Customer Reviews

Once upon a Kiss (Magical Love)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I tried to approach this book with an open mind. Page after page, I kept pushing foward...but I finally gave up.

Maybe I'll pick this book up again, when there aren't better books around to read and I've got time to waste.

The idea for the book is good. I like fairy tales and fantasy. However, the fact that Aurelia still believes that she's living in the past by chapter 11 is simply too trying. It's both frusterating and dull when she rushes about to find a father who died (maybe of natural causes) long, long ago.

Perhaps it might be amusing to some, the confusion and the misunderstandings that lead to Aurelia's continued belief that she is in a.d. 800. However, I couldn't stand the fact that every problem she perceives is, well, wrong and an illusion. It would have been so much nicer had she realized that she'd woken up in the 20th century, and dealt with all of the problems and mysteries from that point forward, from that perception and angle...rather than from a delusion.

For instance, she's convinced that the hero, Baird, is actually the invading evil villain Bard...who was attacking her home when the sleeping enchantment encased her.

So she's thinking that her father, the king, has been captured and tortured or killed...and that Baird, who she thinks is Bard, is responsible. Somehow, while a sleeping enchantment is obviously make-believe, the terrible and often silly gordian tangles of logic that Claire indulges to keep Aurelia thinking she's in the past is simply way over the top.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe I gave up on this book too soon. Maybe I'll pick it up someday and give it another try. In the meantime, I'm going to spend my time on more worthwhile books.

Aurelia and Baird's story is a light fairy tale type story, which works, if you like this sort of writing/book. This Sleeping Beauty theme tries to be successful by using the juxtaposition of two people separated by1200 years. Our heroine falls asleep after pricking her thumb and after a 1200 year break (which is later explained), our prince charming finally awakens our princess. Everything revolves around legends, prophecies and reincarnation, so if you do not like these explanations, or feel a book gets stale when everything has been prophesized, you will not find this plot a good one to read.

I liked the fact that Aurelia assumes that she had just awoken from a nap and judges everything that happens around her by her 9th century beliefs. She looks for her father, whom she believes is prisoner of her enemy, Bard (Ms. Cross uses a slight change spelling on our hero and enemy's name) and explains all of the changes she sees by Bard's sorcery. In a society that had many conquerors and blended many different religious beliefs (Norse, Christian, Celtic and "pagan"), weird happenings could have easily been explained by magic, sorcery or witchcraft. She holds everyone in the modern world to the customs of the 800's, and it is interesting to see how she interprets things. Baird now owns the castle (which Aurelia assumes he got as Bard by conquering it, though he bought it in modern times to build a hotel) so when he talks to his interior designer, Aurelia assumes that "king" Baird is lavishing his largesse on his layman. Why else would a woman dress like Marissa and be allowed to spend the kings money so freely? There are many more such "misunderstandings" and I think that most of them are well done. Like others though, my biggest criticism of the book is that it took Aurelia SO long to figure out what happened, especially since she knew the prophecy.

I am not so sure I liked the fact that our key players had selective memories, or some remembered all of the past and others did not. Except for ease of writing the plot, there seemed to be no explanation why our villain would remember his past lives and our hero would not, putting him at a distinct disadvantage. Baird could also have been a stronger character all around. For a savvy, cutthroat businessman, he did not come across that way. Probably not the best book I have ever read, but by far not the worst either.

I hate to trash a book but I agree with the other readers who found it uninteresting. There's far better books to read.

Aurelia is a pictish princess. (If there is such a thing), when a mystic prophecy causes her to awaken in the future, she falls in love with the owner of her castle even though she believes him to be the man who killed her brother. Baird Beauforte (terribly name), is opening a hotel bed and breakfast, and during renovations stumbles across Aurelia's crypt. When he wakens her with a kiss, she becomes his guest at the castle.

Despite myself, I liked this book, at least the first part. Aurelia was an endearing character despite the phoney new-age mystic fluff added to pad the plot. I particularly enjoyed her 'exploration' of the outside world, and the character of Julian.

Things I didn't like? Aurelia's age isn't mentioned anywhere in the plot. I have difficulty getting into romances if I don't know the basics of the main characters. Also, I liked the character of Marissa. I wished she and Aurelia could have been friends rather than fighting over Baird. Number 1 peeve: Baird! This character had zero personality, and the romance between him and Aurelia was unbelievable. Aurelia was too immature and naive for me to consider the romance with a modern man credible (or satisfying). Finally: Julian. The romance between him and Marissa seemed an afterthought. The author would've given SOME indication these characters were attracted to each other early on.

Started off 4 stars, but ended up being merely an average novel with some good points.

I really, really, reaaly did not enjoy this book. From the very first chapter is was a total disapoitment, and hate the fact that I spend my money on it. I though that it would be a bit more lively. The heroine is an insipid mouse and I could not even find a sparkle with the hero. Talk about lame. Defenetly NOT a book for those inteested in Fantasy!

In 800 AD Dunheim Castle, Scotland, Hekod rallies his men to fight against the armed intrusion of a greater force led by Bard Son Erc, a man seeking revenge. To Hekod's dismay, his beloved daughter Aurelia is on the ramparts helping to defend the keep. Hekod tells Aurelia to leave for a safer location, but an accident with an arrow occurs and a strange glow engulfs Aurelia.

In 1998 Baird Beauforte is renovating the thousand year old ruins of Dunheim castle,planning to turn it into a resort. However, one area of the grounds is filled with thorns and briars that look at least ten centuries old. None of the hired local workers will go near that section so Baird begins to cut the growth down by himself. To his astonishment, Baird uncovers several steps that lead to a chamber which he enters. Inside the chamber, he cannot resist kissing the sleeping Aurelia, who awakens immediately. To the amazement of both of them, Aurelia and Baird are very attracted to one another. However, even if she manages to remain in the "wrong" millennium, this couple has some major problems to overcome before they can hope to share a lifetime together. She thinks that he is her enemy Bard and he believes that he has fallen in love with a nut case.

Claire Cross demonstrates that she is one of the most talented writers of time travel romances with ONCE UPON A KISS, a wonderful tale that fans of the sub-genre will devour. The exhilarating story line is fun to read, and the lead protagonists and a secondary couple make a delightful foursome. However, what will peak read interest is the delightful Pict, Aurelia, who manages to comprehend twentieth century technology in eight century magical terms, thereby making the novel not only feel genuine but enchanting. If this is an example of the publisher's new Magic line, it's obvious they will have a smash series to their credit

Harriet Klausner

I liked this book,it had a mixture of humor ,romance and fantasy.If you are looking for a sleeping beauty, prince charming and ofcourse a villain then this is the book.I truly enjoyed reading it.

If you like books about love lasting through eternity, this is the book for you! I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed every word. I want more!

I enjoyed reading this book, and would suggest it to others looking for a good romantic novel . . .If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever