VOICES OF THE NIGHT

Author: Lydia Joyce ISBN: 0451220773 3/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Eclipse
Time Period: Victorian England 1864

Desperate to escape the underworld's treacherous grasp, Maggie of King Street finds a patron in Charles Crossham, Lord Edgington, who must transform a street girl into a lady to win a high-stakes wager. Charles has never met anyone like the fierce and ardent Maggie, and Maggie's defenses are useless against the seduction of the jaded baron. Their association quickly ignites into a consuming obsession. But both passion and the bet are threatened by a ruthless villain from Maggie's dark past who has plans for her that imperil everything she's ever cared for—and her very life. Charles is her only chance. Together they can defeat the most cunning criminal London has ever known, but only if Maggie's new love can forgive her old sins....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Wow! I read Lydia Joyce for the first time last year, and I knew she had to go on my must read author list! With VOICES OF THE NIGHT she definitely does not disappoint! Far, far from it, in fact. This story has so much depth of character and storyline, it could thrive on its own outside the romance genre. At first glance it may resemble many other stories of the poor girl rescued by the rich lord. But this is no fairy tale, and within its pages there is so much more.

Maggie of King Street has lived on the streets of London since birth. She has survived through the most horrendous of circumstances—survived by her wits, her cunning, and by sheer will. She makes a dangerous choice one night on the streets, and that choice will come back to haunt her.

Charles Crossham, Lord Edgington, is a baron through and through. His presence is strong and commanding, but if one could look closely enough, they would see a very weary soul. When he tries to right a past wrong, his self indulgent sister ruins his chance at success in a single night. He must convince his sister to fix the mess she started, and the only way he can do that is if he can take a girl from the street and fool everyone into believing she is something else entirely.

Maggie has been trying to keep her family alive and doing so while staying on the right side of the law. When she loses her job at the dance hall, she cannot afford to turn Lord Edgington down, even if she feels she will lose much more in this bargain than six weeks of her life.

The intense images of London street life in the 1860's conjured by Ms. Joyce are powerful and consuming. The reader can almost hear the noises, smell the smells. It leaves you raw with emotion. The transformation, or lack of, of Maggie, seems more truthful than any other I have read. As I said, Cinderella this is not. Nor should it be. To see Charles attracted to Maggie for what she is, rather than what he would make her into, is beautiful. To see Maggie fiercely fight for her family and those she loves will put a lump in your throat. This story is compelling, intense, and the saying "What matters most is the inside of a person," couldn't be more apt.

Within the pages of VOICES OF THE NIGHT you will find suspense, intrigue, love, and sensual scenes, but most of all, EMOTION! Once you open this book you will not be able to put it down, and it will still be with you long after you finish.

Deana Monteleone