SIGH... This was an extremely enjoyable story, with a great mystery. The answer to the mystery was one that came out of nowhere, I love those! This is my third Elizabeth Hoyt book and I am still loving her writing. She is definitely and auto-buy and I wish she had more books out. I know that when I read a book by Elizabeth Hoyt, I am promised everything I want in a story.
In The Leopard Prince, what some may consider a bit slow, is her ability to place yourself into the minds of both hero and heroine. So much so, that the romance between Harry and Georgina you knew was so wrong but so rightand you felt it. A guilty pleasure. The lovers from different classes and the troubles that they encountered were hard to endure, but the ending was so rewarding. I can recommend this book and am looking forward to reading Simons Story in The Serpent Prince, the last book in the Prince Trilogy.
In The Leopard Prince, what some may consider a bit slow, is her ability to place yourself into the minds of both hero and heroine. So much so, that the romance between Harry and Georgina you knew was so wrong but so rightand you felt it. A guilty pleasure. The lovers from different classes and the troubles that they encountered were hard to endure, but the ending was so rewarding. I can recommend this book and am looking forward to reading Simons Story in The Serpent Prince, the last book in the Prince Trilogy.
Helpful Score: 8
One of the best books I've read this year. I didn't want the book to end.
Can't wait to read the new book coming out later this year.
Can't wait to read the new book coming out later this year.
I love this series!
I did enjoy Bk 1, The Raven Prince a little more than this one, mainly because I thought Harry was just a bit to vulgar in a few scenes; especially in the church and I liked the "Fairy Tale" story better.
But I can't wait for Bk 3. =)
I did enjoy Bk 1, The Raven Prince a little more than this one, mainly because I thought Harry was just a bit to vulgar in a few scenes; especially in the church and I liked the "Fairy Tale" story better.
But I can't wait for Bk 3. =)
Helpful Score: 5
Awesome book set between regular people in the late 1700s. I adored it.
Helpful Score: 5
Marvelous book. One of the best books I've read this year. Sophisicated, smart, passionate, emotional, funny, delicious dialogue, well rounded characters.
Back cover blurb:
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.
Harry has known mny aristocrats. But Harry has never met a beautiful lady so independent, uninhibited, and eager to be in his arms.
Back cover blurb:
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.
Harry has known mny aristocrats. But Harry has never met a beautiful lady so independent, uninhibited, and eager to be in his arms.
Helpful Score: 4
Hot. He is a good guy. She is the boss.
Helpful Score: 3
Well Worth the wish list wait! An interesting look at 18th Century England.
Helpful Score: 3
...Ms. Hoyt, also writing under Julia Harper, is a treasure when it comes to recreating the past and she does not fail in THE LEOPARD PRINCE. Though it is a well-told story, the beginning has a slow pace. The end is all you will expect it to be, and in the end, that is all that matters.
Dee
October 2007
www.enchantingreviews.com
Find the complete review at http://www.enchantingreviews.com/Dee_10TheLeopardPrince.html
Dee
October 2007
www.enchantingreviews.com
Find the complete review at http://www.enchantingreviews.com/Dee_10TheLeopardPrince.html
Helpful Score: 2
This is the second book in the trilogy and apparently I am late in coming to discover this wonderful series. The story involves a lurid romance between the rare landowning woman from this era - not even sure which era it as meant to be - falling in love with her land steward. Like many good romances, this one began with a trauma bringing the two together - a carriage accident leaving them stranded and forcing them to spend the night huddled in an old run down cottage. At the time of the accident, the two of them were on their way from London to Georgina's country estate, bequeathed to her by an aunt. George, as she is known, had been called home by her sister, due to a bunch of sheep killings that had been effecting the farmers living off the land. The hero, George's recently hired steward, Harry Pye, is the prime suspect.
There are many aspects of this story that were exciting and engaging. First, there was a well-developed and believable villain, a landowning man with no real influence beyond his corner of the world, who wielded what little power he had to terrorize the local people. There was also a subplot involving George's sister and her reasons for having fled to the countryside, which she finally confesses to George. The mystery of who was killing the sheep kept the story moving at a good pace, and introduced us to several more interesting characters, including two half brothers of the hero, a local barkeep and his mentally disabled sister, and the heir of the villain, a young man who worshipped his father despite the continuous rejection he had always received from him.
All of that was great, but what really made me love this story was the way that the characters had to deal, in a very real way, with the differences in their social class. It is much easier, it seems, for a man to marry "down" than for a woman. For George to fall in love with her land steward was scandalous and nearly unheard of, as unusual as a woman owning her own estates independently. The issues that this caused were not simply brushed under the rug, and with the happy ending, it was clear that they would continue to struggle with the challenges wrought from being not being social equals or equals in wealth.
My biggest criticsm was probably use of the fairy tale about the leopard prince. Listening to George tell it was boring - despite her professed love of collecting stories, the retelling was boring. I nearly skipped those parts. As to the symbolism intended, about Harry's fears of being caged and used by a more powerful person for their own ends, it was unnecessary and a rather cheap device, perhaps intended for a less sophisticated reader.
There are many aspects of this story that were exciting and engaging. First, there was a well-developed and believable villain, a landowning man with no real influence beyond his corner of the world, who wielded what little power he had to terrorize the local people. There was also a subplot involving George's sister and her reasons for having fled to the countryside, which she finally confesses to George. The mystery of who was killing the sheep kept the story moving at a good pace, and introduced us to several more interesting characters, including two half brothers of the hero, a local barkeep and his mentally disabled sister, and the heir of the villain, a young man who worshipped his father despite the continuous rejection he had always received from him.
All of that was great, but what really made me love this story was the way that the characters had to deal, in a very real way, with the differences in their social class. It is much easier, it seems, for a man to marry "down" than for a woman. For George to fall in love with her land steward was scandalous and nearly unheard of, as unusual as a woman owning her own estates independently. The issues that this caused were not simply brushed under the rug, and with the happy ending, it was clear that they would continue to struggle with the challenges wrought from being not being social equals or equals in wealth.
My biggest criticsm was probably use of the fairy tale about the leopard prince. Listening to George tell it was boring - despite her professed love of collecting stories, the retelling was boring. I nearly skipped those parts. As to the symbolism intended, about Harry's fears of being caged and used by a more powerful person for their own ends, it was unnecessary and a rather cheap device, perhaps intended for a less sophisticated reader.
Helpful Score: 2
Lady Georgina Maitland decides to accompany her steward, Harry Pye, to oversee her Yorkshire estates, and check on her sister, who is living there. After enduring a coach crash during a rainstorm, a night spent in a hut, and walking a long distance, she arrives to discover that everyone believes Harry is guilty of poisoning the farmer's sheep on the neighboring estate. He has supposedly done so to gain revenge for past grievances. Only Georgina believes him to be innocent, and stands up for him. She is also intent upon conducting an affair with Harry. Harry is caught between both circumstances, trying to protect his employer and his lover. A great read, and not the normal English nobility romance.
Helpful Score: 2
Wealthy Georgina Maitland, daughter of an Earl, owns a country estate that was left to her by her aunt. When she receives a note from her sister, George is escorted home by her land steward Harry Pye. On the way home from London, a storm causes the carriage to crash and George and Harry seek shelter in a nearby cabin. When they finally arrive at her estate, George is told that someone has been poisoning sheep in the area. The prime suspect is Harry Pye. George doesn't believe Harry could ever do anything like that. She is drawn to Harry. He's nothing like she imagined a land steward would be.
Harry knows he is being set up and he suspects Lady George's neighbor is behind it. He wants to get to the bottom of the mystery without putting his head in a noose. But everytime he turns around, Lady George is standing right in front of him.
This is the second book in Elizabeth Hoyt's Prince trilogy. You don't see too many historical romances where the heroine is rich and titled and the hero is her employee. It's a unique story and I loved it. Both the hero and heroine are very likeable. The romance is steamy. Characters from the previous book make an appearance near the end. The narration on the audiobook was first-rate. My rating: 5 Stars.
Harry knows he is being set up and he suspects Lady George's neighbor is behind it. He wants to get to the bottom of the mystery without putting his head in a noose. But everytime he turns around, Lady George is standing right in front of him.
This is the second book in Elizabeth Hoyt's Prince trilogy. You don't see too many historical romances where the heroine is rich and titled and the hero is her employee. It's a unique story and I loved it. Both the hero and heroine are very likeable. The romance is steamy. Characters from the previous book make an appearance near the end. The narration on the audiobook was first-rate. My rating: 5 Stars.
Helpful Score: 1
This baby would not be leaving my shelf except for an unfortunate memory dredged up in this old mind of mine. With Harry's subservient position and the subsequent "my lady"s, thrown about throughout the story, I was constantly reminded of an old Saturday Night Live skit that featured Mel Gibson as the Lusty Woodsman! ;) Completely threw me off my feed while reading this little gem.
So, I release it back into the wild to fly onto some other lucky lady's shelf. Enjoy!
So, I release it back into the wild to fly onto some other lucky lady's shelf. Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 1
My favorite book of the Princes Trilogy. Harry is Lady Georgina's land steward, the crux of the conflict is the class difference, one is the daughter of an earl and the other a "commoner," but Harry is NO common male. Oh yeah, there is a villian running around also, killing sheep and blaming it on Harry, everyone is suspicious and Harry is trying to find out who is behind all the ruckus, all the while trying to fend off the mutual attraction between servant and Lady.
The attraction is definitely there, sparks fly, love scenes are hot and borderline erotica (in my opinion) but no matter the romance and feelings of Harry & Lady ring true.
This one is going on my keeper shelf, sorry! =)
The attraction is definitely there, sparks fly, love scenes are hot and borderline erotica (in my opinion) but no matter the romance and feelings of Harry & Lady ring true.
This one is going on my keeper shelf, sorry! =)
Helpful Score: 1
Oh, how I so was looking forward to this book. I loved The Raven Prince and was hoping the second in the series would be just as good. But alas, I came away disappointed. The book started out great. I loved the quirky heroine and I thought the hero was great too (quiet, but a man of action), but I just didn't feel the chemistry, the pull between the two characters. But even so, Hoyt's writing is enough to get you to read more to see how it all ends. However, the ending just didn't do it for me. I couldn't understand how this quirky, independent woman, who never felt the need to marry and decided she wanted to have an affair with her land stewart suddenly couldn't make up her mind, did whatever her brothers told her and became a wishy washy heroine. And I hated the I'm staying, I'm leaving, I'm staying, I'm leaving business. It was a nice book and if it hadn't been written by Hoyt I might not have felt so disappointed, but knowing what she can write, I was a little let down.
Helpful Score: 1
Another unique couple from Elizabeth Hoyt. Harry and Georgina were easy to like and the story took root very quickly. An interesting pairing - she is the daughter of an earl with her own inheritance and financial freedom, he is a commoner with no money or property. Perhaps not much different than the Raven Prince except male and female roles are reversed.
Their romance was well paced and sexy. I enjoyed the way Hoyt integrated the fairy tale into this book. It seems to be her trademark and this one had a better way of tying into the story.
Hoyt writes love scenes that are steamy but not over the top. People seem passionate and real to me. Sometimes her dialogue comes off as too contemporary, but it is a minor crime in an otherwise well written book.
My biggest complaint about this book is the hero's moniker: Harry Pye. Really? It is so bad and such a terrible reference to dirty talk from junior high (hair pie) that I would almost think she'd done this on a dare or because she lost a bet. I tried hard not to think about it as I read.
Their romance was well paced and sexy. I enjoyed the way Hoyt integrated the fairy tale into this book. It seems to be her trademark and this one had a better way of tying into the story.
Hoyt writes love scenes that are steamy but not over the top. People seem passionate and real to me. Sometimes her dialogue comes off as too contemporary, but it is a minor crime in an otherwise well written book.
My biggest complaint about this book is the hero's moniker: Harry Pye. Really? It is so bad and such a terrible reference to dirty talk from junior high (hair pie) that I would almost think she'd done this on a dare or because she lost a bet. I tried hard not to think about it as I read.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but like a review that I read prior to reading it, I had a hard time with the hero's name. Harry Pye. Yikes. Really. Another amazing book by Elizabeth Hoyt though. She is the gold standard as far as I am concerned. She could name her characters whatever she wanted and they would still be amazing! Thank goodness!! :)
I just loved them both (h/h)! I didn't want it to end. I read the excerpt from The Serpent Prince and have just ordered it as well. These are definitely going on my "keeper shelf"! I can't wait to revisit them again and again!!
I just loved them both (h/h)! I didn't want it to end. I read the excerpt from The Serpent Prince and have just ordered it as well. These are definitely going on my "keeper shelf"! I can't wait to revisit them again and again!!
Great book! Keeps your interest throughout!
I'm glad I read this, if only because I read the other two in the series, but it was a little dull. There was no emotional development (that was explained) between the lead characters. And the villain of the piece was so one dimensionally twisted, narcistic, and evil that he was simply unbelievable.
Wonderful historical romance.
Loved it!
Great Book! Love the series...
Loved this book..... Could not put it down!!
This was a good book. I liked the first one in the series more but this was also a good read. George falls in love with her stewart, Harry. She struggles with love for the first time in her life and he struggles with her being above him. Lots of suspense towards the end. Good Romance.
Love this series. They just get better.
loved it