The Runaway Princess

Amazon.com

Evangeline Scoffield of East Little Teignmouth, Cornwall, is a fraud. Rescued at a young age from an orphanage she had called home for most of her life, Evangeline goes to live with an eccentric and rich woman named Leona. When Leona disappears without a trace, Evangeline learns that she is the sole heir to the woman's fortune, and she wastes no time in packing a cache of cash and heading for Spain, posing as the refined lady she had always longed to be. To her shock, Prince Danior of Baminia appears and announces that he is her fiancé. He insists that she is the Princess Ethelinda and that they must return immediately to her kingdom where they are to be married. Evangeline's protests are cut short when someone lobs a bomb into her room and Danior pulls her to safety, explaining all the while that evil forces are determined to kill them both to prevent their marriage and the subsequent joining of their two kingdoms. The two set off on the long journey to Princess Ethelinda's kingdom, with Evangeline feeling as if she's tumbled down the rabbit hole. Not only does Danior stubbornly refuse to listen to her, but he's determined to consummate their betrothal. Evangeline's determination to set right this wrong is sadly undermined by her own growing attraction to the powerful, dark-haired prince. Still, Evangeline knows she must convince him of her humble beginnings, for a prince could never truly love a simple girl such as herself. Who is right, Evangeline or Danior? Is Evangeline the Princess Ethelinda or isn't she? And if not, how will Danior cope with the deep love he feels for her? The Runaway Princess has a dash of myth and magic, colorful secondary characters, and a wonderfully heroic hero and heroine. What more could a reader of romance ask for? --Lois Faye Dyer

Book Description

Masquerade

English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritance, she can afford one perfect summer--a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery.

Marriage

But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince--and her fiance.

Or the Ever After of Her Dreams?

One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his betrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephinia. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fullfil their destinies, the prince will do anything--abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

Download Description

An unexpected inheritance lets Evangeline live the life of her dreams -- to travel abroad as a lady of mystery. But one night a darkly handsome Crown Prince claims her as his fiancé, and he'll do anything to seduce her into his royal world of peril, promise, and passion. Masquerade - English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritance, she can afford one perfect summer--a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery. Marriage - But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince--and her fiance. Or the Ever After of Her Dreams? One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his betrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephinia. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fullfil their destinies, the prince will do anything--abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

Customer Reviews:

Steamy Historical Romance You Can't Stop Reading.......2007-03-07

I found this book at a Costco for a very nice price and I must say it is one of my very favorite historical romance novels. I really felt transported by the author's use of description, the plot twists and turns, there never seems to be a scene out of place in her writing. Also the characters desire and eventually love for each other triumphs over their initial preconceptions of one another. I definitely recommend this, and also if you liked the plot of this one, her novel "The Prince Kidnaps a Bride" is similiar in theme but vastly different in plot.

Great story!!.......2006-10-26

This is my Frist Christina Dodd book and it won't be my last! I had a blast reading this book! The story is of the heroine named Evangeline and of the hero named Danier, The hero thinks Evangeline is his Princess who was sent away to a convent as a child for protection from the Revolutionarys who would harm, her so that she wouldn't be able to fufill the 1,000 year old Prophecy from St. Leopola and marry Prince Danier and bring both of their war torn countrys back together again! It's a very fast paced book, I finised it in two days, it wasn't boring to me at all! I Loved both main charactes and I loved their banter! Great book!

Boring and dull..........2006-07-05

Wow, this book was boring. Okay, maybe not that boring, but I didn't enjoy it at all. I think a lot of that was the lack of realism throughout the story....imaginary countries, prophecies, thousand year old nun/saints, magic crystal boxes, strange happenings. And a female character who did difficult things - like descending a sheer cliff face - simply from reading about how to do it. I kept shaking my head at what Evangeline did. It really took away from the believeability of the story. I know a lot of people like fantastical romances, but I generally don't - with a few exceptions. Even ignoring my dislike, the book bored me.

Another annoying thing was how many times she rambled about how she wasn't a princess. It seemed like that came out of her mouth every other sentence. The romance wasn't too bad, but it couldn't overcome all the stuff that bored me. I was also annoyed at the end of the book by the rather curt, careless explanation of how Evangeline got mixed up in the whole mess and what happened to the real princess. It needed to be more thorough.

This is the 3rd Dodd book I've read, and I've not been impressed by any of them. I'm rather glad that I only spent $0.25 for this one used.

Rating: 2 / 5

Really cute and funny.......2006-05-02

Okay, maybe the plot is a little silly, but I thought it was great fun to read. I mean, they plan to unite Baminia and Seraphina and they can't agree whether to call the new country Bamphina or Seraminia? It's funny! She's spunky and resourceful. He's a gorgeous hunk with a tender side. Just my kind of heros. Loved it!

Totally Absurd!.......2006-02-24

If you are looking for a fairytale with feminist overtones, this is for you. I have enjoyed several of Dodd's Regency novels but this book is too much of a farce. The concept of an orphan reared by an ancient wise woman who is taught esoteric knowledge from all over the world such as oriental martial arts, treatises on how to climb and descend mountains, scientific knowledge on use of plants and to speak 7 languages in a remote English village who traipses off to the Pyrenees for adventure and is captured by a prince who thinks she is his long lost princess is just too outrageous. I got through it cause I didn't have anything else available but it is definitely not one of her best.

Average customer rating:

Great Book!
Amazingly enjoyable
A New Favorite
WOW! You got to read this!
Priceless Princess

The Runaway Princess
Kate Coombs
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0374355460
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Book Description

“A dragon darkens our dells. A witch haunts our woods. Bandits roam our moors” . . . King Stromgard swept on. “In the tradition of so many monarchs, I offer my daughter’s hand in marriage and half my kingdom to the prince who can rid us of these evils, restoring peace and prosperity to our realm.”

And so the contest in the Kingdom of Greeve begins. But Princess Margaret is not your traditional princess. Meg firmly objects to her parents’ giving her away, and she certainly has no intention of remaining in the tower where she is sequestered. Instead, she sets out to win the contest herself by enlisting the help of her good friend, her loyal maid, an eager guardsman, a young wizard, and a tenacious witch. Does Meg find her distinct place in the kingdom, or is she doomed to fulfill her royal duties?

Kate Coombs weaves a magical tale full of pesky princes, enchanted frogs, a beady-eyed scarf, and invisibility juice – a tale of wonder, but a story familiar to all who struggle to find their own place in the world.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!.......2007-10-09

Wow! What a great book. The Runaway Princess by Kate Coombs is a fun and exciting read. Meet Princess Margaret (Meg) of Greeve, the princess who didn't want to be a princess, Cam, one of her best friends, and apprentice gardener, and Dilly, Meg's other best friend, who also happens to be her maid. The story begins with Meg's father announcing that whoever rids the land of the three evils, The Dragon, The Witch, and The Bandits, shall win first place, the princess's hand and marriage, and become heir of the Kingdom of Greeve. Obviously, Meg is appalled, and tries furiously to end this long tradition. But, unfortunately her parents refuse, and lock Meg in a tower. This is definitely not the result Meg was looking for, and she wants out! With the help of several helpful persons, such as Cam and Dilly, she gets out. Thus begins the tale of the Runaway princess. Meg must travel the kingdom in hopes to win the contest herself; negotiate with a stubborn witch with a passion for amphibians (and the men they used to be), a baby dragon that comes under her care, a wizard in disguise, several nasty princes, a troop of bandits, and all the while pretend she is still in the tower! This book is similar to books by Gail Carson Levine such as Ella Enchanted, or, Fairest, though maybe for younger readers. I would recommend this book for ages 8-11, above that some of the writing may seem a bit easy to read, and less complex, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone. It is a pleasurable read, one you would open on a rainy day, and not put down until you're done. The writing is enchanting, comical, and very descriptive, though at times it may seem a bit simple. But, the plot is witty and quickly changing. The end is sweet, if not a surprising, definitely not what I expected. As quoted from the end of the book, "Once upon a time, there was a princess who knew she meant for more than twirling her tresses and swooning." Enjoy!

Amazingly enjoyable.......2006-12-25

I adored this novel. I have read dozens of books that have redone the classical fairy tale setting, but this is the best one I have ever had the pleasure to open. Coombs has a simple, yet elegant and easy to read writing style. The character interaction is hilarious, and the heroin is very likable and strong. Wonderfully done Kate Coombs! I hope there is a sequel.

A New Favorite.......2006-09-19

RUNAWAY PRINCESS isn't your grandma's fairy tale. The princess in the tower? Yeah. She has no intention of staying there. And all those witches, bandits and dragons? Misunderstood. Kate Coombs gives us a fresh take on the well-known fairy tale world with clever touches, endearing characters, and unique twists, all adding up to a delightful and entertaining read.

Following closely on the heels of Coombs' lovely debut book THE SECRET KEEPER, RUNAWAY PRINCESS does not disappoint. It's sure to become a favorite of discerning readers everywhere.

WOW! You got to read this!.......2006-09-19

This book was awsome! In my English class we had to pick a book for pleasure reading. I choose this one and believe me, it was PLEASURE reading. I couldn't put it down! The characters are so real and you find yourself rooting for them. This book is a clever twist on any fairy tale you've ever known. You'll find yourself laughing out loud and counting down the minutes till you can read it again. The twists, turns and halarious plot and characters make "The Runaway Princess" a must read!

Priceless Princess.......2006-08-13

Kate Coombs has done it again! Once again this gifted author takes a fairy-tale world and stands it on its head. Princess Meg stands up to her father and the Kingdom of Greeve will never be the same again. All the ingredients for a delicious romp through a world of wicked witches and fantabulous frogs await those clever enough to pick up this story. A winner!

Average customer rating:

A retelling of Snow White that left me wishing I hadn't wasted my time reading it
Snow, a beautiful take on the story
Snow, not just your average fairytale.
snow white will never be the same
Once Upon a Time is fashionable again

Snow
Tracy Lynn
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689855567

Book Description

Snow White, Rose Red

In a tiny Welsh estate, a duke and duchess lived happily, lacking only a child -- or, more importantly, a son and heir to the estate. Childbirth ultimately proved fatal for the young duchess. After she died, the duke was dismayed to discover that he was not only a widower, but also father to a tiny baby girl. He vowed to begin afresh with a new wife, abandoning his daughter in search of elusive contentment.

Independent -- virtually ignored -- and finding only little animals and a lonely servant boy as her companions, Jessica is pale, lonely and headstrong...and quick to learn that she has an enemy in her stepmother. "Snow," as she comes to be known, flees the estate to London and finds herself embraced by a band of urban outcasts. But her stepmother isn't finished with her, and if Jessica doesn't take control of her destiny, the wicked witch will certainly harness her youth -- and threaten her very life....

Customer Reviews:

A retelling of Snow White that left me wishing I hadn't wasted my time reading it.......2007-10-02

Overall I disliked this book quite a lot. It is a retelling of Snow White set in the 19th century, with admittedly many interesting twists and plot points not found in the traditional fairy tale, with no silly dwarves to speak of. It kept me entertained enough to keep reading, but barely, and mostly because I am not a person who will put down a book before finishing it. For the record - I'm the 14-year-old daughter of this account holder, and have been an avid reader for all my life. But back to the book.

The author is clearly skilled in language, but her writing still needs a lot of refining. I didn't think it was much better than a talented teenager could do. The sentences didn't flow very well, there was a lot of rather confusing transition from narration to characters' thoughts, and oftentimes, in the middle of narration appropriate to what it would be like in the 1800s, I would come upon a modern phrase that definitely didn't belong. Several times the phrase "hang out" would appear joltingly, and I'm certain no one used that phrase back then! This affected the realism of the setting, and made the time period less believable when I'd catch snippets of modern language all over. The story was lacking in good description of its characters and left me wanting more effective description everywhere.

The storyline would sometimes start quickly and go very fast, but then stop and be slow, and then start again suddenly. I felt like I was being pulled along in a car that kept hitting its brakes and then accelerating at odd intervals. The main character of Jessica/Snow really had no personality, which is the key to getting readers to like a character. I found that I didn't really like her or care about her that much, cruel as it seems. Creating likeable characters is essential for an author to accomplish to keep a reader hooked. When Jessica was young she just seemed silly, and when she was old, she was boring and, in some instances, still silly. The love story that unravelled leads me back to the car analogy, with the stopping and going suddenly and erratically. The author would lead me to believe that certain characters would be love interests for Snow, but then suddenly those ideas would be dashed and I'd be left saying, "Wha-??". The love story started out slow so you'd hardly know it was there, then all of a sudden it accelerated quickly and I was thinking, "When did that happen?". Characters were introduced suddenly when the book was almost over, and I thought they would be significant, but they really were annoyingly pointless. The author tried to have a modern take on the story, with the Duchess being a scientist instead of a witch, but the story seemed out of place and all wrong like this, and the "scientific" elements of the story just seemed dumb and far-fetched. But enough of that.

The book isn't all bad. The story was interesting enough, with the neglected Jessica being mostly raised in the kitchens of her estate, hardly knowing or caring that she is the heir to it all. She frolics with the boys and lives a carefree life, until the Duchess arrives. The Duchess seems nice enough at first, but turns out to be cruel and scheming. As she tries harder to give the duke an heir, using her own scientific methods, she becomes more desperate, and more cruel towards Jessica. Eventually she imprisons Jessica (for reasons that seemed dumb and made no sense to me) and forces her to do servant work. Jessica finally flees, taking refuge with The Lonely Ones, a group of thieves in London who have their own secrets. There she lives until she hears of the Duchess again, and realizes her own longing for the mother she never had.

As I was reading the book I figured it deserved 3 stars in a review. That is, until I got to the end. All - and I mean ALL! - problems in the story seemed to be resolved with an infuriatingly low amount of conflict. Suddenly all seemed to be well, and I felt like throwing the book accross the room! The ending itself was completely lame, and left me wondering why on earth I didn't stop reading the book after the first few chapters. Perhaps I am hard to please, but I definitely do not recommend this book.

Snow, a beautiful take on the story.......2007-09-19

Jessica is the daughter that her father has cast away. She grows up as a servant but soon has a new stepmother and this upsets Jessica. Not wanting to deal with her, she runs off to London where she meets a group of unusual but unique people who help her on finding out who she is on the inside and to accept her for who she is.

This is another great book in the once upon a time series. This is probably my second favorite, very close to Beauty Sleep. This book kept me from start to finish and left me feeling happy and wanting to read it again, straight away (Which I did... in fact.. haha.) This is a wonderful retelling of the story and can be cherished by teens and above (Me being 20, I love this book).

Snow, not just your average fairytale. .......2007-08-03

A fantastic book! This retelling gives the story of Snow White a refreshing new twist. While magic still abounds there is a scientific theme that comes across througout the entire story. With a mystic look on cogs, and science this book blends the genres of steampunk and fairytale in a daring way that can actually excites the reader into reading further (or reading again). The characters are likeable, and the setup of the book lends itself to cineamatic possiblites (at least I think so).

Just to clarify, steampunk is a genre/subculture focusing on athestics and ideals from a utopian version of the industrial revoloution (this is a very broad generalization but after reading the book 4 times I feel that you can't talk about this book without talking about steampunk)

snow white will never be the same .......2007-02-13

this is a really good book !!! it's good for older readers who have always loved fairy tales.but this isn't just any fairy tale.there there are no 7 dwarfs but there are the lonley ones and there much better. this book has romance adverture and magic.it is well wrighten and a wonderful story. and if you enjoy this book you should read fairest by gail carson levine

Once Upon a Time is fashionable again.......2006-12-25

This is one of my favorite books. It rivals Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. It is the best novel in The Once Upon a Time series. Most authors who have redone Snow White only reword the same tale, but thankfully this is not the case in Snow. This remake has all the classical elements of Snow White, but the story is completly differnet with new plots, characters, and an interesting ending. The only set back is that the charcters' conciseness are not deeply examined, but I believe it is written that way to give it the fairy tale feel. I have read it twice, and each time in two days. If you decide not to read this book then you do not know what you are missing.

The Sheikh and the Runaway Princess (Desert Rogues, No. 4)

Average customer rating:

From a desert storm......fire, passion and love
Worth a few chuckles!
Challenges to being royal and overcoming it to find love...
Great fun! Very highly recommended
A variation on the sheik theme

The Sheikh and the Runaway Princess (Desert Rogues, No. 4)
Susan Mallery
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373244304

Customer Reviews:

From a desert storm......fire, passion and love.......2005-11-09

Princess Sabrina Johnson storms out of the Bahania palace; angry with her father who had betrothed her to someone she didn't even know. As she never had a relationship with her neither father nor brothers and felt left out of her family, she decides to go in search of the City of Thieves and its supposed treasure. While being trapped in a desert storm, she is rescued by a stranger who makes her his slave. Unbeknown to Sabrina, this man is Prince Kardal Khan (her betrothed) and he finds her foolish and believes what he has read about her, that she is a spoiled and promiscuous American. However, all Sabrina's ever wanted out of life is to belong instead of being shuffled and ignored by her American mother and father, King Hassan of Bahania.

As they journey to their final destination, the Princes' home, she finds out that not only is he a Prince, but the Prince of the City of Thieves. He makes her his slave and allows her to stay and study the treasure within the walls of his palace.

As their story unfolds, they both learn so much about each other, and Prince Kardal realizes that Sabrina is not the spoiled person he thought she was but a lovely woman and a virgin as well. Sabrina is captivated by him, frightened of her attraction to him as she realizes her duty is to her father, country and future husband. She also learns that Kardal was raised without a father and even though he is close to his mother, and adored his Grandfather who raised him, he does not believe in love but hopes for a marriage of respect and heirs. When he finds out that his father is King Givon of El Bahar, everything becomes complicated and he turns to Sabrina.

Their story becomes one of fire, passion and complications. Sabrina feels also betrayed by her father who does not come to rescue her and Kardal who she learns has made a bargain with her father that she will be Kardal's wife. There are many twists and turns to this story but in the end yet another wonderful addition to the Desert Rogues series, tying in the kingdoms of El Bahar, Bahania and The City of Thieves.

Book Summary:

When half-American Princess Sabra (aka Sabrina Johnson) is kidnapped by Prince Kardal Khan while searching for the legendary City of Thieves, she soon realizes that his heated touch makes her body betray her recklessly.

She doesn't want to feel cared for in her captor's tender embrace. After living a lonely life, rejected by her father--King Hassan--and treated dismissively by her mother, all she's ever wanted was someone to love her. But falling for the sexy Sheik, otherwise known as the Prince of the City of Thieves, was simply out of the question!

The virile Sheik didn't consider kidnapping Sabrina an act of theft; he was claiming what was rightfully his. Unbeknownst to the fiery beauty, she had been betrothed to be his wife!

Worth a few chuckles!.......2003-03-26

If you enjoy Susan Mallery's writing, then you will love this one!! A under-appreciated, virgin princess runs away from home, is rescued by the fiance she doesn't know she has and installed in his desert fortress as his slave and the story takes off from there... this is the first in a new trillogy by Ms. Mallery and it sets the stage for the other 2 wonderful little books. I'm sure you'll find all three a entertaining read as I did.

Challenges to being royal and overcoming it to find love..........2001-12-10

This book had a good beginning and end but gets a little too slow in the middle. It has some good twists & turns to keep you interested in the story. Prince Kardal and Princess Sabra meet each other under unusual circumstances and get off to a bad start with each other. Although he knows who she is immediately she has no idea who he is and Prince Kardal keeps her in the dark about their betrothal throughout most of the book while they go through a series of misunderstandings.

Prince Kardal is ruler of a mythical secret city called the "City of Thieves" filled with stolen treasures from many countries around the world. Princess Sabra is the daughter of a King from a neighboring nation to the City of Thieves that works closely with Prince Kardal. She was raised in America, after her parents had a disasterous short marriage, with her mother and only spent summers in the palace. Her half brothers and father ignore her because they assume she is a wild woman without morals just like her mother which isn't true.

Princess Sabra's father arranges a marriage with Prince Kardal without her consent and when he tries to tell her the details she gets so upset that she runs away to find the mythical city she's always dreamed of finding. The story begins with him finding her lost in the desert. He decides to play a game with her and make her his slave while keeping her in the City of Thieves. Once they start to get to know each other things pick up but when Princess Sabra tells him she loves him he doesn't respond back so she runs away again. In the end he admits how he feels with the help of his mother, her father (who he tells off for neglecting Princess Sabra all her life) & his father (who has ignored him all his life.)

Great fun! Very highly recommended.......2001-12-06

When he discovers the woman wandering alone in the desert following a sand storm, Prince Kardal Khan recognizes her immediately as Sabrina Johnson - otherwise known as Princess Sabra, King Hassan of Bahania's only daughter. She's everything he expected: willful, difficult, and spoiled. She's also his fiancée, as marriage has been arranged to promote an alliance between their people. Trapped between tradition and progress, Kardal struggles with modernity while still respecting his people's ancient ways. His assumes that his proposed wife neither respects the ancient ways, nor lives the exemplary western life he would prefer. Unfortunately, he's bound to her just the same. But she obviously doesn't know who he is, and Kardal prefers not to enlighten her right away.

Sabrina had been certain she could find the City of Thieves when she left the palace alone. Raised in California with her mother, she'd spent summers in Bahania, supposedly to learn the ways of his people. But her father ignored her, as did her brothers when they weren't teasing her unmercifully. Sabrina can't help wondering if the desert troll she's supposed to marry wouldn't be preferable to being tied and blindfolded by this desert kidnapper. She's stunned to learn their destination is the legendary City of Thieves. Shocked by the city's water supply and impressive castle, she's even more startled to learn that her captor is none other than Kardal, the Prince of Thieves. Opulence surrounds her, and if Kardal has it way, decadence as well. After all, her antics in California are well documented, and it's never occurred to him that she truly might be an innocent.

Susan Mallery creates fabulous fantasy material in THE SHEIK AND THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS. The characterizations are at once outlandish and believable. The fiery heroine finds the prince of her dreams, despite slave bracelets and an unearned poor reputation. The sexy hero's path to believing in love proves to be impetuous, challenging and absolutely delightful as he goes from finding Sabrina lacking, to wanting her with all his heart. Indeed, Kardal plans to "tame" the princess; he grows to appreciate her instead. With an interesting plot and fabulous characterizations, THE SHEIK AND THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS is a keeper. Very highly recommended.

A variation on the sheik theme.......2001-11-06

This story is about a sheik (duh) an American-raised middle-eastern princess, and a lost city. When Princess Sabra set out to find the lost City of Thieves, and prove to her father that she had a brain and knew how to use it, she got completely lost. Prince Kardal Khan rescued her, and took her as his slave, locking her away in the same hidden city that she had been seeking -- without telling her that her father had engaged her to him, as was long-standing tradition between their countries.

The characters in the story are fascinating, and it's very nice to see them both from the same basic culture. Both characters come to understand each other through Sabrina's captivity -- then Kardal's father comes into the picture, further binding them together.

Book Description

Relive the excitement of The Runaway Rainbow movie with this reusable sticker book, featuring background scenes from the film!

Outlaw Princess of Sherwood: A Tale of Rowan Hood

Average customer rating:

A nice little book
this book is a HORROR(burns eyes do not read)
Outlaw Princess Of Sherwood
outlaw princess
The Outlaw Princess of Sherwood

Outlaw Princess of Sherwood: A Tale of Rowan Hood
Nancy Springer
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142403040

Book Description

It has been little more than a year since Etty-once Princess Ettarde, promised to the power-hungry Lord Basil-escaped from her father and joined Rowan Hood's band of misfit teens and outlaws-in-the-making. Etty is so happy, she cannot imagine returning to her old life. That is, until her father appears to reclaim her. King Solon is determined to bring Etty back to barter her hand for peace. He will do anything. Even use his wife, Ettarde's mother, as bait. In a cage. In Sherwood Forest. In winter. Etty will not stand for it. Neither will Rowan Hood. An intergenerational battle of wit, will power, and wisdom follows in this third tale of Rowan Hood.

Customer Reviews:

A nice little book.......2006-09-30

Book # 1 of this series is Rowan Hood, about Rowan and her ancillary band to Robin's in the Sherwood Forest. Book # 2 is Lionclaw. Book # 3 is this one about Princess Ettard, a 13 year old who is rescued by Rowan and friends from a marraige to a wealthy landowner. In this, there is more backstory to Etty, we find out more about her parents and why her father is the tyrant king he is. I haven't read Lionclaw, the book about Lionel, yet, but I don't *think* this novel would stand well on its own.

this book is a HORROR(burns eyes do not read).......2006-03-20

I give this book 2 stars. it started with a princess who wanted to be in an outlaw group. but the king is tring to stop her. overall th book was.......BAD! I wish there was more fighting in it. I think the book should have been more interesting. I would not recommend this book to other people. I hope I helped your with your decision.

(do not read it was horrible)(get a life)

Outlaw Princess Of Sherwood.......2006-03-20

The Outlaw Princess Of Sherwood was a great book. There were some parts that were awesome. It really reeled the reader in, but some parts were kind of boring.I would give it a 3 on a scale of 1-5. If you like adventurous books or if you like books with a lot of action, then this is the book for you. It was exciting and fun to read. I didn't know what was going to happen next.

outlaw princess.......2006-03-20

I thought that the book was good and everything but I really did'nt get it.I would recommend the book to people and friends.The book was a little messed up at the beginning but I finished the book. I think the book had alot of description of the characters.
I gave the book 3 stars becouse the book was o.k. and everything but the book was not that intresting and I didn't like when the princess was going to kill her father and she liked the mother better then her father.

The Outlaw Princess of Sherwood.......2006-03-20

I gave this book three stars because it had too much detail in some parts and that made it long and boring. In other parts it wasn't long enough. Some parts gave me a headache and made me not want to continue. I do not recommend this book

My Little Pony Crystal Princess: The Runaway Rainbow (My Little Pony)

Average customer rating:

Colorful Fun

My Little Pony Crystal Princess: The Runaway Rainbow (My Little Pony)
Nora Pelizzari
Manufacturer: HarperFestival
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061116939
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Book Description

All your favorite characters from The Runaway Rainbow movie come alive in this storybook, with scenes taken straight from the film!

Customer Reviews:

Colorful Fun.......2006-10-24

The annual Rainbow Celebration is only a day away. In Unicornia, it is Princess Rarity's job to make the season's first rainbow. While learning how to use a magic wand, she accidentally waves it too much and disappears!

Rarity meets new Breezie and Pony friends, and a wise little dragon who will help her get home. But she needs to get back before the Rainbow Celebration, or all rainbow-colored things--including the Pony Rainbow Dash--will fade! Will Rarity's new friends get her home in time?

This is an adaptation of the new animated My Little Pony(tm) video of the same name. Although Hasbro has experienced a commercial glut on My Little Pony(tm) sales, they continue to use the stories to encourage cooperation and kindness. The gentle illustrations are clear and vivid, as is expected from this line. If your child is a Pony fan, this is a worry-free selection.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
10/23/2006

Average customer rating:

adorable, well-presented tale with a twist
My kids love this book!
What a surprise this book gave my children.
A beautiful, touching, and true book.
Exceptional Book For Young Children

The Princess and the Pekinese
Trisha Adelena Howell
Manufacturer: Howell Canyon PR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Pekinese Who Saved Civilization

ASIN: 1933596961

Book Description

A princess runs away from her familys new puppy and encounters hard lessons while lost on the streets. When she is returned home, her snobbishness is replaced by an appreciation of her blessings. This story with a delightful surprise twist shows the value of love, family, self-insight and acceptance of others. Full-color picture book. Ages to adult.

Customer Reviews:

adorable, well-presented tale with a twist.......2005-03-17

Trisha Howell's children's books are always layered, with the sweetest stuff underneath the froth on top. Kids will love the "princess" and identify with her rebellion against changes outside her control ... doesn't that happen to every kid? And the sweet, humorous resolution will bring a smile to the face of every reader. Highly recommended.

My kids love this book!.......2005-01-06

My kids love this book!

This book is gorgeous! Trisha Howell did a wonderful job, writing a short meaningful children's story about 2 dogs that rings the importance of sharing and loving each other. All book lovers and parents: I highly recommend you get this book!

And by the way, the quality of this book is super. You should buy it just for the art!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works

What a surprise this book gave my children........2005-01-03

The Princess and the Pekinese was a delightful book. My children loved the surprise of who a main character actually was. They performed a magical puppet show based on the book. I know when a book touches my children because it brings out wonderful creativity in drawings or activities they do afterwards, and this book definitely did.

A beautiful, touching, and true book........2005-01-01

Princess Lillian is a regal little Yorkie who is at the center of her family's love and attention. Then they get a new puppy, and she cannot stand the attention he gets -- or gives her. So she runs away. By the time she returns, she has learned to appreciate the blessings she has.

This is such a beautiful book, from the story to the illustrations. If you have ever had two (or more) dogs, you appreciate the complex relations between them. They truly have their own personalities, and their own objectives. The relationship between Princess Lillian and the Pekinese rings true.

For anyone -- dog lovers or just lovers, of all ages -- this book will touch your heart. And when you read what inspired Trisha to write this story, it will move you.

Exceptional Book For Young Children.......2004-12-03

This is a Trisha Howell classic. Like all of her books, it presents life in its whimsical and glowing aspects. I have enjoyed reading it to several children.

Average customer rating:

charming story

Runaway Princess
Milly Howard
Manufacturer: BJU Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0890844658

Book Description

Princess Brenna has been imprisoned by her ruthless uncle, Prince Zoran, who seized her rightful place on the throne. When the young princess manages to escape from the castle tower disguised as servant girl, she wants only to keep her freedom. In the forest near the castle, she meets a twisted old man named Quintag and a boy who is a juggler. Although this strange pair seems willing to help her, she wonders why they would risk the wrath of Prince Zoran for a mere servant girl. Alarmed by the dark riders that dog her trail, and dismayed by the knowledge that even Quintag may have betrayed her, she dares not entrust her life to anyone.

As Brenna searches bravely for her freedom, she learns to love and to trust, to accept a responsibility that she doesn't want, and to yield to God's will for her life.

Customer Reviews:

charming story.......2000-12-23

My parents gave me this book when I was seven. It was a favorite for years, and now I am saving it for when my neice is old enough to read. Although I'm not sure how appealing it is to boys, every little girl will love the story, full of royalty and disguises, and as the title implies, running away from home.

Snow: A Retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (Once Upon a Time)

Average customer rating:

Plot was jumpy and strange, writing okay, wasn't impressed
"These Two Came with a Riddle, and Have Already Paid the Price for their Answer Already..."
"Snow White" Revisited
A wonderful twist to a beloved story

Snow: A Retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (Once Upon a Time)
Tracy Lynn
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416940154

Book Description

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

IS TIMELESS

The Duchess Jessica's childhood began with a tragedy: her mother's death. Her father, heartbroken at the loss of his beloved wife, could not bear to raise the child. Largely ignored, Jessica spent the first eleven years of her life running free on the family estate, cared for only by the servants.

Then her father decides to remarry, bringing an end to Jessica's independence. At first her new stepmother just seems overly strict. But as Jessica grows into a beautiful young woman, it becomes clear that her stepmother is also wildly -- and murderously -- jealous of her.

Jessica escapes to London. Going by the name Snow to hide from her family, she falls in love with an odd band of outcasts who accept her into their makeshift family. But when her stepmother appears in the city, repentant and seeking her forgiveness, Jessica will have to decide whom to trust...with her life.

Customer Reviews:

Plot was jumpy and strange, writing okay, wasn't impressed.......2007-10-02

Overall I disliked this book quite a lot. It is a retelling of Snow White set in the 19th century, with admittedly many interesting twists and plot points not found in the traditional fairy tale, with no silly dwarves to speak of. It kept me entertained enough to keep reading, but barely, and mostly because I am not a person who will put down a book before finishing it. For the record - I'm the 14-year-old daughter of this account holder, and have been an avid reader for a long time. But back to the book.

The author is clearly skilled in language, but her writing still needs a lot of refining. I didn't think it was much better than a talented teenager could do. The sentences didn't flow very well, there was a lot of rather confusing transition from narration to characters' thoughts, and oftentimes, in the middle of narration appropriate to what it would be like in the 1800s, I would come upon a modern phrase that definitely didn't belong. Several times the phrase "hang out" would appear joltingly, and I'm certain no one used that phrase back then! This affected the realism of the setting, and made the time period less believable when I'd catch snippets of modern language all over. The story was lacking in good description of its characters and left me wanting more effective description everywhere.

The storyline would sometimes start quickly and go very fast, but then stop and be slow, and then start again suddenly. I felt like I was being pulled along in a car that kept hitting its brakes and then accelerating at odd intervals. The main character of Jessica/Snow really had no personality, which is the key to getting readers to like a character. I found that I didn't really like her or care about her that much, cruel as it seems. Creating likeable characters is essential for an author to accomplish to keep a reader hooked. When Jessica was young she just seemed silly, and when she was old, she was boring and, in some instances, still silly. The love story that unravelled leads me back to the car analogy, with the stopping and going suddenly and erratically. The author would lead me to believe that certain characters would be love interests for Snow, but then suddenly those ideas would be dashed and I'd be left saying, "Wha-??". The love story started out slow so you'd hardly know it was there, then all of a sudden it accelerated quickly and I was thinking, "When did that happen?". Characters were introduced suddenly when the book was almost over, and I thought they would be significant, but they really were annoyingly pointless. The author tried to have a modern take on the story, with the Duchess being a scientist instead of a witch, but the story seemed out of place and all wrong like this, and the "scientific" elements of the story just seemed dumb and far-fetched. But enough of that.

The book isn't all bad. The story was interesting enough, with the neglected Jessica being mostly raised in the kitchens of her estate, hardly knowing or caring that she is the heir to it all. She frolics with the boys and lives a carefree life, until the Duchess arrives. The Duchess seems nice enough at first, but turns out to be cruel and scheming. As she tries harder to give the duke an heir, using her own scientific methods, she becomes more desperate, and more cruel towards Jessica. Eventually she imprisons Jessica (for reasons that seemed dumb and made no sense to me) and forces her to do servant work. Jessica finally flees, taking refuge with The Lonely Ones, a group of thieves in London who have their own secrets. There she lives until she hears of the Duchess again, and realizes her own longing for the mother she never had.

As I was reading the book I figured it deserved 3 stars in a review. That is, until I got close to the end. All - and I mean ALL! - problems in the story seemed to be resolved with an infuriatingly low amount of conflict. Suddenly all seemed to be well, and I felt like throwing the book accross the room! The ending itself was completely lame, and left me wondering why on earth I didn't stop reading the book after the first few chapters. Perhaps I am hard to please, but I definitely do not recommend this book.

"These Two Came with a Riddle, and Have Already Paid the Price for their Answer Already...".......2007-07-21

The "Once Upon a Time" series is concerned with taking the traditional plot-points of traditional fairytales, updating them to a contemporary setting (or rather, a more contemporary setting than the typical medieval time-period; this one for example is set in the Victorian Era) and replacing the fantasy elements with more rational explanations for the weird-and-wonderful events that take place. "Snow" is obviously inspired by the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Tracy Lynn does an above-average job of updating the story, whilst still maintaining a fairytale atmosphere to the proceedings.

Jessica is born to a Duke and Duchess in the Wales countryside, though with her birth comes her mother's death. Shunned by her father, Jessica is raised by the servants of Kenigh Hall until the arrival of Lady Anne Mandagor, her new stepmother. Though they tentatively get along at first, Anne's obsession with youth and beauty - as well as begetting a male heir - eventually puts Jessica in danger. Disregarded by her father, and forced to grow into womanhood on her own, Jessica is eventually forced to flee to England under the alias of "Snow." Also in the mix is Alan McDonald, a musician given to Anne on her wedding day, who becomes both friend to Jessica and confidant to Anne, his silence assured by a necklace that his mistress secures around his neck.

As Snow, Jessica falls into the company of five odd beings who calls themselves "the Lonely Ones," creatures who seem to be half-human, half-animal. Agreeing to look after their underground home whilst they go about their dodgy business in the streets above, Snow finds a home for herself in their strange company. But when her stepmother reappears in the city, apparently seeking repentance, Snow remembers what it was like to be Jessica, and finds herself longing for the life she lost. But is Anne really to be trusted?

"Snow" is quite a choppy book, flitting from one scene to another, and introducing characters quite late in the story, but on the whole I quite enjoyed it (and the random nature of the story helped keep it independent from the predicable source material). Lynn is especially creative in updating the magical components of the story, with Anne's pseudo-scientific material, and new ideas for the magic mirror, seven dwarfs, Snow's death-like slumber and the awakening kiss. There's even a character called the Clockwork Man who is a strange amalgamation of human and machine. It's all a little far-fetched - (although it's not "fantasy", the components that Lynn uses could easily be called "fantasy-science"), but it works reasonably well within the context and mood of the story.

Lynn also does some interesting things with the pacing of her story: some chapters are placed out of sequence, others are devoted entirely to a letter or a ballad, others are called "interludes" - placed between chapters and usually containing the points-of-view of other characters. Another chapter is divided into times, chronicling the events of the day, and yet another is a poetic description of the dreams that Snow experiencing whilst in her slumber.

Although nothing groundbreaking or unforgettable, this is a pleasant and well-written version of the Snow White fairytale, and kept me entertained throughout.

One last thing: the covers of these series are designed by the truly gifted K. Y. Craft (check out her talents in such picture books as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella) who makes the unusual, but innovative decision to illustrate these covers with images of the heroine's bodices. It makes for a mysterious, sexy and evocative set of cover art.

"Snow White" Revisited.......2007-07-16

When I first opened "Snow", I didn't expect to like it much. The plot in the first couple of chapters moved much too fast, and the writing seemed overwrought. However, the more I read of the book, the more I enjoyed it.

"Snow"'s strongest point is its characters. Jessica/Snow may be the most realistic heroine I've ever read. She loves to run around and play with her servant friends, but she also enjoys the luxuries of being a duchess. She is spoiled and often arrogant in the first part of the novel, and she can be a little annoying, but I felt that this was how a real girl might act in her situation. She grows well after she leaves home too. The Duchess is also an interesting character. Tracey Lynn must have been with the feminist literary analysis of "Snow White", because "Snow" shows the Duchess' fears about becoming old and therefore useless to society, and this is what her jealously springs from. She is a likable character even though she is a villain, almost humorous in parts.

I liked the plot too. The book takes a turn for the weird when Jessica/Snow runs away and takes up with five unusual thieves. These are the strangest dwarves you've ever seen. I didn't like them so much at first, but I got used to them.

The book has a happy ending, though the romance was a little under-developed, and you may be left wishing that Snow had ended up with someone else. But overall, this was a very satisfying read.

A wonderful twist to a beloved story.......2007-05-07

Jessica was never loved by her father, being to blame for the death of her mother. Being ignore by her father, Jessica grew up with the servants. Once her father married Anne, her world changes. Jessica grows up, somewhat of a lady with her friend Alan, a scottish fiddler who was a present to Anne. After Anne tries to kill Jessica, Jessica runs off to London and runs in with five people who have characteristcs of animals. Instead of Jessica, she goes by Snow, a nickname that Davey, a servant boy, gave her. Here, she makes and lives with the five until her stepmother comes to try to "mend" things with Snow.

I wasn't sure how this book was going to be. I first read Beauty Sleep and then picked up this one because I knew the story of Snow White. When reading it, I found it gripping and I couldn't put it down. Once she ran off and found Sparrow, Cat, Mouser, Chauncey and Raven I could not put this book down. There aren't 7 people who look after her, but 5/6 so I'm not that picky. The twists that Tracy threw into this book really makes the story original in a retelling sort of way. It was an amazing book and once I finished it, I HAD to go back and read my favorite parts. Amazing book.

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