Abducted by a Prince

Strong leads almost make up for clichéd plot points and one-note family members in Drake’s third Victorian-era Cinderella Sisterhood romance (after Stroke of Midnight). Notorious gambling den owner Damien Burke plans to kidnap a gentlewoman and force the return of a key stolen years ago by the lady’s brother. Unfortunately, he nabs the family’s poor relation instead. Ellie Stratham, a bosomy knockout under her drab clothes, intends to escape her life of drudgery by turning her fanciful illustrations into a children’s book. Stuck at Damien’s isolated Scottish castle until bad weather clears, the two find chemistry igniting as they try to fix his mess and save her reputation. Drake has created a wonderful couple, but everyone and everything else in the book—from Ellie’s awful relatives to the tired mistaken kidnapping of a drab duckling who is really a beautiful swan—is entirely without nuance. (May)