Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane, #3) - Elizabeth Hoyt ***spoilers if you haven't read book two in the series***Big five stars! I made a new 'favorite hero shelf' just for Charming Mickey. This series just gets better and better. I just knew that I'd love Mickey and Silence's story, and I was right. I highly recommend reading the first two in the series before this one. I think they are essential to really understand the background between these two people. Silence and Charming Mickey, the pirate king of St. Giles, have a history. He was the cause of her devastation and humiliation nearly a year ago. During the last book, we come to find out that the child left on her doorstep is actually his daughter. Aside from the fact that Silence helps to run her family's orphan house, she has become particularly attached to her. And now, Mickey's enemies are coming after him, and his ghosts are coming out to haunt him. One of those ghosts is none other than Silence herself. To keep his daughter safe, he needs her with him, but Silence won't leave her side. What to do, Mickey, what to do? Of course, the ruthless Mickey does what he wants no matter what. Mickey is a ruthless man. He's killed and tortured, stolen and lied. He can't understand what it is about the virtuous Silence that draws him. And he doesn't want the attraction. I wondered at the end of book two how he could possibly redeem himself. And it wasn't until nearly the end of this book that I realized that I had forgiven him. He slowly becomes more person than monster. And all the while, he's such a sexy beast! Nearly every scene for quite some time, he's dressed in his tight black breeches and unbuttoned open-necked shirt, sprawled in his chair, surrounded by gold and jewels. He's the very picture of decadence, and Silence is anything but. She is a gently soul, thrown into an impossible situation. And I loved her! They really end up being the perfect couple. While it does take a bit, when their passion for each other finally takes off, its ridiculously hot. There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, but not one of those 'throw the book across the room' cliffhangers. You kind of see it coming. But it still leaves me wishing the next book was right in front of me. This one is going on my love love love shelf.