Rating: 
Summary: More sitcom than romance
Review: Generally I have enjoyed this author's work, but this one was a little different. It was more like a sitcom set in medieval times than a historical romance. It's easy to imagine on network TV: "What happens when England's fiercest warrior confronts his most dangerous enemies yet - ten unruly children and a whacky new bride? Watch the hilarious adventures of Bannor the Bold, coming next week!" In short, it's full of madcap adventures and hilarious mishaps and whacky fun with Bannor the Bold and his whacky, hilarious, madcap family. Anyway, it wasn't my idea of a romance, and although it was funny in places, I don't even like to watch sitcoms, much less read them.It's not that I have a problem with a little humor in a romance novel. I like Moning, Barnett, Garwood, and many other authors who include humor in their novels. But in order for a romance to work for me, I still need a hero I can take seriously. I need to believe he's a fierce alpha male, no matter how tender he is with the heroine. Bannor is nothing but a bumbling, two-dimensional comic strip hero and there is no serious characterization in the novel to show otherwise. Other characters keep talking about how he can twist an enemy's head off with one hand, but it's always said as he cowers in fear of his bratty toddlers. We never *see* anything of the warrior he's supposed to be. In fact, we see very little of his character at all, as most of the book is taken up by the neverending buffoonery of the hero's ten children, who do and say all the sorts of cutesy, funny things that children in a sitcom do (they fight with each other, they wear out their father with "pony" rides, they demand fig pudding for breakfast, they throw tantrums and wear kettles on their heads, and so and so on and so on). It's impossible to take Bannor seriously as a person or a romantic hero - he's just an oafish straight man for the comic antics of the children and the heroine. I'll give the book three stars for some nice love scenes, although I had to really press my imagination to enjoy these, as I could do so only by forgetting the rest of the book and pretending Bannor was someone I actually cared about. Also, I like the herioine. She was well-drawn and convincing. If only she'd had a real hero to love. I wouldn't reccomend this book to those who want a hardcore romance with a hero you can fall in love with. On the other hand, if you're happy reading a light farce, as the reviews for this book would suggest many people are, you might enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming the Reader
Review: This is the first Teresa Medeiros book I'd ever read. I was unsure what to expect, and found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Medeiros doesn't spend too much time developing lurid sex scenes, but instead they're rather tastefully done. And the writing is funny and delightful. Medeiros does lean a bit on fairy tales, I've noticed, but she plays with them, and mixes them around a little bit. This story starts exactly like any Cinderella story you might read, but moves far beyond that into a charming world of Teresa Medeiros's own making. I found myself laughing and crying -- sometimes simultaneously. Medeiros has certainly found an avid fan in THIS reader! Her writing is too delightfully charming -- excuse the pun -- to even attempt resistance.
Rating: 
Summary: Speechless...
Review: This was my first time reading Teresa Medeiros. I've heard many times that she is a fantastic writer, but now that I've found it out for myself I'll always be on the look out for more of her books. This book could be somewhat compared with a Cinderella story only ten times more wonderful. Filled with delightful children, a "take your breath away" hero and a beautiful yet insecure woman... this book just has it all. What struck me at the very beginning of this book was that at page 1 I was brought almost to tears and hurting for Willow and by page 12 I was laughing hysterically and already so involved in what was going on that I couldn't put the book down! How often can you get that deeply into a book so soon? The story is woven with laugh out loud moments, tender love scenes and amazing children and secondary characters. I love how easily Teresa Medeiros incorporates humour into her story. I literally felt as though I were there watching the action. This book was refreshing and different from the typical plot lines you find in many romance novels. I have started another of her books and am finding it just as unique. I'd recommend Charming the Prince to anyone... I'm so glad I've found this author and I can't wait to collect all of her books!
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