Once a Princess

Book Description

Once Upon A Time...

In a rustic Missiissippi tavern, a beautiful exiled princess was forced to dance for the pleasure of others--unaware of her regal birthright...and infuriated by a magnificent golden-eyed devil who crossed an ocean to possess her.

From A Far Off Land...

A bold and brazen prince came to America to claim his promised bride. But the spirited vixen spurned his affections while inflaming his royal blood with passion's fire...impelling virile Stefan Barany to take in sensuous and searing conquest the love Tatiana vowed never to yield.

Customer Reviews:

Engaging & fun!.......2007-08-14

Although not my MOST favorite of Lindsay's books, it was definitely worth staying up to read. I really enjoyed the characters & found it to be a lot of fun. I enjoyed the chemistry of the characters & would not mind a follow-up novel!

As always, Lindsey at her best........2007-08-06

I have been a Johanna Lindsey fan for 24 years now. It's hard to believe it's been so long. To this day, I do not have to read the back of the book to know if I want to buy it. I see it, I buy it, it's that simple. I got a little angry reading some of these bad reviews over a book I absolutely love, so I thought that I'd write my own. I guess not everyone can be a huge fan of Johanna the way that I am, but come on! Her heroes are just what you secretly wish a man was really like, though I have a terrible habit here and there for falling for the secondary male hero, but she always blesses me with his own story when that does happen. Her stories are easy reads, full of wit, charm, and wonderful characters. I thought Once A Princess was a classic beauty and the beast storyline. I thought there was plenty of depth on how two very beautiful people thought they were ugly, and the passion between them was just great. I have read this book 4 times, and I hold it up there with a couple of other non-Malory books as her best. Of course, the Malory clan are a force unto themselves! If you like strong characters, enjoy laughing when you read a good book, then do yourself a favor, pick up a Lindsey, in whatever time line you prefer, because she has them all, Viking, western, regency England, pirates, etc. Enjoy!

An Easy Read.......2007-07-26

While this is not my favorite Lindsey novel, I did find it one of the quickest and easiest to read. The plot is engaging, the characters are interesting, and there's great chemistry. I wish there would have been more emotional interplay between the H&H and I was annoyed at the extra "bad guy" tossed in at the end, but all in all I was satisfied with this book. This isn't award-winning literature and it's not the perfect romance (a little shallow and underdeveloped), but I can easily give four stars for entertainment value. It's a nice read for a Lindsey fan.

Yuck!.......2007-06-30

I feel compelled to offer my 2 cents worth on this because I cannot believe what I have just tossed in the bin. I have read widely in the various romance genres for many years but somehow managed to miss Johanna Lindsey. Recently I thought I ought to give her a try since she figures on auto-buy lists and seems to be fondly regarded by many readers. To quote John McEnroe: "You can't be serious!"

What tripe! This is a one-dimensionsal pseudo fairy tale written in a juvenile voice with undeveloped, cardboard cut-out characters who are totally unappealing. When it took 3 chapters of inane dialogue and action for the hero (if you can call him that!) to uncover an "inherited" (really, is this genetically possible?) birthmark on the heroine's bottom, I knew I had to stop before I completely embarrassed myself. Besides I was too bored to make the effort to turn another page.

I know that sometimes bad authors (like Barbara Cartland or Diana Palmer, for example) have huge, loyal followings. I've been guilty of this sort of reading myself but have always been full of disgust with myself afterwards when I realised just how much valuable reading time I'd wasted. However, I have decided to get ruthless and bin these silly sad sagas without finishing them no matter what the book cost. If the H/H in a novel are TSTL, then it goes into the bin or on ebay and out of my life!

Congratulations to the author for no doubt making a personal fortune by selling tripe to gullible readers, myself included. Never again for Johanna Lindsey

Innards?? (Barely 3 stars...a C+).......2007-01-22

I really wanted to like this book, and while it is an easy, breezy read, it is the first and last Johanna Lindsey volume I will touch. The heroine is a childish bore and while I admired her spunk at times she irritated me too much to really care about her. The hero calls her a whore the whole time which didn't make me like him much either and worst of all, it was impossible to understand the love they were supposed to feel for each other. It seemed very forced, contrived, silly. The one love scene here was OK but in the last third of the book, it didn't hold my interest much. Ms. Lindsey is in desperate need of an editor, too. The use of innards at least 15 times to denote Tania's sexual awakenings was so tacky...it was like a page out of the Hillbilly Guide to Colon Cancer...definitely NOT belonging in a romance novel. A drinking game in the making I am sure, since she uses the term so much it became hilarious.While this is a fast-paced easy page turner, it lacked something. A little waif becoming a princess has limitless possibilities...think of her awkwardness at the formality at court, hilarious! But that is an example of the missed opportunities here. I didn't believe the hero and heroine really loved each other. It just seemed like the author had her Barbie and Ken dolls out and decided to invent a little story.

Average customer rating:

Not just for boys :-)
GREAT read aloud!
Great Ilustrations; Great Concept; Weak Development
Cool Fairy Tale
Funny!

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0802789471

Book Description

Once upon a time there was ... a princess who loved all her beautiful ponies, a cool muscle dude who rode an awesome motorcycle. But a giant came and started stealing them! The dude came to fight the ugly, smelly giant with his mighty sword. She turned gold into thread while she cried for Buttercup, her favorite pony. And he took the princess's gold thread for payment The end!

Wait a minute! That's not how it ends!

Oh no?

Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who had to tell a fairy tale to the class, but they couldn't agree on the story. Will everyone live happily ever after?

Customer Reviews:

Not just for boys :-).......2007-06-01

Great story for kicking off a class writing project. Very humorous and written from a child's perspective. My classes were enthralled and couldn't wait to talk about it! I would highly recommend it for read aloud.

GREAT read aloud!.......2007-05-16

I check this book out from the library and have read it at LEAST 15 times! I read it to my son's kindergarten class not once but, THREE times. I only stopped because the bus came. All of the kids were yelling for more, I felt like a rock star. Very fun book!

Great Ilustrations; Great Concept; Weak Development.......2007-05-10

I'm all about the illustrations when I read a children's book. This has excellent illustrations, in two competing styles, one comic-bookish, the other the classic fairy-tale look. It artiscally hits the stereotypes of the young of both genders.

Additionally this is just a neat concept. A He Said She Said for the younger crowd. Something to appeal to all, and highlight what is enjoyed- at least by the average girl, or average boy.

Where it falls apart is where it misses the mark. It aims high, but doesn't quite reach. The story is juts too disjointed, and doesn't fascinate, teach, or pull at the emotions. The concept itself isn't fully played out. This would have been a better produced book if every page was by a different child, creating a spin on the classic story game. It would also have served the illustrations better if the poorly illustrated boy and girl telling the story weren't on the same page as the beautiful illustrations of the story. As it is, they are glaring, and detract from otherwise beauty.

Cool Fairy Tale.......2007-03-16

I teach fourth graders. They thought this was an awesome extension of a modern day Fairy Tale. It also correlated well to the two part poem-'I am the Cat and I am the Dog'. We had a nice discussion about gender stereotypes as well.
The art work and voice was superb.

Funny!.......2007-03-08

I bought this for my niece and nephew for Christmas (5 yrs and 4yrs). They love it, especially since it's a story that satisfies the little boys love of all things mechanical and the little girls love of fairy tales. It's a favorite night time read together.

Average customer rating:

Wow!
The Magic Flute, made more magical
"The Magic Flute" Retold
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
Poorly Done

Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689869991

Book Description

A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!

In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....

Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.

In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.

Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-09-02

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.

Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.

The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.

I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!

The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13

The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.

Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.

This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.

While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.

The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.

And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.

What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.

Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.

"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09

"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.

The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.

Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.

The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.

I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.

Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11

I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.

Poorly Done.......2007-03-11

The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.

Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier

Average customer rating:

Too Much Whitewashing of Rainier
A Real Life Fairy Tale?
This book is better than 3.5 stars.
The American Aristocrat who Became a European Princess
princess grace

Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0446531642
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com

She was an Oscar-winning Hollywood actress; he the scion of Europe's longest reigning monarchy. The marriage of movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier Grimaldi of Monaco (a romance ironically spawned by a chance, MGM publicity-driven photo op) was one of the 20th century's most enchanting fables come to life. Yet, in veteran Hollywood biographer J. Randy Taraborelli's retelling, (the first comprehensive chronicle of the royal couple's romance and quarter-century reign) their day-to-day struggle with romantic inertia and a legacy of familial dysfunction cast their fairy tale existence in a bittersweet light long before the 1982 automobile accident that took Grace's life.

Taraborelli's struggle to walk the fine line between the respectful biography he intends and the salacious, tell-all exposes he decries makes for occasionally awkward passages. However, the author eventually succeeds in giving his royal subjects--and the ongoing conflicts with their respective families--a familiar, all-too-human scale. --Jerry McCulley

Book Description

Grace Kelly was swept away when the handsome Prince Rainier, a man she barely knew, asked for her hand in marriage. After a series of relationships with married co-stars, she was exhausted by the show-business lifestyle. If she married Rainier, she would be more than just a movie star, she would be Her Serene RoyalHighness Princess Grace. Once in the palace, however, Grace found herself trapped in a fairy tale of her own making. Forced to make sacrifices that cut deeply into the core of who she was as a woman, she would then surrender her desires and ambitions for her spouse and her children. Grace and Rainier may have been royalty, but they were also husband and wife, and parents-and, as such, just as vulnerable to the conflicts that can contaminate any household. Drawing upon hundreds of exclusive interviews with family and friends, ONCEUPONATIME portrays its subjects with passion and sympathy, revealing Grace, Rainier,Caroline,Albert, and Stephanie in ways both startling and compelling.

Download Description

Grace Kelly was swept away when the handsome Prince Rainier, a man she barely knew, asked for her hand in marriage. After a series of relationships with married co-stars, she was exhausted by the show-business lifestyle. If she married Rainier, she would be more than just a movie star, she would be Her Serene Royal Highness Princess Grace. Once in the palace, however, Grace found herself trapped in a fairytale of her own making. Forced to make sacrifices that cut deeply into the core of who she was as a woman, she would then surrender her desires and ambitions for her spouse and her children. Grace and Rainier may have been royalty, but they were also husband and wife, and parents-and as such, just as vulnerable to the conflicts that can contaminate any household. Drawing upon hundreds of exclusive interviews with family and friends, ONCE UPON A TIME portrays its subjects with passion and sympathy, revealing Grace, Rainier, Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie in ways both startling and compelling.

Customer Reviews:

Too Much Whitewashing of Rainier.......2007-07-30

Taraborrelli was clearly fascinated by his primary subject, Grace, but it appears it was Prince Rainier whom he truly fell in love with.

He never once mentions Rainier's notorious infidelities, which began as soon as Grace married him, and continued until she died. According to Wendy Leigh's new book "True Grace", she strayed too, but her affairs started off as quid pro quo for Rainier's constant mistresses (and continued from isolation and loneliness).

This omission is profoundly prejudicial to Grace because it makes it look like she was just too shallow to give up her attachment to her movie career and thus made herself morbidly unhappy with her new life in Monaco. In fact, she did struggle with that loss, but her greatest heartbreak in Monaco was that she married a philandering, obnoxious, overbearing, insensitive and dismissive popinjay of a prince.

Taraborrelli should have waited for Rainier's death to write Grace's biography. Maybe then he wouldn't have been so tempted to whitewash Rainier into the caring, tender, appreciative and supportive husband he most certainly was not.

Shame on you Randy.

A Real Life Fairy Tale?.......2007-01-11

This book details the lives of Grace Kelly and Rainier Grimaldi otherwise known as Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco both before and after their "marriage of the century."

Grace Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1929 to Jack and Margret Kelly. She had an older sister Margaret (Peggy) and older brother Jack Jr (Kell) as well as a younger sister Elizabeth Anne (Lizanne). From the time that she was young she wanted to be an actress. When she was a teenager she modeled to pay for an acting school and thanks to her uncle George got some early work on the stage. Soon after she started making movies such as High Noon (with Gary Cooper), Mogambo (with Clark Gable) and won an Oscar for her portrayal in The Country Girl. It was because of this that she was offered the opportunity to go to Cannes to the Cannes Film Festival. During her time in France she also was offered the opportunity to go to Monaco to visit Prince Rainier little realizing that the visit would change her life.

Prince Rainier was born in 1923. His mother was the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Monaco and married a French Duke in 1920. Rainier had a younger sister named Antoinette. When Rainier was six his parents divorced and he and Antoinette were mostly raised by their grandfather. Rainier was educated in England and France and in 1949 became heir to his grandfather's throne after his mother and sister renounced it. He became Prince of Monaco in 1950. During this time he was single, but dating an actress. Shortly before Grace Kelly's visit he and the actress broke up.

Several months after the meeting between Grace and Rainier he came to the United States. Grace and Rainier used this time to better know each other and shortly after Christmas they became engaged. After several months of negotiations they where married in Monaco. Nine months later they had their first child, Caroline, and five months after that Grace was pregnant with Prince Albert. They later added to the family with princess Stephanie.

The marriage between Princess Grace and Prince Rainier was not always the best, but ultimalty they loved each other and their three children. When Grace was killed in 1981 after a car crash Rainier mourned her for the rest of his life.

This book is better than 3.5 stars........2006-05-19

This book gets 5 stars for research, 5 stars for presentation (simply a photo of Grace in THAT wedding dress justifies a book existing) and 4 stars for a good read; It's not that it could have been any better, it's just that the story is ultimately sad. However, I think the subject matter was taken very seriously by the author, and unlike other reviewers here, I consider the thoughts expressed to be well thought out and supported by the material that was uncovered in the process, including that from interviews. What other material is ever likely to be uncovered on this subject?? This book is better than 3.5 stars.

The American Aristocrat who Became a European Princess.......2006-04-16

Like Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly was born to a very privileged life in Philadelphia and was a debutant before she was a Hollywood Star. Cool, poised, aloof, and classy she was the blonde counterpart to Kennedy's dark mysterious allure. But her fairytale life had no happy ending and despite its glamour was all too human.

princess grace.......2005-10-06

anyone interested in the life of grace kelly or the principality
of monaco should definitely read this book.
the author goes in depth about the joys and sorrows of her
(the princess') life to the point that it makes the reader feel
like you personally knew her;a very emotional book to read.
the small independent state of monaco came rather close to losing its sovereignty to france
but thanks to the story in this book it maintains its unique identity in todays modern world.

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time)

Average customer rating:

Amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty
An Original Take on "Sleeping Beauty"
Good but some unnecesary rambling

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416940146

Book Description

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

IS TIMELESS

The Princess Aurore has had an unusual childhood. Cursed at birth, Aurore is fated to prick her finger at the age of sixteen and sleep for one hundred years -- until a prince awakens her with a kiss. So, to protect her, Aurore's loving parents forbid any task requiring a needle.

Unable to sew or embroider like most little princesses, Aurore instead explores the castle grounds and beyond, where her warmth and generosity soon endear her to the townspeople. their devotion to the spirited princess grows as she does.

On her sixteenth birthday, Aurore learns that the impending curse will harm not only her, but the entire kingdom as well. Unwilling to cause suffering, she will embark on a quest to end the evil magic. The princess's bravery will be rewarded as she finds adventure, enchantment, a handsome prince, and ultimately her destiny

Customer Reviews:

Amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty.......2007-09-19

This book is an amazing and fresh new telling of Sleeping Beauty. I bought this book before the Once Upon A Time series started and then there was only Beauty Sleep, Storytellers Daughter and Snow. It made me sad when I went to buy the book, again since I lost my first copy, that it was out of print. I stumbled upon it on this website just to find out that they had taken it out of print to put into the Once Upon a Time Series.

This book gives us a great view of Aurora's family and how she grew up. I love how this book is in first person, it gives it a sort of personal feel, like all of Cameron Dokey's Once Upon A time books. This one is probably my favorite, if not my all time favorite, so far in the series. It's the first one I have read and the one I have treasured most. Snow comes in a close second. This book is just amazing, and I have my 23 year old friend addicted to them now so it is not just a book for teenagers, it is a book for everyone.

An Original Take on "Sleeping Beauty".......2007-07-08

Retellings of fairy tales are in fashion now, and a lot are mediocre. But "Beauty Sleep" is a surprisingly fresh interpretation of "Sleeping Beauty". The story is original, with very little of the it devoted to Aurore's hundred year nap. Instead it focuses on the events that preceeded it- the princess's childhood and her family, and her worries about the spells that will eventually affect her. When Aurore realizes that her kingdom will suffer if she doesn't fall under the spell, she takes matters into her own hands, and this part is just as interesting. This is short book, which is good because none of it seems to drag. The story is interesting and moves at a good pace, which is one thing I like about the "Once Upon a Time" series in general.

I liked the characters fine, and the romance is good. I also liked the writing, though it can be a little hard to follow at times. It's a little overwrought in places, and at times I had to go back over a sentence to get what it was saying, but the tone is fitting for a fairy tale. The themes the book had were interesting, and I loved Aurore's explantion of the magic in her world.

Overall, this is a quick read, but it has some depth too. The fairy tale ending left me feeling happy and was unexpected at the same time. I enjoyed it very much.

Good but some unnecesary rambling.......2007-06-06

You may like the tone of the book, sometimes it got on my nerves-got a bit rambly

Once Upon a Curse (Tales of the Frog Princess)

Average customer rating:

Excellent children's story
Romance at Heart
super book
Engaging read
Once upon a curse

Once Upon a Curse (Tales of the Frog Princess)
E. D. Baker
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582349118
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Many years ago a slighted fairy placed a curse on a beautiful young princess--a curse that caused her and all her female descendants to turn into mean, ugly witches if they ever touched a flower after turning sixteen. Now, Princess Emma, who is about to turn sixteen herself, is determined to break the spell once and for all. Emma travels back in time to the day the curse was placed on her ancestor in the hope of preventing the curse from being cast. Unfortunately she isn't successful in her efforts, but she does learn how to break it. Armed with this knowledge, Emma returns to her own time full of hope. But disaster ensues and Emma is about to give up completely--until true love shows itself in the most unexpected place of all.

With a bit of courage, a pinch of luck, and of course, a healthy dose of magic, Princess Emma charms her way through the third hilarious adventure in the Tales of the Frog Princess series.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent children's story.......2007-08-09

We bought the Frog Princess from a school bookfair. I've been reading it to my 8 year old daughter. We both enjoyed the book so much, I bought the next two in the series on Amazon. These are wonderfully funny, engaging stories. This is a children's auther I would highly recommend.

Romance at Heart.......2007-06-05

Ilove the romance in this book.Emma and Eadric
are very funny characters.I love the magic in this book.
I hope to keep reading the series!

super book.......2007-05-14

This book is just one of the wonderful books in this series. An absolute family treasure and fun for the whole family.

Engaging read.......2007-05-06

This was a fun book that has been passed around in family. I read it first and then passed it to my 13 yr. old daughter who then passed it to my 10 yr. old daughter. We've all laughed with delight at some of the exploits our "heroes" manage to involve themselves in. A must read! Grab the whole series while you're at it!

Once upon a curse.......2007-04-08

After an adventure of being a frog with Prince Eadric in the "Frog Princess" and finding a cure for turning Haywood back into human form in "Dragon's Breath", Princess Emma must now travel back in time to try and stop the family curse from being placed; or at least find out how to end it. Emma knows she must end the curse before she turns 16 and marries Eadric because it's ruining her family member's lives and will shadow her and Eadric when they get married. The curse has already taken its toll on her grandma and beloved Aunt Grassina, turning them into ugly old hags because they were in contact with a flower.
Emma manages to travel back in time with Eadric and survive up until the party, which is where and when the curse is placed. She fails to stop the curse from being placed, but manages to find out how to break it. When she goes back to the future in her own time, she's certain she knows the surest way of breaking the spell, but disaster strikes that discourages her. But finally love conquers evil unsuspectedly...

I loved this charming book because it shows courage, love, and determination in the inner self.

Average customer rating:

This book is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!
Very good book!
Page Thriller - Reviewed by Kholoud of High Point
A very fun story
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Farris

Once Upon a Marigold
Jean Ferris
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152050841

Book Description

Christian is gaga for Princess Marigold. But he's just a commoner, and no match for royalty. Heck, he lives in a cave with a troll! And now he's discovered another reason to put his love-soggy heart on ice: Queen Olympia is scheming to take over the kingdom--and she'll bump off her own daughter to do it. Can Christian foil her diabolical plans?

Customer Reviews:

This book is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-05

I love this book because it is an adventurous fairy tale. It is a funny/love story type of book. This book is age appropriate for nine and older (if you like love storys). I reccomend that you should read this book.Jean Ferris is a GREAT author.

Very good book!.......2007-06-05

This book was absolutely WONDERFUL!! I think that anyone who reads this book (of ANY age) would LOVE it because it is funny, charming, EVERYTHING!! What it says on the front is completely right: "Part love story, part comedy, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink."

Jean Ferris really knows how to write a good book, and I am anxious to read her other books. This is truly a book worth 5 stars and a Newberry Medal, although it did not win one!

Page Thriller - Reviewed by Kholoud of High Point.......2007-04-20

Once upon a Marigold is a great book. If you like funny-romance books, this book is for you. A six year old boy runs away from home and lives with a troll in his cave. The boy calls the troll his "foster father". The boy is a pretty good inventor so he builds a telescope. He spies on a certain princess quite often. The boy likes the princess, so he writes to her using p-mail. P-mail is mail being delivered by trained pigeons. They become great friends, writing to each other.

The boy never tells her his name. When the boy is about 16, he takes a job in the castle of the princess he likes. One day, while he was working he overheard the queen say her evil plot to take over the kingdom and kill the king. Meanwhile Marigold is being forced to marry someone she doesn't like and wear ugly dresses for the wedding.

What will happen next?

Can the boy save the kingdom and Marigold from unhappiness? Will they unearth a wonderful secret? Will it be a happy ending or an unhappy? Will it be happily ever after or sadly ever after? In order to find out read this book!!!

A very fun story.......2007-03-15

Edric's trouble began the day he was out in the forest and a six-year-old boy named Christian popped out of the bushes. Christian has run away from his family and even though Edric searched, he never could find Christian's parents.

Eleven years goes by while Edric parents Christian. They live in a cave in the forest. Now Christian is in love with a princess, but she'll never notice him--a mere forest dweller who lives with a troll in a cave. Still, that doesn't stop Christian from corresponding with Princess Marigold.

The princess' mother, Queen Olympia, is scheming to take over the kingdom--and since she can't seem to marry Marigold off, she's planning to bump her off. Can Christian stop the Queen's evil plans and save Princess Marigold?

Once Upon a Marigold is a totally cute book guaranteed to appeal to girls ages ten and up. It might even appeal to some boys. It has lame jokes, an interesting plot, and fantastical creatures in a magical forest--complete with an incompetent tooth fairy.

The writing is probably not the best in the world, and it starts out slow, but once I got past the first twenty-two pages or so the writing picked up and I couldn't put the book down.

The cover says "Part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink." How fun is that? The book matches its blurb.

Armchair Interviews says: It is a fun read.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Farris.......2007-03-12

By Emily Cornell
Once Upon a Marigold takes place in a fairytale forest where King Swithbert rules. This story starts when Ed, a troll, is walking through the woods and finds a boy named Christian who is six. Christian ran away from home because he didn't like all their rules. So, Ed takes Christian back to his cave that he and his two dogs, Beezlebub and Hecate, live in. The cave is made of all different colors of crystals. Eleven years pass and Christian is still living with Ed in the crystal cave. During this time, Christian is very interested in inventions and uses Ed's telescope to look at the royal family who live across the river. One day Christian spots Princess Marigold and falls madly in love with her. Christian sends Princess Marigold a letter through P-Mail (pigeon mail). The two start to send eachother p-mail all the time and they become in love. Ed said that Christian needs to explore more of the world so he gets a job at castle as a servant. He finds out that Princess Marigold has to marry Prince Mangus who is very snobby and she doesn't want to marry. Then Christian is thrown into the dungeon for giving Princess Marigold a hug. Christian goes through many obstacles to stop Princess Marigold's wedding to the snobby Prince Mangus. Christian finally escapes and then stops Marigold getting married to Mangus. Christian and Marigold end up getting married and they lived happily ever after. As the cover of the book says, this book is part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. I would highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. I think that this fairy-tale romance will appeal to both boys an girls.

Disney's Once Upon a Time with Mary-Kate & Ashley

Average customer rating:

MK and Ashley do it again!
IT'S A VERY NICE BOOK
Once Upon a Time With the Olsen Twins
Once Upon a Time
great!!!

Disney's Once Upon a Time with Mary-Kate & Ashley
Mary Kate Olsen , and Ashley Olsen
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

MK and Ashley do it again!.......2007-03-10

Time after time, my 7 year old goes back to this book. It features the Olsen twins, pre-anorexia when they were young and inocent, dressed as various Disney princesses. Each story is lovingly told (Cinderella etc.). There are also craft projects included you can do themed to each story; I don't recommend them unless you have a LOT of time on your hands.

IT'S A VERY NICE BOOK.......2001-12-02

ITS 6 STORIES IN TOTAL. MK AND ASH. ADD FUN TO DO ACTIVITIES AFTER EACH STORY

Once Upon a Time With the Olsen Twins.......2001-10-10

This book is really cute and has six of Mary-Kate and Ashleys favorite Disney stories. Stories like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Snow White and the Seven Dworfs, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. In each story they tell you little things and before each story they tell you why it is their favorite and their thoughts about the story. After each cute story they give you a project to make something that is based on the story you just read. It even has pictures of them and of the stories you read. Before each story they dress up like the main character. Over all the book has more than one story in it and is really cute and good for little kids.

Once Upon a Time.......2001-08-30

Once upon a time there were a pair of twins in a storybook called Once Upon a Time with Mary-Kate and Ashley. The book is cute. It has six different Disney stories like Aladddin and Beauty and the Beast. Before each story they tell you what they think of it. After each story they give you instructions to build a product that goes with the story that you just read.

great!!!.......2001-08-25

I'm a dutch girl, so sorry for my english, i can read it but don't speak it!!! i think this book is great!!! i am a big mary-kate and Ashley olsen fan, and i like Disney alot to!! if you have children that like disney and the twins, this book is a must!!

Average customer rating:

Very emotional and gripping

Once I Was a Princess
Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Since I Was a Princess

ASIN: 1840182776

Customer Reviews:

Very emotional and gripping.......2006-09-22

This book is excellent in everyway.
Very detailed. Finally after 14 years she got to meet her children, but she has still lost 14 years of their life. This gives courage to all mothers.
It is written in great detail and covers all aspects of Jacquelines Life.
This book is excellent in everyway. The details of the suffering and the introduction of the malaysian royal family is well described. This book relates and introduces each chapter and story well. There are many small stories broken up in this one big story about a father kidnapping his children and the consequences on the mother and how she builds herself to handle the situation. Also to see what the mother goes through afterwards and other peoples reaction towards her, her rejection and the effects on other relationships is reflected well and very saddening.

Very detailed. This gives courage to all mothers

Disney Princess: Once Upon a Princess - Volume One (Disney Princess)

Average customer rating:

Not My Cup of Tea, but Many Young Girls Will Love It!

Disney Princess: Once Upon a Princess - Volume One (Disney Princess)
tk
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 078683465X

Book Description

Featuring the absolutely delightful Disney princesses, these two beautifully illustrated collections present each princess in her very own book-length story, retold with new details that every little princess will love to read. Volume One stars Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Jasmine (Aladdin), and Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Volume Two features Cinderella, Belle (Beauty and the Beast), and Pocahontas.

Customer Reviews:

Not My Cup of Tea, but Many Young Girls Will Love It!.......2005-03-07

This book follows the movie versions very closely and are great reading practice for young fans. The 2nd - 4th grade girls will truely love it and will be very happy to have this book.

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