Princess Charming
By Beth Pattillo
Publisher: Belle Books
Release Date: May 24, 2013
(Reissue, originally published 2003)
Lucy Charming is a Cinderella complete with a dead father, an evil
stepmother, wicked stepsisters (although one is somewhat reluctantly wicked),
and time in the kitchen. The daughter of a duke, Lucy is turned into a servant
by her abusive stepmother. It turns out that Lucy doesn’t mind too much since
she is far more interested in undercover political activism, specifically
universal suffrage, than she is in ballrooms and moonlight dances with handsome
princes.
Nicholas St. Germain is a prince, the crown prince of Santadorra.
But Nick is no more interested in being a prince than Lucy is in ballrooms. In
fact, he is estranged from his father and has made a life in England, refusing
to return to Santadorra. When he was twelve, he was forced to flee with his
mother and sister when revolutionaries attacked. His mother and sister were
killed, and Nick has never been able to forgive himself for failing to save
them or for surviving. He also holds his father responsible for their deaths.
Because of this background, Nick has developed a savior complex. He is
compelled to rescue people.
Lucy and Nick meet when she is trying to evade two men who are following
her with evil intent and enters the garden where Nick is doing gardener duty to
pay off a lost wager. A comedy of error ensues with mistaken identity (She
thinks he’s a gardener; he thinks she’s a maid), botched rescues, and a wager
with much higher stakes. Nick’s friend, Lord Crispin Wellstone, takes on the
role of a benevolent godfather with good intentions, useful contacts, but no
magical powers.
The summary makes this book sound like a frothy romp that is an
entertaining revision of a fairy tale, and it does begin that way. The
combination of the familiar and the strikingly different has a strong appeal; the
humor is rich and seems an appropriate prelude to love overcoming obstacles. But
the tone changes when Nick and Lucy’s identities are revealed. There’s nothing
light or amusing about troops set on demonstrators or the grittiness of prison.
What I thought was a witty spoof with two lovers headed for an HEA after the
requisite sparring becomes social commentary and psychologically disturbing obsession.
Color me confused and frustrated.
I have read and enjoyed other books by Beth Pattillo, and I know
she is a writer who can both entertain and provoke thoughtful examination of
complex issues. Unfortunately, the mix in Princess
Charming did not work for me.
Dozens of romance authors have written their own versions of
Cinderella. Why do you think this fairy tale continues to have such wide
appeal?
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