A Russian princess is the focus - Tatiana Ivanov, who has gained an MBA and come to work in her brother Alexander's Atlantic City casino. She doesn't know that an international jewel thief is stalking her family. TO CATCH A PRINCESS shows that Tatiana's family, who care for her, uphold noble traditions by making marriage arrangements and have pledged her to a Grand Duke's son whom she's not met. Stiffly certain that in America she can marry as she likes, Tatiana still doesn't want to hurt her parents.

The Jersey Shore is recovering from Hurricane Sandy but competition in a difficult market has been forcing some casinos to close. Alexander's wife Kathleen is about to have a baby, so they go to hospital where Tatiana meets again a detective friend of theirs, Peter Roman. Little does she know that he changed his name and dropped his titled identity when he came to America. In reality he's the Grand Duke's son, a prince. By the time he's obliged to come clean with the princess, Peter already knows he desires her. But Tatiana is tired of people around her being less than honest with her, and finds it hard to forgive him.

Monaco is one of the featured locations, and here at a charity event the jewel thief has laid his plans. He's stealing to order, and will be paid well enough to retire. All that worries the princess is sneaky photographers trying for candid shots of her with boyfriends, while Peter cleans up so well that he doesn't look like a cop. The suspense builds even as Tatiana admits her attraction to Peter, though she is still determined not to marry to order.

I can appreciate Tatiana's distaste for celebrity-stalkers but I failed to see why she expected a scandal if she was dating a detective. Given there were several issues of trust between the two I also thought they were having a lot of sex, as though the lady kept changing her mind. I liked Peter, who has a modest, hardworking demeanour, unlike a popular image of indolent minor royals; and he also has a healthy attitude towards Tatiana's womanly curves. Guided both by training and instinct, Peter really comes into his own when danger arises. Author Caridad Piñeiro has developed these characters carefully and also has a good sense of location. TO CATCH A PRINCESS is an exciting romantic suspense story for modern day that lets us look inside the glittering society.

Book Summary

Untold wealth, a loving family, a solid career in America: the only thing Princess Tatiana lacks is the one thing she really doesn't want—a husband. Unfortunately, her parents have just arranged her marriage to a royal from the old country. Are they kidding? It's the twenty-first century!

Police Detective Peter Roman is a royal living incognito ... and escaping a secret that has haunted his family for years. He's been quietly in love with his best friend Prince Alexander's sister for as long as he can remember. Little does she know that he is secretly the Grand Duke to whom she is unwillingly betrothed...

When a series of high-end jewelry heists threatens Tatiana's exclusive charity exhibition in glamorous Monaco, the two must trap the clever jewel thief before he strikes again. In a fight for their lives, Peter's secret identity is revealed. With danger and passion increasing to the breaking point, she must decide: catch a thief...or trust the heart of her true love.