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Fates #7
Wickedly Charming
Cinderella's Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead-end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is, until he meets up with Mellie...
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputations, why shouldn't stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she's ever met and discovers she's going about her mission all wrong...
It's only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads - and vulnerable hearts - together...
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputations, why shouldn't stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she's ever met and discovers she's going about her mission all wrong...
It's only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads - and vulnerable hearts - together...
380 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2011
39 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Kristine Grayson
53 books83 followersA pseudonym for Kristine Kathryn Rusch, other pseudonyms include:
Kris Nelscott
Kristine Dexter
Kris DeLake
Sandy Schofield
Kris Rusch
Kathryn Wesley
Kris Nelscott
Kristine Dexter
Kris DeLake
Sandy Schofield
Kris Rusch
Kathryn Wesley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 19, 2011
Many years after the happily ever afters in their stories, Snow White's 'wicked' step-mother, Mellie, is trying to change things for others who have received the same bad rep she's been saddled with and Prince Charming, now known as Dave Encanto, is struggling on after his divorced from Ella.
I really enjoyed this offbeat tale of two middlish aged faery tale characters who are living in our world. There are parts early in the story that are a bit bogged down by Mellie's angst and her anger, but both once things get roling the story ends up being sweet and heart warming and Dave is truly nerdishly charming and so much better a hero than the young shallow besotted Prince of Cinderella fame. And I liked that the maligned step-mother is the one to come to the rescue when Charming is faced with a seemingly unsolvable parenting delemma.
I was surprised to discover the mention for a sequel at the aftwerward materials in Wickedly Charming and even more surprised to find that the next book Utterly Charming is actually a story that I read several years ago and is part of a series that I really liked in which Grayson, revists faery tale characters and gives them another chance at a happily ever after. I am glad that these light (and mild) contemporary fantasy romances are getting a second turn in the spotlight.
I really enjoyed this offbeat tale of two middlish aged faery tale characters who are living in our world. There are parts early in the story that are a bit bogged down by Mellie's angst and her anger, but both once things get roling the story ends up being sweet and heart warming and Dave is truly nerdishly charming and so much better a hero than the young shallow besotted Prince of Cinderella fame. And I liked that the maligned step-mother is the one to come to the rescue when Charming is faced with a seemingly unsolvable parenting delemma.
I was surprised to discover the mention for a sequel at the aftwerward materials in Wickedly Charming and even more surprised to find that the next book Utterly Charming is actually a story that I read several years ago and is part of a series that I really liked in which Grayson, revists faery tale characters and gives them another chance at a happily ever after. I am glad that these light (and mild) contemporary fantasy romances are getting a second turn in the spotlight.
June 6, 2011
I am a huge fan of fairy tale remakes and was excited to jump into the story of Prince Charming and The Evil Stepmother. Who would think that Cinderella would get rid of that handsome Prince and that The Evil Stepmother actually had a decent bone in her old body?
If you are looking for some sexy and steamy scenes, then look elsewhere. There isn't much in the steamy department. While I enjoyed the attempt of creating a new fairy tale long after the original ended, I wasn't a huge fan of the book. It had such promise and could have been so much more, but it my opinion this book was just okay. It was an easy read with not much to absorb and the Prince was not what I was expecting as a Prince. The pace was slow in many parts of the book, making this a much longer read that it should have been. I actually struggled to finish this one where as it should have taken me no time at all.
If you are looking for a different HEA for your favorite fairy tales, then give this book a chance. It could have been that it wasn't my cup of tea since I am a huge Cinderella and Snow White fan.
If you are looking for some sexy and steamy scenes, then look elsewhere. There isn't much in the steamy department. While I enjoyed the attempt of creating a new fairy tale long after the original ended, I wasn't a huge fan of the book. It had such promise and could have been so much more, but it my opinion this book was just okay. It was an easy read with not much to absorb and the Prince was not what I was expecting as a Prince. The pace was slow in many parts of the book, making this a much longer read that it should have been. I actually struggled to finish this one where as it should have taken me no time at all.
If you are looking for a different HEA for your favorite fairy tales, then give this book a chance. It could have been that it wasn't my cup of tea since I am a huge Cinderella and Snow White fan.
October 23, 2016
I love the idea of this series, but the books never seem to quite live up to what I'm expecting.
This one has Mellie protesting fairy tale books as they are unfair to step-mothers and others. She runs into Price Charming (who is an avid reader) and they are attracted to each other but both unwilling to put themselves out. Charming feeling not charming and reeling from his divorce and trying to take care of his kids. Mellie too caught up in being a victim and not believing he could like her. This goes on for most the book (which takes place over many months) and it just gets old.
I would have rather had them get together sooner and maybe deal with some of the step-mother issues that would come up in the future.
What I find interesting is Mellie is protesting fairy tales unfair treatment of characters while this book make Cinderella, Snow White and the King out to be awful people.
This one has Mellie protesting fairy tale books as they are unfair to step-mothers and others. She runs into Price Charming (who is an avid reader) and they are attracted to each other but both unwilling to put themselves out. Charming feeling not charming and reeling from his divorce and trying to take care of his kids. Mellie too caught up in being a victim and not believing he could like her. This goes on for most the book (which takes place over many months) and it just gets old.
I would have rather had them get together sooner and maybe deal with some of the step-mother issues that would come up in the future.
What I find interesting is Mellie is protesting fairy tales unfair treatment of characters while this book make Cinderella, Snow White and the King out to be awful people.
May 16, 2016
Oh boy... The book is basically about two charming, smart, fun characters who just run around in their own mind circles figuring out if the other one is into them. It's disappointing because they've both lived for a couple of years, are mature and grown adults, why are you acting like teenagers? I want to see a story blossom, not let it be blocked by personal insecurities. Very unsatisfying.
April 29, 2011
My thoughts:
I found this book charming and sweet. It was fun to read, and I liked her takes on fairytales and what isn't always told in them.
It takes place in our world, but what we do not know is that there are more magical kingdoms in another dimension of some sort. Prince Charming left his kingdom, because what else was there to do than to wait for his dad to die. These "fairy-tale" characters also live for a long time. He went through a painful divorce with his Ella, it was not a match made in heaven. Poor Charming is sure charming but he is also a nerd that loves books (oh he won my heart at once there!), his hair is not as thick as it used to be, and as Ella pointed out his weight is no longer perfect. So he is a normal man, just still very charming, and I liked him. Then we have the wicked stepmother, yes Snow White's stepmum, though she is not as evil as those wicked Grim brothers made her out to be. There is another story there, and I did feel sorry for her and the bad rep she got. Sure she was a bit pushy at first, but she calmed down and I liked her. They were just two people with painful pasts and they wanted more to life.
After having finished this book I did hope that Grayson will go back to this world and write about more characters. What I definitely liked was when they talked about the Snow White story, because it sure is icky that the prince wanted a dead woman, what did he actually want to do to her? Oh the story will tell you, the real story. Amusing and disturbing. A great spin to stories we all know.
Conclusion:
It was an amusing story to read. Sure they were slow to fall in love, but who could blame them. But it was there from page 1 so I just had to wait for that HEA, a more realistic HEA than the fairy-tale ones they knew by heart. I would read more by this author. At the end I was charmed, wickedly charmed.
Rating:
Quick read
I found this book charming and sweet. It was fun to read, and I liked her takes on fairytales and what isn't always told in them.
It takes place in our world, but what we do not know is that there are more magical kingdoms in another dimension of some sort. Prince Charming left his kingdom, because what else was there to do than to wait for his dad to die. These "fairy-tale" characters also live for a long time. He went through a painful divorce with his Ella, it was not a match made in heaven. Poor Charming is sure charming but he is also a nerd that loves books (oh he won my heart at once there!), his hair is not as thick as it used to be, and as Ella pointed out his weight is no longer perfect. So he is a normal man, just still very charming, and I liked him. Then we have the wicked stepmother, yes Snow White's stepmum, though she is not as evil as those wicked Grim brothers made her out to be. There is another story there, and I did feel sorry for her and the bad rep she got. Sure she was a bit pushy at first, but she calmed down and I liked her. They were just two people with painful pasts and they wanted more to life.
After having finished this book I did hope that Grayson will go back to this world and write about more characters. What I definitely liked was when they talked about the Snow White story, because it sure is icky that the prince wanted a dead woman, what did he actually want to do to her? Oh the story will tell you, the real story. Amusing and disturbing. A great spin to stories we all know.
Conclusion:
It was an amusing story to read. Sure they were slow to fall in love, but who could blame them. But it was there from page 1 so I just had to wait for that HEA, a more realistic HEA than the fairy-tale ones they knew by heart. I would read more by this author. At the end I was charmed, wickedly charmed.
Rating:
Quick read
May 14, 2011
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This is a fairytale retake on the traditional HEA. First off the wicked step-mother is ticked off that we here on Earth think that she is wicked. I mean after all we never got to hear her own story did we? And what about those Prince Charmings we heard all about growing up as a little girl haven’t you ever wondered about their marriages? Did they really get a HEA? I know I was always curious as a child and would ask my mother the HEA questions with a follow up yes I understand they lived that way but how do you know they did?
Needless to say she would tell me to go to sleep. Ms. Grayson however, has decided to answer the above questions in this cute little romantic story. Apparently not every fairy tale creature or story character does live HEA. In fact Prince Charming is divorced who would’ve thought? Not to mention that evil step mother is in fact not so evil. Did we ever wonder if maybe just maybe her ward/child was evil and drove her mad? So I have to say this book managed to hit all the right spots for me.
I loved learning about the fairytale creatures and their not so HEAs I loved learning how the world of Fairy differs from our world and I have to admit that this was a very cute sweet book.
Don’t go into this book expecting much b/c come on people it’s a fairy tale retake but do go into it expecting romance that is realistic, fairy tale characters, and the thought that fairytales don’t always turn out the way we want.
One of my favorite parts is when Charming is explain to the Step mother Mellie that she has to revamp her image like vampires did you know the sparkling ones LOL I howled at that ;)
This is a fairytale retake on the traditional HEA. First off the wicked step-mother is ticked off that we here on Earth think that she is wicked. I mean after all we never got to hear her own story did we? And what about those Prince Charmings we heard all about growing up as a little girl haven’t you ever wondered about their marriages? Did they really get a HEA? I know I was always curious as a child and would ask my mother the HEA questions with a follow up yes I understand they lived that way but how do you know they did?
Needless to say she would tell me to go to sleep. Ms. Grayson however, has decided to answer the above questions in this cute little romantic story. Apparently not every fairy tale creature or story character does live HEA. In fact Prince Charming is divorced who would’ve thought? Not to mention that evil step mother is in fact not so evil. Did we ever wonder if maybe just maybe her ward/child was evil and drove her mad? So I have to say this book managed to hit all the right spots for me.
I loved learning about the fairytale creatures and their not so HEAs I loved learning how the world of Fairy differs from our world and I have to admit that this was a very cute sweet book.
Don’t go into this book expecting much b/c come on people it’s a fairy tale retake but do go into it expecting romance that is realistic, fairy tale characters, and the thought that fairytales don’t always turn out the way we want.
One of my favorite parts is when Charming is explain to the Step mother Mellie that she has to revamp her image like vampires did you know the sparkling ones LOL I howled at that ;)
October 21, 2011
I really liked the premise behind this book, with all the fairy tale characters having different relationships than we know after all this time. And the idea that shy, bookloving Prince Charming, aka Dave Encanto and formerly married to (Cinder)Ella, and Snow White's (not-evil) stepmother Mellie would work together to write a book to change people's perceptions about stepmothers (like Wicked did for the Wicked Witch of the West)--and fall in love--was a neat one. But this book got bogged down in so much insecure internal dialogue on the part of the main characters that it became annoying. Some, I could understand--they were characters centuries old, both wounded in past relationships. But over and over, in the same words, ignoring all contrary evidence, was too much, and then when they finally come to terms with their attraction and and their feelings, it falls flat and seems rushed.
December 1, 2012
I've said it before and I'll say it again: The world the author has created in this series is really neat. I love when fairytale conventions are turned on their ear, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The romance between Charming and Mellie is hardly there. In fact, Charming seems to hardly spend anytime with Mellie as the novel progresses. The set up with Ella at the end of the novel is great but just peters out and doesn't payoff. Also, while I like the idea of Mellie's book and it does fit in well with Mellie's cause, her group "PETA" (People for the Ethical Treatment of Archetypes) is just stupid.
Side note: I hate it when covers don't reflect the inside of the book. Charming is described as a balding, middle-aged, guy with a paunch. What part of that is reflected in the cover!?!?!?!?
Side note: I hate it when covers don't reflect the inside of the book. Charming is described as a balding, middle-aged, guy with a paunch. What part of that is reflected in the cover!?!?!?!?
November 16, 2011
This is NOT a book for people who want the fantasy rather than the reality. It just isn't. It's more of a stepfamily/survivor kind of book featuring people who are middle-aged and not necessarily perfect, physically, emotionally, etc. Also, I wouldn't read the book if you're not interested in the publishing world; there's a lot of detail on publishing in here, which I found enjoyable, but I like that kind of thing.
My only criticism is that after all the roundabout misunderstandings throughout the first 9/10ths of the book, the resolution was almost too easy.
My only criticism is that after all the roundabout misunderstandings throughout the first 9/10ths of the book, the resolution was almost too easy.
January 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! It's a sweet romance (no steamy scenes here!), but the attraction sizzles between these two! I loved the unique plot and the twists. The romance really sold it for me. I didn't want to put it down!
My only gripe (and I got over it quickly) was that in the opening chapters, the heroine (Mellie) and the hero (Charming) sounded the same even in their thoughts, but it improved as I kept reading. It's just the writer's style. Excellent book!
My only gripe (and I got over it quickly) was that in the opening chapters, the heroine (Mellie) and the hero (Charming) sounded the same even in their thoughts, but it improved as I kept reading. It's just the writer's style. Excellent book!
October 10, 2011
An interesting after story of a classic fairy tale, undecided if I truly like this version of events. The HEA of the classic tale is bursted, Cinderella divorcing Charming and he ending up with the wicked stepmom in current times?
May 9, 2020
Full review appeared at Reader's Edyn on 05/08/20
Mellie – Snow White’s evil stepmother – of all the reputations to be saddled with. If anyone knew the true story behind the completely skewed fairytale, they would have a completely different view of stepmothers. Unfortunately, those dang Grimm brothers set in motion some truly damning consequences for several of the people from her realm. Being a misunderstood stepmother, she possesses a hatred for all things book-related and launches a campaign to ban them all. But then she meets “Dave” who is really Prince Charming. Jaded by his own stereotype, he has come to the Greater World to escape the suffocating responsibilities of being himself. And avid book lover and self-professed nerd, he sets out to share his love of books with Mellie and explain why they are so important. Together they hatch a plan for an even better platform for Mellie to get her point made in a way that will bring attention to her cause – but in a positive way instead of a negative way. And unexpectedly, as they travel down the path of writing a book together, their attraction grows. But why would Charming want anything to do with an evil stepmother?
Charming is besotted. Attracted to Mellie from the start, but horrified to realize she is trying to ban his most loved hobby, he sets out to redirect her anger at stereotypes in a different direction. After realizing she had no skill to write a book what-so-ever, they agree to team up. But writing the book isn’t the only struggle they have to overcome – others are lurking in the shadows waiting to strike. An ex-wife, children, a stepdaughter, spells, magic, a jaded coffee shop patron...the list is seemingly endless. Charming is less than confident in his attraction towards Mellie, but once they get past all of this other garbage trying to interfere with their HEA, he’s determined to show her how much he’s come to care for her. Care – hell, more like a desire to the point of distracting fantasies of a future with her.
I have to admit I knew absolutely nothing about this series when I decided to read the book. I have not read anything by Ms. Grayson, had no idea that this was the 7th book in the series, and literally only read it because I was immediately enchanted with the title and cover. And dang! Am I thrilled to have made that decision! We’ve been seeing more and more of the “other side of the story” as time goes by. Many of those types of stories actually mentioned within the pages of this book. I completely enjoyed Ms. Grayson’s take on not only the stereotypes attached to the evil side of fairytales but how even those put on a pedestal can suffer consequences of stereotypes. In other words, things are not always as they seem: Mellie having a completely different reality from what was portrayed and Charming viewing his persona as a fate worse than death. This book has a little bit of everything – intrigue, betrayal, magic, alternate worlds, love, redemption – everything. Also immensely enjoyed was all of the inclusion of books, books stores, a book being written, publicity, a book for book lovers to be sure! I absolutely adored the intertwining of the world of books, a twist on fairytales, and a sweet romance.
Ms. Grayson has a gift of being able to take something well known and completely remake it into her own creation. I found myself enjoying almost all of the characters presented, except for the few who were truly unlikeable. I was a bit taken back by Ella’s character, but given everyone else is so far removed from what is traditionally accepted, I probably shouldn’t have been. This book is broken into three sections – The Idea, The Rought Draft, and The Final Manuscript. This was an effective tool in easily moving forward with brief time jumps. My only issue was that toward the end, as I understood it, the time frame for a particular occurrence didn’t work. I don’t want to give anything away, but Charming’s last big hurdle and the negative press that suddenly surrounds the book tour all had to have occurred on the same day. However, this would not have been possible. Mellie should have faced her promotional woe a day later at the very least, but more likely a couple of days after Charming’s problem surfaced. Beyond that minor detail, I found the book highly stimulating and completely enchanting. Because I have not read any other books in this series, I cannot speak to if they are similar in presentation or not, but this format definitely worked for me. I plan to find out more about the Fates series in the future. For those of you who prefer more of a sweet romance and a different take on fairytale and the characters within them, tossed up with a bit of wit and charm, you’ve definitely come to the right place!
Kindle version purchased for my own personal library.
Mellie – Snow White’s evil stepmother – of all the reputations to be saddled with. If anyone knew the true story behind the completely skewed fairytale, they would have a completely different view of stepmothers. Unfortunately, those dang Grimm brothers set in motion some truly damning consequences for several of the people from her realm. Being a misunderstood stepmother, she possesses a hatred for all things book-related and launches a campaign to ban them all. But then she meets “Dave” who is really Prince Charming. Jaded by his own stereotype, he has come to the Greater World to escape the suffocating responsibilities of being himself. And avid book lover and self-professed nerd, he sets out to share his love of books with Mellie and explain why they are so important. Together they hatch a plan for an even better platform for Mellie to get her point made in a way that will bring attention to her cause – but in a positive way instead of a negative way. And unexpectedly, as they travel down the path of writing a book together, their attraction grows. But why would Charming want anything to do with an evil stepmother?
Charming is besotted. Attracted to Mellie from the start, but horrified to realize she is trying to ban his most loved hobby, he sets out to redirect her anger at stereotypes in a different direction. After realizing she had no skill to write a book what-so-ever, they agree to team up. But writing the book isn’t the only struggle they have to overcome – others are lurking in the shadows waiting to strike. An ex-wife, children, a stepdaughter, spells, magic, a jaded coffee shop patron...the list is seemingly endless. Charming is less than confident in his attraction towards Mellie, but once they get past all of this other garbage trying to interfere with their HEA, he’s determined to show her how much he’s come to care for her. Care – hell, more like a desire to the point of distracting fantasies of a future with her.
I have to admit I knew absolutely nothing about this series when I decided to read the book. I have not read anything by Ms. Grayson, had no idea that this was the 7th book in the series, and literally only read it because I was immediately enchanted with the title and cover. And dang! Am I thrilled to have made that decision! We’ve been seeing more and more of the “other side of the story” as time goes by. Many of those types of stories actually mentioned within the pages of this book. I completely enjoyed Ms. Grayson’s take on not only the stereotypes attached to the evil side of fairytales but how even those put on a pedestal can suffer consequences of stereotypes. In other words, things are not always as they seem: Mellie having a completely different reality from what was portrayed and Charming viewing his persona as a fate worse than death. This book has a little bit of everything – intrigue, betrayal, magic, alternate worlds, love, redemption – everything. Also immensely enjoyed was all of the inclusion of books, books stores, a book being written, publicity, a book for book lovers to be sure! I absolutely adored the intertwining of the world of books, a twist on fairytales, and a sweet romance.
Ms. Grayson has a gift of being able to take something well known and completely remake it into her own creation. I found myself enjoying almost all of the characters presented, except for the few who were truly unlikeable. I was a bit taken back by Ella’s character, but given everyone else is so far removed from what is traditionally accepted, I probably shouldn’t have been. This book is broken into three sections – The Idea, The Rought Draft, and The Final Manuscript. This was an effective tool in easily moving forward with brief time jumps. My only issue was that toward the end, as I understood it, the time frame for a particular occurrence didn’t work. I don’t want to give anything away, but Charming’s last big hurdle and the negative press that suddenly surrounds the book tour all had to have occurred on the same day. However, this would not have been possible. Mellie should have faced her promotional woe a day later at the very least, but more likely a couple of days after Charming’s problem surfaced. Beyond that minor detail, I found the book highly stimulating and completely enchanting. Because I have not read any other books in this series, I cannot speak to if they are similar in presentation or not, but this format definitely worked for me. I plan to find out more about the Fates series in the future. For those of you who prefer more of a sweet romance and a different take on fairytale and the characters within them, tossed up with a bit of wit and charm, you’ve definitely come to the right place!
Kindle version purchased for my own personal library.
January 21, 2017
Derivative, but delightful. The book starts slow and I almost DNF’d it several times but plowed through this. I’d call this second generation fan fiction, in that it felt like fan fiction of fan fiction. The tail draws inspiration from Wicked, and some of the more modern fairy-tales retold as well as from reality television and a few real life events.
The tale travels back and forth between the 21st century and whatever century it may be in the Kingdoms. Our heroine, Mellie, happens to be Snow White’s step mother. She’s often referred to as wicked or evil, but it’s her life goal to change that misperception. Our hero is one of the “Charming” princes, this one Cinderella’s now ex-husband. They’ve both found a portal that allows them to move between the Greater World and the Kingdoms.
Charming’s been miserable since his marriage ended, though he’s a devoted father. He’s trying to make a go of it as a bookseller. Mellie has built a life helping the underdog and is now on a crusade to make the Greater World understand how the Grimm Brothers and others have wronged many like her with their wrongful mistales. She approaches the goal in the wrong way, using tactics similar to those employed by PETA, and achieves little success.
Charming persuades her to use storytelling instead, ala the book Wicked, to get her message out. Alas, Mellie can’t write well so she employs Charming as her ghost writer. Nothing can go wrong there, right? I’ll leave the rest of that to the reader.
An easy and fun read that has left me wanting to pick up another in this series. 3.5/5 on romance scale.
The tale travels back and forth between the 21st century and whatever century it may be in the Kingdoms. Our heroine, Mellie, happens to be Snow White’s step mother. She’s often referred to as wicked or evil, but it’s her life goal to change that misperception. Our hero is one of the “Charming” princes, this one Cinderella’s now ex-husband. They’ve both found a portal that allows them to move between the Greater World and the Kingdoms.
Charming’s been miserable since his marriage ended, though he’s a devoted father. He’s trying to make a go of it as a bookseller. Mellie has built a life helping the underdog and is now on a crusade to make the Greater World understand how the Grimm Brothers and others have wronged many like her with their wrongful mistales. She approaches the goal in the wrong way, using tactics similar to those employed by PETA, and achieves little success.
Charming persuades her to use storytelling instead, ala the book Wicked, to get her message out. Alas, Mellie can’t write well so she employs Charming as her ghost writer. Nothing can go wrong there, right? I’ll leave the rest of that to the reader.
An easy and fun read that has left me wanting to pick up another in this series. 3.5/5 on romance scale.
November 3, 2016
The story is about Prince Charming (His actual name) though in the real world he goes by Dave. Dave thinks himself a middle-aged overweight balding single dad that no one could possibly call charming. He has given up on love. The sweet Cinderella is depicted as an self-absorbed woman who never mentally left her teens. When he meets Mellie (Snow White's step mother).
Mellie has an image problem that she just can't get past. She loves children and was meant to be a mother. Her own children (before Snow) have grown up and become productive member of the Kingdom. But the nasty brothers Grimm painted her the evil step-mother when in fact it was Snow who was a runaway and married a necrophiliac. Mellie used all of her own magic just to keep Snow alive. Determined to change her image and at the suggestion of Prince Charming Mellie writes a book.
The story follows the book tour and Prince Charming and Mellie's romance to the end. It was totally different and cute.
Mellie has an image problem that she just can't get past. She loves children and was meant to be a mother. Her own children (before Snow) have grown up and become productive member of the Kingdom. But the nasty brothers Grimm painted her the evil step-mother when in fact it was Snow who was a runaway and married a necrophiliac. Mellie used all of her own magic just to keep Snow alive. Determined to change her image and at the suggestion of Prince Charming Mellie writes a book.
The story follows the book tour and Prince Charming and Mellie's romance to the end. It was totally different and cute.
April 20, 2020
I don't generally like books based on fairy tale characters, but this one didn't deal too much with the fairy tale aspects. The 'he/she can't possibly be interested in me' aspect dragged out a bit long, but then again, it's probably not too unbelievable, given how humans are. I was in the mood for a nice non-porn romance.
May 23, 2019
Light, fun, a good read. Very different take on fairy tales. Definitely recommended. Perfect beach read.
July 11, 2020
Very cute! I loved this take on what the fairy tale characters are up to now, and how happily ever after isn't what relationships are about.
March 13, 2023
I loved this! It's been a while since I read Kristine Grayson's work but this one is making me want to binge more. This is a great show burn with lots of extra drama thrown in.
August 17, 2025
DNF I was excited by the cover copy & eager to read the book, but I only made it through a couple of chapters. Such dull writing.
May 13, 2014
(Please note: I've added a few thoughts to the end of this review.)
I really wanted to like this book. I've read this author's short stories (under the name Kristine Kathryn Rusch) and loved them. But the ending to this made me wonder if it was a longer story that had been trimmed. Overall, an okay read, but I've read much better from her.
Maybe it'll work for you better than it worked for me. Here are my more detailed thoughts.
The Good:
* In spite of the half-dressed guy on the cover, this is a sweet romance (i.e. no bed scenes and just a couple of kissing scenes). It was a refreshing find. I think she handled the emotional aspects of starting over, especially while attempting to base the relationship on friendship, really well.
* Charming. He's funny, shy, and a hero I can really fall in love with. There's only one scene where I lost some sympathy for him, but it wasn't a fatal blow to his character.
* Mellie's background. She starts out as very unlikeable. About halfway through, I agreed with Charming: she's amazing. Her biggest weakness is her insecurity, but I like how that was handled.
* The fairy tale world of the Kingdoms is fairy-tale-ish in the same way Once Upon a Time is. Lots of Disney references and comments on how fairy tales and myths change over time. It works surprisingly well here.
* In-depth coverage of what it's like in the publishing industry. Fairs, drafts, screenplays, book tours, even the ego of some writers, all of it came to life in this book and I loved every minute of it.
The Not-so-Good:
* It's obviously part of a series, and yet there's nothing to indicate that on the cover or front pages. Only two things directly told me it was part of a series (one indirectly but I put that in the next point), both of which could be missed by the casual reader. 1) More than one guy receives an in-depth description, thus indicating that there's going to be multiple heroes since heroes are typically the only handsome ones described in a romance. 2) On the very last page, under the author bio (which not everyone reads) is the statement that the next book in the series, Utterly Charming, is coming in Oct 2011. Seriously? That's it?
* There's a major thread left untied at the end (which only makes sense in a series). I think a number of readers unaware of that might throw the book against the wall.
* This book falls into the same nonsense other romance novels that greatly annoy me fall into. Except this was the worst one yet. The nonsense, in general, is this:
Danger surrounds either the hero, the heroine, both, or someone they love. Lives are on the line. Everything is tense.
And in the middle of all this? They hump.
At best, this bit of nonsense makes me laugh. In this story, considering who was in danger and how all the fathers I've known would have reacted, I nearly stopped reading the book. I won't say any more than that, but I was NOT impressed.
* While the publishing aspect of the story remained strong, the fantasy aspect was very anticlimactic. In fact, it turned out to be so incidental to the story that this could have easily been a contemporary romance. None of the magic in this book mattered. None. The only thing that came close was the act that took the magic from Snow White's stepmother. But it really wasn't crucial to the plot itself. It was just an interesting bit of backstory.
I don't know. YMMV. Most of it is a fun ride, so if you love Once Upon a Time, you might like this.
Update: Silly me. I hadn't noticed this was the seventh book in the series. It reads like the first, which doesn't impress me. When I looked at the synopses for the others, I became even less enthused. Maybe she does something with that major, untied thread in the next book. It focuses on Bluebeard (mentioned in this book), so who knows? I'm going to try starting from the beginning (Utterly Charming) and see if that works better for me.
I really wanted to like this book. I've read this author's short stories (under the name Kristine Kathryn Rusch) and loved them. But the ending to this made me wonder if it was a longer story that had been trimmed. Overall, an okay read, but I've read much better from her.
Maybe it'll work for you better than it worked for me. Here are my more detailed thoughts.
The Good:
* In spite of the half-dressed guy on the cover, this is a sweet romance (i.e. no bed scenes and just a couple of kissing scenes). It was a refreshing find. I think she handled the emotional aspects of starting over, especially while attempting to base the relationship on friendship, really well.
* Charming. He's funny, shy, and a hero I can really fall in love with. There's only one scene where I lost some sympathy for him, but it wasn't a fatal blow to his character.
* Mellie's background. She starts out as very unlikeable. About halfway through, I agreed with Charming: she's amazing. Her biggest weakness is her insecurity, but I like how that was handled.
* The fairy tale world of the Kingdoms is fairy-tale-ish in the same way Once Upon a Time is. Lots of Disney references and comments on how fairy tales and myths change over time. It works surprisingly well here.
* In-depth coverage of what it's like in the publishing industry. Fairs, drafts, screenplays, book tours, even the ego of some writers, all of it came to life in this book and I loved every minute of it.
The Not-so-Good:
* It's obviously part of a series, and yet there's nothing to indicate that on the cover or front pages. Only two things directly told me it was part of a series (one indirectly but I put that in the next point), both of which could be missed by the casual reader. 1) More than one guy receives an in-depth description, thus indicating that there's going to be multiple heroes since heroes are typically the only handsome ones described in a romance. 2) On the very last page, under the author bio (which not everyone reads) is the statement that the next book in the series, Utterly Charming, is coming in Oct 2011. Seriously? That's it?
* There's a major thread left untied at the end (which only makes sense in a series). I think a number of readers unaware of that might throw the book against the wall.
* This book falls into the same nonsense other romance novels that greatly annoy me fall into. Except this was the worst one yet. The nonsense, in general, is this:
Danger surrounds either the hero, the heroine, both, or someone they love. Lives are on the line. Everything is tense.
And in the middle of all this? They hump.
At best, this bit of nonsense makes me laugh. In this story, considering who was in danger and how all the fathers I've known would have reacted, I nearly stopped reading the book. I won't say any more than that, but I was NOT impressed.
* While the publishing aspect of the story remained strong, the fantasy aspect was very anticlimactic. In fact, it turned out to be so incidental to the story that this could have easily been a contemporary romance. None of the magic in this book mattered. None. The only thing that came close was the act that took the magic from Snow White's stepmother. But it really wasn't crucial to the plot itself. It was just an interesting bit of backstory.
I don't know. YMMV. Most of it is a fun ride, so if you love Once Upon a Time, you might like this.
Update: Silly me. I hadn't noticed this was the seventh book in the series. It reads like the first, which doesn't impress me. When I looked at the synopses for the others, I became even less enthused. Maybe she does something with that major, untied thread in the next book. It focuses on Bluebeard (mentioned in this book), so who knows? I'm going to try starting from the beginning (Utterly Charming) and see if that works better for me.
February 4, 2012
Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (6 out of 10 on the blog)
This is an imaginative and fun take on a fairytale. Our two main characters are Charming, the Prince Charming of Cinderella fame. Who is now a beleaguered father of two, middle aged and bespectacled. Who has reinvented himself in the Greater World as a bookseller and renamed himself Dave. He is also the father of two girls who have been abandoned by their selfish mother and Charming's ex Ella. Our heroine is Mellie, Snow White's evil stepmother, who is on a campaign to clear her name and that of other evil stepmother, because it certainly wasn't her that fed Snow the poisoned apple!
The book starts off with Charming at a book fair, because he is a total book geek and runs his own book store (personally I don't see anything wrong with this!), where Mellie is campaigning against the misrepresentation of fairy tale characters in novels. Sparks fly as Charming is horrified at Mellie's wish to censor fiction. The pair are like chalk and cheese with Charming quietly bookish, although gifted of course with magical charm, and Mellie outspoken, yet insecure all at the same time. It's not long before Charming convinces Mellie there maybe a very different approach to improving the perception of wicked step mothers, after all look at vampires - everyone loves them now! Cue an unlikely partnership.
As a lover of happy endings and fairytales, I did have to get over the fact that Prince Charming and Cinderella are divorced, but not only that but Cinderella is the baddie. The horror! ;-)
This isn't a hot and sizzling romance, more like a warm and fuzzy one, or a hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on the top. But I wouldn't say there were lots of sizzle and sparks and the love story itself is a slow burner.
The pace of the book is also sedate. I liked the world creation of the Greater World (our human world) and the magical kingdoms where fairytale characters really exist in separate kingdoms. The story is however, slow moving at times. There are some really witty scenes, a fab coffee shop sequence springs to mind and there are some parts that unfortunately dragged. Which meant the overall flow of the book could have done with a bit more speed and a little less detail. For example, we meet some characters briefly, never to see them again.
This is the first book I have read by Grayson, but I've since discovered she has written a series of these fairy tale adaptations. While I enjoyed the story and its gentle chiding at fairytales, I probably wouldn't want to read lots of them. But perhaps that is more to do with my love of fairytales and happily ever after, than a criticism of the writing, because I did enjoy it never the less.
VERDICT:
A fun take on what happens after happily ever after with our favourite and not so favourite fairytale characters. A gentle love story that will probably appeal to people who like less spicy romances.
This is an imaginative and fun take on a fairytale. Our two main characters are Charming, the Prince Charming of Cinderella fame. Who is now a beleaguered father of two, middle aged and bespectacled. Who has reinvented himself in the Greater World as a bookseller and renamed himself Dave. He is also the father of two girls who have been abandoned by their selfish mother and Charming's ex Ella. Our heroine is Mellie, Snow White's evil stepmother, who is on a campaign to clear her name and that of other evil stepmother, because it certainly wasn't her that fed Snow the poisoned apple!
The book starts off with Charming at a book fair, because he is a total book geek and runs his own book store (personally I don't see anything wrong with this!), where Mellie is campaigning against the misrepresentation of fairy tale characters in novels. Sparks fly as Charming is horrified at Mellie's wish to censor fiction. The pair are like chalk and cheese with Charming quietly bookish, although gifted of course with magical charm, and Mellie outspoken, yet insecure all at the same time. It's not long before Charming convinces Mellie there maybe a very different approach to improving the perception of wicked step mothers, after all look at vampires - everyone loves them now! Cue an unlikely partnership.
As a lover of happy endings and fairytales, I did have to get over the fact that Prince Charming and Cinderella are divorced, but not only that but Cinderella is the baddie. The horror! ;-)
This isn't a hot and sizzling romance, more like a warm and fuzzy one, or a hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on the top. But I wouldn't say there were lots of sizzle and sparks and the love story itself is a slow burner.
The pace of the book is also sedate. I liked the world creation of the Greater World (our human world) and the magical kingdoms where fairytale characters really exist in separate kingdoms. The story is however, slow moving at times. There are some really witty scenes, a fab coffee shop sequence springs to mind and there are some parts that unfortunately dragged. Which meant the overall flow of the book could have done with a bit more speed and a little less detail. For example, we meet some characters briefly, never to see them again.
This is the first book I have read by Grayson, but I've since discovered she has written a series of these fairy tale adaptations. While I enjoyed the story and its gentle chiding at fairytales, I probably wouldn't want to read lots of them. But perhaps that is more to do with my love of fairytales and happily ever after, than a criticism of the writing, because I did enjoy it never the less.
VERDICT:
A fun take on what happens after happily ever after with our favourite and not so favourite fairytale characters. A gentle love story that will probably appeal to people who like less spicy romances.
April 28, 2011
What I Loved
Retold Fairy Tales
The fairy tale doesn't stop with 'happily ever after' in fact it is just the beginning of the story or in the case of our prince an the end of a hasty marriages and unhappily ever after. I love any version of retold stories be it fairy tales, Greek mythologies, or just revamped tales using characters from other classics like Shakespeare, Jane Austen etc... When I won an ARC of this book from Casablanca Authors I was so excited. Happy endings didn't really happen for THE Prince Charming of Cinderella's story and the "evil" stepmother of Snow White isn't so evil after all she just got some very bad press.
The World
The worlds are all separated and and accessible through portals.
The Greater World our world where mystical creatures are just fairy tales. Were people like the Brothers Grimm took the stories and embellished upon them, falsifying and unjustly labeling characters.
The Kingdoms there are a few different ones up to 6 (I believe) containing their own things like talking mice, unicorns or flying monkeys
Theme of Books
What is hotter than prince charming loving books and admitting to being a book nerd! But he is also physically still in shape with middle age man hotness and valuing his daughters above all else! Charming has a book store and goes to a book fair convention and he get stacks of books, that made me drool. The theme of the book is based around books and what type of impact they can have on society. Perfect for any book lover.
Characters
Charming is his birth name, his name while he is over here in The Greater World is Dave Encanto. As I stated above he is a book lover and a good writer to boot, but a very passive man that doesn't like confrontation. He let his ex-wife Ella (CinderElla) walk all over him. You feel very sorry for this book loving geek with amazing charming abilities.
Mellie for short Melvina the female version of Melvin. She has been dealing with a lot of lies and bad press her whole life and tired of it. She tries protesting but that doesn't work so Charming suggests she write a book and change the image of stepmothers that way. Like the vampires did from Bram Stokers truer version of vampires to Twilight's version of sophisticated polite creatures. The power of books. Mellie is a not a damsel in distress, but a doer and strong willed woman that won't let herself be labeled and archetyped any longer.
Romance
A romance that neither of them are ready to admit to and they don't know if the other is feeling the same thing. Some times these romances are very annoying and frustrating and it was, but I completely enjoyed their slow romance.
Recommendation
If you love any version of retold fairy tales this is a must read. If you love the different type of twist that authors will put on your favorite tales and make it their own, you got to check it out.
Retold Fairy Tales
The fairy tale doesn't stop with 'happily ever after' in fact it is just the beginning of the story or in the case of our prince an the end of a hasty marriages and unhappily ever after. I love any version of retold stories be it fairy tales, Greek mythologies, or just revamped tales using characters from other classics like Shakespeare, Jane Austen etc... When I won an ARC of this book from Casablanca Authors I was so excited. Happy endings didn't really happen for THE Prince Charming of Cinderella's story and the "evil" stepmother of Snow White isn't so evil after all she just got some very bad press.
The World
The worlds are all separated and and accessible through portals.
The Greater World our world where mystical creatures are just fairy tales. Were people like the Brothers Grimm took the stories and embellished upon them, falsifying and unjustly labeling characters.
The Kingdoms there are a few different ones up to 6 (I believe) containing their own things like talking mice, unicorns or flying monkeys
Theme of Books
What is hotter than prince charming loving books and admitting to being a book nerd! But he is also physically still in shape with middle age man hotness and valuing his daughters above all else! Charming has a book store and goes to a book fair convention and he get stacks of books, that made me drool. The theme of the book is based around books and what type of impact they can have on society. Perfect for any book lover.
Characters
Charming is his birth name, his name while he is over here in The Greater World is Dave Encanto. As I stated above he is a book lover and a good writer to boot, but a very passive man that doesn't like confrontation. He let his ex-wife Ella (CinderElla) walk all over him. You feel very sorry for this book loving geek with amazing charming abilities.
Mellie for short Melvina the female version of Melvin. She has been dealing with a lot of lies and bad press her whole life and tired of it. She tries protesting but that doesn't work so Charming suggests she write a book and change the image of stepmothers that way. Like the vampires did from Bram Stokers truer version of vampires to Twilight's version of sophisticated polite creatures. The power of books. Mellie is a not a damsel in distress, but a doer and strong willed woman that won't let herself be labeled and archetyped any longer.
Romance
A romance that neither of them are ready to admit to and they don't know if the other is feeling the same thing. Some times these romances are very annoying and frustrating and it was, but I completely enjoyed their slow romance.
Recommendation
If you love any version of retold fairy tales this is a must read. If you love the different type of twist that authors will put on your favorite tales and make it their own, you got to check it out.
March 19, 2013
This is less a review and more of a question. I'll say first that I definitely enjoyed the book, it's a romance, but not your typical romance in that it takes place over a logical amount of time rather than expecting readers to believe they found their true loves and fell head over heels for them in a matter of days. The story actually takes place over the course of more than a year and deals with realistic insecurities and misinterpretations that occur in most relationships that don't have overconfident participants who are willing to instantly say that yes they're interested and lay out exactly what they want from you. It accurately portrays that feeling where you're interested but you don't want to put yourself on the line and be rejected, where you hear every bad thing your ex said to you in your head and expect this new person to feel the same and where all your insecurities feel like glowing beacons that are the only thing the person facing you can see whether they actually see them or not. Yes it's woven with I guess you'd say Urban Fairy Tale elements but it's one of the most realistic romance novels I've ever read despite the magic and fairy tale character basis. But my question, the main reason I took the time to write this when I haven't really been writing review lately is how in the world is this book part of the Fates series. The books previously to this all include the Fates as characters and are about long lived Mages with a foray into Fairies in the second series trilogy. This book isn't about mages, the Fates or anything from that world. It's an entirely new world with I guess you'd say alternate dimension in which Fairy Tale Characters are real, much like the television show Once, but where we've gotten their fairy tales completely wrong. I liked the book and I liked this new world Grayson has created for us almost as much as I enjoy the six Fates novels I read previous to this but I picked up the novel expecting to see at least a couple of familiar characters and rules of the world that I was familiar with and this had none of that. To place it in this series I think is a major misrepresentation and I was kind of upset by that.
April 2, 2011
Wickedly Charming is a Romance Novel by Kristine Grayson from Sourcebooks Casablanca.
Book Blurb:
He’s gives up on happily-ever-after...
Cinderella’s Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is, until he meets up with Mellie...
But she may be the key to happily-right-now...
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn’t stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she’s ever met and discovers she’s going about her mission wrong...
It’s only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy-tale refugees put their heads - and vulnerable hearts - together...
My thoughts:
Prince Charming’s wife, Ella, has left him and taken their two daughters away. Charming only gets to see them one week out of the year. Frustrated with his life in the Third Kingdom, Charming has moved to the Greater World and opened a book store.
Aside from his daughters, Charming loves nothing like he loves books.
Mellie feels like she has gotten a bad wrap. She left the Third Kingdom years ago to escape her bad reputation - but it seems to have followed her to the Greater World. At least that is how she see’s it.
When Charming and Mellie meet neither are in a good place as far as relationships go. Charming is coming off a bad break-up and Mellie, well she hasn’t been a real date in a long time. But with each others help - they figure out how they can make the Greater World a better place for each other.
Wickedly Charming is the first book I have read by Kristine Grayson and it was an okay read.
I give Wickedly Charming 2 out of 5 stars.
M
Product Details
* Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
* Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 1, 2011)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1402248482
* ISBN-13: 978-1402248481
Book Blurb:
He’s gives up on happily-ever-after...
Cinderella’s Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is, until he meets up with Mellie...
But she may be the key to happily-right-now...
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn’t stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she’s ever met and discovers she’s going about her mission wrong...
It’s only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy-tale refugees put their heads - and vulnerable hearts - together...
My thoughts:
Prince Charming’s wife, Ella, has left him and taken their two daughters away. Charming only gets to see them one week out of the year. Frustrated with his life in the Third Kingdom, Charming has moved to the Greater World and opened a book store.
Aside from his daughters, Charming loves nothing like he loves books.
Mellie feels like she has gotten a bad wrap. She left the Third Kingdom years ago to escape her bad reputation - but it seems to have followed her to the Greater World. At least that is how she see’s it.
When Charming and Mellie meet neither are in a good place as far as relationships go. Charming is coming off a bad break-up and Mellie, well she hasn’t been a real date in a long time. But with each others help - they figure out how they can make the Greater World a better place for each other.
Wickedly Charming is the first book I have read by Kristine Grayson and it was an okay read.
I give Wickedly Charming 2 out of 5 stars.
M
Product Details
* Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
* Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 1, 2011)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1402248482
* ISBN-13: 978-1402248481
December 24, 2015
So I was really not expecting to like this book for many reasons. I'm a hard sell on romance, I accidentally bought the 7th book in the series (good job, self!), and I was really more in the mood for nonfiction than fiction when starting it. Honestly, the only reason I started it was because if I don't start romance when I still have it on my mind, it will languish on my to-read list for decades, and I hate to be out the cost of a book without ever having read it.
But this book was, well, charming. This may actually be the first incarnation in which I've ever read Prince Charming where I actually liked him, but the middle-aged and divorced balding book lover is awfully hard to dislike. And Mellie is his perfect foil. She gives him the bite that he lacks, while he gives her the softness and empathy that she needs to get people to like her. (And I do appreciate those traits being applied to the gender they were.) I started off liking them immediately, and the book never gave me any reason to think that was a mistake.
And the evolution of their relationship felt absolutely right to me. They're both deeply clumsy people at romantic relationships for very good reasons, and their relationship took time and probably would not have succeeded if their different passions hadn't ended up being compatible to the point of symbiosis.
I did wish that there had been more drama with Ella, since the drama was brought up and then resolved too abruptly for my taste. But I suspect that that falls into my general problem with romance of wanting a plot that isn't about romance, so that's a problem that I blame more on my taste than I do on the book. I also wanted more dealing with his daughters and her once again being the stepmother.
But realistically, when the worst you can say about a book is that you wanted more of some of its subplots, that's doing pretty damn good.
But this book was, well, charming. This may actually be the first incarnation in which I've ever read Prince Charming where I actually liked him, but the middle-aged and divorced balding book lover is awfully hard to dislike. And Mellie is his perfect foil. She gives him the bite that he lacks, while he gives her the softness and empathy that she needs to get people to like her. (And I do appreciate those traits being applied to the gender they were.) I started off liking them immediately, and the book never gave me any reason to think that was a mistake.
And the evolution of their relationship felt absolutely right to me. They're both deeply clumsy people at romantic relationships for very good reasons, and their relationship took time and probably would not have succeeded if their different passions hadn't ended up being compatible to the point of symbiosis.
I did wish that there had been more drama with Ella, since the drama was brought up and then resolved too abruptly for my taste. But I suspect that that falls into my general problem with romance of wanting a plot that isn't about romance, so that's a problem that I blame more on my taste than I do on the book. I also wanted more dealing with his daughters and her once again being the stepmother.
But realistically, when the worst you can say about a book is that you wanted more of some of its subplots, that's doing pretty damn good.
January 22, 2012
This is one of Kristine Katherine Rusch's (writing as Grayson, her romance pen name) adult takes on fairy tales and mythology. She uses characters from those story lines and brings them into today's world, in sweet romances aimed at lovers of an off-beat mix of fantasy and romance. There's lots of magic, a comforting Star Trek ethos of not disturbing the mere mortals in the "real" world, and always a feisty heroine and a to-die-for hero.
This particular novel introduces us to Snow White's wicked stepmother, who isn't wicked at all. She's misunderstood, as, apparently, are many other archetypes from fairy tales -- thanks to those evil Grimm brothers. Mellie's trying to raise the consciousness of the maligned fairy tale characters while bringing their plight to the attention of the Great (real) World, her new home since she fled the Kingdoms (fairy tale world) after the lies, accusations, and slander aimed at her after Snow White's near death.
What better hero for a novel based in a fairy tale than a Prince Charming? This one swept Cinderella off her feet, but Ella didn't remain bedazzled for long. Charming, a.k.a. Dave out here in the real world, is left with two insecure daughters he's definitely going to save from the kind of upbringing his chauvinistic, autocratic father inflicted on him. What better cover for a prince than that of bookseller?
If you're starting to wonder how this all hangs together, grab a copy from Amazon and find out. The first twenty to thirty pages give every indication of a nice light read, but as the story progresses, Grayson throws some intriguing curve-balls at her characters. Let's just say her knowledge of the publishing industry gets a work-out in a way that provides a satisfying ending to the drama.
This particular novel introduces us to Snow White's wicked stepmother, who isn't wicked at all. She's misunderstood, as, apparently, are many other archetypes from fairy tales -- thanks to those evil Grimm brothers. Mellie's trying to raise the consciousness of the maligned fairy tale characters while bringing their plight to the attention of the Great (real) World, her new home since she fled the Kingdoms (fairy tale world) after the lies, accusations, and slander aimed at her after Snow White's near death.
What better hero for a novel based in a fairy tale than a Prince Charming? This one swept Cinderella off her feet, but Ella didn't remain bedazzled for long. Charming, a.k.a. Dave out here in the real world, is left with two insecure daughters he's definitely going to save from the kind of upbringing his chauvinistic, autocratic father inflicted on him. What better cover for a prince than that of bookseller?
If you're starting to wonder how this all hangs together, grab a copy from Amazon and find out. The first twenty to thirty pages give every indication of a nice light read, but as the story progresses, Grayson throws some intriguing curve-balls at her characters. Let's just say her knowledge of the publishing industry gets a work-out in a way that provides a satisfying ending to the drama.
June 1, 2011
Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson
Contemporary Fantasy Romance - May 1st, 2011
3 ½ Stars
Wickedly Charming is a new take on the traditional fairy tale stories. The hero and heroine of this story are classical well-known fairy tale characters with a twist. What happens to them after the fairy tale has ended?
The story's hero is Cinderella's Prince Charming who is now divorced and living in the real world as a bookstore owner. After his disastrous marriage the last thing he is looking for is a new love. But that is what happens to Prince Charming when he meets Mellie.
Mellie has her own set of issues due to her past disastrous marriage. This gave her as well as other stepmothers a bad reputation. Luckily she wants to change that reputation so the world can see stepmothers for who they really are. Fortunately she runs into Prince Charming who is more than willing to assist her with her project to write a book that will restore the good name of stepmothers. And in the process the two soon discover they may have love, too!
This story has a very interesting mix of classical fairy tale characters that allows you to see how they might have developed if they had a different kind of ending to their beloved stories. The two main characters of Prince Charming and Mellie are a very fun and entertaining pair. I enjoyed reading how their normal lives would be in the real world while still trying to find a new and completely different happy ending of their own.
If you like a good fairy tale stories and don't mind some fun surprises on a classic you'll really love this book and enjoy reading this new take on a famous story.
Reviewed by Mary from Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Contemporary Fantasy Romance - May 1st, 2011
3 ½ Stars
Wickedly Charming is a new take on the traditional fairy tale stories. The hero and heroine of this story are classical well-known fairy tale characters with a twist. What happens to them after the fairy tale has ended?
The story's hero is Cinderella's Prince Charming who is now divorced and living in the real world as a bookstore owner. After his disastrous marriage the last thing he is looking for is a new love. But that is what happens to Prince Charming when he meets Mellie.
Mellie has her own set of issues due to her past disastrous marriage. This gave her as well as other stepmothers a bad reputation. Luckily she wants to change that reputation so the world can see stepmothers for who they really are. Fortunately she runs into Prince Charming who is more than willing to assist her with her project to write a book that will restore the good name of stepmothers. And in the process the two soon discover they may have love, too!
This story has a very interesting mix of classical fairy tale characters that allows you to see how they might have developed if they had a different kind of ending to their beloved stories. The two main characters of Prince Charming and Mellie are a very fun and entertaining pair. I enjoyed reading how their normal lives would be in the real world while still trying to find a new and completely different happy ending of their own.
If you like a good fairy tale stories and don't mind some fun surprises on a classic you'll really love this book and enjoy reading this new take on a famous story.
Reviewed by Mary from Bookaholics Romance Book Club
December 15, 2011
Oh my. I seriously didn't expect to enjoy this story but lately, I've been interested in fairy tale retellings. This one was hard to put down (even while using Kindle for PC) and made me laugh quite a bit. I really enjoyed Ms Grayson's style, even with the multiple "brackets-within-parentheses" in the story. I loved the characters even when I wanted to slap them all, just to wake them up a little. I loved the feel-good quality of the story. It left me with a happy sigh. There were typos, of course, more than I expected, but nothing so bad as to cause frustration.
My favorite line (one that made me laugh out loud, much to my husband's amusement): "(...it was her experience that anyone with a shred of power should be pitched across a room [or down a staircase] every once in a while.)" (Her is in reference to the heroine, Mellie.)
I was also pleasantly surprised by the lack of sexual details. That's hard to find in romances, especially contemporary-set ones. There was a little bit of language, but nothing that pulled me out of the story and certainly nothing that made me consider walking away from it.
I definitely didn't take this seriously. It was entertaining, different (for me, anyway), and lighthearted, though I do appreciate the underlying message.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I downloaded this free from Amazon. I could be wrong about the free part, but I know I got it from Amazon. I was not paid in any way for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
My favorite line (one that made me laugh out loud, much to my husband's amusement): "(...it was her experience that anyone with a shred of power should be pitched across a room [or down a staircase] every once in a while.)" (Her is in reference to the heroine, Mellie.)
I was also pleasantly surprised by the lack of sexual details. That's hard to find in romances, especially contemporary-set ones. There was a little bit of language, but nothing that pulled me out of the story and certainly nothing that made me consider walking away from it.
I definitely didn't take this seriously. It was entertaining, different (for me, anyway), and lighthearted, though I do appreciate the underlying message.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I downloaded this free from Amazon. I could be wrong about the free part, but I know I got it from Amazon. I was not paid in any way for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
February 20, 2014
Prince Charming (Dave Encanto)
Wicked Step Mother (Mellie
3 1/2 stars.
This was a strange fairy tale/real world combination, about middle aged fairy tale characters.
Mainly, Prince Charming and Snow white's wicked stepmother.
The couple meet at a book fair, and after talking, Charming suggests Mellie writes a book.
Although she tries, she finds herself completely talentless in the author department,so Charming
volunteers to Ghost write her book.
The couple have a thing going on, but both have been hurt before,Charming through his awful marriage to Ella(Cinderella)
and Mellie through the deaths of two husbands, and being accused of trying to kill Snow) and neither is
game to act on their feelings.
This is where the book got a bit too drawn out. Its 380 pages long, and that probably could have been
cut right down if there wasn't so much personal angst going on. Both Charming and Mellie wanted each other
but neither would make the first move. They had known each other a year by the time the book is put into print
and had shared nothing more than a couple of chaste kisses.
Mellie's book causes problems after it is revealed she used a ghost writer, namely Charming (Dave).
But as is the way with fairy tales there is a happy ending and everything works out in the end.
It was an interesting take on the traditional fairytales and I enjoyed it, aside from the drawn out bits.
August 30, 2016
This is the second novel in the sort of series by Kristine Grayson. Both books incorporate the world of magic/fairy tales into a contemporary setting. The first story dealt with Snow White.
This novel has as the hero, Prince Charming. He's Cinderella's Prince Charming, not to be confused with several other Charmings. The problem is, he's divorced. Not such a happily ever after. And, he's kinda nerdy. The heroine is none other than Snow White's evil stepmother. But she doesn't seem so evil and she's on a crusade to change the image of stepmothers the world over.
This particular book has very little magic-magic; but it does have romance-magic. Grayson does a great job with character development and gives us a wonderful story to help us and her characters believe in happy ever after, when their lives so far haven't really shown that to be true. It's light and fluffy, just as I like them. It is well worth the read.
The only downside, the "problem" that keeps hero and heroine apart seems a bit contrived. That is saying a bit considering that the evil stepmother from Snow White is the heroine, but you know. And the problem gets fixed just a bit too easily, too quickly. That's why I didn't give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving the next on the list from the library. This is a great sweet romance.
This novel has as the hero, Prince Charming. He's Cinderella's Prince Charming, not to be confused with several other Charmings. The problem is, he's divorced. Not such a happily ever after. And, he's kinda nerdy. The heroine is none other than Snow White's evil stepmother. But she doesn't seem so evil and she's on a crusade to change the image of stepmothers the world over.
This particular book has very little magic-magic; but it does have romance-magic. Grayson does a great job with character development and gives us a wonderful story to help us and her characters believe in happy ever after, when their lives so far haven't really shown that to be true. It's light and fluffy, just as I like them. It is well worth the read.
The only downside, the "problem" that keeps hero and heroine apart seems a bit contrived. That is saying a bit considering that the evil stepmother from Snow White is the heroine, but you know. And the problem gets fixed just a bit too easily, too quickly. That's why I didn't give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving the next on the list from the library. This is a great sweet romance.
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