Waking The Princess [Paperback]

Susan King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2003

Christina Blackburn posed for a painting that ruined her life. Ever since, she vowed to suppress her passionate nature and keep her identity a secret. Now she has come face to face with the notorious painting-and its dangerously handsome owner.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An ancient Scottish legend about a beautiful maiden asleep in a rose bower and the laird of Dundrennan, for whom true love can have tragic consequences, plays out in the second installment of King's Victorian-era trilogy (following Taming the Heiress). When Sir Aedan MacBride of Dundrennan discovers historic ruins on his land, he's forced to notify the National Museum. The museum sends prim, bespectacled antiquarian Christina Blackburn, the model from Sir Aedan's most treasured painting. Since the revealing portrait reminds Christina of unhappy times with her late husband, she buries herself in her quest to unearth the ruins, which may be remnants of an early Pictish civilization. The past has made Christina close her heart to love, and the legend has made Aedan leery of it, but still the two are drawn to each other. Before they can find happiness together, however, they must circumvent the briar legend and its supposed curse and outwit a stock villain. This romance starts more slowly than King's medieval-era novels, but her fluid prose and engaging central characters weave a subtle spell. Well-researched details about Victorian archaeology and a sensational, swashbuckling climax make this Sleeping Beauty story a treat for King's fans.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

After her late husband created a risque portrait of her as the famous sleeping princess of Dundrennan, Christina Blackburn has lived with scandal and notoriety. The painting hangs in the bedroom of Sir Aedan Arthur MacBride, who has become obsessed with its stunning subject. When Aedan is commissioned by Queen Victoria to build a highway, workers find an ancient ruin in its path. The National Museum sends its antiquarian to investigate, and she is none other than Christina. In the meantime, an evil and greedy archaeologist is determined to take the credit for the find (as well as any gold that might be buried there) and will stop at nothing to reach his goal. Aedan falls in love with Christina, his beloved painting's sleeping beauty come to life, but an old family curse prevents him from asking her to marry him. King combines Celtic myths, Arthurian legends, and the tale of Sleeping Beauty to create a delicious romantic blend in the second book in her Victorian Scotland trilogy (Taming the Heiress [BKL Jl 03]), proving herself a masterful storyteller. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451208838
• ISBN-13: 978-0451208835
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,562,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story of love & redemption, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Waking The Princess (Paperback)

This is an "adult" romance in all the best ways -- intense, intelligent, and wonderfully written. While Ms. King is best known for her Scottish medievals, she brings a fresh voice to a Victorian setting that brings this lush, romantic era to glowing life. Her characters are memorable, their love intense on many levels, culminating in a marvelous, unforgettable ending. If you're tired of the same-old, same-old frothy regency-era books that are flooding the market, give WAKING THE PRINCESS a try -- you won't be disappointed.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful and beautiful!, October 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Waking The Princess (Paperback)

I absolutely love Susan King's writing style, and I have loved each of her books so far--they are always exquisitely crafted, with a warmth at the heart of each story that is irresistible and unforgettable. In a genre of quick reads that just don't stick with the reader for very long, here is a writer who delivers quality and satisfaction for readers who love romance, yet often find themselves hungry for substance in a story.

WAKING THE PRINCESS is another beautifully rendered story by a truly gifted storyteller. THis is a book to savor for its wonderful characters, its unusual and compelling story--pay attention, and you will be immensely rewarded. If you are used to fast, lite reads, you may not "get it" but that may be your loss. This is a sensitively crafted story written with a lyrical tone. Aedan and Christina are compelling, sympathetic, very real characters, deeply challenged by their pasts and their emotions, and forced to deal with their own private fears in order to grab at the chance for true love at last. The whole story, the setting, the characters, the plot, are convincingly created and lavishly constructed. The reader is drawn into the story completely--the whole world went away while I read, and that is something that is difficult to achieve in any genre.

I am a high school English teacher, not that it makes me an expert, but it definitely gives me an appreciation for good, even great, writing, and for solid story structure. I love historical romance, but find myself often disappointed by current trends. Susan King is always the exception for me--and she is an exceptional writer, a very talented novelist. The beautiful, complex artistry in WAKING THE PRINCESS transcends much of the genre. It reads like a much bigger book, like a hardback novel. Her books are always fresh, different, and beautiful. If you love an intelligent story and romance that will sweep you off your feet, if you long for something different and really fresh, try any one of Susan King's books.

3.0 out of 5 stars I'd rate it about 3 & 1/2 stars, January 14, 2005

By 

S. Reader "scibarfan" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Waking The Princess (Paperback)

Although I didn't like this one as well as Taming the Heiress, I am always impressed with King's meticulous research. This novel provided an interesting dilemma, but it was almost too involved, too convoluted. The ending was well done, but something about the romance seemed lacking. The characters, especially Aedan, were not as strong as in the previous novel.