Sunday, November 7, 2010

Review -- The Princess in His Bed

The Princess in His Bed
by Lila DiPasqua
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 2, 2010








The Princess in His Bed is the second installment in the Fiery Tales collection by Lila DiPasqua and includes three stories. As I stated in my review of Awakened by a Kiss, the first installment in the Fiery Tales collection, Lila has taken the classic fairy tales of your childhood and transformed those beloved tales into sensual stories the adult woman in you will find satisfying and refreshing. And as much as I enjoyed Awakened by a Kiss, this installment is even better! Yes, these Fiery Tales just keep getting better and better.


The Marquis’s New Clothes. Thanks to the carelessness of her cousin who has lost a valuable jeweled ring, widow Aimee de Miran must now cozy up to a known libertine in order to locate the ring. Though the Marquis de Nattes is one of the most seductive men at court, Aimee detests the very thought of him. Adam de Vey is as beautiful as sin and a master at seduction, but is completely faithless. Just like her late husband. But Aimee’s love for her cousin is stronger than her dislike of Adam, so she bites her tongue and proceeds to show interest in him. Adam de Vey is shocked when his late friend’s wife shows him the slightest bit of interest. He has loved and adored Aimee from afar for many years. Now that she is interested, Adam begins to show her that the pleasures in the bedroom can (and should) be shared by both parties involved. As the two share days and nights together, their bonds of passion soon multiply to genuine feelings of love and happiness.

“Destiny may have caused their paths to cross that summer.

But it was their love that made their tale romantic, repeated through the realm.

And ensured their happily ever after.”



The Lovely Duckling. Burned badly as a baby and driven into seclusion by taunts and ridicule ten years ago, spinster Emile de Sarron has decided her aunt’s week long masquerade, which is known for its decadent diversions, is the perfect place for her to experience passion for the very first time. As everyone attending will be wearing a mask, no one will know she is even there. Well, no one but Vincent d’Alumbert, the man she has been corresponding with for several months and the only man she told she would be attending. Thankful for the companionship and their frank discussions of passion, though only by letters, Emile is anxious to finally see Vincent. Joseph d’Alumbert cannot believe that Emile has arrived at the Comtesse de Saint-Arnaud’s country estate for a week of debauchery. Ten years ago, Joseph attended a party where several men taunted Emile about her burns and thus her unmarriageable status. Driven by the need to see how she has being doing, Joseph began writing to Emile several months ago. But he signed all of the letters in his twin brother’s name – Vincent. Enjoying the correspondence between each other, Joseph has slowly fallen for Emile. And this week of masked debauchery is just the time to show Emile that she is a woman full of passion and one he desires, even with her scars.

“Facing him were her scars, covering her back, and down the backs of her arms to her elbows. Pink to dark red blotchy skin. Thick. And raised. And uneven. And horrible to behold.

Not having the courage to turn back around to see his reaction, she waited for him to speak, her insides quivering.

She felt his lips against her shoulder first. She lurched. He slipped his arm around her waist and bent her forward, her palms bracing against the mattress. Kiss after kiss was pressed against her back as he slowly made his way down her spine. Tears welled in her eyes and fell onto the bed. She was stunned, so moved, she couldn’t believe what he was doing.

He straightened, leaned over her, and near her ear he repeated, “I just see beauty.”



The Princess and the Diamonds. Mathias Paul Thomas de Tesson, Marquis de Montfort, has volunteered with the King’s Police of Paris to infiltrate an illegal gaming center and report the members of the aristocracy who are playing the forbidden card game, Basset. While attending the first masked card game, Mathias is immediately intrigued by a young man who bets with loose diamonds and leaves immediately after winning a large sum. Running after the young man, Mathias pulls the mask away and finds the face of a beautiful young woman. Princess Gabrielle is determined to use the royal diamonds as funds for gambling in order to win back the money her younger half-brother recently lost in a Basset game. Disguised as a man, Gabrielle’s plan seems to be working well when she wins a large sum the first night of gambling. But her sense of accomplishment quickly changes when a handsome man pulls away her mask. When Mathias assumes she is her uncle’s mistress, Gabrielle does not correct this misconception. Mathias makes advances and Gabrielle finds the attention exhilarating and utterly satisfying. Once again passion pulls the emotion of love to surface. The daughter of a king usually does not marry for love but for political gain, but Gabrielle’s gamble pays off big time. Actually it pays off for a life time.

“Princess of my heart. Princess that I love. The only Princess for me.”

“And will you ride off with her, taking her from this palace, and bring her to your castle?”

“Indeed.” He brought her hand and placed it over his heart. “I will bring her to my kingdom, the one we create with our very own magic, where I shall cherish and love her – ever after.”

A promise Mathias sealed with a searing kiss.



Once again Lila DiPasqua has blown me away with her writing. Not only are these three stories heartwarming and touching, but Lila thoroughly sprinkles each one with the spice of passion.

If you only buy one book this week or this month, do yourself a favor and BUY this book! Lila DiPasqua has proven once again that satisfaction is guaranteed with her spicy, yet touching writing. Well done, Lila. WELL DONE!



~ Buffie



21 comments:

  1. Buffie

    Great review I have heard so many great things about both of Lila's books I need to get both of them I am putting in an order this week sometime must get them

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  2. I've read the first book and loved it, so I'm definitely wanting to read this book.

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  3. Helen, if you like some steam with you romance, then you are going to just love Lila's books. Both of them are just wonderful! I can't wait for her next book, which will be a full length novel, instead of three novellas.

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  4. Thanks for stopping by, Daz! If you loved AWAKENED, then you are really going to love this one!!!!

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  5. Great review, Buffie! Awakened by a Kiss is already on my list and it looks like I'll be adding this one, too! :)

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  6. Hey Trisha! Oh yes, be sure to add this one too. It would make a great Christmas gift :-)

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  7. Great review, Buffie! I have the book but, as always, trying to find the time! One of these days...

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  8. So many books, so little time. Maybe I should just alphabetize my TBR pile and read them in order, I am jumping around so much now I have 4 books started! I am confusing myself! Now I will have to add another to the pile, I love you guys! I was doing an update on my author's lists yesterday and I have added 15 new to me authors.

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  9. Great review Buffie! I love the concept of revamped fairy tales, and was intrigued and definitely interested when y'all reviewed Lila's debut, but didn't get around to getting my hands on a copy. But this second review cinches it for me. I gotta get them both!

    Who cares if I don't really have the time to add more books to my TBR pile? :P lol

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  10. Great review, Buffie! I will definitely be adding this one to my always-growing list.

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  11. Dianna, there just never is enough time, is there? How in the world can you read 4 books at once? That is one area where I can't multi task.

    But please do add this one to your list. It is a FANTASTIC book!

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  12. Hey there Lisa! Yes, do yourself a favor and get both books! You will not be disappointed, and you will find a new author you just love. Take my word!

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  13. Thanks so much, Gannon. You will really enjoy these stories!

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  14. Great review, Buffie! I read this book in one gulp last week. Absolutely delicious! I notice Lila is doing a full-length take on Cinderella next. I hope that doesn't mean she's abandoning the novellas. I think they are brilliant!

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  15. Thanks, Anna!! Delicious - the perfect word for this book!

    Yes, the next one is a full length one. I can't wait to read it!

    I, too, hope she doesn't abandon novellas either. I love that I can read these wonderful short stories all from the same author!

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  16. @ Buffie -- Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Buffie! Gosh, I'm just so blown away by it. I'm grinning from ear to ear! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED, too!

    Hugs,
    Lila

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  17. @ everyone--- Many thanks for your interest in this book and your lovely comments about my debut novel, AWAKENED BY A KISS! Hope you enjoy the three sexy rakes in THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED. :)

    A special wave to PJ and Gannon!

    Hugs,
    Lila

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  18. @Anna Campbell -- Wow! Thank you for the awesome compliment, Anna! I do have something in the works as far as another novella...but I'll announce that a little later. ;)

    As for my full length Fiery Tale take on Cinderella, I promise to deliver another hot, carnally-talented hero and smart heroine (as found in my novellas). A MIDNIGHT DANCE will be out Aug. 2011 and I've seen the cover. IT'S STUNNING!!! Berkley has outdone themselves.

    Can't wait to share it with you all! :)

    Hugs,
    Lila

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  19. Gosh, I'm just so blown away by it. I'm grinning from ear to ear!

    Lila, thanks so much for stopping by today!

    As far as your comments above, that is exactly how I felt when I read your book. Bravo, Bravo!!!!

    As for my full length Fiery Tale take on Cinderella, I promise to deliver another hot, carnally-talented hero and smart heroine (as found in my novellas). A MIDNIGHT DANCE will be out Aug. 2011 and I've seen the cover. IT'S STUNNING!!! Berkley has outdone themselves.

    Ooooohhhhh, I can't wait to get my hands on this one. I hope my heart can handle a 300 plus pages of one of your carnally talented heroes!!!

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  20. Ah, Buffie, yet another book to add to the ol' TBB list. Thanks for the terrific review!!

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  21. Can see why you liked to read that book, while in bed...HA

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