What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tiger Prince
From the shimmering cities of a faraway land to the heather-scented hills of the Scottish Highlands comes this passionate tale of adventure and dangerous desire by one of America’s bestselling and beloved authors, Iris Johansen.
TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT
In a locked room of shadows and sandalwood, Jane Barnaby first met the wickedly disturbing man whose searing blue eyes and brazen smile seem to read her deepest desires—a man who exudes the mystery and danger of exotic lands. In his mesmerizing presence, Jane finds herself instantly transformed from a hardheaded businesswoman to the willing slave of a passion she knows she must resist.
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT . . .
A man of sensuous grace and smoldering sensuality, adventurer Ruel McClaren brings the independent beauty back to his native Scotland to spin a web of revenge. But once at Glenclaren Castle, he finds it ever harder to play the unforgiving captor to this woman who touches his heart and makes his blood run hot.
TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT
In a locked room of shadows and sandalwood, Jane Barnaby first met the wickedly disturbing man whose searing blue eyes and brazen smile seem to read her deepest desires—a man who exudes the mystery and danger of exotic lands. In his mesmerizing presence, Jane finds herself instantly transformed from a hardheaded businesswoman to the willing slave of a passion she knows she must resist.
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT . . .
A man of sensuous grace and smoldering sensuality, adventurer Ruel McClaren brings the independent beauty back to his native Scotland to spin a web of revenge. But once at Glenclaren Castle, he finds it ever harder to play the unforgiving captor to this woman who touches his heart and makes his blood run hot.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
45 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
226 books7,335 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 24, 2022
Coming from The Wind Dancer I had high hopes for this book, and was ultimately left disappointed. THE TIGER PRINCE had many positive qualities I found in THE WIND DANCER, but that something special was missing to bring the story all together and it often fell flat.
The positives:
- Strong heroine. This author is skilled at writing young, inexperienced, yet tough as grit heroines who make the H work for their affection.
- Strong female supporting characters that have good relationships with each other. So far both this book and The Wind Dancer have passed the Bechdel test.
- Age gaps are my jam and I like how the author writes them. Especially with H's who are more experienced and have a past. There's not ow drama, not really, but yeah the author doesn't ignore that he H has a past. The ow plays a small (though real) role in the plot. This is also similar to the ow in The Wind Dancer. (If anyone has read it the ow isn't really a previous significant other of the H, but a courtesan/madame).
- Interesting side characters (though the side characters in this book lacked the magic of the supporting cast in The Wind Dancer).
- Smart dialogue and certain passages of good writing.
- Great chemistry between the H/h. That deflowering scene in the railroad car was smokin'.
- I've been craving a railroad drama in my historical romance and this book delivered that.
The negatives:
- The plot became predictable.
- The villain, Abdar, was uninteresting and two-dimensional. We never see him do anything evil; there's only vague hinting that he's evil. Much of this hinting consisted of queer coding, implying he's twisted because he's gay (it's never explicitly stated). This kind of queer coding comes with the territory of reading romances of this era, but nevertheless it was lame. I want to see evil (murder, cruelty, etc) in action. I want multi-faceted villains, who maybe have good as well as bad sides. Abdar was boring. I didn't care about him or buy into the threat he posed.
- The tragic events the author pulled to try to tug at the readers' heart strings didn't resonate with me. I simply failed to become emotionally invested in Ian's tragic accident, the H's tragic backstory, or even Li Sung's accident. It all seemed like a ploy by the author to manipulate readers into feeling something, but didn't tie into the plot or captivate me the same way I felt while reading The Wind Dancer.
- The portrayal of snakes was incorrect and lame.
- The spiritual elephant thing didn't resonate with me.
- Ian's subplot, especially with his wife and Kartauk, is not the kind of romance I ever want to read. That was just sad and unpleasant to watch play out.
- I didn't buy into the reason the H was suppose to hate the heroine. It seemed contrived. Their hate to love dynamic was weak.
I'll try more by this author, the positive elements to her writing are significant. There were just several factors that made this book a miss for me.
2.75 stars.
The positives:
- Strong heroine. This author is skilled at writing young, inexperienced, yet tough as grit heroines who make the H work for their affection.
- Strong female supporting characters that have good relationships with each other. So far both this book and The Wind Dancer have passed the Bechdel test.
- Age gaps are my jam and I like how the author writes them. Especially with H's who are more experienced and have a past. There's not ow drama, not really, but yeah the author doesn't ignore that he H has a past. The ow plays a small (though real) role in the plot. This is also similar to the ow in The Wind Dancer. (If anyone has read it the ow isn't really a previous significant other of the H, but a courtesan/madame).
- Interesting side characters (though the side characters in this book lacked the magic of the supporting cast in The Wind Dancer).
- Smart dialogue and certain passages of good writing.
- Great chemistry between the H/h. That deflowering scene in the railroad car was smokin'.
- I've been craving a railroad drama in my historical romance and this book delivered that.
The negatives:
- The plot became predictable.
- The villain, Abdar, was uninteresting and two-dimensional. We never see him do anything evil; there's only vague hinting that he's evil. Much of this hinting consisted of queer coding, implying he's twisted because he's gay (it's never explicitly stated). This kind of queer coding comes with the territory of reading romances of this era, but nevertheless it was lame. I want to see evil (murder, cruelty, etc) in action. I want multi-faceted villains, who maybe have good as well as bad sides. Abdar was boring. I didn't care about him or buy into the threat he posed.
- The tragic events the author pulled to try to tug at the readers' heart strings didn't resonate with me. I simply failed to become emotionally invested in Ian's tragic accident, the H's tragic backstory, or even Li Sung's accident. It all seemed like a ploy by the author to manipulate readers into feeling something, but didn't tie into the plot or captivate me the same way I felt while reading The Wind Dancer.
- The portrayal of snakes was incorrect and lame.
- The spiritual elephant thing didn't resonate with me.
- Ian's subplot, especially with his wife and Kartauk, is not the kind of romance I ever want to read. That was just sad and unpleasant to watch play out.
- I didn't buy into the reason the H was suppose to hate the heroine. It seemed contrived. Their hate to love dynamic was weak.
I'll try more by this author, the positive elements to her writing are significant. There were just several factors that made this book a miss for me.
2.75 stars.
August 6, 2016
3.75 stars
Thoughts can be unhealthy when you assume you know the truth.
~~~~~~
Deliciously dangerous, Ruel MacLaren had but one goal: to become rich. He learned some valuable lessons in Australia, California and Africa before traveling to India. He knew Lady Luck was on his side; it was just a matter of time.
With exquisite good looks, women loved his attention. No matter where his adventures took him, he never had a problem with the fairer sex. That is, until he met the practical and unassuming Jane Barnaby. Like him, she was a survivor.
~~~~~~
J A N E: A simple but not-commonly used name made up of four letters. In many ways her name matched her personality. She was strong, sensible and not afraid to say no when the need arose. Ruel was fascinated with her.
~~~~~~
Initially, Ruel came across as an unashamed but happy anti-hero. His older half-brother Ian, the Earl of Glenclaren, had finally found him after a long search. Now that their father was dead, he wanted Ruel to return home to Scotland but his brother's hardy response was the word NO.
Opposites in both appearances and personalities, Ian understood that his brother was battling his own personal demons but he believed his beloved country manor would heal him. He had no intention of leaving until Ruel changed his mind. Ian would just bide his time.
In the meantime, Ruel and Jane first met when they were locked in a room at a brothel. Even though Ruel would have loved for something physical to happen, he became aware very soon that Jane's thoughts were about escaping not only their prison but him. And the more often she said goodbye, the nearer he wanted to be with her.
The chase was on.
~~~~~~
Ruel and Jane were deep, complex and wonderfully played. Their romance felt both gritty and strikingly sensual. Ruel was bewitched.
The long and the short of this romance? It was 505 pages of not-so-large font. It covered several years with the (hated) misunderstanding. The chemistry was awesome at times, bordering on the erotic side. Ruel was scrumptious one moment and a cad later on. I had some issues with this. Jane? Why, Jane, why, is all I will say. Some reviewers mentioned this was a bodice-ripper. IMHO, it was not. Tension? Yes. A misunderstanding that caused unneeded angst? Of course. And all of those secondary characters with their secondary problems and their secondary solutions? Yes. Needless-to-say, there was a lot going on.
~~~~~~
For those of you that love exotic settings, some steaminess and can handle the length of the story, Iris Johansen's tale of soul-mates, **GOLD** and the island of Cinnidar was actually pretty good.
Thoughts can be unhealthy when you assume you know the truth.
~~~~~~
Deliciously dangerous, Ruel MacLaren had but one goal: to become rich. He learned some valuable lessons in Australia, California and Africa before traveling to India. He knew Lady Luck was on his side; it was just a matter of time.
With exquisite good looks, women loved his attention. No matter where his adventures took him, he never had a problem with the fairer sex. That is, until he met the practical and unassuming Jane Barnaby. Like him, she was a survivor.
~~~~~~
J A N E: A simple but not-commonly used name made up of four letters. In many ways her name matched her personality. She was strong, sensible and not afraid to say no when the need arose. Ruel was fascinated with her.
~~~~~~
Initially, Ruel came across as an unashamed but happy anti-hero. His older half-brother Ian, the Earl of Glenclaren, had finally found him after a long search. Now that their father was dead, he wanted Ruel to return home to Scotland but his brother's hardy response was the word NO.
Opposites in both appearances and personalities, Ian understood that his brother was battling his own personal demons but he believed his beloved country manor would heal him. He had no intention of leaving until Ruel changed his mind. Ian would just bide his time.
In the meantime, Ruel and Jane first met when they were locked in a room at a brothel. Even though Ruel would have loved for something physical to happen, he became aware very soon that Jane's thoughts were about escaping not only their prison but him. And the more often she said goodbye, the nearer he wanted to be with her.
The chase was on.
~~~~~~
Ruel and Jane were deep, complex and wonderfully played. Their romance felt both gritty and strikingly sensual. Ruel was bewitched.
The long and the short of this romance? It was 505 pages of not-so-large font. It covered several years with the (hated) misunderstanding. The chemistry was awesome at times, bordering on the erotic side. Ruel was scrumptious one moment and a cad later on. I had some issues with this. Jane? Why, Jane, why, is all I will say. Some reviewers mentioned this was a bodice-ripper. IMHO, it was not. Tension? Yes. A misunderstanding that caused unneeded angst? Of course. And all of those secondary characters with their secondary problems and their secondary solutions? Yes. Needless-to-say, there was a lot going on.
~~~~~~
For those of you that love exotic settings, some steaminess and can handle the length of the story, Iris Johansen's tale of soul-mates, **GOLD** and the island of Cinnidar was actually pretty good.
November 4, 2020
"The Tiger Prince" is the story of Jane and Ruel.
A riveting tale of revenge, heartbreaking and acceptance, this book takes you on a roller coaster ride. We begin with our heroine Jane escaping a whorehouse at the age of twelve, after pleading the man who she believed fathered her for mercy. She takes along a crippled friend Li Sung, and a mutt.
Fast forward a few years, our hero Ruel and his brother Ian come to the kingdom of Kasanpore with a hidden motive. At the same time, our heroine escapes some rapists to protect an infamous artist she's been shielding. We soon realize that she is the chief brain behind the railroad construction taking place, while her drunk patron takes all the credit.
The hero and heroine's paths cross, and their mutual attraction is too strong to deny. Soon deception, lies and evil motives contaminate their lives..
The second act focuses on the hero scheming his way to obtain his dream- the island of Cinnidar, and finally being able to leave Kasanpur, while helping the heroine's troops. Things go very wrong, a tragedy strikes and a false blame falls on the heroine. We see the hero vow vengeance, and trap the self righteous heroine in a servitudinal prison. The story then moves to Glenclaren Castle, where we are introduced to secondary characters like Ian's childhood sweetheart Margaret and two years pass, with the hero returning at the very end. The heroine is still repenting.
The third act has us moving to Cinnidar. The hero finally gets chance to take his ultimate revenge, but is that what he really wants? Li Sung meets his match- both in human and animal form, we have some elephant drama, deal with the heartbreak of primary and secondary characters, ethical dilemmas and almost adultery- until we reach the climax, where things finally culminate in a kinda HEA for all.
It's not a conventional romance. The hero is definitely a grey character, who tries very hard to be mean and *almost* succeeds. His need for revenge is too strong, and unfortunately the heroine becomes his victim, due to her "caretaking" and sacrificial lamb attitude. That being said, she is still a strong, and very likable woman- and he is definitely not an evil or sadistic person. There is loads of drama, angst, romance and insanely hot sex in this book. We also get glimpses of romances blooming between the secondary characters, the hero grovels hard and hurts harder, things end on a hopeful note and we just get a glimpse into what must have lied ahead for all.
It made me cry like a baby. I enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
A riveting tale of revenge, heartbreaking and acceptance, this book takes you on a roller coaster ride. We begin with our heroine Jane escaping a whorehouse at the age of twelve, after pleading the man who she believed fathered her for mercy. She takes along a crippled friend Li Sung, and a mutt.
Fast forward a few years, our hero Ruel and his brother Ian come to the kingdom of Kasanpore with a hidden motive. At the same time, our heroine escapes some rapists to protect an infamous artist she's been shielding. We soon realize that she is the chief brain behind the railroad construction taking place, while her drunk patron takes all the credit.
The hero and heroine's paths cross, and their mutual attraction is too strong to deny. Soon deception, lies and evil motives contaminate their lives..
The second act focuses on the hero scheming his way to obtain his dream- the island of Cinnidar, and finally being able to leave Kasanpur, while helping the heroine's troops. Things go very wrong, a tragedy strikes and a false blame falls on the heroine. We see the hero vow vengeance, and trap the self righteous heroine in a servitudinal prison. The story then moves to Glenclaren Castle, where we are introduced to secondary characters like Ian's childhood sweetheart Margaret and two years pass, with the hero returning at the very end. The heroine is still repenting.
The third act has us moving to Cinnidar. The hero finally gets chance to take his ultimate revenge, but is that what he really wants? Li Sung meets his match- both in human and animal form, we have some elephant drama, deal with the heartbreak of primary and secondary characters, ethical dilemmas and almost adultery- until we reach the climax, where things finally culminate in a kinda HEA for all.
It's not a conventional romance. The hero is definitely a grey character, who tries very hard to be mean and *almost* succeeds. His need for revenge is too strong, and unfortunately the heroine becomes his victim, due to her "caretaking" and sacrificial lamb attitude. That being said, she is still a strong, and very likable woman- and he is definitely not an evil or sadistic person. There is loads of drama, angst, romance and insanely hot sex in this book. We also get glimpses of romances blooming between the secondary characters, the hero grovels hard and hurts harder, things end on a hopeful note and we just get a glimpse into what must have lied ahead for all.
It made me cry like a baby. I enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
July 24, 2012
For some reason I'd been avoiding books by Iris Johansen. I think I might've had her confused with another writer whose characters always seem to me to have the depth of cartoon figures. Anyway, this one jumped out at me for some reason so I bought it used.
And boy was I surprised. The characters, even the secondary ones, are well-crafted and nuanced. So many writers in the genre seem to have only a few voices, and secondary characters sort of all sound the same, but not here.
The basics: Jane Barnaby has been trailing after Patrick Reilly, who might nor might not be her father since she was a young girl and ran away to escape the whorehouse where she was born. She has a horror of becoming like her mother. She, along with Li Sung, a crippled Chinese boy, latch onto Patrick and, as they grow up, help him with his business, which is building railroads. Lately, the two of them have been shouldering most of the work while Patrick makes an art of getting kootered. Their latest project is in Kasanpore India, building a railroad for the maharajah. In the process they've run afoul of Abdar, the majarajah's sadistic son, by hiding an artist named Kartauk. Kartauk has refused a commission, and the prince is not a man who likes to be denied.
Ruel McClaren is a hard and bitter man, the bastard son of the Earl of Glenclaren. He left home years ago to find treasure and he'll sell his soul and that of anyone else who comes to hand to get it. He's convinced that the treasure he seeks is on an island owned by the maharajah, and to gain an audience with him, he promises Abdar that if he'll use his influence with his father to help him, he'll find and deliver Kartauk. Ruel is accompanied by his brother Ian, the one person in his life who ever cared for him, and who is trying to persuade him to come home to Scotland.
He starts out by spying on Jane, and finds he's fascinated with her. Fascination turns to lust, and lust begins to veer towards love until tragedy strikes. Jane is betrayed, and Ruel blames her--and he's not the forgiving sort. There's a good long section of the book where he does his best to hurt and humiliate her, and I can't say I particularly liked it when his vengeance found its way into the bedroom. But I will say this: Jane puts up with it not because she "lurves" this gronk, but because if she does put up with it, she'll get enough money to set up her own railroad business. She figures she's strong enough to put up with a little BS if it gets her what she wants. No doormat, Jane.
Meanwhile, Abdar provides just enough menace and scary threat to keep the story hopping so you don't gag on the meanness. The guy has an obsession with the goddess Kali and a particular taste in art that rivals Hannibal Lecter for pure creepiness.
Lesser characters like Li Sung and Kartauk have truly satisfying side stories and one has a truly tragic, all of which weave together intricately and in unexpected (and sometimes expected) ways.
The story is not entirely satisfying. But it all falls together well enough by the end that I was content.
After writing a number of romances in the golden age of bodice rippers, Johansen went on to work exclusively in the contemporary suspense genre. I plan to pick up the rest of her early romances, and then I might just have to check out her contemporaries, though somehow I find those much less satisfying than a well-written historical.
And boy was I surprised. The characters, even the secondary ones, are well-crafted and nuanced. So many writers in the genre seem to have only a few voices, and secondary characters sort of all sound the same, but not here.
The basics: Jane Barnaby has been trailing after Patrick Reilly, who might nor might not be her father since she was a young girl and ran away to escape the whorehouse where she was born. She has a horror of becoming like her mother. She, along with Li Sung, a crippled Chinese boy, latch onto Patrick and, as they grow up, help him with his business, which is building railroads. Lately, the two of them have been shouldering most of the work while Patrick makes an art of getting kootered. Their latest project is in Kasanpore India, building a railroad for the maharajah. In the process they've run afoul of Abdar, the majarajah's sadistic son, by hiding an artist named Kartauk. Kartauk has refused a commission, and the prince is not a man who likes to be denied.
Ruel McClaren is a hard and bitter man, the bastard son of the Earl of Glenclaren. He left home years ago to find treasure and he'll sell his soul and that of anyone else who comes to hand to get it. He's convinced that the treasure he seeks is on an island owned by the maharajah, and to gain an audience with him, he promises Abdar that if he'll use his influence with his father to help him, he'll find and deliver Kartauk. Ruel is accompanied by his brother Ian, the one person in his life who ever cared for him, and who is trying to persuade him to come home to Scotland.
He starts out by spying on Jane, and finds he's fascinated with her. Fascination turns to lust, and lust begins to veer towards love until tragedy strikes. Jane is betrayed, and Ruel blames her--and he's not the forgiving sort. There's a good long section of the book where he does his best to hurt and humiliate her, and I can't say I particularly liked it when his vengeance found its way into the bedroom. But I will say this: Jane puts up with it not because she "lurves" this gronk, but because if she does put up with it, she'll get enough money to set up her own railroad business. She figures she's strong enough to put up with a little BS if it gets her what she wants. No doormat, Jane.
Meanwhile, Abdar provides just enough menace and scary threat to keep the story hopping so you don't gag on the meanness. The guy has an obsession with the goddess Kali and a particular taste in art that rivals Hannibal Lecter for pure creepiness.
Lesser characters like Li Sung and Kartauk have truly satisfying side stories and one has a truly tragic, all of which weave together intricately and in unexpected (and sometimes expected) ways.
The story is not entirely satisfying. But it all falls together well enough by the end that I was content.
After writing a number of romances in the golden age of bodice rippers, Johansen went on to work exclusively in the contemporary suspense genre. I plan to pick up the rest of her early romances, and then I might just have to check out her contemporaries, though somehow I find those much less satisfying than a well-written historical.
October 13, 2016
The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
There's something about these so-called old-school romance novels that appeal to me. I think it is mainly due to the fact that while the (main) couple does indulge in their carnal wishes, it isn't so graphic and instant as it is with some of these newer historical romances. For instance, this book right here is almost as old as I am and I I genuinely enjoyed this story.
In some ways it is a pretty typical romance novel. A man and a woman meet, there's some attraction, there are some sparks, there's some denial and in the end there's the happily ever after every romance reader craves.
The hero Ruel and the heroine Jane were aware of their attraction for one another from quite early on, but there was also so much else going on with this story. Sure, the story featured one of my lesser favourite tropes - a couple being apart for a long while and then kind of hating one another because of a misunderstanding - but I guess I couldn't really get mad at Johansen for that because I could also wonder about other characters and their stories because the story didn't focus only on Ruel and Jane.
I wasn't a very bag fan of the relationship Ruel and Jane had (him hating her and all that bullshit for a pretty big portion of the story), but I had Ian, Margaret, Li Sung and Kartauk to amuse me. I loved Ian for believing in his younger half-brother Ruel, I adored how straight-forward Margaret was about everything, I really enjoyed finding out more about Li Sung and wouldn't have minded if there was even more of that gentle Chinese. And be still my heart, as my favourite of the entire lot was the Turkish goldsmith John Kartauk. His hidden depths (even as a sidecharacter!!!) intrigued me and I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I'm really, really sad that there doesn't appear to be a story about him alone.
There was more than one small storyline in the book and while I wouldn't say that they were all that original, I can quite safely say that they were well written and very enjoyable to read about. There's a story about how Jane is building railroads (a very original job for a woman at that time, if you ask me), there's a story about the awful Abdar trying to find Kartuak, there's, of course, some romance, there's some action...
All of those - the well-crafted secondary characters, all these intriguing miniplots, these wonderfully amusing scenes - all of them made the book such an enjoyment for me and in the end I can quite safely say that I do not regret my purchase in the slightest. Sure, it may take a while before I'm willing to pick the book from my shelves and read it again, but I am quite sure that it will happen one day.
There's something about these so-called old-school romance novels that appeal to me. I think it is mainly due to the fact that while the (main) couple does indulge in their carnal wishes, it isn't so graphic and instant as it is with some of these newer historical romances. For instance, this book right here is almost as old as I am and I I genuinely enjoyed this story.
In some ways it is a pretty typical romance novel. A man and a woman meet, there's some attraction, there are some sparks, there's some denial and in the end there's the happily ever after every romance reader craves.
The hero Ruel and the heroine Jane were aware of their attraction for one another from quite early on, but there was also so much else going on with this story. Sure, the story featured one of my lesser favourite tropes - a couple being apart for a long while and then kind of hating one another because of a misunderstanding - but I guess I couldn't really get mad at Johansen for that because I could also wonder about other characters and their stories because the story didn't focus only on Ruel and Jane.
I wasn't a very bag fan of the relationship Ruel and Jane had (him hating her and all that bullshit for a pretty big portion of the story), but I had Ian, Margaret, Li Sung and Kartauk to amuse me. I loved Ian for believing in his younger half-brother Ruel, I adored how straight-forward Margaret was about everything, I really enjoyed finding out more about Li Sung and wouldn't have minded if there was even more of that gentle Chinese. And be still my heart, as my favourite of the entire lot was the Turkish goldsmith John Kartauk. His hidden depths (even as a sidecharacter!!!) intrigued me and I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I'm really, really sad that there doesn't appear to be a story about him alone.
There was more than one small storyline in the book and while I wouldn't say that they were all that original, I can quite safely say that they were well written and very enjoyable to read about. There's a story about how Jane is building railroads (a very original job for a woman at that time, if you ask me), there's a story about the awful Abdar trying to find Kartuak, there's, of course, some romance, there's some action...
All of those - the well-crafted secondary characters, all these intriguing miniplots, these wonderfully amusing scenes - all of them made the book such an enjoyment for me and in the end I can quite safely say that I do not regret my purchase in the slightest. Sure, it may take a while before I'm willing to pick the book from my shelves and read it again, but I am quite sure that it will happen one day.
March 30, 2013
It starts out with a scot Ruel McClaren head with his brother to Kasenpore, India in hopes to see the Mahajarah in hopes to buy a piece of property from him. A property that he would sacrifice almost anything for. His son, Prince Abdar asks him to spy on Jane Barnaby to find the location of the man by John Kartauk. Jane Baraby has come with her father to build a railroad for the Mahajarah in India. Jane is in charge of the job, even though on paper her father is but he is a drunk so she takes responsibility knowing how important this job is. Then she comes face to face to Ruel McClaren whose masculine magnetism entrances her and a passionate embrace they share awakens something within her that she never knew existed. Thus begins a riveting adventure that will take you from India, to the Scottish highlands, and to a beautifully island filled with elephants and treasure hunting, what more can you ask for?
This was a very exciting and enjoyable read, I love reading Iris Johansen's historical's they are filled with adventure, romance, a thrilling ride that you won't ever regret. I truly loved both characters Ruel McClaren is brother to a Laird of Glenclaren Castle. Ruel is driven by finding his fortune in gold, and knows that he wants more than anything a Island that is swimming with it, and he is the only one that knows of it. At first when he is called to spy on Jane he thinks nothing of it, but then he bonds with her and he starts to fall in love with this strong willed and beautiful woman. However when a tragic accident occurs Ruel is bent on revenge but despite everything nothing could change what he feels for her. Jane has worked most of life on railroads with her father, having been taken from a whorehouse where her mother worked, Jane vowed to her father to repay that debt. Even though he is far from the father she could have imagined, she has never known desire or that there was a sensual woman within her until she meets Ruel. Never knowing that she will change forever. I enjoyed this one although there was a couple of things I struggled with. And those of you who have read it, probably know what I am talking about. But it was a matter that drove Ruel to revenge against Jane for a time, and it was never solved to my full satisfaction, so that really bugged me a bit. Just because I looked forward to when the full truth would come out, and it never did. But other than that I really loved this book, its pages filled with everything that will satisfy and delight you in a good romance.
This was a very exciting and enjoyable read, I love reading Iris Johansen's historical's they are filled with adventure, romance, a thrilling ride that you won't ever regret. I truly loved both characters Ruel McClaren is brother to a Laird of Glenclaren Castle. Ruel is driven by finding his fortune in gold, and knows that he wants more than anything a Island that is swimming with it, and he is the only one that knows of it. At first when he is called to spy on Jane he thinks nothing of it, but then he bonds with her and he starts to fall in love with this strong willed and beautiful woman. However when a tragic accident occurs Ruel is bent on revenge but despite everything nothing could change what he feels for her. Jane has worked most of life on railroads with her father, having been taken from a whorehouse where her mother worked, Jane vowed to her father to repay that debt. Even though he is far from the father she could have imagined, she has never known desire or that there was a sensual woman within her until she meets Ruel. Never knowing that she will change forever. I enjoyed this one although there was a couple of things I struggled with. And those of you who have read it, probably know what I am talking about. But it was a matter that drove Ruel to revenge against Jane for a time, and it was never solved to my full satisfaction, so that really bugged me a bit. Just because I looked forward to when the full truth would come out, and it never did. But other than that I really loved this book, its pages filled with everything that will satisfy and delight you in a good romance.
February 14, 2023
*re-read*
**Review to come**
August 1, 2018
This takes place over a number of years. There’s a lot of angst, revenge, side characters and plots. I’m just not feeling it.
Jane is the heroine, she leaves a terrible life in the Midwest America and works railroads. Ruel is the hero, a Scottish man setting out to find his fortune.
The beginning of the story was okay, H and h meet in India for a railroad being built. H is there with his brother and he (brother) ends up getting hurt on the railroad. H holds this against heroine for over 3 years, although simple communication could have resolved this problem. I HATE this plot line, and it seems to be found so often in older books. I don’t mind the angst or fights but if they are based on a lie or something that should have never happened I find it so annoying. One simple sentence could have erased all of this pain and the desire for revenge the H wanted on h. But then the book would have been half the length 😆
So for 3 entire years there’s no interaction between H and h then he comes back and has her build a railroad on his island he bought.
Side characters started having more page time than the main characters. The hero’s brother is married and when she started cheating on her husband I was out. Closed the book.
So it might end up being a truly memorable love story if you put in the effort. It’s just a very complex and heavy book and I’m not feeling it anymore 🙁
Jane is the heroine, she leaves a terrible life in the Midwest America and works railroads. Ruel is the hero, a Scottish man setting out to find his fortune.
The beginning of the story was okay, H and h meet in India for a railroad being built. H is there with his brother and he (brother) ends up getting hurt on the railroad. H holds this against heroine for over 3 years, although simple communication could have resolved this problem. I HATE this plot line, and it seems to be found so often in older books. I don’t mind the angst or fights but if they are based on a lie or something that should have never happened I find it so annoying. One simple sentence could have erased all of this pain and the desire for revenge the H wanted on h. But then the book would have been half the length 😆
So for 3 entire years there’s no interaction between H and h then he comes back and has her build a railroad on his island he bought.
Side characters started having more page time than the main characters. The hero’s brother is married and when she started cheating on her husband I was out. Closed the book.
So it might end up being a truly memorable love story if you put in the effort. It’s just a very complex and heavy book and I’m not feeling it anymore 🙁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2012
I don't enjoy reading about people being cruel to each other, especially in a supposedly romantic situation. Ruel's cruelty, regardless of whether he thought it was justified, made me feel ill. Jane's acceptance of guilt without explanation angered me.
I also felt there were large portions of the book that were highly repetitive. Certain arguments were had again and again until I could barely suppress my desire to skim.
I usually like Iris's books very much, but the plot of this one disturbed me. I wouldn't recommend it.
I also felt there were large portions of the book that were highly repetitive. Certain arguments were had again and again until I could barely suppress my desire to skim.
I usually like Iris's books very much, but the plot of this one disturbed me. I wouldn't recommend it.
March 23, 2025
#45 - 2025
Genre: Historical Romance
Genre: Historical Romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2015
I believe I've read other Iris Johansen books in the past, thought they were pure bodice ripper romances...but was delightfully surprised with this one. It was quite well written with a very intriguing cast of characters, a great mystery with tragedies and a great ending. Lots of stories going on with unique and in depth character studies that I was really caught up in. Enjoyed this one a lot!
Read
April 17, 2020I decided not to rate the book because I dnf it very early on, and basically skimmed the ending to see what happened to the characters. So my review is solely based on what I read.
The book was too complex, dense, long and with too many characters in it. This book could have easily beem three different books, had the author chosen to seperate the stories.
The angst in this story was too much for me to actually enjoy it. I normally don't mind a little bit of angst in HR books because it adds interest to the story. However, there's too many characters whose storylines interconnect and feed the angst collectively making it one big hot mess.
Example:
Jane and Ruel and his cruelness
Lovely and compassionate Ian, who loves his wife so much, that he chose to accept she loved another and was emotionally cheating on him right under his nose.
The horrible love triangle between Ian, Margaret and Kartauk.
The death masks, Ian...
I think i like my HR books way more fluffy and less complex than this.
The book was too complex, dense, long and with too many characters in it. This book could have easily beem three different books, had the author chosen to seperate the stories.
The angst in this story was too much for me to actually enjoy it. I normally don't mind a little bit of angst in HR books because it adds interest to the story. However, there's too many characters whose storylines interconnect and feed the angst collectively making it one big hot mess.
Example:
Jane and Ruel and his cruelness
Lovely and compassionate Ian, who loves his wife so much, that he chose to accept she loved another and was emotionally cheating on him right under his nose.
The horrible love triangle between Ian, Margaret and Kartauk.
The death masks, Ian...
I think i like my HR books way more fluffy and less complex than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2022
A historical romance set in India during the British reign of Queen Victoria.
The author did a bad job in describing them - it was so lacking, that I could not “see” them in my mind’s eye, there were only comparisons (the male hero was like a beautiful tiger) , the heroine was short and stubborn. Actually, when I think about it, the all the characters were lacking in their descriptions and were rather one-dimensional (very good or very bad or superficial at best).
I found the hero rather disgusting and the heroine too weak in her interaction with others (but mainly with the hero who treated her badly most of the time).
The author did a bad job in describing them - it was so lacking, that I could not “see” them in my mind’s eye, there were only comparisons (the male hero was like a beautiful tiger) , the heroine was short and stubborn. Actually, when I think about it, the all the characters were lacking in their descriptions and were rather one-dimensional (very good or very bad or superficial at best).
I found the hero rather disgusting and the heroine too weak in her interaction with others (but mainly with the hero who treated her badly most of the time).
August 25, 2021
A period of history in a place that reeks of violence almost made me put down this one, but I soon got caught up in Jane's story. She certainly had bad luck for most of her life, but she struggled and persevered. It took me a while to appreciate Ruel and I wasn't happy with Ian's fate, but I loved the elephants and Li Sung. What a great story!
Read
April 29, 2023Jane, the daughter of an American prostitute, runs away with her "father," a railroad man. His business brings them to strange new lands where she must complete the work, or face the consequences. She becomes entangled with Ruel McClaren and joins him in his battle for his beloved land against the evil maharajah.
November 8, 2017
This was Problematic (with a capital P), but also compusively readable. Like good plot, but yikes those characters. Margaret was the only one who wasn't a complete asshole or completely one-dimensional.
April 22, 2021
**3.5 stars **
I like how he was overcome what she did and still love her. She wasn't guilty but not entirely blameless. She was still able to love him even though he emotionally hated her. I hated what happened to Ian but you need some problem for a story.
I like how he was overcome what she did and still love her. She wasn't guilty but not entirely blameless. She was still able to love him even though he emotionally hated her. I hated what happened to Ian but you need some problem for a story.
December 6, 2020
Started out very promising but the writer didn't seem in control of her narrative, and I was lost with her..! I didn't continue it...
March 24, 2024
J’ai aimé et pas aimé.
October 25, 2021
I really like how she has lots of characters with their own stories interwoven with the main story. I though this book should have been a little longer but it was good.
Read
December 30, 2008Tiger Prince is the story of an explicit and interesting love between a hardened man, Ruel, and an independent woman, Jane. Jane works along side her father building railroads all over the world. She enjoys traveling and being free while Ruel enjoys gold and pleasure. The two face both little and big obstacles, some of those being lust and betrayal. And while the two have completely different goals, love's cruel side takes the toll of both of them.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy romance, and most importantly, readers that are patient. I was entertained by the disputes between the couple and their companions and i'm sure you will too.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy romance, and most importantly, readers that are patient. I was entertained by the disputes between the couple and their companions and i'm sure you will too.
August 12, 2008
Overall this was a pretty good book. But I generally don't enjoy books where there is a heavy revenge plot of making the heroine feel like a whore, to humiliate her to satisfy revenge. I don't know how realistic it is to get past having someone treat you that way, so that's why I stopped at the three stars. I did really enjoy the side story of Kartuak and Margaret. There better be another book for just them though, because I didn't like them ending in the book with just a promise.
October 13, 2010
I was severely disappointed with this book. I found the main male character to be completely cruel and unforgivable. His revenge plot of making the main character feel like a whore and using her sexually disgusted me. This plotline was completely abusive and morally repugnant. I love Johansen's thriller novels, and this is the only romance book of hers that I've read, but based on this, she should stick with the thrillers.
June 8, 2016
I enjoyed this book. There were parts that frustrated me and it lost steam for a bit in the middle. Steam as in momentum not sexiness. The first half was great and the last quarter was wonderful. I especially enjoyed the adventure aspect of the book and the varied settings (USA, Scotland, India, island off the coast of India...) the whole "tiger" thing seemed a little contrived and forced but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'll hang on to it and plan on reading it again some day.
April 29, 2012
I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't make it through this book. The hero was odious. Yes, odious. He wasn't appealing in the least as human being - and I don't be physically. If I can't understand why the heroine would want to be with her love interest, then there is something seriously wrong. I hated him so much, and the plot was so slow, that I honestly didn't care how it was resolved. If I could, I would give this book no stars at all.
September 29, 2012
What I loved about this book would take me forever to express. In an effort to keep this short and sweet I'll just hit the top three reasons. The characters main and side where all awesome! Each one had a purpose and brought out of me the reader exactly what they were supposed to.
Number two: what an adventure!
Number three: Iris Johansen hit upon all my senses and ran the full range of emotions in this page turning, exciting romance.
Number two: what an adventure!
Number three: Iris Johansen hit upon all my senses and ran the full range of emotions in this page turning, exciting romance.
January 21, 2016
Kitabın ilk çeyreğinde karakterleri anlamak için uğraştım , karmaşık bir düzlemde ve kurguda birleşen tuhaf bir hikaye gözüyle bakarken , yarısından sonra sürükleyici gelmeye başladı . Kadın karakterleri çok sevdim diyemem .. Aldıysanız ve okumayı planlıyorsanız kafanızın sakin olduğu bir an başlamanızı tavsiye ederim :))
June 25, 2012
superb story! i love the way the author plotted their love story. their love for each other developed gradually and was tested by time and events.
aside from the main story, the author added 2 more unique love pairs that kept me more interested with the book.
aside from the main story, the author added 2 more unique love pairs that kept me more interested with the book.
September 2, 2023
One of the few romance novels I really enjoy. I re-read it every few years. I think I enjoy it because the romance is secondary to the story. Ruel is always looking for adventure and Jane is content to work on her railroad. When their paths cross things get interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews