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A Midwinter Prince #2
The Lost Prince
Laurie and Sasha have built a bright new world together. Sasha is working for the Immigration Guidance Council, and Laurie is landing theatre roles he could once only have dreamed of. Best of all, they've spent the past two years enjoying the love they snatched from the jaws of Sasha's violent, dangerous past.
But Laurie has a history too. He's on edge, his talents increasing beyond his ability to deal with them. And although his father is dead, Laurie can't deny the turbulent genetic heritage the old man has bestowed on him. Only Sasha's love is keeping him anchored and sane – and Sasha is vulnerable, shaken by bad dreams about his life on the streets.
Then Laurie learns that Sasha's Romanian gang-lord father is on the loose in London, and his deepest fears boil to the surface. The last time Stefan's shadow fell, Sasha made a run for it, and Laurie can't bear the thought of losing him again. When Laurie lands a part in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, he abandons England for a dream of safety in the States, persuading the astonished Sasha to come with him.
But the dream becomes a waking nightmare for both of them beneath an alien Californian sun. Laurie must meet his demons head-on, and Sasha must confront the inner barricades that have kept him from treating Laurie as a comrade as well as a lover and a friend. The frosts of a midwinter London brought them together – will this blazing summer crack them apart, or forge enduring love from first romance?
But Laurie has a history too. He's on edge, his talents increasing beyond his ability to deal with them. And although his father is dead, Laurie can't deny the turbulent genetic heritage the old man has bestowed on him. Only Sasha's love is keeping him anchored and sane – and Sasha is vulnerable, shaken by bad dreams about his life on the streets.
Then Laurie learns that Sasha's Romanian gang-lord father is on the loose in London, and his deepest fears boil to the surface. The last time Stefan's shadow fell, Sasha made a run for it, and Laurie can't bear the thought of losing him again. When Laurie lands a part in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, he abandons England for a dream of safety in the States, persuading the astonished Sasha to come with him.
But the dream becomes a waking nightmare for both of them beneath an alien Californian sun. Laurie must meet his demons head-on, and Sasha must confront the inner barricades that have kept him from treating Laurie as a comrade as well as a lover and a friend. The frosts of a midwinter London brought them together – will this blazing summer crack them apart, or forge enduring love from first romance?
ebook
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
Harper Fox
61 books1,114 followersHarper Fox is an M/M author with a mission. She’s produced six critically acclaimed novels in a year and is trying to dispel rumours that she has a clone/twin sister locked away in a study in her basement. In fact she simply continues working on what she loves best– creating worlds and stories for the huge cast of lovely gay men queuing up inside her head. She lives in rural Northumberland in northern England and does most of her writing at a pensioned-off kitchen table in her back garden, often with blanket and hot water bottle.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 9, 2016
(^^^ wow...this is a long blurb!)
...which also kinda describes how I felt about this book. Long. My own pondering: of all the AMAZING Harper Fox books (and I am a BIG fan), A Midwinter Prince would be the last one I'd choose to have a sequel. I wasn't a huge fan of the book, but if there's gonna be more story to be told about Laurie & Sasha, I guess I want to read it. Did I mention I wasn't a big fan of book 1? Hmm...what could possibly go wrong?
Well, as much as it pains me to say it, the first 50% or so, I was feeling itchy...bored...not wanting to read on. And since I do not DNF books, I felt forced. And does that ever end well? And then it hit...the 70% mark and a turn that made me SO angry and honestly made me really turn on Laurie, a MC I'm already losing love for...I almost threw my hands up and quit. QUIT...on a HARPER FOX book!
And then the impossible happened...she turned it around. In a mere 30% of a story, she brought everything together and made me forgive the MC's and root for them again. To the point that I actually enjoyed it by the end...kinda.
And I realize this review has nothing to do about the story and all to do about my reading journey through the book...and for that I apologize. But, in truth, the book remains not the best of Fox books...both 1 & 2 aren't great. And unless you're gobbling up Fox's entire catalog, you could probably pass these over. I'm just amazed that by sticking to my do-not-DNF rule, I actually saw a turnaround...a save. And *high five* to Ms. Fox for that! And yay me for sticking it out! Woot!
May 18, 2015
I will read anything Harper Fox cares to write. The prequel to this, "A Midwinter Prince", was a favorite for me, and I was delighted to see these two men again.
This is another emotional roller-coaster ride of a book. There is a lot of non-communicating which drove me a bit crazy. Laurie's fanatical desire to protect Sasha at all costs without explaining why resulted in some wrenching emotion and a strong desire to smack him silly. This failure to allow your partner to be your equal is a relationship breaker to me, especially when Laurie sees Sasha's career as subordinate and easily expendable. Not to mention (significant spoiler). I'd like to have seen Sasha push him harder and sooner, rather than protecting him in turn by giving in to his inexplicable distress and demands. There were some aspects of Laurie's character (like some of the things he doesn't bother to know about people who are important to him) that added to my impatience with him. But it wasn't an implausible extension of who they were in the first book, and Laurie's penchant for melodrama.
This book showed a little less of Fox's astonishing talent for lyrical phrases and imagery, but is still a smooth read that starts slow, and picks up speed and emotion as it moves along. The action climax is a wild ride, and the end does evolve into sweetness. You definitely should read the first book first.
This is another emotional roller-coaster ride of a book. There is a lot of non-communicating which drove me a bit crazy. Laurie's fanatical desire to protect Sasha at all costs without explaining why resulted in some wrenching emotion and a strong desire to smack him silly. This failure to allow your partner to be your equal is a relationship breaker to me, especially when Laurie sees Sasha's career as subordinate and easily expendable. Not to mention (significant spoiler). I'd like to have seen Sasha push him harder and sooner, rather than protecting him in turn by giving in to his inexplicable distress and demands. There were some aspects of Laurie's character (like some of the things he doesn't bother to know about people who are important to him) that added to my impatience with him. But it wasn't an implausible extension of who they were in the first book, and Laurie's penchant for melodrama.
This book showed a little less of Fox's astonishing talent for lyrical phrases and imagery, but is still a smooth read that starts slow, and picks up speed and emotion as it moves along. The action climax is a wild ride, and the end does evolve into sweetness. You definitely should read the first book first.
November 30, 2013
Sigh.
I love Harper Fox, really I do. She's one of my all-time favorite mm writers, and in many places her gift with prose shines in this book.
But.....but....
This entire story is just overflowing with overwrought emotion. Back and forth, back and forth, both MCs are forever miserable, and/or giving up everything for what they think will be best for the other guy, and/or hiding things, and/or lying to each other. As my family would say about something melodramatic, the whole book is just fraught with fraughtness. Yeesh. The experience was actively tiring, and I found myself often looking for an excuse to put the book down a bit just from the strain of the constant emotional crises.
And Laurie -- Laurie was such a jerk and such an idiot for most of the book that I just couldn't feel all that much sympathy for him.
And then there's the plot, which is fairly mind-numbingly stupid at points. Like -- . And like . Like . And there's much more, but you get the drift. Ohhh, but I do think the ever-evolving movie plot deserves big kudos. It was so consistently and hilariously bad that I really enjoyed being fed its various inanities snippet by snippet.
Despite the plot problems, there are still many flashes of Fox's writing talent.
A few examples:
When Sasha is having a nightmare -- Laurie sat and watched his lover stretched out on the rack of his dreams.
When they have had an argument -- Laurie's heart felt like a stone in his chest. His flesh and his ribs ached around it.
When Laurie realizes that Sasha is there with him -- Laurie shifted one more time to be quite sure, and then lay still again, joy spreading through him in bright rings.
And after nearly everything, when Laurie isn't quite sure what's going to happen next -- There it was – the anxious shiver, the uncertainty of a boy who had crashed the barricades of manhood and stumbled away in pieces.
I do love that kind of writing. And, of course, Fox's talent for making scenes and locales vivid shines through at all times, as usual.
Oh, and there's a great nod to two of my favorite characters from another Fox book, which you'll have to find for yourselves. Nyah nyah.
Because of the unrelenting over-emotionalism and the plot gaffes, I can't make myself give this 4 stars despite my love for Fox's prose. I'm rating this one at 3.4 stars and rounding down to 3.
I love Harper Fox, really I do. She's one of my all-time favorite mm writers, and in many places her gift with prose shines in this book.
But.....but....
This entire story is just overflowing with overwrought emotion. Back and forth, back and forth, both MCs are forever miserable, and/or giving up everything for what they think will be best for the other guy, and/or hiding things, and/or lying to each other. As my family would say about something melodramatic, the whole book is just fraught with fraughtness. Yeesh. The experience was actively tiring, and I found myself often looking for an excuse to put the book down a bit just from the strain of the constant emotional crises.
And Laurie -- Laurie was such a jerk and such an idiot for most of the book that I just couldn't feel all that much sympathy for him.
And then there's the plot, which is fairly mind-numbingly stupid at points. Like -- . And like . Like . And there's much more, but you get the drift. Ohhh, but I do think the ever-evolving movie plot deserves big kudos. It was so consistently and hilariously bad that I really enjoyed being fed its various inanities snippet by snippet.
Despite the plot problems, there are still many flashes of Fox's writing talent.
A few examples:
When Sasha is having a nightmare -- Laurie sat and watched his lover stretched out on the rack of his dreams.
When they have had an argument -- Laurie's heart felt like a stone in his chest. His flesh and his ribs ached around it.
When Laurie realizes that Sasha is there with him -- Laurie shifted one more time to be quite sure, and then lay still again, joy spreading through him in bright rings.
And after nearly everything, when Laurie isn't quite sure what's going to happen next -- There it was – the anxious shiver, the uncertainty of a boy who had crashed the barricades of manhood and stumbled away in pieces.
I do love that kind of writing. And, of course, Fox's talent for making scenes and locales vivid shines through at all times, as usual.
Oh, and there's a great nod to two of my favorite characters from another Fox book, which you'll have to find for yourselves. Nyah nyah.
Because of the unrelenting over-emotionalism and the plot gaffes, I can't make myself give this 4 stars despite my love for Fox's prose. I'm rating this one at 3.4 stars and rounding down to 3.
December 5, 2013
I plunged into "The Lost Prince" with only vague memories of "A Midwinter Prince" rattling about in my brain. More memories surfaced as I read - scraps of the first book's plot bubbled up, creating images that made what I was reading more understandable. This is a book for which one needs to have read the prequel.
Fox, like no other author I know, can take the archetype of the romantic couple (always a very British kind of couple, which is understandable) and give them weight and depth and reality. They are never just pretty ciphers skittering across a page to the inevitable HEA that her readers demand. Fox's readers demand a lot more. We want beautiful language; we want an intensely focused sense of place, a setting that is worthy of a cinematographer. We want people who think; who for all their flaws (and we want flaws, because that's only human) are believably good and reflect what we ourselves would like to be.
Laurie and Sasha fought to build their life. Very young and against large odds they somehow forged a relationship. Each of them had to escape a crippling context created by family; both had fathers who, in very different ways, threatened their very existence. Each of them brought gifts to the pairing; skills and brains and beauty, have no doubt. But they worked at this. They suffered and risked and, in the end won.
But the cocoon of happiness they have created is dependent upon the absence of two people from their world. When it turns out that one of those people is not, in fact, gone, it upsets the apple cart and sends Laurie into a panic. For all his brains and all his love for Sasha, Laurie acts alone. He breaks the first rule of all relationships and does not ask for guidance or share what he knows. For at the core of their love is a weakness, a small chink in the mortar that binds them together. Both men have a small, deeply buried reason to believe that the other might leave. These two tiny flaws in their faith in each other could spell disaster. And Harper Fox drags us unwillingly right there, putting their relationship under a microscope to see if it can survive the scrutiny.
Is there a book 3 for Laurie and Sasha? I think yes. No relationship as rich as this one should be left behind when the protagonists are only in their early 20s. I see plenty of gold in this mine. Clara. Marielle. Elizabeth. Careers. Life's traumas are not all big ones; but they offer up endless possibilities for exploration and pleasure.
Fox, like no other author I know, can take the archetype of the romantic couple (always a very British kind of couple, which is understandable) and give them weight and depth and reality. They are never just pretty ciphers skittering across a page to the inevitable HEA that her readers demand. Fox's readers demand a lot more. We want beautiful language; we want an intensely focused sense of place, a setting that is worthy of a cinematographer. We want people who think; who for all their flaws (and we want flaws, because that's only human) are believably good and reflect what we ourselves would like to be.
Laurie and Sasha fought to build their life. Very young and against large odds they somehow forged a relationship. Each of them had to escape a crippling context created by family; both had fathers who, in very different ways, threatened their very existence. Each of them brought gifts to the pairing; skills and brains and beauty, have no doubt. But they worked at this. They suffered and risked and, in the end won.
But the cocoon of happiness they have created is dependent upon the absence of two people from their world. When it turns out that one of those people is not, in fact, gone, it upsets the apple cart and sends Laurie into a panic. For all his brains and all his love for Sasha, Laurie acts alone. He breaks the first rule of all relationships and does not ask for guidance or share what he knows. For at the core of their love is a weakness, a small chink in the mortar that binds them together. Both men have a small, deeply buried reason to believe that the other might leave. These two tiny flaws in their faith in each other could spell disaster. And Harper Fox drags us unwillingly right there, putting their relationship under a microscope to see if it can survive the scrutiny.
Is there a book 3 for Laurie and Sasha? I think yes. No relationship as rich as this one should be left behind when the protagonists are only in their early 20s. I see plenty of gold in this mine. Clara. Marielle. Elizabeth. Careers. Life's traumas are not all big ones; but they offer up endless possibilities for exploration and pleasure.
November 1, 2013
My love for A Midwinter Prince is huge and I was almost afraid to read The Lost Prince incase it didn't live up to AMP. It did.
Every word is perfect. As ever Harper builds an amazing sense of place and setting. The emotions that Sasha and Laurie go through are honest and harsh. For the first time in a long time I had to put a book down because I was crying too hard to read it.
Brilliant from start to finish.
Every word is perfect. As ever Harper builds an amazing sense of place and setting. The emotions that Sasha and Laurie go through are honest and harsh. For the first time in a long time I had to put a book down because I was crying too hard to read it.
Brilliant from start to finish.
December 5, 2013
Harper Fox is my comfort author. I always know I will enjoy her writing and her plots, so when I've had my fill of dross (and there is a lot of it in the genre I prefer) I always pick up/download a Harper Fox novel.
This is a continuation novel of "The Midwinter Prince" and I would recommend they be read in order.
Unusually for Ms Fox, her characters leave the shores of Britain for the USA and return for the final climactic chapters.
I'm hoping that there is another novel to complete the sad yet euphoric love story that is "The Lost Prince."
A most definite 5 star piece of writing although not as poetical as some of Ms Fox's previous works.
This is a continuation novel of "The Midwinter Prince" and I would recommend they be read in order.
Unusually for Ms Fox, her characters leave the shores of Britain for the USA and return for the final climactic chapters.
I'm hoping that there is another novel to complete the sad yet euphoric love story that is "The Lost Prince."
A most definite 5 star piece of writing although not as poetical as some of Ms Fox's previous works.
November 9, 2017
I actually read this after reading the first book, and I don't think that Harper Fox could actually write something I didn't want to read, I felt that this was over long.
The last 30% of the book made it for me, but I did skim parts in the middle !
The last 30% of the book made it for me, but I did skim parts in the middle !
December 5, 2013
I love that this author's characters act like real people with real flaws. Their problems may not be in the realm of my experience, but I totally get how they react to them. Even if it's heartbreaking to see them make mistakes!
The boys spend much of the book hiding their biggest fears from each other and tension builds as we watch Laurie make one bad decision after another (but for all the right reasons!), moving ever closer to the inevitable, and potentially tragic, consequences. This book illustrates beautifully what can happen when people in a relationship try to deal with a problem on their own or think they can fix something without troubling the other person. But the reader gets to see how something that starts out seeming reasonable and right can spiral out of control in tiny baby steps until you're not sure if things can ever be right again.
Another wonderful story from Ms Fox.
The boys spend much of the book hiding their biggest fears from each other and tension builds as we watch Laurie make one bad decision after another (but for all the right reasons!), moving ever closer to the inevitable, and potentially tragic, consequences. This book illustrates beautifully what can happen when people in a relationship try to deal with a problem on their own or think they can fix something without troubling the other person. But the reader gets to see how something that starts out seeming reasonable and right can spiral out of control in tiny baby steps until you're not sure if things can ever be right again.
Another wonderful story from Ms Fox.
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 28, 2013 DNF at 40%: I am bewildered
I loved the first installment.
And was instantly bored by the sequel.
Laurie lost his charm - he is simply too beautiful, too shiny, too sensitive, too talented. Just too much.
And Sasha is so very damaged. So needy.
Their relationship swings between too good to be true and two boats miss each other in the night.
It is a strenous read, and I had too many deja vue feelings.
I feel that their story was told in A Midwinter Prince.
I don't feel like rating this, so I will not.
I loved the first installment.
And was instantly bored by the sequel.
Laurie lost his charm - he is simply too beautiful, too shiny, too sensitive, too talented. Just too much.
And Sasha is so very damaged. So needy.
Their relationship swings between too good to be true and two boats miss each other in the night.
It is a strenous read, and I had too many deja vue feelings.
I feel that their story was told in A Midwinter Prince.
I don't feel like rating this, so I will not.
September 14, 2022
I was captivated, but was not convinced by the whole story. The 11-year-old acting like a 20-year-old and 'leaving her bodyguard no choice but to give in' every time. And why Stephan was a threat was not clear to me, ever since book 1. The second-novel-trope of an established couple drifting apart was nothing new. Narration was good.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 11, 2022This is a “slight fault” DNF, so no rating. The writing is lovely as always, and the narration of the audio version was good (I did not get far enough to hear the bad American accents). But I truly don’t think there was enough of a CW for this book. An hour in and a there’s a lot of talk about Sasha’s past trauma and SA. It’s too much for me, and I wish that had been included in the blurb.
December 5, 2013
“I am convinced that we have to go through difficult, heartbreaking and emotional times to better understand who we are…from the inside out.” ~ Nishan Panwar
In 'The Lost Prince', sequel to 'The Midwinter's Prince' by Harper Fox, we pick up Laurie and Sasha's story two years later. Generally speaking, they are happy and prosperous, but they each have their demons to face before having a mature, loving relationship.
Laurie is as sweet and generous as ever and he adores Sasha even more than before. He loves acting and is quite good at it; in fact, maybe too good. Acting allows him to slip out of himself into someone else's skin, which, while convenient for the stage, is disconcerting for him in real life; it's beginning to catch up with him. Not having a good sense of self, he's making impulsive decisions. When he discovers that Sasha's father isn't in prison, as they assumed, but right there in London, Laurie panics. All he can think of is keeping Sasha safe and he unwisely resolves not to tell him. He fears that Sasha will run away like he did before; he's desperately afraid of losing him again. Laurie decides that the best way to protect Sasha is to get him as far away as possible, even though it's not truly what Laurie wants to do. Unfortunately, Laurie's thought processes are hampered by his impaired reasoning abilities, typical of a person with addictive behavior, someone needing a crutch to help him cope with life. Since he's effectively cut Sasha out of his life with all the lies he perpetrates in the guise of keeping him safe, he's on his own, which isn't a good place for him to be.
Sasha is a shining example of what one can do if given a fair chance. Although a bit insecure because of his lurid past, he's got a handle on it and is getting better about knowing who he is and what he can do. Besides his indispensable street smarts, Sasha has managed to acquire more education and now works a very fulfilling job as an interpreter for the Immigration Office. He's a stabilizing presence in Laurie's life, keeping him grounded and reeling him back in when necessary. His past won't leave him alone though. He's having disturbing nightmares which invade his life and cause his health to fail but whatever he tries does not ease the torment. When Laurie tells him about his plans to be in a movie and move to Hollywood, Sasha is incensed. He can't believe that Laurie expects him to just drop everything and go halfway around the world without even consulting with him first. The rift this causes nearly breaks both of their hearts and Sasha finally decides to go with him. When he arrives though, he realizes that he's without transportation, stuck at home. Laurie's protection measures, which Sasha isn't even aware of, force Sasha to be a bird in a guided cage.
There's a great deal more to be discovered in this lyrical, well written tale about Sasha and Laurie's love and life. Their remarkable dedication to each other is inspiring. Yes, they are flawed, but their spirits burn brightly for everyone to see, especially when they are together. I highly recommend this sequel to those who have read the first story and would encourage other readers who haven't discovered Sasha and Laurie yet to take a chance on it. You will not be disappointed. I'd like to note that it is a series which needs to be read sequentially in order to understand and appreciate what's happening. Thank you, Harper, for the amazingly entertaining story full of angst, passion, and love.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
In 'The Lost Prince', sequel to 'The Midwinter's Prince' by Harper Fox, we pick up Laurie and Sasha's story two years later. Generally speaking, they are happy and prosperous, but they each have their demons to face before having a mature, loving relationship.
Laurie is as sweet and generous as ever and he adores Sasha even more than before. He loves acting and is quite good at it; in fact, maybe too good. Acting allows him to slip out of himself into someone else's skin, which, while convenient for the stage, is disconcerting for him in real life; it's beginning to catch up with him. Not having a good sense of self, he's making impulsive decisions. When he discovers that Sasha's father isn't in prison, as they assumed, but right there in London, Laurie panics. All he can think of is keeping Sasha safe and he unwisely resolves not to tell him. He fears that Sasha will run away like he did before; he's desperately afraid of losing him again. Laurie decides that the best way to protect Sasha is to get him as far away as possible, even though it's not truly what Laurie wants to do. Unfortunately, Laurie's thought processes are hampered by his impaired reasoning abilities, typical of a person with addictive behavior, someone needing a crutch to help him cope with life. Since he's effectively cut Sasha out of his life with all the lies he perpetrates in the guise of keeping him safe, he's on his own, which isn't a good place for him to be.
Sasha is a shining example of what one can do if given a fair chance. Although a bit insecure because of his lurid past, he's got a handle on it and is getting better about knowing who he is and what he can do. Besides his indispensable street smarts, Sasha has managed to acquire more education and now works a very fulfilling job as an interpreter for the Immigration Office. He's a stabilizing presence in Laurie's life, keeping him grounded and reeling him back in when necessary. His past won't leave him alone though. He's having disturbing nightmares which invade his life and cause his health to fail but whatever he tries does not ease the torment. When Laurie tells him about his plans to be in a movie and move to Hollywood, Sasha is incensed. He can't believe that Laurie expects him to just drop everything and go halfway around the world without even consulting with him first. The rift this causes nearly breaks both of their hearts and Sasha finally decides to go with him. When he arrives though, he realizes that he's without transportation, stuck at home. Laurie's protection measures, which Sasha isn't even aware of, force Sasha to be a bird in a guided cage.
There's a great deal more to be discovered in this lyrical, well written tale about Sasha and Laurie's love and life. Their remarkable dedication to each other is inspiring. Yes, they are flawed, but their spirits burn brightly for everyone to see, especially when they are together. I highly recommend this sequel to those who have read the first story and would encourage other readers who haven't discovered Sasha and Laurie yet to take a chance on it. You will not be disappointed. I'd like to note that it is a series which needs to be read sequentially in order to understand and appreciate what's happening. Thank you, Harper, for the amazingly entertaining story full of angst, passion, and love.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 5, 2013
Sasha and Laurie's story starts in A Midwinter Prince - one of my favorite books. I bought A Lost Prince and waited a while to read it - partly because I feared it would not live up to AMP and partly because once I read it, well, it would be over. Sadly, it is now over. But, I can ecstatically report that The Lost Prince was wonderful and a fitting sequel to AMP. The characters are beautifully flawed and I fell in love with Laurie and Sasha all over again. The secondary characters are also marvelous. Harper Fox's writing continues to be a pleasure to read. She describes settings and situations so that you feel you are there. But she is best at describing characters' emotions. She can break your heart with one line. Laurie and Sasha's love for each other is uplifting and terrifying at the same time. It was devastating to watch as, while trying to hold onto and protect each other, they came close to ruining what they were trying to cling to. Harper Fox's depiction of filming the vampire movie was entertaining and a reminder of why I prefer books. :-) Please let there be a third book! Need more Sasha and Laurie. Plus, I really want to witness the midwinter event mentioned in the epilogue.
November 9, 2013
The first chapter caught me and reigned me in, true to Harper Fox style, I was immersed in the play and the ambiance that exuded through the pages. Yes, I was ready for this book.
Surprisingly, I was suddenly confused, it felt like I was reading a completely different book as I moved further into the story. The plot wasn't confusing, but the direction this story took made me feel like I was reading a very different author.
Yes, I get that the story needed the couple to get through some trials and tribulations, but this didn't seem like Laurie and Sasha...completely took me out of the story and I had a hard time getting really back in.
Still love Laurie and Sasha and the ending was more in line with the way I see these MCs. Harper Fox is one of my favorite authors, but this story didn't work for me on the level as so many of her other stories did.
Surprisingly, I was suddenly confused, it felt like I was reading a completely different book as I moved further into the story. The plot wasn't confusing, but the direction this story took made me feel like I was reading a very different author.
Yes, I get that the story needed the couple to get through some trials and tribulations, but this didn't seem like Laurie and Sasha...completely took me out of the story and I had a hard time getting really back in.
Still love Laurie and Sasha and the ending was more in line with the way I see these MCs. Harper Fox is one of my favorite authors, but this story didn't work for me on the level as so many of her other stories did.
December 5, 2013
Harper Fox has proven herself to be a wonderful, sensitive, emotive writer time and time again. The Lost Prince is her sequel to Mid Winter's Prince. In it we meet Laurie and Sasha two years after the first novel finished. Outwardly, all seems well and their lives are ever improving but beneath the surface both young men are dogged by their personal demons and in his attempts to protect his 'beloved', Laurie loses his way professionally and mentally. Though the odds would seem to be against the M.C.s, their strength of feeling for each other, wonderful secondary characters and Laurie and Sasha's growing self knowledge may even up those odds. Harper Fox writes beautiful prose, weaving pictures with descriptions and metaphors that carry you away willingly, out of your life and into her written worlds.
September 6, 2021
This was really good, I was having doubts in the middle but it all came together nicely
August 18, 2022
I really hate cheating… Skimmed to the end to know the conclusion but it was an instant lost of interest in the book after reading that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2022
5 stars just doesn't do it justice. You just can't help and feel their love for each other. Their intimite scenes are so well written! 10 stars from me. Hope we get more story from them!
April 11, 2018
I hated this. I never expected to say that about a Harper Fox book, but there it is. This didn't need to be written. And it was a freaking never going to end slog of refusal to communicate because ... I have no clue. The attitude about the US and Hollywood irritated me as well and I'm no huge fan of Hollywood and I'm more than willing to admit the problems this country has. I gave in after Chapter twenty when I realized that I had gone from loving these characters to very nearly hating them. I listened to the last chapter but I'm not sure why I bothered.
Audio: I loved this narrator for the first book, but OMG, his American accent was awful. Not everyone sounds vaguely like they're from NYC via England. The only thing worse was his attempt at an Hispanic English accent. Now I wonder if his Roma accent was anything near to correct.
Absolute fail. I'm sad.
Audio: I loved this narrator for the first book, but OMG, his American accent was awful. Not everyone sounds vaguely like they're from NYC via England. The only thing worse was his attempt at an Hispanic English accent. Now I wonder if his Roma accent was anything near to correct.
Absolute fail. I'm sad.
November 23, 2014
After reading Midwinter Prince, I was excited about this sequel. However, this book felt very contrived and was just not good. There were a Lot of unbelievable moments (more so than usual) and the characters lacked growth and struggled with the same challenges as the first book. The plot still had its twists and turns, but I felt frustrated and exasperated during some of the plot points.
September 2, 2014
3.6*
the fascinating and strange -historic fantasy- feeling is gone(and here comes twilight :|), there is just lots and lots of pages full of feelings. srsly...Both of them are so freakin masochistic -___-"""
And I loved it.
the fascinating and strange -historic fantasy- feeling is gone(and here comes twilight :|), there is just lots and lots of pages full of feelings. srsly...Both of them are so freakin masochistic -___-"""
And I loved it.
September 11, 2016
4.5 stars
Laurie and Sasha have built a bright new world together. Sasha is working for the Immigration Guidance Council, and Laurie is landing theatre roles he could once only have dreamed of. Best of all, they've spent the past two years enjoying the love they snatched from the jaws of Sasha's violent, dangerous past.
But Laurie has a history too. He's on edge, his talents increasing beyond his ability to deal with them. And although his father is dead, Laurie can't deny the turbulent genetic heritage the old man has bestowed on him. Only Sasha's love is keeping him anchored and sane – and Sasha is vulnerable, shaken by bad dreams about his life on the streets.
Then Laurie learns that Sasha's Romanian gang-lord father is on the loose in London, and his deepest fears boil to the surface. The last time Stefan's shadow fell, Sasha made a run for it, and Laurie can't bear the thought of losing him again. When Laurie lands a part in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, he abandons England for a dream of safety in the States, persuading the astonished Sasha to come with him.
But the dream becomes a waking nightmare for both of them beneath an alien Californian sun. Laurie must meet his demons head-on, and Sasha must confront the inner barricades that have kept him from treating Laurie as a comrade as well as a lover and a friend. The frosts of a midwinter London brought them together – will this blazing summer crack them apart, or forge enduring love from first romance?
Review: Without giving away some fairly important plot points I cannot divulge much more of this story than the thorough blurb above has done so instead I want to talk in-depth about why these two characters are so intensely compelling to the reader and why this rather lengthy sequel worked for the most part.
In The Lost Prince, we watch the steady and most assuredly gut-churning decline of Laurie Fitzroy into a driven, obsessive and frightened young man. From the moment he discovers that Sasha's father is free and has not been deported as they had thought, Laurie is running on borrowed time. First the emotional cost of acting often unhinges Laurie as he plumbs the depths of his characters with such single minded intensity that he tends to lose himself to the role. Couple this with a gut sure knowledge that he could never trust Sasha to not run away again once he discovers his father is on the loose and you have a young man who now will do anything to keep his lover safe, even moving him clear across the ocean to America.
With fascinating clarity, author Harper Fox, unravels Laurie's psyche to the point where past demons come to the fore and he begins to exhibit the addictive tendencies of his emotionally lost mother and the tight fisted anger of his deceased father. Sasha is shocked as he watches his "prince" devolve into a secretive, paranoid shadow of the man he loves and must himself come to terms with the fact that the more Laurie pushes him away, the less Sasha can feel their connection that has kept them both grounded over the last two years. The disturbing changes that are happening within Laurie are so effectively nuanced in the bedroom. Once a compassionate and caring lover, now Laurie "needs" with an almost animal like ferocity as if the more brutal the act of lovemaking the less he will feel the immense guilt that threatens to both choke him and destroy his relationship with Sasha.
Lest you begin to think that only Laurie is walking the fine line of destructive behavior, you must know that Sasha has his own unique set of demons. For the first time, Sasha begins to weave a web of lies concerning his imaginary counseling sessions that are meant to be helping him overcome the near crippling nightmares that attack his sleep with more and more frequency. Then, Sasha is pulled from London by the impetuous Laurie and placed inside a compound where guards mark Sasha's every move in order to keep him safe. There he meets the illegal immigrant Mateo, a pool boy, and we watch with growing unease as Sasha begins to desire something other than Laurie for the first time in their partnership. I found myself hoping that somehow Laurie would see what his erratic behavior had done, how it had caused Sasha to doubt. Unfortunately, Laurie was in his own downward spiral that the relocation to Hollywood fed and a quick drink and a tranquilizer or two become his way to cope with the unstoppable fear that he was losing the one thing he loves, his Sasha.
It is here that the true genius of Harper Fox shines. While I felt her novel was at times a bit long-winded, with way too much exposition being wasted on the mechanics of a Hollywood movie set, every moment she gives us of her two main characters is absolute gold. There were times when I just wanted to shake both men into seeing how they were pushing the other farther and farther away. The all consuming love these boys had for each other was terrifyingly real and breathlessly intense. However, they had spent the last two years not relaxing into one another's love but, instead, walking on eggshells around each other, always fearful that the axe was about to fall and their love would be the ultimate victim. What a self-fulfilling prophecy became in so many ways.
The bottom line was that here were two young men, deeply in love with the other but never fully trusting that their love was enough. They were so busy "saving each other" and keeping each other from the dark and gritty shadows of their pasts that they nearly lost each other in the process. I cannot express to you the power of Harper Fox's narrative. The way in which she allows the reader to crawl inside her character's minds and see the layers of love and guilt and fear that tear at your heart as each chapter unfolds. It is truly stunning. I wish I could describe the visceral way in which this author writes about the need that arises within each of her men, the need to trust, to love even when everything is falling apart. Perhaps her words will give you an idea where my own feeble attempts cannot.
"Yes, though Sasha might want to pin him, peel, him, find out by brute force what was growing inside that too-small skin and so learn how to keep it when it burst free...He sobbed, glad his throat was stopped and silenced. He would trust."
And on and on this novel goes, spinning an incredibly beautiful story that wraps itself around your heart. My only hesitation in giving this novel a full five stars stems from the earlier comment that there were passages that seemed to just mark time in this story. Some of the acting mechanics, the adjustment to the hollywood movie set and endless gnawing flashes of self-doubt from Laurie began to weigh down the plot causing it to stall at times and lose its momentum. However, Harper Fox is an amazing writer and an adept storyteller and she never allowed her novel to flounder. Just as I began to worry that the plot was grinding to a stop, she picked it up by the scruff of its neck and threw us back into the action.
Laurie and Sasha have built a bright new world together. Sasha is working for the Immigration Guidance Council, and Laurie is landing theatre roles he could once only have dreamed of. Best of all, they've spent the past two years enjoying the love they snatched from the jaws of Sasha's violent, dangerous past.
But Laurie has a history too. He's on edge, his talents increasing beyond his ability to deal with them. And although his father is dead, Laurie can't deny the turbulent genetic heritage the old man has bestowed on him. Only Sasha's love is keeping him anchored and sane – and Sasha is vulnerable, shaken by bad dreams about his life on the streets.
Then Laurie learns that Sasha's Romanian gang-lord father is on the loose in London, and his deepest fears boil to the surface. The last time Stefan's shadow fell, Sasha made a run for it, and Laurie can't bear the thought of losing him again. When Laurie lands a part in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, he abandons England for a dream of safety in the States, persuading the astonished Sasha to come with him.
But the dream becomes a waking nightmare for both of them beneath an alien Californian sun. Laurie must meet his demons head-on, and Sasha must confront the inner barricades that have kept him from treating Laurie as a comrade as well as a lover and a friend. The frosts of a midwinter London brought them together – will this blazing summer crack them apart, or forge enduring love from first romance?
Review: Without giving away some fairly important plot points I cannot divulge much more of this story than the thorough blurb above has done so instead I want to talk in-depth about why these two characters are so intensely compelling to the reader and why this rather lengthy sequel worked for the most part.
In The Lost Prince, we watch the steady and most assuredly gut-churning decline of Laurie Fitzroy into a driven, obsessive and frightened young man. From the moment he discovers that Sasha's father is free and has not been deported as they had thought, Laurie is running on borrowed time. First the emotional cost of acting often unhinges Laurie as he plumbs the depths of his characters with such single minded intensity that he tends to lose himself to the role. Couple this with a gut sure knowledge that he could never trust Sasha to not run away again once he discovers his father is on the loose and you have a young man who now will do anything to keep his lover safe, even moving him clear across the ocean to America.
With fascinating clarity, author Harper Fox, unravels Laurie's psyche to the point where past demons come to the fore and he begins to exhibit the addictive tendencies of his emotionally lost mother and the tight fisted anger of his deceased father. Sasha is shocked as he watches his "prince" devolve into a secretive, paranoid shadow of the man he loves and must himself come to terms with the fact that the more Laurie pushes him away, the less Sasha can feel their connection that has kept them both grounded over the last two years. The disturbing changes that are happening within Laurie are so effectively nuanced in the bedroom. Once a compassionate and caring lover, now Laurie "needs" with an almost animal like ferocity as if the more brutal the act of lovemaking the less he will feel the immense guilt that threatens to both choke him and destroy his relationship with Sasha.
Lest you begin to think that only Laurie is walking the fine line of destructive behavior, you must know that Sasha has his own unique set of demons. For the first time, Sasha begins to weave a web of lies concerning his imaginary counseling sessions that are meant to be helping him overcome the near crippling nightmares that attack his sleep with more and more frequency. Then, Sasha is pulled from London by the impetuous Laurie and placed inside a compound where guards mark Sasha's every move in order to keep him safe. There he meets the illegal immigrant Mateo, a pool boy, and we watch with growing unease as Sasha begins to desire something other than Laurie for the first time in their partnership. I found myself hoping that somehow Laurie would see what his erratic behavior had done, how it had caused Sasha to doubt. Unfortunately, Laurie was in his own downward spiral that the relocation to Hollywood fed and a quick drink and a tranquilizer or two become his way to cope with the unstoppable fear that he was losing the one thing he loves, his Sasha.
It is here that the true genius of Harper Fox shines. While I felt her novel was at times a bit long-winded, with way too much exposition being wasted on the mechanics of a Hollywood movie set, every moment she gives us of her two main characters is absolute gold. There were times when I just wanted to shake both men into seeing how they were pushing the other farther and farther away. The all consuming love these boys had for each other was terrifyingly real and breathlessly intense. However, they had spent the last two years not relaxing into one another's love but, instead, walking on eggshells around each other, always fearful that the axe was about to fall and their love would be the ultimate victim. What a self-fulfilling prophecy became in so many ways.
The bottom line was that here were two young men, deeply in love with the other but never fully trusting that their love was enough. They were so busy "saving each other" and keeping each other from the dark and gritty shadows of their pasts that they nearly lost each other in the process. I cannot express to you the power of Harper Fox's narrative. The way in which she allows the reader to crawl inside her character's minds and see the layers of love and guilt and fear that tear at your heart as each chapter unfolds. It is truly stunning. I wish I could describe the visceral way in which this author writes about the need that arises within each of her men, the need to trust, to love even when everything is falling apart. Perhaps her words will give you an idea where my own feeble attempts cannot.
"Yes, though Sasha might want to pin him, peel, him, find out by brute force what was growing inside that too-small skin and so learn how to keep it when it burst free...He sobbed, glad his throat was stopped and silenced. He would trust."
And on and on this novel goes, spinning an incredibly beautiful story that wraps itself around your heart. My only hesitation in giving this novel a full five stars stems from the earlier comment that there were passages that seemed to just mark time in this story. Some of the acting mechanics, the adjustment to the hollywood movie set and endless gnawing flashes of self-doubt from Laurie began to weigh down the plot causing it to stall at times and lose its momentum. However, Harper Fox is an amazing writer and an adept storyteller and she never allowed her novel to flounder. Just as I began to worry that the plot was grinding to a stop, she picked it up by the scruff of its neck and threw us back into the action.
October 2, 2017
***Audio review***
Rusty Coles is amazing...yet again. His Laurie and Sasha are so tender towards one another, although there were some teething problems with their relationship in this one. I knew that going to the US would cause them both problems, albeit that Laurie did it with the best of intentions, but the non-communication between the two of them really p****d me off I have to admit, and Laurie confiding in Clara did not seem like a good idea to me...but what do I know??
All of the American characters [other than Mateo] I disliked intensely it has to be said, and how that Muppet ever got to be the director of the Blood Moon series of films is just mind-boggling [his interpersonal skills could definitely use some work]. Bailey though, I felt really sorry for.....and the fact that Laurie got caught in the tangled web of the two nasty 'stars' of the series.
The ending?? Well, I can only hope that we'll get another story in the series but I'm pretty confident that these two are together forever. 4.5 stars from me.
Rusty Coles is amazing...yet again. His Laurie and Sasha are so tender towards one another, although there were some teething problems with their relationship in this one. I knew that going to the US would cause them both problems, albeit that Laurie did it with the best of intentions, but the non-communication between the two of them really p****d me off I have to admit, and Laurie confiding in Clara did not seem like a good idea to me...but what do I know??
All of the American characters [other than Mateo] I disliked intensely it has to be said, and how that Muppet ever got to be the director of the Blood Moon series of films is just mind-boggling [his interpersonal skills could definitely use some work]. Bailey though, I felt really sorry for.....and the fact that Laurie got caught in the tangled web of the two nasty 'stars' of the series.
The ending?? Well, I can only hope that we'll get another story in the series but I'm pretty confident that these two are together forever. 4.5 stars from me.
September 13, 2019
I can’t imagine that I’m saying this, but I really hated this book. It’s surprising because I love Harper Fox. There seems to be absolutely no reason for this story. Everything about this book was annoying. I truly began to detest Laurie & his lies, deceptions, & philandering. Sasha is far too beautifully a man to be saddled with such a boor. The annoying thing is that I can’t imagine him with anyone else because he’s so deeply devoted to Laurie. The betrayal & pain was gut wrenching. I actually felt like I’d had something ripped from me.
There was/is nothing whatsoever positive that I can say about the whole American Hollywood aspect. To say it was irritating is an understatement.
I would suggest that anyone tempted avoid this series at all cost.
PS: I need to amend my statement that nothing positive can be said about the book. I listened to it on Audible & I absolutely loved the narrator. He is the only reason I can find to listen to it, & even at his absolute best he’s not enough to make the book redeemable.
There was/is nothing whatsoever positive that I can say about the whole American Hollywood aspect. To say it was irritating is an understatement.
I would suggest that anyone tempted avoid this series at all cost.
PS: I need to amend my statement that nothing positive can be said about the book. I listened to it on Audible & I absolutely loved the narrator. He is the only reason I can find to listen to it, & even at his absolute best he’s not enough to make the book redeemable.
December 6, 2020
This is the first time I have taken the time to write a review. The prequel, A Midwinter Prince was a heartfelt and complicated story of two men coming together against all odds. I immediately jumped into reading/listening The Lost Prince and found myself overwhelmed by a tangle of emotions. As I completed Chapter 17, I needed to step away. To take a breath and prepare myself for the collision that I feared and so desperately hoped wouldn’t come. Harper Fox created two beautiful main characters who I couldn’t help but fall in love with. Her use of language and prose allowed this story to come alive in a way that only true artistry can achieve. Lastly, I highly recommend the audiobook. Rusty Coles presents an excellent depiction of the characters and his beautiful narration allows the story to go straight to the heart. If you enjoy complex characters, and a story of soul mates finding their way to one another amidst the complexities of life, I highly recommend this series.
December 5, 2022
TW for substance abuse, drug overdose and resultant death, dubious consent as a result of said substance abuse/grief, threats of deportation (seen through Sasha's work in immigration), gun violence, near-death experiences.
The end (hopefully) to the drama of Laurie and Sasha's story, and it was definitely a lot of drama.
I feel like it could've ended quite happily with the previous book, but I did really enjoy this one! Lots of miscommunication/absolutely no communication whatsoever from our boys here, as they both try to protect and keep each other safe - to disastrous results. Very clear insights to what Hollywood can be like and how Laurie just isn't capable of dealing with it, as well as continuing threats from the Romani war lords and Sasha's father, and you get quite the plotline!
I was very frustrated by the lack of communication, and everything that came to pass with Blood Moon from Laurie's paranoia, but I'm so glad our boys got their happy ending!
The end (hopefully) to the drama of Laurie and Sasha's story, and it was definitely a lot of drama.
I feel like it could've ended quite happily with the previous book, but I did really enjoy this one! Lots of miscommunication/absolutely no communication whatsoever from our boys here, as they both try to protect and keep each other safe - to disastrous results. Very clear insights to what Hollywood can be like and how Laurie just isn't capable of dealing with it, as well as continuing threats from the Romani war lords and Sasha's father, and you get quite the plotline!
I was very frustrated by the lack of communication, and everything that came to pass with Blood Moon from Laurie's paranoia, but I'm so glad our boys got their happy ending!
July 24, 2021
I love the relationship between the 2 characters however I don't feel that the story delivered on all the key plot points. It was all very disappointing and disjonted
Spoiler Alert!!!!!
Specifically when dealing with Laurie's mental health. His actions clearly point to a specific mental health illness that was not explored, addressed or acknowledged. Also even more disappointing was how the story glosses over sexual abuse of men. These poor characters have been through so much and the author doesn't do enough to address how to heal from such trauma other than glossing over it and moving on to the next part of the story.
Spoiler Alert!!!!!
Specifically when dealing with Laurie's mental health. His actions clearly point to a specific mental health illness that was not explored, addressed or acknowledged. Also even more disappointing was how the story glosses over sexual abuse of men. These poor characters have been through so much and the author doesn't do enough to address how to heal from such trauma other than glossing over it and moving on to the next part of the story.
January 26, 2019
Do you remember how I said that the first book in this series was a sweet love story? Well, this isn't.
This is about what happens when you discover that you aren't living in a fairy-tale after all. When who you are is deeply rooted in who you were and from where you come. About growing up and discovering that love isn't a shield nor an asylum.
It's hard, and painful, and beautiful (because is Harper Fox, and it can't help to be beautiful), and it will break them only to fix them, stronger and better, like kintsungi.
I love it, but, well, this will never come as a surprise :P
This is about what happens when you discover that you aren't living in a fairy-tale after all. When who you are is deeply rooted in who you were and from where you come. About growing up and discovering that love isn't a shield nor an asylum.
It's hard, and painful, and beautiful (because is Harper Fox, and it can't help to be beautiful), and it will break them only to fix them, stronger and better, like kintsungi.
I love it, but, well, this will never come as a surprise :P
March 1, 2021
Aaah super!! Thoroughly enjoyed. Good angst but not TOO much (and I know we can trust Harper Fox to fix things she breaks!); well paced; full of Harper’s strong, witty characters; and ultimately satisfying. I think all the loose ends from book one (just about!) were tied up. A lot happens—they go on quite a journey, literal and metaphorical!—but by the end, they’ve both grown significantly from when we first saw them in the first book.
I also very much liked the reader of the audio, Rusty Coles. No complaints about his performance (and he does the first book, too.)
Lovely stuff!
I also very much liked the reader of the audio, Rusty Coles. No complaints about his performance (and he does the first book, too.)
Lovely stuff!
March 21, 2021
🎧 That was a ride! There is something very endearing and gem like about this series and this pairing. I believe I'll feel even deeper as time goes on, bow having finished.
I will definitely be listening to more by this author. The narrator did an excellent job of playing many characters. It was all just wondrous to me, something unlike what I have listened to or read in a while now
Thank you
I will definitely be listening to more by this author. The narrator did an excellent job of playing many characters. It was all just wondrous to me, something unlike what I have listened to or read in a while now
Thank you
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