Crown Princess Laurentia is 25, a widow, and a virgin. Her first marriage was a nightmare, and she's not anxious to repeat the experience, but she must marry and produce an heir to the throne. King Jerome adores his daughter and summons suitors from far and near to compete for her hand, determined that she shall marry for love to a man worthy of her. Neither Laurentia nor the King could have anticipated that the man who would make her heart sing would be Dominic of Baminia, the mercenary and bastard brother of the king of neighboring Sereminia. Laurentia fights Dominic's overwhelming sensual pull, for he's much too handsome and she has cause to distrust handsome, powerful men. Meanwhile, Dominic has a dark agenda that honor insists he fulfill, but despite his better sense, he finds himself falling in love with the petite, courageous Princess. Will Laurentia be able to forgive Dom's betrayal? Will Dom discover before it's too late that it's love and not just lust that he feels for the Princess? In this sequel to The Runaway Princess, Dodd pairs a hard-edged, handsome mercenary with a lovely, wise princess and makes the match not only believable but also completely enjoyable. Both fast-paced and adventurous with passion aplenty and a warm supporting cast--as well as a satisfyingly evil villain--this heartfelt historical will not disappoint. --Lois Faye Dyer