The good news is that Laura Lee Guhrke’s new book is a satisfying one. The… well, less good news is that the heroine is a 22 year-old whose main motivation is to choose her own husband, damn it!

Whether it was the Avon Powers That Be or Ms. Guhrke’s choice herself, I have to admit that I missed the author’s particular brand of accomplished heroines the like of whom have featured in her last few books. But, alas, a husband-hunter is what we have here – albeit a charming one – and, as result, She’s No Princess, while a fun read that’s decidedly above the average, doesn’t amount to more than that.

Though Lucia is the daughter of a prince, she’s actually his illegitimate daughter by a courtesan who was once his lover. Raised in a series of convents and schools and occasionally by her own mother, Lucia is a rebellious sort who leads her far more proper sister into an escapade as the book opens. Unfortunately for Lucia, her actions result in a far more drastic response than she anticipated: British diplomat Sir Ian Moore is pulled away from far more serious matters and given the task of finding Lucia a husband.

Ian, brother of Dylan Moore of the author’s His Every Kiss, is understandably bitter about his reassignment, but nonetheless determined to fulfill his task to the best of his ability. When he presents himself at the London home of Lucia’s mother with whom the young woman is currently residing and announces his intentions, sparks fly from the get-go. Deeply resentful of her neglectful father, Lucia wants to choose her own husband and – I’ll give you three guesses as to her main criteria – wishes to marry for love.

Soon enough Lucia is ensconced in the London home of Dylan Moore and his wife Grace, where, to Lucia’s surprise, Ian also resides. Thus with the London season in full bloom, a battle of wills ensues with Ian ever more determined to find the right candidate for Lucia’s husband and the young woman just as determined to thwart him.

While I found Lucia to be lacking in the qualities I’ve come to admire in Ms. Guhrke’s heroines, she is nevertheless a charming and witty young woman whose verbal duels with Ian make the book. Ian, on the other hand, is a fully fleshed-out Guhrke hero, with all the emotional complexities you could wish for. He’s also, to put it bluntly, w-a-a-a-y more interesting than Lucia.

If my series detector is working properly, Lucia’s sister will feature in the next book and – sad to say – this one is a full-out Princess with even less real life experience than Lucia. Sir Ian, it seems, negotiated her arranged marriage and something tells me that engagement just might not be on track.

So, ultimately, even if the heroine leaves something to be desired, the witty repartee between Lucia and Ian make She’s No Princess a good read – most especially for those younger readers out there. If you like your heroines uncomplicated and inexperienced, then She’s No Princess will likely fit the bill. As for me, after her appearance in this book, I think I’ll reread Guilty Pleasures, the story of the accomplished young archaeologist and the Duke who grew to love her. Now that is a heroine!