Pure Princess, Bartered Bride (Harlequin Presents, #2894)

My rating:

add to my books

Pure Princess, Bartered Bride (Harlequin Presents #2894)

by Caitlin Crews (Goodreads Author)

3.67 · rating details · 79 ratings · 13 reviews

As quiet and dangerous as a jungle cat, achieving the impossible is one of Luc Garnier's defining characteristics.

Princess Gabrielle is invaluable--a pearl beyond price. Yet Luc has defied the odds, and a contract for marriage is drawn up. This will be a union on paper first, and in the bedroom later....

Except Gabrielle is just the same in private as in public--well-bred,

...more

Mass Market Paperbound, 183 pages

Published February 1st 2010 by Harlequin

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 133)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 07, 2010

seton rated it

Shelves: category

Surprisingly good for a debut HP.

Of course, the author has previously published some women fiction as Megan Crane.

Our heroine is the Crown Princess of some Adriatic island kingdom. Our hero has been looking years for some purebred to marry with no scandal attached to her because he has Mommy Issues as the son to some infamous promiscuous famewhore. Finally, he finds the proverbial Caesar Wife ("above suspicion") in our heroine and makes arrangements to marry h...more

like 9 likes

· see review

Nov 16, 2010

Megan rated it

Shelves: 2-stars, contemporary-romance, fiction

Caitlin Crews's writing style is lovely and relaxing to read. I had an irritated reaction to one of her Megan Crane chick lit books, but the thing that annoyed me most about that book (a tepid, doormat heroine) is actually a staple trope in Harlequin Presents and, in this case, used effectively instead of annoyingly. Or, I suppose, with this book at least I knew what I was getting into.

It's an HP, so there weren't really any surprises, and the external conflict was annoying and the her...more

· see review

Feb 08, 2010

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of arranged marriage stories

Shelves: category-contemporary-romance, harlequin-presents, owned-copy, arranged-marriage, royalty, love-wary, possessive-and-or-jealous-hero

Caitlin Crews is a new writer on the Harlequin Presents scene that has gotten my attention. I picked this book up based on the blurb. I love arranged marriage/marriage of convenience as a theme in a romance novel. I think there is so much inherent tension with this storyline. A lot more is at stake when the hero and heroine are married and getting to know each other. They can't just walk away like an unmarried couple could. But can they make a marriage work, between strangers? Will their he...moreCaitlin Crews is a new writer on the Harlequin Presents scene that has gotten my attention. I picked this book up based on the blurb. I love arranged marriage/marriage of convenience as a theme in a romance novel. I think there is so much inherent tension with this storyline. A lot more is at stake when the hero and heroine are married and getting to know each other. They can't just walk away like an unmarried couple could. But can they make a marriage work, between strangers? Will their hearts be put at risk in a marriage that started out of obligation? In the right hands, this can be a very intense read. I'm happy to say that Ms. Crews succeeded in taking a well-loved premise and giving it life.

Luc is one of those heroes that is literally seething with emotions. He has been taught by his parent's rocky marriage, lived out in front of the tabloids, to keep very close control over his emotions. But still waters run deep. I knew he'd keep me reading. The man is like a volcano in the quiet hours before it erupts suddenly and with deadly force.

Gabrielle also wears a calm mask of composure. She has been conditioned since an early age to be the perfect, pretty princess. Her father's love was denied to her, and her goal in life was to do everything she could to earn it. The next thing she knows, she's bartered off to a billionaire businessman of aristocratic heritage, without being consulted or asked if she wants the marriage first. Gabrielle sucks it up like a good future Queen and walks down the aisle...to a man that scares the life out of her. He's tall, dark, handsome, and full of intense masculinity. And he's her husband. She never balks at duty, but this is more than she can take. There's not question that this man wants to be in charge and run things, has plans to control his new bride within an inch of her life. She feels as though she's merely traded one prison for another. After her husband claims his kiss of possession on their wedding night, she flees the scene, leaving him to be exposed to mockery in the tabloids (his worst nightmare, thanks to his parents). Well, we know Gabrielle won't stay hidden for long from a ruthless, unstoppable man like her husband. He tracks her down to her friend's bungalow in California, and he's determined to claim his bride as is his right. Yes, this is one of those 'mine' heroes. Works for me!

This book has the right ingredients for a very good, entertaining Harlequin Presents. The powerful attraction between Gabrielle and Luc radiated off the pages when I was reading. Luc is one of those heroes that you don't exactly love initially, but you can't resist, at the same time. He's so strict and arrogant about what he wants in a biddable wife, and he's sure he's going to get it. But he gets more than he bargains for. He doesn't seem to know what he wants. With Gabrielle he gets the perfect, decorous wife in the public eye, but in bed, she's wild for him. But he hates when she retreats behind the facade she's used to protect herself from the derision she's come to expect from the one man she couldn't make happy, her father. How does she know her husband will be any different?

Ms. Crews uses the sensual moments to fantastic effect in this book. They are the lens through which we see the walls break down between these two people who are controlled and afraid of emotions for different reasons. We see Luc go from being a man who hates emotions to one who wants nothing but emotional honesty from his wife. The way she tries to hide herself drives him crazy. Gabrielle tries very hard to keep herself from loving Luc, but she fails in the attempt. It's simply heartbreaking when Luc throws her love back in her face because he believes she betrays him.

The climax of this book had me hanging on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down as I kept reading to see how things would resolve. I really admire how Ms. Crews pulled it all together. Both Gabrielle and Luc had to reach an epiphany where they realized that their love was more important than any shallow thing like public image or looking bad to others, even their pride. They had to take leaps of faith, to come to trust their hearts in each other's hands.

This book is heavy on internal dialogue and description. But it was used to excellent effect. The emotions came off the pages at me, which is what I look for in a good book. As I said above, I really enjoyed the love scenes, because they showed so much about the feelings between Gabrielle and Luc. My favorite was the limo scene. Well done!

If you're looking for a new Harlequin Presents author, you should definitely give Ms. Crews a try. I look forward to reading further books by her.(less)

like 8 likes

· see review

Aug 23, 2011

Dee rated it

Shelves: harlequin, harlequin-presents

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A good Presents story by Caitlin Crews.

Gabrielle who is the Princess of Miravakia had always tried to do her duty and please her father but always feels that she never manages to do so. Her father declares that she is to marry and she doesn't meet her husband until she faces him at the alter.

Luc had made up his mind that he wanted a reputable and biddable bride which would of course give him a happy life. He sets his sights on Gabrielle but as he had seen her at a previou...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jul 24, 2011

Booklover rated it

Shelves: cruel-abusive-hero, divorce-separated-reunion-2nd-chanc, forced-marraige-proxy, harlequin-addicts, italian-greek-spanish-tycoons-royal, love, misunderstanding, parents

This was a intense emotional read,Luc is searching for a wife as he is now 40 years old and now its time to take on duty to provide with heir to carry on his legacy,he does not do love n all cause he has seen his parents disastrous marriage that was on love,his father love his mother deeply so he forgave all his mother's behaviour and affairs which cause so much scandal in papers and brought shame on his father's name,his parents were busy with their own issues and neglected Luc,then they were t...moreThis was a intense emotional read,Luc is searching for a wife as he is now 40 years old and now its time to take on duty to provide with heir to carry on his legacy,he does not do love n all cause he has seen his parents disastrous marriage that was on love,his father love his mother deeply so he forgave all his mother's behaviour and affairs which cause so much scandal in papers and brought shame on his father's name,his parents were busy with their own issues and neglected Luc,then they were together in boating accident this happened when he was 23 years old,from then on Luc has carried on business ruthlessly,he has vowed that never ever he will let any scandal to rock his name,he never expresses any emotions all his affairs are carried out discreetly,now at 40 he is searching a wife who will be great hostess will know how to be calm composed and serene and will not have any past scandals,who will be responsible and practical

Gabrielle is princess,she has been trained and drilled in her that she will be a queen and she has to behave accordingly,she lost her mother when she was 5 years old from then on her only wish is to gain her fathers approval and love,she always obeys him does what he wants and has always been a dutiful daughter and queen but still her father never ever appreciates her or even acknowledges her,now he has fixed her marriage to Luc which leaves her shocked but still she goes ahead and marries Luc yet another way just to gain her father's respect and love

But as soon as she get married she is so sure she has made a mistake,she is angry at herself why she did'nt backed out but then she gets a chance and runs away leaving Luc angry and humiliated,Luc hunts her down and now he does'nt trust her only says you have married me and taken vows now its time to obey those vows and from there on starts their journey of HEA

Luc-Gabrielle two people who have suffered emotionally so much,their relationship lacked trust and communication Luch never listened what Gabrielle said or felt and Gabrielle she does'nt knows how to say what she wants and what she feels,Luc's all thoughts and decisions are based on his mother's actions,he constantly judges Gabrielle and after she runs ways he is cruel and keeps taunting her but then as they spent time together he accepts that it was his fault that he never acknowledged Gabrielle's feeling but then again there's a misunderstanding and Luc does'nt gives any chance to Gabrielle he jumps to conclusions and walks out saying its over

Gabrielle is shattered,her father cruelly said hurtful things to her finally she realises she can never ever live to upto her father's expectations and walks out and she decides she will not give up,she goes and hunts down Luc where as other side Luc realises he was wrong and misunderstandings are cleared and we have the HEA

Good read
(less)

like 5 likes

· see review

Jun 11, 2011

Alexis-Morgan Roark rated it

Shelves: virgins, arranged-marriage, bride-does-a-runner, bad-childhoo, kindle, one-day-read

The arranged marriage to end all arranged marriages! I was sooooo prepared to NOT like this book, but I couldn't pass it up. I mean "Danielle" gave it 5 stars! What's a reader to do? Also, I wanted to see the new direction HP is going-they mentioned listening to reader complaints about "predictability" at an RT forum in April this year.

Well, Caitilin hit the ball out of the park in the first try. I was lusting after the hero, and wanted to "high-five" th...more

like 5 likes

· see review

Jan 03, 2011

willaful rated it

Shelves: bye, virginity-worship, sexual-attraction-melts-spine

3.5 stars. I had some trouble getting into this; after hearing praise of this author, I was expecting something a bit more original than the hero who mistrusts all women because of his skank of a mom, and I particularly dislike the type of romance heroine who loses her mind whenever the hero walks into the room or touches her or breathes. But by the end, I appreciated how the author turned the spinelessness around and made it part of an overall theme that worked.

like 7 likes

· see review

Dec 01, 2010

Vanessa rated it

· review of another edition

I absolutely love it! Although I would have prefer it if he was the one who goes out and beg for her forgiveness. I admire the way she finally stands up for herself and proves that her father can no longer treat her that way.

like 1 like

· see review

Mar 28, 2010

Elizabeth rated it

Shelves: 2010, contemporary-romance, 5-stars

This is an arranged marriage book--one of my favorite tropes--with an arrogant sexy jerk of a hero who is brought to his knees by the heroine by the end of the book. Perfect! Can't wait for Caitlin Crews' next HQ Presents!!!

like 3 likes

· see review

Jan 23, 2010

Charlene rated it

Loved this book. You really either love Presents or find the melodrama revolting or simply incomprehensible, but I love them. And this is one of the best. Highly recommend for Presents fans!

like 1 like

· see review

Feb 26, 2010

Allison rated it

Shelves: 2010

I think my rzting of this book was more about my non-preference for this type of book series. It was obviously well written and loved the vocab.

· see review

Apr 08, 2010

Amanda rated it

Shelves: fiction

My first foray into a harlequin novel. Written by my favorite author-cousin. :)

· see review

Apr 28, 2010

Ellie rated it

My cousin's first foray in writing for Harlequin (aka Caitlin Crews) and my first foray in reading one! I have to say, it's been the perfect anti-stresser. Love having to explain why it's on my coffee table :-)

like 1 like

· see review

Feb 06, 2012

T friday added it

Feb 03, 2012

Flowergirl marked it as to-read

Feb 03, 2012

Sarah rated it

Feb 01, 2012

Tasneem marked it as to-read

Jan 28, 2012

Farah marked it as to-read

Jan 25, 2012

Elyssa rated it

Jan 16, 2012

Jessica marked it as to-read

Jan 10, 2012

Melissa Rehbine rated it

Jan 07, 2012

Bridget rated it

Jan 05, 2012

Jane(Janelba) marked it as wishlist

Shelves: harlequin-m-b

Dec 31, 2011

Vi rated it

Dec 13, 2011

Kasha-Anne Miller marked it as to-read

Dec 11, 2011

Brenda rated it

Dec 07, 2011

Susan rated it

Dec 04, 2011

Flame rated it

Shelves: hot-guys, harlequin, in-between-great-and-perfect, contemporary-romance

Dec 04, 2011

Lisa rated it

Nov 30, 2011

Karen K. Miller marked it as wishlist

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (9)

More editions...

Genres

Romance > Contemporary Romance

6 users

Category Romance > Harlequin

3 users

Romance > Category Romance

3 users

Marriage

2 users

Romance

2 users

Contemporary

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

About Caitlin Crews

Caitlin Crews discovered her first romance novel at the age of twelve, in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates, grand adventures, a heroine with rustling skirts and a mind of her own, and a seriously mouthwatering and masterful hero. The book (the title of which remains lost in the mists of time) made a serious impression. Caitlin was immediately smitten ...more

More about Caitlin Crews...

Books by Caitlin Crews

Princess From The Past (Mills & Boon Modern)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About Pure Princess, Ba...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Groups That Shelved Pure Princess, Ba...

Harlequin Presents Readers

299 members

last activity 50 minutes ago

shelf: read

Happy Harlequin Harlots a...

50 members

last activity 29 minutes ago

shelf: read

title link	preview: Pure Princess, Bartered Bride
avg rating	preview: Pure Princess, Bartered Bride Goodreads rating: 3.67 (79 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7261643-pure-princess-bartered-bride?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276029411m/7261643.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7261643-pure-princess-bartered-bride?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Pure Princess, Bartered Bride by Caitlin Crews[/url]

Pure Princess, Bartered Bride (Harlequin Presents #2894)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website