Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
There isn’t much Marcus Ashton, third prince of Sovalon, likes more than a spirited night out, a beautiful woman on his arm (and in his bed), and a fine glass of whiskey. However, when his playboy exploits get to be too much for the royal family, he’s ordered to take a step back from his frivolous lifestyle and work on a serious project. But when he sees American Kyra Rogers, a consultant to the board he’s been forced to join for the women and children’s crisis center, he just can’t resist one last night of fun. While they both agree afterward that their one-night stand was a mistake, Marcus finds himself intrigued by Kyra, who is far different from the type of woman he’s normally attracted to. She’s as smart and serious as she is sexy. So when Kyra finds out she’s pregnant, Marcus wonders if this is a sign that it’s time to grow up and prove he’s worthy of being a father. Kyra has always regarded herself as a no-nonsense, self-made woman. She’s handled everything life has thrown at her, and she has no problem with the idea of raising her child alone. Though her and Marcus must work closely while they check out a possible site for the crisis center, Kyra is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional. She has no interest in co-parenting and is fully prepared to return to the United States once her job is done. There’s only one problem: as soon as Marcus learns about the baby, he starts trying to prove he’s perfect father and husband material. Kyra knows better—once a player, always a player. Besides, she doesn’t need a man in her life—even if this man is becoming more and more appealing every day. If only he wasn’t so charming. So darned sexy. So determined. If only she could figure out a way to deny what her heart is feeling… USA Today Bestseller Leslie North presents another oh-so-satisfying billionaire romance with an unforgettably hot-blooded bad boy royal and the unyielding woman who tames him...
The Playboy Prince’s Pregnant American
Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
There isn’t much Marcus Ashton, third prince of Sovalon, likes more than a spirited night out, a beautiful woman on his arm (and in his bed), and a fine glass of whiskey. However, when his playboy exploits get to be too much for the royal family, he’s ordered to take a step back from his frivolous lifestyle and work on a serious project. But when he sees American Kyra Rogers, a consultant to the board he’s been forced to join for the women and children’s crisis center, he just can’t resist one last night of fun. While they both agree afterward that their one-night stand was a mistake, Marcus finds himself intrigued by Kyra, who is far different from the type of woman he’s normally attracted to. She’s as smart and serious as she is sexy. So when Kyra finds out she’s pregnant, Marcus wonders if this is a sign that it’s time to grow up and prove he’s worthy of being a father. Kyra has always regarded herself as a no-nonsense, self-made woman. She’s handled everything life has thrown at her, and she has no problem with the idea of raising her child alone. Though her and Marcus must work closely while they check out a possible site for the crisis center, Kyra is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional. She has no interest in co-parenting and is fully prepared to return to the United States once her job is done. There’s only one problem: as soon as Marcus learns about the baby, he starts trying to prove he’s perfect father and husband material. Kyra knows better—once a player, always a player. Besides, she doesn’t need a man in her life—even if this man is becoming more and more appealing every day. If only he wasn’t so charming. So darned sexy. So determined. If only she could figure out a way to deny what her heart is feeling… USA Today Bestseller Leslie North presents another oh-so-satisfying billionaire romance with an unforgettably hot-blooded bad boy royal and the unyielding woman who tames him...
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
There isn’t much Marcus Ashton, third prince of Sovalon, likes more than a spirited night out, a beautiful woman on his arm (and in his bed), and a fine glass of whiskey. However, when his playboy exploits get to be too much for the royal family, he’s ordered to take a step back from his frivolous lifestyle and work on a serious project. But when he sees American Kyra Rogers, a consultant to the board he’s been forced to join for the women and children’s crisis center, he just can’t resist one last night of fun. While they both agree afterward that their one-night stand was a mistake, Marcus finds himself intrigued by Kyra, who is far different from the type of woman he’s normally attracted to. She’s as smart and serious as she is sexy. So when Kyra finds out she’s pregnant, Marcus wonders if this is a sign that it’s time to grow up and prove he’s worthy of being a father. Kyra has always regarded herself as a no-nonsense, self-made woman. She’s handled everything life has thrown at her, and she has no problem with the idea of raising her child alone. Though her and Marcus must work closely while they check out a possible site for the crisis center, Kyra is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional. She has no interest in co-parenting and is fully prepared to return to the United States once her job is done. There’s only one problem: as soon as Marcus learns about the baby, he starts trying to prove he’s perfect father and husband material. Kyra knows better—once a player, always a player. Besides, she doesn’t need a man in her life—even if this man is becoming more and more appealing every day. If only he wasn’t so charming. So darned sexy. So determined. If only she could figure out a way to deny what her heart is feeling… USA Today Bestseller Leslie North presents another oh-so-satisfying billionaire romance with an unforgettably hot-blooded bad boy royal and the unyielding woman who tames him...
The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover
Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Romance novelist Brandy Jackson is not a one-night-stand kind of girl, but with Maximillian Benton, she’s willing to make an exception. Big mistake. Turns out, the charming, handsome man with a sexy British accent is a jerk who’s only interested in laying claim to Landon Castle, the inheritance Brandy received when her beloved grandmother died. But apparently through a cheating attorney, the castle was purchased at auction by Max. When a judge orders them to both live at the castle until the legal matter is resolved, Brandy reluctantly agrees. As big as the castle is, it turns out to be too small for her and Max, who find themselves spending more and more time together. And even though Brandy knows Max isn’t her happily-ever-after, when the heat becomes too much she still gives in to her passion. Bigger mistake. Now she’s pregnant. Max’s motives for wanting the castle are simple: revenge. A billionaire software designer, Max was swindled by the man who owned the castle, and now it’s sweet payback owning the thing his nemesis loved most. So when his plans are sent awry by a pretty American, he has no choice but to dig in his heels and make sure the castle remains his. Max tries, rather desperately, to ignore his attraction to Brandy and the way his heart expands whenever they’re together. Despite his cynicism about love, he can’t help wondering if Brandy might be different from all the other women he’s met. But when he believes he’s been duped by her sweet smile and sexy body, Max all too readily decides ending what they have is for the best. Happily ever after just isn’t for him. But he can’t shake the feeling he may have lost the best thing in his life…
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Romance novelist Brandy Jackson is not a one-night-stand kind of girl, but with Maximillian Benton, she’s willing to make an exception. Big mistake. Turns out, the charming, handsome man with a sexy British accent is a jerk who’s only interested in laying claim to Landon Castle, the inheritance Brandy received when her beloved grandmother died. But apparently through a cheating attorney, the castle was purchased at auction by Max. When a judge orders them to both live at the castle until the legal matter is resolved, Brandy reluctantly agrees. As big as the castle is, it turns out to be too small for her and Max, who find themselves spending more and more time together. And even though Brandy knows Max isn’t her happily-ever-after, when the heat becomes too much she still gives in to her passion. Bigger mistake. Now she’s pregnant. Max’s motives for wanting the castle are simple: revenge. A billionaire software designer, Max was swindled by the man who owned the castle, and now it’s sweet payback owning the thing his nemesis loved most. So when his plans are sent awry by a pretty American, he has no choice but to dig in his heels and make sure the castle remains his. Max tries, rather desperately, to ignore his attraction to Brandy and the way his heart expands whenever they’re together. Despite his cynicism about love, he can’t help wondering if Brandy might be different from all the other women he’s met. But when he believes he’s been duped by her sweet smile and sexy body, Max all too readily decides ending what they have is for the best. Happily ever after just isn’t for him. But he can’t shake the feeling he may have lost the best thing in his life…
Sovalon Royals
Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 384
Book Description
Sexy billionaire princes. What’s not to like? But in this steamy Leslie North trilogy these three brothers are quite the challenge for the strong, intelligent women in their lives. The princes of Sovalon are all infuriatingly gorgeous. Charming. And so easy to surrender to. There’s Edward, who’s devoted to modernizing his country while trying desperately not to fall for the woman who wants to preserve its past. Marcus, the bad boy playboy, who finds himself inexplicably falling for a smart and serious woman—his complete opposite—and wanting to settle down. Finally there’s Aldon, who’s getting over a humiliating break-up and falls into the arms of a single mother who’s completely inappropriate for a prince but impossible to resist. Can these three independent women find a fairy tale ending in the Kingdom of Sovalon? Only if these gorgeous princes can step up and be the men they need. Opposites attract, secret romances, and unexpected babies give these couples real challenges in these exhilarating Leslie North romances!
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 384
Book Description
Sexy billionaire princes. What’s not to like? But in this steamy Leslie North trilogy these three brothers are quite the challenge for the strong, intelligent women in their lives. The princes of Sovalon are all infuriatingly gorgeous. Charming. And so easy to surrender to. There’s Edward, who’s devoted to modernizing his country while trying desperately not to fall for the woman who wants to preserve its past. Marcus, the bad boy playboy, who finds himself inexplicably falling for a smart and serious woman—his complete opposite—and wanting to settle down. Finally there’s Aldon, who’s getting over a humiliating break-up and falls into the arms of a single mother who’s completely inappropriate for a prince but impossible to resist. Can these three independent women find a fairy tale ending in the Kingdom of Sovalon? Only if these gorgeous princes can step up and be the men they need. Opposites attract, secret romances, and unexpected babies give these couples real challenges in these exhilarating Leslie North romances!
The Billionaire Prince’s Stubborn Assistant
Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 151
Book Description
To Clementine Wicke, there is no greater tragedy than tearing down a historic building. So when Prince Edward Ashton asks for her assistance restoring an old country castle, she’s beyond eager to help—even though Edward’s love of modern architecture and disdain for everything old is more than a little annoying. The upside is that this is the job of a lifetime, one that will really boost her family’s architectural salvage business. The downside? Working beside an infuriatingly attractive billionaire prince. Nothing can divert Clementine away from her goal to restore the castle. Not Prince Edward’s total hotness. Or his searing kisses. Or the fact she’s starting to fall for him. Big time. Though Clementine is gorgeous, she’s also the most stubborn, opinionated, frustrating woman Edward has ever had to deal with. Yet when she’s not at the castle working by his side, the place feels decidedly…empty. When their mutual attraction ultimately becomes impossible to ignore, the two succumb to their growing passion—and a new understanding of each other’s perspective. Edward finds himself doing something he’d never expected: learning to appreciate the past and the woman who inspires him. But when an unforeseen problem with the remodeling puts their new relationship to the test, both Clementine and Edward will have to discover just how much they mean to each other, or risk giving up the love they have forever…
Publisher: Relay Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 151
Book Description
To Clementine Wicke, there is no greater tragedy than tearing down a historic building. So when Prince Edward Ashton asks for her assistance restoring an old country castle, she’s beyond eager to help—even though Edward’s love of modern architecture and disdain for everything old is more than a little annoying. The upside is that this is the job of a lifetime, one that will really boost her family’s architectural salvage business. The downside? Working beside an infuriatingly attractive billionaire prince. Nothing can divert Clementine away from her goal to restore the castle. Not Prince Edward’s total hotness. Or his searing kisses. Or the fact she’s starting to fall for him. Big time. Though Clementine is gorgeous, she’s also the most stubborn, opinionated, frustrating woman Edward has ever had to deal with. Yet when she’s not at the castle working by his side, the place feels decidedly…empty. When their mutual attraction ultimately becomes impossible to ignore, the two succumb to their growing passion—and a new understanding of each other’s perspective. Edward finds himself doing something he’d never expected: learning to appreciate the past and the woman who inspires him. But when an unforeseen problem with the remodeling puts their new relationship to the test, both Clementine and Edward will have to discover just how much they mean to each other, or risk giving up the love they have forever…
The Billionaire Prince’s Single Mother
Author: Leslie North
Publisher: Leslie North
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 153
Book Description
After being ditched by his fiancée before they’d even reached the altar, Prince Aldon of Sovalon heads to his quiet, secluded Thistledown Castle to lick his wounds and try to find some peace. Instead, he finds his gorgeous groundskeeper, Piper McKenzie, and her five-year-old, not-so-quiet daughter, Willa. Though he thought he was longing for solitude, Aldon finds himself delightfully distracted by Piper again and again. Piper is not only beautiful, she’s loving, caring, and opening his eyes to things he’d never noticed before. Single mother Piper loves her idyllic country life with Willa, taking care of Thistledown Castle and working on the gardens. Aldon’s arrival turns everything topsy-turvy. It’s been a long time since a man has turned her head, and Aldon has hers spinning like a top. Despite her instant attraction, Piper reminds herself that Aldon is a prince and doesn’t seem to be a fan of kids. Definitely not the man for her. Princes don’t marry groundskeepers, they marry the type of woman he used to be engaged to, the same woman Aldon’s father is insisting he reconcile with. Though Piper might be falling in love, she’s smart enough to realize a fairy tale ending is not for her. Secretly, though, she’s hoping this Prince Charming proves her wrong…
Publisher: Leslie North
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 153
Book Description
After being ditched by his fiancée before they’d even reached the altar, Prince Aldon of Sovalon heads to his quiet, secluded Thistledown Castle to lick his wounds and try to find some peace. Instead, he finds his gorgeous groundskeeper, Piper McKenzie, and her five-year-old, not-so-quiet daughter, Willa. Though he thought he was longing for solitude, Aldon finds himself delightfully distracted by Piper again and again. Piper is not only beautiful, she’s loving, caring, and opening his eyes to things he’d never noticed before. Single mother Piper loves her idyllic country life with Willa, taking care of Thistledown Castle and working on the gardens. Aldon’s arrival turns everything topsy-turvy. It’s been a long time since a man has turned her head, and Aldon has hers spinning like a top. Despite her instant attraction, Piper reminds herself that Aldon is a prince and doesn’t seem to be a fan of kids. Definitely not the man for her. Princes don’t marry groundskeepers, they marry the type of woman he used to be engaged to, the same woman Aldon’s father is insisting he reconcile with. Though Piper might be falling in love, she’s smart enough to realize a fairy tale ending is not for her. Secretly, though, she’s hoping this Prince Charming proves her wrong…
The Playboy Prince's Baby
Author: Layla Valentine
Publisher: Layla Valentine
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
I may be a prince, but my life’s no fairy tale—I’ve been banned from over a dozen countries thanks to my wild lifestyle. Jet-setting the globe in search of trouble has done nothing to fill the hole in my heart… until I end up in Chicago, stumble into a dive bar, and meet a woman like no other. Erika is the beautiful bartender I never knew I was looking for. She takes me on an impromptu tour of her city, intent on making me fall in love with the place… but I can’t take my eyes off of the enchanting tour guide herself. At the very moment I realize that I don’t want our weekend fling to end, my past catches up with me in the worst possible way, and I’m arrested and deported back to my home country, thousands of miles away! They tell me I’m barred from entering the United States again, but when all that’s waiting for me at home is the looming threat of a marriage to a woman I’ve never met, a little thing like the law isn’t going to stop me from seeing my Erika. So I make the journey to see her in secret, risking it all. And what I find awaiting me blows me away. She’s pregnant. With our royal baby…
Publisher: Layla Valentine
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
I may be a prince, but my life’s no fairy tale—I’ve been banned from over a dozen countries thanks to my wild lifestyle. Jet-setting the globe in search of trouble has done nothing to fill the hole in my heart… until I end up in Chicago, stumble into a dive bar, and meet a woman like no other. Erika is the beautiful bartender I never knew I was looking for. She takes me on an impromptu tour of her city, intent on making me fall in love with the place… but I can’t take my eyes off of the enchanting tour guide herself. At the very moment I realize that I don’t want our weekend fling to end, my past catches up with me in the worst possible way, and I’m arrested and deported back to my home country, thousands of miles away! They tell me I’m barred from entering the United States again, but when all that’s waiting for me at home is the looming threat of a marriage to a woman I’ve never met, a little thing like the law isn’t going to stop me from seeing my Erika. So I make the journey to see her in secret, risking it all. And what I find awaiting me blows me away. She’s pregnant. With our royal baby…
Abby and the Playboy Prince
Author: Raye Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426821816
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 178
Book Description
Prince Mychale has come to his mountain château to get away from the world. Instead, the royal bachelor finds himself playing host to runaway Abby and her adorable baby! Mychale's duty-bound to marry someone of the royal family's choosing. Abby's far from suitable, but to his surprise she makes him feel happy for the first time in years. Abby Donair has taken her sister's baby to her heart with no hesitation, but can she expect a royal prince to do the same…?
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426821816
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 178
Book Description
Prince Mychale has come to his mountain château to get away from the world. Instead, the royal bachelor finds himself playing host to runaway Abby and her adorable baby! Mychale's duty-bound to marry someone of the royal family's choosing. Abby's far from suitable, but to his surprise she makes him feel happy for the first time in years. Abby Donair has taken her sister's baby to her heart with no hesitation, but can she expect a royal prince to do the same…?
The Playboy Prince
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101568216
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
“Known for her ability to deliver a rich and satisfying story” (Publishers Weekly), #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts brings to life the story of Cordina’s Prince Bennett… A dashing playboy, Prince Bennett can’t resist the challenge of an unattainable woman. Quiet, mysterious Lady Hannah Rothchild has a careful resolve, one that Bennett is determined to break through. Love had always been a game to Bennett, but with elusive Lady Hannah he suddenly finds his heart on the line, and discovers that he’s ready to play for keeps.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101568216
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
“Known for her ability to deliver a rich and satisfying story” (Publishers Weekly), #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts brings to life the story of Cordina’s Prince Bennett… A dashing playboy, Prince Bennett can’t resist the challenge of an unattainable woman. Quiet, mysterious Lady Hannah Rothchild has a careful resolve, one that Bennett is determined to break through. Love had always been a game to Bennett, but with elusive Lady Hannah he suddenly finds his heart on the line, and discovers that he’s ready to play for keeps.
Beauty and the Playboy Prince
Author: Justine Lewis
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 0369737822
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
Unexpected sparks fly when two best friends are stuck in a small Parisian apartment together… One of them is a royal—will duty get in their way? Read on in Justine Lewis’s romance inspired by "Beauty and the Beast"! SOMETHING THERE THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE? Simone’s quiet life in her Parisian bookshop is upended when best friend, Prince Edouard, arrives on her doorstep to hide from a royal scandal! Despite her embarrassing teenage crush on the playboy prince, she’s always seen the man beneath his facade. Trapped together until the storm blows over, their friendship unexpectedly gives way to indescribable passion! Simone knows it’s only temporary, but can’t help dreaming of a happy-ever-after… From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories. If the Fairy Tale Fits...
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 0369737822
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
Unexpected sparks fly when two best friends are stuck in a small Parisian apartment together… One of them is a royal—will duty get in their way? Read on in Justine Lewis’s romance inspired by "Beauty and the Beast"! SOMETHING THERE THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE? Simone’s quiet life in her Parisian bookshop is upended when best friend, Prince Edouard, arrives on her doorstep to hide from a royal scandal! Despite her embarrassing teenage crush on the playboy prince, she’s always seen the man beneath his facade. Trapped together until the storm blows over, their friendship unexpectedly gives way to indescribable passion! Simone knows it’s only temporary, but can’t help dreaming of a happy-ever-after… From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories. If the Fairy Tale Fits...
The Heir Apparent
Author: Jane Ridley
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812994752
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 611
Book Description
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND THE BOSTON GLOBE This richly entertaining biography chronicles the eventful life of Queen Victoria’s firstborn son, the quintessential black sheep of Buckingham Palace, who matured into as wise and effective a monarch as Britain has ever seen. Granted unprecedented access to the royal archives, noted scholar Jane Ridley draws on numerous primary sources to paint a vivid portrait of the man and the age to which he gave his name. Born Prince Albert Edward, and known to familiars as “Bertie,” the future King Edward VII had a well-earned reputation for debauchery. A notorious gambler, glutton, and womanizer, he preferred the company of wastrels and courtesans to the dreary life of the Victorian court. His own mother considered him a lazy halfwit, temperamentally unfit to succeed her. When he ascended to the throne in 1901, at age fifty-nine, expectations were low. Yet by the time he died nine years later, he had proven himself a deft diplomat, hardworking head of state, and the architect of Britain’s modern constitutional monarchy. Jane Ridley’s colorful biography rescues the man once derided as “Edward the Caresser” from the clutches of his historical detractors. Excerpts from letters and diaries shed new light on Bertie’s long power struggle with Queen Victoria, illuminating one of the most emotionally fraught mother-son relationships in history. Considerable attention is paid to King Edward’s campaign of personal diplomacy abroad and his valiant efforts to reform the political system at home. Separating truth from legend, Ridley also explores Bertie’s relationships with the women in his life. Their ranks comprised his wife, the stunning Danish princess Alexandra, along with some of the great beauties of the era: the actress Lillie Langtry, longtime “royal mistress” Alice Keppel (the great-grandmother of Camilla Parker Bowles), and Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston. Edward VII waited nearly six decades for his chance to rule, then did so with considerable panache and aplomb. A magnificent life of an unexpectedly impressive king, The Heir Apparent documents the remarkable transformation of a man—and a monarchy—at the dawn of a new century. Praise for The Heir Apparent “If [The Heir Apparent] isn’t the definitive life story of this fascinating figure of British history, then nothing ever will be.”—The Christian Science Monitor “The Heir Apparent is smart, it’s fascinating, it’s sometimes funny, it’s well-documented and it reads like a novel, with Bertie so vivid he nearly leaps from the page, cigars and all.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune “I closed The Heir Apparent with admiration and a kind of wry exhilaration.”—The Wall Street Journal “Ridley is a serious scholar and historian, who keeps Bertie’s flaws and virtues in a fine balance.”—The Boston Globe “Brilliantly entertaining . . . a landmark royal biography.”—The Sunday Telegraph “Superb.”—The New York Times Book Review
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812994752
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 611
Book Description
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND THE BOSTON GLOBE This richly entertaining biography chronicles the eventful life of Queen Victoria’s firstborn son, the quintessential black sheep of Buckingham Palace, who matured into as wise and effective a monarch as Britain has ever seen. Granted unprecedented access to the royal archives, noted scholar Jane Ridley draws on numerous primary sources to paint a vivid portrait of the man and the age to which he gave his name. Born Prince Albert Edward, and known to familiars as “Bertie,” the future King Edward VII had a well-earned reputation for debauchery. A notorious gambler, glutton, and womanizer, he preferred the company of wastrels and courtesans to the dreary life of the Victorian court. His own mother considered him a lazy halfwit, temperamentally unfit to succeed her. When he ascended to the throne in 1901, at age fifty-nine, expectations were low. Yet by the time he died nine years later, he had proven himself a deft diplomat, hardworking head of state, and the architect of Britain’s modern constitutional monarchy. Jane Ridley’s colorful biography rescues the man once derided as “Edward the Caresser” from the clutches of his historical detractors. Excerpts from letters and diaries shed new light on Bertie’s long power struggle with Queen Victoria, illuminating one of the most emotionally fraught mother-son relationships in history. Considerable attention is paid to King Edward’s campaign of personal diplomacy abroad and his valiant efforts to reform the political system at home. Separating truth from legend, Ridley also explores Bertie’s relationships with the women in his life. Their ranks comprised his wife, the stunning Danish princess Alexandra, along with some of the great beauties of the era: the actress Lillie Langtry, longtime “royal mistress” Alice Keppel (the great-grandmother of Camilla Parker Bowles), and Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston. Edward VII waited nearly six decades for his chance to rule, then did so with considerable panache and aplomb. A magnificent life of an unexpectedly impressive king, The Heir Apparent documents the remarkable transformation of a man—and a monarchy—at the dawn of a new century. Praise for The Heir Apparent “If [The Heir Apparent] isn’t the definitive life story of this fascinating figure of British history, then nothing ever will be.”—The Christian Science Monitor “The Heir Apparent is smart, it’s fascinating, it’s sometimes funny, it’s well-documented and it reads like a novel, with Bertie so vivid he nearly leaps from the page, cigars and all.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune “I closed The Heir Apparent with admiration and a kind of wry exhilaration.”—The Wall Street Journal “Ridley is a serious scholar and historian, who keeps Bertie’s flaws and virtues in a fine balance.”—The Boston Globe “Brilliantly entertaining . . . a landmark royal biography.”—The Sunday Telegraph “Superb.”—The New York Times Book Review