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Beloved storyteller Lulu Ross champions non-violence. Just her luck, she’s tiara over glass slippers for a man who carries a gun. Professional bodyguard Colin Murphy is s-e-x-y. Too bad he’s delusional. Who would want to hurt Princess Charming—a low-profile, goody-two-shoes who performs as a storybook character at children’s birthday parties? Surely the sexy gifts from a secret admirer are meant for her sister, a bombshell wannabe action-star. Or are they?
Murphy is determined to protect Lulu whether she likes it or not. Perpetually cheerful and absurdly trusting, the locally famous kiddy-heroine refuses to believe she's in danger. Tipped off by the FBI, Murphy knows otherwise, but convincing Lulu that she's the fantasy target of a mobster's fixation is like trying to hang shades on the sun. Contending with a woman who favors bubblegum lip gloss and a pink poodle purse becomes an exercise in fascination and frustration for the world-weary protection specialist; almost as frustrating as resisting her whimsical charm.
Murphy is determined to protect Lulu whether she likes it or not. Perpetually cheerful and absurdly trusting, the locally famous kiddy-heroine refuses to believe she's in danger. Tipped off by the FBI, Murphy knows otherwise, but convincing Lulu that she's the fantasy target of a mobster's fixation is like trying to hang shades on the sun. Contending with a woman who favors bubblegum lip gloss and a pink poodle purse becomes an exercise in fascination and frustration for the world-weary protection specialist; almost as frustrating as resisting her whimsical charm.
307 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2004
4 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Beth Ciotta
40 books469 followersStorytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Limiting herself to one sub-genre does not. Dubbed “fun and sexy” by Publisher’s Weekly, Beth specializes in writing Romantic Comedy with a Twist of Suspense and is published in contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction. “I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course) gets a happy ending!”
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 1, 2011
What do a pink-wearing/bubbly/fairy-tale loving/slightly air-headed "Princess Charming", a former (I know there's no such thing!) Marine turned protector, an FBI agent deep undercover, a drug-busting operation, an overprotective P.I, his recently pregnant wife, a man-hating actress wannabe, and a gay couple have in common?
No, there's no punchline. What they have in common is this book. Which started rather iffy, if you ask me, because we're immediately hit with the heroine living in perpetual denial, a throwback to the Victorian times, hating violence, performing as Princess Charming for children, juggling at a casino, and viewing the world through her rose-tinted glasses. I kept waiting for someone to slice her throat and introduce the real heroine of the story, but it soon became apparent I was stuck with his...air-headed, bubbly, TSTL thirty-one-year-old. Wait? Come again? How old is she?!
That poor hero of hers. How is a guy to protect someone who is in denial of being in danger...in denial about everything, actually?
Well, their "association" started rather unpromising, let me tell you. How was I to believe a seasoned Marine, a realist, someone who's seen the world at its most ugly, would fall head-over-heels for someone so different for him (and don't give me the "opposite attract" speech!) in a matter of minutes? I'm still kinda skeptic about that part, mind you.
But after a while, the heroine turned out to be like mold. She grows on you. Slowly. And the bubbly, pink, TSTL persona turned out to be only one facet of her multi-layered personality (some might call her a schizo, even). And I actually started to like her, and I finally could understand the hero's fascination. She still had her TSTL moments, though.
There was also suspense, which somehow rode in the backseat...And somehow I was rather comfortable with that. It wasn't that the suspense sub-plot was bad, quite the contrary, this could've been a great suspense book, but it took the backseat to the romance and the comedy (provided so generously by the heroine). We had multiple stalkers, a possible majorly obsessed stalker, a mob family, an FBI agent working undercover, and an Ecstasy-pushing ring about to go down in flames. What's not to like about that? And no, it didn't seem crowded.
What seemed crowded was the rest of the story, with 4 different plots going on (hero/heroine, gay couple, P.I/pregnant wife, heroine's man-hating sister/her ex/men in general/FBI agent). Some of the scenes (not with the hero/heroine) seemed rather redundant and slightly filler-ish, but that's probably because this is the second book in a trilogy.
Still, it got pretty crowded out there, let me tell you.
All in all, after I got over the whole "the heroine is an idiot" (which was only a couple of chapters into the book), I could finally sit back and enjoy the ride. And it was quite a ride, quirky, funny, sexy, hot, romantic, sometimes TSTL (thanks to the heroine), scary, silly, suspenseful...But most of all, very well-written. I loved it.
No, there's no punchline. What they have in common is this book. Which started rather iffy, if you ask me, because we're immediately hit with the heroine living in perpetual denial, a throwback to the Victorian times, hating violence, performing as Princess Charming for children, juggling at a casino, and viewing the world through her rose-tinted glasses. I kept waiting for someone to slice her throat and introduce the real heroine of the story, but it soon became apparent I was stuck with his...air-headed, bubbly, TSTL thirty-one-year-old. Wait? Come again? How old is she?!
That poor hero of hers. How is a guy to protect someone who is in denial of being in danger...in denial about everything, actually?
Well, their "association" started rather unpromising, let me tell you. How was I to believe a seasoned Marine, a realist, someone who's seen the world at its most ugly, would fall head-over-heels for someone so different for him (and don't give me the "opposite attract" speech!) in a matter of minutes? I'm still kinda skeptic about that part, mind you.
But after a while, the heroine turned out to be like mold. She grows on you. Slowly. And the bubbly, pink, TSTL persona turned out to be only one facet of her multi-layered personality (some might call her a schizo, even). And I actually started to like her, and I finally could understand the hero's fascination. She still had her TSTL moments, though.
There was also suspense, which somehow rode in the backseat...And somehow I was rather comfortable with that. It wasn't that the suspense sub-plot was bad, quite the contrary, this could've been a great suspense book, but it took the backseat to the romance and the comedy (provided so generously by the heroine). We had multiple stalkers, a possible majorly obsessed stalker, a mob family, an FBI agent working undercover, and an Ecstasy-pushing ring about to go down in flames. What's not to like about that? And no, it didn't seem crowded.
What seemed crowded was the rest of the story, with 4 different plots going on (hero/heroine, gay couple, P.I/pregnant wife, heroine's man-hating sister/her ex/men in general/FBI agent). Some of the scenes (not with the hero/heroine) seemed rather redundant and slightly filler-ish, but that's probably because this is the second book in a trilogy.
Still, it got pretty crowded out there, let me tell you.
All in all, after I got over the whole "the heroine is an idiot" (which was only a couple of chapters into the book), I could finally sit back and enjoy the ride. And it was quite a ride, quirky, funny, sexy, hot, romantic, sometimes TSTL (thanks to the heroine), scary, silly, suspenseful...But most of all, very well-written. I loved it.
September 6, 2020
The first book was my favorite but this was still entertaining.
July 22, 2013
I just adored this fun, romantic, sexy tale with a quirky heroine and a yummy man. I am a sucker for a heroine that is messy, can't cook, and full of joy. Lulu is just so very much herself. She has a great job and believes in herself and all those she loves. Colin is awesome. He is a brooding bodyguard type who recognizes a good thing when he sees it in Lulu. I love that in a man. They are both wonderful people but human enough that they seem real. This is a madcap romantic comedy with a little bit of suspense weaved in with some real emotional stepping stones. The secondary cast is excellent and there is a wonderful secondary romance that looks like it will be develop over the series.
I liked this book so much that when my loan for it ran out on my Kindle, I bought it, right then, half way through. I knew I would want to reread it and had to finish it.
If you are looking for a the warm happys and grin, pick this one up! I know I will be reading the whole series and other books by this writer.
I liked this book so much that when my loan for it ran out on my Kindle, I bought it, right then, half way through. I knew I would want to reread it and had to finish it.
If you are looking for a the warm happys and grin, pick this one up! I know I will be reading the whole series and other books by this writer.
October 8, 2012
Lucy Ross is a storybook princess... or she at least plays one at children's parties. So how the hell did she pick up a stalker? At least that's what professional bodyguard Colin Murphy is wondering. He's got a tip that someone's after her so he's off to help. Of course, he is immediately attracted to her and her gee whiz manner.
I enjoyed the book and the craziness. However, Lucy was just TSTL (too sweet to live.) She was just too precious and naive. Granted, everyone around her was keeping her in the dark about what was going on (which was also annoying, how does she know which crazy dudes to avoid if she doesn't know who the crazy dudes are?). However, these annoyances didn't prevent me from devouring the book and immediately leaping into Seduced the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the book and the craziness. However, Lucy was just TSTL (too sweet to live.) She was just too precious and naive. Granted, everyone around her was keeping her in the dark about what was going on (which was also annoying, how does she know which crazy dudes to avoid if she doesn't know who the crazy dudes are?). However, these annoyances didn't prevent me from devouring the book and immediately leaping into Seduced the next book in the series.
April 23, 2015
I enjoyed this romance story. You have the innocent princess and the world weary bodyguard as well as some interesting background characters. Poor Murphy has a hard time convincing Lulu that she, not her sister, has a stalker. But once he finally does things heat up a bit in more ways than one.
June 25, 2017
People who seem to be opposites aren't always as different as they appear. In fact, they often learn just how much they have in common!!! The gun carrying protection specialist and the anti-gun, pacifist children's performer ultimately have the same purposes in life, to make the world a safer place. Both suffered tragedies and broken hearts. Together, they open each other's eyes to a world view very different from their own, and heal their hearts on the process. A very sweet story!!! I loved the first book in the series, Jinxed. The characters from that story factor into this one intricately. I can't wait to read the final book, Seduced, and see how they all end up!!
May 22, 2023
Colin Murphy gets a text from his brother, Joe Bogart, who is working undercover for the FBI. The cryptic message asks him to guard 'Princess' and gives an address. Since he is in the protection business he assumes the 'princess' is in danger. The 'Princess' turns out to be a blonde bombshell who plays a 'princess' for little girl's birthday parties and is clueless about personal safety. He stays close until he gets more info from Joe. By then he is personally invested in her welfare. This is action packed and humorous like the other 2 in the series. Fun read.
March 21, 2017
I actually liked this one better than the first in the series, probably because the heroine was a stronger character.
April 16, 2015
Body guard of the celebrities Murphy gets a text that a Princess is in danger.
Even though Murphy is in need a some serious R&R, he can't ignore this because it's from
his brother.
Princess Charming, AKA Lulu is certain that the body guard is mistaken and that the person
in need of protection is her gorgeous sister Sophia.
The book is a delight, with romance, humor, mystery and danger and book two of the Friends
and Lovers series by Beth Ciotta.
October 21, 2012
Beth is always good for a laugh and some romance. This wasn't quite as good as the Evie series (which was amazing!!). But still a great quick read with characters you just can't help but really enjoy!
July 6, 2013
This was a fun and quirky read. Lula is definitely the quirky part. She is entertaining and watching Collin try to figure her out was entertaining. This could have gone over the top, but Ciotta was able to balance out the quirkiness with the mystery, adventure and romance.
September 8, 2011
makes me look forward to Bogie and Sophie's story in the following book
August 12, 2013
Loved the upbeat quirky characters and the dynamic of the characters as a whole. Very funny and sexy.
January 29, 2015
Issss,dus
August 10, 2017
I found myself skimming the last quarter, curious enough about Rudy and JP, but not caring about anyone else. The mystery dragged on too long and the romance was too quick with the main couple. Plus, everyone seemed to be acting, as the narrative skipped along the surface of everyone.
Two stars for several wonderful, quirky scenes, and one hot hot moment after a kitchen fire.
Two stars for several wonderful, quirky scenes, and one hot hot moment after a kitchen fire.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews