Mortification Scale: 5 Tomato Faces
- 1 TF for being a Romance novel
- 2nd TF for an awful title
- 3rd TF for having embarrassing cover art
- 4th TF for being a trade paperback
- 5th TF for being a historical romance about a nonexistent European principality
- A charming heroine
- A brooding hero
- 2-3 hours of blissful escape from reality!
Princess Sorcha is the exiled Crown Princess of Beaumontagne, living in a Scottish convent. Prince Rainger is the rightful ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Richarte. They have been betrothed since they were children, but haven't seen each other since the concurrent revolutions in their two countries 10 years ago. After escaping from a dungeon where he was imprisoned for 8 years, Rainger went looking for his betrothed, for only the army of Beaumontagne can help him to overthrow Richarte's usurper king and restore Rainger to his throne. Of course, for some strange reason known only to romance authoresses, Rainger decides to disguise himself as a French peasant and deceive his bride as to his identity setting up the conflict of hurt feelings and betrayal.
Sorcha is a delightful 25 year old virgin who has lived with nuns on an island off Scotland's coast since she was 18. When she finally decides that it might be time to go home, she gets drunk, sings on tables, has lunch with prostitutes and precociously offers to blow Rainger's "hornpipe". Hmmm. There's a nice make out scene in a stone circle and another great morning-after scene when Sorcha learns that she just married her actual betrothed, the Prince of Richarte rather than the simple-minded peasant, Arnaud, who she fell in love with. Don't ask why she would fall in love with a dirty, smelly, one-eyed peasant with an IQ of about 80. That is immaterial to the plot-line. :) This novel concludes with Sorcha and Rainger deeply in love and being crowned the joint leaders of their joined countries. The climax left me feeling a potent blend of guilt and pleasure. Every once in awhile I crave a little cotton candy for the mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment