Bound by Love

June 29, 2009
This perfect beach book moves effortlessly from the green English countryside to bustling Paris to the glittering court of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. Leonida, the czar's illegitimate daughter, travels to Surrey in search of incriminating correspondence in which her mother revealed state secrets to the previous Duchess of Huntley. Stefan, the current duke, can't figure out what she's up to, but that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. After Leonida flees with the letters, he tracks her all the way to St. Petersburg. The villain and hero are obvious, but other players' motives are less clear. Leonida is very easy to like, idealistic and loyal; Stefan, who declares it “a pity” that “women are no longer the property of men,” is more stereotypical and less sympathetic. The history is skimpy, but fans of Regency romance will enjoy the familiar story and unusual setting.