Title:
Her Royal
Bodyguard
Author:
Joyce Sullivan
Published By:
Harlequin Intrigue
ISBN:
0-373-22782-5
Release Date:
June 2004
Format:
Print
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Rory never could have imagined the secret her mother kept from her all her life; now with her death, all the details are coming out. By far the most outlandish…Rory Kenilworth is a princess. Not only a princess, but also heir to the throne should her brother the prince, not sire any children.
A mere eight months after her mother's death, she's being ushered by Sebastian to meet her brother. Upon meeting her brother, learns that her mother has kept more than the secret of her birth from her. Apparently the reason her mother divorced her father was because as an infant he signed her into a marriage contract with the King of a neighboring country. Her mother had been furious, and demanded he break the contract. The truce between the two countries was tedious at best, and to do that would have called for an all out war. Thus, her mother took her and fled back to the United States with the understanding that on Rory's 23rd birthday, she'd be faced with her birth responsibilities.
The Prince and his 'deputy secretary' inform her of her impending marriage and the training she will need to undergo to be prepared for the life of a princess. Her engagement is to be announced in the near future and she must be ready. Sebastian suffers in silence with his guilt at deceiving Rory. All he wanted was a chance to 'get to know' his bride before he married her; and he knew that she would not have been herself if she knew who he was. Now he realizes that nothing is going to make this lie better. All he can do is hope that when his secret comes out, she won't turn from him or banish him from her life. Having grown up with royalty, he knows there can be no love in marriage, only duty and responsibility. He'll care for Rory, but he'll never love her.
However, with several attempts not only on his life, but Rory's as well, Sebastian begins to think that Rory is far more important to him than he ever thought she would be. For the sake of both their countries, they have to marry. Yet, how Rory will react when Sebastian's secret is discovered is anyone's guess.
Her Royal Bodyguard is a fast paced story, filled with mystery and intrigue. Joyce Sullivan does a superior job at writing the turmoil that Rory is feeling as well as her need to do right by her brother. The longing between Sebastian and Rory will tug at readers' hearts. The lingering hurt Sebastian still feels towards his parents is tangible and makes his decision to cut himself off from deep emotions that much more believable yet painful for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I enjoyed a glimpse into fairytale world. Readers know long before Rory, what Sebastian is up to. I for one kept waiting for Rory to find out and see what the repercussions would be. Joyce Sullivan is a new to me author and she goes straight to the top of my 'to buy' list.Reviewed by: Jaymi
