The Marcelli Princess (Marcelli Sisters)

Book Description

A smart, independent woman with a gorgeous four-year-old son, Mia Marcelli lost her one true love. Four years ago, while working undercover for the CIA, she watched Diego, the father of her unborn child, perish before her very eyes -- crumbling the world around her. But one morning she awakens to find Diego lying next to her, alive and well with an unbelievable confession: he is really Rafael, Prince of Calandria, and he had been working covertly on the same mission when they met -- his death had been staged. Utterly stunned, Mia is wary and delighted -- she may have suffered a broken heart, but her breathtakingly handsome lover is back to reignite the passion that existed between them. Little does she know that Rafael has returned to give his newfound son a proper upbringing back in Calandria -- even if it means seducing Mia into marriage. But when Rafael finds himself truly falling for this luscious beauty, he must decide between his royal duties and the woman who has claimed his heart.

Customer Reviews:

What a let down.......2007-07-04

I loved this series and was so excited to pick up the final book. Boy, was I disappointed. I can't remember the last time I skipped whole portions of a book. I just love reading Susan Mallery's books, but this last of the Marcelli books, as well as, the last of the Buchanans books, were a great let down. I won't give up on Susan Mallery, but I hope she doesn't jump the shark on her series ending books.

Wonderful End to a GREAT series!.......2007-07-03

I had been waiting for this book! I couldn't wait to read it. It was great. It was the perfect end to this wonderful series. Susan Mallery is one of the best writers today. All the sisters are very strong. It makes for a great series. I really enjoy this book, Mia ROCKS! It is a fun and wonderfully done book.

Romance Junkies review of The Marcelli Princess.......2007-05-20

Mia Marcelli has spent the last four years mourning the love of her life. Working as an undercover agent who ferrets out art thieves, Mia went against everything she had been taught when she fell in love with the one man that she shouldn't; an antiquities thief named Diego. Awakening one morning and finding the man she knew as Diego beside her, Mia panics and doesn't allow herself to believe his declarations. Her lover is dead! So why does the man in her bedroom look and sound like Diego? And how can she possibly accept his assertion that his real name is Rafael, the Crown Prince of Calandria?

Rafael has finally found Mia after searching for her for years. Told by his sources that she was deceased, he had pretty much given up all hope until he spotted her picture in an American newspaper showing her alive and well. It is then and there that Rafael knows that he has to find her. Failure is not an option. When he discovers that he has a son, all his plans for the future change in an instant.

I can't rave enough about THE MARCELLI PRINCESS. I wholeheartedly adored this book. I enjoyed the intrigue, I got angry at Rafael, and then I fell in love with him. Mia earned my respect for her strong independence and unwavering fortitude. Raising a child alone is a difficulty in itself; but she was raising a future heir to a throne and didn't even know it.

I did not read anything in THE MARCELLI PRINCESS that I didn't like. It is books like this, written by wonderful authors like Susan Mallery, that keep me reading and craving romance! I look forward to, and anticipate, each and every new release Ms. Mallery offers!
***Natasha Smith for Romance Junkies***

Susan Mallory Marcelli Princess.......2007-05-06

Susan's new book is another best seller in my book. I love it. I have loved all her Marcelli books. This is another smash hit. It has a great twist with of the main characters that I did not see coming. As soon as you think what the character is like she totally goes the opposite way. Your cheering and booing this character left and right. I love Susan Mallory she never disapoints me with her books.

Hugely disappointing end to a once great series.......2007-04-20

When former CIA agent Mia Marcelli wakes up to find a stranger in her bed, she's shocked to learn that he's the lover she mourned for the last five years. Instead of being an international thief named Diego, he's actually crown prince of the tiny principality of Calandria (think Monaco), who assumed Diego's identity to trap his band of merry thieves. Mia has a surprise for Prince Rafael - in the form of their four year old son Danny. But Rafael already knows about Danny; in fact, he was sent by the King to retrieve Danny so that he can take his place in Calandrian society as heir to the throne. He is not above bribery or seduction to get his way. When Mia finds out about his true intentions, will her love for him (or is it Diego?) be strong enough to forgive his treachery?

Mallery's final installment in the Marcelli family series is a major let down. Never mind the suspension of time (less than a year since the last book in the series was published, and she wasn't even an agent yet), the children that age faster than in a soap opera, and the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. The plot starts out interesting, but the execution is rather boring, the dialogue stilted, and the "hero" so unsympathetic (and his sudden change of heart unconvincing), that I'm sure more than one reader wished she got back with her teen fiance, David instead of investing further tears on her Euro-trash prince. Let's just hope there's no story for Kelly in the works to further tarnish the Marcelli name.

I had pretty high expectations going in, particularly since the previous novel was so good. Rather than going out with a bang telling the most colorful of the Marcelli children's stories, Mallery instead ends the series on a sour note. I was also disappointed in another Mallery release ("Sizzling" from the Buchanan series) this year; perhaps Mallery needs to worry more about quality and less about churning out quantity.

She's No Faerie Princess (The Others, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

loved it
What happened?
Another great story.
Better than 'Wolf at the door'
Light, Fun, and Very Entertaining!

She's No Faerie Princess (The Others, Book 2)
Christine Warren
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312347766
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

Queen Mab's niece, Fiona, has long been bored to tears by the intrigues of Court life. She'd prefer to cut loose at a punk club, knock back a few Thai beers, and hook up with a likely lad of similar interests. But when Fiona goes AWOL, she only gets as far as Manhattan's Inwood Park before a nasty demon nearly puts a permanent crimp in her plans—and a dark stranger sparks her desire...

All work and no play make Tobias Walker one cranky werewolf. After six months of doing his part to keep the peace during the delicate negotiations between the Others and humankind, he'd like nothing more than a good night's sleep—preceded by an enthusiastic mating session. The alluring woman he rescues in the park might be the answer to his most lustful prayers, but only if they can both stay alive long enough to find out who wants her dead and why.

Now, Fiona and Tobias must unravel a tangled web of treachery that spans branches of the Fae, Other, and mortal worlds, all the while falling into a dangerous attraction that could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship—or the end for them both...

Customer Reviews:

loved it.......2007-09-29

this book was great! It was funny, the dialogue was witty and the love scenes were hot, lol. Strongly recommend to all!

What happened?.......2007-09-04

I loved the first book in the series and Ms. Warren is an great writer, I just a hard time with this one. I struggled to finish it.

Another great story........2007-06-27

When Princess Fiona from the Seelie Court meets Werewolf Tobias Walker the sparks fly.This book has it all intrigue,romance.
Oh of course heat.
Great story!

Better than 'Wolf at the door'.......2007-06-24

I didn't like her first book of The Others, but I had bought the three books together, and maybe it was because I had already paid for them, or maybe because the plots were more interesting, but the other two books held better expectatives for me than the first one. So it proved out to be, and I liked this one far better than 'Wolf at the door', that was an easy plot and bad book... that I rated as a one star because less wasn't posible.

This one is better, the characters are better developed, and the story has more of a grip to it. The bad guy is easily identifiable, once he apprears on the story, and feels more like a fidgement put in there to be the bad guy and not a very developed character; but anyway the story is good and well-written, and the main characters are well developed.

I got a little bored of more of the same when I was halfaway of the book, but I don't know if it was because of the plot or if it was because I wanted to jump to another book I just got.

Anyway, it's an easy and fun story, a light book.

Light, Fun, and Very Entertaining!.......2007-02-17

An interesting premise...Fiona, daughter of Queen Mab (Seelie Court) and King Dionnu (Useelie court) decides she's had enough court intrigue and politics and heads off to New York for a bit of a vacation...despite the fact that travel to human land are banned by her aunt, The Queen. She successfully slips out of her world and into the human realm and is almost immediately attacked by a demon and then saved by Tobias, a werewolf. This story is an interesting mix of the everyday "real" world, a separate magical world...and those places where the two mix. The basic gist of the story is that Fiona comes for a vacation...a little dancing, some good food, a little hankie panky and winds up stuck here, hunted by demons at what could be described as the worst time for this to happen...at a time when humans and otherkin of all kinds are negotiating otherkin rights. At a time when these negotiations are at a delicate place and where Tobias and his pack are working around the clock to ensure there are no "incidents" to ruin the negotiations.

What you get in She's No Faerie Princess is just romping good fun with a minor mystery thrown in. Probably the best part of the book is the chemistry between Tobias and Fiona. They have a very Han Solo/Princess Lea kind of sexual tension/animosity between them (sorry, but that's what came to mind as I was reading through the book) that manages to be both humorous and annoying. I guess that's what happens when you throw a sexually liberated and extremely stubborn Faerie into a romantic paring with an [..] retentive, driven to protect werewolf. That's not all it's got...in this story you get Demons, Fiends, Witches, Werewolves (and a Werejaguar), heck you even get Demon Police...the number of twists in this novel, while somewhat predictable, are totally fun and She's no Faerie Princess has sex that actually manages to be "hot" and well placed...instead of the plot being used to bridge sex scenes, we got more plot with sex as a key component to making it all work out right.

Overall, I give it four stars. She's No Faerie Princess is a light, easy read that is very entertaining. The female lead is feisty and while she must be rescued more than once...she's not a helpless damsel waiting helplessly to be rescued by the big, strong werewolf...I like that she was independent, strong-willed (read stubborn), and really just looking to have a good time. The only drawback I found was that at times, the overbearing "mine" mentality the author gave Tobias got a bit tired...we get it already; you don't have to beat us over the head with it. Other than that, a really entertaining, light read for those times when you just need a bit of fluff to entertain you.

The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

I LOVED this book!!!!
4 1/2 Stars...
Entertaining..
Final book of the Lost Princesses series
Worst book I've read in a while!

The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3)
Christina Dodd
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060561181
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

Once upon a time three young princesses, Sorcha, Clarice and Amy, were sent away to different homes where they would be safe from war, but were lost. Their only hope is that Prince Rainger, Sorcha's betrothed, who has traveled to England in search of them will succeed.

In the third installment of the Lost Princesses series, Prince Rainger must track down the last sister, Sorcha, and marry her so that he can save his kingdom. Sorcha, living in a convent off the coast of Scotland is as innocent, kind, and naÏve as Rainger is cynical, scarred, and ruthless. Preying on Sorcha's innocence, he convinces her to marry him to protect herself from assassins, promising that they marriage will not be legal because they are different religions. Once she realizes she has been duped, Sorcha must decide if her growing love is enough to overcome the betrayal.

Customer Reviews:

I LOVED this book!!!!.......2007-03-07

I don't want to ruin the surprises, so I won't go into detail. This novel works because the characters have such an endearing quality even in their worst moments. The author never emotionally manipulates the reader, though she keeps it real; both characters suffer heartbreak, yet the book is also very entertaining. Christina Dodd writes characters that are very real to life. I love how she ties the trilogy together at the end. I definitely recommend the other two books in the series "Barefoot Princess" and "Some Enchanted Evening." If you love this book, read Christina Dodd's "Runaway Princess" which has a like theme but way different plot. Both books deserve five stars!!!

4 1/2 Stars..........2007-02-24

Princess Sorcha and Prince Rainger were betrothed from the time they were babies. Then war and rebellion tore both countries apart, scattering Sorcha and her three sisters to the wind, while Rainger suffered torture and imprisonment in the dungeon of his greatest enemy.

Now Rainger has finally discovered that Sorcha has been hiding in a convent. After disguising himself as a fisherman, he manages to escort Sorcha back toward their homeland, and the wedding he must have if he is to win his country back from his enemies.

Along the way Sorcha falls in love with him, and he persuades her to marry him, even though she still thinks he is a simple fisherman. Only to suffer her fury when she awakes the next morning to find out who he really is. . .

In the conclusion to the Princess series, Dodd picks up with the tortured Rainger, whose naivete resulted in his enemies taking his kingdom from him, and torturing him to the point of madness and death. For him, Sorcha is only a tool to win back what he has lost, and make amends for the damage he has caused-at first. Only when he seems to have lost her does he begin to fully appreciate what she has come to mean to him.

This conclusory novel is at least as enjoyable as the others in the series, although I could have wished for a bit more depth in the development of the villains of the piece. This is compensated for by the author's portrayal of the ambivalence of Rainger's own people, who have been brutalized by his enemy, and react to Rainger's new intervention with an all-too-human hesitance.

In fact, this story is actually more Rainger's than it is Sorcha's, and does not suffer for it. I particularly enjoyed the kind of Count of Monte Cristo flavor Dodd wove in her telling of Rainger's foolishness, his sufferings and his eventual rise to become a man worthy of the throne he regains.

Reviewed by Lee M

Copyright © 2006-2007 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

Entertaining.........2007-02-24

You have to hand it to Christina.
She can write a novel that is at once witty,heartwarming AND sexy!! Not an easy feat!
AND she makes secondary characters more than cardboard cutouts.
One of her greatest strengths is that her books always finish as interesting as they start..
A wonderful last book in a sweet trilogy.

Final book of the Lost Princesses series.......2007-02-01

'The Prince Kidnaps a Bride' by Christina Dodd is the final book of the series - Princess Sorcha and Prince Rainger's story. The novel is based around three princesses who leave their country due to war. They left their home as children and now young women trying to survive. Prince Rainger comes to the convent pretending to simple fisherman but his lies, war and his love for Sorcha everthing turns into chaos. Check out the whole Lost Princess Series ,SOME ENCHANTED EVENING (1), THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS (2) and THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE(3).

Worst book I've read in a while!.......2007-01-25

Let me start by saying that when I bought this book, I was not expecting much. I justed wanted an easy, pass-the-time book...still this book really managed to disappoint me. The heroine is just plain silly, you never feel the connection between the characters through out the book and this does not look like a book written by someone with experience! My advise, save your money and just move on!

The Barefoot Princess (Lost Princesses, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

enjoyable book
Excellent
Hilarious/very steamy
Christina Dodd does it again!!!!
The Barefoot Princess

The Barefoot Princess (Lost Princesses, Book 2)
Christina Dodd
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060561173
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Book Description

From New York Times bestseller Christina Dodd comes a second passionate, hilarious historical romance in her Lost Princesses series.

Well behaved women seldom make history – and tempestuous green–eyed Princess Amy of Beaumontagne is determined to make history.

While living on one of the breathtaking English Channel Islands, Amy doesn't live the typical princess's life. Instead, she takes up the cudgels for the hapless villagers whose livelihood was stolen by handsome and powerful Jermyn Edmondson, marquess of Northcliff. Determined to bring reparation to the villagers and make Jermyn realize his misdeeds, Amy kidnaps him, chains him to the wall in her basement and demands a sizeable ransom from Jermyn's Uncle Harrison.

It's a simple plan, destined to succeed. Except:

Download Description

Once upon a time...in a kingdom high in the Pyrenees, three young princesses were forced to flee the chaos in their land -- vanishing without a trace and lost to their people...until the day a courageous prince can bring each princess home.

Life in exile has taught the passionate Princess Amy to hate injustice, and on the enchanting English isle of Summerwind, she finds injustice personified in the powerful and wickedly handsome Jermyn Edmondson, marquess of Northcliff. Since he has stolen the islanders' livelihood, Amy decides to steal him. She kidnaps the arrogant nobleman, chains him with his own manacles, and holds him for ransom.

It's a simple plan, destined to succeed. Surely Jermyn's uncle will pay his ransom. Alas, his uncle would be delighted if someone killed his nephew and left him to inherit the title and fortune. And holding the furious, guileful, sensual Jermyn chained in her basement provides a challenge to Amy's restraint...and her virtue.

How could such a little revenge and blackmail go so passionately wrong?

Customer Reviews:

enjoyable book.......2007-02-17

When the leading lady kidnaps and puts chains on the leading man, you know its a good book.

Excellent.......2007-01-10

I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel.... Christina Dodd really keeps you intereasted... As with all of her books, this one was hard to put down...

Hilarious/very steamy.......2006-11-08

Okay so who doesn't want to chain a guy up in your basement, especially one who has neglected the kind hearted villagers? Christina Dodd's sense of humor is fantastic, I must admit I was laughing so much my husband got annoyed when we were reading side by side in bed. Amy has a lot of wit, spirit, and yes a little disdain. Jermyn is a kind hearted lust magnet that is finding his way into his Earldom. The best part about the book is that the characters change and those unexpected twist turns make it a very entertaining read.

Christina Dodd does it again!!!!.......2006-07-26

What a fun read! I couldn't put the book down (my house is a mess lol)! Dodd really knows how to put together a good plot. It kept me wanting more. I also found The North Kingdom by Jordan N. Danniels to be another fun summer read. Lots of romance and adventure with 2 gorgeous hunks fighting for her! Buy both and have a fun filled summer read with 2 of the best novels!

The Barefoot Princess.......2006-07-14

This was my second Christina Dodd novel. I was extremely disappointed. Don't waste your money.

The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Not her best - but we still love her and some great one liners
A Funny & Romantic Story of Make-Believe
Just plain awful
4 stars
The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family, Book 1)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758208022
Release Date: 2005-10-20

Customer Reviews:

Not her best - but we still love her and some great one liners.......2007-08-10

Royal Treatment by Mary Janice Davidson

I'm sure we've all strutted down the street, imagining ourselves to be filthy rich, adored by millions and trailed by several gorgeous black suited bodyguards. Mmm.. no? Well okay then it's just me, but I'm pleased to find a kindred spirit in Mary Janice Davidson, who doesn't feel that a world where Alaska is a sovereignty and is at all strange.
King "Al" as he likes to be called likes to get away from things by hanging with the plebs, and on his latest jaunt on a fishing boat he runs into the mouthy and depressed Christina Crabbe. Convinced she'd be perfect for his eldest son David who so far has a distressing habit of preferring penguins to humans, he wastes no time in getting her back to his palace in Alaska and engaged to his son. Now don't worry, Christina isn't as thick as this makes her sound, but let's just say that King Al is somewhat of a master manipulator, and Prince David is kind of hot if you ignore the "eau de penguin", so she might as well sit back and enjoy the ride. This is a fun romp, and watching Christina's assimilation into the decidedly wacky royal family definitely brought a few grins to the face. The usual warning applies when reading this author, don't drink and read. Choking over snorts of laughter is not an attractive look!!

A Funny & Romantic Story of Make-Believe.......2007-05-14

What if Alaska hadn't become the 49th State? And what if, unnder the direction of a man named Kaarl Baranov, the residents of Alaska got tired of the law that forbade Russians from settling permanent in the snowy wilderness and performed a nearly bloodless coup? And what if said Baranov took control of Alaska , set it up as a monarchy, and became its first king?

This is the historical back-drop for MaryJanice Davidson's THE ROYAL TREATMENT, and it's only the beginning. The royal family--including father King Alexander II, oldest son Prince David, oldest daughter Princess Alexandria, middle son Prince Alexander, youngest daughter Princess Kathryn, and youngest son Prince Nicholas--reside in the Sitka Palace and are unlike any bunch of stiff-necked royals you've ever met.

The King, who takes delight in attempting to fool the commoners into thinking he's an average fisherman on a weekly basis, is a wise-cracking, tender-hearted, potty-mouth ruler with a heart of gold. And for the last few months, his goal has been to find nearly thirty-year-old son Prince David a wife. King "Al" believes he's found the perfect wife for his son--Christina "the 'e' is silent" Krabbe. Fired from her job on a cruise ship while at port in Alaska , Christina has no money, no family, and nowhere to go, until King Al in disguise invites her to get in touch with one Edmund Dante, who turns out to be the King's adviser.

What follows is a hilarious romp through family loyalty, lust, and the life and loves of a royal family. As Christina and David head toward an history-making wedding, the two of them learn that love and laughter are as necessary as ruling a nation.

With MaryJanice Davidson's trademark wit and witticisms, THE ROYAL TREATMENT is a delight that you're sure to enjoy.

Just plain awful.......2007-01-22

While I was reading this book I kept wondering what this is supposed to be, a modern day fairytale maybe?

I mean come on, Alaska being its own country, and the Prince getting married to some broke unemployed woman his father the King met on a fishing boat? She just has nothing better to do with her live and agrees to become the future Queen, including a lavish wedding with guests such as Suzanne Sommers, Kate Beckinsale, Prince Charles from England, and Princess Stephanie from Monaco.

It might work as a children's book, if the f word hadn't been used all the time and the few sex scenes had been eliminated. But for an adult, who wants to read that? How about something a bit more realistic, just a bit would be good...

4 stars.......2007-01-06

Christina Krabbe finds herself down on her luck when she loses her job as a cruise ship cook just as they reach the Republic of Alaska. She pours out her troubles to a nice, older gentleman and he offers her a place to stay, and incidentally, to fix her up with his oldest son. She didn't really believe that he was King Al II until she arrived at the palace. She is instantly welcomed into the most unpretentious royal family and it is not long before Crown Prince David proposes. This is no fairy tale, and Chris needs some convincing, but in the end, she agrees, even if she has some qualms about marrying a guy who seems more interested in penguins than anything else and to whom marriage entails becoming a servant of the people. She likes Al and all the rest of the group and she's never had a family. Besides, David is hot, when he doesn't smell like tuxedoed birds. There are some obstacles between her and happily ever after; shoe shopping, princess lessons, the official royal pita- Edmund, an ex-lover who turns into her bodyguard, and some violence, but all in all, she's managed to achieve every girl's dream, sort of.

**** This is a fun book. Yes, it does have all the trademarks we have come to expect in a MJD novel, but there are innovations as well. Edmund could give Summerset a run for his money about who can be the biggest stick in the mud while being utterly endearing about it. Ms. Davidson's novels are always a kick to read. You can complain that they tend to be much alike, or as King Al might advise, "shaddup and enjoy it." ****

Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer

The Royal Treatment.......2006-12-01

Did not like at all.. First off, as a person who actually lives in the Interior of Alaska, this comes off as more than a joke. More like an insult to us Alaskan's. For one thing, we would love to become our own country. Truly. We would be a prosperous one, with all the resources we have. Did the author visit Alaska, then decide to make fun of us? No, did not like this book at all. Her other books have been great reads, hopefully she'll go back to that venue.

The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Not as much zing.
Royally Disappointing
ROYAL HIT!!!!!
Where's the Meat!
Not Davidson's Best

The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family, Book 2)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758208065

Customer Reviews:

Not as much zing........2007-08-10

It's been 2 years since we last met up with the Baranov Royal family and there've been some changes. King Al is no longer mooning over Queen Elizabeth II but has transferred his affections to Princess Christina's mother and Princess Alexandria is now a victim of post traumatic stress after an incident which occurred in the 1st book. Her father, the ever hysterical King (our personal favourite character) suggests that she get away from it all by visiting an aquarium in North Dakota.
One irate marine biologist later and Alexandria is too busy fighting and flirting to worry about her problems. Dr Shel Rivers has nothing but contempt for royalty, dismissing them all as spoiled and arrogant and no one, not even a tempting, sassy redhead is going to make him change her mind, no matter how soft her lips are. Watch the sparks fly as stubborn meets determined.

Royally Disappointing.......2007-03-21

Ok, I admit I like fluff reading. Books that don't take a lot of mental energy to enjoy are great for those times when you just want to space out and read something silly. The Royal Pain was a disappointment though. I would like some substance to my books, not all fluff and stuff. MaryJanice Davidson's previous book in this series, The Royal Treatment, was really enjoyable to read. It seems she rushed this one a little, not focusing on developing her characters more than was absolutely necessary. Maybe it was just me, but some of this book was a bit disjointed. I actually turned back and forth to see if a page or two was missing. There just seemed to be gaps in the story line. Anyway, I wouldn't say not to read The Royal Pain, just don't expect much in the way of furthering the story of the Baranovs.

ROYAL HIT!!!!!.......2006-06-29

I know this book disappoints a lot of people but after having read Hello Gorgeous, I was vastly relieved. This book, although a little lacking in angst and action/conflict was fun breezy read. Any body that is a MJD fan will enjoy this book for its enthralling characters and quick-witted dialect. In my opinion this book is a ROYAL HIT and I would love to see a sequel that contains some of what it lacked. (Action wise)

Where's the Meat!.......2006-03-01

I started reading MJD with the undead and un.... series and I totally loved her books! But I'm sorry. I don't know what it is about her writing but its going down hill. This book barely had a plot, to many one line quips and comebacks.

MJD isn't writing anymore for the story/readers she's writing for the money or she isn't getting deadlines far enough in advance so she can let the book sit and come back and read it herself and add where it needs it.

I am not trying to knock MJD, I'm just saying she needs to get back to writing the way she used to. If you want to read the REAL MJD, read her first few books!

Not Davidson's Best.......2006-02-15

Princess Alexandria, "call me Alex," Baranov can't sleep. Exhausted from nightmare-inspired insomnia, and ridden with anxiety, the Alaskan Royal is coming apart at the seams. Alex's dad, King Al, decides to intervene by sending her to South Dakota to represent the family at a marine institute function.

Dr. Sheldon Rivers-better call him Shel-resents the royal intrusion. As the resident marine biologist, he is stuck dealing with the rich princess when he'd rather be getting some work done.

In a clash of headstrong personalities, Alex and Shel have a few things to figure out, like how to get Alex to sleep. That brings up all sorts of interesting possibilities . . .

Once again, Davidson's witty prose pulls the reader along on a comedic ride. That said, this read was a bit of a disappointment. Aside from the hot, sexy romance, there didn't seem to be enough substance behind Alex and Shel's relationship. Alone, each character has depth, but placed with other people, their personalities leave a bit to be desired. Alex is almost too much of a diva, while Shel is gruff until a switch flips and he's concerned and pushy about Alex.

The secondary romance with Alex's assistant, Jenny, suffers from similar problems. Just when Jenny was about to experience much-needed growth, she made a choice not to do so.

It was hard to maintain sympathy for these characters, despite Alex's troubled history. Unfortunately, it didn't help that the writing itself was a distraction, as it was littered with profanity on almost every page. For some readers, that alone cheapens a romantic read.

For readers who don't mind constant use of the f-word and serious attitude, this novel is worth the read. This may not be Davidson's best, but her wit is enjoyable in most of her work.

-C.W.

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith

Average customer rating:

Great stories, but...

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith
George, McDonald
Manufacturer: Kahley House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0978891430

Book Description

This enchanted collection brings together eight of George McDonald's most well known fantasies into one delightful volume. The George McDonald Treasury includes The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, The Light Princess, Phantastes, The Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, The Golden Key, and Lilith. MacDonald's classic works have inspired deep admiration in such notables as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Yates, and Lewis Carroll. C. S. Lewis wrote, "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." One day while in a train station, he picked up a copy of Phantastes and began to read. "A few hours later," said Lewis, "I knew I had crossed a great frontier." G. K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that had "made a difference to my whole existence." Madeleine L'Engle wrote, "Surely George MacDonald is the grandfather of us all-all of us who struggle to come to terms with truth through imagination." If you loved J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, you will love the works of his hero and model - George McDonald.

Customer Reviews:

Great stories, but..........2007-05-09

...the Phantastes story does not have the original quotes that preceded each chapter's events. I found the quotes and passages added to the understanding of the events, but they are omitted here.

Lucinda, Darkly: The Demon Princess Chronicles

Average customer rating:

Lucinda, wonderful
The Demon Princes
4.5 Klovers - Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques
Interesting book...
Avoid.

Lucinda, Darkly: The Demon Princess Chronicles
Sunny
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0425214648

Book Description

For centuries, Lucinda has endured her agonizing reality. As daughter of the High Lord of Hell,she rules over nothing, retrieving the occasional wayward demon and feeding off of the savage Monre-of whom she was a member before she died.

Then she encounters the Monre warrior Stefan, who offers himself to her. She is moved beyond measure by her desire for him-and soon finds herself drawn back into the heady eroticism of the Monre. There, she must carve out a home between the jealousy of the dead and the violence of the living, if she is to keep her newfound love-and life...

Customer Reviews:

Lucinda, wonderful.......2007-10-09

This is an excellent read and the story is well written. Lots of juicy details that make you want to finish the book as fast as you can. I recommend reading Mona Lisa Blossoming and Mona Lisa Awakening before you read Sunny's newest series as characters are tied together...

The Demon Princes.......2007-09-27

A slightly differet look into the Monere world. It is a great addition to the world Sunny has made for us.

4.5 Klovers - Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques.......2007-09-21

A princess of Hell, the only thing the demon Lucinda rules over is the territory she is charged to protect in her role as guardian. Demon she may be, but she is honorable as well. When she is tasked with the capture of a rogue Monére warrior, she soon finds herself in the role of protector rather than hunter, adding her prisoner to her troupe of companions: a rare Floradëur, Monére warrior Stefan, and the Mixed Breed Jonnie.

Although determined to not become attached to those under her protection, she finds Stefan irresistible, and is pulled into a web of erotic desire with him unlike any she has felt before. Knowing he needs more than she can ever give him, she intends to find him a place with a Monére Queen, leaving him and the others behind.

But an unforeseen danger binds her to her men in a way she could never have anticipated, making the very idea of separation impossible...

Lucinda, Darkly is the first book in Sunny's The Demon Princess Chronicles which is connected to her Monére, Children of the Moon series, but works very well as a standalone series for those who have not read the other books - like me. This was the first book by Sunny I have had the pleasure of reading, and it will not be my last. Not only am I eagerly anticipating the sequel to Lucinda, Darkly, but I have already added the Monére, Children of the Moon series to my book shopping list. Although I was able to follow this story without issue, the references to characters in the other series made me intensely curious!

This book has been compared to Laurell K. Hamilton's writing, and I can definitely see why. While classified as a romance and it has some romantic elements, the story is more an adventure following the main character, Lucinda, and her companions. Yes, there is love, and oh my gosh are there some sexy scenes - but this book doesn't fit the `mold' of a classic romance in that her story does not end in this book. While this particular part of her story has completed, her exploits will be continued in the following stories, if the series title is any indication. Most noticeably, there isn't a traditional happy ending in this book. Yes, the story ends well for our main characters, but since this isn't really the end of Lucinda's tale, it is largely up in the air still as to who she will end up with in the long run. Fans of sagas that star the same hero and/or heroine in each of the books will appreciate this immensely, as did I.

Lucinda is an extremely likable heroine. She might be a demon, but she is nowhere near evil, as she proves by her actions over and over again. It is easy to fall for her, just like the men who accompany her do.

I see the next book in this exciting new series is due out in *sigh* 2009!!! I suppose I am going to try to have some patience, but it will be extremely hard when I am so anxious to see what happens next with this intriguing group of people! I will be using that time to catch up on Sunny's other stories in the meantime... J

Interesting book..........2007-09-12

I got atracted to the beginning of th ebook, which you could read on-line in Amazon, and even without having read her previous books about the Monere, I decided to go for this one. And it didn't disapoint me!

It's not a book with strong reminiscences, and it's no t a lecture that will accompany you afterwards, but what can't be denied is that it's an esasy read, well-writen, with some curious developments and a plot that doesn't ends on this book.

What I find lacking ias little more of action, because it seems like a realxed book. I don't know how to put it, but you don't suffer for the characters, because you just know that they'll not die. That, or maybe you don't care for them because they are just that, characters from a book, maybe stereotyped ones, at that.

That's the aspect I dind't like of th ebook.

But I liked the way in which the stroy just gets going and you read and read, and read, and when you realize it, you have ended the book.

Avoid........2007-09-05

Don't let the one star rating fool you...it's the minimum required for a review. If they'd offered negative stars, I'd surely have taken advantage of that.

Simplistic writing style...near complete lack of anything resembling a plot...cardboard characterizations...stilted dialogue. The list could go on and on. This is everything that makes you wonder if the author herself has made some deal with the devil, to get utter dreck like this published.

Average customer rating:

A nice story for young children
Pocket edition of classic tale
Light Princess: good but not great
Excellent in every respect.
My most beloved MacDonald book!

The Light Princess (Sunburst Book)
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374444587

Amazon.com

The fact that George MacDonald--a scholar as well as a preacher and writer--once read this fairy tale to his students instead of giving them a lecture says volumes about the man and his beliefs. It also says much about his faith in the power of stories. The Light Princess is a simple enough tale, clearly written for children--a princess at her christening is cursed by a wicked witch with lightness (she floats blissfully about the castle all day long, and gets into all sorts of adventures, as one can easily imagine)--yet it holds a powerful spiritual truth. Gravity, weight, sorrow, suffering--all of this the princess misses, but with all of these she misses love, for what is love without weight, without body? What is love without falling? She discovers this truth, of course, only at the last minute when a faithful prince loves her enough to die for her.

Sometimes it's not a ponderous lecture--or sermon--that we need in order to experience what incarnation is about. --Doug Thorpe.

Book Description

The Light Princess--the princess who "lost her gravity"--has been essential fiction for several generations of children. This new edition is a companion volume (same page size, similar design) to our edition of The Golden Key, of which Publishers' Weekly said: "Maurice Sendak lights the way through MacDonald's Kingdom with the most mystical, the most poetic pictures of his distinguished career." Now Sendak has made the pictures The Light Princess always deserved to have.
This is the only separate edition available that preserves the authentic text; it is neither cut nor edited nor "improved" in any way.

Customer Reviews:

A nice story for young children.......2006-06-26

This fairy tale by George MacDonald is about a charming, but bewitched Princess, a Prince in disguise, some nice fairies, and one very bad one. It is easy to like the main characters. Children will enjoy the fact that the adults are rather foolish and even the bad witch is not really scary. This is a nice story for parents to read to young children and then discuss behaviors and conduct.

Richard Pendleton

Pocket edition of classic tale.......2006-05-14

This review will only cover the basics:
I have loved this story since I was a child. Still, this edition is not quite what I remember.

1) This edition does not feature illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Instead, it features a few (about 4) colored etching-type illustrations by Arthur Hughes.

2) The cover page says "unabridged". As I do not have the one I read as a child, I cannot say this is false, but I remember it to be a full-size novel. This edition is about the size of a pocket calculator: 3"X4.5". The font size is about a 10. Yet, each chapter is only a few pages long and the total page count is 131.

This edition claims to be unabridged from MacDonald's 1867 edition of the story included in a collection of fairy tales. As fairly tale collections are frequently abridged stories, I wonder if this edition is claiming to be unabridged from an edition that itself was shortened.

I purchased this copy cheap, knowing there must be a reason for it. Therefore, I was not disappointed. Still, I have now also purchased the edition with Sendak as illustrator.

For a pocket book, I find this to be very nice. Still, if you are unfamiliar with the story, I would recommend a different edition.

Light Princess: good but not great.......2005-07-07

Once I heard about The Light Princess, I ordered it because I buy everything by Robin McKinley, and I have a soft spot for George MacDonald (The Princess and the Goblin). I have not read the original of this, but wanted to see how McKinley would rewrite a classic tale.

The book is pretty but not beautiful, and the story is charming but a bit flat to my taste. In addition, the final change in the princess from careless to concerned seemed unmotivated and hence not quite believable. I think it's a fine book to have in your library, but not worth chasing down too hard.

Excellent in every respect........2005-01-17

The Light Princess has no flaws. I have never read a fairy tale that made me laugh so hard--my wife and I could hardly catch our breaths at the beginning of the story. And then we cried at the end; the symbolism is strikingly powerful. As good as this book is, however, I like one George MacDonald book better: The Lost Princess, although that book is hard to find outside of an anthology. If you can ever find The Lost Princess, however, you find another masterpiece. For the record, my -wife- likes The Light Princess better: I guess there's no accounting for taste! ;)

My most beloved MacDonald book!.......2002-12-18

When I received this as a gift, I had already read and thoroughly delighted in "At the Back of the North Wind," "The Princess and the Goblin," "The Princess and Curdie," and "The Golden Key." When you read MacDonald, if your heart is right, you feel sheltered--the world he creates for you is as trustworthy and pure as C. S. Lewis's Narnia or Rivendell of Tolkien's Middle Earth. At the same time, you feel challenged to transform your own world and make it more like MacDonald's.

I was expecting another dose of the same awe-inspiring goodness without false piety or preachiness that is MacDonald's literary legacy. In "The Light Princess," however, there was an unexpected ingredient--a sharp wit that pervades the whole book and made me laugh out loud more than once. In a modern world where wit and vulgarity are viewed as conjoined twins, how satisfying a book this is! MacDonald infused delicious humor into his characters without losing the innocence. I fell in love with this book by page three, and it has surpassed "The Princess and the Goblin" as my favorite work of George MacDonald.

The fact that my favorite illustrator of all time, Maurice Sendak, added his talents to this book is icing on the cake. Sendak always grabs the heart and soul of the written work and renders it into drawings too evocative to be believed. The drawing of the prince with only his head above the water took my breath away, and in one fabulous illustration, the hilarious expression on the face of the gravity-deprived infant princess as she floats away reflects the hilarity of the story itself.

If some of MacDonald's other stories have turned you off because they are too long, too "deep" or whatever, don't miss this treasure as a result. It is MacDonald-Light, and by that I mean not only easy to read, but typically illumined with beauty and truth. Plus, it's a love story that pokes fun of its own sentimentality. Anyone not brain-dead and heart-numb ought to adore it.

Average customer rating:

A Good Read

Very good book

Gently told modern princess love story

Very Sweet

Best Book So Far

The Princess (Contemporary Romance)
Lori Wick
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0736918612

Book Description

Now with a new cover, Lori Wick’s bestselling contemporary love story The Princess (over 200,000 copies sold) will reach even more readers.

In the Land of Pendaran, Shelby Parker lives a humble but good life. Her special qualities are eventually noticed by the king and queen of the House of Markham, who seek a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.

To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart. Will the prince ever love her as he did his first wife? Can the faith they share overcome the barriers between them?

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read.......2007-07-24

Lori Wick did it again. I have never been disappointed with one of her books. Princess was a nice book to read. Gave a new perspective into the lives of "Royalty" and all the pressure people put on them. She has good issues that the characters go through. All around, good read.

Very good book.......2007-06-16

This is a very good book!! I couldn't put it down!!! (Which is very hard to get me to do) I would recommend this to teens 17 and up..as it does deal with the relationship between a husband and a wife that may not be...understood or appropriate by young teens. With that as the exception...it is a great, easy read!

Gently told modern princess love story.......2007-04-05

I love this book! I know many readers take issue with the modern fairy tale setting, but it works. Shelby is a kindhearted, gentle, sweet young woman of faith who agrees to an arranged marriage with a widower prince only a few years older than her. At first, Nikolai wants nothing to do with her as he grieves the memory of his first wife, but as he sees her interact with his family and their subjects, slowly his heart begins to soften.

It's romantic. It has solid Christian values. I've read this book several times and I'm sure I'll read it again and again over the years.

Very Sweet.......2007-03-25

Very sweet and romantic. Shows how this couple grows in their trust and love towards each other and the Lord. Good read for teen and up.

Best Book So Far.......2007-03-12

I bought this book, kinda out of bordem, the last few books I have read have been boring. I found myself stopping, and putting the things down.
Yet this book, I could not put down, I had to keep reading, and every time I had to put it down, I wonder what happened next.
I wish part two would be written of this book, maybe see what became of the children? If there ever were children, you'll have to read to find out.

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