Customer Reviews

Utterly Charming (Five Star Standard Print Romance)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What an interesting spin on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. This was an enjoyable novel from start to finish. I loved it. A guilt ridden Alex Blackstone tries to make things right after casting a magic spell which puts his girlfriend, Emma to sleep for one thousand years after he kisses her and she falls into a deep coma which comes from a spell cast on her previously by her evil "mother" (mentor), Ealhswith. Alex misinterprets the "Fates" (the rulers of the magic world) believing Emma is his soul mate but after meeting attorney, Nora Barr his views on who his true soul mate is slowly becomes clear. After sleeping for one thousand years Emma awakes angry, confused and is truly lost in this modern new world. Emma has to learn everything from scratch (she has no clue as to what a shower is, what a car is, etc.) as if she were a child even though she is the equivalent of a 20 something year old young woman. If you believe in fairy tales, this novel is a must read, filled with lots of humor and the belief that dreams can really come true.

Not often does one come upon a book that has an intriguing plot, likable characters and a cast of secondary character who are not only zany but actually interesting.

Kristine Grayson has given the reader a modern new spin on some old myths and fairy tales with a struggling young lawyer suddenly finding for herself a client who not only vastly rich, but who also happens to be a 1000-year old wizard hellbent on 'rescuing' his fated soulmate from the clutches of the evil wizard-ess.

The writing is fast-paced with loads of snappy dialogue, my favorite. Ms. Grayson has me hooked and I definitely look forward to Thoroughly Kissed.

Can I give a book 6 stars? I just finished reading Utterly Charming - a book I bought and couldn't put down! I read it in one night. It's about a modern day woman who's a lawyer and her client turns out to be THE prince charming! He's in a bit of a fix and needs her help. This story has tons of magic, a magician with a snake for a familiar and of course the requesite wicked witch! Oh yeah - sleeping beauty too! It was fantastic and she has a sequel coming out called Thoroughly Kissed that I can't wait to get! The characters were so dynamic and as a reader, I could feel the heroine's attraction for the hero, and MAN, I love a feisty heroine! If any of you like stories with magic, humor and fairytales, you'll really enjoy this book!

When I started reading "Utterly Charming" I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised by its humour and warmth. Kristine Grayson's story about the Aethelstan, the mage and Ealhswith, the witch and their fight over Emma the "sleeping beauty" with Nora, the attorney caught in the middle is wonderfully written and it makes one believe it could have actually happened. If you like books about magic and romance, you'll love "Utterly Charming". I'm very much looking forward to her upcoming sequel about Emma "Thoroughly Kissed".

I've read thousands of romances over the years and this is one of the best. A woman lawyer in Portland, Oregon falls in love with the real Prince Charming, the same one who has been fighting the evil witch over Sleeping Beauty's body for a thousand years. Plenty of twists and turns to make the idea that a modern woman could love the real Prince Charming very real. And wonderful fun. I'm buying copies of this book to give to friends and family. Buy this book. You'll love it.

Throw away your concept of romance, if it includes heaving bosoms and frail heroines. Nora Barr, Esq, isn't frail and her bosoms don't heave. She's a very real woman, with some pretty unusual problems - including a client who's THE prince charming, a wicked witch, and a really angry Sleeping Beauty. (You would be, too, if you'd been put to sleep for 1000 years!)

Grayson puts these characters through their paces, and the result is warm, witty, silly, romantic - and utterly charming.

Warlock and restaurateur Alex Blackstone had to cast a spell on his beloved Emma which resulted in her "sleeping" for 1000 years to offset a spell cast by her evil mother. Believing Emma to be his soul mate, he hires lawyer Nora Barr to help hide Emma from her mother, as Emma goes about trying to live in a modern world. Alex soon questions the fates as to who his true soul mate is -the sleeping beauty or the plucky lawyer.

Grayson casts a charming spell on readers in her fractured fairy tale, but there was a real disconnect when it came to the romantic angle of the plot, which is pretty non-existent throughout most of the book. But the story itself is cute and engaging, and Grayson can write some witty prose. Too bad it has an unfinished feel to it.

I was looking forward to this book because the premise seemed so original. It just didn't deliver. Blackstone spends the whole book trying to figure out which woman (Nora or Emma) he really wants. He doesn't have a relationship with either one of them. Emma has been asleep for 1000 yrs and Nora was his lawyer for 1 day and he doesn't see her again for 10 yrs. Nora has a lawyer-sharp mind with a fantasy-believing personality that I just couldn't buy. It became ridiculous when she was facing down a powerful wizard and witch with "I'm not afraid of you, I'm a Lawyer!" Then ordering them out of her house! If your looking for a witty fairy tale this is OK (Love Me Tender by Sandra Hill is better), but if your looking for a romance (of any kind) this isn't it! KCS

A wonderful adult romance fantsy with real characters in challenging situations - well, as real as the real Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty can be. This story, based in current times, is a totally delightful read, and leaves me waiting eagerly for the next book, Thoroughly Kissed.

I found the title of this book right on target. This book is utterly charming. If you want blow by blow sex (boring!) this book is not for you. If you like a little fantasy, a fun book this is. A thoroughly modern lawyer mixed with characters out of mythology and a lot of laughs.