Thursday 29 September 2011

Review: Utterly Charming - Kristine Grayson

Genre: Contemporary romance meets fairy tale
Pages: 320
To Be Published: October 1, 2011 (2000)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source. For review


Bestselling author Kristine Grayson's fairy tale romances bring the classic stories into the present day, where fairy tale characters must grapple with the complexities of modern life as well as their own destinies.
This time when Sleeping Beauty wakes up, she wants nothing to do with the man who kissed her. Consoling Alex Blackstone, the rejected suitor who is a brilliant magician but inept when it comes to women, falls to modern career woman and lawyer, Nora Barr. Nora now has to deal with Beauty's evil stepmother, and the discovery that Alex just might be her own personal Prince Charming...

My thoughts:
What can I say, the title does say it all. This was such a charming book. Nora, our heroine meets Alex Blackstone who is so hot, and she can't stop thinking of him. Too bad he is in love with a woman who he claims to be in a magical coma, but she soon realizes magic is real and fairy tales too.

I liked Nora, even if she was a bit to of a lawyer sometimes. She did not let down her guard, but then who would when meeting a 1000 year old mage, a wicked witch, and a woman in a glass coffin. And I had to like that she did not let Alex or our wicked stepmother get the upper hand of her. Instead she wanted to protect Emma.

Before you all go all oh no! What about poor Emma? Well that is a long story, and just because two kids believed they were in love a 1000 years ago does not mean that is true now. And Alex is always the gentleman, I truly liked that about him. 

It is a romance that in a way is not a romance. It is always there on the fringes because he wants to protect his sleeping beauty, she thinks those two are meant to be, they are both so utterly blind to what is in front of them. The romance therefore is slow to build, but that is good since they get it when they see it.

But what I liked most is how she brought these two worlds together, Magic is real and out there. And fairy tales, well there is always a hint of truth in them, but mostly they are just sweetened beyond words and the true story is lost in time.

Conclusion:
If you want cute and sweet then look here. And if you want that romance with fairy tale vibe over it then you have found the right book. I liked it and would want more.

Rating
Cute

Cover:
cute


26 comments:

  1. Not sure if this is a book for me, but it does sound cute and fun.

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  2. Sounds like a cute re-telling. Although I've always associated the glass coffin with Snow White, not Sleeping Beauty.

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  3. My problem with romance books are the covers. I know it shouldn't but it does. I really like Shana Galen's The Making of a Gentlemen, but I was reluctant to try it.

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  4. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.

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  5. Sounds cute. I might like it.

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  6. Carol is right, is this a mix of snow white and sleeping beauty? Sleeping beauty doesn't have an evil stepmother either, just a witch who cursed her because she was uninvited.

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  7. awww!! i love cute and sweet!! sometimes i'm not that into contemporaries but this sounds really nice.

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  8. I love the title and it does sound cute!

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  9. ANNA
    fun and cute is always good


    Carol
    I was thinking that too, but the thing is that perhaps it was meant to be that this story was the beginning of two fairytales since it got them both in the mix.


    MRS Q
    I know, this one is cute, but still, eh, dunno really


    Nice
    It was fun :D I want more


    Linda
    I think so


    Aurian
    I would say mix. Cos in the end it does not have anything from either of them really. From snow white the coffin, from sleeping beauty the long sleep


    Carrie
    I liked it cos it was different and so not true contemporary


    Vivienne
    It was certainly sweet

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  10. I love fairy tales and this does look very cute! :)

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  11. *waves to Chris*
    Linkity tomorrow yay


    Mel
    I have been reading very cute books lately :D

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  12. A romance that is not a romance. Interesting.

    You sure do know how pique my curiosity. :)

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  13. Charming and sweet. So different than the dark books I've been reading lately. The poor book would be scared if I brought it home. Have to make sure it meets the other sweet books too! LOL

    Great review!

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  14. I just finished this one - it was cute :)

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  15. This sounds really cute. I have it on my Nook and I know I'm going to love it.

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  16. Oh I love the sounds of this. And sometimes you need cute. :) Thank you!!

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  17. I love sweet and cute and so can't wait til I get to this one on October! Fun review!

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  18. I'd like to follow the story of Sleeping Beauty who wakes up and decides not to go for the man who kissed her! That shows a fiery spirit!

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  19. Missie
    Lol, it is a romance and at the same time not. So you just have to see what I mean ;)


    Melissa
    Hihi, poor book, do you think it would go and hide? But you do seem to have read lots of dark ones, while I have been on the train to Sweetville

    Patti
    Cute is the word


    I hope you enjoy it Yvonne!


    Melissa
    You sure do, cute can get you through a rough week. Not that I had a rough week, but at least you read the cute ones fast ;)


    Staci
    I hope you will enjoy it :D


    Steph
    She was a bit pissed since her mentor and her man had been fighting over her for a 1000 years and not letting her out

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  20. Not sure it is my kind of book and the cover is kind of cliche but who knows, mental illnesses happen... ;)

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  21. aawwww sounds like a cute read. I like the cover too, its so cute.

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  22. This looks, well cute! Might have to give it a try-I love Fairy Tale re-tellings. :) I gave you the Alien Proliferation award Harder, Stronger, Better(a chance to win the arc) over at my blog: http://lovesromances.blogspot.com

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  23. Ana
    Lol, oh you make my day, meanie you

    Carole
    Cute is the word :)


    Bucky
    Awwww, thank you!!! :D YAY, I proudly accept

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  24. This one sounds right up my alley! It does sound charming, nice review.

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  25. I presume we would have a book2 sometime in the future for Emma's story?

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