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House of Terriot #3
Prince of Fools
A dark prince to her Cinderella barmaid . . .
Rico . . . Prince in the shapeshifter House of Terriot
Reckless, hotheaded Rico Terriot seeks purpose and a sense of pride training the resentful guardians of New Orleans to defend a city besieged by a deadly outside force. Torn between his desire for his brother’s mate and the woman tied to the child of another, protecting their future happiness means denying his own on a dangerous path to redemption.
One night of stolen pleasure he didn’t remember and she couldn’t forget…
Amber . . . a single mother hiding a terrible past
Rico Terriot was the stuff of dreams . . . lately all of hers. But there’s no happily-ever-after for someone living in the shadows, protecting dangerous secrets that threaten her and her daughter. Dare she believe in a fairytale prince when he comes to her rescue, not knowing the price he’ll pay for making her troubles his own? From world’s so far apart, is love strong enough to hold them together . . . and keep them alive?
Rico . . . Prince in the shapeshifter House of Terriot
Reckless, hotheaded Rico Terriot seeks purpose and a sense of pride training the resentful guardians of New Orleans to defend a city besieged by a deadly outside force. Torn between his desire for his brother’s mate and the woman tied to the child of another, protecting their future happiness means denying his own on a dangerous path to redemption.
One night of stolen pleasure he didn’t remember and she couldn’t forget…
Amber . . . a single mother hiding a terrible past
Rico Terriot was the stuff of dreams . . . lately all of hers. But there’s no happily-ever-after for someone living in the shadows, protecting dangerous secrets that threaten her and her daughter. Dare she believe in a fairytale prince when he comes to her rescue, not knowing the price he’ll pay for making her troubles his own? From world’s so far apart, is love strong enough to hold them together . . . and keep them alive?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2017
3 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Gideon
52 books1,028 followersWith over 72 sales to her credit since her first publication in 1987, Michigan author Nancy Gideon’s writing career is as versatile as the romance market, itself. Her books encompass genres from historicals and regencies to contemporary suspense and the paranormal. Her works have been published overseas in Romanian, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Danish, German, Icelandic and Chinese, among other languages.
Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on the indie horror films In the Woods and Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played the character “Bar Extra.”
A national speaker on writing in general and romance in particular, Gideon is a Western Michigan University honors grad with a major in journalism and minors in history and communications. She’s a member of Novelist, Inc. and the Mid-Michigan, Greater Detroit, PASIC and FF&P chapters of Romance Writers of America®, and is former vice-president, published author co-liaison and award-winning newsletter editor for MMRWA.
The mother of two grown sons, one married and proud producer of her grandson and the other shanghaied into being her occasional assistant, she 's retired from 18 years as a legal assistant.
A prolific writer, Gideon who also writes as Dana Ransom and Lauren Giddings, attributes her creative output, which once peaked at seven novels in one year, to her love of history and a gift for storytelling. She also credits the discipline learned through a background in journalism and scheduling writing time around diaper changes, Scout meetings, band lessons and outings to the Zoo Boo...and, of course, OCD. The due date for her third book and her second son were on the same day...and both were early! When on deadline, she'd turn on the laptop between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to get a chapter in before work.
While the pace is often hectic, Gideon, a Gemini, enjoys tackling diverse projects. One month it’s researching the gritty existence of 1880’s Texas Rangers only to jump to modern themes of intrigue and possibly a legal thriller or two. Then, it’s back to the shadowy netheworld of shape shifters, vampires and movie serial killers. When not working on her latest plot twist before sunrise, even now that she no longer works 9-5, she enjoys indulging in Netflix, hosting her critique group, and feeding all things fur, fin and fowl. And, of course, reading.
Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on the indie horror films In the Woods and Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played the character “Bar Extra.”
A national speaker on writing in general and romance in particular, Gideon is a Western Michigan University honors grad with a major in journalism and minors in history and communications. She’s a member of Novelist, Inc. and the Mid-Michigan, Greater Detroit, PASIC and FF&P chapters of Romance Writers of America®, and is former vice-president, published author co-liaison and award-winning newsletter editor for MMRWA.
The mother of two grown sons, one married and proud producer of her grandson and the other shanghaied into being her occasional assistant, she 's retired from 18 years as a legal assistant.
A prolific writer, Gideon who also writes as Dana Ransom and Lauren Giddings, attributes her creative output, which once peaked at seven novels in one year, to her love of history and a gift for storytelling. She also credits the discipline learned through a background in journalism and scheduling writing time around diaper changes, Scout meetings, band lessons and outings to the Zoo Boo...and, of course, OCD. The due date for her third book and her second son were on the same day...and both were early! When on deadline, she'd turn on the laptop between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to get a chapter in before work.
While the pace is often hectic, Gideon, a Gemini, enjoys tackling diverse projects. One month it’s researching the gritty existence of 1880’s Texas Rangers only to jump to modern themes of intrigue and possibly a legal thriller or two. Then, it’s back to the shadowy netheworld of shape shifters, vampires and movie serial killers. When not working on her latest plot twist before sunrise, even now that she no longer works 9-5, she enjoys indulging in Netflix, hosting her critique group, and feeding all things fur, fin and fowl. And, of course, reading.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 1, 2017
Utterly captivating, Prince Of Fools is intense, fast-paced, paranormal romance/suspense at its best - A stunningly raw, heart-racing story that held me in a trance from cover to cover! The dark, deadly, damaged hero seeking redemption and strong, protective heroine living in the shadows came together in a sultry dance that escalated this book and couple to the position of my favorite of the H.o.T. series thus far. I wasn't expecting to fall head-over-heels for the naughty Prince of Fools, but I found Rico simply irresistible . . . in more ways than one!
Frederick (Rico) Terriot – aka the Prince of Fools - a prince who flaunts his crown and owns his cloak of privilege like a second skin. Most only see the arrogant, flamboyant, sex-on-a-stick playboy, strutting his stuff with a deliciously dirty swagger in his step, liquid courage in his hand, and a rotation of women in his bed - unfortunately, not the one he desires most...his brother's mate. Driven by the old green-eyed monster, Rico can't resist one last jab to ease his wounded pride. A few carelessly tossed hurtful words and a fight between brothers ensues . . . until the ever mysterious, protective barmaid Amber intervenes, capturing Rico's attention and changing the playing field when she takes him home with her. Soon, for the first time in a long time, he feels needed as he steps up for the woman and child who has captured his attention, finding himself willing to do anything to protect them. If only he can convince Amber that he's worthy of their trust . . .
Amber James works as a barmaid at the shapeshifter bar Cheveux du Chien. A beautiful, sensuous woman, she lives in the shadows and sleeps with one eye open lest past demons come calling during the night. Ever diligent, Amber is a strong, courageous, protective lioness standing guard over her cub - her beautiful daughter, Evie. As a woman concealing dark, deadly secrets, she understands that Cinderella's slipper doesn't come in her size, carriages turn into pumpkins at midnight, and real princes don't choose girls like her. And still, she risks everything by stepping in to save one. Question is...who will save her when her worst nightmare comes calling?
Rico and Amber's hearts and worlds collide in Prince of Fools. Time's running out for them and the people of New Orleans as deadly forces from the North threaten to invade the city. Past enemies and territorial rivals must ban together or fall. Rico Terriot will stand as the self-appointed trainer of NOLA's strange band of dock workers, seeking new purpose and self-worth while battling his way through a convoluted web of lies, secrets, and betrayals woven by traitors masked as allies looking to sink a knife into his back. Even as he vows to stand for the city and his loved ones, all hell breaks loose. And yet, Rico's toughest battle ever may turn out to be an affair of the heart.
Prince of Fools is an intriguing, emotional, seductive story that ignites the pages with desire - of so many kinds. Gideon masterfully intertwines both on-going and new plot lines, maneuvering twists and turns that had me gasping, crying, laughing, and sighing all the way through the last page, satisfied in the end yet craving more. As always, she excels at pitting dark, deadly, wet-dream bad*ss heroes worthy of redemption against strong, courageous, sensuous, and often snarky heroines who give as good as they take, and this couple is no exception. The sexual chemistry between Rico and Amber sizzles and sparks before erupting into flames, making me squirm in my seat while fanning myself as I burned through pages seeking more! An impressive, star-studded support cast includes several By Moonlight favorites, adding to the mystic and suspense while enhancing the plot line as well as the overall series story arc. Fans of the series will cheer and swoon over the return of Max, Alain, and others and yet, new readers will enjoy it as a standalone as Gideon flawlessly fleshes the story out with needed background information. Intense, seductive suspense – Prince Of Fools is another Page Burning, Must Read by an author that delivers every single time!
*It was my pleasure to beta read this book!
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings and Reviews
Frederick (Rico) Terriot – aka the Prince of Fools - a prince who flaunts his crown and owns his cloak of privilege like a second skin. Most only see the arrogant, flamboyant, sex-on-a-stick playboy, strutting his stuff with a deliciously dirty swagger in his step, liquid courage in his hand, and a rotation of women in his bed - unfortunately, not the one he desires most...his brother's mate. Driven by the old green-eyed monster, Rico can't resist one last jab to ease his wounded pride. A few carelessly tossed hurtful words and a fight between brothers ensues . . . until the ever mysterious, protective barmaid Amber intervenes, capturing Rico's attention and changing the playing field when she takes him home with her. Soon, for the first time in a long time, he feels needed as he steps up for the woman and child who has captured his attention, finding himself willing to do anything to protect them. If only he can convince Amber that he's worthy of their trust . . .
Amber James works as a barmaid at the shapeshifter bar Cheveux du Chien. A beautiful, sensuous woman, she lives in the shadows and sleeps with one eye open lest past demons come calling during the night. Ever diligent, Amber is a strong, courageous, protective lioness standing guard over her cub - her beautiful daughter, Evie. As a woman concealing dark, deadly secrets, she understands that Cinderella's slipper doesn't come in her size, carriages turn into pumpkins at midnight, and real princes don't choose girls like her. And still, she risks everything by stepping in to save one. Question is...who will save her when her worst nightmare comes calling?
Rico and Amber's hearts and worlds collide in Prince of Fools. Time's running out for them and the people of New Orleans as deadly forces from the North threaten to invade the city. Past enemies and territorial rivals must ban together or fall. Rico Terriot will stand as the self-appointed trainer of NOLA's strange band of dock workers, seeking new purpose and self-worth while battling his way through a convoluted web of lies, secrets, and betrayals woven by traitors masked as allies looking to sink a knife into his back. Even as he vows to stand for the city and his loved ones, all hell breaks loose. And yet, Rico's toughest battle ever may turn out to be an affair of the heart.
Prince of Fools is an intriguing, emotional, seductive story that ignites the pages with desire - of so many kinds. Gideon masterfully intertwines both on-going and new plot lines, maneuvering twists and turns that had me gasping, crying, laughing, and sighing all the way through the last page, satisfied in the end yet craving more. As always, she excels at pitting dark, deadly, wet-dream bad*ss heroes worthy of redemption against strong, courageous, sensuous, and often snarky heroines who give as good as they take, and this couple is no exception. The sexual chemistry between Rico and Amber sizzles and sparks before erupting into flames, making me squirm in my seat while fanning myself as I burned through pages seeking more! An impressive, star-studded support cast includes several By Moonlight favorites, adding to the mystic and suspense while enhancing the plot line as well as the overall series story arc. Fans of the series will cheer and swoon over the return of Max, Alain, and others and yet, new readers will enjoy it as a standalone as Gideon flawlessly fleshes the story out with needed background information. Intense, seductive suspense – Prince Of Fools is another Page Burning, Must Read by an author that delivers every single time!
*It was my pleasure to beta read this book!
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings and Reviews
February 21, 2018
Rico!!! 'Nuf said!!
November 12, 2017
I've always enjoyed Ms. Gideon's shifters but I think that Rico is my new favorite. He's got something that the rest don't... a decency. He puts others in front of himself and is willing to let others think the worst of him, but he still will do what is right and good.
When Rico realizes that the girl of his dreams is really his brother's wife, he finds comfort in a family... the thing he needs most. When Amber does everything to keep her daughter safe, she takes a moment to find love for herself... a wish or a dream, which can become true if she only lets it.
When Rico realizes that the girl of his dreams is really his brother's wife, he finds comfort in a family... the thing he needs most. When Amber does everything to keep her daughter safe, she takes a moment to find love for herself... a wish or a dream, which can become true if she only lets it.
September 25, 2018
Definitely my favourite of the Terriot's so far... I truly could not put this down, and finished it in a day. I loved getting to know Amber and Evie better - just shows you that you don't know what someone you might see all the time has been through in their life. Such a strong woman, it was difficult for Amber to let Rico in. But, what a reward once she did. Rico proves himself a wonderful mate, strong and ever-protective of his 2 girls.
5 ★
5 ★
September 6, 2019
While this novel has flaws, at long last, in the thirteenth of Gideon’s shifter novels, Gideon has given us romantic leads I can respect and enjoy from start to finish for their courage, compassion and strength while being flawed with enormous baggage from the past to overcome. While in previous novels neither Frederick ‘Rico’ Terriot nor Amber James (see the early Moonlight novels) were presented as sympathetic characters, in this and Prince of Power they bring out each other’s better selves. Amber’s daughter Evie adds heart and laughs in her relationship to both of them. Rico’s growth as a man and a leader is inspiring, including an exceptional rallying speech up there with King Aragorn’s and Shakespeare’s Henry V. All three main characters’ courage and sacrifice in the face of their worst terrors is heart-wrenching and stirring. And their humility a rare but welcome thing in the Land of Terriot. This novel is a pivotal turning point in the unfolding prelude to war with both the North and Commissioner Brady.
There are a few unsettling foreshadows and questions concerning Pearl, Alain Babineau, Kip, and the question of Terriot succession that may or may not be addressed in the next novel. One point of confusion: do Adam, Lee, Derrick and Stephen only have daughters, cause it sounds like they have several offspring among them? Otherwise why will Colin’s son be clan heir? Oscar is a second generation son born before him. And why will a second generation child of any gender unless a son of Cale inherit before a first generation brother? These questions of inheritance of the Terriot throne have been raised since Oscar was introduced in the Moonlight novels despite Bram having twelve sons, yet Gideon has yet to provide a clear explanation of the rules. Prince of Shadows showed the heir was whoever Bram chose (as long as his bonding remained secret—which is a whole other confusing kettle of fish about the conflicting explanations about a bonded male’s fertility as explained by Max’s dad Rollo vs Bram, bonded after 3 sons continuing to sire at least 10 other children).
Prince of Fools, though the first to give a reason for it, continues to use Max Savoie as only a genie in the bottle to provide safe sanctuary or do some needed hoodoo to make the current Terriot Prince’s survival possible, while silently showing how inept his leadership is. To date we get the impression that only a small percent of NOLA shifters consider Max their leader and certainly not their king. Other than the Towers and a school, which are used only by that small percentage, we readers aren’t privy to Max directly taking care of his people. The same ineffectiveness can be said of Philo, Jacques and Silas. The local shifter clan is deeply fractured and being badly compromised from infiltrators beginning years ago with no visible attempt by any of the its leaders to change that. Cale and now Rico have provided far more grassroots work to build creditability and trust than the four local leaders combined. Max is a king without subjects regardless of being the most powerful of them all one on one (except maybe Nica). Sure there’s that whole being clueless about Shifters in the Moonlight novels and the memories stripped in the Shadows series, but by the time Cale Terriot and his brothers come to NOLA Max is back to operating at at least eighty percent while the threats multiply and the fractures continue. I can’t help feeling a loss of respect and credibility for the touted Savior of his people, in spite of him being my favorite character in the series, closely followed by Cale.
There are a few unsettling foreshadows and questions concerning Pearl, Alain Babineau, Kip, and the question of Terriot succession that may or may not be addressed in the next novel. One point of confusion: do Adam, Lee, Derrick and Stephen only have daughters, cause it sounds like they have several offspring among them? Otherwise why will Colin’s son be clan heir? Oscar is a second generation son born before him. And why will a second generation child of any gender unless a son of Cale inherit before a first generation brother? These questions of inheritance of the Terriot throne have been raised since Oscar was introduced in the Moonlight novels despite Bram having twelve sons, yet Gideon has yet to provide a clear explanation of the rules. Prince of Shadows showed the heir was whoever Bram chose (as long as his bonding remained secret—which is a whole other confusing kettle of fish about the conflicting explanations about a bonded male’s fertility as explained by Max’s dad Rollo vs Bram, bonded after 3 sons continuing to sire at least 10 other children).
Prince of Fools, though the first to give a reason for it, continues to use Max Savoie as only a genie in the bottle to provide safe sanctuary or do some needed hoodoo to make the current Terriot Prince’s survival possible, while silently showing how inept his leadership is. To date we get the impression that only a small percent of NOLA shifters consider Max their leader and certainly not their king. Other than the Towers and a school, which are used only by that small percentage, we readers aren’t privy to Max directly taking care of his people. The same ineffectiveness can be said of Philo, Jacques and Silas. The local shifter clan is deeply fractured and being badly compromised from infiltrators beginning years ago with no visible attempt by any of the its leaders to change that. Cale and now Rico have provided far more grassroots work to build creditability and trust than the four local leaders combined. Max is a king without subjects regardless of being the most powerful of them all one on one (except maybe Nica). Sure there’s that whole being clueless about Shifters in the Moonlight novels and the memories stripped in the Shadows series, but by the time Cale Terriot and his brothers come to NOLA Max is back to operating at at least eighty percent while the threats multiply and the fractures continue. I can’t help feeling a loss of respect and credibility for the touted Savior of his people, in spite of him being my favorite character in the series, closely followed by Cale.
November 12, 2017
I should know better than to read Nancy Gideon's books at night. She kept me up reading Prince of Fools until three in the morning. Each time I figured out where the story was going, she gave it a twist. Family is essential to both Amber and Rico. She would do anything to protect her daughter. He, always on the outside looking in, yearns to be part of that family. Yet, his clan makes demands on him that could get him killed.
At times, I wanted to yell at Amber to trust Rico, before remembering she has good reasons for that lack of trust in men. Rico's transformation from hot-head to a man with purpose was rewarding. The over-arcing theme of the series jacked up into high gear with this book. Hang onto your hat for a wild ride.
At times, I wanted to yell at Amber to trust Rico, before remembering she has good reasons for that lack of trust in men. Rico's transformation from hot-head to a man with purpose was rewarding. The over-arcing theme of the series jacked up into high gear with this book. Hang onto your hat for a wild ride.
October 24, 2017
Better and better..... Every new book is my favorite!
October 17, 2020
Interesting, can't wait to read Kip's story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews