"Fabulous early nineteenth century romantic suspense"

Two years have passed since the highwaymen stopped the carriage bearing his wife and son yet William Enton still spends his time imbibing in drink to forget his loss and alleviate his feelings of guilt for not accompanying them. When highwaymen attacked their carriage, courageous perhaps foolish Elli, told the hostler to stride away from them, but the coach took a turn too fast and toppled. A lantern burned the carriage and its riders. The thieves caught up, but never stole her jewelry. Now in 1819 still wondering why she left and why he stayed silent when she said she was going, William vows vengeance.

William enters Darkdowne, a den of iniquity run by thieves who attack him. The Princess rescues him and takes William to her leader Poke. William is fascinated by the Princess, the first woman to stir him since the tragedy and in a deep honesty to himself long before the calamity. As they fall in love while working on a robbery, Princess knows she has secrets that once revealed will send Will running back to either polite society or drink.

The third "Princess" tale (see the delightful THE PRINCESS AND HER PIRATE and THE PRINCESS MASQUERADE) is a fabulous early nineteenth century romantic suspense that is a fitting climax to a strong trilogy. The story line is action-packed yet character driven as William and the Princess struggle with respective issues that would destroy lesser beings and almost devastate them. It is with each other that they begin to overcome their particular trauma although new ones surface. Lois Greiman is a reigning monarch in the Regency sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 23, 2004

Summary

The light of love glows in the darkness... The desire for revenge sent William Enton, third baron ofLandow, into Darktowne to punish those who destroyed everything precious in his life. But this infamous lair of robbers and cutthroats is no place for a gentleman. And when he wakes after being set upon by brigands, a golden- haired angel is tending to his wounds. They call her "Princess," and royalty she must be, for never has bearing and beauty been so perfectly blended in one woman. But her tender touch masks a hardness born of the streets; she is indeed the princess of thieves -- and answerable only to the brutal kingpin who holds everyone in Darktowne in his way. Now only a brazen masquerade can keep William alive and bring him closer to this exquisite enchantress. For his missionis suddenly clear: to melt the frozen heart of the lady who has miraculously brought him alive again . . . and to set her free with passion and boundless love.