The Raven Prince (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: pox scars, rosewood desk, Mother Wren, Lord Swartingham, Aphrodite's Grotto (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After reviewing her somewhat precarious financial situation, Anna Wren comes to the conclusion that she needs a job. When she discovers that Edward de Raaf, the Earl of Swartingham, requires a new secretary, it seems like the perfect solution to her employment problem. Having already lost two secretaries because of his temper, Edward reluctantly agrees to give Anna a chance. Much to Anna's surprise, she finds she likes working for the often stubborn but unexpectedly kind Edward, and Edward soon realizes that Anna is not only an excellent secretary but also an extraordinarily intriguing woman. Hoyt's superb debut historical romance will dazzle readers with its brilliant blend of exquisitely nuanced characters, splendidly sensual love story, and elegant writing expertly laced with a dash of tart wit. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

There comes a time in a womanrsquo;s life when she must do the unthinkable - and find employment. For the widowed Anna Wren, that means taking a job as female secretary for the Earl of Swartingham. Secretaries are always male - never female - as Anna well knows but the real downfall of her career is the realisation that she is falling in love with Edward de Raaf - the Earl. But when she realises that he is going to visit a brothel in London to take care of his 'manly' desires, Anna sees red - and decides to take advantage of the opportunity to also take care of her 'womanly' desires - with the Earl as her unknowing lover. But the Earl has another reason for going to London. He is formalising his betrothal and trying (with little success) to forget about a secretary that has no right being female. Unhandsome, he knows that no woman wants him. Except for the mysterious lady with whom he spent two unforgettable nights at Aphroditersquo;s Grotto, the most scandalous brothel in London. But when Annarsquo;s plan is revealed, a bit of blackmail is thrown into the mix, a proposal is rejected and even the Earl himself will be unprepared for the intrigues that ensnare them.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reissue edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446618470
• ISBN-13: 978-0446618472
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,409 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The Princes Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

126 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! Loved It!, October 28, 2006

By	Viv (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Wow! I am blown away by this debut novel. I simply could not put it down until I had read every steamy page.
Edward is a broody discontented earl that at heart is just lonely. He's not your typical hero. He is scarred, has a big nose, thin lips and is described as unattractive. He does have a gorgeous body, though. His scars run beneath the skin as well and he carries some real emotional baggage. He reacts by lashing out and throwing fits of temper thus scaring off his previous secretaries.

Anna has fallen on hard times and shows up for the position of secretary while Edward is away. Upon his return, Anna has firmly settled into her role and Edward is enchanted by her tantalizing mouth. She is plain, but he cannot stop thinking of her mouth. He has no one else to replace her so what's an earl to do when faced with temptation? He keeps her in his employ, much to his future...ahem...discomfort.

What follows is page after page of sexual tension that Ms. Hoyt cleverly builds to a climax that is so hot even I, who am pretty jaded, was left breathless. The love scenes are exquisitely and graphically written, however, not in a clinical way. For those who love hero-jealousy and emotional angst, there's a bit of that as well. As they fall in love I felt they were meant for each other.

The story moves quickly-too quickly as I didn't want it to end-and I never felt it bogged down at any point. I highly recommend this book. I wouldn't have changed a single thing.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT!!, November 9, 2006

By	Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have to say that I read this in one day. I couldn't/wouldn't put it down. It is a historical romance with a ton of humor, sex, wit and two of the best main characters, ever.
Edward is an earl. He is the only living survivor of a family that was struck down by small pox. He has returned to his family home after many years, ready to marry and start a family.
He is known for his pox scarred face and bad temper.
Anna has been widowed for 6 years. She is living with her mother in law and a young woman they have taken in, in a small cottage. There finances are dwindling. Anna fast talks her way into a position as the newly returned Earls secretary. Unknowingly he is the same man that she "ran" into on the street.
They are so not the typical herione and hero of romances. She is tough and smart. He is ugly and ill tempered. But as the story goes on you will fall for him just as Anna does.
Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a story Anna finds that was written by Edwards now dead sister Elizabeth. I was as interested in that story as I was the main one.
There are crazy circumstances that bring them together, intamately, the first time. I can't say more without spoiling it.
All in all this was a delightful tale and I look forward to Ms. Hoyt's second tale, eagerly! Enjoy!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So much potential, yet fails to really satisfy, April 18, 2008

By	J. Bergin (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

THE RAVEN PRINCE is my first introduction to Elizabeth Hoyt, and this book represents what frustrates me so greatly about today's historical "wallpaper" romances. If the author had not told the reader on page 1 that the story was set in the late 1700s, and if she had not provided the basic period trappings of long gowns, phaetons, swords, and "macaronis" dressed in foppish clothes, I would have thought I was reading a contemporary. The characters have a 21st-century feel to them in their behavior, their relationship with one another, and their general mindset. There's not a lot of historical authenticity, and certainly no rich historical backdrop to the story. My other major complaint was that the sex really overshadowed the story and the relationship. I liked the characters and I did think they had good chemistry, but I kind of felt that the only thing they really had going for them was that they were great in bed (and chairs!) together. The sex scenes were well-written and steamy without being particularly vulgar, but when I read a romance, I want to know more about the characters -- who they are as individuals, why they're drawn to one other, what obstacles they overcome to keep their love alive. In the case of Anna and Edward and their relationship, I was perfectly willing to believe that they loved one another, but their relationship just lacked depth and emotional impact, and this story ultimately left me feeling a little disappointed. There's a lot of potential here, but it just didn't deliver what I was wanting.