this was pure romance - and you truly felt the romance. Lisavitta was a naive young lady when she accidently meets Prince Stefan in the middle of a war. Stefan is on a month long furlough expecting to go back to his mountain retreat and spend days with his Gypsy lover. He is almost irritated when he comes upon and rescues Lisavitta, thinking she is annoying, educated and does not appear to be a looker. Well, is he wrong, back at his palace he finds she cleans up into a diamond of the first water and he immediately seduces her, well she was very willing so not sure who seduces who. Yes, these two start off in lust, but through the next month and fiances and gypsy lovers they spend much romantic quality time together at Stefan's mountain retreat. Lise is fighting her feelings of love since she knows Stefan is a rake and never ever falls in love - in fact since love destroyed his own personal family he fights against any feelings of love. They seperate and he goes to the battle of Kars which is to be the battle to end the war. Lise goes off to St. Petersberg and is presented to court and is a total success. She becomes the darling of court. Word of her success reaches Stefan waiting for the battle to begin. He is outraged and sets on a pace to claim Lise for himself in some manner - he takes off in a rage to St. Petersberg. This part of the book, absolutely is beautifully written, it is so heartfelt, so packed with emotion
This is one of her older romances, but it is still a great book. Set back in Imperial Russia, an outspoken beauty refuses to play by the rules and a prince who is about to lose his heart to her.
Love it!
fair condition: Story of Brilliant scholar Lisaveta lazaroff, an independent woman and Prince Stefan Bariatinsky who saves her life.
