Rating: 
Summary: Reviews & a Summary!
Review: "Five Stars!!" - Affaire de Coeur "Never has reincarnation been told in such a beautiful way. Ms Cross turns humor, love, murder, and reincarnation into a work of art! Take a bow, Claire, this is STUNNING! Five Bells!!!" - Bell Book & Candle Scotland -
For over a thousand years - so legend has it - the brambles have grown wild over the ruins of Dunhelm Castle. Many believed that the thorns were a sign that the castle was cursed, so no one dared to trespass, and the secrets that they protected and concealed have remained hidden - until Baird Beauforte arrives and decides to find out the truth... Claire Cross also writes as Claire Delacroix!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad in a fairy tale sort of way
Review: Aurelia and Baird's story is a light fairy tale type story, which works, if you like this sort of writing/book. This Sleeping Beauty theme tries to be successful by using the juxtaposition of two people separated by1200 years. Our heroine falls asleep after pricking her thumb and after a 1200 year break (which is later explained), our prince charming finally awakens our princess. Everything revolves around legends, prophecies and reincarnation, so if you do not like these explanations, or feel a book gets stale when everything has been prophesized, you will not find this plot a good one to read. I liked the fact that Aurelia assumes that she had just awoken from a nap and judges everything that happens around her by her 9th century beliefs. She looks for her father, whom she believes is prisoner of her enemy, Bard (Ms. Cross uses a slight change spelling on our hero and enemy's name) and explains all of the changes she sees by Bard's sorcery. In a society that had many conquerors and blended many different religious beliefs (Norse, Christian, Celtic and "pagan"), weird happenings could have easily been explained by magic, sorcery or witchcraft. She holds everyone in the modern world to the customs of the 800's, and it is interesting to see how she interprets things. Baird now owns the castle (which Aurelia assumes he got as Bard by conquering it, though he bought it in modern times to build a hotel) so when he talks to his interior designer, Aurelia assumes that "king" Baird is lavishing his largesse on his layman. Why else would a woman dress like Marissa and be allowed to spend the kings money so freely? There are many more such "misunderstandings" and I think that most of them are well done. Like others though, my biggest criticism of the book is that it took Aurelia SO long to figure out what happened, especially since she knew the prophecy. I am not so sure I liked the fact that our key players had selective memories, or some remembered all of the past and others did not. Except for ease of writing the plot, there seemed to be no explanation why our villain would remember his past lives and our hero would not, putting him at a distinct disadvantage. Baird could also have been a stronger character all around. For a savvy, cutthroat businessman, he did not come across that way. Probably not the best book I have ever read, but by far not the worst either.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad in a fairy tale sort of way
Review: Aurelia and Baird's story is a light fairy tale type story, which works, if you like this sort of writing/book. This Sleeping Beauty theme tries to be successful by using the juxtaposition of two people separated by1200 years. Our heroine falls asleep after pricking her thumb and after a 1200 year break (which is later explained), our prince charming finally awakens our princess. Everything revolves around legends, prophecies and reincarnation, so if you do not like these explanations, or feel a book gets stale when everything has been prophesized, you will not find this plot a good one to read. I liked the fact that Aurelia assumes that she had just awoken from a nap and judges everything that happens around her by her 9th century beliefs. She looks for her father, whom she believes is prisoner of her enemy, Bard (Ms. Cross uses a slight change spelling on our hero and enemy's name) and explains all of the changes she sees by Bard's sorcery. In a society that had many conquerors and blended many different religious beliefs (Norse, Christian, Celtic and "pagan"), weird happenings could have easily been explained by magic, sorcery or witchcraft. She holds everyone in the modern world to the customs of the 800's, and it is interesting to see how she interprets things. Baird now owns the castle (which Aurelia assumes he got as Bard by conquering it, though he bought it in modern times to build a hotel) so when he talks to his interior designer, Aurelia assumes that "king" Baird is lavishing his largesse on his layman. Why else would a woman dress like Marissa and be allowed to spend the kings money so freely? There are many more such "misunderstandings" and I think that most of them are well done. Like others though, my biggest criticism of the book is that it took Aurelia SO long to figure out what happened, especially since she knew the prophecy. I am not so sure I liked the fact that our key players had selective memories, or some remembered all of the past and others did not. Except for ease of writing the plot, there seemed to be no explanation why our villain would remember his past lives and our hero would not, putting him at a distinct disadvantage. Baird could also have been a stronger character all around. For a savvy, cutthroat businessman, he did not come across that way. Probably not the best book I have ever read, but by far not the worst either.
Rating:
Summary: New Agey Romance: Starts off well, but falls flat
Review: Aurelia is a pictish princess. (If there is such a thing), when a mystic prophecy causes her to awaken in the future, she falls in love with the owner of her castle even though she believes him to be the man who killed her brother. Baird Beauforte (terribly name), is opening a hotel bed and breakfast, and during renovations stumbles across Aurelia's crypt. When he wakens her with a kiss, she becomes his guest at the castle. Despite myself, I liked this book, at least the first part. Aurelia was an endearing character despite the phoney new-age mystic fluff added to pad the plot. I particularly enjoyed her 'exploration' of the outside world, and the character of Julian. Things I didn't like? Aurelia's age isn't mentioned anywhere in the plot. I have difficulty getting into romances if I don't know the basics of the main characters. Also, I liked the character of Marissa. I wished she and Aurelia could have been friends rather than fighting over Baird. Number 1 peeve: Baird! This character had zero personality, and the romance between him and Aurelia was unbelievable. Aurelia was too immature and naive for me to consider the romance with a modern man credible (or satisfying). Finally: Julian. The romance between him and Marissa seemed an afterthought. The author would've given SOME indication these characters were attracted to each other early on. Started off 4 stars, but ended up being merely an average novel with some good points.
Rating: 
Summary: A book worth reading
Review: I enjoyed reading this book, and would suggest it to others looking for a good romantic novel . . .If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever
Rating: 
Summary: Simple
Review: I hate to trash a book but I agree with the other readers who found it uninteresting. There's far better books to read.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL......
Review: I liked this book,it had a mixture of humor ,romance and fantasy.Aurelia a princess from the 9th century was woken by a kiss after a long sleep into the present day.I won't spoil the story but if you are looking for a sleeping beauty,prince charming and ofcourse a villain this is the book.I truly enjoyed reading it.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL
Review: I liked this book,it had a mixture of humor ,romance and fantasy.If you are looking for a sleeping beauty, prince charming and ofcourse a villain then this is the book.I truly enjoyed reading it.
Rating:
Summary: A book worth reading
Review: I really, really, reaaly did not enjoy this book. From the very first chapter is was a total disapoitment, and hate the fact that I spend my money on it. I though that it would be a bit more lively. The heroine is an insipid mouse and I could not even find a sparkle with the hero. Talk about lame. Defenetly NOT a book for those inteested in Fantasy!
Rating:
Summary: Even one star is too much!
Review: I really, really, reaaly did not enjoy this book. From the very first chapter is was a total disapoitment, and hate the fact that I spend my money on it. I though that it would be a bit more lively. The heroine is an insipid mouse and I could not even find a sparkle with the hero. Talk about lame. Defenetly NOT a book for those inteested in Fantasy!
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