Ransom My Heart

by Meg Cabot and Mia Thermopolis

Book Overview

Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia and star of Meg Cabot's insanely popular #1 New York Times bestselling Princess Diaries books, has penned her first historical romance novel . . . with help from Meg Cabot

He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret. She's an adventurous beauty with more than a few secrets of her own. Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, returning home to England from the Crusades with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006170007X
• ISBN13: 9780061700071
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Delightful surprise

I bought this book hoping for more of Patricia Cabot style, less Meg. ( I am not a teenager so not into books for teens, about teens, and seemingly written by teens). On seeing the book cover plate I was appalled to see the connection to the Princess books. But every book deserves to be read, so I gave it a try. Delightful. Set in 1200’s, another surprise, but extremely witty, a la Patricia Cabot, engaging characters, good storyline, and entertaining narrative. Some undertones of Julie Garwood, but I’m good with that. Read it twice in 2 days. What a find!!

We can only hope that Mia's writing career will continue.

FOREVER PRINCESS, the final installment in Meg Cabot's popular young adult series, Princess Diaries, concluded with Princess Mia Thermopolis's senior project, an adult romance novel, being accepted by Avon for publication. The finished product is now a reality, and all proceeds from RANSOM MY HEART are being donated to Greenpeace. The book is set up as if written by Mia, with author information, a website [...] and interviews with the Princess of Genovia. There are no princesses in this sophisticated historical romance, though there is lots of humor, two believable and likable protagonists, and plenty of action of all kinds. In 1291, Finnula Crais is the youngest sibling of a large family of many sisters and one older brother. She is the town oddity in that she was widowed after only hours of marriage and loves to wear braies while hunting game for villagers. No one can handle a bow and arrow like she can. Finn adores her family. Her next oldest sister, Mellana, is pregnant by a traveling troubadour. Mel is known for the beer she brews, but she spent all her money on dresses and has nothing left for the supplies to make it. She needs the cash even more now that the singer has gone on to the next town and asks Finn's help with a scheme to make money, which is popular in their area --- kidnapping a man for ransom. Cabot's humor comes through on this as she mentions how Finn had to choose carefully who to kidnap, because several men had been abducted a few times and their families would not pay up anymore. Finn inadvertently takes Hugh Fitzstephen, the village lord who is back from the Crusades after many years. He is willing enough to be kidnapped by the beautiful Finn and plays along. But Hugh is returning to many surprises, including a treacherous uncle who has abused his power and taken money from his villagers until everyone is poor and hungry. Except for Finn's illegal hunting, many families would starve. Finn is confused about her feelings for Hugh, who is fun to talk to and stands up to her. Soon they realize that someone is trying to kill them, and they must keep each other safe as they draw closer. The mystery may not have many surprises, but the action moves along quickly. In FOREVER PRINCESS, Mia makes it clear that the book is about a girl's sexual awakening, so sensual scenes move this one into the adult realm, though they are a small part of this fun story. Romance fans will enjoy the research into the times and the feisty Finn. Meg Cabot wrote historical romances under the pen name "Patricia Cabot" years ago, and it is clear that she has a flair for the genre. We can only hope that Mia's writing career will continue. --- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Amazing

You can't go wrong with meg cabot. This is very much like the romance novels she wrote early in her career, but is also has someone mia's ages tendencies and thoughts.

Medieval romance that will make you smile at the characters, the genre and mostly at yourself

When Mellana needs money for her dowry so that she can marry Jack Mallory, a troubadour with a rebec but little money, she turns to her youngest sister with a plan. After all, Finnula is a skilled archer, a woman who wears leather braies and goes about the countryside tapping deer and foxes. With Finnula's huntress skills in mind, Mellana sways her sister to capture the richest man and ransom him to pay for her dowry. Finnula herself is not intent on marriage for herself, having been married for a day and then accused of her husband's murder but how can she not help her sister, especially knowing their brother Robert is likely to kill Jack if he discovers Mellana's condition before a marriage can be arranged. Hugo Fitzstephen, accompanied by his squire Peter, returns battle weary from the Crusades. With the strange death of his father, the Earl of Stephensgate, he can now enjoy his new title. He catches a glimpse of a modest naked bathing beauty but when he confronts her, she slaps him in the face. To his later surprise, he finds himself captured by this maiden! Despite Finnula's odd ways, Hugo can't help but feel a growing attraction for her. Can he tame the one woman not intent on marriage? As Finnula's ransom plan unravels, can their love survive? Can Hugo survive period? In her debut medieval romance, Mia Thermopolis, the Princess of Genovia, straight from the fame of THE PRINCESS DIARIES, has achieved her secret dream of becoming a published author. With the chronicle help of Meg Cabot, Princess Mia's romance is finally here for both PRINCESS DIARY and romance readers! RANSOM MY HEART has all the classic components historical romance lovers cherish --- and then some. Some characters and events are wonderfully reminiscent of details of Mia's own life while others add a new twist to Mia's imagination and romance itself. Romance readers will enjoy this tongue-in-cheek romance both for its close attention to the genre and period as well as for the humorous, exaggerated look into the genre's most classic scenes. Finnula is a delightful heroine from her obsession with her leather braies to her determination to preserve her independence, from her care for the peasants and her poaching skills to her ability to love her sister despite Mellana's quirks. Despite her oddities and miller father, she is a princess at heart, a woman whose innocence and natural empathy for others ennobles all around her. Her captive Hugo Fitzstephen is one of a kind ---- the one man who can inspire and challenge Finnula. He is the one man who sees the woman in her. As romance draws Finnula and Hugo closer and closer together, unexpected dangers pull them apart. Light fairy tale suspense abounds as plots against the two emerge and their pasts come back to haunt them. Only together can Finnula and Hugo save each other and the Stephansgate from the cast of evil villains and their devious plans. One new plot wrinkle after another leads the reader down an exciting path until t

Review

Mellana, Fiona's sister has spent her whole dowry on trinkets. So now it's up to Fiona to come up with lots of money quick. Fiona comes up with the perfect plan. She kidnaps a knight by the name of Sir Hugo Fitzstephen. Hugo is now Fiona's prisoner and the only way he will be free is if he pays the ransom. Fiona successfully kidnapped Hugo but unfortunately she has a problem on her hands. Hugo feels an instant attraction to Fiona and enjoys being her prisoner. He knows Fiona feels the same way about him. Hugo will get her to admit it one way or another. Ransom My Heart is the last book in author, Meg Cabot's famous Princess Diaries series. This book is Fiona and Hugo's story. Hugo and Fiona will win your hearts over with their story. Fiona may look like a lady but she is just as good with a sword as any man. Hugo is a dashing knight with a killer smile. When you think of a knight in shining armor, you need only imagine Hugo. If you are looking for the next best historical romance novel than look no farther then Ransom My Heart. This book features some wonderful characters, love, adventure, and even some comedy. I look forward to Meg Cabot's next release. I am sure it will be good.

A fun Medieval romance sure to be enjoyed by the author's older fans.

In England in the year 1291, Finulla Crass, the adventurous daughter of the village miller, is determined to help her older sister, Mellana, who is pregnant out of wedlock and needs a substantial dowry, as her child's father will otherwise be too poor to marry her. The sisters come up with a rather unconventional plan - Finnula will find a wealthy man, kidnap him, and hold him for ransom in order to obtain the money Mellana needs. Finnula decides her captive will be a young earl, Hugo Fitzstephan, who has returned from the Crusades with quite a large fortune. Hugo Fitzstephan is nothing like Finnula expected, however. The young knight is disturbingly handsome, and Finnula, who prefers hunting and riding to household tasks and is determined to never marry again after her first husband died before their wedding night, finds herself fighting her attraction for Hugo. Meanwhile, Hugo could escape at any time, but plays along as Finnula's "hostage" because he is curious about - and rather fascinated by - this unconventional young woman. Ransom My Heart is an enjoyable and lighthearted Medieval romance with an entertaining relationship between the main characters. It's not super heavy on historical detail, but I loved that it was different from most romances set in this time period, in that it had a unique storyline and featured a heroine who was a commoner rather than the typical sheltered young noblewoman. This book does have a bit more mature content than Meg Cabot's young adult books, however, so I wouldn't really recommend it to her younger fans. Historical romance readers as well as older teen and adult fans of the author are sure to enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it to them.