"By Royal Command"

Even though it has been several years since Carrie Broadbent has seen Prince Luc D'Ubrino, she has never forgetten the cold way that he dismissed her from his life. The cad couldn't even tell her himself that he didn't want to continue his affair with her, but sent the cold Countessa to do it. The Countessa informs Eden that she has her goddaugher Maria in mind for the Prince and that Carrie will never be the wife that Luc needs. Even though Carrie is a successful writer, Luc has never completely left her mind and if she is honest at times, her heart as well.

When Carrie goes back to S'Antander to let Luc know that Maria has eloped with Carrie's own brother, the satisfaction she feels for throwing a monkey wrench in his plans is short-lived when Luc tells her that Carrie must marry him instead. His country is in turmoil and he is convinced that if he were to marry, the turmoil would end. Carrie has no choice but to accept, when he tells her that news of how she helped her brother out of a financial mess that could cause a scandal.

Luc has to marry soon, his country S'Antander is being torn apart by the struggle between the old ways and the new ones, but will Luc and Carrie be able to put the past behind them?

THE BLACKMAIL MARRIAGE by Penny Jordan is everything I love about a book. Luc D'Abrino is very much an alpha male, who rules a tiny country in the Mediterranean, and Carrie is smart and more than a match for the sexy Prince.

THE BLACKMAIL MARRIAGE will definitely find a permanent home on my keeper shelf.

Barb Hicks

Reviewed by Barb Hicks
Posted January 23, 2004