The Italian's Virgin Princess

"All Princess Joelle wants is one year, 12 months away from the fish bowl of royal life. She hopes this time away will help her to grieve the death of her grandmother and prepare for her arranged marriage to an unknown entity, Prince Luigi Borgarde, a man who hasn't even bothered to meet her! Her time is almost up, and on the eve of her return trip to Melio, Joelle meets a sexy, handsome stranger who spins her senses into overdrive. The princess decides to make a reckless decision -- she'll give her virginity to this man she's met only hours ago, yet who's the first to make her feel desire and passion. This will be her one last act of defiance before duty and a loveless marriage calls. But the man who's claimed her body, Leonardo Marciano Fortino, has other ideas. Back in Melio, much to Joelle's horror, she encounters her arrogant stranger, and the battle begins."

--From the review by The Best Reviews.

Harlequin
February 2005 in Large Print (at right, in pink) - isbn: 0263185168

November 2004 in North America - isbn: 0373124309

September 2004 in the UK - isbn: 0263837688

» The Italian's Virgin Princess is a superb conclusion to the Princess Brides trilogy. Fans of alpha heroes will adore Leo and will want to slap him a time or two as he displays such overly alpha behavior as spanking Joelle, locking her in her room, and putting a global tacking device on her wrist, but then they'll want to be the first in line to comfort him when the reasons for such behavior are revealed. BTW, Leo redeems himself wonderfully and becomes one of Ms. Porter's finest and complex heroes. The Italian's Virgin Princess stands alone, but you'll definitely want to read the two earlier entries in trilogy. When you want a hot, emotionally intense reading experience, you'll never go wrong with a Jane Porter

Presents. Highly recommended! 4 1/2 stars.

~Debora Hosey reviewing The Italian's Virgin Princess for The Romance Readers Connection.
(posted November 2, 2004)

» "A young Princess looking for freedom, a handsome Italian Prince searching for his betrothed, a sexual chemistry that can't be denied and secrets a plenty -- all of this is found in The Italian's Virgin Princess...Ms. Porter shows that even though the physical chemistry is there, it's not always smooth sailing to find the trust and love that Leo and Joelle are searching for…

The Italian's Virgin Princess, book three of The Princess Brides Trilogy can stand-alone as the author shares a bit of back-history as well that readers would have read in book one and two. But this beautifully created trilogy is the most amazing reading if enjoyed all together. Travel from New Orleans to the beauty of the islands in Europe as this Prince and Princess try to find their own happily ever after as only Jane Porter can write it…with beauty, eloquence and heart-warming romance.

~ Tracey West, reviewing The Italian's Virgin Princesss for The Road to Romance.
(posted October 23, 2004)

» "This third story of the Ducasse princesses was a pleasure to read. Ms. Porter is an excellent storyteller, who definitely leaves the reader demanding, "More, please!"

~The Best Reviews, reviewing The Italian's Virgin Princess
(posted October 15, 2004)

» 4 1/2 stars

"A wonderful Modern Romance from Jane Porter that features everything you want from this line: a sexy hero, an independent heroine and a dose of sexual chemistry all with a backdrop of New Orleans and two beautiful European islands.

"This is very much a fairytale story with a Prince, a Princess, a magical kingdom and a love story. However, Ms. Porter has portrayed the emotions and suffering of both characters to prove that true love never does run smooth. I especially enjoyed the glimpses of the hero's past and reading about how he overcame it. The Italian's Virgin Princess by Jane Porter is a great stand-alone read but I would thoroughly recommend the whole trilogy to all!"

~Katie Stalham, reviewing The Italian 's Virgin Princess for CataRomance
(posted September 1, 2004)
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In the 1950's, New Orleans was the major port of entry for bananas shipped from Central and South America. Owen Edward Brennan challenged his talented chef, Paul Blange, to include bananas in a new culinary creation -- Owen's way of promoting the imported fruit. Simultaneously, Holiday Magazine had asked Owen to provide a new recipe to appear in a feature article on Brennan's.

In 1951, Chef Paul created Bananas Foster. The scrumptious dessert was named for Richard Foster, who, as chairman, served with Owen on the New Orleans Crime Commission, a civic effort to clean up the French Quarter. Richard Foster, owner of the Foster Awning Company, was a frequent customer of Brennan's and a very good friend of Owen.

Little did anyone realize that Bananas Foster would become an international favourite and the most requested item on the resturant's menu. Thirty-five thousand pounds of bananas are flamed each year at Brennan's in the preparation of it's world-famous dessert.

Bananas Foster Recipe - Serves 4

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup white rum
4 bananas, cut in half, lenghwise, then halved. 1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup banana liqueur
4 scoops vanilla ice cream.

Combaine the butter, sugar and cinnamon in a flambe pan or skillet. Place the pan over low heat either on an alcohol burner or on top of the stove, and cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the banana liqueur, then place the bananas in the pan. When the banana sections soften and begin to brown, carefully add the rum. Continue to cook the sauce until the run is hot, then tip the pan slightly to ignite the rum. When the flames subside, lift the bananas ou tof the pan and place four pieces over each portion of ice cream. Generously spoon warm sauce over the top of the ice cream and serve immediately.

(Shared by permission from Brennan's)

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»The Italian's Virgin Princess skyrockets up the Waldenbooks bestseller list for Series Romance, shooting to #2 for Week Ending October 30. Wow!(posted November 2, 2004) » The Italian's Virgin Princess hits the Waldenbooks bestseller list for Series Romance for Week Ending October 23, 2004. This is extra special because the book only had a few days availabilty during that week to hit. Wow! (posted October 25, 2004) » In the UK, for the week ending September 4th. The Italian's Virgin Princess came in at #4 on the BookTrack's Heatseeker list. (posted September 15, 2004) » The Italian's Virgin Princess appears at #15 on Amazon.co.uk Hot 25 Series & Publishers. (posted September 15, 2004) top

Portuguese Edition Italian Edition Japanese Edition Spanish Edition Greek Edition (Jane's three princess books, The Sultan's Bought Bride, The Greek's Royal Mistress, The Italian's Virgin Princess make up this Greek anthology)

North American Edition

Joelle's Tiara

The Princess Brides Trilogy
(Can be read in any order)

Book 1 : The Sultan's Bought Bride
Book 2 : The Greek's Royal Mistress
Book 3: The Italian's Virgin Princess

Chapter One

New Orleans

"A drink, Miss d'Ville?"

The question, asked by a distinctly male voice, a very deep, very quiet voice, sent a ripple of unease through Joelle. Voices like that only came from years of power.

Positions of authority, the kind of authority she'd left behind in Europe. Joelle turned reluctantly, more than reluctantly, knowing by his voice that it was him.

Him.

The one who'd sat in the front row tonight, just left of stage center.

The one who'd distracted her all night with his intense gaze, a gaze that never seemed to leave her.

Twice she'd lost her place in the middle of a song. Twice she'd stood there on stage in the purple and blue gel lights utterly blank-losing all thought, all memory, all words. She'd never forgotten lyrics like that. She'd never stared out at a dark sea of audience and wondered what she was doing with a microphone before.

But it hadn't been an entirely dark sea. She'd seen one face, one man the entire time, and his intense focus had trapped her, called her, just as he did now.

Up close, barely a foot away, he made her feel bare, exposed. She'd never minded dressing sexy on stage but somehow with his dark gaze scrutinizing her, a slow inspection from head to toe, she knew he disapproved.

His censure was nearly as heavy as her guitar case hanging from her shoulder.

"A drink?" she repeated, trying to force her brain to function despite the rather mad thought that if she ever belonged to a man, it wouldn't be to someone like this, someone so overwhelmingly male, so fiercely controlled.

She wanted ease. Charm. She wanted comfortable.

He wasn't comfortable.

"As in a beverage," he answered almost gently, smiling a little and yet the smile remained at his lips, failed to warm his eyes. Instead his dark eyes burned, his dark eyes owned her, possessed her, a hard sexual possession that had nothing to do with civilized behavior and everything to do with bodies. Skin.

Her skin.

She felt a cool silvery shiver shoot down her spine, and her body reacted-hair at her nape lifting, goose bumps prickling her arms, even her breasts firmed, nipples peaking.

Joelle pressed her guitar case closer to her hip, making it the latest in body armor. "I understand the concept. We have beverages in America, too," she said, letting him know she understood he was foreign, and yet he couldn't intimidate her.

But she was wary. Not because he posed a physical threat, but because he was different, and she'd always been intrigued by that which was unusual. Intriguing. And he was certainly intriguing.

Tall, darkly handsome and probably very Italian. His accent sounded Italian.

"Then you'll join me," he said, indicating his table.

His stunning confidence dazzled her. "I…I've…plans." Laundry. And packing. She needed to get ready to return home.

"Change them."

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