The Raven Prince (Princes Series #1)

Definately Add This One To Your List!

Excellent book! I have been reading historical romances for over 20 years now. Authors and styles come and go. I am always looking for the next great read and this one was a keeper! So many titles, covers and reviews seem good and then disappoint in person. This one stands up to the test. I especially like when an author does NOT make the hero and heroine perfect looking and having the perfect titles, homes, friends and valuables. These two had some good things but, by no means it all. They were two oddities just looking for each other but, didn't realize it until later. I liked that Anna seemed the simple, plain 30 somethng widower but, inside she was warm, smart, sexy and beautiful - but, only to one choosing to look deeper at her. In turn, Edward was scarred from disease and hurts in life and he too needed to be seen from the inside out before his warmth, charm and tenderness shown through. Loved the author choosing those routes instead of the usual perfect Earl and breathtaking Duke's daughter or something similar. The friendship that formed between the two as they worked on manuscripts was interesting. The passion and attraction that built as time went on was wonderfully drawn out. The intimacy that came by the middle of the book was hot and very sexy to imagine. Although I agree with one reviewer that I don't care for authors using the 'f' word, 'c' word or 'p' word in romance novels - this one was solid enough that I could over-look it without much difficulty. Plus, she did not use these words so often you would cringe knowing it was coming again. Would I choose other words - sure but, this book and story was good enough that it really didn't turn you off as some books do (like true erotic romance novels do). This was truely a historical romance with some seriously hot loving thrown in but, it was story appropriate if you get my meaning. If you are looking for a new and strong author who shines in the historical romance area then by all means give Elizabeth Hoyt a try and The Raven Prince. I plan on buying her newest book coming out in April 07' and will keep her on my future buying list. Hope she writes fast - I think she has people waiting for more great stories. I know I am. Happy reading!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Best of the Three

I liked this one best of the three Prince books. The story was good fast paced and orginial, as these go. But what I liked most about it was that the fairy tale within the book was written out separately at the beginning of the chapters, like Elizabeht Hoyt's Four Soldier's book are, instead of being enmeshed in the story. They serve as indicator of what the chapter is going to be about, but if you get anxious to finish the fairy tale you can go from chapter to chapter and read it. When it in the story that's hard to do besides having the story rushed as it was in the Serpent Prince.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Delightful Historical Romance with a Fairy Tale Twist!

We are not all what we seem, is one of the themes that pervades this story, as well as the delightful introductions to each chapter of the real fairy tale The Raven Prince, that make this story a delight and a book difficult to put down. Edward De Raff, the fifth Earl of Swartingham is a large, pox-marked man, and is the lone survivor of the horrible smallpox disease that took his entire family in his youth. He returns to his home estate plagued with memories of them and a past marriage that ended in the death of his wife in childbirth a wife who died unable to love him because of his scars. He plans to remarry the young, quiet, Lady Gerard, who continues to tell him (while always looking down at her hands) that the scars do not matter. But this man is also known for a temper and now has a more difficult situation because he is in need of a secretary one that will stay with him long enough to complete his manuscript. Anna Wren has lived in Little Battleford her entire life. A beautiful widow of good moral standing in the community, she has been living for the past six years with her mother-in-law and a young woman in need the two women took in. She has been hurting financially and emotionally, as when her husband passed, he not only left her to live with a financial burden, but with sad memories of a childless and unfaithful marriage. She is thinking through her situation and how she is to continue feeding her little family, when the Earl charges through town on his horse and nearly runs her over and unseats himself. As he rages out of the mud puddle he has fallen into, Anna sees this famous temper for herself, but also finds that she is intrigued by this large man. She soon learns the Earl's steward is looking for a secretary and asks for the position. Mr. Hopple is desperate and he hires Anna. When Anna arrives at the estate to begin her job it is the Earl's turn to be intrigued. He finds her beautiful and intelligent and soon finds himself overwhelmed by lust for her. He travels to London to visit a famous brothel, Aphrodite's Grotto to work off his lust and temptation for Anna. Anna is drawn to the Earl as well and becomes angry that he would lust for her and then turn to another woman. She wants to disguise and mask herself and request the Earl as her guest at Aphrodite's Grotto. At one time Anna rescued a prostitute, Pearl, from the side of the road, after she was beaten and left for dead. Anna turns to Pearl for help, as Pearl knows the owner of Aphrodite's Grotto. Edward and Anna meet for two nights of passion so intense that they are both haunted with the sensual pleasure afterward. Soon Edward finds out it was Anna he met with and once his anger subsides, he makes the decision to end the arranged marriage to Lady Gerard and marry Anna. Anna feels she is not good enough for Edward, especially because she feels she is childless, and the chase, continued lust, passion and love build to a delightful ending. The Raven Prince is truly a beautiful story with characters that are real and unforgettable. The love scenes are beautifully written. It is a story that makes you believe that true love conquers all. Elizabeth Hoyt is one of those authors that will not be able to write fast enough for her fans.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Little Too Crude For Me

I guess I just don't like objectifying, misogynistic language when it comes to describing the female anatomy. Sorry, but I never 'felt' the romance. Seems like the relationship between these two people was all about faceless, soulless, purely physical sex, and the language Ms. Hoyt uses, whether it's correct or not for the period, was too off-putting for me to enjoy this. If you like erotica or porn, maybe this is for you, but there's nothing tender or loving or deep about this relationship. I was actually kind of grossed out. The 'f' word, the 'c' word and the 'p' word just make me think of women-haters and rapists, not lovers.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A charming and delightful romance

In 1760 the Earl de Raaf, Edward, returns home for the first time in two decades he has avoided this place he loved as a child because the deaths of his beloved family members made Ravenhill haunted. Still he knows it is time to move on.------------ Widow Anna Wren needs employment to support her mother-in-law, their ¿servant¿ and herself. She learns from Edward¿s estate manager Felix Hopple that he needs a new secretary as none stay very long out of fear of his bark. She applies and accepts the job though a female is normally considered unsuited. As she performs her duties exemplary, Anna falls in love with her employer, but he seems not to notice her except as his drudge. Instead he turns to Aphrodite¿s Grotto for his pleasure Anna vows to make him take notice that she is a woman in love even if it means meeting him at the brothel he seems to frequent.------------------ THE RAVEN PRINCE is a terrific Georgian romance starring a fascinating heroine who defies the era to bring bread on the table for her and the two females who depend on her. Edward is interesting also as his childhood tragedy still traumatizes his thinking until he falls in love with his secretary. Readers will enjoy their brothel courting.-------------- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A well-written book with well-developed characters

I do understand that when one reads books in the romance genre, one is sure to encounter archetypes rather than characters, but it gets old pretty quick. I was thrilled to read this book and discover a slew of well-written, well-developed characters who behaved in real ways. There is really only one character who is a trifle one-dimensional, and she's a very minor character. I found the sensuality to be a wee bit racier than I generally prefer, but it wasn't jarring. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance, wants a book that is slightly more driven by character development than by plot (not to say that the book has a weak plot, but the plot seems to exist more at the whim of the characters than the other way round... for example, the characters are thrown together because they are drawn to one another rather than because they are both running away from a murderous villain), and is comfortable with more than a few quite detailed sex scenes.

Excellent

Excellent read, my first by this author, definitely not my last. Highly recommend.

Loved it

Great story

Not bad

An enjoyable read. This is the prequel to the Ice Princess.

GOOD!

:)

Excellent writing.

A must read....

An endearing Georgian romance...

Edward, Earl de Raaf, needs a secretary to transcribe his agricultural treatises--and to put up with his beastly temper. The widowed Anna Wren needs employment to keep her small household afloat. The two of them quickly fall into a strong working relationship that blossoms into feelings of affection and love. When Anna fears that her feelings for her employer are not returned, she decides to take proactive approach in order to have at least a piece of Edward's love. When an opportunity presents itself, she arranges to meet him (anonymously) in Aphrodite's Grotto, a brothel, in the hope that if she cannot have the love she desires she will at least be able to gain a taste of the passion that's been missing from her life. Anna, however, gets more than she bargained for...as does the reader. "The Raven Prince" is a thoroughly enjoyable read; the hero and heroine are both flawed in ways that keep them from fitting into cookie-cutter molds of romantic fiction, and I couldn't help but root for them throughout the book.

Romantic and Sexy!

This is a great read for anyone who loves historical romance novels. The characters drive the story and make you want to not put the book down until you reach the end. This is the First in Elizabeth Hoyt's Prince Trilogy, she not only writes a great romance but adds that special magic of a Fairy tales entwined within the story. An absolute must read!!

I have read this book three times over the years

I love the characters. Well worth the read.

Pretty Good

I had read the book the "Serpent Prince" but there is this one and another that I hadn't read yet. I must say, I really like the way she writes and the story was good. All in all, I would recommend.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

it was a fun read

enjoyed this book, like others by this writer so tried this group of stories. will get started on the rest of them.

pretty wonderful

I found this romance to be better than most, in its adult, not superficial and not so beautiful protaganists. Anna and the Edward (earl) seemed true to their nature throughout the story and believable passionate lovers (within reason). Loved it.

A reviewer

I never was a romance novel girl, but when the day came that I did pick one up and read it, it happened to be 'The Raven Prince'. I honest to god, am a very harsh critic. This book by far, is the best romance novel I have ever read, out of the many I have read after it. I very much suggest this book, but I warn you, it is impossible to put down.

Wonderful Romance!

I found this book to be well written--and I'm picky! It was very romantic, funny and sad. Easy to read and follow. Couldn't put it down! Loved the dog! A couple of 'steamy' scenes, but only added to the book. I'll look for this author in the future.

A truly exceptional romance!

I read at least 4 ¿ 5 romances a week and this book is not the average romance. I have to admit I usually want my hero to be tall and gorgeous but this book puts a new spin on romance heroes. I can¿t wait until she puts out her next book. If you like romance you will not go wrong with this book!! Give it a try.