Princess Charming

by Jane Heller

Talked into a Caribbean cruise by her best friends, public relations executive and divorcee Elaine Zimmerman falls for gorgeous fellow passenger Sam Peck, but her vacation takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that a mysterious hit man, hired to kill someone's ex-wife, is on the ship. Reprint.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Contemporary Romance, Roman

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Jane Heller, a New York native who recently moved from Santa Barbara, CA to New Preston, CT, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels of romantic comedy, including "Name Dropping," "Lucky Stars," and "Best Enemies." Nine of Heller's novels have been optioned for film or television, and all of them have been translated in countries around the world. Her first book of nonfiction, "Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankees," is a humorous look at her passion for baseball. Her book about caregiving, "You'd Better Not Die or I'll Kill You: A Caregiver's Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Good Spirits," combines Heller's personal essays about being the wife of a man with Crohn's disease and the daughter of a mother with dementia, plus interviews with other caregivers who deal with everything from autism to Alzheimer's and advice/tips from experts. "You'd Better Not Die" is upbeat and inspirational - a cheerful companion to the over 60 million caregivers in America. Heller's new novel, "Three Blonde Mice," a spinoff of her bestselling novel "Princess Charming," was published on August 2, 2016.

Reviews

[Ankur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another book that took place on a cruise ship that came recommended to me so I decided to read it while cruising the Caribbean. This was more of a whodunnit (or who's gonna get it dun to) as we are told in the prologue that someone is being hired to kill one of the three main characters. That aspect of the book had me curious, and the cruise-ship elements were pretty accurate. However, about halfway through I got kind of bored with this story and just kept reading in order to be finished with the book. It was less predictable than I thought it'd be, but after finishing the book and seeing that there was going to be a sequel I decided that it wouldn't be something I'd be interested in reading.

If you're looking for a light hearted kinda funny suspenseful book that takes place on a cruise ship, then this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip it.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun story about three divorced women who go on a cruise. One of the main characters accidentally overhears a phone conversation on the ship and realizes that one of ex-husbands has hired a hit man to kill one of the divorcees, but it is never clear which divorcee is in danger. They meet a bunch of weird characters on the boat all kinds of hilarity ensues. To be honest I never figured out who the hit man was until the very end when it was revealed. I love Jane Heller's books, they remind me a little of Candace Bushnell's books but they better in that they are funnier. I plan on reading more very soon.

[Catharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at the used book store because it looked like it might be a fun "beach read." (trip to Hawaii). It kept my attention, which is more than I can say for the other book I bought and threw away, but I'll probably never read another "Jane Heller" book.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quick read, though a little dated. 3 divorced women who have bonded and vacation together take a cruise. There is a little bit of mystery after one overhears a murder plot, a little love story, some humor. Glad the cruises I take no longer have arranged seating times and tables!!

[Bette Stanek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into the characters or the story. It was my borderline OCD that made me finish it. I skimmed the last third of the book. I don't know, the storyline had a lot of promise, it just didn't deliver for me.

[Sandy Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeps you guessing

I figured out who the killer is about 2/3 of the way through, but I couldn't be sure of the victim until almost the end.

Jane Heller is definitely a new favorite!

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this was a slow book. It really didn't have the mystery factor, nor the humor I was hoping for.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of silly

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but a bit repetitive at times

[Courtney Rabideau · Rating 5 out of 5]

love and mystery on ship

Elaine, Pat, and Jackie met while getting divorced years ago. Every year they go on vacation and this year decide to go on a cruise.

Their first days they meet some interesting people and during dinner Elaine meets Sam who catches her eye. Soon the two are an item. There is only one problem, one night Elaine hears a phone call from someone on the ship who was tasked with killing a man’s ex wife who is also on the ship.

Elaine is freaked out and especially after a threat is sent to Jackie’s stateroom while the three are having dinner she thinks that one of their exs was trying to kill them. She and later “Sam” investigate the people on board and try to find out who it is before it’s too late.

It is a very good book and have enjoyed reading it many times z

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

i tried to read this one but there was just too much going on.
too many characters introduced to keep track of.
it was too busy.
i gave up about 1/3 in.
there was humor. and i'm sure the mystery was intriguing but i didn't get that far.

[Nina Draganova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Нямах никакви очаквания за книгата, а и едва ли щях да я прочета, ако не ми я бяха подарили. Но всъщност е доста забавна, с лек криминален привкус. Е, разбира се е и наивна, но спокойно може да запълни няколко часа.

[Janet York · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a super fun book! Maybe because the heroine looks exactly like me. Haha. True, but that’s not it. I figured out the bad guy early, but that didn’t matter. This book made me happy. I’m lucky enough to have great friends too. Read this one!

[Sheila Dunbar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly but fun - definitely a beach read

[Emma Stankus · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!!

[Nik · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining trashy murder mystery/romance beach read. Fun and light.

[paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

titel spricht für sich

[Korin: A Crone Running Amok · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute and fun romp as three friends go on a cruise & discover that one of their ex's wants her. dead

[Heather Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

She writes like I talk. It made me want to read it aloud at a nursing home or something. Enjoyable, quick whodunit...or rather...who is gonna do it?

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun read. An unbelievable plot about three women dubbed the "three blond mice" who have bonded over their divorced status and take vacations together yearly. This time they decide to take a cruise tothe caribbeanon the "princess charming". Elaine, the skeptical, paranoid one, overhears a phone conversation between two men (one of whom is a hit man and the other a disgruntled ex-husband who has hired the hit man to kill his ex-wife before the end of the cruise). Elaine worries that the "hit" is intended for either herself or one of her two friends and every man she meets on the cruise comes under suspicion. Like I said, kiind of an unbelievable plot, but plenty of fun along the way. The description of the cruise ship and the activities and ports of call remind me of what I both loved and hated about my cruise adventures. This would be a good book to take on vacation (or a cruise) because it is light reading and you don't lose the plot by putting it down and then picking it up later.

[Meritxell Baz · Rating 5 out of 5]

De la creadora de Internal Affairs, The Club y Chá Chá Chá, nos llega ésta increible novela que tocará el corazón de todos aquellos que la lean. Con una mezcla de romanticisimo y misterio, Heller nos mete en el papel de una mujer cuya vida parece estar en peligro, ya que su ex-marido pretende matarla. Sin embargo, en ese crucero nada es lo que parece y cualquier acercamiento puede ser sospechoso.

Os lo recomiendo fervientemente si os gustan los cruceros ( a mi me encantan) y las novelas de misterio mezcladas con sentido del humor y romanticisimo.

Lo leí hace poco y me ha encantado

[Cirrus Minor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tja, ich frage mich gerade selbst, warum ich zwei Sterne und nicht nur einen gebe. Vermutlich, weil ich mit Elaine der Größe wegen mitfühlen kann. Ansonsten ist dieser Schund als Urlaubslektüre vielleicht ganz nett, aber abgesehen von der Geschichte werden mir sicher die vielen Kleinigkeiten im Gedächtnis bleiben, die am Drumherum störten: 1. Was soll die junge Frau auf dem Cover, wenn es um drei Frauen in den Vierzigern geht? 2. Der Klappentext spricht von "frisch Geschiedenen" - sechs Jahre sind in meinen Augen aber doch schon eine Weile. 3. Es gibt dreimal den 11.02. - von anderen Fehlern des Lektorats mal abgesehen, kann einem so etwas doch wohl auffallen oder nicht?

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite writers. She's incredibly hilarious, and I definitely go back to her. This was the very first book I read by her, about three divorced women who take a cruise and finds out that one of them is about to be killed by her ex-husband. Fantastic. Just what every woman wants to happen. It's not enough you had an ex (failure), and now that failure wants you dead. But funny for all that.

[Yang Shu-yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die drei frisch geschiedenen Freundinnen Elaine, Jackie und Pat wollen sich eine Woche lang auf einer Kreuzfahrt so richtig amüsieren. Kaum hat der Dampfer abgelegt, stürzen sie sich ins Vergnügen - und auf die männlichen Passagiere. Doch dann wird Elaine Zeugin eines Telefongesprächs und erfährt, dass ein Mann seine Exfrau umbringen lassen will. Und damit könnte jede der drei Freundinnen gemeint sein. Elaine muss den Täter finden, doch eine Woche ist eine verdammt kurze Zeit ...

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went on a little Jane Heller jag after we moved into the house and I was still feeding Tommy two or three times a night. They were light, late-night reading. Her characters are slightly older version of the typical chick-lit heroine. Each friend has her defining characteristics and endearing character flaws. I don't even remember the solution to the mystery.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three divorced friends take an annual vacation together. This year their going on a 7-day cruise on the Princess Charming. One of them learns that somebody's ex-wife has been marked for murder and the hit man is on board the ship! Could it be one of the shipboard Romeos who have been hanging around the ladies?

Cute story with Jane Heller's usual humor. My rating: 4 Stars.

[Graceann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Heller takes on the cruise scene in this hilarious send-up - there's a murder mystery in the background, but the real fun is reading about the cruise ship cliches and the "dream vacation" that is more nightmare than anything else.

[Kathy Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another of our book club picks. It's not one I would have otherwise read, but I must say I enjoyed it. Light, humorous, entertaining. It would be a fun poolside or beach read.

But on what cruiseline can you get a single stateroom without paying double?

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three divorced women, who do not have good relationships with their exes, go on a cruise of the Caribbean. Elaine overhears a conversation from crossed phone lines that there is a hit man aboard and the ex wants her dead. The hit man can't possibly be Sam...or???
Funny story, easy read.