The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Christina Dodd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

Betrothed in the cradle, Princess Sorcha and Prince Rainger were destined to rule their countries together. Then revolution sent Sorcha to a remote Scottish convent—and Rainger into a dungeon so deep rumor claimed he was dead.

Now danger threatens, and Sorcha must travel home with a simple fisherman as her companion—Prince Rainger in disguise. Changed by his imprisonment from a careless lad to a dangerous man, he's determined to win back his kingdom—and the woman he wants more than life itself. But can he protect a woman who believes every person she meets is her friend, every tavern is an opportunity to sing bawdy songs, and each turn in the road hides new adventure? To keep his princess safe, he must resort to his most treacherous weapon: seduction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dodd's fine, final installment in her Lost Princess series recounts the story of Crown Princess Sorcha of the tiny European country Beaumontagne. Forced into hiding in a Scottish convent 10 years earlier, when revolutionaries threatened her country, the winter of 1810 sees Sorcha is returning home after learning that her domineering grandmother has control of the country. Fearing assassins, Sorcha leaves the convent disguised as a man, but it isn't long before a wayward, dull-witted fisherman named Arnou joins up to help protect her on the journey. Unbeknownst to Sorcha, Arnou is actually Prince Rainger, the arrogant young man to whom Sorcha was betrothed at birth. After years of imprisonment by a cruel usurper—years that gave rise to rumors of his death—Rainger is determined to win back his kingdom and take Princess Sorcha for his wife. As the journey rolls on, secrets are revealed and passions are succumbed to, building swiftly toward Rainger's confrontation with his nemesis. Dodd, long a force in historical romance, does not disappoint with her latest, expertly combining compelling romance, intelligent dialogue and a page-turning plot. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

When it seems the assassins tracking her for the last decade have finally discovered her whereabouts, Crown Princess Sorcha knows it is time to leave the Scottish convent and return home to Beaumontagne to take up her royal duties. But getting back to her small homeland in the Pyrenees will not be easy. At first, Sorcha has the idea of traveling with arnou, a fisherman, but Mother Superior and the good sisters of Monnmouth Abbey have another plan in mind. A disguised Sorcha soon finds herself wending her way across Scotland. Then, to her surprise, a very determined Arnou soon catches up with her. Arnou insists he only wants to see her safely to Beaumontagne, but Sorcha thinks something is fishy about his story. A prince in disguise matches wits and wiles with a princess determined to find her way home in this deliciously sexy and delectably witty historical romance, the splendidly satisfying conclusion to Dodd's Lost Princesses trilogy. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060561181
• ISBN-13: 978-0060561185
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Dodd, Christina

More About the Author

Chat with Christina via Facebook and Twitter, and even better, join her mailing list to have her news delivered right to your inbox! http://christinadodd.com/lists/?p=subscribe

Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. She reads everything, but because she loves humor, she likes romance best.

A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. So when Christina's first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?

Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before her first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published. In the twenty-two years since, her novels have been translated into 25 languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal. Christina Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Publishers Weekly praises her style that 'showcases Dodd's easy, addictive charm and steamy storytelling.'

Christina's 2011 releases include TAKEN BY THE PRINCE, #9 in the Governess Brides series, and in the tradition of Nora Roberts, a new romantic suspense series starting with SECRETS OF BELLA TERRA and REVENGE AT BELLA TERRA.

Christina Dodd is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exhilarating and Passionate Romantic Adventure!, December 6, 2006

By 

Irene M. (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

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!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent third book to the series. Here is the adventure that was missing in book 2!, January 12, 2007

By 

Alyce In Wonderland "The Looking Glass" (Over the hill or underland, or just behind a tree) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read!, December 28, 2006

By 

R R-Holbrook "Retta" (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.