Librarian Linda is looking for help with a book that a patron is seeking:
[O]ur library’s Book Hunters service had a recent “help me find a specific book” question that we are having trouble resolving. You know how that drives librarians crazy! We thought your readers might remember the scene our customer is referring to, because we’re stumped.
She read a book about 4 years ago that she thinks is a regency romance, although it could be historical. It is set in England. We have tried every source we can think of (Novelist, Google Books, Amazon, Stump the Bookseller, Google Search, etc.). Her description:
“The male main character is a lord but was (i believe) a soldier because he was a second son. He worked with horses and can perform tricks on horseback such as riding backwards, standing while riding. The female main character is a companion or related to the lady he is supposed to be courting.
A part of the book I remember is the male character is riding in a show doing horse tricks. He has the female character help by acting the “angry wife” in the show. He is supposed to slice an apple from her mouth or hand, instead he grabs her and kisses her. This part is towards the middle/end of book.”
Anyone remember a kissing instead of slicing the apple scene? And is “slicing the apple” a splendid euphemism, or is that just me?
oh man. I’ve read this. ARG. Maybe a JoBev Company of Rogues? No, that doesn’t work.
In the Prince’s Bed by Sabrina Jeffries!
could be! I was looking at Laurens and a couple other authors, but Jeffries sounds about right.
The first one that I thought of is Joan Wolf’s “White Horses”—but the plot points don’t fit At All!
It’s 1813, and the Marquess of Wellington is about to mount another campaign to depose Napoleon. Colonel Leo Standish, severely wounded but now ready to return to his regiment, has been assigned instead to escort captivating young Gabrielle Rochon and her traveling Cirque Equestre from Holland, throughout the length of France, to Wellington in Portugal. The object of his mission: British troops have not been paid for months, and local shopkeepers and bankers will only accept gold coin. Gabrielle has agreed to convey the gold for the British, as her late father did, but she is an unknown quantity and bears watching. Posing as her husband, Leo becomes embroiled in circus life, and this unlikely couple—she is a trained equestrienne with a stable of Lipizzaners, and he is an earl—find mutual respect as well as attraction leading to love. Originally published 2004.
Sorry I can’t be of further help ( if I was of any help at all!)
If you search google books with this: alec from in the prince’s bed trick horse riding, you can read the scene starting on page 161 of the sample.
And I actually read this one too, seconding Sabrina Jeffries
Yes this is In the Prince’s Bed by Sabrina Jeffries. It’s the first in a Royal Brotherhood trilogy.
Wow, while I think I have read the Sabrina Jeffries one, there is a contemporary out there with a very similar scene. The hero is the last Romanov(the hemophiliac prince managed to survive and he is the grandson). If only I could remember what it was called…
The contemporary you’re talking about is Kiss an Angel, I think. All remember is the Russian prince riding around a circus tent and the magical talking tiger.
Oooh! I know this one! It’s definitely Sabrina Jeffries. I know I’m not the first, but I’m SO PROUD of myself right now. =)
And Sabrina Jeffries’ Royal Brotherhood trilogy goes on the “reread soonest” list… 🙂 Not that I’m complaining.
I don’t remember the title, but it is a Susan Elizabeth Phillips…I think it was offered as an amazon cheap read late last summer…
Yup. The contemporary is Kiss An Angel by SEP. There’s whip tricks and a dash of magic that’s never touched on more (which drove me BONKERS).
Thanks to everyone. Your power is indeed awesome!
I’m always amazed when i know one, even if it’s not the original request. The contemp is Kiss an angel. Probably my least fav SEP but i remember the circus scenes
That was the one I thought of too! Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
I have no idea what the book is…but I’m loving the euphemism. Just wanted to second that 😉 Gotta support my fellow Librarians!
As identified above, Kiss an Angel by SEP and no,not her best but more of a tearjerker in places.
I think you are thinking of a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book called Kiss an Angel but that one is set in a circus setting.