A MASKED MAN . . .

Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.

A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

Review

The fourth installment of the Maiden Lane series is a wonderful story of love and devotion.

Winter Makepeace has spent the last nine years working as the Manager of the orphanage founded by his family. He takes his responsibility very seriously and works hard to help the children of St. Giles. What no one else knows is that he is also the Ghost of St. Giles – a mysterious vigilante who roams the streets at night trying to keep the people safe. I love, love, love Winter Makepeace. In the previous books he came across cold and unemotional, but in Thief of Shadows the real Winter is revealed. He feels more than he will admit for the children at the home and for the people of St. Giles. He feels it is his responsibility to take care and protect. They are his number one focus and his own desires are always pushed away.  

Lady Isabel Beckenhall is almost Winter’s opposite. She is privileged, rich, and doesn’t take care of anyone – nor does she feel the responsibility to take care of anyone. After the death of her husband she was happy to discretely take lovers and enjoy her freedom. She plans to continue living her life as she chooses, but all that changes when she becomes a patroness to the orphanage and meets Winter Makepeace. Isabel is an unusual heroine for a historical romance. She is flirty and sexy and doesn’t care who knows it. She is tempted by Winter and doesn’t believe that she should have to hide those feelings. She goes after what she wants, even though she doesn’t understand why she wants it.

One of the things I most loved about this book was that Winter Makepeace was a virgin. His decision to remain celibate made so much sense for the character – he didn’t believe that anything should be more important to him than his “mission.” His sacrifice proved that he was committed to his beliefs and that he wouldn’t change them for anyone - until Isabel. She makes him rethink his entire world. The scene when he finally succumbs to the attraction between him and Isabel is one of the hottest things I’ve read in a while. The way he asks her to teach him everything is seriously sexy. I really enjoyed how unique these scene was and how much power the heroine was given. Isabel tells him what she wants and revels in the fact that he actually cares about what she feels and what gives her pleasure.

A lot of the story focuses on the Ghost of St. Giles and his search for children who are being taken and treated terribly. This search shows who Winter is and helps Isabel learn things about him. Both Winter and Isabel change throughout the book and learn who they truly are and what they want from life. Winter learns that he doesn’t have to put others first all of the time. It is enough for him to take care of the children and that he can love Isabel at the same time. Isabel learns that she is more than she thought. That she had hidden her own emotions behind an invisible mask like Winter hid his behind the Ghost of St. Giles.

Thief of Shadows is a wonderful book and will delight fans of the series that have been waiting for Winter’s story.

Reviewed by Carrie

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