Beyond The Hedge [Paperback]

Roby James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2007

A high-level executive woman who has never had time for love stumbles into a land called Clipton Magna, which is two hundred years in the past and ruled by magic. She wants to return to her own reality, but the rules of the land make that difficult, and when the magnetic son of the squire tries to help her get back to the England that exists outside their borders, they begin to fall in love, despite what they both want. It is dangerous to everyone, because their love can threaten the very existence of Clipton Magna and the spirits that rule it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Juno Books (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809556790
• ISBN-13: 978-0809556793
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,828,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alice falling through the rabbit hole into a Brigadoon romantic fantasy, February 3, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond The Hedge (Paperback)

An orphan since her parents and her brother died in an accident, Jennifer Paul is a business executive at Glidden Industries currently based in London. She enjoyed her work for the firm in Boston and initially in London until her boss at both locales moved on to Barcelona leaving her to cope with the insidious Cobra whose unreasonable assignments are given to her so she would appear to simply want to resign. Thus spending Christmas with her Aunt Cecelia in Wales is a welcome respite.

Accompanied by her greyhound Dragon, she drives towards her Aunt's home when she comes across a barrier on the road; a hedge is where no hedge should be and except for turning around Jennifer has no place to drive. While pondering what is going on, Jennifer takes a canine pit stop when a cat comes out of the hedge talking in the King's English; Dragon chases Malkin the cat back through the hedge. Jennifer follows her dog only to find a strange realm that should not be there. She learns she has stepped into Clipton Magna circa 1805 where King George III still misrules; a place in which nuns created a sanctuary for star-crossed lovers to include the Prince Regent whose marriage to Mrs. FitzHerbert was considered invalid. There Jennifer meets the Squire's son, Jeremy Clipton, who falls in love with Jennifer; but she does not belong there as this is magical land for the star-crossed not the no-crossed. If she fails to leave the land could die; if she leaves Jeremy could die of a broken heart.

This is a fun Alice falling through the rabbit hole into a Brigadoon romantic fantasy. In some ways the story line feels like a time travel tale as the heroine leaves today when she crosses the hedge into the regency era. With a personification spin provided by Malkin and a wise owl (any other kind?), fans will enjoy Jennifer's adventures on the other side of the hedge.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars, June 24, 2007

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond The Hedge (Paperback)

During a brief stop as she is driving to visit her aunt, Jennifer Paul finds her way into a magical town that is somehow removed from time when she chases after her dog who is in pursuit of a cat. Clipton Magna was created to be a refuge to shelter lovers who could not be together otherwise, and as a result, there are conditions about who can safely stay there and who may leave. Jennifer is sure that all she wants is to leave, to get back to the real world where there is plumbing, among other modern conveniences. She might enjoy Brigadoon on stage, but has no desire to live it, no matter than she finds herself drawn to one of the town's leaders. Never before has one of her decisions been more profound. Will she, like Tommy Albright, turn away from a magical destiny? And if she does, will she regret it forever or find a love that can work miracles?

****If you are a fan of the Lerner and Lowe show, then this is assuredly a must read. It is not exactly like Brigadoon and is in many ways more plausible, in others, more fantastic, but the feeling is much the same. You are never too old for fairy tales when they are as well written as this. ****

Amanda Killgore

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond The Hedge, May 7, 2007

By 

N. House (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond The Hedge (Paperback)

Time travel referenced with historically accurate Regency royal intrigue-with celtic mysticism, magical wise owls and a truly superior cat-all blend together to provide a great read. Jennifer is a contemporary career woman who isn't looking for a tall dark & handsome anyone to offer her a choice of worlds to live in. But through her travels into another time and place she is given that choice. Roby James writes a compelling romance, but more than love is at issue in the relationship of the characters. There is an intriguing framework of physics, philosophy and magic being developed here, and we can hope Ms. James will take us "Beyond the Hedge" again.