November 1, 2012
Princess Mercedes Anna Sophia Wyndom of Alden is used to people paying attention when she speaks, but not like this. Yes, her breathless tale of the band of brigands who attacked her carriage and ruthlessly killed everyone else in her retinue does sound just the tiniest bit fantastic, but it is still the truth. In fact, Mercedes considers herself lucky to have escaped with her life. But her disheveled appearance and lack of funds induce the strangers at the inn to judge her as either crazy or a liar. Major Daniel MacKinnon doubts that Mercedes is a real princess, but he does feel sorry for the poor, seemingly deluded lass, so much so that he finds himself agreeing to act as Mercedes' bodyguard until she can get back to London. Warren continues her impeccably written Princess Brides trilogy with a thrillingly romantic, intrigue-infused tale of a blue-blooded royal who discovers both her one true love and the inner resources she never imagined she possessed while taking a walk on the wilder side of life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)