Prince Charming [Mass Market Paperback]

Julie Garwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1995

Bestselling author Julie Garwood's classic love story is filled with "the humor, the sweetness, and the sensuality" (Publishers Weekly) that have made her "a trusted brand name in romantic fiction" (People).

Only her beloved grandmother, Lady Esther, knew how devastated Taylor Stapleton had been when her fiancé eloped with Taylor's cousin. Now dear Esther -- one of London's richest and most formidable matriarchs -- lies dying. But first she was going to help Taylor pull off the scam of the season.

To escape becoming a ward of her unscrupulous uncle, Taylor would wed Lucas Ross, a rugged American rancher. Lady Esther's money would enable Ross to return home to Montana. Taylor had her own urgent reason to go to America...a precious legacy she hadn't revealed to Ross, for they had agreed to part ways once they reached Boston. But as her handsome new husband spoke of life in Montana, Taylor began planning a new future. To Taylor, the wide-open spaces of Montana sounded like paradise....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The opening line of Garwood's ( Saving Grace ) latest novel, "The vultures were gathering in the vestibule," aptly sets the tone for the machinations to follow. These "vultures" (of 1868 vintage) are the greedy relatives of Lady Esther Stapleton awaiting the death of their wealthy kin. Worst of the lot is Esther's son, Malcolm, a devious and demented gentleman who is unaware that his vigil is useless: his mother has already transferred her wealth from England to a Boston bank in the name of her favorite granddaughter, Taylor. To shield Taylor from Malcolm's wrath, Esther arranges for the girl to marry Lucas Ross, a Montana rancher itching to end his visit to England. The couple readily agree to the plan: Lucas needs the money to bring his younger brother to America, and Taylor knows Lucas's protection is the only way she can safeguard her tiny orphaned nieces from Malcolm, whose sexual appetite runs to the very young. The marriage is to be annulled as soon as they reach the States, but love has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans. Garwood pads her story with pages of intricate detail (bathing, shopping, decor, traveling, etc.) that ultimately slow the pace to a crawl. Readers can enjoy this book for the humor, the sweetness and the sensuality.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Compelled to action by the death of her adored grandmother, unconventional Lady Taylor Stapleton agrees to marry Lucas Ross, a man she has never met, and accompany him to America temporarily, all in an effort to save her two young nieces from their greedy and lecherous uncle. But all does not go as planned, and when the girls are kidnapped, Taylor and Lucas are forced to continue their matrimonial charade. Despite the thread of child abuse, sexual and otherwise, woven throughout the story, Garwood's latest offering (following Saving Grace, Pocket Bks., 1993) is light and funny, featuring lively dialog, swift-moving action, and a wonderfully outspoken heroine. Garwood readers might also enjoy books by Amanda Quick and Judith McNaught.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671870963
• ISBN-13: 978-0671870966
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Garwood is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including Fire and Ice, Shadow Music, Shadow Dance, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, and Come the Spring. There are more than thirty-six million copies of her books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Garwood, October 13, 2003

By 

Tania "Amethyst246" (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prince Charming (Mass Market Paperback)

I love Julie Garwood's style and spirit in all her writings, but Prince Charming is by far my favorite. It is a slightly different style than her other books, which I think throws off some of her other readers, but in my opinion is refreshing. Unlike most romance novels, Prince Charming carries the story farther past the origional conflict. The initial "throw ourselves at each other and onto the bed" that usually concludes a romance novel is more to the side rather than the main focus. Instead there is an emphasis on the character's struggles to understand one another. Prince Charming is a beautifully told story, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, I absolutly loved it, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Prince Charming (Mass Market Paperback)

Yes, I am a girl of only 13. I accidentally found the book in my mother's dresser. But I started reading it and fell in love!! I loved the story line and the romance between Taylor and Lucas. It is by far the best book that I have read in a long time. I am hooked on Julie Garwood now. I love the fact that her storys are historical. And for all of you out there who are looking for a good romance, I would suggest this. I am usually boered with books, and this one held my attention untill the very last word. I have read it many times since.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From England to the wild West!, May 6, 2005

By 

Justwannaread! (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prince Charming (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a relatively new fan of Julie Garwood's and this book is a little different from the others that I've read. This novel takes place in several locations and is a very involved story.

Taylor and Lucas are charismatic as the main characters. It takes a little while for Lucas' character to develop; he's a bit of a mystery man. Similar to other Julie Garwood heroines, Taylor is very likable (also young, beautiful, sweet, petite, from a disfunctional family, etc.) There are also some interesting secondary characters. Taylor's grandmother is only in a brief part of the book, but I began to think she was clairvoyant the way she arranged the marriage between Lucas and Taylor. They really were a perfect match! There is a "knock-your-socks-off" love scene about 2/3 of the way through the book.

Although I really enjoyed this story, there were a couple weaknesses that I would like to point out. Taylor's friend Victoria is an unwed mother to be, but we never got to learn who her ex-boyfriend was. I thought maybe it would end up being William Merritt (Taylor's philandering ex-fiance). Also, Lucas has three half-brothers that are mentioned occasionally in the book, but we never get to meet them.