Abducted by a Prince

It’s a typical Cinderella story. Ellie Stratham, a young woman from a wealthy family, is forced to work as a governess for her uncle’s family to help pay off her dead father’s debts. Her cousin, Beatrice, is on the brink of her first season in London. After she completes her season, Ellie will have the opportunity to be liberated from her uncle’s household. However, Damien Burke, a nobleman, plans to kidnap Beatrice to force her brother to give back a key that was his from his days at school. Instead he kidnaps Ellie and spirits her away to his castle. In an epic case of Stockholm syndrome, Ellie falls in love with Damien, but the couple gets married out of convenience to save Ellie and Beatrice’s family from the scandal.

Usually romance novels are quick reads, but I found myself slogging through this one. The middle chapters, which depict Ellie’s stay at Damien’s castle, are slow-moving and mildly boring. The novel is largely character-based, thoroughly developing the personalities of both Ellie and Damien. Both the hero and heroine are likable, but Abducted by a Prince could use more action.