Taken by the Prince [Mass Market Paperback]

she's a joke. I would rather pull my nails. Mind you the scene with Saber as a child did have me wiping tears...of laughter...

As an avid reader of Feenhan, Cole, Harris etc I thought I would buy this book to fill in the empty period before their latest books come out, as I have read other books by this author. Sadly, this book did not fill in the void. Where was the plot? How stupid could the heroine be? Kidnapped and taken to a remote castle, does she fight back and try to escape? No, she turns teacher and accepts everything the supposed hero gives her. Took three painful days to read...would not recommend. Perhaps I am too much in love with vampires; I should have just re-read my own books while waiting.

Victoria Cardiff is the English governess for the Johnson family who are temporarily in the country of Moricadia. She is also the only outsider who knows the truth about Raul Lawrence. He is a renegade prince plotting a revolution to take back control of Moricadia from the de Guignards. To ensure her silence, he kidnaps Victoria and carries her to his castle deep in the woods.

Raul Lawrence may be the name his English father demanded he use, but no matter how cruel the Englishman had been, Raul never forgot that he was actually Prince Saber of Moricadia. Soon, within the next two months, Raul would rescue his people from oppression. But with one innocent remark Victoria could ruin everything he and his people are so close to accomplishing; therefore, the lovely governess will remain with him until the revolution has succeeded.

Victoria is well cared for during her sojourn in Raul's castle. Needing to do something, anything, Victoria agrees to spend her days teaching the children. In return, the children begin teaching her their Moricadian language. Victoria spends time with the adults as well, teaching them about decorum and etiquette. They need to know how to properly conduct themselves once the fighting has ended, how to speak and act once they are part of a king's household staff. At night Victoria is locked within Raul's bed chamber. Refusing to be his lover, Victoria sleeps on the couch. Raul vows to vanquish her reserves. Each night he seduces her a little more, intending to imprint himself on her. Eventually he will possess her heart and soul.

***** FIVE STARS! I just cannot help loving a heroine who refuses to be swayed by a hero's debonairness and a hero equally determined to woo her. Though with other authors this may be mundane and cliché, Christina Dodd never fails to make it breathtaking. The secondary characters in this tale are no less interesting. They actually seem to radiate stoic resilience (against their government) from their pores. At times, their unwavering loyalty to Raul made me proud. I tell all this to help explain how incredible the writing style of Dodd is. Character backgrounds are detailed and each person seems to have his/her own personality. The plot line is solid with not a crack to mar it. Christina Dodd has shrewdly written a subtle, yet somehow bold, romance that may prove lethal to your heart strings. Highly recommended. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.