The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Review by Lawson
It is easy to be an unabashed fangirl here for The Raven Prince because there is just so much to love about this book. It is historical. It is a boss/secretary romance. It has witty banter, steamy love scenes and true chemistry between Anna Wren and her boss Edward de Raaf, the Earl of Swartingham.
Anna is a widow and in a financial bind. Her husband left her with limited funds and her economizing is not working to support herself and her mother-in-law. Walking one day, she is nearly trampled by a man on horseback and loses half of her meager groceries. The next day in town Anna hears on the local town grapevine the Earl needs a new secretary, and she talks herself into the job.
The Earl had been out of town when Anna was hired, and is initially shocked to see a female secretary. Anna’s efficiency turns his mind around quickly and he begins to cherish his new secretary perhaps a little too much. When he decides to go to London to cure his manly ailment, Anna correctly gathers the situation, and puts herself in the position of his lover. However, she makes sure Edward does not know who his bed partner is.
The characters are so strong and wonderfully written in The Raven Prince. Anna is a spunky, quick thinking, and caring heroine and there never is a moment where her motives seem outside of character. Also, Anna grows from a shy widow to a confident woman during the course of the book. Edward is a domineering, arrogant nobleman, but his passion and caring shine through his actions. Both of these characters are so real and believable it makes the whole story work.
Even the secondary characters have life as well as important, though not overwhelming, roles in the plot of the book. Without their roles (all richly and realistically characterized), the passions and personalities of Anna and Edward would not be so strong or unique.
The attention to historical detail is also one of the strongest points of The Raven Prince. Set in Georgian times, the history comes alive, but does not overcome the plot. Hoyt is concrete in her descriptions of the social climate, economics and fashions of the time.
The Raven Prince is a wonderful read and you should go get it. Now!
Grade: A
