Notorious pleasures

*Starred Review* As far as Lady Hero Batten is concerned, history is not about to repeat itself. Griffin Remmington may have successfully seduced his brother Thomas' first wife, but there is no way on earth the notorious rake can ever tempt Hero to cheat on her practically perfect fiancé. Thomas is everything Hero could wish for in a husband: handsome, wealthy, and imminently respectable. While Griffin is the exact opposite, shamelessly involved in gin distilling, even after Hero informs him of the terrible costs that that despicable trade imposes on London's poorest citizens. Yet the more time Hero spends with Griffin, the more she begins to realize perfection isn't everything it's cracked up to be. In the latest emotionally stunning addition to her Maiden Lane series, Hoyt deftly lightens her realistically dark plot with touches of deliciously dry humor, and the sinfully sensual chemistry she creates between her shrewd, acid-tongued heroine and her scandalous sexy hero is pure romance.--Charles, John Copyright 2010 Booklist

Hoyt's second Maiden Lane novel (after 2010's Wicked Intentions), set in 1737 London, initially seems to follow the formula of the naive virgin falling prey to the profligate rake. But Lady Hero Batten is quick-witted and forthright, and she refuses to be just another conquest for Griffin Remmington, her fiance's younger brother. When Griffin insists on accompanying Hero to the orphanage she funds in the dangerous St. Giles area of London, Hero finds him an affable and attractive companion. Their relationship changes as Hero learns that Griffin isn't merely the irresponsible younger son he has pretended to be, and Griffin struggles to meet Hero's high expectations. Fans of historical detail will love subplots involving the campaign to halt the production of gin and the overwhelming need for decent orphanages, and the mysterious happenings in St. Giles provide excitement and suspense. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.