The Prince and I

Karen Hawkins

Aug 2015 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

A beautiful Scottish Robin Hood meets her match in the New York Times–bestselling author’s historical romance with a fairytale twist.

Max Romanovin, Oxenburg’s warrior prince, is escorting his grandmother to a house party deep in the Highlands when he and his entourage are robbed by a group of ruffians led by a man the locals have dubbed “The Scottish Robin Hood.” The battle-savvy prince instantly realizes there’s something different about this thief, and it’s not just the Scottish accent—it’s the fact that “he” is really a “she.”

Lady Murian, a young widow out for revenge against the powerful earl who killed her husband and stole his birthright, is now living in the woods with her family’s banished retainers. To stay alive, she and her band of men rob rich nobles coming to visit the evil earl. But when she ambushes the Prince of Oxenburg’s golden coach, she gets far more than she expected. For when the prince uncovers her true identity, she’s afraid that he might be the real thief . . . of her heart.

Ratings and reviews

THE PRINCE AND I is an absolutely enchanting and ingenious story based on a retelling of Robin Hood. Prince Gregori Maksim Aleksandr Romanovin, known to his friends as Max, is accompanying his grandmother the Grand Duchess Natasha Nikolaevna to Scotland. “Tata Natasha” wants to retrieve something that was taken from her a few months before by the Earl of Loudan. On their way to Loudan’s Rowallen Castle, they are sort of attacked by a band of very well-mannered highwaymen, and relieved of some of their possessions. Their leader is a young widow, Murian MacDonald Muir, whose husband was killed by the Earl, and she has vowed to take back her Rowallen, her home. Meanwhile, she is struggling to help her band of widows, children and two men stay afloat. THE PRINCE AND I begins with a breathtaking swordfight, it got my full attention right away, and I could not stop reading, I would not stop reading! What a marvellous story! I’m not usually fond of retellings, but this book looked good, and it is beyond magnificent! Ms. Hawkins weaves a terrific story around the legend, Murian is an exceptionally fascinating character: she is brave, dedicated to her people, clever, loyal; a perfect heroine. And Max is truly a Prince Charming: a former general in the war, he is an honourable man, but also considerate and caring. Murian and Max’s road to romance is fraught with several ambushes, and to say the least, it’s difficult for them to be together, but how positively delectable is every little moment they manage to steal. Tata Natasha is an eccentric, cantankerous, but clever and kind-hearted old lady, and every one of Murian’s band of sort-of-thieves is fabulous. THE PRINCE AND I is an exceptional book, each page is filled with elegant, luminous and eloquent prose, vivid descriptions of the scenery and the characters, witty banter, all sorts of plot twists and surprises, and a romance for the ages. There is not one dull paragraph, not one superfluous chapter, not one word out of place. And the ending is positively enthralling! THE PRINCE AND I is an unforgettable story filled with love and hope, and it will be cherished for many years to come. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I will be waiting with bated breath for the next instalment! I wish I could give 15 stars: 5 for the story, 5 for the characters, and 5 for the writing! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the story flow to be disjointed, and rather flat, even though I enjoyed the characters and general line of the story. That, along with multiple spelling errors really pushed this book to the back burner for me. Usually Karen Hawkins does a fantastic book, but I didn't find this one very good. Sad that I paid 9.00 for it because its not the quality I have gotten from this author in the past.... Well c'est la vie I suppose. I'm sure the next book by her that I read will be wonderful-even brilliant authors have off days.

An adventurous story filled with unexpected thrills, fascinating characters and hidden agenda's. Under Karen Hawkins skillful hand The Prince and I became a glorious romance full of triumph, determination and intrigue. As I read through every page the images were so vivid I almost felt like I was there. The experience was so captivating I felt the emotions as if they were my own. Murian's convictions lead her down a dangerous road but she did not pull back. She refused to be rescued by anyone but herself. That is a heroine I can look up to. Gregori is thrust into a situation that he never saw on the horizon. Will he follow his head or listen to his heart? I received an ARC of the Prince and I in exchange for an honest review. Amidst all the chaos Karen Hawkins has created a romance that sticks in the mind and entrances the soul.

About the author

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond series is a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors for her to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, check in with her at Facebook.com/AuthorKarenHawkins, on Instagram @KarenHawkinsAuthor, and on her website KarenHawkins.com.