This is the first review of Lynn Kurland's time-travels that I've written in a while because... well... I was a little disappointed by the last several. Disappointed as in I-only-liked-them instead of I-loved-them. At the same time, others I knew absolutely DID love them! So (especially since I was hard-pressed to define anything specific) it seemed best to skip reviewing them.
This one, however, I do most definitely love. It has the flavor and romantic pacing of Lynn's older romances (which have always been my favorites). It also has something that no Kurland story since the very first two (12+ years ago in the de Piaget line) have had--characters with a history before the book opens. In this one, Stephen had heard of Peaches for years from her sister, Tess (heroine of
One Magic Moment). They actually met sometime in the relatively-recent past, and their relationship definitely got a very bad start. Therefore, this is not exactly a love-at-first-sight story. Neither is it a fall-in-love-with-someone-from-a-different-century story like the last five have been. Stephen and Peaches are both firmly living in the present, and they are not exactly getting along when the book opens. Thankfully, Time has a bit of fun nudging them in the right direction. ::smiles::
As the book opens, Peaches' life has recently gotten turned on end, and she's decided to jump at the chance for a Cinderella-story of her own. (As in the kind of Happily-Ever-After Cinderella story that her sisters got in the last two Kurland time-travels, rather than the delusional experience that her sister-whose-name-is-Cinderella had in
One Enchanted Evening. And yes, I agree...their parents followed strange naming tendencies.) It doesn't take too long, however, for Peaches to realize that her "prince" prospect is anything but gallant, and she is stuck very much needing rescued.
Fortunately for her, Stephen de Piaget, the handsome academic Medieval Studies scholar and heir to the earldom of Artane, is there to rescue her. Unfortunately for Stephen, he's stuck his foot in his mouth one too many times for Peaches to be interested in anything he might or might not want to do for her, with her, around her...you get the idea. And so he does his rescuing anonymously. But then Time steps in, forces his hand, and shows Peaches a side of Stephen that very few know exists.
I'll stop my teaser there, for I don't want to tell you how this beautifully-written love story goes. But I will add this little bit for Kurland fans. (If you're not a fan, skip this part, as you won't know what I'm talking about.) I am happy to report that while Peaches does feel unworthy of being a countess, she does not carry it to extremes like a Certain Other Character In Another Story does. And while Stephen has reasons for holding back and not declaring himself, he isn't afraid to leap into the fray and pursue--really pursue--the woman he loves as soon as she gives him a chance, like Certain Other Male Characters have been. And while this is still a very clean romance story, you will NOT have to wait 'till the end of the book for some great kiss scenes, like Certain Other Books Have Made You Wait. ::grins::
The only real drawback I had with the story was that the last few chapters felt both tacked-on and rushed. I know that's a strange combination, but they were. You could almost take them off the book and still have the same story... or you could feel cheated out of what what might have been a great scene or two. For me, though, this small drawback didn't come close to ruining the beauty of this love story between the girl-with-the-awkward-name and the earl who loved her.
I'll also say this... as other reviews come out, I'm surprised that other readers are rating the whole book lower for various reasons. I'm going to discuss them so other readers can understand why I rate this book 5-star despite the problems others mention.
1) Some don't like that the time spent in the past is shorter. That, I suppose is personal preference. Me... I'd rather have a book that's different and a good romance, rather than just have more of the same. Several of the last several books have been far-too-similar for my tastes, which is why I ENJOYED the fact that this one didn't follow the same path. (Though I still admit that I would have liked to have seen a certain scene in the end.)
2) Others are too bothered by a few timeline discrepancies (that most likely got introduced and switched and then missed on the cutting room floor, 'cause I know how that happens). Me... I didn't even notice them until the others pointed them out. I read history if I want to focus on timelines, and romance if I want to enjoy a good romance. I bought this book hoping for a very well-written romance between characters I could fall in love with, and it delivered on that.
3) Some have not cared for the fact that other characters from other books didn't show their face, but I feel like all the scenes with other characters popping in to say hi bog the story down. They also make it harder for new readers to enjoy the story. (Though one or two reviewers felt that this one didn't stand alone as well as the last several which WERE bogged down with cameo appearances. Go figure.) Anyway, I, personally, didn't mind at all that Pippa and Montgomery didn't make an appearance, and wouldn't have minded if Robin, Nick, and the twins hadn't either. It's personal preference, not writing skill.
So anyway, that's why none of those issues kept me from loving this book.
::happy sigh:: Here is one very happy Lynn Kurland fan.
