The Last Leprechaun (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Sweet, Fantasy-Filled Regency
Review: I was lucky enough to read this book before it was released. It's a sweet, fantasy-filled Regency romance with an endearing hero and heroine. John Blayne, Earl of Somewhere, wants nothing more than to lose himself in pleasure after the tragic deaths of his cousin, brothers and mother. However, Beth Longford, a widow, forces him out of his mindless pusuit of pleasure when she brings him the news that her father is cutting down the forest on the estate they both played on as children. He forces her to leave but she leaves behind a portfolio of drawings and letters that make him reconsider his position. He journeys to the estate and proceeds to put things to right.

The leprechaun of the title doesn't appear until about half way through the book, although he is repeatedly discussed. He is well-rounded and less stereotypical than I would have expected. He has his own love story and it plays out alongside Beth's and John's in the last part of the book. Other Faeries appear briefly towards the end and help resolve the conflict.

The main villian is Beth's father. He is a womanizer, gambler and a drunk. He is thoroughly selfish, but makes a nice foil to show John what he might turn into if he pursues his current path. Beth's treatment of him is realistic--she resents and hates him for everything he put his wife and daughter through. Unlike many romance heroines, she feels no need to rescue him or feel any responsibility for his behavior.

If I had one quibble, it is that the fantasy plot took up too much time, leaving the romance part a little hurried. The relationship between Beth and John could have used a little more depth. This isn't a sensual book, with little more than passionate kisses being exchanged between the heroine and hero. This is my preference, but others may find it a bit tame.

Readers may have two problems with this book: the fantasy elements and the fact that the hero and heroine are second-cousins. It was quite common to for second-cousins to marry in Regency England, but modern day readers may have a cousin "hot button" and may not like the closeness of the genetic relationship. Neither the cousin love or fantasy elements disturbed my enjoyment of this book, though. I enjoyed it greatly and will be buying the paperback when it is released in July.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet, Fantasy-Filled Regency
Review: I was lucky enough to read this book before it was released. It's a sweet, fantasy-filled Regency romance with an endearing hero and heroine. John Blayne, Earl of Somewhere, wants nothing more than to lose himself in pleasure after the tragic deaths of his cousin, brothers and mother. However, Beth Longford, a widow, forces him out of his mindless pusuit of pleasure when she brings him the news that her father is cutting down the forest on the estate they both played on as children. He forces her to leave but she leaves behind a portfolio of drawings and letters that make him reconsider his position. He journeys to the estate and proceeds to put things to right.

The leprechaun of the title doesn't appear until about half way through the book, although he is repeatedly discussed. He is well-rounded and less stereotypical than I would have expected. He has his own love story and it plays out alongside Beth's and John's in the last part of the book. Other Faeries appear briefly towards the end and help resolve the conflict.

The main villian is Beth's father. He is a womanizer, gambler and a drunk. He is thoroughly selfish, but makes a nice foil to show John what he might turn into if he pursues his current path. Beth's treatment of him is realistic--she resents and hates him for everything he put his wife and daughter through. Unlike many romance heroines, she feels no need to rescue him or feel any responsibility for his behavior.

If I had one quibble, it is that the fantasy plot took up too much time, leaving the romance part a little hurried. The relationship between Beth and John could have used a little more depth. This isn't a sensual book, with little more than passionate kisses being exchanged between the heroine and hero. This is my preference, but others may find it a bit tame.

Readers may have two problems with this book: the fantasy elements and the fact that the hero and heroine are second-cousins. It was quite common to for second-cousins to marry in Regency England, but modern day readers may have a cousin "hot button" and may not like the closeness of the genetic relationship. Neither the cousin love or fantasy elements disturbed my enjoyment of this book, though. I enjoyed it greatly and will be buying the paperback when it is released in July.

Rating:
Summary: More save the leprechaun than love
Review: This is a mixed tale. Not at all the usual Regency tale of romance in a social setting of the town or country. The love story very much took a back seat to the story of the Leprechaun, as I suppose was indicated by the title itself.
Beth Longford forces herself into the house of her cousin John, the Earl of Wayneathe to try and obtain his help to save her beloved forest, the Heartwood, at the family estate. Her father the Baron is ruthlessly chopping the ancient forest down for the money and out of revenge on John, who is his heir following the death of his son Terence.
John is holding a riotous orgy and is not pleased to have to see Beth at all, indeed he takes a few minutes to even recognize her. He has been pursuing this hedonistic existence to blot out the pain of losing his family. A soldier he had already fought at Waterloo and there had his cousin Terence shot beside him and his mother and brothers were soon after killed in a fire. He wants to escape and have no more of love or responsibility.
Beth of course wants him to act to the contrary. She tries to persuade him, and eventually leaves in despair of the fate of her woods. For not only are they in danger, but also the leprecaun, Shawn.
He is a secret she shared with John and her grandparents. John now does not believe in him.
John eventually finds he cannot forget his duties after all, nor the lovely cousin. He travels to the family seat to confront the Baron.
The bad Baron father is all that and more, vicious, drunk, despises his wife, a gamester who has tried to sell his daughter twice. Very unpleasant.
Shawn is an interesting creature, with a tragic tale of his own lost love that is a thread running through the story.
The stage is set.
Very dramatic and very much a story with a strong environmental message. This was done well, but it stuck out as an extremely modern take on the subject. I almost expected Beth to set up a protest tent or chain herself to a tree.
Unfortunately this is why the love story suffers. It is more a case of he falls in love with Beth and we do not see how or why.
Oh they are both good characters, convincingly drawn, sympathetic, believable.
An enjoyable tale - just more love would have been better.

Rating:
Summary: Love and a Leprechaun
Review: Those readers who enjoy a romance with a touch of the supernatural will love June Calvin's delightful The Last Leprechaun. Although, as the title suggests, this is the tale of the last leprechaun, it is really the story of the two humans who struggle to rescue him from extinction. Although the leprechaun serves as the fulcrum of the story, it is the romance that is the story's focus.
In order to stop her father's plan to destroy the ancient forest on his lands, young widow Elizabeth Longford seeks the aid of her distant cousin John Blayne, Earl of Wayneathe. Only Lord Wayneathe, as her father's heir, has the power to stop the desecration of the primeval woodland and the destruction of the forest creatures, among them the last remaining leprechaun. Beth is certain John will help her because he is the only other person who has seen such a creature, and Beth seeks him as an ally. Unfortunately when she arrives at John's home, she finds that the person she remembers as a kind and caring boy has grown into a dissolute care-for-nothing, bent on a life of sensual pleasure in the company of his depraved acquaintances. It is only when he begins to see his friends through Beth's eyes that John listens to her plea for help in saving the forest land. As he follows her in her crusade to save the forest, John finds his redemption in a return to the values of his youth and the love he finds with Beth.
Calvin's abililty with the language and her skill at developing believable characters and an engrossing plot prevent this story from becoming merely a trite little fairy story. Although the story of the leprechaun is fantasy, throughout the novel is the very subtle theme of saving the natural environment not only for future generations of humanking but alo for the creatures to whom it really belongs.

Rating:
Summary: Love and a Leprechaun
Review: Those readers who enjoy a romance with a touch of the supernatural will love June Calvin's delightful The Last Leprechaun. Although, as the title suggests, this is the tale of the last leprechaun, it is really the story of the two humans who struggle to rescue him from extinction. Although the leprechaun serves as the fulcrum of the story, it is the romance that is the story's focus.
In order to stop her father's plan to destroy the ancient forest on his lands, young widow Elizabeth Longford seeks the aid of her distant cousin John Blayne, Earl of Wayneathe. Only Lord Wayneathe, as her father's heir, has the power to stop the desecration of the primeval woodland and the destruction of the forest creatures, among them the last remaining leprechaun. Beth is certain John will help her because he is the only other person who has seen such a creature, and Beth seeks him as an ally. Unfortunately when she arrives at John's home, she finds that the person she remembers as a kind and caring boy has grown into a dissolute care-for-nothing, bent on a life of sensual pleasure in the company of his depraved acquaintances. It is only when he begins to see his friends through Beth's eyes that John listens to her plea for help in saving the forest land. As he follows her in her crusade to save the forest, John finds his redemption in a return to the values of his youth and the love he finds with Beth.
Calvin's abililty with the language and her skill at developing believable characters and an engrossing plot prevent this story from becoming merely a trite little fairy story. Although the story of the leprechaun is fantasy, throughout the novel is the very subtle theme of saving the natural environment not only for future generations of humanking but alo for the creatures to whom it really belongs.

Rating:
Summary: Odd fantasy-romance
Review: Wistful Elizabeth Longford, a widow, grew up believing the tales of her grandmother. Her grandmother used to tell her about the leprechaun residing in her father's estate. As a little girl, Elizabeth first catches a glimpse of "Shamus," the last surviving leprechaun. Many years later, her father wants to cut down the woods where Shamus resides. In desperation, Elizabeth turns to childhood friend and second cousin, John Blayne (now the earl of Wayneathe), in hopes that he will do something about the situation.

But Wayneathe is not the young man she remembers. He is now a wicked cad who lives only for feasible pleasures. He most certainly doesn't believe in fairy tales, and he doesn't want to associate closely with anyone--including his lovely cousin. If not for the fact that he remembers seeing a leprechaun himself, he would have dismissed her completely...

Did I enjoy this book? Well... umm... it was strange. You rarely see fantasy woven into a romance novel, so it definitely scores points for originality. But was it handled well? Honestly, I think it took itself a bit too seriously. If you're a cynic or a realist, you might find yourself rolling your eyes a lot (like I did). But if you're looking for a little magic, look no further. This might be the book for you. It had some interesting elements, but I almost feel like it would've made a better short story. There were several stagnant parts.

Overall: 3 stars. Possibly 2 1/2.