The Runaway Princess [Mass Market Paperback]

Christina Dodd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 1999

Masquerade

English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritance, she can afford one perfect summer--a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery.

Marriage

But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince--and her fiance.

Or the Ever After of Her Dreams?

One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his betrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephinia. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fullfil their destinies, the prince will do anything--abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Evangeline Scoffield of East Little Teignmouth, Cornwall, is a fraud. Rescued at a young age from an orphanage she had called home for most of her life, Evangeline goes to live with an eccentric and rich woman named Leona. When Leona disappears without a trace, Evangeline learns that she is the sole heir to the woman's fortune, and she wastes no time in packing a cache of cash and heading for Spain, posing as the refined lady she had always longed to be. To her shock, Prince Danior of Baminia appears and announces that he is her fiancé. He insists that she is the Princess Ethelinda and that they must return immediately to her kingdom where they are to be married. Evangeline's protests are cut short when someone lobs a bomb into her room and Danior pulls her to safety, explaining all the while that evil forces are determined to kill them both to prevent their marriage and the subsequent joining of their two kingdoms. The two set off on the long journey to Princess Ethelinda's kingdom, with Evangeline feeling as if she's tumbled down the rabbit hole. Not only does Danior stubbornly refuse to listen to her, but he's determined to consummate their betrothal. Evangeline's determination to set right this wrong is sadly undermined by her own growing attraction to the powerful, dark-haired prince. Still, Evangeline knows she must convince him of her humble beginnings, for a prince could never truly love a simple girl such as herself. Who is right, Evangeline or Danior? Is Evangeline the Princess Ethelinda or isn't she? And if not, how will Danior cope with the deep love he feels for her? The Runaway Princess has a dash of myth and magic, colorful secondary characters, and a wonderfully heroic hero and heroine. What more could a reader of romance ask for? --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly

Dodd (A Well Favored Gentleman) transports readers into another enticing place and time, in this Regency with an inventive plot and sparkling characters. When English orphan Evangeline Scoffield comes into an unexpected inheritance, she decides to spend the money on an adventure. She travels abroad and masquerades as a "lady of mystery" at a Spanish resort. Everyone is awed by her aloofness and poise, convinced that she must be of royal lineage. When a handsome man claiming to be Prince Danior sees her, he insists she is the runaway princess of Serephinia?his betrothed. Evangeline goes along with the prince's declaration and finds herself in the middle of a war, and in mortal peril. When she tries to explain who she really is, nobody will believe her, including the gorgeous prince. Evangeline soon learns that she's destined to fulfill a prophesy and marry the prince, whether she wants to or not. Dodd's delightful story should gain glowing reviews from her growing horde of fans.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380802929
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802920
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 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

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Cinderella story!, August 16, 2000

By 

WHoosierBookie "whoosierbookie" (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Runaway Princess (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have a love for fairy tales then you will love this book.

Evangeline is an orphan who has never had a chance to be her own woman. Suddenly she has the opportunity to travel and spend, so what if the money isn't legally hers? After one little taste of the good life, she will start a new, more quiet existence for herself. She doesn't count on all the gossip that she attracts.

Prince Danior is searching for his Princess Evangeline. Together only they can fulfill the prophecy to unite their two countries. His Princess has gotten a bit gunshy as the date that they must be joined together swiftly approaches. She has written him a letter telling him she can't do her duty. He is sure he can make her come around and see that they have to be married for the good of all their people. If only he could find her.

When Danior hears about the mysterious stranger staying at an inn, he is convinced she is his princess. He hasn't seen her since she was a child, but she has the coloring and features of her people.

This story has adventure. Danior must get his princess back to their country to start their rule. This is not easy because of the rebels who would rather not have the prophecy fulfilled.Also because of Evangeline herself, who knows that Danior has the wrong girl.

While there are some discrepencies and there is a supernatural edge to it, this a romantic tale about a girl who has nothing but the dream of a quiet, isolated life. What she winds up with and how she gets it is truly more than she could have ever hoped for. Oh, yes, you will also laugh!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best ever!!, April 6, 2001

By 

"lilslayer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Runaway Princess (Mass Market Paperback)

When I looked at this book for the first time, I thought that it would be boring. Another one of the books that have the same basic plot, two people meet, they fall in love, and they get married.

But when I started reading the book, I was bored, I couldn't put it down! It was so good.

This book had everything. It was romantic, it was funny, and it showed what each person was thinking. The pain that they both has been through. And as Evangeline and Danoir takes their journey back to their castle, they learn more and more about each other.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good romantic book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite romance novels, May 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Runaway Princess (Mass Market Paperback)

Christina Dodd has written one of my favorite romances of all times with this book. Though the premise is based on "The Misunderstanding", the book is not trite or boring. The book includes all that is necessary for me in a romance: in-depth characterizations, superb dialogue, a little danger and a lot of action, and a hero and heroine to love and cheer for. The only weak part of the book for me was the mysticism thrown in, but it doesn't really detract from the romance between two strong and very individual characters. If you like Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens, the early Amanda Quick, or Jillian Hunter, you will love this book.