What do you get when you combine a masked avenger, an aristocratic widow, a schoolmaster, and a home for orphans? Another darn fine read from Elizabeth Hoyt. Thief of Shadows is a very light read, although it did manage to create the odd teary moment in this reader, and is a book that can happily be devoured in a sitting.

Lady Isabel Beckinhall, widow, is given the job to tutor Winter Makepeace, manager of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. If she fails, he loses the position, and the home loses much more than just a manager.

One thing that really endears Historical Romance to me is that it rarely matters if you read a series out of order, it may help if you have meet secondary characters and know their back-story, but rarely is it essential as it usually is in Fantasy or even Paranormal Romance, the fourth in Elizabeth Hoyt’s “Maiden Lane” series, continues this wonderful trend.

In Thief of Shadows the story is focused on the witty and clever Lady Beckinhall and the dashing rogue Winter Makepeace, with their banter, their budding friendship, their developing romance, and all the adventures the two of them can get into. But as the story progresses we get (re)introduced to his family, her friends, their associates, all of which have their own back-stories which are alluded to, and are certainly intriguing, but aren’t required reading for the total enjoyment of the current story.

The story itself is well paced, with wonderfully fast paced adventure balanced with tender romance, quirky dialogue and steamy passion. It’s a wonderful example of the writing mantra “show don’t tell”, as we slowly watch the couple fall together, and the attempts to tear them apart.

Add in the excitement around Makepeaces’ alter-ego as The Ghost of St-Giles, with dodging the law, evading society, and trying to stay alive while the criminal underclass Makepeace is trying to defeat seeks to murder him...it all adds another layer to the plot, just in case you think you might get bored with everyday intrigue and drama.

The Thief of Shadows is a nice light read, one that is well written with interesting characters, potentially even re-read material when you’re in need of a pick-me-up, but certainly another very enjoyable novel from Elizabeth Hoyt.