TEST
I often finish an ordinary-heroine, imperious billionaire/prince/etc. Harlequin Presents title and, with a roll of my eyes, think, ‘Well, that’s never going to last.’ Caitlin Crews took this reaction and made it the starting point for her second-chance romance, Princess from the Past.
Bethany Vassal had been her father’s long-term caregiver, and when he passed away, she traveled to Hawaii to fulfill his request that she scatter his ashes on Waikiki Beach. There, she meets Prince Leo di Marco. After a whirlwind courtship, he sweeps her off to his Italian castle, where she becomes utterly miserable. Their eighteen-month marriage ends when Bethany flees to Toronto, where Leo finds her again and receives her ultimatum: Bethany wants a divorce. He tells her she has to return to Italy to achieve it, and that sets up our current, present plot.
Everything the author examines here is exactly what I always worry will happen to the ‘fresh’, ‘ordinary’ heroines who capture cold elites – especially when there’s also an age and experience gap. Leo came to ridicule the very traits which attracted him to Bethany, from her informal manner to her plebeian wardrobe. Bethany, meanwhile, was achingly young, and responded to his high-handed arrogance with increasingly erratic and explosive tantrums, of the shrieking, vase-shattering type. I appreciated that, because it’s exactly the sort of toxic behavior I could see developing in a Presents heroine desperate to break through to a hero.
Marriage-in-trouble books attract me because they force the author to grapple with characters who have made bad decisions and hurt each other. The two of them talk with increasing maturity and thoroughness, addressing everything from Bethany’s potential search for a replacement father to Leo’s dispatch to boarding school at age four. Bethany has already done most of her maturing off-camera, and her main task is to demonstrate this new hold on her temper as Leo tries all his old provocations (although yes, the ‘I can’t resist him sexually’ trope is still in play). Leo, however, starts this book unchanged, and in full ‘cold and controlling’ mode. Over the course of the story, he has to hear and accept that their marital issues go beyond ‘Bethany was immature and childish’, and include ‘I was a hypocrite, and I have unresolved issues about my father and the type of prince he raised me to be’. Marrying Bethany was an act of rebellion, but what he refused to see was that he had to continue rebelling alongside her once he brought her home. Leo’s internal shift here is the part where the book is at its strongest.
Beyond hearing and accepting that he is culpable, though, he also has to change his behavior, and here the book falls short, because he is high-handed almost to the very end. I wish the author had extended (or been allowed to, since Harlequin has strict word/page counts) the book for at least another two or three chapters to allow for a less rushed finale.
I have a soft spot for books which I find interesting, books which play with tropes and reward readers with thorough knowledge of the genre. They capture my attention even when the execution has some issues. Anybody who has ever suspected that a Presents HEA might be more of an HFN, and absolutely anybody who is considering writing academically on the royal marriage trope, should read this book.
Buy it at: Amazon
Visit our Amazon Storefront
Grade: B
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 11/09/20
Publication Date: 01/2012
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I'm a history geek and educator, and I've lived in five different countries in North America, Asia, and Europe. In addition to the usual subgenres, I'm partial to YA, Sci-fi/Fantasy, and graphic novels. I love to cook.
Related Reviews
Well, I read it (maybe even again, but then, these books are similar, so it might be – it is a book from 2012) and can only thank you again, for you review. You hit all the notes perfectly, right down to the grade, and for what you graded down. Thank you, your review added to my reading pleasure, seeing the heroine’s behavior and her growth path in a different, clearer light.
Thank you for the compliment! It means so much to hear that a review was useful!
This review and the discussion in the comments section is so helpful!
I’ll admit, I’m completely and totally intimidated by category romance. I’ve read a handful that I’ve seen reviewed here or hyped on Instagram, but mostly, I feel lost in a sea of how much I don’t know or understand about this sub-genre.
I’ve read the one sentence definitions of the various lines and I realize what “Inspired” stands for, but AHHHHHHH, so many authors! So many categories! How do you even know where to begin!? I’m a clueless virgin all over again.
@CeCe: I only read certain category romances, so I can’t give you a thorough breakdown, but of the ones I read, here’s how they bill themselves and my opinion of them:
Harlequin Presents: “Glamorous international settings…powerful men…passionate romances.” I LOVE HP, it’s my favorite category line. The books are very angsty, lots of heartache, often an unplanned pregnancy or a secret baby, heroes are generally business tycoons or royalty. The sex scenes in HPs are rather euphemistic…although it’s obvious what’s going on. Lol
Harlequin Dare: “Sexy romances featuring powerful alpha heroes and bold, fearless heroines exploring their deepest fantasies.” Dare has been hit or miss for me, even when written by some of my favorite writers (Caitlin Crews, Jackie Ashenden, Clare Connelly, Katee Robert). The sex scenes are more explicit than HPs, but the conflicts between h&h often seem simultaneously overblown and yet too easily resolved. The Dare line replaced an earlier line called Harlequin Blaze which, for my money, was both sexier and more grounded in reality.
Harlequin Romantic Suspense: “Heart-racing romance, breathless suspense.” I don’t read a lot of these, but there’s usually a “woman in peril” theme. They’re generally a bit more realistic and political than other HP lines. For example, I just finished Susan Cliff’s INFILTRATION RESCUE. I wasn’t crazy about it, but was interested by it’s plot that included religious cults and white supremacist militias.
Wow, this is incredibly informative! Thank you!
I have QUESTIONS.
I like hunting down hard-to-find books if they come highly recommended or they’re universally considered higher quality. Is it worth it to track down Harlequin Blaze titles? If so, which ones are best?
How does Harlequin Desire fit into the continuum between Presents and Dare? The gorgeous contemporary Harlequin covers I’ve seen recently have all been in the Desire line.
What is the difference between Romantic Suspense and Intrigue? Does Intrigue just do crimes?
I’ve read non-Harlequin titles by Jackie Ashenden and Katee Robert that I like, are there particular books by them, in the Harlequin line, that you’d recommend? Are there specific authors or specific titles I should check out?
@CeCe: Keeping in mind that this is a completely personal perspective, here are my best answers to your questions. Other readers may have different opinions and recommendations.
Many Blaze titles are still available. I love the ones written by Meg Maguire (aka, Cara McKenna, who is sadly no longer publishing under either name): CAUGHT ON CAMERA and THE WEDDING FLING. She also published a series set in a Boxing/MMA gym. They were recently republished with new titles: TAKEDOWN (originally, DRIVING HER WILD), ALL OR NOTHING (MAKING HIM SWEAT), GOING THE DISTANCE (TAKING HIM DOWN). Kathleen O’Reilly also published several very good Blaze titles—especially SEX, STRAIGHT UP and SHAKEN AND STIRRED. All of the above books are in the Kindle Store right now.
The Desire line is somewhere between HP and Dare in heat level. The line seems to have more ethnically-diverse characters and authors—and, as you noted, lovely covers with gorgeous gowns and models. I’ve really enjoyed Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series—about different couples caught together when the power goes out…and what happens when the lights go back on.
I really can’t address the difference between Suspense & Intrigue because I’ve only read a few of each.
I didn’t think Dare played to Katee Robert’s strengths as a writer and I didn’t really care for the books Robert published through them. I’d rather recommend the books Robert published through the Entangled line, including the Out of Uniform series.
On the other hand, I think Jackie Ashenden is a perfect fit for HP. Her angsty style featuring characters with amazing eye colors, unique scents, and absent/abusive/distant/dead parents complements HP perfectly. I really enjoyed Ashenden’s recent HP series, The Royal House of Axios: PROMOTED TO HIS PRINCESS and THE MOST POWERFUL OF KINGS. Of her Dare books, I recommend the Kings of Sydney series: KING’S PRICE, KING’S RANSOM, and KING’S RULE.
I hope you find some category romances that you enjoy!
I would add that many public libraries carry old Harlequins in digital format. Harlequin releases box sets (“Nov 2017 Harlequin Presents,” for example) of four titles each. They should turn up in Libby or other apps when you search for the book title or the author name.
As far as authors: Jenny Holiday has some good Harlequins, as does Therese Beharrie and Melissa James (although she’s not active). I second the recommendation for Jackie Ashenden.
I also enjoy the Historicals line, where you’d look for Carla Kelly, Jeannie Lin, Marguerite Kaye, Elizabeth Rolls, and Cheryl St. John.
Thank you, Caroline!
I had no idea that Jenny Holiday wrote Harlequins! I’ve seen Therese Beharrie’s name a lot lately (I follow K.J. Charles on Goodreads and she’s a big fan of her work), but I haven’t heard of Melissa James.
I lovelovelove Carla Kelly and most of the (4?5?) Harlequin categories I’ve read are Marguerite Kaye’s. She’s terrific. I also have, but haven’t read yet, Jeannie Lin’s. But again, I haven’t heard of Elizabeth Rolls or Cheryl St. John. I’ll have to check them out! :)
I think you are thinking of Entangled Pub books for Jenny Holiday, she hasn’t written for HQN.
I also like the Jackie Ashenden HQN titles, both Dare and Presents.
Thanks for the catch. The covers are similar so I got confused.
One category romance author I have enjoyed in the past is Sarah Mayberry. I really liked The Other Side of Us, Her Best Friend, and Best Laid Plans. They are from the Super Romance line. I also liked her Blaze books, Hot Island Nights and Her Best Worst Mistake. I don’t know if she’s still writing.
I forgot Carla Kelly, Suzanne Brockmann, and Jill Sorensen wrote category romances, so I’ve read more than I’d realized.
And BTW, I checked my Goodreads shelves and have read 6 or 7 Karen Hunter books and enjoyed them, including the ones you’ve mentioned. My memory isn’t great. Glad I have things in writing!
Thank you for the recommendations, Carrie!
I recently ordered Sarah Mayberry’s Her Favorite Rival because someone recommended it for people who enjoyed Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game, which I did. I love the idea of the Super Romance line which seems to give authors more space, but the books aren’t as long as a full length title. After I read Her Favorite Rival, I’ll have to check out the titles you mentioned! :)
There are so many great Mayberry’s! She’s the rare category writer who always works for me.
Ohhh, I love to hear that! Give me all the “fail safe authors”.
Sorry! Meant that as in, I LOVE authors who are consistently quality or good-even-if-they’re-not-on-their-game. Not, tell me stuff. :)
I was going to come and recommend Sarah Mayberry and am glad to have been beaten to it! I agree that she is absolutely fail-safe, but in my opinion ‘Suddenly You’ (it was originally part of the Super Romance line if I remember correctly) is still her very, very best one.
My favorite is Suddenly You. I also love She’s Got It Bad and Hot Island Nights.
Ha! That was my review!
Wow, thank you so much! I appreciate the time and care you took to lay this out for me.
Hmm, I’ve never heard of Meg Mcguire/Cara McKenna – I’ll have to check her out. Elsewhere on All About Romance, I recently saw a few people recommend Kathleen O’Reilly (maybe in the discussion about the use of 9/11 in romantic fiction?) so I’m really curious about her novels.
Re: Katee Robert & the Dare line, that’s good to know! I’ve read a few of her books from the “O’Malley” series and enjoyed them so I would’ve definitely picked up her Harlequins without considering how the format requires a different skill set, if you hadn’t warned me.
I’ve only read two Jackie Ashenden books – the erotic romances from the “Lies We Tell” duology – and while I don’t usually have an appetite for sex that revolves around explicit dominance and submission, they both really worked for me. I may have even read them because they were recommended by All About Romance…? I’m definitely going to order the Harlequin Presents and Dare titles of hers you recommend!
Thank you again! :)
Cece, I’ve been reading Harlequins for more years than I care to mention and I think the best way to find what works for you is to read across the series. Harlequin have a great website called TryHarlequin where you can download a book from all their series, so it’s worth giving that a try or scouting the Kindle sales.
With regards to the difference between Presents and Desires, Presents is high fantasy so it’s Sheikhs, billionaires and royalty in far flung locations whereas Desire is more North American based. A Harlequin Presents book which I loved this year was Lucy King’s debut for the line, A Scandal Made in London. I enjoyed it because it was intense and emotional, but funny and witty too.
I’ve never really understood the exact difference between Intrigue and Romantic Suspense. Harlequin defines it as Intrigue being thrillers with a romance sub-plot while Romantic Suspense being romance novels with a suspense sub-plot.
As for the other lines, Dare is erotic romance, Heartwarming is clean romance where the door is very firmly shut, Special Edition is mostly small town romance and Romance is international based emotional romance. Medical and Historical are self-explanatory.
I hope this helps!
Julie, this definitely helps! Thank you so much. I’ve taken notes on your definitions of the different lines and Lucy King’s A Scandal Made in London has gone in my shopping cart.
Looking through my bookshelf, I’ve only read Harlequin Historical and Desire so far, but I think you’re right, the only way to know what clicks is to read across the lines.
Category romance has always intimidated me and much more so than other sub-genres, like paranormal or contemporary. It has an incredibly long history, there’s such a volume and rapid output of titles, and it can feel like longtime category readers have such insider information (various author pen names, Dare replaced Blaze) that every time I’ve thought of diving in, I’ve felt a little inundated.
I’m also someone who finds an author they love and then wants to find and read their entire backlist which, I think, isn’t exactly what the categories are designed for. It seems like readers are meant to trust the line rather than the name on the cover.
Thank you again for your help! :)
@Julie: Based on your recommendation, I just downloaded A SCANDAL MADE IN LONDON from my library. I’m looking forward to reading it, but I don’t think it’s King’s debut for HP because it appears that she’s published other HPs including BOUGHT: DAMSEL IN DISTRESS that was published all the way back in 2009.
“I’ve never really understood the exact difference between Intrigue and Romantic Suspense. Harlequin defines it as Intrigue being thrillers with a romance sub-plot while Romantic Suspense being romance novels with a suspense sub-plot.”
That’s a good analysis, Julie, based on what I have read about the two lines. I can’t give a definitive answer about the differences between the two considering I have read a few Intrigue titles but not Romantic Suspense (yet). However, here are some highlighted differences directly from Harlequin’s Submittable page for potential authors:
Romantic Suspense
Intrigue
These aren’t all their bullet pointed guidelines to authors, but it gives a good snapshot of the differences. The way I interpret it is that Intrigue is focused much more on the hero and heroine solving a mystery together that the reader can solve along with them while Romantic Suspense focuses on the hero and heroine forging a relationship against the backdrop of tropes more common to thrillers than mysteries.
Thank you for your excellent review of a book I probably never would have considered. I don’t read many category romances, and the Presents line even less, but I see from this and DiscoDollyDeb’s comments that perhaps my avoidance has been in part ignorance.
HP is my junk food – I love them and can just gobble them up in large quantities – but I need a minimum of quality.
Caitlin Crews never disappoints, her books are always solid.
But sometimes, she doesn’t quite manage to make me believe that all the horrible angst gets resolved – and some of her books are just too dark for me.
Dani Collins is more perfectly my taste, and Kelly Hunter, too.
Still, I read a lot of HP and always appreciate getting recommendations – thank you!
I always like reading reviews, particularly when they address the tropes, analyzing them and taking their implications “seriously” = thank you – perfect review for me.
I am also, like DiscoDollyDeb, going through her backlist – though I feel DDD enjoys more angst than me…
I agree, DDD, the Pregnant Cinderella was excellent, though very dark – I did not think it subversive when reading, though yes, you are right, it is true – never read the clarity of abuse and neglect that the heroine and her mother suffered in such stark terms in an HP.
Thank you for the kind words on the review! Sometimes even Romance looks for romance books to look down on, and that’s usually Harlequin Presents. Which is unfortunate, because it has a lot to tell us about the genre and about variations on a theme – and because really good stories can appear anywhere!
Thanks for the other recommendations. I haven’t read Collins or Hunter, so now I have new people to try!
I haven’t read Dani Collins, but I strongly recommend Kelly Hunter’s work. She’s an excellent writer and her characters are always mature, thoughtful, and communicate with each other. She usually has a couple of freebies in the kindle store if you want to sample her work. I strongly recommend MAGGIE’S RUN (beautiful and melancholy) and her early HP, THE MAN SHE LOVES TO HATE, about a young woman who falls for the son of the (married) man with whom her mother had a long-term affair. She also wrote a series of royal romances for HP that were very good and worked perfectly with the HP template.
Thanks DDD!
I finally read the Dare trilogy by Crews. All 3 nice, Tempt Me Very good.
I had not gone beyond her HP till now, and really enjoyed the books. She truly managed to show how the heroines were always consenting while making it super hot. A feat.
I’ll second the rec for Kelly Hunter – her HP Shock Heir for the Crown Prince made my best of 2018 list (the only time a HQN has done that!)
Caitlin Crews is one of my very favorite writers and she always finds a way to bring something fresh to the HP template. I have been working my way through her backlist (and trying to keep up with her current releases—she’s very prolific, publishing for HP & Dare, plus also releasing books under her alternate pen name, Megan Crane), and somehow I missed this book, so onto the tbr it goes. This year alone, Crews has published several extremely good books—but I’d especially like to recommend TEMPT ME (from Dare), which features a bdsm relationship while throwing subtle (and not so subtle) shade at 50 SHADES; and THE ITALIAN’S PREGNANT CINDERELLA, which is quite subversive for an HP, in that it clearly addresses the way men will marginalize and ostracize women that they can’t control (“turning them into witches and whores,” the heroine observes drily). Even if you’re not a fan of the angsty-heartache pattern of HPs, I think Caitlin Crews’s work is well worth a look.
I think you’re the person who told me that Megan Crane was Caitlin Crews, which is why I started reading some Crews in the first place. Thanks for the tip!
DDD, I so enjoy your contributions to these discussions. I read less angsty books, but I value your wide-ranging interests and reading experiences. I rarely read HP (a little snobby of me, the titles just turn me off), but I may follow some of your suggestions here and widen my experience. Thank you!