Customer Reviews

Prince Kidnaps a Bride LP

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In her Lost Princesses series, tremendously talented author Christina Dodd has created three distinctive yet interconnecting tales about the fascinating adventures of three beautiful and charismatic sisters: Crown Princess Sorcha, Princess Clarice and Princess Amy. The princesses, who hail from the majestic European kingdom of Beaumontagne nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, were raised in a grand palace and finely educated in all the subjects a princess needs to rule wisely. When their country becomes overrun by marauding revolutionaries and the security of the monarchy is threatened, their grandmother, the Dowager Queen Claudia is forced to send the young princesses off to the relative safety of England. Sadly, after their father the king is killed in battle, several years pass before the feisty but aging Queen Claudia manages to regain control of their country. When she finally sends for her granddaughters she learns the people she left them with have proved extremely untrustworthy; and alas--the princesses have disappeared ...

In Sorcha's story THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE, Ms. Dodd treats her readers to a superbly written tale of an innocent and guileless Princess--lost, but duty-bound to find her way back to her family and kingdom. And, it's the story of the dark and driven Prince who is willing to use any means--trickery, deceit or seduction--no matter how devious, to see that she gets there ... for marriage to Princess Sorcha is crucial to Rainger regaining the kingdom he lost, and though he doesn't realize it yet--his heart and soul.

Hidden in a remote island convent to keep her safe, Sorcha has enjoyed several peaceful years under the caring and watchful eyes of the nuns, but suddenly, a mysterious stranger appears--her fiancé, Prince Rainger disguised as a fisherman--and startling and frightening things start happening. For her safety, and that of the nuns, Sorcha knows she must leave. Although she was raised by her strict grandmother with sound reasoning skills and intelligence--Sorcha has not yet learned to believe in herself. And now unfortunately, at 25, the sweet, loving, kind--taught by the gentle nuns to see the good in everyone--and naive princess is compelled to make an incredible and, with assassins tracking her, perilous journey back to Beaumontagne to claim her heritage. But, on her trip she'll meet some extremely remarkable people and learn some new things about her true nature--that she's adventurous, high-spirited, fun-loving, brave, daring, sensual and passionate--and as Rainger will soon find out, she has a temper too.

Rainger de Leonides--heir to the kingdom of Richarte that adjoins Beaumontagne--was a rich, handsome, arrogant and spoiled prince. At 17, his country on the brink of war, this brash and vain young man foolishly risks everything--his friends, his family and his crown--for one night with a woman. However, that treacherous woman laughs as she betrays Rainger to his worst enemy, the evil Count DuBelle--the man who wants to topple the royal family and rule Richarte. Thrown into a deep dark dungeon for the next 8 years; beaten, starved, humiliated and disgraced--his spirit battered, his body broken and brought to the brink of death--yet miraculously he survives. With help he finally escapes, but now he's changed from a foolish boy into an angry, strong, tenacious and indomitable man--a King with one purpose--reclaiming his kingdom.

This fast moving, powerful and poignant story had everything ... secrets and intrigue, treacherous villains, soul wrenching betrayal, daring adventure, perilous danger, extreme excitement, lust and obsession, unrestrained passion--and as if that's not enough--Ms. Dodd wrapped it all up in a bold and captivating romance that's liberally infused with her sharp, witty, sometimes comical and ALWAYS entertaining sense of humor.

I thought the book was fabulous; it made me laugh out loud at times and brought tears to my eyes too! I loved both characters; Sorcha for her spirit and natural goodness and Rainger for his strength of character, bravery and fortitude--even when he acted like a jackass. I enjoyed watching them transform into a truly heroic couple ready to rule their countries; and allow--their passion and love for each other--to rule their hearts!

The entire "Lost Princesses" series is wonderful and I recommend reading them all, Clarice's story SOME ENCHANTED EVENING and Amy's story THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS, BUT, you won't want to miss the thrilling final book in this trilogy; THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE because Ms. Dodd--saved THE BEST for last!

The Lost Princess Trilogy:

Some Enchanted Evening
The Barefoot Princess
The Price Kidnaps a Bride


I have to admit, I was not anxious to read this book. I had been very disappointed with "The Barefoot Princess", so I was afraid I'd be bored with this book as well. Still, Prince Rainger had been a sexy and intriguing mystery in his cameos in the first two books. I was looking forward to his complete story.
Wow! From the very first pages, Christina Dodd pulls you into action and adventure that last through the entire story. Many parts of the story had me laughing out loud, while others had me holding my breath. I couldn't put the book down.

With the first two Lost Princesses found and already married, Prince Rainger has one last hope for saving his country. He must find the Crown Princess, Sorcha, and escort her safely back to her kingdom. They must marry to unite their kingdoms against the evil Count who has stolen Rainger's throne. The two travel together over land and sea, always guarding their lives from the assassins who hope to slay them.
Rainger has survived 8 years in a dungeon. His trust in humanity is dead. Once a pampered prince, he now has learned humility and courage. He will take no risk that his princess will reject him. He disguises himself as a clumsy oaf, in hopes that she'll fall in love with him before she discovers that he is the snobby prince from her childhood memories. Princess Sorcha holds one trait of mankind above all others: Trustworthiness. Rainger's deception turns her world up- side- down.
The enemy who holds Rainger's country hostage is determined to see Rainger and Sorcha dead. They threaten his hold on the throne. He'll pay any amount of money and hire as many assassins as necessary to end their lives. When Sorcha is stolen by the enemy, Rainger will risk all to get her back.

This is the first Christina Dodd novel that I have read and here I am on Amazon searching for another one by her because I enjoyed this one so much. I was looking for a fun, sexy read with interesting characters and I found all that and more. I couldn't put the book down and ended up reading the book in one day. The heroine was strong and feisty and I enjoyed her wit. I loved the prince as well! I recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Ms. Dodd.

This is the 3rd and final book in the Lost Princesses series.
This is Princess Sorcha's story. She is the eldest of the three sisters and in line to be Queen of Beaumontangue.
Beaumontangue has been involved in a revolution. For the safety of the princesses they were seperated and sent away. For the past 8 years Sorcha has been hiding in a convent off the coast of Scotland.
Prince Rainger is in line to rule Richarte. He and Sorcha have been betrothed since birth. At the time of the revolution he is captured and thought to be killed.
Prince Rainger is now free and sent on a mission by Sorchas Grandmother the Queen to bring back the last of the lost princesses. He goes to the convent under the disguise of a bumbling fisherman and quickly befriends the princess. They set out on their journey to return home. All the while Sorcha still thinking her prince is dead.
This was a good book. However a couple things bothered me and stopped this book from being great.
The fact that the prince just didn't come out and say who he was. I don't understand that angle and even after the author semi explained it at the end... To me it was unnecessary to the plot.
The other irratating thing for me was the princes attitude and how he 'apologizes'... You'll see.
Sorcha's character comes off as a complete dim wit at times and then smart, other times.
Out of all three books, I think this one was my least favorite. But if you read the first two, you are going to have to read this one. And like I said, it's a good book, it just could of been better.

Princess Sorcha and Prince Rainger were betrothed from the time they were babies. Then war and rebellion tore both countries apart, scattering Sorcha and her three sisters to the wind, while Rainger suffered torture and imprisonment in the dungeon of his greatest enemy.

Now Rainger has finally discovered that Sorcha has been hiding in a convent. After disguising himself as a fisherman, he manages to escort Sorcha back toward their homeland, and the wedding he must have if he is to win his country back from his enemies.

Along the way Sorcha falls in love with him, and he persuades her to marry him, even though she still thinks he is a simple fisherman. Only to suffer her fury when she awakes the next morning to find out who he really is. . .

In the conclusion to the Princess series, Dodd picks up with the tortured Rainger, whose naivete resulted in his enemies taking his kingdom from him, and torturing him to the point of madness and death. For him, Sorcha is only a tool to win back what he has lost, and make amends for the damage he has caused-at first. Only when he seems to have lost her does he begin to fully appreciate what she has come to mean to him.

This conclusory novel is at least as enjoyable as the others in the series, although I could have wished for a bit more depth in the development of the villains of the piece. This is compensated for by the author's portrayal of the ambivalence of Rainger's own people, who have been brutalized by his enemy, and react to Rainger's new intervention with an all-too-human hesitance.

In fact, this story is actually more Rainger's than it is Sorcha's, and does not suffer for it. I particularly enjoyed the kind of Count of Monte Cristo flavor Dodd wove in her telling of Rainger's foolishness, his sufferings and his eventual rise to become a man worthy of the throne he regains.



Reviewed by Lee M



Copyright © 2006-2007 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

Crown Princess Sorcha was six when her queen-mother died bearing a third daughter. From the day Grandmamma came to live with them, Sorcha felt like a project that was being molded. Oh, Grandmamma kept an eye on Sorcha's younger sisters, but Sorcha got special treatment that she did not want. It was up to Sorcha to continue the Beaumontagnian royal line.

Princess Sorcha has been betrothed to Prince Rainger de Leonides since infancy. Sorcha ends up in a remote convent until the age of twenty-five. While watching the sea she spies Arnou, a fisherman. However, this odd fisherman turns out to be Prince Rainger in disguise. He has been imprisoned in a dungeon and rumored to have died. During his time in the dungeon, Rainger has changed into a dangerous and hard man. He has returned to win back his kingdom and Sorcha, no matter what.

Sorcha must travel home, with Rainger still disguised as a fisherman. But unlike Rainger, Sorcha has not lost her ability to trust. It is up to Rainger to somehow keep her reined in and protected.

**** Author Christina Dodd has yet to disappoint me when it comes to historical romance. Sorcha's character is a bit hard to believe at times, but I love the way Dodd has both main characters behaving in completely opposite manners. Another great tale for romance fans to cherish! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

When they were royal children, their parents arranged a betrothal between Prince Rainger and Princess Sorcha. However, a revolution in Beaumontagne sent Sorcha and her sisters fleeing for safety while Prince Rainger was locked away in a dungeon.

By 1810 most people assume Rainger is dead including Sorcha who lives a quiet life in a Scottish convent where she feels she must take her vows, as she sees nothing else in her future. However, her hopes to stay safe ends when Arnou the fisherman arrives informing her she must leave for the safety of the other convent as assassins have come to kill her and anyone else in their way. Sorcha takes a chance on him and flees, but her acquiescence worries her rescuer as Rainger, disguised as the fisherman, sees other indications that his princess bride is naïve, trusting everyone while he trusts no one not even her. Yet he also marvels how she seems charmed as she gets out of dangerous predicaments at times without his help. He loves his princess and she loves her fisherman, but first there is a kingdom to regain.

THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE is a terrific ending to the Lost Princesses historical romance miniseries (see BAREFOOT PRINCESS AND SOME ENCHANTED EVENING). The story line is filled with action, but it is the lead couple that makes for a superior tale. He is hard with no passion as a result of his years in captivity while she is naive as a result of her years in "captivity". Fans will root for the last lost princess and her prince to overcome their adversaries, who some might say include themselves.

Harriet Klausner

I have yet to read the first two entries in this trilogy, so the characters did not disappoint me, because I had no expectations for them. I found the plot to be fun and (most importantly for me) quickly paced. I needed a book to fill up an evening, and this one succeeded wonderfully.

It is not perfect, however. The heroine, Sorcha, does grate on the nerves with her rose-tinted glasses mentality and some could argue that hero only fell in love with her out of necessity. This adventure story is fun while not overshadowing the romance aspect. So if you're looking for a fun read and you are willing to keep an open mind if you've already read the first two books, then you'll enjoy this one too.

Plot Summary: In the tiny kingdom of Beaumontagne, three young princesses are sent to England when rebels overthrow the monarchy. The girls are cut off from their home, country, and family, and they must learn how to survive on their own during the early 1800s. As the girls grow into women, and become separated even from each other. They were warned by their formidable grandmother to trust no emissary, because the rebels have dispatched assassins to kill the princesses, and thereby secure their hold over the country. Each book in the trilogy traces the story of one sister.

I could easily envision Disney remaking these fairy-tale stories into movies, minus the hot sex of course, so if you like historical romances involving royalty, I can recommend this trilogy. These books are fluffy pieces of confection for the mind, and while they lack the intensity to truly shock and startle the reader, they will please that craving for a well-done fantasy where the outcome is already known. Dodd does an excellent job setting up truly unique plots for each princess, so I never felt like I was reading a carbon copy of a previous story. I also commend this trilogy for having a harmonious blend of romance, action, danger, and surprisingly gratifying sex, which kept me happily entertained on every page.

The third and final installment, "The Prince Kidnaps a Bride," features oldest sister, Sorcha, who has been hiding in a convent for several years. As a child, she was betrothed to Prince Rainger, but the same rebels who drove her from Beaumontange, also kidnapped Rainger. During his years of torture and imprisonment, the former pampered dandy was turned into a hard, cold, lethal man, and he breaks out with one goal in mind - to reclaim the throne. He sets out to find Sorcha, his intended bride, and catches up with her side-by-side with the assassins. To keep her in the dark, Rainger poses as an innocent fisherman during their travels back to Beaumontange, which gets him in a whole lot of trouble, because Sorcha falls in love with that simple fisherman, and she hates Rainger when his true identity is revealed. The dangers increase once they reach their home country again, and there is a final showdown with the usurpers.

I don't want to ruin the surprises, so I won't go into detail. This novel works because the characters have such an endearing quality even in their worst moments. The author never emotionally manipulates the reader, though she keeps it real; both characters suffer heartbreak, yet the book is also very entertaining. Christina Dodd writes characters that are very real to life. I love how she ties the trilogy together at the end. I definitely recommend the other two books in the series "Barefoot Princess" and "Some Enchanted Evening." If you love this book, read Christina Dodd's "Runaway Princess" which has a like theme but way different plot. Both books deserve five stars!!!