The Lady and the Lion (Once Upon a Time) by Kay Hooper
Series: Once Upon a Time #6
on December 13th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Pages: 192
Goodreads

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.