In 1820 Princess Ariadne of a lost European principality has been in London for six seasons and is still unwed. She thinks it might be time to take a lover. Her friend Emma is shocked - how can she think of a lover when she's not even married? But Ariadne is bored, and she'll soon be twenty- five, old enough to inherit her wealth. She has decided to be her own woman, however unfashionable.

THE TROUBLE WITH PRINCESSES is that so few men are eligible to marry them, and so many of those men are already relatives. Emma's brother Rupert for instance is a prince, and they've known each other for years, and meet each other in London where Rupert has to listen to the Belgian Ambassador's complaints about the state of the roads since Napoleon's turmoil. While Rupert is being encouraged to marry responsibly, Ariadne would not be considered suitable as she has no country - 'an empty legacy'. Finding Ariadne kissing a gentleman - as an experiment - however makes Rupert consider her in a new light.

"Honestly, he's worse than a Spanish duenna!" thinks the young lady as Rupert prowls around anywhere she might be meeting men, whether out riding or at a party. She knows he's determined to protect her reputation but surely by the advanced age of twenty-four she should be able to run her own life. Ariadne also attends quiet meetings to hear a speaker on the prospects for economic and social advancement of women. Rupert even shows up there, though he's unimpressed. Finally the prince makes a radical proposal to Ariadne, which he says will serve both their interests. She doesn't know what to say, the more so when she receives a genuine proposal of marriage....

This is a lively and witty tale at times, with additions like Rupert's teaching Ariadne to drive a carriage, but the focus is on a growing relationship which includes adult scenes, before an abduction throws everything into turmoil. Duty and reputation meant so much in those times. I thought that the same bedroom scene taking a couple of chapters did seem overdone, and I would have liked a sub-plot as the story occasionally felt repetitive.

However Tracy Warren has concentrated on character exploration and THE TROUBLE WITH PRINCESSES will please many readers who want a light romantic read.