The enigmatic Duke of Montgomery, Valentine Napier, has teased us with his presence in several of the most recent Maiden Lane Series books. His actions alternated between heroic (saving Asa's theatre) to diabolical (kidnapping Phoebe, Duke of Wakefield's sister) depending, seemingly, on his mood at the time. As DUKE OF SIN opens, Val has been exiled, yet has been hiding out in the secret passageways of his own home. He comes out of hiding when he observes his new housekeeper, Bridget Crumb, snooping in his bedroom.

Bridget is actually the illegitimate daughter of a noblewoman, and has managed to obtain employment in Val's household with an ulterior motive. She wants to retrieve evidence that Val is using to blackmail her birth mother. Val, it seems, has a penchant for blackmail. He absorbs gossip and knowledge about people, feeling that this gives him power, which to Val, is everything. No one is safe from his blackmail, not even the king. Bridget, aware of Val's reputation, still stands up to him, and he finds this amusing, and decides to keep her in his household and watch her.

As can be expected, Val has many enemies. When an attempt is made on his life, and almost succeeds, he trusts Bridget to nurse him back to health. Soon, Val begins to desire Bridget, though he has plans to marry a wealthy heiress. In Val's mind, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to have an affair with Bridget. This man truly has no moral compass, or concept of love. Obviously, he was set on this path as a young child, with some harsh lessons learned from his depraved father. When Bridget tries to talk to him about right and wrong, he defies the laws of God and man. Yet, Val begins to feel a certain fondness for Bridget, and surprisingly, listens when she attempts to guide him in a different direction.

I found DUKE OF SIN so compelling, that I ended up not leaving my chair until I finished reading it in the wee hours. Bridget is the perfect match for Val, guiding him without chiding him. She's a strong woman in her own right, and she knows she's fallen in love with a twisted and complicated man. I do believe that Val feels love for Bridget, but I wonder things like whether that love will keep him faithful when he sees someone new he desires. I wonder if Bridget's influence will still carry any weight with Val when she is not there and he's faced with a decision to make. A couple of Val's actions near the end of the book indicate that he may be on the right path, yet I still feel that niggling doubt. I hope that Elizabeth Hoyt gives us a glimpse of Val and Bridget in future novels, showing him truly redeemed by love. DUKE OF SIN is a real page turner with a truly villainous hero and is definitely not your typical historical romance. I highly recommend this latest addition to the Maiden Lane series, and applaud Elizabeth Hoyt for the exciting and unique storyline.