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

Victoria Alexander tells a really cute story (real life) about her husband whose name happens to be Charles.  In this (real life) tale she conveys that in all of her books there is a character named “Charles” or some such variation, thereof, who has died in some manner, albeit murder, drowning or old age.  In any event, she and the real Charles were in the car one day and had one of her books on tape in the player.  This particular story they were listening to had “Charles” in fact, found by the hero, floating dead in the Thames.

The real Charles is slightly irritated by this and tells her, “You kno-ow, the authorities always consider the spouse as a suspect, don’t you?”

Her reply, “Oh, honey!  I would never put anything in writing….”

I tell you this little tale, because one of the most fun reasons to pick up a book by Ms. Alexander is discovering how “Charles” will have passed on this time… (my facts may not be perfect but they are close and had me rolling on the floor with laughter.  Okay, not the floor, I was at a conference.  But tears of laughter flowed down my cheeks.)

The Perfect Mistress has our heroine, Julia, determined to sell her great-great grandmother’s memoirs for publication as she is on the brink of financial disaster.  Her great-great grandmother had some…um…racy affairs in her time.  Unfortunately, this does not sit well with the Earl of Mountdale whose father appears in one of her exploits, and will do anything to keep Julia from finding a way toward her goal of publication.  Even so fast as setting a notorious published scoundrel after her.  Realizing only, after taking the time to think this through it was not such a brilliant idea.

The Earl has several brilliant ideas—but, let’s face it—the Earl is a man…And men…well, we women know a man’s idea of a brilliant idea is considerably different than that of a woman’s, don’t we…

With the advice of ghosts, good friends and some not so great, both hero and heroine somehow find their way through this tale of forgiveness and perseverance. Witty, snappy dialog is an acute attribute of Ms. Alexander’s I know you’ll find yourself smiling over.  –Kathy L Wheeler