DUKE OF PLEASURE is book 11 in Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series. I can't believe we are already at at book 11! The overarching thread in the books is about varying individuals who take turns dressing up as a masked vigilante, the Ghost of St. Giles, to protect the vulnerable poor who are living in the slums of St. Giles in London. While it's usually a man who acts at the Ghost, Hoyt does now tip her hat to feminism and has a female Ghost. I do admit it's difficult to take this seriously when the Ghost has to fight sword fights with multiple male opponents at once. Simple physics appear to be ignored here. But if the author can ignore it, so can the reader, I suppose. Just let it go, and move smartly on through this fun romp of a book.

Alf is a woman who masquerades as a boy during the day. Alf trades in secrets to keep himself/herself fed (although that sounds like a dangerous way for anyone to make a living in the slums, let alone a woman, if you ask me!). Alf showed up in the last book, and now bursts on to take center stage in DUKE OF PLEASURE. At night, as if running around with criminals during the day isn't enough, Alf acts the part of the notorious Ghost of St Giles, flitting around the slums and protecting defenseless women and children. Oh, and also protecting Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, who happens to be in St. Giles in his role as a spy. Hugh has been asked by the king of England to unmask and defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos. Hugh was jumped in a back alley while pursuing a lead, and Alf comes to his rescue. Keen-eyed Hugh spots at once something that no one else has- that the Ghost is really a woman.

Eventually Hugh finds out that Alf and the Ghost are the same individual. Hugh ends up hiring Alf to help him uncover the evil-doer Lords, and Hugh and Alf's forced propinquity leads to some sexytimes and eventually to true love. This is typical crazy-sauce Hoyt writing. Alf, despite growing up in the slums as a boy, manages to carry off being a lady at a grand ball and fools everyone around her, sneaking into the host's study to look for clues. Despite always seeming implausible to me, the story pulls me along it its wake, and I find myself surrendering happily to the craziness.

If over-the-top plots with lots of moving parts appeals to you, this book will be totally up your alley. It's a great, smooth read, with a lot of fun action happening right and left, and a huge helping of romance too. Hoyt delivers another round of delightful Georgian froth in DUKE OF PLEASURE.