H.R.H.

Over the years I have read around twenty of Danielle Steel's novels. A small proportion in fact considering she has written over 70! Not an author that I am a huge fan of, but having said that her books are always a satisfying quick and easy read. Often rather slushy though in a happy ever after way.
H.R.H is no exception. The heroine is Princess Christianna of Liechtenstein who finds that the role in life she was born to an intolerable burden. Honor, duty sacrifice and courage mean she battles to come to terms with the conflicts her life imposes on her.
She knows that one day she will have no choice but to take on the responsibilities expected of her. So determined to have some freedom before she does so, persuades her father to let her volunteer for the Red Cross in East Africa. From her protected life in a palace she travels to Eritrea and experiences the chaos of a country suffering from the devastations of terrorism and disease and on the brink of war with Ethiopia. Here as part of a team in an international relief camp, she discovers freedom from her royal duties and a passion for the work. This was only ever going to be a temporary respite though and as violence approaches she has to once again return to her real world torn between duty and love.

The queen of fairytales! (12/13 people found this helpful)

Once upon a time there was a young princess in a small European country. Princess Christianna was beautiful, kind and intelligent, the perfect escort for her widowed father, Prince Hans Josef, at his numerous official functions. In spite of her youth, Princess Christianna as the First Lady of her country, did her duty with style, warmth and elegance. Dressed exquisitely, she opened hospitals and libraries. Visited old peoples' homes. She cut ribbons, held speeches and received bouquets of flowers.

But, in truth, the Princess loved far more to play in the mud with her dog Charles, wearing jeans and no makeup. She longed to do something more worthwile than parading in couture clothes and looking lovely.

Christianna had a gift. A gift which led her to join The International Red Cross as a voluntary aid and choose an entirely different path in life than the one she had been born to.

I leave the rest to the reader. And it is an interesting read. Danielle Steel knows her facts both politically and socially. The International Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. She takes us far away from the splendeour of the royal castle in Vaduz and glamourous couture ball gowns.

Christianna does not look for love. Neither is there a prince travelling with a glass shoe searching for the one it will fit. But as in all fairytales there is love. And as in all fairytales involving a royal princess, there are obstacles.

Is it unfair to new readers to reveal that they lived happily ever after?
I don't think so. At least not to faithful Danielle Steel fans. All fairytales have a happy ending. This one is no exception.

Danielle Steel has created a whole new literary genre with her authorship - well written, intelligent fairytales for grownups. As such she is a master. As such she deserves her five stars.

A critic once called Danielle Steel a literary phenomenon. And she certainly is.

Danielle Steel

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Classic Danielle Steel (0/0 people found this helpful)

The queen of fairytales! (12/13 people found this helpful)

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