Sandy M’s review of Saved By the Monarch (Defending the Crown, Book 1) by Dana Marton
Contemporary Romantic suspense released by Harlequin Intrigue 12 May 09
I like a good Harlequin Intrigue every now and again. Dana Marton is an author who is new to me, and she has given me one terrific Intrigue in Saved by the Monarch. There is, of course, plenty of intrigue, and the action is nearly nonstop, the hero and heroine are strong characters, and the storyline is, well, intriguing.
On top of all of that, this is the first book in her new series Defending the Crown, and hopefully all of the Kerkay brothers will get their own book over time, making that a total of six. If you become of a fan of this series, you’re going to have some great reading right up to the very last book. To start the series off is Prince Miklos. He’s the military man in the family, and it’s come time for him to honor the agreement made nearly thirty years ago to marry the daughter of a local nobleman. But things changed before too long and his prospective bride to be has lived in the United States most all of her life.
Returning to Valtria for a vacation to find her roots, Judi is stunned to learn she’d been expected — Prince Miklos is her intended groom and he’s determined to marry her to carry out his duty. Judi is having none of it — she has her own life, thank you very much — and before she can argue her case any further, they are swept up in a rebellion to take over Valtria which is intent on destroying the family royalty that has ruled for years.
Separated from his family and his army, Prince Miklos fights for both their lives, as well as the lives of his family. During the various battles he comes to respect Judi for her courage and swift thinking with danger all about. He goes from being a man who would wed for the sake of his country to a man who is proud of his bride and who is falling for her with every jut of her stubborn chin. He vows to get them both through the rebellion, but when it comes to light who has betrayed him, it seems all might be lost after all.
Once the action starts in this book, it never lets up. Just when you think things are turning for the good, something unforeseen hits Miklos and Judi for another setback, which makes it all the sweeter for them when the tide does eventually turn. They are an engaging couple, and though they fall in love quickly, it’s all due to the circumstances that show each other and us what kind of people they truly are. The interaction between Miklos and his brothers is a lot of fun, and it will be interesting to see what their relationships are like outside the context of fighting.
Saved by the Monarch is a great start to this series and I’m intrigued to see what comes next, which is Royal Protocol, to be released June 2009.
Grade: B+
Summary:
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Picture yourself going on a much-needed European vacation to the country of your ancestors. You’re getting off the airplane, and the red carpet is odd, but not alarming. Except, the hot guy in the fancy uniform waiting at the end, in front of a line of guards, is not head of security.
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He is a prince.
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Now try not to let your chin drop when he tells you that your parents had promised him your hand in marriage before they died –when you were still a child.
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He whisks you away in the royal ceremonial limousine before you can get your bearings. And by the time you manage to tell him that under no circumstances will you be entering an arranged marriage with a stranger, you are both kidnapped by anti-monarchy rebels.
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You don’t know the country’s politics, you don’t know the lay of the land, you don’t speak the local dialects. You only have one chance for survival: you must trust your life to the prince.
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Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
