The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
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Book Reviews of The Leopard Prince
Book Review: so glad that the hero is an alpha, the very best kind
Summary: 5 Stars
I was reluctant to read THE LEOPARD PRINCE. I tend to avoid romance novels about poor and low-ranked heroes who fall in love with wealthy and aristocratic heroines. I like my men alpha, and it's hard for a man to be alpha when the woman he loves has all the advantages. Even worse, I thought, when the hero is actually in the heroine's employ.
Luckily, THE RAVEN PRINCE gave me some faith in Elizabeth Hoyt and I'm grateful because THE LEOPARD PRINCE is a wonderful book and its hero, Harry Pye, is delicious. He is absolutely an alpha male, and it takes a whole lot of inner alpha to close the gap that separates a talented land steward from his aristocratic employer.
I was reminded more than once while reading of Lady Chatterley's Lover - Harry Pye's father was a gamekeeper, after all, and Harry's pure, unvarnished masculinity is what makes him so desirable to Georgina Maitland (George). He's manly in the best of ways - disciplined, intelligent, earthy and resolute. He's the kind of man who you'd say is like a rock - he is a hard man, but also reliable.
If Harry is masculinity personified, George is femininity personified. That's why they're such a perfect match. She's soft but not weak, warm but not cloying, charming and good at putting others at ease. She's incredibly likable, and I rooted for her from the start.
Once George decides to support Harry against nearly the entire local populace and believe that he is not responsible for a recent spate of sheep-poisonings, it's them against the world. Harry knows the region and it's people, while George is a city girl, and that gives him a measure of authority as they work together to find out who's really behind the killings.
There are many barriers to a love match between George and Harry, and it's incredibly moving to see them tumble one by one as the two grow closer. It's a very sweet and heartwrenching romance, but meanwhile their physical relationship is raw and so sizzling hot that sparks practically fly off the page. It's this combination of tenderness and violence that Hoyt seems to excel at, and I enjoyed seeing it here in THE LEOPARD PRINCE.
Book Review: S'Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
I think Ms. Holt proved she is not a one hit wonder with her second book, The Leopard Prince. She wrote another exciting and thoughtful historical romance, it kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.
Once again Ms. Holt created characters that aren't exactly the norm for historical fiction. They aren't perfect Barbie and Ken type characters; they are flawed but extremely likeable and relatable. The heroine in this story, Lady Georgina Maitland (George), is a single woman and a major land owner. An aunt left her a considerable fortune and a lot of land. George isn't gorgeous, but she's pretty, it's her personality that makes her beautiful. She's a little unconventional, very personable, loving and caring. She has hired a land steward to run her estates, Harry Pye. He's a good looking man with stunning green eyes. He tries to remain professional and standoffish, but is caught trying not to smile and showing his amusement more often than not. Harry has had some trouble in his past and soon George's choice of land steward is challenged by the neighboring land owner, someone is poisoning sheep and all signs point to Harry.
From the start George doesn't believe that Harry is guilty of these crimes, she surprises Harry with her loyalty, and in turn he starts to see her as more than his boss. Harry and Georgina have an attraction for each other that they are both trying to ignore, because of their social positions. Their relationship builds naturally and feels completely genuine. It is easy to fall for both of these characters as she has made them very human and real. Together they burn up the pages with some very hot, extremely sensual and erotic love scenes.
While I believe this is being billed as a series, I think this book is more of a stand alone. You only briefly encounter De Raaf from The Raven Prince, and its way at the end of the book. For me, it would have been impossible for Ms. Hoyt to top the first book, The Raven Prince. This one definitely doesn't top it, but comes very close to matching it in its splendor. I am not in the least disappointed and eagerly await the next book, The Serpent Prince.
Book Review: The Worse thing a lady Could do is ...
Summary: 5 Stars
... fall in Love with her servant. Well, maybe not in our time but it certainly was in 1760 England. Members of aristocracy ONLY mingled with aristocracy, common people only hang out with common people. Think of it like segregation. So pretty much any affair between an aristocratic and a commoner outside business was forbidden.
That's why it bothered and irritated her family greatly when Lady Georgina ( an independent and rich noblewoman ) choose NOT the newly titled Duke, or the Rich Earl's son who is the catch of the season not even a successful business man who came from a humble background but Her Own self employed Servant as her lover. Harry Pye never understood the aristocracy and in a matter of fact he never cared to, it's only enough that they ruined his life as a boy but he applied for a job as a land steward anyway a man must always take the opportunity and Harry needed food and money. However to his shock his Employer wasn't an Old Lord but a Lady and ( a pretty Lady ) so it felt only too natural that he as man will feel attracted to her, but can it survive ? Their affair ?
This has been my first Elizabeth Hoyt book and I LOVED it ! The characters are likable, kinda strange for 1760 though I thought they fitted better in the Regency period or perhaps Victorian but I can see where the author was pointing out in this one, in The Regency period taking a lover even if he was a low born was mostly common and although it might have caused a scandal it wasn't something too out of the ordinary and in the Victorian area people often started rebelling against their society's rules and regulations and they married for love, so an affair between a servant and his lady wouldn't have been too uncommon either but in 1760 well that's almost unheard of. So I get the point on the time. Either way, good book ! Really enjoyed it. The love scenes are steamy and this book has about everything suspense, mystery, drama, humor and the secondary characters were likable too except for the villains of course.
I'm looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the prince series by the same author.
Book Review: Different and delightful...a real treat!
Summary: 5 Stars
Lady Georgina ("George") Maitland travels alone in her coach with her new land steward, Harry Pye, from London to her country estate. A severe rainstorm disables their coach and, when the driver goes for help, George and Harry take shelter in a deserted cottage where they spend the night. Nothing improper occurs, but the intimate accommodations and oddly charming banter make them most aware of each other as male and female. And they like what they see. But Harry is far below George in social rank, so nothing serious and lasting - or even frivolous and temporary - can ever come of their acquaintance. This is fine with Harry, who wants no part of any aristocratic virgin. He wants (or so he thinks) a strictly employer-employee relationship. George is not so sure. She truly does not know WHAT she wants from Harry, but she knows it's more than crop advice. And in her own unique and endearingly funny way, she is determined to find out.
What a fantastic read! George and Harry are wonderful romantic leads and PERFECT foils for one another. Harry has been solemn for far too long, and George's charming effervescence simply bowls him over. Their conversations and intimacies are a joy to read. The humor is wonderful and is nicely balanced with some mystery, some suspense, and some rather dark moments. There are so many little things to like in this story, particularly the many contradictions lurking beneath the surface. Such as clever George clueless about her own feelings; her tender nature hidden beneath an out-spoken veneer. And Harry's deadpan façade masking his warmth and inner mischief. There may be readers who find some terminology a bit raunchy, but I'm well past that...and it totally fits with the story and style of writing. Ms. Hoyt has expertly combined humor and passion to create a most compelling read, and better than the first (The Raven Prince). Very well done.
Book Review: Unique Characters, Humor and Passion
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the story of Georgina (called George) and Harry, George's steward. An unlikely attraction springs up between them just as it becomes clear that someone in the village is out to frame Harry for the poisoning of several sheep. George, a thoroughly modern heroine who is both intelligent and emotionally vulnerable in a believable way, believes in Harry's innocence and seeks to help him get to the bottom of the mystery. Although their class status makes Harry resistant to romance with George, he's very attracted to her and their love affair unfolds very naturally and leads to a) some hot scenes and then b) some Big Misunderstandings and then c) a very satisfying ending.
I agree with other reviewers who said the plot is dark, and I do think those who don't care for suspense with their romance might be put off a bit. But I also think the suspense storyline was well done, and helped develop some great secondary, non-romantic connections between supporting characters.
As with The Raven Prince, there's a lot of wit and humor in this book and the sex scenes, although perhaps not quite as vivid as those in Hoyt's first book, are still hot and more explicit than those in your average historical.
What I think is very commendable about this novel is that it's very different from Hoyt's first book, but still well done and original. The lead characters are extremely likeable and well drawn; Hoyt really excels at creating unique heros and heroines.
I also think those who liked Hoyt's book are likely to enjoy this one as well, even if it's different in tone. It's definitely one of the best historical romances I read this year.