4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a farmgirl to Royalty!, April 21, 2011
Prince of Scandal (Harlequin Presents)PRINCE OF SCANDAL is another royal story by Annie West
Prince Raul is not happy to learn that in order to inherit the crown on his father's death, he had to marry a Princess from another Principality in his kingdom. Their contract of marriage was drawn up when they were teens. It was out and out an arranged marriage.
But Raul had worked for his kingdom and his people for so long now and he knew that he was the best person to become the king. So he set out to look for the exiled Princess and found her in the outback of Australia, mucking out stalls and tending to cows! Luisa was running a farm.
After some hesitatation, Luisa agreed to come with Raul to his kingdom. But she does not agree to marry him. Raul took her to Paris and saw to some changes in Luisa's wardrobe and hairstyle for a makeover from a farmer into a Princess. But he, himself is staggered by the change.
While Luisa stayed at Raul's palace, after some major consideration and to help him inherit, she decided to marry Raul. The chemistry between Raul and Luisa sizzled. And the passion and sensuality in their love-making was breathtakingly astounding.
Though Luisa fell for Raul, she knew she was not his first choice of a wife, as in Luisa's words, "Do you know how it feels knowing I wasn't your first choice of wife, not even second? That you married me because of who my grandfather was?"
Raul is anguished at Luisa's rejection of him. He didn't believe in love. Yet terror engulfed him at the thought of life without her. Never holding her and telling her he couldn't live without her.
Then Raul found Luisa being sick and the sensitivity he showed brought me to tears. There were some light moments in the story when the mayor offerred the princess a stool to milk the cow and she did it, as well as sharing some tips with him. I was also happy to catch up with Alaric and Tamsin (Protected by the Prince) as Raul was Alaric's cousin.
The depth of characterisation and intense emotional conflict made this story believable. A fairytale love story. A Cinderella who blossoms under her Prince's attention.
I finished the story in one sitting as I wanted to know what would happen next and I had the happy mushy feeling in my heart by the time I ended it. I gladly give it 5 stars.
Thank you Annie West for another winner in PRINCE OF SCANDAL!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, August 21, 2011
This was truly a well written and developed book. I encourage others to purchase it; you will not regret it. In a time where romance happens over a one week period this author took the time to truly develop her characters and draw the reader in to the story. I pray more books are written along this line.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
PRINCE OF SCANDAL might very well be my favorite Annie West story to date., July 24, 2011
This review is from: Prince of Scandal (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)
Raul, Prince of Maritz, will do whatever he must in order to gain his inheritance and the title of King. He's spent his entire life being groomed for the position and takes the well-being of Maritz's people very seriously - especially with the unrest that's become so very obvious in recent years. Unfortunately his future, and that of Maritz, depends on an archaic law which dictates that he must marry the recently discovered princess of Ardissia.
Luisa Hardwicke isn't interested in Ardissia or Maritz and she certainly has no desire to play some pampered princess for a kingdom she despises. She has her own reasons for choosing to live a meager existence working to save a dairy co-op. She's definitely not princess material with her mud-splattered attire, clumpy boots and lack of proper behavior. Luisa has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to speak it - and nothing Raul says is going to change her mind about accompanying him to Maritz.
Raul's stunned by Luisa's refusal of her inheritance and doesn't even tell her about her expected roll in his life before she summarily throws him out of her home. Of course she thanks him for bringing her the news in person but suggests he find someone else to inherit. What she doesn't expect is for Raul to use the farming co-op's financial troubles to gain her cooperation. He purchases all the co-op's debts and if Luisa doesn't agree to return to Maritz and accept her place as a princess as well as his bride then he will foreclose on the properties and livelihoods of her friends and family. Luisa is blackmailed into doing Raul's bidding but she makes sure he knows it's entirely against her will. Raul's money and position might be able to give her all the possessions and luxuries she could ever possibly need but it won't give her the kind of love her parents shared - the kind Luisa's always dreamed of having for herself. What she doesn't realize is that Raul is already enamored of her because of her pride and outspoken nature - and those feelings will only continue to grow as he comes to know her better and she transforms into the very epitome of a princess - and his future wife.
PRINCE OF SCANDAL might very well be my favorite Annie West story to date. While I loved the characters and Luisa's proud demeanor struck a chord with me, I have to confess it's the simple fact that she's out there in the mud, muck and other unmentionables associated with working with cows when Raul finds her. Since I live and work on a dairy farm I could easily envision the scene and applaud Luisa's ethics. At the same time I could fully appreciate Raul's position - even if he was manipulative in his tactics.
PRINCE OF SCANDAL is a mixture of old-world charm and expectations along with modern ideas with delightful results. One of my favorite scenes involves Luisa's encounter with a puppy and a young boy in the streets - it's a pivotal moment in the story that shows the true character and vulnerability of Raul and Luisa - and really made me fall in love with Raul who's staid demeanor is somewhat offsetting.
While PRINCE OF SCANDAL can easily stand alone, those of you who enjoy interconnecting storylines might also want to pick up a copy of PASSION, PURITY AND THE PRINCE (U.K), aka PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE (U.S.). Alaric and Tamsin do make an appearance in this story.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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