"fine romantic fantasy"

In 1819 in Little Marching, England Penelope Trask lives a somewhat sedate life. That is staid and proper (most would say dull) until Prince Damien Augustus Frederic Michel of the kingdom of Nvengaria arrives claiming she is his princess. Penelope assumes that the handsome royal is either a lunatic or found the wrong female.

Damien is not prepared for rejection as he anticipated the villager would jump at the opportunity of becoming a princess. Instead the obstinate princess to be distrusts him perhaps for good reason. He needs to marry her immediately if he is to fulfill an ancient prophecy and regain his kingdom from an usurper. As they trek to his remote nation, they fend off attacks mundane by assassins and magical by evil wizards; they even survive a battle with a shapeshifting Logosh. All this makes Penelope a believer that there is more to earth than her village even as she and her prince fall in love.

PENELOPE AND PRINCE CHARMING is a fine romantic fantasy that shows Jennifer Ashley can leave the pirates behind. The story line is at its best when the lead couple struggles to survive against overwhelming odds, some mundane (assassins being an everyday occurrence) and some from the fantasist realm as the romance takes a back seat and at times feels intrusive to the fantasy. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this beguiling tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 25, 2006

Summary

His blue eyes beguiled. His muscular form could have satisfied any fantasy. He had a delicious foreign accent—and to top it off, he was royalty! What woman would dare refuse the most sought-after lover in Europe?

Miss Twice-a-Jilt Penelope Trask, that's who. And, unfortunately for Damien, marrying Penelope is the only way to inherit his kingdom. Good thing this enchantingly infuriating woman doesn't seem completely immune to his many charms. The passionate way she returns his kisses tells Damien he isn't the only one head over heels. But wooing is difficult amid assassination attempts, wild magic, and desire so strong it threatens to overwhelm him every time they touch. Why had no one mentioned the road to happily-ever-after could be so difficult?