The Serpent Prince (Princes) – book review

The Serpent Prince
by Elizabeth Hoyt
Release Date: September 1, 2007
Publisher: Forever
Book #2 in the Princes series
Number of Pages:  391
Kindle Edition
Source:  MCL
Historical Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: murder
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WHEN THE DEVIL MEETS AN ANGEL
Country bred Lucy Craddock-Hayes is content with her quiet life. Until the day she trips over an unconscious man – a naked unconscious man – and loses her innocence forever.

HE CAN TAKE HER TO HEAVEN
Viscount Simon Iddesleigh was nearly beaten to death by his enemies. Now he’s hell-bent on vengeance. But as Lucy nurses him back to health, her honesty startles his jaded sensibilities – even as it ignites a desire that threatens to consume them both.

OR TO HELL
Charmed by Simon’s sly wit, urbane manners, and even his red-heeled shoes, Lucy falls hard and fast for him. Yet as his honor keeps him from ravishing her, his revenge sends his attackers to her door. As Simon wages war on his foes, Lucy wages her own war for his soul using the only weapon she has – her love.

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Lucy and Simon are just so perfect together. I adore her level headedness and his flair for the dramatic. I love the way he brings out her playful side and she helps him to find peace. From the outside, flamboyant Simon and reserved Lucy have nothing in common. Turns out, like many people (especially in those times) they are presenting to the world who the world thinks they are and should be.

I feel as though the first half and the second half of this book are two very different stories. Not in the way that the characters or point of the story change, but because of the way the relationship between the characters changes. They interact on a whole different level after the first half of the book; both halves are great, just different. Simon has a lot of demons he must wrestle and he, for the most part, keeps that away from Lucy at first.

There are so many times throughout this story that the butterflies were swooping through my belly. Sometimes because of the romance and the beautiful things Simon would say, sometimes because I could just feel the intense emotions coming from Simon. He calls Lucy his angel, and that sticks throughout the story. It’s really the sweetest thing, this man about town brought to his knees. Not because Lucy does anything in particular, she doesn’t even pursue him, deeming herself beneath his notice since he is a viscount. Yet Simon recognizes that he has found “the one” and is unable to walk away no matter how ill-advised their pairing may be.

While I have so many things I can say about this book and these characters, I cannot do so without spoilers. So I’ll wrap it up here. I’ve really enjoyed this series and will be seeking out more of this author’s books asap. She brings such depth to her characters and shows us the good, the bad, and the ugly…always with a well thought out HEA.

4.5 stars