THE PERILS OF PURSUING A PRINCE

Author: Julia London ISBN: 1416516166 4/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: POCKET
Time Period: 1820's Wales

Left destitute by her guardian's death, Greer Fairchild's only hope of avoiding marriage to the first bidder lies in traveling to Wales in search of an inheritance she's not even sure exists—one reportedly controlled by Rhodrick Glendower, Earl of Radnor, also known as the Prince of Powys. Although the prince is rumored to be rough and ruthless—even a murderer—Greer never imagined that the brute would refuse to let her leave his castle until she proves her identity. Or that she would fall under the spell of this mysterious, virile man who dares her to become his wife and princess...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: ^1/2

Julia London stays pretty much true to her historical roots with her latest release, THE PERILS OF PURSUING A PRINCE. Adding just a hint of the paranormal mixed in with its Gothic feel and unusual setting, London creates a refreshing love story that once again showcases her talent for writing exceptional historical romance.

Not only is the physical setting intriguing, but so is finding a lead character who harbors such an unusual physical affliction. Yes, nearly all of our romance heroes are scarred emotionally and physically, and certainly Rhodrick is no exception. But this particular problem isn't one I'd encountered in a romance novel before, and what I found particularly fascinating was both London's descriptive use of his malady and how Rhodrick managed to deal with it. While it wasn't that imperative to the storyline, his affliction helped to form his character and made him rather unique. And though dark and brooding Rhodrick may be, the vulnerability that lies beneath the façade he's created over the years comes suddenly front and center as Greer bursts color into his world of grays and shadows. Rhodrick is a character who could easily have stepped out of the pages of Jane Eyre.

As for Greer, she, too, is a character of many facets. In one respect she's vulnerable and naive; in another she's a stubborn and defiant woman, determined to collect what is rightfully hers. The sexual attraction between she and Rhodrick is evident from the start, and the sex scenes between the two are smoldering, passionate, and in typical London style, firehouse hot.

The paranormal elements consist mostly of dreams and strange, unexplainable sightings. Thankfully London took this approach, leaving THE PERILS OF PURSUING A PRINCE more of a historical romance than a paranormal. I swear, if I find one more of my beloved historical writers trying to cross over into the land of the paranormals, I'll just quit reading romance. Well, okay. That's definitely a lie because my romance books are my beloveds. But joyfully, I didn't have to hang my head in sorrow at having lost another of my favorite historical romance writers, for the otherworldly happenings in this book are just enough to enhance the storyline and add to its Gothic mystique. A historical romance release it firmly remains.

Set amidst the wilds of Wales, THE PERILS OF PURSUING A PRINCE is the second book in London's Desperate Debutante series which began with THE HAZARDS OF HUNTING A DUKE. Luckily, this book stands well on its own as I hadn't read that first release and was apprehensive that I'd feel a bit lost, or that there would be pieces missing in both characters and plot. Fast paced and, as always, exceptionally and superbly written, this newest release from Julia London comes to you as one of my highly recommended reads.

Nancy Davis