cheerfullrain's review against another edition
4.0
Each book in this series gets better as it goes along and this book was no exception. I really loved their banter and how she challenged him. I also appreciate when historical romances make class differences between the characters a huge obstacle to overcome. It fits more realistically into the historical setting and I thought the author did a lovely job of depicting MMCs struggle to let go of his perceived duty and follow his heart.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
5.0
Maximus is OTT in every way. I never thought I would be into a hero who But I loved it. I think this series really highlights the variety you can find in historical romance--each pairing is so different, so well developed, each one is my new favorite.
Spoiler
calls a heroine a "little bitch" right before their first kiss. And he slaps her back to life after a near drowning! What even is this?!sri_savita's review against another edition
5.0
Maximus was maximum drama, but that's to be expected for Batman.
I loved Artemis! I felt kind of lukewarm about her in other books, but that's because we were seeing her from the POV of other characters, so she blended in, as she prefers to do. Her dynamic with Maximus was awesome and absolutely the type of drama I DO like to read, so that tempered Maximus's (at times) ridiculousness. I think she was exactly the kind of person who could handle his domineering attitude (which I understand is ducal, but also annoying), and quite literally, slap some sense into him.
I did love all the melodrama with Harte's Folly at the end too.
I think Hoyt layers in the newer relevant characters for future books well. I like the structure of introducing the next hero/heroine in the current book. It helps keep things organized and builds up anticipation. I think it helps that sometimes the new characters are pivotal in the plot, or just mentioned casually, and sometimes you see an interaction between the hero and heroine in the POV of someone else. There's variety in the way these characters are introduced versus the whole world at once. It also helps that there's different families involved not just one.
I'm not sure how I feel about Apollo or Asa yet, but I'll be reading. Hoyt did change my mind about Mick, so we'll see what happens!
I loved Artemis! I felt kind of lukewarm about her in other books, but that's because we were seeing her from the POV of other characters, so she blended in, as she prefers to do. Her dynamic with Maximus was awesome and absolutely the type of drama I DO like to read, so that tempered Maximus's (at times) ridiculousness. I think she was exactly the kind of person who could handle his domineering attitude (which I understand is ducal, but also annoying), and quite literally, slap some sense into him.
I did love all the melodrama with Harte's Folly at the end too.
I think Hoyt layers in the newer relevant characters for future books well. I like the structure of introducing the next hero/heroine in the current book. It helps keep things organized and builds up anticipation. I think it helps that sometimes the new characters are pivotal in the plot, or just mentioned casually, and sometimes you see an interaction between the hero and heroine in the POV of someone else. There's variety in the way these characters are introduced versus the whole world at once. It also helps that there's different families involved not just one.
I'm not sure how I feel about Apollo or Asa yet, but I'll be reading. Hoyt did change my mind about Mick, so we'll see what happens!
birdee_'s review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
laurenjodi's review against another edition
5.0
Duke of Midnight
5 Stars
Beset by guilt and a desire to honor his father and his family name, Maximus Batten, Duke of Wakefield, seeks a wife worthy of his illustrious title. Lady Penelope Chadwicke seems to fit the bill despite her silly self-absorption. Fortunately or unfortunately for Maximus, it is Penelope’s cousin and companion, Artemis Greaves, who catches his eye and his heart, but Artemis has a secret that not only threatens the Duke’s reputation but both of their lives as well...
Definitely the best in the series so far.
The plot revolving around Maximus’s history as the Ghost of St. Giles and his search for the criminal who murdered his parents is reminiscent of the Bruce Wayne/Batman archetype right down to the alter ego, the loyal valet and the bat cave. All of this adds an extra layer of enjoyment as Batman just happens to be my favorite super-hero.
Artemis and Maximus opposites attract romance is simply captivating. The two have incredible chemistry and they steam up the pages just by looking at each other across a crowded room. Artemis’s courage, resilience and capacity for love make her an extremely appealing heroine, and it is particularly entertaining to see Maximus’s dark and brooding stoicism crack as he falls hopelessly for the one woman he feels he can never have.
The set-up of the next book featuring Artemis’s twin is intriguing and I look forward to learning more about Apollo and the crime for which he was unjustly incarcerated.
5 Stars
Beset by guilt and a desire to honor his father and his family name, Maximus Batten, Duke of Wakefield, seeks a wife worthy of his illustrious title. Lady Penelope Chadwicke seems to fit the bill despite her silly self-absorption. Fortunately or unfortunately for Maximus, it is Penelope’s cousin and companion, Artemis Greaves, who catches his eye and his heart, but Artemis has a secret that not only threatens the Duke’s reputation but both of their lives as well...
Definitely the best in the series so far.
The plot revolving around Maximus’s history as the Ghost of St. Giles and his search for the criminal who murdered his parents is reminiscent of the Bruce Wayne/Batman archetype right down to the alter ego, the loyal valet and the bat cave. All of this adds an extra layer of enjoyment as Batman just happens to be my favorite super-hero.
Artemis and Maximus opposites attract romance is simply captivating. The two have incredible chemistry and they steam up the pages just by looking at each other across a crowded room. Artemis’s courage, resilience and capacity for love make her an extremely appealing heroine, and it is particularly entertaining to see Maximus’s dark and brooding stoicism crack as he falls hopelessly for the one woman he feels he can never have.
The set-up of the next book featuring Artemis’s twin is intriguing and I look forward to learning more about Apollo and the crime for which he was unjustly incarcerated.
hyac1nth's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookwife's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this one as much as I have liked the previous books. And that all comes down to one thing: Maximus sleeps with Artemis knowing that he won't marry her and that he won't let anyone else have her. I know that Artemis went into his bedroom. I know that she wanted to sleep with him. I get that but she was a virgin and emotional. Plus this is set in the 1700s,..I think.. so it's just them mans fault. Maximus sleeps with her over and over again and he decides he's going to make her his mistress... like he's going to buy her a house in the country to keep her at so he can go fuck her whenever he wants.. He doesn't decide that he actually wants to marry her until the very freaking end of the book. I hated that. I mean we all know that the guy and girl are going to end up together at the end but I hate it when it happens in the very last chapter.
I really liked Artemis at first but then she slowly slipped downhill for me. She slept with someone knowing he wouldn't marry her, knowing that her cousin wanted to marry him, knowing that it would totally ruin her reputation, knowing that she would be cast out of society and shame her family (even if her family was already shamed.)
So yeah I was just annoyed with the whole relationship. It was hard for me to get into. I liked how the book started out. I really liked their connection. I was super excited about them actually but then they just ruined it for me by sleeping together....and that's not something I thought Id ever say about a book!
I really liked Artemis at first but then she slowly slipped downhill for me. She slept with someone knowing he wouldn't marry her, knowing that her cousin wanted to marry him, knowing that it would totally ruin her reputation, knowing that she would be cast out of society and shame her family (even if her family was already shamed.)
So yeah I was just annoyed with the whole relationship. It was hard for me to get into. I liked how the book started out. I really liked their connection. I was super excited about them actually but then they just ruined it for me by sleeping together....and that's not something I thought Id ever say about a book!
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the characters a lot in this one... Artemis is strong and kind and an admirable heroine. Maximus is decidedly haunted by his past and makes some adventurous choices and some awful ones (especially regarding whether he thinks Artemis is good enough for him) because of it. The historical details were good and the sex scenes were hot. I don't know if this series will continue but I am sold on this author!
trashbinfluencer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Gore, and Murder