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Once Upon a Time #5
The Lady and the Lion
The Mysterious Spellbinder...
At first she was only a voice in the darkness before dawn, but soon Keith Donovan was haunted, obsessed by the woman who'd listened to his cynical, desperate murmurings, and shared secrets of her own troubled heart. He'd never expected her to be so impossibly lovely, nor did Erin Prentice imagine that her powerful, anonymous companion of the night could fill her with recklessness...and sweep her into his dangerous quest for revenge. Something beyond reason bound her to this man, whose ruthless passion overwhelmed her in a tidal wave of primitive demand that thrilled and terrified her. Keith was her destiny, her crossroads -- and Erin knew she had no choice but to welcome the fire that flared between them, even if he could never promise her always. But when he was forced to choose between love and rage, between tomorrow and yesterday, would the untamed spirit that first drew her to him find the courage to surrender his grief?
At first she was only a voice in the darkness before dawn, but soon Keith Donovan was haunted, obsessed by the woman who'd listened to his cynical, desperate murmurings, and shared secrets of her own troubled heart. He'd never expected her to be so impossibly lovely, nor did Erin Prentice imagine that her powerful, anonymous companion of the night could fill her with recklessness...and sweep her into his dangerous quest for revenge. Something beyond reason bound her to this man, whose ruthless passion overwhelmed her in a tidal wave of primitive demand that thrilled and terrified her. Keith was her destiny, her crossroads -- and Erin knew she had no choice but to welcome the fire that flared between them, even if he could never promise her always. But when he was forced to choose between love and rage, between tomorrow and yesterday, would the untamed spirit that first drew her to him find the courage to surrender his grief?
- GenresRomanceContemporary
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
About the author
Kay Hooper
109 books2,457 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 22, 2016
FINAL DECISION: I loved this book because of the moody atmosphere, the great use of the fairy tale concept and the connection between the characters. Yes, there is insta-love, but in the fairy tale concept, it works.
THE STORY: Erin Prentice is taking a vacation from the controlling nature of her father when she meets a voice across a hotel balcony. Keith Donovan intends to take revenge on the men who killed his family. He is playing a dangerous game and doesn't have time for romance. Despite this, however, Keith is pulled by Erin's voice and her reminding him who he actually is.
OPINION: I loved this book. The story is loosely inspired by the tale of a man who lives as a lion by day and a man by night. The idea of duality, of hidden identities is what this book is based on.
Keith Donovan is a man who seeks revenge. Pretending to be a cartel member by night, he is attracted to the moments in the dawn when he talks to the hidden woman in the next hotel balcony because it grounds him and makes him remember who he actually is. He risks getting lost in the role that he is playing.
Erin Prentice is a woman who is trying to find out her own identity after living so much for her father's life. She accepts the extreme limits that Keith places on their relationship because she falls for him and wants what she can get. She isn't weak and she knows that there are limits to what she can accept, but she wants what she can get right now.
I loved the way this story developed as one about revenge and the power of love. About choice and pain and what makes life worth living. Yes, there is instant love here and the story isn't really realistic, but the characters are intriguing and I love how the story focuses on their relationship rather than getting lost in the crime story.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally published as a Loveswept series romance in 1990.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE LADY AND THE LION is book six in the Once Upon a Time series (although it was published fifth). These books can be read as standalones as they only are connected by the fairytale concept and the matchmaker who makes brief appearances in each of the book.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
THE STORY: Erin Prentice is taking a vacation from the controlling nature of her father when she meets a voice across a hotel balcony. Keith Donovan intends to take revenge on the men who killed his family. He is playing a dangerous game and doesn't have time for romance. Despite this, however, Keith is pulled by Erin's voice and her reminding him who he actually is.
OPINION: I loved this book. The story is loosely inspired by the tale of a man who lives as a lion by day and a man by night. The idea of duality, of hidden identities is what this book is based on.
Keith Donovan is a man who seeks revenge. Pretending to be a cartel member by night, he is attracted to the moments in the dawn when he talks to the hidden woman in the next hotel balcony because it grounds him and makes him remember who he actually is. He risks getting lost in the role that he is playing.
Erin Prentice is a woman who is trying to find out her own identity after living so much for her father's life. She accepts the extreme limits that Keith places on their relationship because she falls for him and wants what she can get. She isn't weak and she knows that there are limits to what she can accept, but she wants what she can get right now.
I loved the way this story developed as one about revenge and the power of love. About choice and pain and what makes life worth living. Yes, there is instant love here and the story isn't really realistic, but the characters are intriguing and I love how the story focuses on their relationship rather than getting lost in the crime story.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally published as a Loveswept series romance in 1990.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE LADY AND THE LION is book six in the Once Upon a Time series (although it was published fifth). These books can be read as standalones as they only are connected by the fairytale concept and the matchmaker who makes brief appearances in each of the book.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
September 4, 2018
This book was different in a good way. I loved the connection of the characters right from the beginning. This sort of Insta love was good in this fairytale setting. I would have given it 4.5 or 5 stars if the epilogue had been better. After their deep emotional story I was let down by the lack of glimpse into the future.
November 4, 2022
Getting tired of this series
January 5, 2016
Found this in one of my many boxes of romances in which I rummage Friday nights when I am looking for something unspecified. This was classical Kay Hooper - as I remember her from fifteen years ago. Sweet and touching story. The interesting tidbit from "older" book is that modern heroine was still a virgin - and her lover appreciated that deeply; you can hardly find stuff like this in more modern books. This book was definitely a fun discovery.
August 24, 2018
this book has been given a whole new cover and a Kindle edition.
It's fairly short and the kindle version does not list it as being in the middle of the series. but, I doubt if it makes much difference without re-reading the rest of them, I did not feel like there were extra characters that I felt lost seeing them in the story.
its pretty short and more than a little far fetched.
It's fairly short and the kindle version does not list it as being in the middle of the series. but, I doubt if it makes much difference without re-reading the rest of them, I did not feel like there were extra characters that I felt lost seeing them in the story.
its pretty short and more than a little far fetched.
August 31, 2016
Loveswept
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews