THE LEOPARD PRINCE

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt ISBN: 0446618489 4/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: WARNER
Time Period: 1760 Yorkshire, England

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.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE LEOPARD PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt is charming. A tale within a tale, it weaves a fantastic fairytale account of an enchanted leopard, a beautiful princess and a Golden Horse, expertly into a story of an impossible—or shall I say improbable?—liaison.

Lady Georgina Maitland is intelligent, strong and wealthy. She neither needs nor desires a husband, something uncommon among the aristocrats of eighteenth-century England. And although she doesn't want a husband, she does admit that, from time-to-time she wonders just how it would feel to have a man close. Very close.

Her handsome land steward, Harry Pye, commands her attention when her carriage careens into a ditch and the two are forced to spend the night together in an abandoned cottage. Harry has a long history of animosity toward the nobles and strongly resists his growing attraction toward his employer. But, like the enchanted leopard of fairytale fame, the two are drawn along by fate, love and desire toward a destiny that is uniquely their own.

THE LEOPARD PRINCE is the second book by Elizabeth Hoyt, and it is one that, once read, will not be forgotten. I will be going out today to purchase the first, THE RAVEN PRINCE. And I will eagerly await the release of the next Elizabeth Hoyt book, THE SERPENT PRINCE. Her writing is that good. Elizabeth Hoyt's THE LEOPARD PRINCE has not only entertained me, it's turned me into a fan. If you enjoy historical romance, THE LEOPARD PRINCE is not to be missed!

Kay James