The Golden Leopard (Paperback)

by Lynn Kerstan (Author) "On what was supposed to be her night of triumph, Jessica Carville moodily paced the Turkey carpet in Mr. Christie's office, feeling very much alone..." (more)
Key Phrases: golden leopard, Lady Jessica, High Tor, Lord Philpot (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
When black sheep adventurer Lord Hugo Duran suddenly reappears in Lady Jessica Carville's life after an absence of more than six years, she has no intention of either renewing their past romantic relationship or of letting him jeopardize her fledgling position as an antiquities expert. But in his wanderings through India, Duran has run afoul of a local petty tyrant and will forfeit his life if he cannot locate a missing jeweled statue-and for that he needs Jessica's help. Although the bones of the story are classic and deceptively simple, the wonderfully complex characters and intricate, beautifully delineated details lend a richness to a gradually unfolding tale that will keep readers wondering how things can possibly work out. Adding spice to the mix are a few unforgettable secondary characters (including an honorable assassin) and some surprisingly hot but beautifully integrated sex scenes. Although Kerstan's romances have always been well done, the superb character development, the emotional depth, and the exquisite sexual tension in this Regency vaults her to a new level. This is her best to date and a definite top-tier "keeper." Kerstan (Lord Dragoner's Wife) is a RITA Award-winning writer and lives in Southern California.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The only thing that keeps Lord Hugo Duran sane while in an Indian prison is thinking about the woman he had a brief affair with six years ago. When he is given the chance to leave India and captivity he takes it, but his freedom is conditional and temporary: he is sent on a mission to retrieve a valuable item believed stolen and sent to England. Whether or not he finds it, the price of his liberty is high. Surrounded by guards who closely watch his every move, his search leads him to seek help from Lady Jessica, the woman who is always on his mind. Never one to conform to society's expectations, Jessica now works at Christie's auction house. Having given her heart once and subsequently having it shattered, she is determined to find some measure of independence and so has encased her emotions in ice. But seeing Duran again starts a warming trend. Readers won't be able to put down Kerstan's emotionally captivating and highly dramatic adventure. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451410572
• ISBN-13: 978-0451410573
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,188,900 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great adventure romance, November 3, 2002

By A Customer

This is just a great action adventure romance, with exotic settings, intense scenes, and an undercurrent of humor that helps relieve the tension. Duran is a hero to die for, and Jessica is a heroine women can identify with-- strong yet vulnerable. Their romance is torrid, and so are the adventures they get into together.

The plotline involves rare antiquities, and I found this glimpse into the world of the collector fascinating. But most of all, I loved the complex and tempestuous relationship between a desperate man and the only woman who can save him. There is torment and sacrifice and triumph in this book, and plenty of passion too!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars combination of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, October 3, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1821 India, charming con artist Lord Hugo Duran stands trial for stealing the Heart of Alanbad. Needing a lie when he knows the truth of innocence will not work, Hugo insists a dream brought him here and that he is to go home to England to find the Golden Leopard and return it to its rightful owner. The court rules if he fails to restore the jewel within a year, he will die.

Hugo needs help to succeed and at the same time he sees this as an opportunity to finish his business with Jessica Carville, who he once hurt badly. After Hugo failed her, Jessie plunged deeply into her other passion, dealing rare antiquities. Though she wants to tell Hugo to go to the devil, Jessie, tempted by his quest, agrees to accompany him, but does not relish the idea of marrying him to keep her reputation in tact. As the excursion turns dangerous, both realizes they still love one another, but if they survive, she does not trust him to stay.

THE GOLDEN LEOPARD is a combination of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone. The story line is fast paced and loaded with action, twists, and gender bending (at least for the regency period) subplots. The support cast feels like they come from Peter Lorre clones while the lead couple is a delight though why Jessie suddenly worries about her rep after shredding it as a dealer seems a bit stretched. Still Lynn Kerstan keeps the reader enthralled with this suspense thriller that has just enough romance to please readers of both genres.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable romance with "real" characters..., March 26, 2005

By	retroredux - See all my reviews

unlike some of the other reviewers, I really enjoyed this romance. The book actually had a plot-unlike some regencies which are a series of event goings thrown in with a few love scenes. The hero and heroine are older, realistic characters-no gorgeous 19 year old virgins here. I liked the fact that the heroine takes control of her life instead of wallowing in self pity after she's abandoned by the hero years earlier-in fact she becomes an accomplished business woman.

The storyline of finding the golden leopard was exciting, the sub characters-assasins from India-are interesting and add to the exotic flavor of the book and the love scenes are very sensual and erotic-unusual for a regency romance. If you love regencies but are looking for a bit more adventuresome plot, then I recommend this book-4 1/2 stars!