The Perils of Pursuing a Prince

Bestselling author London works a charming Regency twist on the story of Beauty and the Beast in the second installment of her Desperate Debutantes series, following last year's The Hazards of Hunting a Duke . Impoverished socialite Greer Fairchild has set out for her childhood home in Wales to collect a badly needed inheritance, which is thought to be controlled by the glowering Rhodrick Glendower, earl of Radnor. An unctuous fellow traveler named Owen Percy tells horrifying stories of Rhodrick, known locally as the prince of Powys, and when the pair arrive at his gloomy castle, the hulking Rhodrick confirms Percy's most troubling stories. Domineering, vulgar and possibly even murderous, Rhodrick holds Greer captive until she can produce proof of her identity. Eventually, Percy sets off to get help, and Greer reluctantly settles in, waiting for the letter from London that will validate her claims on the inheritance. As Greer and her host overcome their animosity and succumb to rising passion, further complications arise in a mystery from Greer's past. London's love story is tense and tender, held aloft by endearing, dynamic characters. (May)