Lawson’s review of The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance released by Forever on 1 Sep 07

I can’t help it so . . . SPOILERS! SPOILERS!! You have been warned.

Lucy Craddock-Hayes had accepted she’d have a quiet, country life most likely married to the local vicar. Her life and future change when she finds a naked man in her village. On the verge of death, she takes him home in hopes she can save his life, though she doesn’t know who he is.

Simon Iddesleigh, Viscount Iddesleigh, has been doing some bad, bad things and he’s gotten himself nearly beaten to death for his trouble. He’s been on a quest for revenge against a conspiracy, but it’s nearly cost him his life. Recovery in a quiet village with Lucy to watch over him is something Simon realizes he needs.

Simon is soon too much for country-bred Lucy to handle, with his city manners and dandyish fashion sense (red heeled shoes, my goodness!). Lucy falls hard for Simon, but when his attackers seek him out he returns to London to spare her life, but soon realizes he can’t live without her. Lucy’s love becomes something that he realizes he could lose if he continues on his quest for vengeance, but it’s something he’s come to depend on, far too much.

There is a definite dark, brooding tone to this book, even more so than The Leopard Prince. Where Harry Pye was out to prove he was better than his father in his idea of revenge, Simon is going out and doing the worst thing possible: he’s dueling and killing his opponents. And he’s doing it for the memory of a brother he didn’t even really like.

When Lucy enters his life, Simon doesn’t really know how to react. She’s innocent, caring and someone he knows that he can corrupt, but he’s drawn to her goodness and light in a way to banish his demons. For Lucy, Simon is sophisticated, urbane, charming, and everything she’s ever wished for, without knowing it. After meeting Simon, she knows that her quiet, simple country life isn’t enough and marrying the local vicar won’t make her happy.

What is best about this book is the contrasts and complements that Lucy and Simon bring out in each other. And their love and love scenes are something worth wishing for. The love scenes are steamy, erotic and amazingly caring. Because no matter how Simon feels about Lucy, his personal mission to kill those who killed his brother eventually is too much for her to bear. And he doesn’t blame her.

There’s this great scene at the end of the book, that I just can’t talk about because it would be too spoilery of me, and I just can’t do that. But it’s just so. . .heartbreaking, and breathtaking, and wonderful.

Though there are Hoyt’s traditional well drawn secondary characters, including Harry Pye and The Raven Prince’s Earl of Swartingham, it’s the Simon and Lucy story and they carry the plot so well, I didn’t want it to end. Though Simon’s young friend, who turns out to be the villain’s son, makes a wonderful naive foil for Simon’s cynicism, Lucy is his perfect match and when Simon realizes that. . .again. . .best scene at the end of the book.

Go get this one now. Though dark for many tastes, it is worth the read for the sweeping love story, the secondary story of Simon’s revenge and the steamy love scenes.

Grade: A

[edit from Gwen:  Sorry but “Harry Pye” still makes me giggle like an adolescent boy.  But I am GETTING THIS BOOK!  Like, yesterday!]