Protected by the Prince by Annie West

USA Today best selling author Annie West won the RuBY for best short, sexy contemporary romance for Damaso Claims His Heir at this past weekend's 2015 Romance Writers of Australia awards evening - which seems to me an excellent reason to review another of her novels, the deliciously naughty and extremely nice Protected by the Prince.Normally when I read a book involving royalty, I travel back in time at least 200 years so I was intrigued to find out how I would feel about a modern-day Prince Charming. Would the spell be as real in a world I know the ugly truth about? Of course, as I should have known, whether I love or hate a character has everything to do with the skill of the writer, and Annie did not let me down.Prince Alaric is as remote as the tiny mountain kingdom he rules, bound by a strict sense of honour and a deep cynicism based on past experiences. He is not averse to the charms of women, but he no longer lets one anywhere close to his heart.Tamsin Connors is not the least bit interested in Alaric's position or his fortune; its his archives she wants to explore so that she can restore her tarnished name in her discipline. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret in those same archives, she is suddenly the subject of his full attention.Alaric discovers to his surprise that looks can be deceiving. He can feel powerfully attracted to a bespectacled women in dowdish manly clothes (although he itches to dress her in more flattering clothes). In turn, Tamsin discovers that there is more to the Prince than meets - or bedazzles - the eye.Annie West draws a wonderful portrait of two wounded but independent souls getting to know each other and discovering that passion - and love - can exist and flourish with the person you were least likely to pick as compatible.Annie has an honours degree in Classics and lives near Lake Macquarie north of Sydney with her own tall, dark and handsome hero. She lives out her fantasies about exotic locations and brooding foreign lovers through her books.  Protected by the Prince is a sexy contemporary romance.