Born on the wrong side of the blanket, Belle Flambeau and her sisters have never wanted for anything … except to be acknowledged by their father, the duke. A random attack by the Society Slasher had scared Belle’s face, ruining her dream of a husband and family. Needing time to come to cope with her uncertain future, Belle retreated to the country.  

Prince Mikhail Kazanov was being hunted. The year of morning for his wife was over, and women were coming out of the woodwork, vying for his attentions and the new position of princess. On a chance meeting, he spied Belle and knew a woman of her unusual position would be the perfect wife and mother for his daughter. To make sure, he and the duke made plans and staged a meeting. After all, once Belle learned he was a prince, she would forgive his ruse. What woman would turn away a chance to be a princess? 

When an injured man staggered into her life, seeking help, she couldn’t refuse. Sinfully handsome, devilishly charming, he carved out a place for himself in Belle’s life. But when the truth came out, Mikhail learned Belle wasn’t most women. Confidence ruined by the scar on her face, Mikhail had a battle on his hands to convince her she belonged at his side. To complicate matters, the man dubbed the Society Slasher was still at large, seeking to complete what he started. Surrounded by a hostile society, Belle must find the truth before the lies ruin her chance at happiness and possibly cost her life. 

Tempting the Prince is book five of the Kazanov Series. The beginning really captured my attention, and I immediately wanted to find out more. Belle and Mikhail’s story is very entertaining, but for some reason, parts of the book felt glossed over. The secondary characters really spiced up the novel and kept the plot moving when it started to drag. If you are looking for a light story with a hint of mystery, you don’t want to miss Patricia Grasso’s latest book.

Reviewed by Stacey Brutger for The Road to Romance

August 4, 2007