Prince of Scandal (Harlequin Presents)

PRINCE OF SCANDAL is another royal story by Annie West

Prince Raul is not happy to learn that in order to inherit the crown on his father's death, he had to marry a Princess from another Principality in his kingdom. Their contract of marriage was drawn up when they were teens. It was out and out an arranged marriage.

But Raul had worked for his kingdom and his people for so long now and he knew that he was the best person to become the king. So he set out to look for the exiled Princess and found her in the outback of Australia, mucking out stalls and tending to cows! Luisa was running a farm.

After some hesitatation, Luisa agreed to come with Raul to his kingdom. But she does not agree to marry him. Raul took her to Paris and saw to some changes in Luisa's wardrobe and hairstyle for a makeover from a farmer into a Princess. But he, himself is staggered by the change.

While Luisa stayed at Raul's palace, after some major consideration and to help him inherit, she decided to marry Raul. The chemistry between Raul and Luisa sizzled. And the passion and sensuality in their love-making was breathtakingly astounding.

Though Luisa fell for Raul, she knew she was not his first choice of a wife, as in Luisa's words, "Do you know how it feels knowing I wasn't your first choice of wife, not even second? That you married me because of who my grandfather was?"

Raul is anguished at Luisa's rejection of him. He didn't believe in love. Yet terror engulfed him at the thought of life without her. Never holding her and telling her he couldn't live without her.

Then Raul found Luisa being sick and the sensitivity he showed brought me to tears. There were some light moments in the story when the mayor offerred the princess a stool to milk the cow and she did it, as well as sharing some tips with him. I was also happy to catch up with Alaric and Tamsin (Protected by the Prince) as Raul was Alaric's cousin.

The depth of characterisation and intense emotional conflict made this story believable. A fairytale love story. A Cinderella who blossoms under her Prince's attention.

I finished the story in one sitting as I wanted to know what would happen next and I had the happy mushy feeling in my heart by the time I ended it. I gladly give it 5 stars.

Thank you Annie West for another winner in PRINCE OF SCANDAL! ( )