Dearest Rogue

April 20, 2015
Hoyt’s eighth Maiden Lane series installment (after Darling Beast) imbues 18th-century England with vivid realism, as a protector falls in love with the woman he is guarding. Capt. James Trevillion, previously a member of the 4th Dragoons, has been hired by the Duke of Wakefield to guard his blind sister, Lady Phoebe Batten, from the threat of kidnapping. Though James doubts that his injured leg will hold up in a fight, he is reluctant to give up his post. Phoebe is initially annoyed by his intrusion into her life, but she comes to rely on his solid protection. Suspense ratchets up a notch when Phoebe and James must flee London to a location where he believes that he can keep her safe; in close proximity, the friends soon become lovers. Hoyt has created an especially strong admirable character in Phoebe, a woman who is determined to experience life to the fullest. Her innocent sensuality is both captivating and enchanting, creating scintillating romance between her and the stoic captain.

Starred review from May 1, 2015
As far as Lady Phoebe Batten is concerned, she might as well be in jail. Phoebe knows that the reason her brother, Maximus, the Duke of Wakefield, hired Captain James Trevillion to be her bodyguard is because he is concerned for her safety. Phoebe knows that her increasing blindness not only make her more vulnerable to physical dangers but also to any ne'er-do-well who hopes to use her as a means of targeting her rich and powerful brother. But having James constantly at her side, monitoring her every move, is really starting to get on her nerves. However, when a very real threat forces Phoebe and James into an even more intimate living arrangement, she begins to realize that her life may not be the only thing in danger: her heart may be in jeopardy as well. Dearest Rogue is the eighth in Hoyt's Maiden's Lane series, following Darling Beast (2014), and this superbly executed historical romance is proof positive that this RITA Awardnominated author continues to write with undiminished force and flair. When it comes to incorporating a generous measure of dangerous intrigue and lush sensuality into a truly swoonworthy love story, Hoyt is unrivaled.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)