Lord of Darkness, A Review

Until this very book I had never read an Elizabeth Hoyt story.. I know what was I thinking? I have seen her work on shelves in stores. I even received some free Elizabeth Hoyt books at RT.. and yet, I had never actually read any of her books. Let me just say it is about time I corrected that..

Lord of Darkness is Ms Hoyt's 5th book in Maiden Lane Series, what is Maiden Lane, you ask? Well check out the Maiden Lane page on Ms Hoyt's website.. Or.. If you already LOVE this series.. please come join our discussion by clicking HERE.

Godric St John has loved and lost. He was and remains devoted to his deceased wife. Slowly withering away, becoming a ghost of a man. Slipping away from family and friends leaving only a shadow. Only becoming truly alive when he dons the Ghost of St Giles disguise and wanders the streets of St Giles, righting wrongs. Having been blackmailed to marry a woman in desperate need does nothing to change him.. she remains in the country creating her life and he resides in the city, wallowing.

 Lady Margaret Reading, fell in love, madly, passionately in love. And because she believed in that love she willing gave her all. Only to find that the man she loved was brutally murdered and she was left with child. In an effort to avoid scandal her brother manages to find a man to marry her. Sadly, Megs looses that much wanted baby and now, two years later she desperately wants a child. Fortunately for her, she already has a husband.. sure they have lived apart for the past two years but Megs is sure they can work something out...

Of course Nothing is ever that easy. Megs also wants to find the man who murdered her lost love and destroy him. Only problem is, the Ghost of St. Giles has been wrongfully accused of this murder so on her first night back in London Megs ventures into St Giles, only to find herself attacked and saved by that very murderer. Imagine his surprise to see the wrong end of a pistol pointed at him after saving a lady in distress, then to discover that his wife is holding it.

This story was brooding, dark, it all but seethed. A constant pull at the senses.. While Megs and St Johns muddled through in their relationship there is a silent war going on in St Giles. Someone is stealing little girls The "lassie snatchers" and St John is determined to discover who it is. All the while trying to hide is alter ego from his wife. Hard to do when living in the same house. You have to feel for the poor man, his home has been invaded, his life is changing whether he wants it or not.

There are such incredible moments in this book, when Megs finds out just why Godric married her. When Godric discovers the ghost in his bed.. When.. yeah getting dangerously close to spoilers, I know. The best part was watching the light come back into the lives of these two deserving individuals. Watching them let go of the past and discover that there is more living to be done. That they have a second chance and they shouldn't squander it.. It was what makes hearts swoon. A true romance that reminds the reader that love comes in many different forms.

This wasn't a book about betrayed love.. it was about two people who had honestly loved before and have no clue that they had it in them to love again. This wasn't a book of sunshine and light...nope it had shadows.. a wonderful read. You can read this as a stand alone.. but I promise after you do, you are going to do like I did... go back and find the rest of the series and catch up!

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Lord of Darkness provided by netgalley and is scheduled for release on February 26, 2013