When Amanda Cookeson was a child, she spent a summer with gypsies. At the end of that wonderful summer, Nona, the leader of the band, gave her a statue of a black panther. She told Amanda that a man would come for that statue, that man would be her prince and she must marry him and only him. Years later, Amanda is certain her true prince is Jon Kenton, the Earl of Wynton, but he has no interest in panthers, marriage, or Amanda. She must decide whether to accept another man's proposal, ensuring herself a home and family, or wait for Jon and risk being left a spinster.

Jon must marry and carry on his family name. A man of science, he does not believe in magic. The only reason he wants to find the woman with the statue is to ensure that he does NOT fulfill Nona's prediction and marry her. He is relieved when Amanda claims no knowledge of the statue. He can marry her and not have to worry about messy things like love and fate.

The Earl is a historical romance set in a deep, developed world. It is the third book of the Gypsy Legacy series and cannot be read as a standalone. Having not read the first two books, I was lost. There are numerous secondary characters, so many that I couldn't keep track of who they were. Many characters readers meet briefly once and only once. Although this is true to life, it is frustrating for new readers of the series. Jon is a complicated character. He is a man of science yet was raised by gypsy. The rationale behind this intriguing dichotomy is not explained in The Earl. Amanda sparkles as the fed up yet determined heroine. The Earl is filled with interesting characters and intriguing plot twists.

Reviewed by: Kimber