Review: The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards

The Rogue's Princess
by Eve Edwards
Series: The Lacey Chronicles #3
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: January 8, 2013
Genre: YA Historical Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

England, 1586
Mercy Hart, daughter of one of London's wealthiest and most devout cloth merchants, is expected to marry her equal in rank and piety. Certainly not Kit Turner, a lowly actor and playboy, who also happens to be the late Earl of Dorset's illegitimate son. But when a chance encounter throws them together, Kit instantly falls for the beautiful Mercy's charms . . . and Mercy can't deny the passion that Kit stirs within her. She seems ready to defy her father's wishes--ready to renounce her family and her family name for true love. Will Mercy have the strength to stand by him? Or will she succumb to pressure and break his heart? 

I have not read the other books in the Lacey Chronicles and was pleased that each works well as a standalone. The Rogue’s Princess shares the tale of Mercy Hart and Kit Tuner. Set in 1586, this historical romance beautifully captures the tone of the times and the power of young love. While the tale was predictable the characters themselves were delightful.

Mercy Hart is the daughter of a deeply religious and wealthy cloth merchant. She strives to be pure in the eyes of the lord and to subdue her own true nature. While at a friend’s dinner party, she meets the charismatic young Kit Turner and they fall in love. She believes him to be a merchant dealing with music, but he is a player at the theater. He is shocked to learn she has never been to the theater and encourages her to form her own opinion. Before the evening is over, he asks to call upon her father so that he may court her. She agrees and the tale that unfolds is full of angst, romance, betrayal, danger and choices. 

Poor Mercy, she grows up in a repressed, God fearing home and often thinks her wayward thoughts and feelings are a sin. She tries to be a good daughter and servant to the lord, but Kit awakens things in her and makes her question both her father and his religious views. Kit is the bastard son of an Earl and when his mother dies in childbirth he takes to acting at the age of fourteen. He is well respected in the theatrical community, but those in the upper class, and especially those that run in the Hart’s family circle, see the theater as the devils work. His youth and young love make him optimistic, and I really liked him. He is quite handsome, well spoken and quite determined. Other secondary characters added to the tale, and I found some of them refreshing.

Edwards weaves a delightfully accurate historical fiction. She captures the sentiments and political views of 1586 from the speech to religious views. While the romances itself was predictable, a few climatic twists placing main characters in peril had me completely enthralled as I searched for my happily-ever-after. I commend the author on how researched the period was. Her attention to details from the clothing to speech was impressive. Historical characters and events added to the tales authenticity. Even William Shakespeare was introduced. I enjoyed Edwards writing style and the flow of the tale.

Fans of historical fiction and romance will delight in The Rogue’s Princess. I look forward to reading the other books in the Lacey Chronicle Series. 

I want to thank Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Three and half cups of Earl Tea out of five