''Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than Eloisa James'' - Julia Quinn

Miss Kate Daltry doesn''t believe in fairy tales . . . or happily ever after.

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince, and decides he''s anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman - a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfil his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancée, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn''t love her, and knows, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after - unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

''Eloisa James is extraordinary'' - Lisa Kleypas

''Romance writing does not get much better than this'' - People