Scandalous Desires: Number 3 in series (Maiden Lane, #3)

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Can a pirate learn that the only true treasure lies in a woman's heart?

Widowed Silence Hollingbrook is impoverished, lovely, and kind - and nine months ago she made a horrible mistake. She went to a river pirate for help in saving her husband and in the process made a bargain that cost her her marriage. That night wounded her so terribly that she hides in the foundling home she runs with her brother. Except now that same river pirate is back . . . and he's asking for her help.

'Charming' Mickey O'Connor is the most ruthless river pirate in London. Devastatingly handsome and fearsomely intelligent, he clawed his way up through London's criminal underworld. Mickey has no use for tender emotions like compassion and love, and he sees people as pawns to be manipulated. And yet he's never been able to forget the naive captain's wife who came to him for help.

• ISBN10: 0748121153
• ISBN13: 9780748121151
• Publish Date: 3 November 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Where the first book was dark and sexy, Scandalous Desires is emotional….and sexy! As we’ve learned over the past two books, Silence has not had it easy. She was publicly shamed by Micky O’Connor when she approached him to save her husband from going to prison, but her marriage was not the same afterward. And then her husband was killed at sea. The only bright spot in her life was baby Mary Darling, who she learns is Micky’s daughter. He’s come to claim her. Kind of. His biggest enemy is looking to hurt him and that means getting to Silence and Mary, which Micky is not going to let happen.

Scandalous Desires was so good! I was kind of expecting Silence to be down and gloomy and then saved by the power of love, but that’s not this story. Silence is mourning her husband, but she’s not down or gloomy. She’s looking at the bright side, even learning that her life may be in danger. She’s going to do anything to protect that baby. I loved that while she does go into hiding when Micky tells her to, she isn’t going to just do everything he says. She has her own mind and she’s going to use it. It was also great how she stands up to him and won’t settle for less than what she deserves and wants.

There’s also a pretty good plot driving Scandalous Desires. The Vicar is coming after Micky, but not directly. He wants to get him where it really hurts: in his heart. We also learn some things about the Vicar that make this situation even worse and broke my heart for Micky. A lot of sad stuff happens to Silence and Micky here, but they always rise above it. The ending did have me really worried, because how can they get out of that?! Well, luckily there’s a certain someone watching out for them.

I really enjoyed Scandalous Desires. Silence and Micky are just perfect for each other despite what he had done to her previously. Obviously he’s the pirate with a heart of gold! And that epilogue left me dying for the next book! I am so curious about this mysterious Ghost.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.