4 to 4.5 stars!!!! Move over, chick-lit heroines like Princess Diaries, here's a deep, entertaining, and to a certain extent, believeable masterpiece that you all will always aspire to be. 
 I had 2 books available to me at the library and I was deciding between this book and the other. I'm glad I picked this one. I can't even remember the other book's name. 
 The plot here is pretty simple: a princess, the last in line to the royal throne, has been betrothed since infancy to the crown prince - whose father took the throne after the a blood feud wiped out all of Princess Tatiana's family. Forced into hiding, Tatiana flees to the land of the free, only to be brought back when the last of the family nemeses are obliterated. While hiding, Tatiana was supposed to received ample education, and a life fit for the Gods, but one mishap led to another and ... enter Tanya, the abused tavern wench. 
 Twenty years later, the Crown Prince reluctantly goes to retrieve her for his wedding ceremony, to fulfill his father's dying wish, and boy, is he in for a surprise. 
 I loved Tanya in this book! Despite her harsh upbringing, she's tough, rough, yet she doesn't pass off as one of those rustic whores that everyone assumes her to be. In her own way, she has her air of grace, dignity, but she still doesn't take shit from anyone. And do the men in this book give her a lot. 
 What I loved about her is that while she is resigned to her fate, she still makes the best out of the circumstances. And she isn't gullible and bimbotic to believe simply anyone that she is of royal blood. I mean, while pursuing the American Dream, what are the chances that one is actually a princess in hiding? Tough luck. Tanya has worked hard to get to where she is toady, and she isn't going to simply believe that she can simply throw all of it away. The risk is too great. But either way, for what she has put up with, she deserves all of her good luck. Royal blood and all. 
 Stefan (STEE-FARN? STEH-PHEN?), oh what should I do with you.... if someone could take this book as target practice, I can certainly see why. This guy is rough to the bones, and doesn't take shit from Tanya either. Hence the clash of wills, a conflict bigger than the blood feud itself. While it is sometimes understandable how he sometimes treat Tanya, I wish he had more communication with her, I mean, she may be a princes, but she sure ain't a mind reader. And the mistress thing! HELL NO!!! But personally, because Stefan isn't such a perfect guy, as they usually are in chick lit, I found it absolutely hilarious when Tanya manages to outsmart Stefan. No pity for Stefan, and Tanya didn't look like she was being annoyingly stubborn and hot-headed. Why, his flaws only served to highlight Tanya's perfection (feel free to disagree). 
 However, by the second half of the book, once all the action waned, my interest in the book just died as well. A pity really, since I was so dead set on awarding this book a solid 5 stars. Mostly there was just talking, misunderstandings, and making out. *Yawn* The romance wasn't great either (must be Stefan's fault), I would have simply preferred the 2 lovebirds to be at loggerheads. 
 On the whole, I was thoroughly entertained, even despite the second half of the book and the very abrupt ending. This author is definitely one I'd watch out for!