It’s all about the bling bling
“Enticing the Prince” by Patricia Grasso
“Enticing the Prince” by Patricia Grasso is all about the bling, and less about the Romance. At least, that’s what I got out of it. My mind was so filled; nay, consumed by the images of all the fantastical jewelry Katerina creates in the book, that there wasn’t much space to remember (and therefore obsess) about Prince Drako Kazanov. Which is a crying shame I guess cos he’s a stinkin’ rich Prince whose nickname is the Dragon. Then again, said Prince had also commissioned from Katerina a giant gold and diamond dragon pendant (complete with ruby flame) which, kept looking ridiculous in my mind’s eye on a dark haired blue eyed aristocrat. Like seriously. Where would you wear that to your Highness? Are you using it as a mirror to reflect your handsome visage? To look up the skirts of women? Is it to attract the honeys? Are you intending to break out in lyrical rap at some point? Are you going to start a dance crew by the name of “Dragon and the D-Boys?”Do you think it brings out the colour of your eyes? Please advise.
Unbeknownst to the Prince (until about half way through the book (though if he were any smarter he would have figured it out sooner)), Contessa de Salerno (aka Katerina) is not really a Countess but actually really in fact, Katerina Pavlova. But sadly, with no relations to any form of meringue. You see, Katerina is on a mission to find the Russian bastard who had shot her brother in the back and abandoned her sister to die. Oh yeah and somewhere along the way her dad died too. Anyway, in an example of “Taking Things Out Of Context”, Katerina’s sister died with Drako’s name on her lips and thus, Katerina immediately assumes Drako to be the villain in the story, and is therefore determined to kill him. Where in fact, Drako had earlier told Kat’s sister that if she was ever in any kind of trouble, to come look for him.
Katerina meets the Prince and all goes as plan (she entices him with her cavernous bosom and wit). The Prince is enthralled, intrigued and challenged by Katerina (i.e. she owns his “babushka”; he just doesn’t know it yet) and sets out to woo her while discovering her secrets. If you’re wondering how/why the Prince had an inkling so early on that Katerina was not all whom she seems, it is because Katerina has very cleverly decided to not reveal her maiden name (as opposed to just making one up) when asked, thereby rousing intense suspicion from every casual enquirer. Further, Katerina’s ruse as a wealthy widow must surely be the lamest cover ever (though that would explain the existence of a child (said child being her late sister’s babe)) since neither Katerina nor her brother Hector bothered to get their story straight as to how the Count came to his untimely end. International man and woman of mystery they are surely not. Plus, there’s the whole thing about how Katerina’s “daughter” goes around calling her “Mummy Zia” - “Zia” meaning ”aunt” in Italian. Brilliant. Despite knowing all of this, Drako still doesn’t figure it out until a letter from the Queen of Naples confirms that there is no such Countess. And even then the man takes a minute! Sheesh. I wonder if this is the result of prolonged exposure to vodka. *shudder*
Drako confronts Katerina about midway through the book - seeing it as perfect timing since a) she’s about to steal the Sancy (Drako’s 55 carat diamond which I assume is as big as my head) to teach him a lesson about the perils of lax security; b) he realises that he is in love with her; c) he wants to bed her; d) he wants to marry her; and e) she is in her brother’s old childhood breeches and has therefore torn a whole in the ass. She reacts to his knowledge of her true identity with grace and then asks him point blank if he had anything to do with her sister’s death. “No” he says. “Okay!” she replies. And then he leads her upstairs and takes off her clothes. Boy, that was easy. After a vigorous romp, Drako proposes marriage which Katerina accepts, on condition he reveals the identity of her family’s killer. He refuses her request, preferring that he did not then have to save her from the gallows and the two are at an impasse. Drako gets the upper hand soon thereafter, when he decides that he would dedicate his life’s purpose to getting Kat pregnant so as to ensure that she’ll be more than eager to marry him to save her child from bastardy. As the dragon prince shoots more than fire from his royal tail, Kat becomes pregnant but still persists in determining the killer of her family. Long story short, Drako relents and Kat confronts the killer in a dramatic ballroom sequence.
Throughout all of the above, Katerina makes fantastical jewelry for the ladies of the ton, earning ridiculous amounts of money to keep her and her family living lavishly. Seriously, Katerina uses expensive baubles like they are going out of style. I am surprised that the women whom she makes these pieces for are able to lift their fingers, arms, heads, etc. They must have spent a fortune in doctor’s bills thereafter! Plus, who wants to wear such eye catching head turning bling anyway? The subtle approach to life is always the best don’t you agree? Classless. Why yes, these grapes are sour.
carolyn jean said,
January 29, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
Okay, hilarious review. And what is this pendant this guy commissioned? It sounds more like a sculpture!
’she asks him point blank if he had anything to do with her sister’s death. “No” he says. “Okay!” she replies. And then he leads her upstairs and takes off her clothes. Boy, that was easy.’
Snort. WHat?
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
January 29, 2009 @ 3:39 pm
Thanks carolyn jean! I have no idea what’s up with the pendant that Drako wanted commissioned. Again I can only assume he is looking for some sort of street cred among G-Unit.
Well to be fair, perhaps Katerina saw something in his eyes (about his involvement with his sister’s death) before proceeding to sleep with him. It just felt..a bit anticlimatic because so much of the book (and her life) was focused on how to get close enough to Drako to avenge her sister. *shrug* To each their own. She must have really wanted to get out of them pants.
Lady L said,
January 30, 2009 @ 10:08 am
This one sounds interesting I’ll read it probably.
Dulce said,
January 31, 2009 @ 7:41 am
This one is in my TBR pile. Now I am going to begin reading SEP’s What I Did For Love. I am excited to read her latest.
Kwana said,
February 2, 2009 @ 3:24 am
Love your review! I have a feeling more than the book.
Kate Pearce said,
February 3, 2009 @ 1:47 am
Can you really have a cavernous bosom?
Just wondering…
LOL
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
February 3, 2009 @ 8:37 am
Lady L, let me know what you think of the book! I thought it was alright *shrugs shoulders*. I’m not a big fan of romances involving russian princes. I’m not sure why *looks at Lisa Kleypas* (http://www.ripmybodice.com/2007/06/21/not-enough-vodka/)
Dulce - Let us know how that one is! Nothing beats her football series (can you say hubba hubba?!) and I miss it so.
Thanks Kwana! Welcome to this here our little website of love!
Kate, you totally can. *points to Mimi* Cos sometimes, when she bends over to pick up her adorable pooch Romeo and flashes all and sundry, one sees never-ending darkness.
Dulce said,
February 4, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Sheridan, SEP’s latest is definitely not up to par with her football books. I am halfway through it and the hero is a major jerk with hardly any redeeming qualities. He is a total hottie: 6′2, blond, lavender eyes and with an athletic build but the way he interacts with the heroine, ugh!!