Showing posts with label Elizabeth Hoyt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Hoyt. Show all posts
June 4, 2009
10:14 PM |
Edit Post
Edit Post
Jacket Copy: CAN A WOUNDED BEAST . . .
Reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies, scarred inside and out. But when a mysterious beauty arrives at his door, the passions he's kept suppressed for years begin to awaken.
TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST . . .
Running from past mistakes has taken legendary beauty Helen Fitzwilliam from the luxury of the ton to a crumbling Scottish castle . . . and a job as a housekeeper. Yet Helen is determined to start a new life and she won't let dust-or a beast of a man-scare her away.
TO TAME HIS MOST SECRET DESIRES?
Beneath Helen's beautiful façade, Alistair finds a courageous and sensual woman. A woman who doesn't back away from his surliness-or his scars. But just as he begins to believe in true love, Helen's secret past threatens to tear them apart. Now both Beast and Beauty must fight for the one thing neither believed they could ever find--a happy ever after.
On the run from her former protector and the father of her illegitimate children, Abigail and Jami, Helen Fitzwilliam (born Carter) changes her name to Halifax and takes on a housekeeper's job on a remote Scottish castle, owned by Alistair Munroe, who was involved in the battle of Spinner's Falls as a civilian, a scholar accompanying the regiment n order to study flora and fauna. He was captured, tortured and maimed and has been living as a recluse in his castle, writing his books and minding his own business.
Then a beautiful woman appears on his doorstep with two children, claiming she is his new housekeeper. Unable to turn her away during a rainstorm he decides to let them stay the night, but one night becomes more and before he knows it, he truly has a housekeeper, one who penetrates his dark and desolate castle and life and whom he finds hard to resist. But danger is in her and her children's wake...
Helen is the former mistress of the Duke of Lister, a powerful and rich man who lured her in his clutches when she was just a young girl and now refuses to let her and her children go, even though he has discarded her and has taken on a new mistress. But he is the kind of cruel man who goes by the rule: If he can't have her, no one can and he'll even use his own children to get what he wants. Helen is determined, tenacious and impulsive. She is also caring and compassionate. She tries to carry her roles as mistress, mother, housekeeper and lover as best she can and her children's needs and safety always come first.
Alistair is a true scholar/scientist. A scholar who can, stereotypically, totally lose himself in his work. He is rude, stubborn, sarcastic and surly. He is as dark, cold and desolate as his castle is, but beneath his self-imposed detachment there' s a lonely, appreciative and sensitive man. The incident at Spinner's Falls left him scarred, both mentally and physically. Still somewhere deep down there's a man with a wicked sense of humor, which was nicely displayed in the sibling bickering between him and his sister Sophie.
Another character worth mentioning is Abigail, Helen's nine year-old daughter. She has a few own POVs in the book, which I found a joy to read, but at the same time they were heartbreaking. Abigail is a girl who is different than other girls of her age. She isn't playful or bubbly. She is too serious and troubled when she should be a carefree child with no troubles on her mind. She is an adorable child who is wise beyond her years and the scenes where the focus was on her were surprising, refreshing and utterly endearing. They gave the book something unique.
Elizabeth Hoyt never fails to please me with her books. TO BEGUILE A BEAST is yet another one that was bang on target. The "beauty and the beast" theme is used in a charming and original way and involving children and their well-being was a stroke of genius that really hit the mark with me. The direct and honest writing style, the raw sensuality and the Hoyt-trademark of imperfect and realistic characters are the elements I gladly welcomed once again in this book. I've heard and said before that Hoyt's writing is something you take to immediately or not at all. For me it is full and deep embracement all the way.
For me this book had two distinguishing parts. The first is the part where Helen, Alistair and the children get to know and accept each other with all the problems that go with it. They carefully go about finding their way around each other and explore their different individual blossoming relationships. Then something happens in the plot and the vibe of quiet exploration changes to one with a sense of danger and urgency that is quite intense.
The plot of the Spinner's Falls traitor is pursued the least in this installment compared to the first two books in the series. More information about the traitor is gradually released and I suspect the great revelation will come in the last book: TO DESIRE A DEVIL. These suspicions grew immensely after reading the preview of TO DESIRE A DEVIL and I am really looking forward to the unraveling of the mystery in that final (at least I think it's the final book). I'm sure Elizabeth Hoyt is saving the best for last, lulling us to sleep with this installment, only to blast us with a tremendous grand finale. This book was mainly to tell the story of Alistair and Helen and prepare us for things to come.
When I read Elizabeth Hoyt’s work I am oblivious to the world, enthralling as I find it, I emerge in a world of emotions, sensuality and characters that touch me deeply. And it's never too heavy because there are always sweet, funny moments to lighten up things when they threaten to tip the scale to the dramatic side. The ending of this book really struck a chord with me. All the pieces of the story of Helen, Alistair and the children came together in an emotional and utterly satisfying culmination. Elizabeth Hoyt blindsided me with a wonderful ending that included a most captivating proposal that was absolutely beautiful in its sincerity and simplicity.
Quotes:
"I said if I ever courted you, I'd bring you wildflowers. Well, I'm courting you now, Helen Carter. I'm a scarred and lonely man, and my castle is a mess, but I hope someday that you'll consent to be my wife despite all that, because I love you with all my poor battered heart."
Men talked of an afterlife filled with heavenly bliss, but this was the only bliss he wanted, in this life or the next: to feel Helen's bare skin beneath his own. (...) Oh, God, if ever there was a chance of paradise for him, he'd relinquish it, and gladly, to stay right here in Helen's arms.
Her heart slipped its traces and went racing away, beyond her grasp, beyond her control. Entirely free and racing towards this complex, vexing, and utterly fascinating man.
December 21, 2008
4:44 PM |
Edit Post
Edit Post
Back Cover:
THE ONE THING HE CANNOT REVEAL
For years, Melisande Fleming has loved Lord Vale from afar . . . watching him seduce a succession of lovers, and once, catching a glimpse of heartbreaking depths beneath his roguish veneer. When he’s jilted on his wedding day, she boldly offers to be his.
TO THE ONE WOMAN HE MOST DESIRES
Vale gladly weds Melisande, if only to produce an heir. But he’s pleasantly surprised: A shy and proper Lady by day, she’s a wanton at night, giving him her body—though not her heart.
IS HIS DEEPEST NEED . . .
Determined to learn her secrets, this sinner starts to woo his seductive new wife—while hiding the nightmares from his soldiering days in the Colonies that still haunt him. Yet when a deadly betrayal from the past threatens to tear them apart, Lord Vale must bare his soul to the woman he married...or risk losing her forever.
When his bride-to-be leaves the Viscount Vale --Jasper Renshaw-- at the altar, Melisande Fleming steps in and offers to marry him instead. While Jasper thinks Melisande does this out of desperation of being left on the shelf, Melisande is motivated by a secret love she's felt for Jasper for many years and she decides to seize her chance. While in the background the search for the traitor of Spinner's Falls continues and Jasper has to deal with the trauma after the massacre in the Colonies, Melisande fights to never let Jasper know how much she loves him. Her attempt to keep her feelings hidden from Jasper fails and Jasper soon discovers how much more there is to Melisande, than just her accommodating nature. In the course of their marriage Jasper's feelings for Melisande grow too, resulting a strong and happy marriage that conquers all their secrets and troubles.
Jasper is a realist with a quirky sense of humor, he's a foot-in-mouth kind of man, saying exactly what he wants when he wants, even if it sometimes gets him into trouble.
Melisande is a loyal, plain and intelligent woman who doesn't hesitate to do what she needs to get what she wants when she sets her mind to it. She is resolute and tenacious. She is not without a past and secrets of her own, that I knew from the beginning of the story but the revelation of her secrets still took me a bit by surprise.
Melisande and Jasper are total opposites, as Hoyt likes to write her main characters. While Melisande unnoticeably blends into the crowd never the center of attention, Jasper is flamboyant, lively, ever-present and noticed by everyone. Wherever he goes or is he's the center of attention. These differences are displayed in both their appearances and their personalities.
Jasper and Melisande's romance is an unconventional one. Their initial marriage of convenience gradually grows into a heart-felt and loving relationship with mutual admiration and respect where both of them give and receive equally.
Melisande may seem timid and colorless but underneath the plain exterior is a vibrant, bold and sensual woman and when that woman comes out Jasper is unable to resist her. Just as Melisande, Jasper is a multi-layered character. Outwardly and initially he is flamboyant, assertive and cheerful but deep down there's a trauma that influences his emotional state which he has to deal with. Deep down he has to face feelings of guilt and inadequacy over what happened to his regiment after they were betrayed in the War. This makes him rude and unsubtle sometimes, especially during his wedding night. I thought Samuel (hero of book 1 in this series) was boorish and disgraceful at times but in this particular scene Jasper outdid him. There is an explanation for Jasper's behavior to be found in his post-war trauma, but still it was a scene I really did not like and certainly not what I'm used to by Elizabeth Hoyt. Luckily it was just this small scene that made me frown and I was utterly pleased with the rest of the book.
All the elements I love in Elizabeth Hoyt's writing were present in this second installment of the Legend of the Four Soldiers series. In this book the humor and banter I missed a little in the previous book was back in full force. The dialogues between Melisande and Jasper, but also dialogues between the servants and the hilarious scenes with Melisande's little terrier, Mouse, and Jasper fighting for male dominance all caused lots of smiles on my face and provided me with the necessary lightness as opposed to intensity of the emotions and the seriousness of the plot.
This plot, involving the search for the traitor that sold the regiment out to the French and the Indians in the Colonial War, is continued from the first book. At a certain point I thought the mystery of the traitor had been solved but only a small element of it has been cleared and I'm curious to know more, which no doubt will happen in the next book.
There's also a small side story, a secondary romance, going on between Melisande's lady's maid Sally and Jasper's valet Pynch. It's very subtle, but it's absolutely there and I enjoyed reading it.
I also enjoyed the small fairytale at the beginning of every chapter. By now they are an ever-recurring element in Elizabeth Hoyt's historicals and like all the others, this one, called LAUGHING JACK, also contains parallels with the main story. In fact in this book I got three stories for the price of one, which is never a bad deal.
The love scenes are explicit, unembellished and sensual and, with the exception of the wedding night scene, they were all trademark Elizabeth Hoyt. They blend effortlessly into the time period and the story, fitting the characters, their development and Hoyt's overall writing style that is raw, blunt and outspoken. The imperfection of Elizabeth Hoyt's characters never fails to endear me. They take their flaws and make the best of it. The fact that they are flawed and don't let this frustrate them is something I adore every time I read her books.
Again this was an Elizabeth Hoyt book that entertained me and stirred my emotions. For me it was the perfect fusion of strong characters, a compelling romance and an intriguing plot. I'll be waiting for the next book in this series with bated breath.
Quote:
And at that moment he knew he was lost. Lost and blind and going down for the third time without any hope for salvation and he didn't give a damn. He would give anything to unravel this woman. He wanted to search out her innermost secrets and bare her soul. And when he knew her secrets, knew what she kept hidden away in her heart, he would guard it and her with his life. She was his, to protect and to hold.
May 24, 2008
11:37 PM |
Edit Post
Edit Post
EVEN THE MOST REFINED LADY
Lady Emeline Gordon is the model of sophistication in London’s elite social circles, always fashionable and flawlessly appropriate. As such, she is the perfect chaperone for Rebecca, the young sister of a successful Boston businessman and former Colonial soldier.
CRAVES AN UNTAMED MAN
Samuel Hartley may be wealthy, but his manners are as uncivilized as the American wilderness he was raised in. Who wears moccasins to a grand ball? His arrogant disregard for propriety infuriates Emeline, even as his boldness excites her.
TO RELEASE HER PASSION
… But beneath Samuel’s rakish manner, he is haunted by tragedy. He has come to London to settle a score, not to fall in love. And as desperately as Emeline longs to feel this shameless man’s hands upon her, to taste those same lips he uses to tease her, she must restrain herself. She is not free. But some things are beyond a lady’s control…
Emeline knows all the rules of the English society and she abides by them. But then she meets Samuel, a man unfamiliar with refined manners who does exactly as he pleases. He is a man who is dangerous to her feelings, the feelings she has always kept hidden deep inside and never showed anyone. She is sharp-tongued and quick-minded but hides it behind a façade of being a sweet and respectable widow of the ton. Samuel is the only one who sees through this, he recognizes and accepts her and makes her forget all the rules she has set for herself. He triggers something in her that makes her want to relinquish the control over her emotions to him. She tries to fight it but it's too strong and Samuel is too determined and alluring.
Samuel's feelings have been numbed by a massacre of his regiment in the War. His only goal is to seek out the traitor responsible for the betrayal and the subsequent massacre. When he uses Emeline and her contacts in the ton to find this traitor he discovers she is the only woman who can make him forget his self-doubt and guilt. Her intelligence and fierceness warms his heart and the voyage to England brings him more than just closure to the trauma of the massacre. He finds a real and passionate love in a woman who couldn't be farther from his reach.
It had been a while since I read something by Elizabeth Hoyt (I read THE SERPENT PRINCE, the last book of the PRINCE TRILOGY, in the summer of 2007) and after closing this book I realize how much I missed her wonderful stories and compelling, intricate characters and romances.
She has proved with this book once again for me why she is one of my favorite authors of Regency historicals. She masters the talent to bring a two people together who seemingly have absolutely nothing in common and who are terribly mismatched. This time Emeline and Samuel being on opposite sides of the society's scope. She is a sophisticated and refined lady of the ton. Samuel is an unpolished self-made man of the Colonies.
Like in the PRINCE trilogy every chapter starts with part of a fairytale. This one is called "The Legend of the Four Soldiers" and this book tells the part of "Iron Heart" The fairytale shows parallels with the actual main story. I love this in Elizabeth Hoyt's books.
I love her characters because they are contrary to the stereotype heroes and heroines. They have something special that appeals to me as a reader and her writing style is so refreshingly down-to-earth and pure, raw in comparison with the many sweet and flowery romances in this genre. It's this refreshing and unique writing style that has Elizabeth Hoyt on my auto-buy list. She combines simplicity with emotional depth in her characterization making them uncomplicated yet intriguing at the same time.
The buildup of this particular book was just perfect in my eyes. The story and romance developed slowly and compelling, building up an intense romance, spiked with a mystery plot.
She introduced future main characters in the series without taking away the attention from Emeline and Samuel's story. And the romance and love scenes were amazing. She worked up the developing feelings and sexual tension between Samuel and Emeline to an explosive and very erotic first love scene. I truly didn't mind having to wait for it until well into the second half of the book.
Hoyt found the perfect the pace needed for this story: Not fast-paced but not slow either. The exact blend of plot and romance to keep me enthralled.
All I can say is sit back, relax and indulge in this delightful, passionate story that rises above the genre to offer an emotional read that shines in its intensity and simplicity.
Quotes:
He shoved her bodily against the wall and pinned her there like some unfortunate moth. Then he bent his head and, avoiding her mouth, bit her neck, just under her ear. And her body –her idiot, traitorous body– responded, going all soft and warm.
Samuel: “I was cold without you, Emeline. You're the light that keeps me warm inside. If I left you, I think I'd freeze into a solid block of ice."
September 22, 2007
6:32 PM |
Edit Post
Edit Post
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 |
Edit Post
Edit Post
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 |
Edit Post
Edit Post
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)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Nice to meet you!
- 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.
Fellow Bloggers
-
BLOG HAS MOVED!3 years ago
-
Recent Read3 years ago
Grab My Button!
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
You're from...
The ROOB Posse
