Customer Reviews

Ever a Princess

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Setting ? Scotland and England ? 1874 --- In this second novel in the Marquess of Templeston?s Heir trilogy, we are introduced to Princess Georgiana ?Giana? May heir to the throne of Karolya. After her cousin, Prince Victor, murders her parents in a coup attempt, Princess Giana, is spirited away by her loyal servants to a hunting lodge in Scotland. Unknown to them, their peaceful coexistence is about to be shattered when American millionaire, Adam McKendrick arrives after winning the lodge in a card game with the intentions of turning it into a ?for gentlemen only? golf resort. When Adam arrives he is somewhat surprised to discover a ?staff? already in residence in what he had assumed was an abandoned and little used hunting lodge. What truly disturbed him was to find a tall, beautiful blonde along with her pony-sized dog (Wagner) in what was designated as the master?s bedroom. Now that, in itself was bad enough, but to then realize he felt an attraction to her, when she wasn?t his ?type? seemed to bother him even more!

The better part of the story then becomes quite humorous as Princess Giana, fondly called ?George? by Adam, attempts, very ineptly, to assume the duties of a ?maid?. Adam, in the meantime, recognizes her ?innocence? yet can?t seem to control his baser sexual attraction and taunts her with improper and provocative innuendo dialogs that somehow get lost in some of ?her? translations - cute! Alas, it does seem to dawn on Adam that all is not what it seems when it comes to George; his ?staff? - who seem to be adhering to an agenda that isn?t his; and of course, his eventual discovery of who George really is.

I found this to be a really cute and sweet romance. Adam, having four older sisters, is quite the champion for female rights and this is very apparent at the end of the book, after he?s worked out some testosterone issues once he is convinced that what he always thought was his type, turned out to be George! His seduction of ?George?, although initiated by him, got flipped around once ?George? discovered that she liked the feelings his kisses inspired in her. I loved the dog Wagner, and the other secondary characters including Victor, the heinous villain in the piece, were sufficient to add substance but did not detract from the main romance theme. Although, a bit unusual in trilogies to have a huge time gap from the first novel set in 1818 to the second set in 1874 I would advise reading the third published entry (ALWAYS A LADY), set in 1838, in order to keep more of a continuity line before reading this second published novel. What should be noted here is that none of these novels need to be read in any specific order, as each can and does stand-alone. Bottom line -- I found this a light read, amusing, and witty with a sweetly enjoyable sensuality. ---Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Giana and Adam's story could have had so much potential but I had to suspend my beliefs so many times for so many things, that I found the book flighty and not enjoyable. If this was supposed to be a fairy tale type story it might have worked better, but it was not. The story takes a princess and puts her in situations both unrealistic and contrary even in its own writing style. A princess is sunk to the level of cleaning out fireplaces as a maid, but her lady's maid can't lift a finger except to fix the princesses hair, watch her dog and get her food. Or when Giana and Adam's second in a duel kill the opponent (they shoot him) because he was about to kill Adam. Woah! I thought that was considered cheating in a duel.

Giana was so focused on being a princess that she does not know how to act "normal". How it takes Adam so long to figure out something was going on, or why he did not fire her the minute he walked in and found her sleeping in his bed (and unwilling to leave it for the night), I'll never understand. I never got the feeling that these two characters communicate or relate to one another. Where did the relationship come from? The villain's reasons for acting as he did, did not fully make sense either. Adam and his story fare a little better, though they stretch they realm of comfortable with me as well.

All and all, the only aspect of the book I liked was the Marquess of Templeston's role in it. I enjoyed his story in Once a Mistress and was happy to see him again.

Princess Giana is the sole heir to Karolya now that her parents have been murdered by her cousin Prince Victor. In order to escape death at Victor's hands or a forced marriage to him, Giana goes into hiding. For several weeks she travels from place to place never staying long. That is until the Princess and her most trusted servants settle into an abandoned hunting lodge in Scotland. That lodge's new owner, Andrew McKinley, arrives and soon falls in love with Giana. But secrets and complicated, unclear Karolyan law may destroy any future for the two of them.

This book had only a tenuous connection to the last book in the Marquess of Templeton's Heirs series. I can't give details about that without giving spoilers. Still, I was really disappointed in how different the two novels were from one another. "Once A Mistress" was complex and well thought out. "Ever A Princess" was a light read that, while not bad, I wouldn't choose to reread. The main characters in both novels "fell in love" too fast and didn't seem to spend much time together when they weren't being intimate in some way. Both had unexpected twists but only the first's were welcome.

I hate being so vague but, ironically, it matches what I am reviewing. This book lacked depth and I wish I hadn't bought it.

Some unbelieveable bits and some very confusing elements hurt this book. One problem is evident on the first page. The book is set in 1874, and it's the second book in the trilogy. If you choose to read this one, read it last so that the events are in chronological order. 1874 makes Drew (from Once a Mistress) 86 years old. He's still quite healthy and active (Kathryn is still alive too). Drew's brief but important appearance is too short. It seems implausible that he and Kathryn can travel so easily and at such short notice at these advanced ages. Kit is married; it's mentioned at the end of the book, but it happens in book 3 (hmmm).

It's fun at times, and Adam is a pretty good hero, but Giana is often unbelieveable. Adam does seem easily deluded. You can read the other two without this one. Or read this one after the other two. But my advice is "don't buy it."

In 1874, Prince Victor hires assassins to kill his uncle and aunt, the ruler and his wife of the Principality of Saxe-Wallerstein-Karolya. Victor's men also murder loyal supporters of His Highness and seek out his cousin Princess Georgiana to complete his coup. However, due to the efforts of trusted individuals, Princess Giana escapes. Though officially the new ruler of the small Baltic principality, Giana flees to Scotland where she hides in an isolated hunting lodge. Victor rules the nation with an iron fist while his hired killers seek to eradicate the last symbol of the opposition, Giana.
In a card game, American business mogul and hero of dime novels Adam McKendrick wins the hunting lodge that conceals Giana. He arrives at his new property, but is shocked to see residents' residing in what he believed was an unoccupied lodge. The squatters including Giana pretend to be servants, but her royal bearing reveals her masquerade as a maid false. As Adam and Giana fall in love, he learns more about her past. He becomes determined to help her gain what is rightfully hers.

The relationship between Adam and Giana turn Rebecca Hagan Lee's historical romance into a fun reading experience. Though the audience will crave Adam, he seems too perfect that is until Giana, EVER THE PRINCESS, rips his skin apart revealing his flaws. The story line is action packed, but clearly belongs to the intrepid heroine who makes a fairy tale come true for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner