Once Upon a Moonlit Night (Maiden Lane Novella) (Maiden Lane, #10.5)

by Elizabeth Hoyt

[stacey_is_sassy]

I thought I had to gird my loins…

I finished and enjoyed Duke of Sin with the question…But what happened to poor Hippolyta?…burning through my brain. When I found out that we would be getting a novella telling us all about it, I was very excited. Yesterday, I went to Goodreads to update and list it as currently reading. While I was there I noticed that there were a few less than stellar ratings. What? How could that be? It’s a novella, what on earth could go wrong? Well, I didn’t look at the review before starting, but I girded my loins as I started waiting for it all to fall apart.

….and waited

…and waited

…and waited

Ummm…it didn’t happen. I didn’t find the bad bit. I’m not discounting someone else’s opinion, each to their own and all that jazz, but I’m not sure what the bad bit was. Look, it wasn’t perfect by any means. The sexy times were a wee bit modern and very steamy (but who am I to question whether back in the olden days they talked dirty or not). It also all kind of fell into place a bit too easily and the characters did fall in love very quickly. BUT…I read romance to escape from reality and this little treat hit the spot for me.

Hippolyta and Matthew have a very unusual first meeting and neither of them is in a position that shows themselves off in a favourable light. Hippolyta has escaped kidnapping and Matthew is returning from his overseas adventures to do his duty now that he is an Earl. Matthew doesn’t believe that the muddy and smelly Hippolyta could possibly be a rich heiress and she thinks he’s a dishevelled and rude working man in need of funds.

The story has a touch of mystery mixed into their adventure. There is seduction and temptation that neither can deny. Both characters are also learning to have the courage to be true to yourself. While it wasn’t perfect, it was a perfectly fine little story to answer my questions and give me the historical romance fix I was looking for.

I can’t wait for Duke of Pleasure and I hope my guess is right in who the newest Ghost of St Giles is.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.