Once upon a Rose: Once upon a Rose [Paperback]

Judith O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

While on a music video shoot in England's Hampton Court Palace, country-western star Deanie Baily enters the castle for solace and finds herself transported four hundred years into the past . . . changing the future and falling madly in love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A country-and-western singer and a favorite courtier of King Henry VIII make an incongruous pair, but readers' initial skepticism is likely to yield to delight. While filming a music video in England, Deanie Bailey wanders through a maze in Hampton Court and travels 400 years into the past?and into the arms of Christopher Neville. Christopher accepts Deanie's sudden appearance with unlikely ease and guides her through the complex court politics swirling around King Henry and his fourth queen, Anne of Cleves. A richly detailed backdrop of food, clothing and manners heightens the drama and provides a touch of humor as Deanie's 20th-century sensibilities encounter 16th-century reality. After King Henry invites Deanie to be his mistress and Christopher foils a plot that endangers her life, Christopher and Deanie try to flee back through time. Complications ensue, and a sweet love story unfolds amidst deadly intrigue. This beautifully realized romance by the talented author of Ashton's Bride uses the magic and mystery of time travel to full effect.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

While shooting a music video in England, country music star Deanie Bailey decides to tour a famous maze. But instead of just getting lost, she gets transported back to the year 1540 during the reign of King Henry VIII! The first person she meets is the dashing Kit Neville, duke of Hamilton. He seems to accept her story without question and becomes her only ally. As Deanie learns to adjust to the different time-- and dazzles the king with her songs-- she realizes she's falling in love with Kit. The girl from Nashville promises to turn England on its ear-- and steal the heart of a duke. Kit does his best to keep Deanie out of trouble, but when she gains favor with the king it is all he can do to protect her. These are dangerous times and anyone could betray Deanie-- but Kit also has a secret of his own. He doesn't belong in 1540 either. When the king decides to take Deanie for his mistress, Kit is forced to protect the woman he loves. But no one can refuse the king and not pay the consequences. Caught up in history, Deanie learns first hand about King Henry VIII and his dislike for his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. She tells Kit that they must stay in 1540 for a little while and help the people she has come to care about. Time is running out for them and if they have any hope of saving themselves, they must try the maze again. But will they end up in the same place together? Or will the magic that brought them together tear them apart?Judith O'Brien takes us on a magical romp into history with two very special characters! The charming plot is thoroughly entertaining! Once Upon a Rose is a rare delight! Entertaining glimpses of historical figures serve as a backdrop for romance! A memorable read! The genre of time travel has been enriched by the gifted Judith O'Brien! Her unique stories are fresh and delightful! Judith O'Brien delivers a first rate tale! This is a not-to-be-missed book! Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671502255
• ISBN-13: 978-0671502256
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,573,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Rose -- Entirely Believable, July 23, 2000

By 

J. Freedman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once upon a Rose (Paperback)

"Once Upon a Rose" is a time travel book about a country music singer from the 90's, who ends up lost in a maze that transports her to the 1500's. I found it very enjoyable. While most time travel romances don't particuarlly concentrate on making it realistic, Judith O'Brien does a wonderful job. I felt that all the characters reacted very believably, and the historical details were accurate, and perfectly intertwined with the romance.

I found I didn't really enjoy the romance part as much, which was a bit less unbelievable and ah, spontaneous. And there certainly weren't any sizzling love scenes to make up for it. It was a touching love story, but not amazing. I would recommend this book to someone that appreciates a good time travel, and doesn't mind a less-steamy romance. It was such a good book, though.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For every woman there waits a perfect love ... even across 400 years of time ..., July 1, 2006

By 

Ketzel (Vera Cruz, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Rose (A Time Travel Romance) (Paperback)

Description from the book back cover:

'I walked into a maze and got lost on the path to love.' Rocketing country-western star Deanie Bailey suspected if she put what happened to her in a song, she'd earn another Grammy - or be locked up as a lunatic. She had been shooting a music video in England on the grounds of Hampton Court Palace when she ducked into the castle's famous maze for a moment of solace. But there would be no quiet interlude as the ground vibrated, the air glimmered, and there, with a sword drawn and pointed at her, was the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen. From his fancy shirt and black velvet doublet, Deanie figured he was just another of the overblown Shakespearean actors whose classical sensibilities she'd had to deal with on the set. But she figured wrong by a mile and four hundred years. Christopher "Kit" Neville, duke of Hamilton, was an attendant to the king. Some irresistible force had brought Deanie into his life and to a bygone era to change the future, fall madly in love, and stand by her man against the treachery and time itself with all the spunky strength of a country girl's heart!