Honor, passion, danger. A modern-day duke and an American computer hacker must confront all three.
Honor. Gabriel, Duke of Bencalor, allows himself to be kidnapped to save his cousin, the Prince of Caleva. He pays a price—a mutilation that damages his brilliant career as a Flamenco guitarist—yet he would not hesitate to do it again.
Passion. Quinn Pierson is hired to track down Gabriel’s abductors. As she follows the trail, she and the sexy duke spend more and more time together until a spark ignites between them. Quinn fights her feelings every inch of the way because she knows there can be no future between a royal duke and an American commoner with an ugly past.
Danger. The criminal mastermind who carried out Gabriel’s abduction travels to Caleva to threaten Quinn. Yet even he is less dangerous than the mysterious figure who set the kidnapping in motion.
Opposites attract in Caleva, where the royals are hot and the criminals are twisted.
PJ's Thoughts:
If you enjoy fast-paced books brimming with danger, emotional turmoil, mystery, heart-tugging romance, and complex characters you can't help but root for, do not miss Royal Caleva: Gabriel, book one of a new series by Nancy Herkness. I couldn't put it down and these characters - especially Gabriel - are still lingering in my mind days after I turned the final page.
There are so many things I loved about this first book in the new Royal Caleva series. First is the worldbuilding. Caleva is a fictional island - I know this - but the vivid descriptions, geographic details, history, and traditions Herkness incorporated into this book are so realistic that I actually Googled the island to make sure it didn't exist. Full disclosure: I was hoping I was mistaken about its existence because I was already planning a trip in my mind.
Next are the characters and not only Quinn and Gabriel. The author has populated this story with a variety of well-developed, fully-dimensional characters that pulled me into their world and made me care about them. Secondary characters about whom I want to know more. And a complex, multi-layered main couple I can't stop thinking about. Especially Gabriel. This man. It's been a while since the hero of a novel has had such an impact on me. His strength, vulnerability, honor, anguish, and courage. How could I not root for him to overcome what was done to him and claim his happiness? How could I not love him as deeply and completely as Quinn, a kick-ass heroine who deserves happiness just as much - if not more - than Gabriel and is laser-focused on making sure the bad guys don't derail it.
And finally, we come to the suspense portion of the story. Herkness has created a fast-paced, twisty mystery of greed and betrayal that kept me flipping pages, all the while wondering what new twist was lurking around the next corner. Happy to say she kept me wondering until almost the end when all was finally revealed. I love it when that happens.
I've read pretty much everything Nancy Herkness has written and, for my money, this is one of her best. I can't wait to discover what she has in store for Caleva's royal family next!
Because I loved this book so much, I'm giving away three Kindle copies today.
Have you read any books by Nancy Herkness?
What's the last book that kept you guessing right up until the reveal?
What fictional location in a book you've read would you like to visit?
Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before Midnight (EDT) tonight (April 28) will receive a Kindle copy of Royal Caleva: Gabriel.
Update: Great news! Nancy Herkness has graciously offered a giveaway for The Romance Dish readers. One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 30 will receive a signed, print copy of Royal Caleva: Gabriel.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
