Review: DARLING BEAST (Maiden Lane, #7) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Darling Beast, A Maiden Lane Series Novel
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Source: My Personal Library
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Reviewed by: Artemis

Rating – 5 Stars
Sexual – 4 Stars

A MAN CONDEMNED . . .

Falsely accused of murder and mute from a near-fatal beating, Apollo Greaves, Viscount Kilbourne has escaped from Bedlam. With the Crown's soldiers at his heels, he finds refuge in the ruins of a pleasure garden, toiling as a simple gardener. But when a vivacious young woman moves in, he's quickly driven to distraction . . .

A DESPERATE WOMAN . . .

London's premier actress, Lily Stump, is down on her luck when she's forced to move into a scorched theatre with her maid and small son. But she and her tiny family aren't the only inhabitants—a silent, hulking beast of a man also calls the charred ruins home. Yet when she catches him reading her plays, Lily realizes there's more to this man than meets the eye.

OUT OF ASH, DESIRE FLARES

Though scorching passion draws them together, Apollo knows that Lily is keeping secrets. When his past catches up with him, he's forced to make a choice: his love for Lily . . . or the explosive truth that will set him free.

"Jealousy," he grated, pulling her close, pulling her into his arms, though she struggled to get away. "I would that it were something as easy, as simple, as mere jealousy," He bent and murmured against her mouth, his lips caressing her with each word. "This is far more awful than jealousy."

Ms. Hoyt has struck pay-dirt with this addition to her Maiden Lane series.

I'm not usually fond of young children and yappy dogs in my romance novels. However, it's young Indio who first discovers the monster living in the garden and reports back to his mother, Lily. I will admit, I was chuckling at his antics at the dinner table.

Lily makes the assumption that Caliban (a name given to him by Indio) is a simpleton, because he is mute, hired to work in the garden and befriends him. WHOA! Was she ever wrong.

Apollo Greaves - a huge, beastly, bulging man! Laboring as a common gardener - in truth: Viscount Kilbourne, part owner of the now destroyed pleasure garden, seeking to clear his name of a crime he didn't commit.

Not only is DARLING BEAST a very satisfying book from beginning to end, but we get a closer look at a very untidy, Asa "Harte" Makepeace. Along with another character, the Duke of Montgomery, who likes to collect people and information. I'm hoping we'll see his story before too long and the willful, strong woman who brings him to his knees!

One last note. Ms. Hoyt began each chapter with a teaser from The Minotaur which I enjoyed very much; my reading addiction began with Greek Mythology. If you would like to read further, I suggest starting with this:  THE KING MUST DIE. I read it many, many moons ago and just recently put it on my shelf. I need to revisit it once again.