Publication Date: April 1st 2007
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 7 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5
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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.
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This was a great historical romance. I really enjoyed it, although it wasn't quite as good as its predecessor, The Raven Prince. The Raven Prince was just on fire! There was so much passion and so many scenes that I read over and over again. The Raven Prince amazed me with its balance between romance and erotica. It had a lot of both that perfectly accented each other. The sex made the romance better, and the romance made the sex better. The Leopard Prince also had a lot of both, but I didn't feel the perfect balance happening. It was very romance heavy. I felt the focus was put much more strongly on their emotional relationship than their physical. Yet there was still a great deal of erotic material in this. I just didn't feel the emotional connection as much as during the erotic scenes, or as in The Raven Prince.
But I still really enjoyed this book. Harry and Georgina were great characters. I hadn't read a historical romance before this where the woman was the one who was higher class than the man. It usually goes the other way around in these. It made the story really interesting, to see how different things are for a man compared to a woman, all the double standards. And I really loved Harry, from the second page I was already getting tingles. He and Georgina definitely had a connection. I loved the way they carried on. They were really amusing, and both very strong. Georgina was extremely independent and demanding, and wasn't afraid to tell Harry what she wanted, such as the first time they slept together. A very bold move from a virgin Lady. And the same with Harry. He was extremely forceful and would not back down from what he wanted from Georgina.
I really love Elizabeth Hoyt's writing, and how easily she draws you into a story and into a scene. I am very excited to finish this series with The Serpent Prince, and to start another of her series with Wicked Intentions.
But I still really enjoyed this book. Harry and Georgina were great characters. I hadn't read a historical romance before this where the woman was the one who was higher class than the man. It usually goes the other way around in these. It made the story really interesting, to see how different things are for a man compared to a woman, all the double standards. And I really loved Harry, from the second page I was already getting tingles. He and Georgina definitely had a connection. I loved the way they carried on. They were really amusing, and both very strong. Georgina was extremely independent and demanding, and wasn't afraid to tell Harry what she wanted, such as the first time they slept together. A very bold move from a virgin Lady. And the same with Harry. He was extremely forceful and would not back down from what he wanted from Georgina.
I really love Elizabeth Hoyt's writing, and how easily she draws you into a story and into a scene. I am very excited to finish this series with The Serpent Prince, and to start another of her series with Wicked Intentions.
“Be that as it may, a gentleman doesn't continue to press his attentions on a lady who can’t return them.”
“Then, as I see it, you have two problems, my lord,” Harry said.Tony’s eyes narrowed.
“One, that the lady does, in fact, return my attentions, and two”—Harry turned to meet the earl’s gaze—“I am no gentleman.”