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Men from Special Branch #2
Princess Charming
When Gwyn Barrie inherits a mysterious legacy donated by an anonymous benefactor, she is sure it's too good to be true -- and it is. For along with the legacy comes the man named as the sole trustee of the money: Handsome, charming Jason Radley.
Eight years ago, Gwyn and Jason were in love -- until Gwyn disappeared for reasons Jason could never understand. Now fate has brought him back into her life again -- along with the funds Gwyn so desperately needs.
But Gwyn's good fortune quickly sours when someone begins to follow her all over London -- someone who may even want her dead. Frightened and alone, Gwyn has only Jason to turn to. But can she trust the man who broke her heart so many years ago -- and fight the passion that is seething so close to the surface?
Soon nothing is what it seems as Gwyn and Jason are swept up in a terrifying game of greed and lust -- where the stakes are nothing less than their lives....
Eight years ago, Gwyn and Jason were in love -- until Gwyn disappeared for reasons Jason could never understand. Now fate has brought him back into her life again -- along with the funds Gwyn so desperately needs.
But Gwyn's good fortune quickly sours when someone begins to follow her all over London -- someone who may even want her dead. Frightened and alone, Gwyn has only Jason to turn to. But can she trust the man who broke her heart so many years ago -- and fight the passion that is seething so close to the surface?
Soon nothing is what it seems as Gwyn and Jason are swept up in a terrifying game of greed and lust -- where the stakes are nothing less than their lives....
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 2001
20 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
61 books156 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 21, 2018
Gwyn and Jason were probably the most boring and bland couple that I have read by ET. The premise was so good and it truly could have been a good read but the two main characters were so bland and lacking in any chemistry that I had to force myself to finish!
January 29, 2016
I liked this one better than Whisper His Name.
I liked Gwyn a lot even if I didn't agree with some of her choices. She's a strong, independant single mother. Jason was an ok hero, he didn't stand out in positive or negative. The mystery was good, I didn't figure out who the murdere was up to the last pages. The romance was satisfying too. Not quite for 5 stars but defenitely worth more than 3.
I liked Gwyn a lot even if I didn't agree with some of her choices. She's a strong, independant single mother. Jason was an ok hero, he didn't stand out in positive or negative. The mystery was good, I didn't figure out who the murdere was up to the last pages. The romance was satisfying too. Not quite for 5 stars but defenitely worth more than 3.
January 25, 2018
Leído en Abril 2014
2do de la Serie "Princesas"
Sinopsis:
Cuando Gwyn Barrie recibe una misteriosa herencia de un benefactor anónimo, está segura de que es demasiado bueno para ser cierto. Y así resulta ser, pues junto a la herencia aparece el hombre encargado de administrarla, Jason Radley, un antiguo amor frustrado de Gwyn. A este inconveniente pronto se unirá el miedo: un desconocido comienza a seguirla insistentemente por las calles de Londres; alguien que, incluso, podría desear verla muerta.
Asustada y sola, Gwyn solo puede recurrir a Jason . Pero ¿puede confiar en el hombre que le rompió el corazón? ¿Será capaz de vencer la pasión que sigue sintiendo por él? Pronto nada será lo que parece: Gwyn y Jason se verán arrastrados por un torbellino de avaricia y lujuria.
2do de la Serie "Princesas"
Sinopsis:
Cuando Gwyn Barrie recibe una misteriosa herencia de un benefactor anónimo, está segura de que es demasiado bueno para ser cierto. Y así resulta ser, pues junto a la herencia aparece el hombre encargado de administrarla, Jason Radley, un antiguo amor frustrado de Gwyn. A este inconveniente pronto se unirá el miedo: un desconocido comienza a seguirla insistentemente por las calles de Londres; alguien que, incluso, podría desear verla muerta.
Asustada y sola, Gwyn solo puede recurrir a Jason . Pero ¿puede confiar en el hombre que le rompió el corazón? ¿Será capaz de vencer la pasión que sigue sintiendo por él? Pronto nada será lo que parece: Gwyn y Jason se verán arrastrados por un torbellino de avaricia y lujuria.
August 30, 2024
Princess Charming features one of my favorite tropes, secret baby, but it's also a murder mystery and for unknown reasons, someone is trying to assassinate Gwyn. And wouldn't you know, her cousin who she hasn't seen in eight years returns to her life just as things are starting to get dangerous. I liked Gwyn's resilience and her strength to be a good mother. She was also quite smart and capable. Jason was okay. He didn't really have much going for him except being around at the right time to help defend Gwyn. The intimate scenes were really lacking. Open door but not descriptive at all. The romance was sorely lacking because there was too much murder and mayhem happening. Overall, bland romance and interesting premise that could have been a lot more exciting.
October 6, 2017
Not sure what this is
Following the theme set by the first novel in this series, we have a substandard romance mixed with a token spy agency and mystery/thriller. It's confused about what it is and I'm confused because I still liked it. 3 stars
Following the theme set by the first novel in this series, we have a substandard romance mixed with a token spy agency and mystery/thriller. It's confused about what it is and I'm confused because I still liked it. 3 stars
May 28, 2018
Princess Charming
I'm not one of those people who likes to tell you the story in my review. I loved the story loved the cast of characters and love the romance. It was suspenseful, kept my attention, and I'll be reading the whole series again.
I'm not one of those people who likes to tell you the story in my review. I loved the story loved the cast of characters and love the romance. It was suspenseful, kept my attention, and I'll be reading the whole series again.
October 30, 2018
Good romantic suspense. There seems to be no reason for the bad guys to go after the heroine. Also her second cousin has turned up in her life again which annoys the spit out of her. It's just a good read.
March 30, 2023
Boring. The most important conflict was resolved midway which left the rest. The murder mystery purpose was totally lacking and I was left thinking who cares? As for romance, there was no chase. I normally like that love is always was but there was no questions and no intrigue.
November 24, 2024
This is a suspenseful tale of a historical romance set in the English countryside and London. Gwyn Barrie is the romantic woman and Jason Radley is her only love. Jason's only love is Gwyn, but they have yet to connect and fulfill their passion. It is a very good read.
June 23, 2018
Really
Ike’s this book. I liked the characters and the plot.
Ike’s this book. I liked the characters and the plot.
Read
February 23, 2020DNF
May 1, 2023
Not as good as Whisper His Name but we'll put together and executed.
August 22, 2015
Gwyn as a heroine has Abby from the last book beat by a mile. Jason, on the other hand, didn't impress me as much as Hugh, but that's probably being unfair. Gwyn is on her own and has a son to raise, yet she has a quiet strength.
Harry the assassin is threatening enough to seem real, not that I have come across any assassins in my time.
Gwyn's son is a darling and it's sweet to read the scenes where he plays with Jason. I imagine that Thornton's being a grandmother of 5 in real life (when she wrote this*) gave her the motive to give the little man his own personality.
The other female character has personality, too--more than Gwyn, actually. Judith is VERY funny! Quite a firecracker. And her avowed fiance, Jason's brother, likewise shows more personality than Jason. Grandmother Radley is a pistol, too.
Good story. Not 5 stars, but not 3 either. But why the title "Princess Charming"? There is no princess, and no connection that I remember to "Men from Special Branch"--but then it's been a few days since I finished the book and went on to read 3 more. My memory is a sieve! (Was Jason a friend of Hugh or Richard? I can't remember...headslap!)
(*She passed away in 2010--so sad.)
Harry the assassin is threatening enough to seem real, not that I have come across any assassins in my time.
Gwyn's son is a darling and it's sweet to read the scenes where he plays with Jason. I imagine that Thornton's being a grandmother of 5 in real life (when she wrote this*) gave her the motive to give the little man his own personality.
The other female character has personality, too--more than Gwyn, actually. Judith is VERY funny! Quite a firecracker. And her avowed fiance, Jason's brother, likewise shows more personality than Jason. Grandmother Radley is a pistol, too.
Good story. Not 5 stars, but not 3 either. But why the title "Princess Charming"? There is no princess, and no connection that I remember to "Men from Special Branch"--but then it's been a few days since I finished the book and went on to read 3 more. My memory is a sieve! (Was Jason a friend of Hugh or Richard? I can't remember...headslap!)
(*She passed away in 2010--so sad.)
November 26, 2019
Gwyn Barrie is barely making ends meet for her son, teaching piano lessons, when a mysterious legacy brings Jason Radley back into her life. Her cousin twice removed, Gwyn had loved Jason, but left so he could marry and heiress. Now they're both single and someone is after Gwyn. Jason reinserts himself in her life to help solve the mystery. Along the way, he discovers Mark is his son. He still loves Gwyn, and the discover the identity of the spy.
June 4, 2008
This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Thornton. It is a Historical Romance. I would say I enjoyed it very much. The story brings Gwyn Barrie and Jason Radley together.
Gwyn is a widow who is trying to raise her soon teaching music in the early 1800's. Jason is a third couson removed whom she fell in love with when she lived with his family after her family leaves her.
Jason shows up on her doorstep telling her about a mysterious legacy donated by an anonymous benefactor. Her good fortune suddely turns sour when someone starts trying to kill her.
This book was full of mystery and adventure. Plus the romance.
Gwyn is a widow who is trying to raise her soon teaching music in the early 1800's. Jason is a third couson removed whom she fell in love with when she lived with his family after her family leaves her.
Jason shows up on her doorstep telling her about a mysterious legacy donated by an anonymous benefactor. Her good fortune suddely turns sour when someone starts trying to kill her.
This book was full of mystery and adventure. Plus the romance.
June 1, 2009
I had quite a bit of free time on my hands so I read this book in a couple of hours. : )
I liked the murder/stalker mystery that plagued the hero and heroine. However, I felt that their relationship was not fully developed. It felt like the author relied on stuff that happened in the past to fill in the gaps of their relationship.
I liked the murder/stalker mystery that plagued the hero and heroine. However, I felt that their relationship was not fully developed. It felt like the author relied on stuff that happened in the past to fill in the gaps of their relationship.
September 27, 2009
Re-read September, 2009. Not quite as enjoyable as when I first read it.
May 12, 2012
A pleasant book
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews