Sweetest Scoundrel

By: Elizabeth Hoyt

Narrated by: Ashford McNab

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

She's taking charge

Prim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.

He's running the show

Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around...no matter how enticing she is.

But love conquers all

In spite of her lack of theatrical experience—and her fiery clashes with Asa—Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them—and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all....

©2015 Elizabeth Hoyt (P)2015 Hachette Audio

A great addition to the series.

I love this series, the books can't come fast enough for me and I listen over and over. Asa was the most sexual hero of the series.

Humorous all the way through

Sweetest Scoundrel ( Maiden Lane Book 9 ) by Elizabeth Hoyt. As I continue reading the series I just get a little sad. This story here was very good I am glad Asa Makepeace got his story but I actually miss The Ghost of St. Giles. I know it's good to move on in series. I love Asa the best of all the men characters in this series, well I still have three more to go but Asa just made me laugh out loud with his Alpha male attitude and short temper. His filthy mouth was the best! He was just straight to the point and was not afraid of anyone or anything when it came to his precious gardens. As for Eve Dinwoody, the bastard daughter of a Duke's role was just a little annoying in the beginning. But once she got her wits together the story became all the better. I'm on Book 10 and already loving The Duke of Montgomery's attitude, and lets not forget my favorite. The little music at the end always brings tears in my eyes when I think back on the story I had just finished.

A fun story

Humorous Interesting plot and an unsurprising epilogue. I enjoy all of her books and this was no exception

Enjoyed that earlier characters were also present.

Wonderful book. Sweet love story with some very dark details.

Sweetest Scoundrel can easily stand alone for a reader who has not yet read any of the many other Maiden Lane books. Elizabeth Hoyt writes both men and women of complexity and depth, individuals, not clichés. Her writing is excellent and does not have the sloppiness of many prolific authors. Her descriptions of the erotic relationship between Asa and Eva are explicit but never tacky.
I highly recommend this audio book.

Slow Burn Plain Jane Maiden Lane

First of all, I LOVE a slow burn. I love how they make you wonder “how the heck is this possibly going to work out?” I love that the author has to work doubletime to convince you that these two are in love at the end. And man does this book deliver!
We open with Eve bursting in to Asa’s apartments while he is in bed with an opera singer. Asa is super unimpressed with Eve, insulting her looks, her nose, etc etc ... like he’s really kinda mean! To top it off he can’t stop staring at his opera singer’s breasts during the encounter! So you’re like “F this! How the heck are they going to be madly in love in just over 10 hours???” There are so many times when I’m like “mmmm no can’t happen.” So Asa shortly there after is dumped by the opera singer for greener (read richer) pastures and Asa is bitter about it because it has happened before (ok HUGE plot hole here, did I miss it or did we ever get his backstory about this supposed heartbreaker?). However Asa’s past heartbreak is quickly overshadowed by his commitment and obsession with his pleasure gardens which he has been trying to rebuild since a recent devastating fire (discussed more in depth in a prior book but not sure which). Eve is in charge of his money to do so.
Eve is unimpressed with Asa.
More importantly though, she has a very real fear of men and violence.
Asa is ALL man with a tendency towards violence.
So suddenly Asa is over his former opera singer lover and starts running after Eve ostensibly because she is the key to the purse strings or whatever. And she knows it.
And in spite of all of these things! All of them! They start to know each other. They start to SEE each other and delve into the other’s vulnerabilities, failures, regrets, all so slowly you forget what’s happening. They start to love those little things about each other until at the very end you want to kick Asa because you KNOW that the pleasure gardens are no longer his only love. Something (someone) has surpassed that. So Asa’s realization and proposal at the end may have seemed abrupt but by that point in the book, it was really a foregone conclusion. I also loved how Eve stuck to her guns and didn’t change her mind about leaving... not until Asa chose her fully!
Speaking of which, Eve’s healing from the very traumatic events of her childhood felt so real and were very well handled. The way Asa approached sex with her even before knowing her full story was incredibly insightful, appropriate (if that’s the word), and almost out of character which maybe made it all the more meaningful. I hurt for Eve and it made her triumph so much more sweet.
There were some scenes that set up the next novel, but unlike previous books, I didn’t think that it took us out of Eve and Asa’s story but rather was very seamlessly woven in.
Ashford McNab just keeps getting better every book with distinct voices for every character. She has a soothing Kira Knightly esque voice but also does action and passion very well - I could listen all day!
Trigger warning: there is reference to sexual assault on children and the assault that Eve experiences is fairly graphic.

Class Difference Romance with Suspense

Eve has a lot of trauma and cannot be touched by men, and she is terrified by dogs. Asa owns the pleasure garden that had been burnt down, and Eve is taking care of her brother’s investments and money while he is away. Asa is put off by Eve’s prim and properness and Eve is put off by Asa’s manners. As they get to know each other, their opinions slowly change and develop into a gorgeous romance. They are from a different class, but it ultimately doesn’t matter. I enjoy the plot and romance. There are small moments that are beautiful, and the overall suspense plot was interesting enough to keep me invested. 4.5 stars ⭐️

Almost perfect.

Where does Sweetest Scoundrel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks in the top 5.

What other book might you compare Sweetest Scoundrel to and why?

I read about 50 romances a year of all sorts genres and authors, Elizabeth Hoyt has a very distinctive style that shouldn't be compared to the rest. The plot and characters are strong, and realistic. She has a way of making the sexual scenes sizzle. Even though often quite explicit, they don't come across as lewd, prolonged, or gratuitously added.

What about Ashford McNab’s performance did you like?

The diversity and range of this narrator is amazing. I think she captured the essence of each character flawlessly.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did. It is freezing here so no point in going anywhere I didn't have to. I started it late afternoon, paused it only to put a simple dinner on the table and then curled up and finished it in the wee hours of the morning.

Any additional comments?

I rarely give a book a 5 star. I'm sure it wasn't perfect, but I couldn't come up with anything I'd change. I loved her approach to Eve, the heroine being a very psychologically and emotionally damaged women being haunted by her past. In spite of his gruffness, Asa, the hero, is very patient and loving as he helps her heal, while she helps him work through his own demons. The passionate scenes are sizzling, but not what you''d expect.

Wonderful!!

I’ve read the whole maiden lane series in print but wanted to try listening. I’m so glad I did. It made me love this book so much more. I didn’t believe that was possible because it’s my favorite of the series and I already loved it. Now I want to go back and listen to all of the series 😊

Great Maiden Lane Installment

I don't read these in order so the characters are always mixed up and I recall one from a previous, or later coming, story, but it works out. They all, including this one, work well as a standalone. Though, it is always fun to read a series in order. I 99% of the time get books on 2/1 sales or when they are on some other sale which is why I get them out of order.

The intimacy was unique in that there was a lot of 'non sex' sex. Like, watching and touching etc. Definitely don't read if you're not a fan of intimacy in a story.

The story was unique, as are all ML stories, and the characters were well developed. Secondary characters were fabulous and I even felt connection with some of them.

Ashford McNab has a unique sound, and it's one that took me a bit to get used to. But, now I related her voice to ML and wouldn't want any other.

I got this on sale for $6 and feel it was well worth it.

Sweet Hotness

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I enjoy this series so much that I would absolutely recommend Sweetest Scoundrel as well as the entire Maiden Lane Series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Asa the hero, of course! Lots of charisma, his rough around the edges manners were very appealing. A very sexy guy.

Which character – as performed by Ashford McNab – was your favorite?

Don't have any one is particular. She reads this series so very well. Pulls off the steamy scenes with a hint that Ashford enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed listening!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scenes where Asa introduces Miss Dinwoodie to what sex can be. Very earthy and realistic. Like author Grace Burrowes, Elizabeth Hoyt approaches the virile hero using self gratification to relieve his sexual tension. The authors who write as though their randy heroes just suffer through until they get to seduction is unreal. One gets a very strong sense of time and place in this book.

Any additional comments?

My favourite author and favourite series. Elizabeth makes all her heroes and heroines attractive, flawed and completely lovable. An awesome and winning combination.