THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS

Author: Donna Alward ISBN: 9780373175642 1/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARLEQUIN

Brooding ranch owner Brody Hamilton keeps his heart out of reach. But there's something about vivacious stable manager Lucy that brings joy to his hardened soul. Lucy Farnsworth has just discovered she's of royal blood. She should be glad, but it has blown her world apart, and she finds herself just wanting to be the old Lucy again. At Prairie Rose Ranch, Lucy's found the man who makes her feel she belongs. Only, she hasn't told him she's a princess….

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE RANCHER’S RUNAWAY PRINCESS is a tale of revelation and romance that is sure to capture readers’ heartstrings. It moves from the Canadian prairie to Europe seamlessly, with such detail that both venues come vividly to life.

Lucy Farnsworth has a secret. She’s actually Lucianna Navarro, Princess of Marazur. The title comes with complications—ones that have made her the focus of prying eyes and inquisitive questions recently. When she heads to Prairie Rose Ranch, she prays for a respite from these unwanted issues. The instant she meets Brody, though, she realizes she’s traded one set of complications for another. He is handsome, right from his cowboy hat down to his boot’s tips, and she feels an attraction for the man that goes beyond their shared interest in horses.

Their relationship blossoms, despite the fact that Brody knows from the beginning something about the pretty woman isn’t as it seems. He senses there is more to her but he can’t put a finger on what it is she is hiding. Brody, with his own well-guarded secret, recognizes a mystery when he sees one.

I think the things I enjoyed the most about this story were the down-home, normal touches. A fiddle, a dance, a stand taken over a horse’s well-being, as well as kisses in the moonlight and fluttering hearts, make this tale shine. They are small touches but when pulled into the tender romance they add a layer that brings Brody and his princess fully to life.

THE RANCHER’S RUNAWAY PRINCESS is a passionate story that shows that even the deepest secrets can be ferreted out by an inquisitive heart. Well done!

Kay James