Darling Beast

Today's post is on Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt. It is the seventh in Maiden Lane series but you do not have to have read the any of the others to enjoy this story. It is 321 pages long and is published by Grand Central. The cover has the two main characters on it looking sexy. The intended reader is someone who likes historical romance. There is mild foul language, sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters moving from chapter to chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- 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.

Review- A quick and easy love story for when you have a free afternoon. Lily and Apollo are fun and interesting characters to spend time with but the real treat is at the beginning of each chapter we get a very different version of the story of the Minotaur. Hoyt plays with the legend and I really looked forward to the beginning of each chapter to read more about Ariadne and her journey through the maze. But the main love story is nice too. Lily is very clever and a good person and that is what makes her the heroine to save Apollo from his past and make his future a good one.The back story about Apollo is interesting and I was guessing about who the real murderer was. I want to see more of some of the side characters and I hope that I find their books as fun as this one.  

I give this a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.