Not the Duke's Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt

Not the Duke's Darling
Greycourt #1

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2018

H/h - Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe/Lady Freya de Moray
Setting: London, 1760.

Read in February, 2019.

My rating:

                                                  [spoiler alert]

Elizabeth Hoyt’s Not the Duke’s Darling is the book 1 of her brand new historical romance series, Greycourt. It was one of my most anticipating releases of 2018. Her previous series, Maiden Lane, which stole many hearts and made many new Hoyt fans—as a huge fan myself I’d like to think that’s happened!—had ended in 2017 after a long run with 12 books and some novellas under its belt. Naturally, we fans were eagerly waiting for this new series to see what Ms. Hoyt has in store for us in this new journey. I’m excited that there’s a new series, even if the introductory installment wasn’t as good as I was hoping it’d be.

Not the Duke’s Darling, so far, doesn’t look to have any connection to Maiden Lane whatsoever. I haven’t come across anything that pointed to me to that direction. However, it’s only the beginning and one can only hope! Though still set in the Georgian-era, the setting is slightly after the time-frame of Maiden Lane. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any possibilities of.......

Okay okay, that’s the Maiden Lane fan in me blabbering away. :P I’ll just get into the review... The story begins with our heroine, Freya de Moray, running from some miscreants while also protecting a baby and his nanny as they ran. At first, it’s all very confusing. Is the baby hers? Or is he a family member? Then, within a few pages we discover that she’s the ‘Macha’ or spy of a secret ladies group called the Wise Women and been working for them for a while now. The Wise Women were women with healing powers (healers) who existed for generations and openly helped people with their knowledge. They abounded all over England since the ancient times. But as time went on and the threat of witch hunt—as they were termed at one of point of history—and many killed, the number of Wise Women has now gone down drastically.

The Wise Women were, and still are, selected from various families (wasn’t sure if only peers or from any family) and given education and training from a young age. These days all that is done in secret. Well they don’t have any magical powers but they have other knowledge to help. Nowadays, with a new form of witch-hunter fanatics called the Dunkelders after them, they had to go in hiding. Wise Women also love living an independent life that doesn’t go with the social norms. Some live unmarried, while others marry and go as far as to have children. Some would take lovers. Many of them live among normal people hiding that part of their identity. After all, they have to be very selective of who they trust. Many now live in Scotland where their headquarters is. Or so I thought it was. I’m not sure how far the Wise Women are still scattered all over England cause, for this book, we only learn about the Wise Women that live in an estate called Dornoch in Scotland conveniently close to Freya’s own ancestral home.

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

Once Upon a Christmas Eve (novella)
Maiden Lane #12.6

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2017

H/h - Adam Rutledge, Viscount D'Arque/Lady Sarah St. John
Setting: Yorkshire, England 1741.

Read in December, 2018.

My rating:

 
                                                       [spoiler alert]

Once Upon a Christmas Eve is the last novella in Elizabeth Hoyt’s fantastic historical romance series, Maiden Lane. This series has officially ended in 2017 after 12 full-length novels under its belt. It also got some novellas of secondary characters thrown in between. I’ve been with this series since 2011—which originally started publishing from 2010—and have been following the publication of every book ever since. If you’ve followed or read any of my reviews of Maiden Lane, you’ll know this is one of my favorite series by one of my most favorite HR authors and it hurts to know that a series that has been a part of my life for so long, has finally come to an end. Which I suppose probably was for the best because the series had veered away from the original storyline in the recent years.

Once Upon a Christmas Eve is the story of 2 individuals who were introduced in the series quite far back and frankly speaking, I wasn’t really expecting their stories, even in a novella format. Mostly because they were minor characters and I don’t really remember much about them. They are Viscount D’Arque and Lady Sarah St. John. Sarah is the half-sister of Godric St. John, hero of book 5 Lord of Darkness published in 2013. Though I remember the storyline and our H and h, I don’t remember Sarah AT ALL and D’Arque very vaguely.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane by Elizabeth Hoyt

Once Upon a Maiden Lane (novella)
Maiden Lane #12.5

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2017

H/h - Henry Collins, Viscount Blackwell/Mary Whitsun
Setting: London, 1747.

Read in June, 2018.

My rating:

                                                               [spoiler alert]

Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt has officially ended in 2017 after 12 full-length novels under its belt. The series also got some novellas of secondary characters thrown in between. I’ve been with this series since 2011—which originally started publishing from 2010—and have been following the publication of every book ever since. If you’ve followed or read any of my reviews of Maiden Lane, you’ll know this is one of my favorite series by one of my most favorite HR authors and it hurts to know that a series that has been a part of my life for so long, has finally come to an end. Which I suppose is quite natural, and I believe, probably was for the best because the series had veered away from the original storyline in the recent years.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane is one of the last 2 novellas that bid adieu to Maiden Lane. I bought both but saved them to savor in my leisure when I feel like going back to the Maiden Lane universe. It’s the story of Mary Whitsun, a lesser known character who made appearances in the first couple of installments of the series. I’ll not go to the storyline of the original series because TBH, this novella can be read as a complete standalone. Even in such a short space, the author brilliantly gives you info that you need to enjoy the story but it doesn’t connect to any of the installments as Ms. Hoyt’s books usually do.

Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Desire
Maiden Lane #12

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2017

H/h - Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore/Lady Iris Jordan
Setting: England, 1742.

Read in February, 2018.

My rating:

                                                              [spoiler alert]

All the good things must come to an end. :( Every year for the past 7yrs. I’ve eagerly waited for a new Maiden Lane book. It’ll be so difficult to not have to wait for another new installment, even if the storyline veered away from the original characters. Even if Ms. Hoyt is writing a new series out later this year; even if I’m really excited about it. Duke of Desire marks the 12th installment, the final one, bidding adieu to our much beloved series. Though I still have 2 short stories to read, this is the last full-length novel.

Before I get into my review, starting with quite a bit of discussion on the backstory and how the characters are connected—because trust me they are connected through each-other and through ongoing events—I need to talk about the following...

I came to learn about Ms. Hoyt’s book when I first discovered Romance as a genre and was binging through the popular authors’ backlists. I don’t exactly remember why I picked up her books  but so glad I did! Ms. Hoyt was still a bit of newbie, with 2 short series under her belt but making quite the splash. The first installment of Maiden Lane, Wicked Intentions, was out and waiting for the second installment. But before I could finish the first two series of hers, second book, Notorious Pleasures was out as well. By then I was SO hooked in her writing style and her stories that I was more in the lines of ‘oh goodie! gimme gimme!’ LOL I promptly began the reading of book 1 of Maiden Lane, which also prompted my love affair with this series.

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Pleasure
Maiden Lane #11

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2016

H/h - Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle/Alf (...is a girl)
Setting: England, 1742.

Read in January, 2017.

My rating:

                                                    [spoiler alert]

So happy to say that I’ve been following the long running, much loved Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt almost since the beginning! I discovered Ms. Hoyt’s books back in 2011 and haven’t looked back ever since. And we’ve certainly come a long way with this one! Duke of Pleasure is the 11th installment and I have to say it was, uhh, not what I was hoping for. Actually not sure what I was looking for since Alf, the h of this story, was not a character I thought would have a book of her own, let alone a full-length one. I mean she’s ‘Alf’, the little urchin who masqueraded as a beggar boy to live in the dark and filthy St. Giles where she grew up. No one knew who she was, or even, that she was a girl. She had no family to speak of. Had no life beyond St. Giles... she didn’t even have a full name FGS! I totally thought that Hippolyta Royle, the richest heiress of England, was going to have a full-length novel; instead she got a novella. :/

Anyway, now that that’s outta my chest.......... Personally, this is probably the only long-running series of which I’ve been a part of almost since the beginning, so I’m a little overwhelmed here. I don’t think a recap of all the other 10 installments is possible so I’d ask that you start from the beginning, Wicked Intentions. Besides, if you haven’t read the series from the beginning, you really shouldn’t be reading this review. The installments connect each-other with ongoing events, or characters, or an event that was hinted at on one installment and you will find it taking shape in another. So yes, true to Ms. Hoyt’s style, it’s a very interconnected series and you may find information confusing at times.

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

Once Upon a Moonlit Night (novella) 
Maiden Lane #10.5

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2016

H/h - Matthew Mortimer, the Earl of Paxton/Hippolyta Royle
Setting: London, 1741.

Read in July, 2016.

My rating:

                                                     [spoiler alert]

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt is a novella (#10.5) in her long running, much beloved Maiden Lane series.

Over the years since it started in 2010, Maiden Lane has veered away from its original storyline set in the dark alleyways of St. Giles and its forays with a character named the Ghost. Even the original Makepeace siblings are seen sporadically on and off, gracing the pages with their presence, which I love BTW. To have a glimpse of their life after the HEA. Since book 5, the storyline has gone on to pair the secondary characters, giving them their own HEAs, except maybe for Asa, one of the more elusive Makepeace brothers who had his own HEA much later (in book 9) than his other siblings.

If you still haven’t read this series, I won’t recommend you read this novella at all. Not only the series itself is interconnected in most part with incidents and characters, this novella is directly linked to book 10, Duke of Sin, with some ongoing developments. So not a standalone by any means.

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Sin
Maiden Lane #10

Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Published in 2016

H/h - Valentine Napier, The Duke of Montgomery/Bridget Crumb
Setting: London, 1741.

Read in June, 2016.

My rating:

                                                    [spoiler alert]

I’ve been a part of the journey that is the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt for the past 5 or so years. I started the series right after book 2 was published. Since then, I have been eagerly awaiting every single installment to know more about my favorite characters. Duke of Sin marks the 10th installment, which kinda leaves me WOWed. I never thought the series would see 10 books (and counting) but boy I’m glad it did. Maiden Lane has been a wonderful journey so far, most especially the first 7 books and I can’t wait to find out more as the series keeps growing.

I’ve decided not to do my usual recap in this installment. I don’t really have experience with a long-running series where I’ve reviewed ALL the installments from the beginning. In that sense, this is a unique experience to be sure! Recapping 9 isn’t going to be easy. Besides, if you haven’t read the series from the beginning, you really shouldn’t be reading this review. The installments connect each with ongoing events, or characters, or an event that was hinted at on one installment and you will find it taking shape in another. So yes, true to Ms. Hoyt’s style, it’s a very interconnected series.