imabrunette23's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cute little book, similar to Harry Potter in that magic is intertwined with reality. I didn't realize it was a series when I read the book (but now I can't really find the other books on bn, so maybe it was a planned series?), so sometimes I was jonesing for more information on specific things (like why Felicity's parents are dead, what exactly happened to Terrence's brother, etc). Quick read, little bit of romance to spice things up, not a lot of sex. It was purely a fluff piece, though it was better written than most romance novels.
raven_acres's review against another edition
4.0
Kind of a cute, oddball alternate history type story. Magic in Victorian Britain, where ranking is done on strength of magic. Very light reading, a bit disjointed, but cute and fun.
jaimewrites's review against another edition
3.0
This is a hard book to judge, for me. I really did enjoy it - I love the world the author has built, and will definitely look for others in the series. I enjoyed it despite the fact that the heroine was of the good-but-vapid old-school Disney heroine stereotype, and the villains were no more than cardboard cutouts. There were definitely a lot of moments that had me rolling my eyes. But, if those sorts of things don't generally make you want to throw a book across the room, it's worth the read for the worldbuilding alone. I have hopes that perhaps later books feature better characterization!
kstep1805's review against another edition
3.0
Just a cute book. Stereotypical Regency romance plot with a supernatural twist. I did have a little bit of a problem with one of the main characters completely becoming a different person about half way through the novel and then changing back to normal. Maybe that was intentional but it was rather jarring. Simple plot, predictable, easy to read, but entertaining.
kgroberts13's review against another edition
2.0
Circular storytelling with one-dimensional characters.
Heroine was a borderline Mary Sue: woefully ignorant and innocent to the point of annoying - cried every-other page but claimed "she never cried." When she learns of several big betrayals near the end of the story, she gets angry, cries, and is over it in about 5 minutes.
Hero supposedly struggled with his insta-love for the heroine, however, he never actually mulled over those feelings on the page. Brooded at his manor on the moors for about a week, then returned to make out with her and regret it for a microsecond before he went back to being her protector.
Sex was boring and ludicrous (something about spurting ?!? lady parts when she peaks).
Lots of showing narrative statements instead of telling character actions and thoughts. I never felt a deep connection to the characters and their feelings.
Mystery was obvious; anything outside of the romance was fairly boring, including the fantastical descriptions of magical Victorian London.
I wanted so terribly to love this story - magic and Victoria's England are two of my favorite things.
Heroine was a borderline Mary Sue: woefully ignorant and innocent to the point of annoying - cried every-other page but claimed "she never cried." When she learns of several big betrayals near the end of the story, she gets angry, cries, and is over it in about 5 minutes.
Hero supposedly struggled with his insta-love for the heroine, however, he never actually mulled over those feelings on the page. Brooded at his manor on the moors for about a week, then returned to make out with her and regret it for a microsecond before he went back to being her protector.
Sex was boring and ludicrous (something about spurting ?!? lady parts when she peaks).
Lots of showing narrative statements instead of telling character actions and thoughts. I never felt a deep connection to the characters and their feelings.
Mystery was obvious; anything outside of the romance was fairly boring, including the fantastical descriptions of magical Victorian London.
I wanted so terribly to love this story - magic and Victoria's England are two of my favorite things.
alexiachantel's review against another edition
3.0
Kennedy brings just the right amount of fantasy to Victorian London. Enchanting the Lady has magic, shifters, and even dragons.
Felicity is a stunningly beautiful and powerful young woman. But she doesn’t know it. Having lived her life under a powerful spell and hidden away in the country she thinks very little of herself. So when the King’s right hand man (shifter) lays eyes on her she is very unprepared.
Terrence works for the King as a relic hunter. Relics are remnants of Merlin’s time and hold so much magic in them it corrupts the user. Having had close experience with relic users he is committed to ridding the world of the dark magic. So when he scents it on the intriguing Lady Felicity he is torn between his mission and the call of his mate.
Felicity is very innocent, at times too much. But it does fit the storyline. Terrence is an impressive lion, very alpha. They each fall fast and hard, no question there. The part that keeps you reading is the mystery of the relic, where it is, who is using it, and how is Felicity wrapped up with it?
This series has promise. It is a sweet fantasy with well written characters. It will be fun to see who Kennedy features in the second book.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-enchanting-lady-by-kathryne.html?zx=3b6e43e4910310b9
(copy courtesy of NetGalley)
Felicity is a stunningly beautiful and powerful young woman. But she doesn’t know it. Having lived her life under a powerful spell and hidden away in the country she thinks very little of herself. So when the King’s right hand man (shifter) lays eyes on her she is very unprepared.
Terrence works for the King as a relic hunter. Relics are remnants of Merlin’s time and hold so much magic in them it corrupts the user. Having had close experience with relic users he is committed to ridding the world of the dark magic. So when he scents it on the intriguing Lady Felicity he is torn between his mission and the call of his mate.
Felicity is very innocent, at times too much. But it does fit the storyline. Terrence is an impressive lion, very alpha. They each fall fast and hard, no question there. The part that keeps you reading is the mystery of the relic, where it is, who is using it, and how is Felicity wrapped up with it?
This series has promise. It is a sweet fantasy with well written characters. It will be fun to see who Kennedy features in the second book.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-enchanting-lady-by-kathryne.html?zx=3b6e43e4910310b9
(copy courtesy of NetGalley)
nelsonseye's review
3.0
Interesting world (loved Daisy) and good chemistry between the leads. However I wish the heroine hadn't been so naive and had been able to help herself instead of having to be rescued because of her naïveté.
tita_noir's review
3.0
In this paranormal romance, Victorian England is a magical place. The nobility are titled based on the power of their magics. The more powerful they are the higher their rank. The Royal family is the highest and often employ Werefolk as advisors and bodyguards because they are impervious to magic.
Felicity Seymour is a Duchess-of-Honor. Her parents have died and in order to inherit the duchy outright she must pass her magical test. However she feels very vulnerable. She lives with her aunt and uncle who are very protective of her shelter her almost obsessively. She has always been easily overlooked and she can barely scare up a flame with her magic, much less perform the complex magic necessary to be confirmed as Duschess. She is sure she will lose the title. And since no one ever seems to remember her and she has no suitors she is despairing of her future. It doesn't help that her despicable cousin Ralph's magic seems to be growing each day and he terrorizes her.
At her confirmation she meets Sir Terence Blackwell a Were-lion. He immediately notices Felicity. And not just because she is beautiful but because she wears the taint of relic magic. It seems there is ancient relics wrought by Merlin himself that were left all over England. These magic relics are so powerful that in the hands of unscrupulous people they can be very destructive. As a chief spy for Prince Albert, Terence is determined to track down and destroy all the relics. Hence he starts a courtship of Felicity to discover the relic.
As I began reading this I wasn't very sure what to expect. I actually liked the idea of Magic being the determinate factor in granting titles and land. It is a nice twist on primogeniture. All in all it was a nice little book -- a quick read with a nod to the Cinderella story somewhat. After it was done, though I really felt like it could have been better. It was really quite a surface book, nothing dug very beneath the surface. I also found Felicity a bit of a drip. Very, very early on in the book...I'd say chapter two, the reader could very easily figure out what is going on. I was very disappointed that Felicity didn't seem to be able to put two and two together. She was too credulous. She had no self preservation meter. You'd think she'd question things more. Instead she was content to have a bit of a ...well a big... pity party. I wanted her to have a bit more agency. Instead, she was very content for Terrence to save her. That bugged me some. I understand that this is the first in a series. I probably won't be checking out the remaining books right away, but may do so sometime in the future.
Felicity Seymour is a Duchess-of-Honor. Her parents have died and in order to inherit the duchy outright she must pass her magical test. However she feels very vulnerable. She lives with her aunt and uncle who are very protective of her shelter her almost obsessively. She has always been easily overlooked and she can barely scare up a flame with her magic, much less perform the complex magic necessary to be confirmed as Duschess. She is sure she will lose the title. And since no one ever seems to remember her and she has no suitors she is despairing of her future. It doesn't help that her despicable cousin Ralph's magic seems to be growing each day and he terrorizes her.
At her confirmation she meets Sir Terence Blackwell a Were-lion. He immediately notices Felicity. And not just because she is beautiful but because she wears the taint of relic magic. It seems there is ancient relics wrought by Merlin himself that were left all over England. These magic relics are so powerful that in the hands of unscrupulous people they can be very destructive. As a chief spy for Prince Albert, Terence is determined to track down and destroy all the relics. Hence he starts a courtship of Felicity to discover the relic.
As I began reading this I wasn't very sure what to expect. I actually liked the idea of Magic being the determinate factor in granting titles and land. It is a nice twist on primogeniture. All in all it was a nice little book -- a quick read with a nod to the Cinderella story somewhat. After it was done, though I really felt like it could have been better. It was really quite a surface book, nothing dug very beneath the surface. I also found Felicity a bit of a drip. Very, very early on in the book...I'd say chapter two, the reader could very easily figure out what is going on. I was very disappointed that Felicity didn't seem to be able to put two and two together. She was too credulous. She had no self preservation meter. You'd think she'd question things more. Instead she was content to have a bit of a ...well a big... pity party. I wanted her to have a bit more agency. Instead, she was very content for Terrence to save her. That bugged me some. I understand that this is the first in a series. I probably won't be checking out the remaining books right away, but may do so sometime in the future.
drey72's review
3.0
If you like your period romances mixed with magic and shapeshifters, then Enchanting the Lady is the book for you. It’s sweet and romantic, with plenty of love-at-first-sight warm-fuzzies, followed by obstacles to overcome in the form of greedy relatives, before getting to the happily-ever-after. What? It’s a romance novel, y’all!
Felicity Seymour holds her father’s dukedom temporarily. In her world, your level of magic is tested before you can be elevated to your title, even inherited ones. Unfortunately, Felicity stands to lose her title, as she has no magic – absolutely none at all. In fact, she’s so unremarkable that people don’t notice her, even when she’s standing right next to them…
Just when everything falls to pieces – she fails her test and loses her home – she’s courted by Terence Blackwell, a were-lion baronet. He’s not what society deems acceptable, being an animal and all… But he may be Felicity’s only chance at happiness. That is, if she can forgive him for what he’s not telling her.
Felicity is darling, if a bit ditzy. Terence is all growly and male. The dialog’s fun. The story’s entertaining. Which all adds up to a book you should add to your summer romance reading.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
Felicity Seymour holds her father’s dukedom temporarily. In her world, your level of magic is tested before you can be elevated to your title, even inherited ones. Unfortunately, Felicity stands to lose her title, as she has no magic – absolutely none at all. In fact, she’s so unremarkable that people don’t notice her, even when she’s standing right next to them…
Just when everything falls to pieces – she fails her test and loses her home – she’s courted by Terence Blackwell, a were-lion baronet. He’s not what society deems acceptable, being an animal and all… But he may be Felicity’s only chance at happiness. That is, if she can forgive him for what he’s not telling her.
Felicity is darling, if a bit ditzy. Terence is all growly and male. The dialog’s fun. The story’s entertaining. Which all adds up to a book you should add to your summer romance reading.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
sewcialist_librarian's review
2.0
Meh. Meh. Meh. I skimmed at least 1/03, probably closer to 1/2 the book. There's a weird mix of historical meets paranormal that doesn't flow well for me. Not to mention the story is really mediocre.