Love Romance Passion » Cinderella http://www.loveromancepassion.com Because Books Don't Fall Asleep Afterwards! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Movie Review: Ever After starring Drew Barrymore, Dougray Scott, and Anjelica Huston http://www.loveromancepassion.com/movie-review-ever-after-starring-drew-barrymore-dougray-scott-and-anjelica-huston/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/movie-review-ever-after-starring-drew-barrymore-dougray-scott-and-anjelica-huston/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:14:26 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=126

Ever After has been one of my all time favorite romantic comedies. Drew Barrymore is at her best in this Cinderella spinoff (the first of a long string that soon followed.) Her prince is played by Dougray Scott, a very handsome devil that captures the sulky spoiled regent character very well.

This movie is one of those movies takes place in France but everyone speaks English. Good thing too or you’d miss out on a lot of the subtle and fun expressions this cast of characters do on a regular basis throughout the movie. My favorite one is the sly glance Jacqueline gives near the very end. She’s a wonderful supporting character that you’ll love to watch.

Danielle, Drew Barrymore, losses her father at the tender age of eight. The very day following his first night with his new wife, the Baroness, played by Anjelica Huston. You would expect poison or some other form of trickery, but this is never revealed. From that moment forward Danielle’s life is changed irrevocably from the life of a wealthy merchant’s daughter to the unloved and unwelcomed position of an unpaid servant in her stepmother’s home.

Meanwhile, Prince Henry has lived a relatively easy life until his father has made the unpardonable declaration that he is to wed some Spanish princess he has never met. Horrified by this backward thinking, Henry runs away (and this is not the first time he’s run off either). He encounters Danielle during this mad escape when she knocks him off his stolen horse. Paying her for her silence of his passing, Henry takes off again as if the very devil were after him.

everafter

The money paid for her silence heavy in her pocket, Danielle runs back to the manor excited and bubbly at the prospect at being able to save a man who has been servant, friend, and father figure in her life. A daring plan to dress above her station and a sharp-tongued speech directed at his royal highness insure the release of her old friend but starts a delightfully enchanting tale of cat and mouse between Henry and Danielle as he pursues and she flees until finally she is caught.

If you’re looking for a Cinderella tale that features a headstrong, book-read, saucy female lead this is the movie for you.

Rating: ★★★★★

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There are a bunch of novels by Jill Barnett that are being released specifically for ebook format this year and Bewitching was one of them. I found out later after accepting a review copy that Bewitching is considered one of the all time best romances written and I can certainly see why.

It’s the story of a rejected Duke and a bumbling witch. Normally a story like this would fall under the heading of paranormal but it’s clearly more fantasy than anything else with the layer of the Cinderella tale winding its way through the novel. There’s even a witch godmother.

Alec, the Duke of Belmore, was told the next woman he met he would marry by an old flower seller. This is something he scoffs at because he’s planning to leave London, and its fickle debutants behind, for his hunting lodge with his friends. Not a female in sight.

Joyous Fiona MacQuarrie (Scottish) is terrible when it comes to controlling her magic. Even with a familiar, and help from her aunt, she still messes things up. Her latest mishap was a traveling spell that would take her to Surrey and instead lands her on top of a Duke.

At a small coaching inn, a gaggle of gossipy ton members arrives and to save face the Duke asks Joy to be his wife. She tries to tell him this is impossible and tries to warn him she’s a witch but he doesn’t heed her and convinces her yes is the only possible acceptable answer.

Let’s just say their wedding night comes as a surprise. *g* :P

When they finally do have sex, Scottish is hilarious when she thanks Alec for wielding his own magic and making himself smaller so they could fit together...

Barnett weaves a story that is both spellbinding and enchanting. It’s tender and sensual and sweeter than dozens of pink rose petals. Her writing is poetic and fun with clever twists and turns of phrase. If you haven’t had a chance to read this story you must as I believe it to be one of the classics.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: Bewitching (print), (ebook)

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I love Cinderella. I don’t really know anybody who doesn’t adore this type of character. Her story is one of rags to riches; poor in money but rich in love. Take her story, a timeless classic, and add Rodgers and Hammerstein to the mix and you have a hit musical. I love all versions of this musical but my all time favorite stars quite a cast of famous names including: Brandy Norwood, Bernadette Peters, Veanne Cox, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Whitney Houston, and Natalie Desselle.

In this version three new songs are added to the mix. They’re fun, uplifting, and just exciting to watch on screen. The first to appear is ‘The Deepest Love in all the World,’ sung by Brandy Norwood and Paolo Montalban. This song occurs just before they first meet in the market and it’s completely wonderful. It is probably my favorite song in the whole production. The next addition is ‘Falling in Love with Love,’ sung by the unparalleled Bernadette Peters. You really get to know the Stepmother in this sequence. The last is probably my least favorite, but it occurs at the very end of the movie in all the wrap-up so you can easily ignore it and that is ‘The Music in You’ sung by Whitney Houston.

I love the multi-ethnic casting! An Asian prince, a Caucasian king, a Black queen, and so on. Jason Alexander as the prince’s valet is spectacularly funny. Whoopi plays a wonderfully concerned queenly mother who just happens to always want her own way. Wink. Brandy is charming as Cinderella. She really makes you feel that she is Cinderella; her eyes are very expressive. Everyone was wonderful, so even as you recognize them on screen or try to figure out who they are the acting pulls you back into the movie before you can say Bibbity Bobbity Boo.

The choreography, costumes, singing, dialogue is colorful, spirited, enchanting, and just wow. Honestly, if you’re looking for a gift for your daughter, sister, or friend you can’t go wrong picking this movie out. It’s a feel good, put a spring in your step happy movie that gets you singing and dancing around the room just so you can join in the festivities.

Rating: ★★★★★

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bookreview

Once upon a time, in a land far far away a beautiful girl by the name of Mariella decides to find herself a husband. Not just any husband mind you – but one that will be rich enough to provide her with a sense of freedom. She would love to wake up in the morning whenever she wanted to get up, spend the day pursuing whatever she felt like pursuing, and live a relatively carefree life that up to now she has not had. To find the husband she desires Mariella attends the balls set out for Prince Teodor’s wife hunt.

Never in all her wild imaginings did Mariella expect to find herself kissing the confused but eager Prince. She wasn’t looking to elevate herself in society to the point where wealth became an obligation – and with all the other girls vying for his attention she hadn’t expected him to gravitate toward her! What’s a girl to do when the devilishly good looking Prince proposes? By switching roles – I mean the rules – of course!

In the Glass Stiletto you will find what I think is light D/S. They play with ribbons and take turns being submissive (Teodor more so than Mariella.) Beyond that there aren’t any kinks that I think could possibly be offensive to anyone. There are a few words used in these scenes I would have switched out – surprisingly one of them is sexy; for the setting and the time period I felt seductive would have been more appropriate. Still, it’s hardly enough to nitpick.

I really, really, enjoyed listening the narration of the Glass Stiletto. It made all the difference. The acting in the bedroom was wonderful and a wicked thrill. Kenley knows how to tell a steamy tale that is for sure! If you’re listening in your car, the story may just fog your windows it’s so delightfully naughty.

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy the audio here!

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bookreview

The second Georgette Heyer novel that I read was a lot easier to get through. It helped that there was few if any references to my lord or my lady in the narrative. The diction used is as exacting and up there as Devil’s Cub. This novel was longer but I read it in less time devouring it with enthusiasm. I do have one question, when did the term Tom, Dick, and Harry first get used? Heyer used it in the novel and I thought it was a modern term not one that dated back to the Regency period.

In a single sentence Friday’s Child is a fantastic tale of a poor besotted girl and a rich spoiled Viscount. Lord Anthony Sherington, Sherry to his friends, is in a pickle. He has a few years left on his trust until he can access his money in full. Worse, both of the two uncles managing his estate are not doing so in his best interest; one is negligent and the other is pulling money aside to feather his cap. Sherry has gambling debts to pay and refuses to get another loan from loan sharks. His idea is to marry.

Of course Sherry goes after the Incomparable Beauty of the season, a girl from his past that he has known all his life who also happens to be an heiress. Sherry is just one of the men that float around the Incomparable, others vying for her affections include a Duke, a nasty man who disguises his true face underneath a mask of charm, and a volatile soul who also happens to be Sherry’s friend George. (George for his part loves Isabella, the Incomparable Beauty and tries his hardest to gain her affections throughout the book.)

When the Incomparable turns him down flat, Sherry in a fit of pique vows to marry the first girl he sees. That girl is the penniless Miss Hero Wantage. Hero has also known Sherry all her life and when she was younger she used to follow Sherry around and be his fetch and go girl. They marry in London through a special license with Sherry’s friends as witnesses. Sherry nicknames Hero and everyone starts to call her Kitten by this point.

Well Kitten gets into scrape after scrape not meaning to do so but unable to stop herself. She doesn’t know the rules of society having been bred as the poor relation in her cousin’s home with the idea she would become a governess. All of Sherry’s friends are sympathetic and watch out for her the best they can – Sherry too when he pays attention. Unfortunately for Kitten one scrape gets to be one too many and Sherry explodes causing her to run away. Will spoiled Sherry realize his mistake? Will he realize he loves having her in his life? Will he find her? Will his friends help him or Kitten, whom they adore?

In short I find Heyer’s Regency set tales quite unique – we should start a Heyer Book Club! She after all has written over fifty novels, it could be fun!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Friday's Child

Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.

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bookreview

Let’s start this blog with my all time favorite romance novel, Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros. The surprising aspect of this story is that I like it despite the myriad of children presented. I am not a fan of them in most cases because I feel they’re not handled properly or serve a purpose to the story. It is not the case in Charming the Prince.

The novel is set in England during King Edward’s reign. They have just forged an alliance with France much to Lord Bannor the Bold’s displeasure. He loves war and fighting and does not know how to handle himself in times of peace. Plus he is terrified of his home life.

How could the Pride of England be terrified of his own castle? Well as I mentioned children before it is no surprise that it is his children that Bannor fears. And he should. He has twelve of the misbegotten creatures. His eldest son Desmond, is the most obnoxious one of all. Or is he? He has a soft side that Willow unlocks after a string of terrible pranks.

So speaking of Lady Willow of Bedlington, she is the Cinderella character to this tale. Her stepmother Lady Blanche treats her like a servant and nursemaid to the parcel of brats that she came into the marriage with and all the additions that came about afterwards. Willow is stigmatized into thinking she is ugly and unattractive because she does not fit into her step-family’s flaxen hair, plump bosom, wide hip beauty. Willow is French like her mother and reflects this in her tall, lithe, slender, dark hair beauty.

Her beauty presents the biggest problem to Lord Bannor, who only desires an ugly wife. He after all does not want to be tempted into love-making and begetting more of the terrifying beasts. All his good intentions however are thrown out the window the first moment he sets eyes on Willow.

Their tale is a humorous one as they both fall into the trap of misunderstandings. The pace and direction of the story changes when Willow declares war on her husband. And a war is just the sort of fire that will ignite all of Bannor’s passions.

Rating: ★★★★★

Happy readings!

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bookreview

I'm a sucker for Cinderella plots. My first one was long ago and on the state reading list for eighth graders, you've probably heard of it: Ella Enchanted. The movie by the way is nothing like the book. The only similarity was the names and locations, but this review isn't about Ella Enchanted or the discrepancies between a novel and its movie makeover. Suffice it to say I have followed the Cinderella tale to other novels and movies and heard about Cindy Ella through Twitter not quite two weeks ago.

Cindy Ella takes place in L.A. at Castle Heights High. I found it to be pretty cleverly written. It's stuff full with lots and lots of trivia that will date the book in upcoming years because it's not going to be universally known... the pop culture references include everything from 80s movies, 90s pop music, fashion labels, and celebrities.

Cindy Ella has the usual trappings of the Cinderella plot with a stepmother and stepsisters, but other than that Cindy is relatively normal. Her dad is still alive and in good health. Plus she has a half-brother named Spencer. Also, while Clarissa and the Clones Ashley and Britney are clueless outside of fashion, celebrities, and popularity, they aren't mean like their traditional counterparts. Through in a therapist to help sort it all out and Cindy leads a basically normal blended life.

Cindy Ella Gold is 15 years old and considers herself average. She might be average in looks and smarts, but she's opinionated and has a fairly sassy wit that she channels into writing letters to her school's newspaper editor. They're never published, mostly because she's unpopular and a sophomore to boot. Until now... her letter to the editor about prom puts Cindy on the Untouchable list at school. Luckily for Cindy she has two wonderful friends to help her get through the period where she is socially ostracized.

Cindy has three crushes and no outstanding dating experience. While her social crisis is taking on epic proportions she's finding herself navigating boy drama. The first crush is a boy on internet, with whom she writes and shares her thoughts and daily life with in a way similar to You've Got Mail except it's all done via instant messaging. He refuses to share his name or picture and first contacted Cindy when she was still running a blog. The second boy Cindy crushes on is a boy in her real life. He's into sports (both soccer and basketball) and considered to be the most popular guy in high school. Did I mention he was a senior? His name is Adam Silver. Lastly and most recently added to the list is her 23 year old male SAT tutor, Noah.

Will Cindy be able to juggle boys, high school, and the prom?

Rating: ★★★★☆

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bookreview2

I would never pick this book up in a secondhand bookstore because the title is strange and the cover is weirder. No wonder Harlequin puts the money and effort into consumer research. It’s all about pretty covers and catchy titles!

The romance takes place in Brazil with references to England and Portugal. Goldenhawk is the name of the hero’s best estate.

The heroine is a very plain girl. Her name is Jaine, appropriate for the phrase plain Jane. Quite often in the novel she is mistaken as a boy. I wanted to jump into the novel and tell her to grow her hair longer and wear less concealing clothes because it’s obvious she’s plain only so much as her aunt and cousin made her so.

Jaine is basically an indentured servant to her cousin and aunt. She’s an orphan and poor relation. Jaine is sent off to take the wrath of the hero as her cousin and aunt depart days before the cousin’s wedding to Pedro de Ros Zanto, a very wealthy landowner and a Duque.

Pedro is amused and determined to hire Jaine out from under her aunt. He promises a life outside of the colorless drab world she’s in and enough money to make it lucrative. Jaine accepts and becomes his son’s companion and caretaker. The son, quite frankly, reads as an excuse for her presence because even with his disability the boy never really makes a big splash or seems to have purpose.

The story is very chaste. We never see anything beyond some passionate kisses. It ends in a bittersweet way similar to Sound of Music. They’re together, but they’re leaving a lot behind in their effort to make it to safety.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Buy: The Girl At Goldenhawk

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In Eloisa James’ author note she mentions that this story is more Cinderella fairytale than historical romance. It explains the improbabilities, irregularities, and absurdities found within the pages of the story set somewhere in the Regency period. If you’re looking for a quick light Cinderella based read you will enjoy this book. If you’re looking for a more serious Cinderella story you’ll be out of luck.

Miss Kate Daltry must take over her sister’s place in meeting the head of her betrothed’s line… a prince no less. Victoria is considered the beauty and compared to Kate she is like day to night. There’s no way anybody could believe the switch, but of course they do.

Prince Gabriel suspects something is not quite it seems and is amused by Kate’s crystal clear dislike of him. With his betrothed rich princess sailing ever closer to him, Gabriel itches for freedom to make his own choices and to throw off the yoke of responsibilities that come with being royal. In Kate, he sees his opportunity to become someone different, for she cares not a fig for his title.

When he starts to truly fall for Kate he knows disaster is in the making for he needs an heiress to keep the castle and its people in top working condition and Kate has none. As Gabriel sees it, unless he gives up everything there can be no happy ending for them.

Rating: ★½☆☆☆

Buy: A Kiss at Midnight

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