Customer Reviews

The Perils of Pursuing a Prince

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Some reviewers have said that the heroine is stupid. I would say rather that she is not a 19th century woman in her mindset; a 19th century woman (one not of the servant class) would not have travelled to a single man's home, let alone have stayed there isolated and unchaperoned, and then have expected to just go back to her life as it had been before. She would have been ruined. Ruin didn't just mean some ladies sneered at her; she would not have been allowed into decent homes and her options (if her family didn't pay her to go away & live somewhere else quietly) would have been marriage to anybody at all, or prostitution, or starvation. No social safety net in regency England! These ideas are given lip service only in the book; it's clear that the heroine doesn't believe them and neither does the author.

Both the central characters are 21st century people in 19th century clothes, so the book should be judged as a sex fantasy, rather than a historically based novel. As a sex fantasy it has too little erotica for those who like that sort of thing and too much for those who don't.

The author has a pleasant writing style that doesn't grate, otherwise I would have tossed it aside, because there's nothing very new or different about it. However, it wasn't so dull that I didn't finish it, and if I put everything I know about regency mores aside, it's mildly entertaining. Nevertheless I felt that this author has done much better books, and there are other books out there much more worth the money and the time.

I picked up this book because of the author and finished it with hope that author would make a awful story better. In this novel immature Lady Greer goes to Welsh to get her inhertance. She trust the wrong person and believes lies and in the end finds herself a unwanted housequest the Prince of Powys. I really like the prince. The last 1/4 of the book was very good but save your money and pick it up at the library.

If you enjoy this genre I would suggest 'What an Earl Wants' by Shirley Karr, 'Secrets of a Duchess' by Kaitlin O'Riley and 'A Lady At Last' by Brenda Joyce.

"The Perils of Pursuing a Prince" is a dismal follow-up to "The Hazards of Hunting a Duke". Greer Fairchild is the most idiotic heroine I've encountered in years, and I must confess I'm generally quite forgiving. It's not even that she's too impulsive or headstrong, it's that her thoughts don't seem to belong to one person, and, as several other reviewers have noted, although she seems to give lip service to a knowledge of society's rules of behavior for young, unmarried women, her actions don't reflect any of it. She's entirely taken in by the scoundrel in the story, she's beyond rude to the Prince for the first two weeks she is a guest in his home, and I see no consistent rationale for her actions. At one point, she's at Kendrick, cleaning a room, and imagining her future, either married to the Prince, or simply continuing their relationship as lovers. Later that day, he proposes marriage to her, and she responds as if he's crazy and says she hadn't previously considered the possibility of marriage. On top of that, she goes on about how she couldn't imagine life away from London after she spent the afternoon dreaming about living at Kendrick! Makes no sense, whatsoever! She is rude, devious, and stupid, and I can't imagine what Rhodrick could possibly see in her. As the book progressed, I found myself thinking less and less of him for wanting her. At the end of the story, one of her cousins - Ava, I think - makes some comment about how she had to love him for putting up with Greer, and I could only think, `absolutely!' I can't think of one endearing quality to her.

The plot itself is all over the place, too. Much is made of the magic of Wales and ghosts and such, but it's all kind of vague. At the end, the big issue for Greer is finding out how Rhodrick found the woman's dead body in the forest. As the reader, I couldn't care less. It was clear to me that he was a good, honorable person, and it just didn't matter. Too, there was the issue of the `bad guy'. Since she was so taken in at the beginning of the book, I felt it was important that she have an "Aha" moment where she realized he was bad (not to mention acknowledge what a witch she was to Rhodrick when she believed all those lies). That didn't really happen.

Don't even bother with this book. It's an exercise in frustration. I can't believe I finished it.

The next installment of the Desperate Debutantes series does not disappoint! With shades of Beauty and the Beast and gothic overtones, Perils offers a love story that builds in classic fashion, with a brooding hero slowly discovering his love for the unflappable woman in his midst. Greer starts on her journey simply looking for her inheritance, a means to support her sisters, but she finds so much more in Rhodrick, the man who vexes her, intrigues her, and ultimately charms her (and the reader right along with her!).

Greer Fairchild is determined to track down her missing inheritance, if it exists. Unfortunately, her uncle has passed away and any inheritance has passed onto a distant relation in Wales. Then her elderly traveling companion dies on the long journey to Wales, leaving her in the company of a man who may not have her best interests at heart, and who may well be hiding something from Greer.

Arriving in Wales, Greer becomes intimidated and attracted to the man who holds her inheritance, Rhodrick Glendower, Earl of Radnor. He is untrusting of Greer, and in his caution to determine if she is who she says she is, delays her journey back to her sisters in London.

Mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and secrets from the past all come to light .. but will Greer deny her heart before it is too late?

- I stopped at page 100. And "ditto" on Greer's attributes already mentioned here.

- I've really enjoyed Julia London in the past, ("The Hazards of Hunting a Duke" was wonderful!) but "Greer" was *so* ridiculous: winey, prejudiced, hypocritical, and downright stupid! Her actions, her attitude, even her dialogue! I honestly couldn't find one thing I liked about her.

Greer takes Percy, a complete stranger she has met on a public coach, at his every word, for absolutely everything he says, simply because he is smooth and polite and knows how to lay on the charm; where Rhoderick is quiet, honest, albeit, somewhat suspicious and brusque. (And who wouldn't be if some stranger showed up on your doorstep and demanded money? )

- I thought perhaps it was just a mood so I put the book down and tried again a couple other times to read it. Nope! No better! I can only recall one other time I have ever put a book down and not completed reading it. This was very disappointing for me! =(

I didn't think I would ever finish this book but finish it I did. The heroine, Greer Fairchild, was such an idiot I could not fathom why Rhodrick fell in love with her. The hero claims the heroine is "clever" repeatedly, and I had a chuckle every time.

What I found ridiculous was Greer was contemplating marriage with Mr. Percy in the very beginning of the book, however, when Rhodrick proposes, whom she claims to be in love with, she refuses. And her reasons are again idiotic.

I understand the author used the heroine-must-stay-with-hero-'til-identity-can-be-determined plot device, but I felt like the author thought the reader was as stupid as the heroine to believe:
1)the heroine would go all the way to Wales without absolute proof of her identity and
2)The post takes that long to run even in a snowstorm.
Not to mention staying alone unchaperoned! *gasp*

As for the "good stuff": the sensual tension was weak, the love scenes were warm, and there was no hero-jealousy.

Not a keeper for me, however, for an excellent Julia London read, I recommend: Wicked Angel.

Greer Fairchild is destitute. She has two choices. Marry the highest bidder or go to Wales to claim an inheritance that may or may not exist. Greer chooses to travel to Wales to face the man that is said to control her inheritance, Rhodrick Glendower, Earl of Radnor and also known as the Prince of Powys.

The prince is more ruthless and powerful than Greer could have imagined. Until Greer proves she is who she says she is, he refuses to give her the inheritance. So Greer must remain as a reluctant guest in the prince's castle until proof arrives from London. The longer Greer stays the more intriguing and irresistible she finds Rhodrick. Is she falling under the spell of the mysterious Prince of Powys?

I think that The Perils of Pursuing a Prince is my favorite Julia London book thus far! Rhodrick is so dark and delicious that he captured my heart. A wonderful love story that had me biting my nails hoping for a happy ending and sighing in delight to see Greer and Rhodrick together, The Perils of Pursuing a Prince satisfied my romantic heart.

Annmarie
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Lady Greer Fairchild has come to Wales, and to the home of the Earl of Radnor, aka the Prince of Powys, Rhodrick Glendower, to claim her inheritance. She has the extreme misfortune of arriving with Rhodrick's enemy, Mr. Owen Percy, which immediately raises Rhodrick's hackles and his suspicions. He cannot trust Greer as he fears she may be in cahoots with Percy and that man has ruined enough lives. So, in an attempt at compromise, Rhodrick agrees to give Greer her inheritance if she can provide solid proof of her identity.

In the mean time, Greer is to stay at Rhodrick's home, his unwilling captive, while she waits for a letter from her cousins back in London. Greer is sure Rhodrick is an odious and vile man, but as she comes to unravel the mystery surrounding him and begin to understand the kind of man he is, her heart warms to his gruff personality. Appearances can be deceiving and Greer is starting to realize that in her captivity, she may have found a true friend and a true love match.

Julia London wows and impresses with this second book in her Desperate Debutantes series. Greer and Rhodrick hardly seem like a match made in heaven. She is a social butterfly, very happy amongst the parties and events in London. But there is depth to Greer and she shows it in surprising and subtle ways, even with something as simple as chatting with the servants or enjoying Rhodrick's humor. For his part, Rhodrick never expected to find love again. Scarred both physically and emotionally, Rhodrick has always been content in his little corner of the world, but Greer opens up new yearnings in his heart. Even with distrust standing between them, neither can deny the strong feelings that grow every day of Greer's stay in his home. She most assuredly goes from a reluctant and discontent guest to a woman of the manor, happy to share special moments with the house's master.

The Perils of Pursuing a Prince is a more than satisfying historical romance. The beauty and wildness of Wales is explored as the protagonists grow closer, and it is refreshing to read a romance set far away from the glittering ballrooms of London. Julia London deftly makes these two characters come to life in this moving and tempting tale.

I picked up this book, the middle one in the trilogy, not knowing much about it. Now I'll have to pick up the other two. I didn't mind the least that the heroine was somewhat immature. Made her seem more real to me and I sort of would expect some immaturity from a sheltered high-society debutant. She can't very well be like a 21st century self-assured business woman with an MBA and a thick stock portfolio behind her :-)

I thought the story was taut and very sexy. Loved the prince. Just love a dark/scarred hero, I suppose. Their love story unfolded step by step and took me along. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.