Status Updates From Scandalous Desires (Maiden ...

The Segway into the second book begins with the “Not-quite-dead man” and his rescue at the hands of Isabel and her fortuitously position coach. That’s my last annotation.

The ghost of Saint Giles, a Harlequin, is rescued by Isabel Beckinhall, lying near to dead in the streets of Saint Giles. She, in her first introduction, had eyes for Winter Makepeace, and we knew then how the plot of Thief of Shadows would unspool. Although the convenience is used often, I would’ve rather had more of the afterwards

Some books I annotate out of boredom. Some books, I annotate because they are so bad. And some books I annotate because I cannot help savoring each page. I leave the reader to decide.

The epilogue has the conclusion of the fairytale of Clever John, of course. And of course, again, it parallels the narrative. Even Clever John is given his redemption, and Tamara, after sticking her finger in the cherry pie…

Conclusion, completion. Silence saves herself and kills the Vicar. 1+1 = 2.

The Vicar continued the monologue of a madman in front of Silence. Again,Hoyt is a master at playing with our emotions.
His ruined face was a metaphor for his ruined mind, heart, and soul. Do I sound maudlin? Blame it on the author.

Satisfaction. The ghost of Saint Giles. “She needs you alive, pirate. “

Along with Mick, the reader would cheerfully kill the Vicar. This takes powerful writing.

Brinksmanship. Vicar has Silence in what they would call Durance vile. In most foul language, in note than cruel taunts. Hoyt knows his to grab the reader and squeeze the heart

Clever John was very old and weak with age. He had his cook make a cherry pie. And then he called for Tamara…
“Why have you called me?… “

Clever John was old, white hair, stoop, shoulders, and unhappy with everything he had asked for. Such the fairytale follows the narrative. And in his lap, he held five feathers.

Very near to maudlin:
She found paradise only to lose it.

I can’t help myself. As predicted Mick is to hang.
Harry and Bert are still guarding Silence.
“ Like a fairy story it is, yer love for ‘Imself.”
I always like that sobriquet.

I have to stop annotating. I have to finish. At this point the Vicar has Michael arrest arrested for piracy.

It’s minor, but bothersome, that she consistently calls a horse a nag. There is no such thing if you’ve ever been in close connection with an equine.

Michael is Marose. In a funk, in a place, where alcohol cannot dull his mental processes. . “Fuck all me money! “ Mick bellowed. “It don’t bloody matter anymore.”
Deus ex machina: the letter
“I have them. Meet me where your mother lies. “

And here I was too quick to comment as Silence absorbs her advice as useless. Of course.
“Her heart wanted her pirate.” Of course.

I am on the fence as to how I feel about her sister Temperance, and her pithy advice, that she would get over him in time. Her dialogue seems too abrupt to be comforting.

Caire House in London, a week has passed, and Bert and Harry are being entirely spoiled by the cook. At least someone is happy!

Silence has left. The reader shares in Michael’s grief of abandonment. The chapter ends and the fairytale of Clever John begins with his having everything he’d ever wished for, in a deliberate echo of what Michael had and lost. Clever John “ seeks the skies for the glimpse of a rainbow bird.”

Bran is bound for the West Indies, taking with him the grief and shame of betrayal in the death of his lover, which will be on his conscience, perhaps forever. This character wanted to be an equal to Michael, not a lackey. His and Fionnula’s story was perhaps a moral tale. It certainly was sad, and her death was so difficult to process.

Sometimes the push and pull of a narrative begins to weary the reader. Silence gathers a small bag and says she’s going home, after she told Michael she loved him. The reader must follow along despite such obstacles.

“Is it sweet, m’darlin.”
“Yes, it’s what I want.”

Some romance writers cannot encounter an intimate scene as serenely as Hoyt, whose description of lovemaking is just that, rather than a manual of sexual practice. She allows the reader into an intimacy which is delicate, as well as satisfying.

Irreconcilable differences. Actually, on some levels, what Silence is demanding is a bridge too far.
And Michael says no. “ His money was his strength. Not even for this woman would he make himself weak. “

…”I cannot live with a man who chooses to inflict harm on others for his business. “
Well, now we have a dilemma
And Michael says “ I’m sorry. “
So the option is to cut off his balls?

“Ye can’t understand. “
“ Tis me power. I can’t simply give it up. “

“… a great predator, indulgent”