The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn

Title: The Frog Earl

Author: Carola Dunn

Publisher: Walker Publishing Company

ISBN: 0802712037

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Based on the Frog Prince

I am not overly fond of romances based on this fairy tale since most don't follow true the tale's story line. Somehow, it always turned out to be a Beauty and the Beast-type story, where the beast looked like a frog. And I'm not generally a reader of regency romances either. But in the Frog Earl, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Carola Dunn interpreted this fairy tale.

Simon Hurst returned home from the Navy when he found out that his older brother, the heir to the estate, was killed. To prove him worthy of the title, he and his cousin went into London and present him to the ton. But because of his future inheritance, the women were more interested in his title then himself. Disillusioned, Simon labeled himself as a "frog" and went into the country. Upon his arrival, he meets Princess Mimi, who just dropped her bracelet into a pond. Simon came to her aid but only if she promised him a dinner, dance and a kiss. Miffed at his impertinence, she reluctantly promised and when she got her bracelet back, she rode off. Intrigued, Simon was determined to collect on the princess's promise.

I did not have high expectations but it turned out that I really enjoyed "The Frog Earl". The story was well paced with a sweet, simple plot with good dialogue and characters. The author did not waste time waxing eloquent descriptions about their clothing and environment but instead, focused on the wonderful, playful antics and interactions of Mimi, her friend, Harriet, and their many suitors. Mimi was your atypical princess. She was a refreshing change from the ladies in the usual regency. She was born and raised in India. With an indulgent father and money to her name, Mimi was not afraid to go against convention. But whatever she did, conventional or not, it was always for the benefit of her family and friends. Simon was perfect match for her. Despite what happened in the ton, he did not play the tragic hero. Simon went out to better himself. He found Mimi amusing and joined in whatever crazy scheme she had hatched up. All the side characters were amazing. I actually liked all of them. This is a straightforward romance with no scheming or revenge. This is a clean romance.

If you enjoy gentle romances with a tinge of humor, then I recommend this to you. If you like fairy tales, it follows true enough to the original tale that you would enjoy it as well. If you are expecting an exciting story, skip this one. Other than that, this was a good read. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I would not read this again for a while.