Showing posts with label Prince Trilogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prince Trilogy. Show all posts
September 22, 2007
6:32 PM |
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WHEN THE DEVIL MEETS AN ANGEL
Country bred Lucy Craddock-Hayes is content with her quiet life. Until the day she trips over an unconscious man—a naked unconscious one—and loses her innocence forever.
HE CAN TAKE HER TO HEAVEN
Viscount Simon Iddesleigh was nearly beaten to death by his enemies. Now he’s hell-bent on vengeance. But as Lucy nurses him back to health, her honesty startles his jaded sensibilities—even as it ignites a desire that threatens to consume them both.
OR TO HELL
Charmed by Simon’s sly wit, urbane manners, and even his red-heeled shoes, Lucy falls hard and fast for him. Yet as his honor keeps him from ravishing her, his revenge sends his attackers to her door. As Simon wages war on his foes, Lucy wages her own war for his soul using the only weapon she has—her love…
The Prince Trilogy absolutely stands out in the world of historical romance. With it’s depth, it’s superwitty humour, bordering on sarcasm, it’s superb character building, it’s wicked sensuality and last but not least it’s wonderful lovestory both actual and metaphorical. With the third book in this trilogy, Hoyt has won me over forever! She started taking me in with the first one, lodged the hook deeply with the second one and this third one slowly but surely finished the job. The title as in the other two refers to a fairytale that’s a methaphor for the lovestory between hero and heroin.
Simon is a man of contradictions, wanting to be a good man but at the same time giving in to his dark side and trying to conceal his true feelings and thoughts by being witty. Especially when he feels unworthy of something or in this case someone: Lucy. Lucy is loveliness in it’s purest form. Straightforward, goodhearted, honest and strong. He stirs in her the longing for a life she never knew she craved until he came along. She stirs in him his desperate need for redemption, salvation from the evil, dark man he believes himself to have become. A salvation he also never knew he craved until she comes along. Lucy sees the good in Simon he tries so hard to deny.
The story builts up gradually, cresting ever so slowly to a wonderful climax that left me breathless at the end. It’s both endearing and sensual, both tender and exciting. Reading this books was like peeling an onion, removing layer after layer after layer until at the core you find what it always comes down to: true love survives everything and saves even the most darkened of souls. The difference in status this time was less the focuspoint than in the other two books. But still the difference of their backgrounds, -one rural, the other urban- lingers throughout the book.
The love-scenes were so sensual and erotic they made my skin crawl, in a good way of course! They were so intense, so fitting the story and the characters. And again without being raunchy she describes the act of lovemaking in such a beautiful and classy way without unnecessary embellishments or odd-sounding analogies.
There also must be praise for the secondary characters. They were wonderful, well-written and a true addition to the book. All of them, both good and bad. Without them something most definitely would have been missing. Lucy’s dad, her friend Priscilla and Simon’s niece “Pocket” were secondary characters that really brought something extra to the already exquisite characters of Simon and Lucy.
The only thing that had me in a more of less ambiguous state was the plot. Or rather some of Simon’s actions. At first I had a bit of trouble accepting him proclaiming himself judge, jury and executioner the way he did. Later in the story I totally understood it underlined Simon’s character and motivation. It was his way of punishing himself for things that weren’t his fault but which he had seen as such for a long time. And it was needed so he could recognize Lucy’s love and acceptance as his salvation.
And so the Prince Trilogy ends here and I truly hope Ms Hoyt continues delivering more of these exceptional books that rise above the genre!
To this mistress in writing historical romance I bow in awe and admiration.
Without a doubt her books (will) have a special place on my bookshelf and in my romanceloving heart because it’s the only way to treasure them and give credit where credit is due.
May 20, 2007
4:58 PM |
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THE ONE THING A LADY MUST NEVER DO...
Wealthy Lady Georgina Maitland doesn't want a husband, though she could use a good steward to run her estates. One look at Harry Pye, and Georgina knows she's not just dealing with a servant, but a man.
IS FALL IN LOVE...
Harry has known many aristocrats—including one particular nobleman who is his sworn enemy. But Harry has never met a beautiful lady so independent, uninhibited, and eager to be in his arms.
WITH HER SERVANT.
Still, it's impossible to conduct a discreet liaison when poisoned sheep, murdered villagers, and an enraged magistrate have the county in an uproar. The locals blame Harry for everything. Soon it's all Georgina can do to keep her head above water and Harry's out of the noose...without missing another night of love.
I can’t find anywhere if this trilogy (currently 2 books are released and the 3rd one is coming in September 2007) has a name but I call it The Prince Trilogy.
This is the second book by Elizabeth Hoyt and subsequently the second in the trilogy.
These two first books are another refreshing approach of a commonly known thing: a love-affair between employer and employee.
In the Raven Prince it’s a female employee and a male employer, in The Leopard Prince it’s the other way around.
Lady Georgina Maitland (George) is the daughter of an earl, She is keen and very smart and she has a ready tongue.
Harry Pye is her land steward and on a trip from London to her estate in Yorkshire to investigate who is poisoning her neighbour’s sheep, they have an accident with the carriage. The book starts when they have just ended up in a ditch and they have to seek shelter and for the first time George notices Harry for the attractive man he is and it turns out that Harry isn’t quite immune to George’s charms either.
George is feisty and intelligent, although she tries to hide this by sometimes playing the silly aristocrate. She says what she thinks and feels without thinking of the consequences. She would go through fire and water for the people she loves.
Sometimes rambles a bit. Especially when she’s around Harry en she feels a little uncomfortable, aware of her feelings for him. This annoys Harry in the beginning but the more time they spend together, the more he starts to find it endearing.
Harry is a sincere, honest man who also goes through fire and water for the ones dear to him. Marked by his past and background he’s doesn’t trust aristocracy. He is also quiet and reserved. But there is much more to him than meets the eye.
Behind his seemingly inpenetrable outward appearance he holds for everyone to see, there’s a passionate and sensitive man who’s past made him who he is now.
After The Raven Prince I was really looking forward to this book and Ms Hoyt certainly didn’t dissapoint me. Not at all!
She continued her easy-to-read, fast paced, refreshing writing style and her witty, sometimes borderline sarcastic, sense of humor in this book and topped it of with a delicious plot. I just can’t say anything negative about the secondary characters or the plot of poisoned sheep, murder and Harry being the prime suspect. Nothing predictable about it too...When you think you’ve got it figured out, she gives it a twist and leaves you hanging. Brilliant!
The title this time refers to a fairy tale George tells Harry in parts throughout the book. Of course this fairy tale is a metaphor for the story of George and Harry. Like the book in The Raven Prince was the metaphor for Anna and Edward’s story.
This is also masterfully done by Hoyt. It gives her books deeper layers that turns them into so much more than standard Regency!
And then the erotic scenes in the book. They’re explicit but it didn;t bother me a bit. Hoyt has such a classy writing style that it never gets vulgar. She just describes deliciously how two people develop feelings for each other and how they express these feelings in a physical way.
If you like sensuality, you won’t be dissapointed.
So again Ms Hoyt has delivered a masterpiece that has certainly earned it’s own special place between my other booktreasures!
Quotes:
[…]Put himself inside her and stay there until she told him why she had run away. Until she promised never to do it again
Her mouth was warm and wet and tasted of her morning’s tea. He could spend the rest of his life just tasting her.
April 26, 2007
7:29 PM |
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The first (english) review I wrote:
I read this book in February 2007
THERE COMES A TIME IN A LADY'S LIFE...
Widowed Anna Wren is having a wretched day. After an arrogant male on horseback nearly squashes her, she arrives home to learn that she is in dire financial straits. What is a gently bred lady to do?
WHEN SHE MUST DO THE UNTHINKABLE...
The Earl of Swartingham is in a quandary. Having frightened off two secretaries, Edward de Raaf needs someone who can withstand his bad temper and boorish behavior. Dammit! How hard can it be to find a decent secretary?
AND FIND EMPLOYMENT.
When Anna becomes the earl’s secretary, both their problems are solved. Then she discovers he plans to visit the most notorious brothel in London for his “manly” needs. Well! Anna sees red—and decides to assuage her “womanly” desires . . . with the earl as her unknowing lover.
Elizabeth Hoyt starts her debut in a great way: a near collision that throws Edward from his horse into a pool of mud covering Anna in said mud.The tone is immediately set when Edward bursts into cursing, he’s got sort of a short fuse…but Anna stands her ground and answers him cool and collected.
Circumstances lead to Edward hiring Anna as his secretary and immediately you notice there’s something smoldering between the two of them, and they both have their different reasons for not wanting or daring to do something with it.
Edward is a scarred man, both inside and out, with a terrible temper and little patience. But at the same time he’s endearing in the way he tries to involve Anna in his daily business, so that he can spend lots of time with her.
Anna is a widow, hurt by her deceased husband and therefore she doesn’t trust men. She’s feisty, open-minded and liberated, she knows when to bite back en sometimes just doesn’t care what “people” think or find appropriate.
It’s a Regency, but one with an edge. Certainly not the standard, usual Regency.
The underlying, smoldering attraction is very well written.
The story’s composition is fluent and I couldn’t find anything disturbing in it. Side characters and side stories (of course something has to be solved and in this case Anna is being blackmailed…) are well placed but are never overbearing. You’re never sidetracked from the real story, that of Anna and Edward.
A nice touch is that every chapter starts with a piece of a story: “The Raven Prince”. This is a book that belonged to Edward’s sister, Anna finds it in his library on her first day working for Edward.
The love scenes are beautiful but also pretty explicit, but again they are not disturbing because they are complementary and not the focus of the book.
The romantic relation and feelings are always on the foreground and the love scenes just underline them.
This first historical by Elizabeth Hoyt for me certainly creates high expectations for the next books in this series: The Leopard Prince (april 2007) and The Serpent Prince (september 2007)
THERE COMES A TIME IN A LADY'S LIFE...
Widowed Anna Wren is having a wretched day. After an arrogant male on horseback nearly squashes her, she arrives home to learn that she is in dire financial straits. What is a gently bred lady to do?
WHEN SHE MUST DO THE UNTHINKABLE...
The Earl of Swartingham is in a quandary. Having frightened off two secretaries, Edward de Raaf needs someone who can withstand his bad temper and boorish behavior. Dammit! How hard can it be to find a decent secretary?
AND FIND EMPLOYMENT.
When Anna becomes the earl’s secretary, both their problems are solved. Then she discovers he plans to visit the most notorious brothel in London for his “manly” needs. Well! Anna sees red—and decides to assuage her “womanly” desires . . . with the earl as her unknowing lover.
Elizabeth Hoyt starts her debut in a great way: a near collision that throws Edward from his horse into a pool of mud covering Anna in said mud.The tone is immediately set when Edward bursts into cursing, he’s got sort of a short fuse…but Anna stands her ground and answers him cool and collected.
Circumstances lead to Edward hiring Anna as his secretary and immediately you notice there’s something smoldering between the two of them, and they both have their different reasons for not wanting or daring to do something with it.
Edward is a scarred man, both inside and out, with a terrible temper and little patience. But at the same time he’s endearing in the way he tries to involve Anna in his daily business, so that he can spend lots of time with her.
Anna is a widow, hurt by her deceased husband and therefore she doesn’t trust men. She’s feisty, open-minded and liberated, she knows when to bite back en sometimes just doesn’t care what “people” think or find appropriate.
It’s a Regency, but one with an edge. Certainly not the standard, usual Regency.
The underlying, smoldering attraction is very well written.
The story’s composition is fluent and I couldn’t find anything disturbing in it. Side characters and side stories (of course something has to be solved and in this case Anna is being blackmailed…) are well placed but are never overbearing. You’re never sidetracked from the real story, that of Anna and Edward.
A nice touch is that every chapter starts with a piece of a story: “The Raven Prince”. This is a book that belonged to Edward’s sister, Anna finds it in his library on her first day working for Edward.
The love scenes are beautiful but also pretty explicit, but again they are not disturbing because they are complementary and not the focus of the book.
The romantic relation and feelings are always on the foreground and the love scenes just underline them.
This first historical by Elizabeth Hoyt for me certainly creates high expectations for the next books in this series: The Leopard Prince (april 2007) and The Serpent Prince (september 2007)
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- Pearl
- Netherlands
- 39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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