A powerful opening for a young boy as Prince Saber, our hero in the making, will have you cringing while at the same time prevent you from closing the book.

The bastard child of English Nobility and a foreign mother is not an easy life for a young child.  Especially when said child’s mother decides to send him to his English family as the unrest in their native country starts to escalate.  Well, that and the little practical joke he played on the current monarchy that put his very life in jeopardy.  His English father, however, is a cruel, cruel man—without an heir.

Legally adopting his heathen son seems the only recourse after fathering four daughters.  His timid stepmother is thrilled with the addition to the family, if only to divert her husband’s violent attentions.  The young prince proclaimed loudly and physically enforced by his father will now be referred to Raul Lawrence.

But Raul vows to someday return to his country and free his people from the deprivation, hunger and violence by way of a rebellious revolution.  His years in England served him well, his father’s cruelty a well-learned lesson, his education an unexpected boon.

Enter his sister’s friend Victoria.  A poor relation in her own family, she has long-term plans for escape.   To eventually live a life free of demands.  It would be a modest, less complicated life but one on her own terms.  All she has to do is work hard and save her money for a few years.  As a governess to a well traveled family she finds herself in Raul Lawrence’s native country years after one searing kiss that had never completely deserted her mind. Spotting him at their hotel, she mentions seeing the future king to one of her charges.  It was a dire mistake.

One that could usurp all of his carefully laid plans.

Victoria finds herself taken by the prince.  Kidnapped.  Held prisoner.

Prince Saber’s arrogance leaves Victoria as breathless as his presence.  But how can a governess help a small army?  I assure you:  Plenty.

Christina Dodd breaths life through her characters leaving the reader as breathless as our heroine. Get some rest before you pick up this book.  You’ll need it.—Kathy L Wheeler

Can a heroine be both tough as nails and fragile enough to break?  And how does an author balance the two throughout an entire book to make you feel you are gasping for breath waiting for her to break yet seeing her tough it out?

A difficult feat to manage and make it convincing—but Anne Mallory does it, and does it well.  Charlotte Chatswell cannot breathe.  The reader has to breathe for her.  She knows her duty, is prepared to sacrifice her own needs and desires to protect her younger sister, stifling the panic and overwhelming suffocation.  And when Charlotte’s father gambles her away for one night, her fate is sealed.  Any threads of freedom, snatched from her grasp.

Roman Merrick holds many markers for many gamblers.  London’s underworld is his life.  When he sees Charlotte, he knows he’s found what he’s been looking for.  But one night will never be enough.  Unfortunately, the cards he holds are not enough to guarantee the favors her father is offering.

So he cheats.

What an extraordinary and unlikely match.  But Ms. Mallory pulls it off beautifully.  Through each character—from Roman’s brother, to Charlotte’s mother and sister—you will feel the strings tugging your heart, unable to set down this book.  —Kathy L Wheeler