The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
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Book Reviews of The Leopard Prince
Book Review: Almost a 4 star, not in love with the last part of the novel
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a very enjoyable read. I instantly liked the characters even if the heroine was a bit of a modern thinker for her time. Lady Georgina owns her own lands and has her own mind. She is attracted to her land steward Mr. Harry Pye. He is a self made man with a compassionate heart. The sparks are there right from the beginning of the story.
Harry is being framed for sheep killings in the area and for a related murder. There are lots of skeletons in his closet. The locals are convinced he is guilty of the crimes in the area because of his past difficulties with one of the weatlhy land owners. There is an obvious villian and the mystery was easy to solve but it is very secondary to the love story.
Lady George is falling fast for Mr. Pye. He is reluctant to engage in an affair as he recognizes their station differences and believes they will have no future. Lady George, however, is living for the moment.
So with all of these wonderful characters, why does this book not get 5 stars? Well, the ending has the book dropping to just 3 1/2 stars. Georgina acts totally out of character in the last third of the book. For a woman with her own mind, she allows her brothers to make all the important decisions in her life. I had a hard time believing this was the same Lady George who fell in love with her land steward. She is so under her brother's control that she gives over her future to their most incapable hands. Really, where is the Lady George who defies convention? Somewhere along the way she became the kind of heroine I really do not like, the simpering can't make up my mind, do what the strongest male in my family wants aristocrat. This would be an understandable ploy if we were not introduced to a spunky, carefree, unconventional heroine throughout most of the novel. Despite the ending, I still recommend this novel. The idea is fresh and Mr. Pye is quite the hero.
Book Review: Harry and His Lady do shine, but plot a little tepid (B Grade)
Summary: 3 Stars
This second release by Hoyt is not as well written as her first,(mainly the plot drags) but her two main characters are very original and the author may have gotten the idea for the story by reading DH Lawrence's "Lady Chatterly's Lover"
Georgina or "My Lady" as Harry Pye her land stewart calls her is a very assured, rich spinster of the mid 18th century. One day she realizes Harry is so much more than one of her servants. They begin a passionate love affair as someone is killing sheep (insert laugh) and murdering women all over the countryside... and Harry is the one being accused.
Harry has alot of baggage from a mother who cheated on her father with a rich landowner(who is much like the sterotypical uber villian you find in historical romances) and what his true place is in life. Butone positive thing is Harry is not all that brooding and angsty. His love her his lady is sweet and a little heartbreaking because he is just a simple man and Georgina is rich and an aristocrat.
Other than the whole murder mystery plot, this story is really about Harry and George and how can they overcome their positions in life in order to be together.
The love scenes do sizzle and Harry is the type you would want to cuddle up to, much like Georgina does.
An okay sophomore effort!
Katiebabs
The Raven Prince
The Serpent Prince
Book Review: Disappointing follow up
Summary: 3 Stars
I was SOOO looking forward to this one after The Raven Prince, which in my mind was just about perfect. While I liked both the characters, the chemistry just wasn't as believable to me this time around or as subtly expressed. There is a very good villain, however his demise is contrived to occur at the most opportune time for the story, and there are oh-so-convenient misunderstandings between the two lovers designed to delay gratification and make the book longer. Another complaint of mine is that there is no resolution of of the primary barrier in their relationship (class differences) at the end - simply their stated commitment that they would find a way and live "happily ever after." I would have liked the author to have presented an actual solution to the problem that Harry and Georgina spent so much time fighting with, and therefore I spent a fair amount of time reading about. What common ground did they find? How did they find a way to live that they could both accept? I was glad to see Edward de Raaf and Iddesleigh make brief apearances in this volume, and will look forward to The Serpent Prince, but not too much.
Book Review: 3 stars is generous.....
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved The Raven Prince. It was so sexy and unique that I immediately couldn't wait to read the next book in the series The Leopard Prince. I should've waited and perhaps not even bothered.
The Leopard Prince starts out wonderful...the first couple of chapters are so witty and sweet that I was devouring every page...and then something happenend.
A ridiculous plot (sheep killing), a contrived villain, an unlikely couple with no resolution to their class difference, and this is only the beginning. I will say this...the love scenes are as scorching as they were in The Raven Prince, but this just doesn't matter if you don't like the plot and people in the book...which I didn't.
I recommend The Raven Prince highly, but this one is mediocre at best.
Book Review: Three Stars
Summary: 3 Stars
Elizabeth Hoyt is one of the best new authors out there. Her writing is fresh and witty and The Raven Prince is one of my "keepers". However, "The Leopard Prince" fell short of the mark.
The plot was a bit too ominous; the atmosphere held a dark pall over it. I felt the romance took a back seat to the mystery and intrigue.
When Harry and George did come together I never felt the connection or chemistry. The sensual tension was minimal and the love scenes were warm rather than hot.
The author employed the "big misunderstanding" plot device which is not a favorite of mine.
If you are trying Elizabeth Hoyt for the first time and did not enjoy this book, please read "The Raven Prince".