Customer Reviews

Ellie and the Elven King

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm very glad I did not purchase this book, and instead borrowed it on interlibrary loan through my public library. The painted photographs are a unique way to illustrate a story, and Valdemar is a strikingly handsome man, but the lack of substance in the plot and the two-dimensional characterization detract from true enjoyment of this short story/novella.

Don't pick this book up if you are looking for Ms. Rosburgs typical full length novel. Instead your in for a real treat as far as the beautifully told fairy tale that Ms. Rosburg has managed to pen as well as the trademark Fortin & Sanders amazingly superb illustrations. This book will make an amazing addition to your book collection.

Ellie has just lost her sister and is in the process of mourning her when she finds out that she has left her horse farm to Ellie. Ellie's husband George is less then thrilled with their new acquisition and does nothing but complain. Rhiannon has left a letter for Ellie an in this letter she requests that Ellie go and visit the horses like they did after the death of her mother. Ellie smiles for the first time once she remembers that bittersweet memory and posthaste heads out to Rhiannon's place and her beloved horses. While out visiting the mares she experiences something unbelievable and soon finds herself eyeing two very amorous fairies that insist once they realize that Ellie has arrived that she must follow them to their King.

King Valdemar is mourning the passing of his sweet Rhiannon and does as she asked and that was to search out for her sister Ellie. He must marry or the lives of all that he rules could come to an end. Thinking that he could/would never love again Valdemar is surprised that the sweet but sassy Ellie stirs feelings in him that he thought were long dead with his beloved. Ellie can't believe that she is in and elven kingdom let alone looking at the man that her sister had loved before she died. What shocks her even more is that Valdemar has just asked her to marry him and she actually thinks about it! Before they can say their "I do's" Ellie must untangle herself from George and both Ellie and Valdemar must come to terms with their loss of Rhiannon.

Again this is a short story (less then 90 pages) so the story moves swiftly and is not an overly in-depth story. Still this was a sweetly told story which has made it onto my "keeper shelf".

Elliana Munson believes she is trapped in a loveless marriage to a boorish man in modern-day Great Britain. When her beloved sister, Rhiannon, dies and leaves her a fortune plus a horse farm, Elliana acts out for once in her life and leaves with the couple's only car to fulfill her sister's dying request. All Rhiannon asks Elliana to do is to mourn her the way the two girls had mourned the death of their mother - by laying down in the fields and letting the horse mares come and help take the pain away.

When Elliana awakens, she believes she still slumbers, as the first sight she sees is two lively and lusty fairies, who don't seem the least bit dismayed to be caught 'in the act' as it were. Deciding that she must still be dreaming, Elliana goes along with her make-believe fairies, who lead her into a magical wood, where Valdemar, the Elven King, rules over his subjects and protects the magical horses in his care.

Elliana is stunned when Valdemar claims that she is to be his next queen. Sure, he is stunningly handsome and everything she always wished for in a man, but he is an Elf! He is also the saddest man she has ever seen and that is because he mourns the loss of his Queen - Elliana's sister Rhiannon. How can Elliana ever take her beloved sister's place in the Elvish kingdom? And how can she marry another when she is still wed in the mortal realm?

I was very excited to read this book as it sounded like such a lovely story and it had some beautiful illustrations, but I was sadly disappointed. The story is very simple and unsatisfactory. Elliana fell in love with Valdemar at first sight and just went along with everything that he said. She had no backbone and was a very simple character, without anything to recommend her. Valdemar was a little more interesting, but mainly because of Fortin & Sanders' lush illustrations of what they imagined him to look like. The illustrations were by far the best part of this book and are very lovely. I must say that I would certainly have enjoyed the book more if I had not paid so much for it. If you have the opportunity to borrow this from the library, you can read it in less than an hour and will forget the story as quickly as you read it.

I wasn't sure whether I was buying a children's book or a coffee-table conversation piece when I picked up this irresistible book by Helen Rosburg. Imagine my delight when it turned out to be a fairy tale...for adults! While the story is not complex, it is sweet and appealing. And funny as well...the randy little fairies will bring a smile to your face and make you wish you could make love while flying on gossamer wings, too. The book is worth buying for the illustrations alone. Loyal fans just might recognize a few faces! Thank you, Helen, for again treating us with your imagination and producing something truly special.

While Elliana Munson mourns the loss of her beloved sister Rhiannon, she also knows her sibling has given her an opportunity to escape from her nasty spouse George at least some of the time. Elliana has inherited Rhiannon's large estate including a horse farm though she must spend a stipulated amount of time each year at the farm. George is irate that she cannot spend the money that is tied up in a trust fund; he also has no plans to join her amidst the horse manure. Her sister's final letter beseeches Elliana to be happy and to send her off like they did their cherished mother.

King Valdemar of the Elves mourns the loss of his beloved Rhiannon. Without his dearest queen, he worries that his people will soon vanish from existence. Elliana rides in the field to honor Rhiannon's final wish; Two fairies see her and take her to Valdemar. He and Elliana realize that their beloved Rhiannon has sent each of them the most precious gift one can receive: love.

ELLIE AND THE ELVEN KING is a simplistic beautiful fairy tale romance that is aimed at adults, but children will enjoy also. The story line can stand on its own, but the illustrations add depth to the remarkable Rosburg realm. Though the spouse offers nothing redeeming and readers will wonder why the heroine waited so long to leave this pathetic loser, the lead couple is a delight and through their eyes, fans gain a picture of the fabulous Rhiannon. Helen A. Rosburg and the illustration team of Fortin & Sanders will make readers believe in the magic of love.

Harriet Klausner

This book rocks! The paintings were most awesome, and I even liked the story! I got this one because my friend Joanne told my about Fortin and Sanders (read her review on their book Passions Blood - I soooo totally agree with her on that one too.) My only problem with the book was - WHY AREN'T THERE MORE LIKE THIS????

I fell for a pretty cover and ordered this book in hardback. I was totally disgusted when I found the book had zero story. I donated it to my library the very next day, with a warning that it WASN'T a children's book, despite the pictures. I almost tossed it in the trash, but doing that to any book goes against my nature. I hope my donation keeps some other poor person from wasting their money. If this book had been a movie, I would have gotten up in the first five minutes and demanded a refund.

At the moment I am not a fan of romance. I do try and just hope that is that I haven't found the right one or series. This one was not the right one.

What drew me to it was the cover and I purchased this at the very first FaerieCon. The mixture of photo and illustration is beautiful but the story of Ellie and her Elven King lacks something.
Even when it try to be funny it is just off.

Ellie inherits her sister's horse farm and her Elven husband, the King of Elves. See even there doesn't that sound strange. What is even stranger to me is that Ellie is already married. Sure he's not a nice guy but she married him for some reason right?

I like the idea of grown up picture books but I have yet to find one that is something I would want to keep. I also love the idea of fantasy with romance but I just did not love this. It was awkward and disheartening. I had no feeling for the characters or the story. The best thing is the art.