Lucy Craddock-Hayes has no idea how her life will change when she saves Viscount Simon Iddesleigh from death.  She comes upon Simon’s naked and beaten body on her way home. Taking him with her, she saves his life.  Simon’s enemies want him dead and his survival renews their attempts on his life.  Sparks fly between Lucy and Simon but their future happiness depends upon the actions Simon will take on his enemies. 

The Serpent Prince is another winning novel from Ms. Hoyt’s imagination.  From the opening pages, the reader is swept away into Lucy and Simon’s world.  Lucy is a naïve, honest and innocent country miss.  She has a very good sense of what is right and what is wrong.  Her world is thrown upside down when Simon sweeps her off her feet.  Simon is a man after revenge. Ethan, his older brother was killed in a duel but the factors that caused it points to murder.  Simon has been picking off the men involved one by one and is close to accomplishing his goals.  He has experienced some of the worst life has to offer.  However, he becomes very lovable as his character is developed and we can see the amount of pain that is locked up within him.   Lucy and Simon are great together.  There is tenderness, romance and some very erotic scenes between them.  His love for Lucy is the catalyst for the changes Simon tries to make in his life.  The author does a wonderful job of resolving all these issues and pulling it all together at the end. 

It is not only Lucy and Simon that makes this book so enjoyable.  There are quite a few characters, major and minor, including Theodora (Pocket) and Christian who are positive additions to the story.  Pocket was just adorable and she stole all the scenes she was in. This reader also wondered what happened to Christian and his family as he played a pivotal part in the story.  

The Serpent Prince can be a little dark at times but it is well worth it.  Historical romances lovers should run to their nearest bookstore for a copy.  This reader looks forward to the next creation from Ms. Hoyt.

Reviewed by Susan Tam for The Road to Romance

August 30, 2007