Prince of Midnight

Rating:
Summary: Original and fantastic "highwayman" story
Review: The highwayman is a staple of the romance genre, but this one manages to be at times repulsive, pathetic and then sexy and heroic and the heroine...this one is as tough and independent as I have seen. I can not stress how wonderful it is to have a story that moves in unpredictable twists and turns and really is tough to put down. The setting in France and England, incredibly detailed and well selected. Many other romance novels are so predictable that you know the ending before the middle of the novel. Laura Kinsale doesn't have any cookie cutter characters and she does her homework.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Book - Horrible Printing Job
Review: This is a wonderful story of a heart-hardened heroine and a flawed, romantic, optimistic hero who rises to the occasion. Not only is this beautifully written, but there is a nice flip of roles. He is aching to be in love and she is desperately afraid if it, not just with him but with his horses and his wolf sidekick as well. The only really disappointing thing about this particular printing is the lack of respect for the written word. Whoever is responsible for printing this edition (eread.com) should be ashamed of themselves. I have never seen so many typos in anything. There must be well over a hundred mistakes in this book. Sometimes two and three on a page. Some of these mistakes made it hard to understand the intent of the author. Really a mess. If you can find an old issue read that. The one pictured here should be burned. If I were the author I would sue.

Rating:
Summary: definitely a keeper!!
Review: This seemed like it was going to be a very strange book and, in some ways, very unlike any other romance I've read. There's a former swordsman named S. T. Maitland who's half-deaf and loves to love and be loved, S. T.'s pet wolf who's afraid of women, and Leigh Strachan, a woman who's disguised herself as a man and wants to learn to use a sword so she avenge her family. In an odd sort of role reversal, it's Leigh who wants nothing to do with love and emotions, and S. T. who wants love (although mostly he wants a willing bedpartner). One thing that I noticed about this book that was really different from any other romance I've read was the point of view from which it was told. Most romance novels I've read mainly show things from the woman's point of view, with occaisional passages or chapters from the man's. In this book, that was reversed. It isn't even until the fourth chapter that you get to see anything from Leigh's point of view, or know her actual thoughts. It was interesting, and, although I wasn't sure at first how I'd like it, S. T. was fascinating. The only real problem I had with this book was Leigh, who was often very frusterating. I could understand why she didn't want to open up to S. T. - I though the author got that across quite nicely. However, I got tired of how cruel and cold she could be, and started wishing she'd just learn to trust someone a little. It was a great story, but sometimes Leigh really made me want to scream in frusteration. If I could, I think I would give this book a 4.5.

Rating:
Summary: very good, unexpected
Review: This seemed like it was going to be a very strange book and, in some ways, very unlike any other romance I've read. There's a former swordsman named S. T. Maitland who's half-deaf and loves to love and be loved, S. T.'s pet wolf who's afraid of women, and Leigh Strachan, a woman who's disguised herself as a man and wants to learn to use a sword so she avenge her family. In an odd sort of role reversal, it's Leigh who wants nothing to do with love and emotions, and S. T. who wants love (although mostly he wants a willing bedpartner). One thing that I noticed about this book that was really different from any other romance I've read was the point of view from which it was told. Most romance novels I've read mainly show things from the woman's point of view, with occaisional passages or chapters from the man's. In this book, that was reversed. It isn't even until the fourth chapter that you get to see anything from Leigh's point of view, or know her actual thoughts. It was interesting, and, although I wasn't sure at first how I'd like it, S. T. was fascinating. The only real problem I had with this book was Leigh, who was often very frusterating. I could understand why she didn't want to open up to S. T. - I though the author got that across quite nicely. However, I got tired of how cruel and cold she could be, and started wishing she'd just learn to trust someone a little. It was a great story, but sometimes Leigh really made me want to scream in frusteration. If I could, I think I would give this book a 4.5.

Rating:
Summary: definitely a keeper!!
Review: What a charmer! This was a pleasant surprise in a world of stereotypical strong macho men romances. I won't go over the story because the other reviewers already have but suffice it to say that the characterisation is wonderful, the heroism is not overblown and the human flaws are honestly and openly dealt with. Lovely.