One of Cara Colter's best. A joyous romance
Her Royal Wedding Wish is my favorite by this author to date. As she pits a weary hardened soldier against a pampered princess, Cara Colter joins an innocent, almost childlike freshness of life with a hardened soldier who carries a past of sadness and disappointment in his heart. Through her heroine's eye, Cara Colter stands the Cinderella fantasy on its head, allowing the modern woman reader desiring escape, to rediscover some of the joys and freedom in the small daily acts that seem to be a chore. As the royal princess becomes a full person choosing to be independent, Cara Colter gives the reader a beautiful and powerful look into the power of a woman who lives life to the fullest in every moment. Cara Colter doesn't stop there, however, but takes this image beyond simple notions of independence. Several moving passages about the chemistry between the hero and the heroine develop a portrait of romance that includes independence and intimacy, bliss not surrender. The final scenes when the Princess must return home and confront her intended Prince Mahail are priceless, packed with humor, spunk and emotion.
This particular one is my favorite of the three I have read by this author. Here, the narrative has a different tone --- smoother, more gradual feel. The breakthrough moment feels richer and more spiritual (not religious). At the same time, this romance is full of joy. I laughed and smiled as the heroine found herself. Don't get me wrong, I loved all three of my Cara Colter reads, but this particular romance just made me see my own life through a news lens, a prism that made annoying moments in life happier and full of life.
From the sad but heart-felt Dear Reader note and dedication that prefaces her romance to the images of cats interlaced at emotional points in the story, this romance will have an added emotional effect on cat lovers!
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Speaking of my own joy.....I am going to try to write shorter reviews for a bit and save my longer reviews for another time or place. I need to change things. I have lots of work to do to catch up from Glenn being sick and then a round of antibiotics for me completely messing up my routine sleep/eating patterns. As the Challenge grows in size, I think shorter reviews just are more appropriate maybe for this website. I am not going to stop writing longer reviews... I just need to experiment here since the goal of adding quantity to the count seems to conflict with my personal goals. It just seems more appropriate to reserve my longer reviews for a different place and maybe save myself time and stress in the process.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
I remember this as being a
I remember this as being a delightful romp--I really enjoyed this book!
Nancy
Merri....
As always, you did great with this review. I've only read one book by Cara Colter - The playboy and the Plain Jane, but I've seen this one on eHarl and thought seriously of ordering it. So, after reading this I believe I will!
You sound as though you feel the same way about your reviews as I do about mine. I've been out of state on vacation and have four books to now review for - one of them I already posted. It exhausts me to write one lengthy one right after the other. Yet, it's so darned hard to do the book justice unless I write up a long version. *Sigh* I'm afraid it's going to take lots of practice in order to whittle my reviews down.
BTW, I'm sorry to hear that you're under the weather now, too, on top of your DH's food poisoning illness. I hope you feel better soon, Merri! Take care.
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
- Mark Twain
Cara Colter
Amanda and Nancy, this book felt like heaven to me. It's my favorite by her so far. If I had to pick one word for it, I'd choose JOY. Not just my reading experience but the romance itself.
I am so far behind in my HR reads because the shipping got bunched up one month but this is really one of my favorite lines. I do like darker books but this line just hits the spot too.
Yes, I do need to experiment with review forms. I like writing longer reviews and plqn to do it but it takes me a lot of energy to write the longer ones, esp. emotional energy because I get so into the books I love and wanting to capture their true essence or whatever. When I am really hot, I can write maybe 2 of the longer ones a day .
Nancy, I am better. I had a reaction to 2 antibiotics last year when I got spider bite so I am very happy I made it through a whole round of this one without having to stop/change. I need some rejuvenation...HRs are great for that! Emotional and fulfilling and rejuvenating.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
Merri: I'm sorry I didn't
Merri:
I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner, but I spent the past weekend at a folk music festival. I'm just now catching up.
I'm glad you were able to get through this round of antibiotics, especially considering your history.
Nancy