This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Historical Romance
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Released on August 5, 2014
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
When it comes to this series, I get so excited to see each new installment because I know I’m going to get high entertainment from cover to cover. I was laughing before I finished the first page.
This book is part of a series and its best read in order due to the inclusion of recurring characters and particularly one side plot that carries over from the last book. However, this does feature a brand new couple and their story is completely contained in this book.
The story opens with Princess Dagmar, cousin to the Crowned Prince of Denmark, given an ultimatum from him that she leave to her mother’s relations in England or he’ll have her sent to a convent. Dagmar goes to the English navy ships in harbor and is told that they will only transport wives and children of officers. Dagmar is determined that this isn’t the end of it and finds that fate is kind when she returns home to find an unconscious Englishman in her garden. Serendipity! She marries the insensible man who happens to be an army officer and whisks him aboard the ship to a new life in England.
Leo has no idea how he ended up on a ship for England, recovering for a wound and married to a beautiful, headstrong Princess. He knows Dagmar hasn’t told him the whole truth of how things came to be, but oddly he is willing to let things be. Dagmar is a big surprise. He never thought to get married in his line of work participating in political intrigue on behalf of England, but when Dagmar talks of annulment, he won’t hear of it. In fact, not only does he want to stay married, he finds himself a bit possessive.
Dagmar is surprised at how pleasing she finds Leo and worried that he will take her up on her talk of getting out of their marriage. She feels the stirrings of guilt for entrapping him in her schemes and is determined to make things right for Leo’s sake. To add to it all, her companion is accused of murder and Leo’s employer is ordering him back to Europe to finish the job he started. It will take all their ingenuity and the help of all their friends to get everyone out of danger.
The plot is full of the humor and mayhem I’ve come to expect from these stories. The chronological time frame of the storyline is a few years after the last book and the hero, Leo, is of age and friendship with Noble’s son, Nick. The entrapped marriage plot line is fun the way it works out and I cracked up over the fixation there was with Dagmar’s large bosom and her innocent fascination with the physical side of marriage. Dagmar is the spoiled, autocratic type and Leo balances her with his phlegmatic personality. Their romance is under-developed and not based on anything substantial really, but they were a fun couple. The murder mystery plot thread wasn’t too challenging, but it was a nice addition.
I think my favorite part was the reunion feel of all the main players for the series coming together in this one with Nick and Thom’s story get resolved. While this was a fun story, it was by no means as sparkling as a couple of the earlier ones at least from my perspective. The plot isn’t as sharp and tight with some stuff left vague.
In the end, this one is for those who like saucy, light historical romance with an ‘anything goes’ quality.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
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I do love some saucy. What a way for him to wake up. I always find those storylines kind of entertaining. I will start this series soon. I really will. It’s been a while since I’ve had a Katie fix 🙂
Oh I know, he was dazzled by her much of the time. She had so much hubris.
LOL! I know you will. I feel the same determination about some books on my wishlist too.
I got a copy of this to from the publisher and the publicist assured me that I can get away with reading this a standalone. After your review I am now worried. At the same time it sounds like this is a lot of fun and I haven’t read historical romance in a very long time. Something worth looking forward to.