees one.;-)Overall, Notorious Pleasures was an enjoyable story with a great cast of characters who I took pleasure in getting to know. Due to Hero holding back her feelings for so long and a few somewhat slow places here and there, it wasn't quite a perfect read, but it came close. All in all, it was a very tight and well-written book. The ending was suspenseful and brought about closure to everything in the way I had hoped. I also loved the fairy tale told in snippets at the beginning of each chapter which has become an Elizabeth Hoyt trademark. I thought that it complimented the main story perfectly. Notorious Pleasures was an all-around fun read and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the Maiden Lane series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Notorious Pleasures is the second in the Maiden Lane series. I was fortunate enough to have been able to read Wicked Intentions, the first in the series. I really liked Wicked Intentions so I have very high expectations for Notorious Pleasures. Book two follows Lady Hero and the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. But Hero is the main character in this book. The book starts just about where the last book left off. Hero is due to marry the Duke of Wakefield, but she has her secrets, like the foundling home. And then one big secret comes to the forefront of the story. Hero has fallen in love, and not with her fiance... I liked Hero and was glad to see her as the tie-in from the first book. She was so strong, but yet she knew her place in society and tried to ensure she stayed within the confines of that place. Although she is not always as proper as she appears to be. Her secret of helping with the Foundling home is one that she's kept from all of the men in her life, except one. Then when her romance with Reading becomes more than just flirtatious her position in society is very much in danger. This, much like the first book, was such an engaging read. Hoyt has a great command of language and makes the book so enjoyable. After now reading two of Hoyt's books I would imagine she could write a book about paint drying and make it interesting. So needless to say I will be waiting for book three in the series, which is due out later this year. A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. This is not a paid review and is a truthful and honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I ♥ this series! In Notorious Pleasures we meet up with Lady Hero again. I loved her in Wicked Intentions and couldn’t wait to read her story. The first scene involves Hero walking in on a married woman, and a man who is most definitely not her husband. After several attempts at gaining their attention, she pulls off her earring and hurls it at the bare tush of the man I previously mentioned. Lady Hero has no idea at the time this man is her fiance’s brother, Griffin. It is rumored Griffin seduced his brother’s first wife and many other woman. He is rake, and Hero is determined to keep her distance. Her affection for her future brother-in-law grows in ways that would not be considered very “brotherly”, but Hero knows she must honor her marriage contract. After all she is an honorable and virtuous woman. As she discovers Griffin’s secrets and he hers, events and emotions begin to spiral out of control. This is such an amazing series. I advice reading the books in order to fully enjoy all this series, and it’s characters have to offer. In Notorious Pleasures the point of view alternates between Griffin, Lady Hero, and several secondary characters. We also visit the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children, and see how things have been since Silence Hollingbrook took over for her sister, Temperance. The mystery surrounding The Ghost of St. Giles also continues. I for one am dying to know who is hiding under that costume.I really can’t say enough positive things about this series. The characters are always so well developed. The plot is thorough and perfectly paced. The writing draws you in, and holds your attention until the very end. The romances are downright delicious. And the boys! The boys are enough to make any girl fall in lust, or maybe even in love. The ending sets up for the third book in this series, Scandalous Desires. I won’t give anything away, but after reading the sneak peek for book 3 at the end of Notorious Pleasures, it seems the title is a perfect fit. I can’t wait to read it!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series before starting this one; although not a requirement, it will significantly enhance your enjoyment and make the secondary plot line much clearer. This was an intriguing book more for the secondary characters that I hope get their own story than for this story. I really liked Lady Hero after the first book in the series but was disappointed with her story line. She is engaged for most of this book but becomes involved with her fiancee's brother. I don't enjoy this type of plot line where someone is engaged to one man (or woman) and the romance is with another. If there is an extenuating circumstance (like being forced to marry by parents, etc) then I can normally get over my concern but that wasn't the case here. That being said, I thought a lot of the issues were unique and really enjoyed meeting the Duke and the heroine's sister, Phoebe. I really hope that they get their own stories because they are very intriguing. There was also quite a set up in this book for the characters in the next, which really sounds exciting. So, if you enjoyed the first book in the series, I would definitely recommend this book but it wasn't that strong on its own merit.