This story is simply amazing. Johanna Lindsey outdid herself with "Once a Princess," a novel about a girl raised in a Mississippi tavern who is really a long lost Eastern European princess.
Tanya is a splendid heroine. She is feisty, spirited, and witty, AND she knows how to stand up for herself. Stefan is her perfect match: dark and brooding with "devil's eyes," the future king of Cardinia fights fire with fire, with some passionate results. The two are an excellent pair together and fun to watch.
The fact that Tanya absolutely refuses to believe she's a real princess leads her into quite a few adventures as Stefan and his dashing companions escort (er, kidnap) Tanya back to Europe. Stefan's three companions are great characters, but the best is Vasili, the nasty conceited peacock who is so gorgeous women fall all over him. Of course, he gets his own book in the sequel "You Belong to Me."
What else can I say about "Once a Princess" but read it, read it, read it. It is my second favorite JL, the first being "Savage Thunder."