by Eloisa James
First published 2010
Kate Daltry attends a ball only because her stepmother forces her to go. She has no patience for fairy tales or dreams of happy endings. When she encounters Prince Gabriel, she discovers he lacks any trace of charm. Their sharp exchanges reveal a battle of intelligence and stubborn wills. Both recognize the spark between them, yet both know it leads nowhere. Gabriel must marry a princess to advance his political goals. He respects his intended bride but feels no love for her. Logic tells him to court his future wife, not this clever woman without fortune who refuses to flatter him. Kate possesses wit and beauty but no money or status. The rules of their world seem designed to keep them apart. Gabriel faces a choice between his noble duties and his heart. Kate must decide if love matters more than security. One midnight kiss might change everything, or it might destroy their only chance at happiness.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
374 pages · Kindle Edition · Harper Collins, Inc.