Suffers from some "clearly the start of a series " pacing issues, but really enjoyable story. I adore some "we're engaged but mutually pining" so much.
Would have liked slightly more build up in the very beginning, because that 5 year time skip was a little jarring. Shanna was very well established regardless, but her friendship with prince and bodyguard was a little abrupt. I think Derr managed to stick the landing tho.
Also although Derr is generally an off scene sex author, this one having on screen suited the heroine to the ground and didn't feel jammed in at all.