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Fair Maiden
It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.
Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.
Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2011
3 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
About the author
Cheri Schmidt
50 books301 followersCheri Schmidt writes fantasy/paranormal romance and is the author of Fateful, Fractured, Forever, and The Order of Curse-Bound Knights.
Cheri will say that her head is a very crowded place, and she wishes she could write faster. She will also tell you that if you do not like glittering fairies, hot vampires with British accents, knights in shining armor, the dashing Mr. Darcy, girly-girls who wear skirts, or large amounts of snogging, then perhaps her stories are not for you.
She is also now on BookTube (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAc6...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 2, 2012
Words cannot express how much I have loved this clean romance book. I would have never thought in my wildest dreams how it would end and just loved how it turned out. My only problem was that I got to the end of the book and I really wished it didn't have to end and seriously could of gone on and on.
July 29, 2016
This was a sweet, historical fantasy that was an absolute pleasure to read. The tale is set in Victorian England, but is not meant to be a piece of historic fiction. It's a lovely fairy tale.
I enjoyed the main characters, Christian and Tessa and found the secondary characters very endearing as well from Jackson the butler to Tabitha the witch. It switches point of view between the adorable, but confused Tessa who wakes in the wrong century and far from anything she knows to the amusing and witty Christian who must avoid his parents' matrimonial plots while guiding Tessa through the pitfalls and times of 'modern' Victorian England.
The tender romance was the stuff of fairy tales which this story is including magic spells, maiden in distress, dastardly villains, and a heroic white knight to save his lady love. There is always a mystery to Tessa that slowly untangles as the story progresses.
It is an easy, clean read that you can trust in the hands of your teens without a qualm.
If you love Sleeping Beauty, you'll love this tale.
I enjoyed the main characters, Christian and Tessa and found the secondary characters very endearing as well from Jackson the butler to Tabitha the witch. It switches point of view between the adorable, but confused Tessa who wakes in the wrong century and far from anything she knows to the amusing and witty Christian who must avoid his parents' matrimonial plots while guiding Tessa through the pitfalls and times of 'modern' Victorian England.
The tender romance was the stuff of fairy tales which this story is including magic spells, maiden in distress, dastardly villains, and a heroic white knight to save his lady love. There is always a mystery to Tessa that slowly untangles as the story progresses.
It is an easy, clean read that you can trust in the hands of your teens without a qualm.
If you love Sleeping Beauty, you'll love this tale.
July 30, 2011
Note from the author:
This story is a YA Fantasy with a Paranormal twist, and a good dose of Romance.
After I’d read a few books with ghosts in them, this story started to come to me. I wanted something that blended two eras but I didn’t want to resolve the story with time travel, which is typically done. By blending a sort of Sleeping Beauty kind of tale with paranormal elements, I feel I’ve created something unique.
It’s also intentionally sweet because I meant for it to be YA. If this book were made into a movie, I’d pictured it as a Disney film that was something like Tangled. If you’re looking for a tasty and steamy romance novel, sorry, you won’t find that here.
This story is a YA Fantasy with a Paranormal twist, and a good dose of Romance.
After I’d read a few books with ghosts in them, this story started to come to me. I wanted something that blended two eras but I didn’t want to resolve the story with time travel, which is typically done. By blending a sort of Sleeping Beauty kind of tale with paranormal elements, I feel I’ve created something unique.
It’s also intentionally sweet because I meant for it to be YA. If this book were made into a movie, I’d pictured it as a Disney film that was something like Tangled. If you’re looking for a tasty and steamy romance novel, sorry, you won’t find that here.
May 16, 2011
Tifferz Take:
I have to say I was hooked from the teaser. This is a ghost story that will send you to the past. I loved all the twist and turns that Cheri created throughout this tale. This story not only has a ghost but, a witch, magic, a really bad guy and a totally great earl. Oh I forgot to mention a curse/ spell that needs to be broken! This is an enchanting ghost story with a intriguing adventure.T This is a magical romance you won't want to miss. This is a clean romance!! I highly recommend this book. I will be on the look out for more from Cheri Schmidt.
I have to say I was hooked from the teaser. This is a ghost story that will send you to the past. I loved all the twist and turns that Cheri created throughout this tale. This story not only has a ghost but, a witch, magic, a really bad guy and a totally great earl. Oh I forgot to mention a curse/ spell that needs to be broken! This is an enchanting ghost story with a intriguing adventure.T This is a magical romance you won't want to miss. This is a clean romance!! I highly recommend this book. I will be on the look out for more from Cheri Schmidt.
October 22, 2012
This old time ghostly romance will sweep you off your feet! When a young woman awakens in an enchanted room with no memory of her past or even a recollection of her name, she discovers she is in the home of a dashing earl named Christian! Together they seal a bond and attempt to free the young woman from the castle that refuses her access beyond its walls. The romance will thrill you, the mystery will prod at your mind, and the characters tug at your heart! Fair Maiden is an enchanting novel that will perpetually linger in your mind and rest in your heart.
January 21, 2013
Very sweet romance, clean, and well written. This book is about a maiden who awakens in a strange castle as a ghost. She doesn't know where she is, what her name is, or what happened to her, all she knows is that she is wearing a bridal gown. She tries to get help from workers on the castle grounds but they are not able to see her. She finds the Lord of the castle and both are shocked that they can see and talk to one another. Lord Christian swears to find out who murdered her and why. With help from a witch, and the maiden's fey parents, Christian is able to rescue his love when she is suddenly taken from a dark fey prince who uses black magic spells. Christian and his love, Contessa, are married and bound together for eternity. Such a great story! This was actually a Kindle freebie! And it was the third book that I have read recently that used the name Christian as one of the leading male characters!
June 5, 2012
This book is so great. I always enjoy a little bit of mystery in my novels, especially since Sherlock Holmes is my superhero. And there is plenty of mystery in Fair Maiden. There's also romance, fantasy, and a chivalrous Earl named Christian. This book is perfect for the little girl in all of us, and also perfect for the more mature side of us. I can promise that i will be one of the first to recommend this book to everyone and anyone i know who can appreciate a well written and gorgeous love story. In fact, this is so book is so extraordinary, i'm dropping what i'm reading now and picking this up. So, if you need me, i'll be curled up with a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and an absolutely amazing novel called Fair Maiden by the wonderful Cheri Schmidt.
April 19, 2013
Magical
I LOVED THIS STORY! The creativity was absolutely amazing. One of my favorite things about this book was that I never could guess what was going to happen in the end. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that has happened while reading a book that I couldn’t guess the outcome. I was pleasantly surprised and very satisfied with the ending. There were so many elements that I enjoyed. She had romance, enchantment, magic, a damsel in distress, a very charming man that comes to her aid, and so much more. I am a huge fan of Cheri’s writing. She has been blessed with the gift of storytelling. I fell in love with her writing during her Fateful trilogy. The minute the next book in the series is released I’m going to buy it. Cheri, I love it! Great job!
I LOVED THIS STORY! The creativity was absolutely amazing. One of my favorite things about this book was that I never could guess what was going to happen in the end. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that has happened while reading a book that I couldn’t guess the outcome. I was pleasantly surprised and very satisfied with the ending. There were so many elements that I enjoyed. She had romance, enchantment, magic, a damsel in distress, a very charming man that comes to her aid, and so much more. I am a huge fan of Cheri’s writing. She has been blessed with the gift of storytelling. I fell in love with her writing during her Fateful trilogy. The minute the next book in the series is released I’m going to buy it. Cheri, I love it! Great job!
June 17, 2011
I loved every page of this unique historical spin off of Sleeping Beauty. I love the Victorian time setting, and the old England feel the book has. The main character is very personable and loveable, she pulled me in and I immediately wanted to help her solve her troubles. The ever surprising plot continued to pull me and I finished the book in a matter of days. The almost forbidden romance between the two characters is very interesting and touching. I strongly recommend this historical romance if you are looking for a good classic with a wonderful twist.
October 23, 2013
I think this could have been a cute story but unfortunately the writing got on my nerves. It felt like I was reading a high school paper rather than a published book. The characters drove me crazy! Tessa (Ghost girl) cried all the time and I got tired of hearing about her beautiful green eyes! Christian could have been alright but he just grated on my nerves with all of his endearments towards Tessa. Its ok to use them just not every single time you talk to her!! Plus, I didn't need to hear about his handsome dimple every other paragraph either! I really struggled to get through this book!!
January 30, 2013
I love anything resembling to a fairy tale. This story was enchanting! I was truly expecting a regency romance with some time travel mixed in. I was surprised by the twist this story took. I fell in love with the characters and hope to learn more about them. I am hoping Cheri will continue this story with another book about other family members as she teased at in the epilogue of "Fair Maiden."
June 22, 2011
This is a very imaginative and fun read! I enjoyed the idea of putting together a couple from two completely different time periods and the idea of a man falling for a ghost. One of my favorite characters was Jackson. I loved the dedication to Christian and the banter between the two of them. This is a Nook or a Kindle download and well worth the sale price!
January 25, 2013
What would you do if you couldn't be with the one you love? Could not hold, touch, kiss, or feel them? How would that relationship survive? Throw in memory loss, a curse, an evil girl that will do anything to steal your man, and an evil ex fiance and you get Fair Maiden! A great twisting and turning adventure that will leave you wanting more!
June 30, 2011
Such a cute read...loved Christian! If you like a Sleeping Beautyesque story, this will appeal to you!
January 13, 2013
I loved this book! It was a different genre for me and it proved itself to be a real gem! It was very enjoyable and left me happy with the ending!
June 11, 2014
Super good book :)
July 4, 2018
Absolutely wonderful mix of regency romance and a fairytale. It reads easily and with real pleasure.
Perfect reading on the way to and from work. In the morning, it will prepare you for a stressful day and it will relax you in the afternoon. What more could you want?
This book will enchant everyone and with a clear conscience and enthusiasm, I recommend it to all readers, not only fans of the genre.
Solid 5 if you ask me!
Perfect reading on the way to and from work. In the morning, it will prepare you for a stressful day and it will relax you in the afternoon. What more could you want?
This book will enchant everyone and with a clear conscience and enthusiasm, I recommend it to all readers, not only fans of the genre.
Solid 5 if you ask me!
July 7, 2011
I had fun reading this book and getting to know the characters. I was a big fan of Tessa, and I really liked her story. She was entertaining and sweet, the only thing that started to get a little old with her was the crying. She seemed to cry over everything! Obviously she was in a crappy situation, where she spent most of the book confused and not knowing who she truly was, but it seemed like she spent the majority of the time crying. She obviously was very emotional, and if I were a doctor I would probably prescribe her with some serious Prozac!
The main plot of this novel was trying to figure out who Tessa really is. Christian, the young man who ‘found’ Tessa, is her sidekick turned love-of-her-life who helps Tessa to discover why she was sleeping for a couple of hundred years, and why she comes back in a ghost-like form. Together they are able to figure out how to change her to real flesh and blood, like a human, but they need to figure out how to break the spell in order to keep her from randomly changing back into a translucent ghost-like individual. This novel has kind of a mystery feel to it with the reader working along with Christian and Tessa to try to figure out her past, and why cannot stay in her human form.
Christian was an interesting character, and I honestly didn’t like him very much. He was a little bit ‘over-the-top’ I would say. He gets angry over everything, and he’s also extremely jealous! Christian is the Earl of Krestly Castle, so possibly he felt entitled to act like a jerk because of his status as nobility? Several times he flips at the drop of a hat, and he’s described a lot as making “menacing” faces, or screaming at somebody in the novel. I feel like he’s a little bi-polar (yes, I am diagnosing the emotional problems of these characters!) because one minute he’ll be talking to Tessa like you might talk to a little kid, calling her pet names all of the time, and clinging to her constantly, then the next minute he’s angry or jealous, and he needs to know where she is at, at all times. I understand he’s concerned for her, but acting like a clingy, over bearing woman wouldn’t score any points with me! I wrote a note to myself at one point while reading that said, “He might be a nice catch if he wasn’t in serious need of anger management therapy!” And, at the end of the novel I still felt that way!
This book was directed towards readers at a younger age than me. I think that it would more appropriate for a middle school student or a student in early high school. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the read and the humor was definitely for older as well as younger readers, but the relationship between Tessa and Christian was a little too juvenile for me.
As I said, I did enjoy the humor and there were several parts where I laughed out loud while reading! In one part of the book Christian and Tessa are kissing, and as he leans forward to kiss her more, she goes from her solid, human form back into her translucent, ghost like form and he falls ‘through’ her and smacks his head off the door!
There was also the ‘evil’ character, who is Prince Dominic. He was alive with Tessa a couple of hundred years ago, and she escaped marriage to him by “dying.” I don’t want to ruin the story with spoilers, but Dominic is an evil guy, and the reason Tessa has the issues with her human form and ghost form has to do with him.
This was a fun adventurous story, and it has a sweet, innocent love story that builds between Christian and Tessa throughout the book. As I said, I wasn’t a fan of Christian, because I think he is a little crazy, but altogether it was a good read that I would definitely recommend, but I think that younger readers will get much more enjoyment out of it than older readers.
I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars!
The main plot of this novel was trying to figure out who Tessa really is. Christian, the young man who ‘found’ Tessa, is her sidekick turned love-of-her-life who helps Tessa to discover why she was sleeping for a couple of hundred years, and why she comes back in a ghost-like form. Together they are able to figure out how to change her to real flesh and blood, like a human, but they need to figure out how to break the spell in order to keep her from randomly changing back into a translucent ghost-like individual. This novel has kind of a mystery feel to it with the reader working along with Christian and Tessa to try to figure out her past, and why cannot stay in her human form.
Christian was an interesting character, and I honestly didn’t like him very much. He was a little bit ‘over-the-top’ I would say. He gets angry over everything, and he’s also extremely jealous! Christian is the Earl of Krestly Castle, so possibly he felt entitled to act like a jerk because of his status as nobility? Several times he flips at the drop of a hat, and he’s described a lot as making “menacing” faces, or screaming at somebody in the novel. I feel like he’s a little bi-polar (yes, I am diagnosing the emotional problems of these characters!) because one minute he’ll be talking to Tessa like you might talk to a little kid, calling her pet names all of the time, and clinging to her constantly, then the next minute he’s angry or jealous, and he needs to know where she is at, at all times. I understand he’s concerned for her, but acting like a clingy, over bearing woman wouldn’t score any points with me! I wrote a note to myself at one point while reading that said, “He might be a nice catch if he wasn’t in serious need of anger management therapy!” And, at the end of the novel I still felt that way!
This book was directed towards readers at a younger age than me. I think that it would more appropriate for a middle school student or a student in early high school. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the read and the humor was definitely for older as well as younger readers, but the relationship between Tessa and Christian was a little too juvenile for me.
As I said, I did enjoy the humor and there were several parts where I laughed out loud while reading! In one part of the book Christian and Tessa are kissing, and as he leans forward to kiss her more, she goes from her solid, human form back into her translucent, ghost like form and he falls ‘through’ her and smacks his head off the door!
There was also the ‘evil’ character, who is Prince Dominic. He was alive with Tessa a couple of hundred years ago, and she escaped marriage to him by “dying.” I don’t want to ruin the story with spoilers, but Dominic is an evil guy, and the reason Tessa has the issues with her human form and ghost form has to do with him.
This was a fun adventurous story, and it has a sweet, innocent love story that builds between Christian and Tessa throughout the book. As I said, I wasn’t a fan of Christian, because I think he is a little crazy, but altogether it was a good read that I would definitely recommend, but I think that younger readers will get much more enjoyment out of it than older readers.
I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 11, 2013FAIR MAIDEN is more of an original story than it is a fairy tale, though there are fairy tale elements twisted into it. When I first saw the cover for the book, I thought I knew the fairy tale. When I saw the cover, I thought I knew the fairy tale. When I read the beginning of the book, I thought I knew the fairy tale. Sleeping Beauty, of course. ...Right? But Cheri Schmidt's tale is so original, that I constantly doubted myself. Did I know the fairy tale? Was it even based on a fairy tale? I kept guessing as a reader, and I want you to have the same experience, so I'll leave you with that.
Original Cover Art
Tessa wakes up one morning not knowing where she is or how she got there. She doesn't even remember that her name is Tessa. She can't feel anything, is able to walk through walls, and, worst of all, no one else notices her presence. Has she died? She doesn't remember dying. Is she a ghost now wandering the castle in a permanent state of unrest? There's more to Tessa than meets the eye, and the key to cracking the mystery of her past lies with Christian, the current earl of the castle. Somehow, he's able to see her, and with him, Tessa dreams. She remembers her name. She remembers fragments of her past. When they touch, she gains flesh and bone, neither alive nor dead. Who--or what--is Tessa, and what happened in her past to make her what she is today? The answer is dangerous, and one that neither Tessa or Christian are prepared to handle...
The answer to Tessa's past is surprising, impossible to guess ahead of time. It added a new element to the story, which is an interesting blend of paranormal, fantasy, and, yes, fairy tale. While it starts off slowly, once Tessa starts remembering clues to her past, the pace picks up and intensifies, especially once the pieces all begin clicking together. The connection between Tessa and Christian is strong, and their bonding over the course of the book evolves at a steady pace. There are a lot of trials involved, since Christian is grounded in reality, and it's interesting to see the way he balances responsibility with his growing feelings for the one girl he can't have. The book also has a historical feel, taking place in Victorian England, while Tessa's memories are all Medieval. It added an extra dimension to the tale. While the end is left open, Schmidt is planning to write two more books in the series. It's hard to say a lot about this one without giving away spoilers, but FAIR MAIDEN blends genres together for a twist you won't see coming.
Original Cover Art
Tessa wakes up one morning not knowing where she is or how she got there. She doesn't even remember that her name is Tessa. She can't feel anything, is able to walk through walls, and, worst of all, no one else notices her presence. Has she died? She doesn't remember dying. Is she a ghost now wandering the castle in a permanent state of unrest? There's more to Tessa than meets the eye, and the key to cracking the mystery of her past lies with Christian, the current earl of the castle. Somehow, he's able to see her, and with him, Tessa dreams. She remembers her name. She remembers fragments of her past. When they touch, she gains flesh and bone, neither alive nor dead. Who--or what--is Tessa, and what happened in her past to make her what she is today? The answer is dangerous, and one that neither Tessa or Christian are prepared to handle...
The answer to Tessa's past is surprising, impossible to guess ahead of time. It added a new element to the story, which is an interesting blend of paranormal, fantasy, and, yes, fairy tale. While it starts off slowly, once Tessa starts remembering clues to her past, the pace picks up and intensifies, especially once the pieces all begin clicking together. The connection between Tessa and Christian is strong, and their bonding over the course of the book evolves at a steady pace. There are a lot of trials involved, since Christian is grounded in reality, and it's interesting to see the way he balances responsibility with his growing feelings for the one girl he can't have. The book also has a historical feel, taking place in Victorian England, while Tessa's memories are all Medieval. It added an extra dimension to the tale. While the end is left open, Schmidt is planning to write two more books in the series. It's hard to say a lot about this one without giving away spoilers, but FAIR MAIDEN blends genres together for a twist you won't see coming.
May 10, 2011
What if you woke up in a bed in a castle you didn't recognize and couldn't even remember who you were? Then you find out, you're not even alive. The story of Tessa (aka Ghost Girl) is very unique. She finds out she is ghost in a castle from the Victorian Era and when she finally sees the Earl of the Krestly Castle, Lord Christian, she thinks nothing would be more entertaining than to haunt the handsome man. When he can see her it comes to a complete shock to him and to her because nobody else can. Together Christian and Tessa try to figure out how she died, who she is, and what is going on!
If I could give this book more like 4.5 stars I would! This is such a unique story line that I had no idea where it was heading. Completely unpredictable and very entertaining. From the moment you start reading Fair Maiden you get sucked in to this young woman’s life and wish you could help her. Tessa is a lovable character, she is so innocent and sweet and a tad emotional, but I guess anyone would be in her predicament. The Lord of Krestly Castle, Christian is a remarkable character also, he is manly yet sweet and very protective of his lovely ghost girl. I loved his terms of endearment for Tessa and I also loved the way he struggled with his feelings and desires for her!
There was so many twists and turns in this book it is hard to really describe what you are going to read about without giving away some of the juicy details but I found this to be a very fun, magical and romantic read. The ending is a surprise but very delightful. YA readers, fantasy and historical fantasy lovers will enjoy this book that I highly recommend!
My only complaint of this book is that sometimes the story would change gears so quickly that you weren't really sure what was going on, I only noticed this problem once or twice but it didn't deter me from the story at all. The other complaint is that I wish the story continued on longer. There was so much unique goodness to Fair Maiden that I truly didn't want it to end!
I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.
If I could give this book more like 4.5 stars I would! This is such a unique story line that I had no idea where it was heading. Completely unpredictable and very entertaining. From the moment you start reading Fair Maiden you get sucked in to this young woman’s life and wish you could help her. Tessa is a lovable character, she is so innocent and sweet and a tad emotional, but I guess anyone would be in her predicament. The Lord of Krestly Castle, Christian is a remarkable character also, he is manly yet sweet and very protective of his lovely ghost girl. I loved his terms of endearment for Tessa and I also loved the way he struggled with his feelings and desires for her!
There was so many twists and turns in this book it is hard to really describe what you are going to read about without giving away some of the juicy details but I found this to be a very fun, magical and romantic read. The ending is a surprise but very delightful. YA readers, fantasy and historical fantasy lovers will enjoy this book that I highly recommend!
My only complaint of this book is that sometimes the story would change gears so quickly that you weren't really sure what was going on, I only noticed this problem once or twice but it didn't deter me from the story at all. The other complaint is that I wish the story continued on longer. There was so much unique goodness to Fair Maiden that I truly didn't want it to end!
I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.
February 3, 2013
Maria My scoring star scale:
5 - Absolutely loved it and would read it more than once (if I have it on my Kindle, I would also go out and by a hard copy of the book to share with others)
4 - I really liked it. The story stayed with me; it surprised me in a good way; it made me want to read the story in one sitting; high possibility of being read again
3 - Average rating. There were parts of the story that I loved and other parts that I did not; the story kept my interest but did not grab me (to the point where I could not set the book down)
2 - I had a hard time getting to the end, but I did reach it; I would not read it again
1 - I could not bring myself to finish it or I absolutely hated it
Ways to lose stars - underdeveloped character(s)/one-dimensional, out of character scenarios (feelings or actions), far-fetched plots or reasoning, many grammatically errors (usually for self-publishing authors. I am lenient to a point on this), unable to "end" the story (cliffhangers for a series is fine, but the main conflicts of the current book should be resolved); hurried endings...some of my bias ways of losing stars: a historical fiction novel that is way out of its era in actions or thoughts, a weak hero/heroine by the end of the book (doesn't grow or goes from strong to weak), abusive relationships that are written to be taken as "romantic" and "a sign of love"
~
I would give the story itself 3.5 stars. It was a good concept and interesting twist with the paranormal genre. I think the story had great potential. However, the characters were one-dimensional and tended to get on my nerves, which brought down my rating for this book. The good characters were good and the bad characters were bad [speaking of, we never did see a return on a few of the characters that caused problems at the beginning of the story (or what became of them.)]For an example of the main character, I believe for about 90% of the story Tessa either pouted, cried, or ate. Half the time I wondered if I was reading about a child or someone that was old enough to get married.
This is a clean romance story, even the "curse" words were basically nonexistent.
5 - Absolutely loved it and would read it more than once (if I have it on my Kindle, I would also go out and by a hard copy of the book to share with others)
4 - I really liked it. The story stayed with me; it surprised me in a good way; it made me want to read the story in one sitting; high possibility of being read again
3 - Average rating. There were parts of the story that I loved and other parts that I did not; the story kept my interest but did not grab me (to the point where I could not set the book down)
2 - I had a hard time getting to the end, but I did reach it; I would not read it again
1 - I could not bring myself to finish it or I absolutely hated it
Ways to lose stars - underdeveloped character(s)/one-dimensional, out of character scenarios (feelings or actions), far-fetched plots or reasoning, many grammatically errors (usually for self-publishing authors. I am lenient to a point on this), unable to "end" the story (cliffhangers for a series is fine, but the main conflicts of the current book should be resolved); hurried endings...some of my bias ways of losing stars: a historical fiction novel that is way out of its era in actions or thoughts, a weak hero/heroine by the end of the book (doesn't grow or goes from strong to weak), abusive relationships that are written to be taken as "romantic" and "a sign of love"
~
I would give the story itself 3.5 stars. It was a good concept and interesting twist with the paranormal genre. I think the story had great potential. However, the characters were one-dimensional and tended to get on my nerves, which brought down my rating for this book. The good characters were good and the bad characters were bad [speaking of, we never did see a return on a few of the characters that caused problems at the beginning of the story (or what became of them.)]For an example of the main character, I believe for about 90% of the story Tessa either pouted, cried, or ate. Half the time I wondered if I was reading about a child or someone that was old enough to get married.
This is a clean romance story, even the "curse" words were basically nonexistent.
January 15, 2013
This was a fun read. Magical and seemingly paranormal, but with a twist I didn't expect. The characters were well developed. I loved them. Christian Sparks, an Earl moves into an old Castle. When his presence wakes up the "ghost" who's been trapped for centuries in a hidden room. She can't remember who she is, or where she came from, or how she died. He can see her but no one else can, unless she chooses for them to. She's transparent though so she can't be passed as anything but a ghost.
Christian can't get his inheritance from his father to maintain this castle and grounds until he gets married. (Silly parents) but he doesn't have any prospects for marriage and he's of course fallen for this ghost.
The ghost (who we eventually learn her name is Tessa) knows she can't have him, but is still connected to him. She can't leave the castle grounds because of the spell around it, but when Christian goes to a ball to meet some ladies his mother is insisting he pick a bride from, Tessa calls his name and is transported there. And that makes things fun because sometimes she flits back and forth from being ghost like to being flesh and blood. But no one knows when it's gonna happen. Through the workings of a spell and with the help of a witch, they figure things out and learn who Tessa really is, but that's just the beginning of what they need to do. They've got to end the spell that's on her, and save her from the threat that caused her to be under that spell in the first place.
This book was fast paced, engaging, romantic without getting blushworthy, and like I mentioned, not what I expected when I first started it. Nice twist. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue where I'm not sure if they were leaving things open for a sequel or if it was just a tease for me to think of what happens next on my own.
Christian can't get his inheritance from his father to maintain this castle and grounds until he gets married. (Silly parents) but he doesn't have any prospects for marriage and he's of course fallen for this ghost.
The ghost (who we eventually learn her name is Tessa) knows she can't have him, but is still connected to him. She can't leave the castle grounds because of the spell around it, but when Christian goes to a ball to meet some ladies his mother is insisting he pick a bride from, Tessa calls his name and is transported there. And that makes things fun because sometimes she flits back and forth from being ghost like to being flesh and blood. But no one knows when it's gonna happen. Through the workings of a spell and with the help of a witch, they figure things out and learn who Tessa really is, but that's just the beginning of what they need to do. They've got to end the spell that's on her, and save her from the threat that caused her to be under that spell in the first place.
This book was fast paced, engaging, romantic without getting blushworthy, and like I mentioned, not what I expected when I first started it. Nice twist. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue where I'm not sure if they were leaving things open for a sequel or if it was just a tease for me to think of what happens next on my own.
June 26, 2011
I loved the idea of this book. A sleeping beauty theme with a dashing Earl and a lovely damsel in distress, one who can walk through walls.
She doesn't know her name or how she came to be dead. She assumes she's dead, she IS transparent after all. Christian is shocked when he first sees her and sees THROUGH her.
He is devoted to ferreting out the mystery that she is.
A bit of memory, a dream that may not be really a dream...and now he knows her name, Contessa. The witch that he hires is shocked that he speaks her name. Suddenly she is SOLID and in the here and now.
I loved how Tessa enjoyed food while in the solid state. Unfortunately she slips between solid and other worldly quite often.
The end was rather abrupt. Would have loved to see the meeting of the parents.
EDITING to ADD: I've had a lovely chat with Cheri Schmidt and it appears that the file downloaded from amazon was an OLD file...the newest file is NOT filled with grammar and spelling mistakes. She is very kindly sending me a new copy of the book.
I've raised my rating one star.
I appreciate her taking the time to address this issue.
She doesn't know her name or how she came to be dead. She assumes she's dead, she IS transparent after all. Christian is shocked when he first sees her and sees THROUGH her.
He is devoted to ferreting out the mystery that she is.
A bit of memory, a dream that may not be really a dream...and now he knows her name, Contessa. The witch that he hires is shocked that he speaks her name. Suddenly she is SOLID and in the here and now.
I loved how Tessa enjoyed food while in the solid state. Unfortunately she slips between solid and other worldly quite often.
The end was rather abrupt. Would have loved to see the meeting of the parents.
EDITING to ADD: I've had a lovely chat with Cheri Schmidt and it appears that the file downloaded from amazon was an OLD file...the newest file is NOT filled with grammar and spelling mistakes. She is very kindly sending me a new copy of the book.
I've raised my rating one star.
I appreciate her taking the time to address this issue.
March 31, 2013
Imaginative book! A take on Sleeping Beauty , but so much more! A ghost and a man falling in love, and a mystery behind her identity, what happened to her, and how to help her. Each new chapter was a new imaginative twist that I didn’t see coming. I could not predict what was going to happen or how, and I’m pretty good at predicting things if I do say so myself. Contessa is so sweet with a kind spirit, though she did tend to cry at the drop of a hat. And Christian was powerful and handsome and totally in love with her, which is always fun to read. Sometimes the tender scenes were a little too lustful instead of sweet. Don’t get me wrong, it was totally clean. But sometimes I got a little tired of the heavy breathing. Christian sometimes confused me, making me wonder if he was as nice as he seemed. But that’s not always a bad thing, to wonder and worry. Now the down side: I felt like it was a first draft, a good start. It’s an incredibly unique story with compelling characters, but not really fleshed out and developed. The movement of the story was too quick, too superficial. I feel like this story could have been fabulous if she’d written a few more drafts. But I give it a thumbs up, overall. I enjoy books that are clean and imaginative and full of love.
July 27, 2011
This story had a cheesy, but intriguing plot. Unfortunately the writer's style could easily be surpassed by one of my middle school students'. One of the main writing strategies that I teach is to go easy on the adjectives and describe the noun instead; this results in much better imagery. The excessive (and repetitive) use of adjectives deflated the language and made it sound very...amateur, which I found annoying and distracting.
Here are some examples: delicate fingers, delicate neck, delicate brow, delicate curtsy, delicate chin. Can you tell that this character is delicate? Here's more: cute nose, perfect mouth, tiny fist, handsome dimple...If the author insists on overusing adjectives, she should at least throw in some "million dollar" words. In addition, the author frequently overused pronouns, which sometimes made the sentences unclear.
If you just want a cute story, then it's not bad. If you appreciate writing skill, then you will likely find this novel more irritating than enjoyable.
Here are some examples: delicate fingers, delicate neck, delicate brow, delicate curtsy, delicate chin. Can you tell that this character is delicate? Here's more: cute nose, perfect mouth, tiny fist, handsome dimple...If the author insists on overusing adjectives, she should at least throw in some "million dollar" words. In addition, the author frequently overused pronouns, which sometimes made the sentences unclear.
If you just want a cute story, then it's not bad. If you appreciate writing skill, then you will likely find this novel more irritating than enjoyable.
July 18, 2013
I think, at base, Fair Maiden is an interesting treatment of the "Sleeping Beauty" storyline. But the book itself is in dire need of an editor...or, really, an entire con-crit group's feedback.
The characters are flat---a purely evil villain, a beautiful, angelic (if vapid) heroine, a beautiful, charming (if occasionally controlling) hero, none of whom really grows or changes in the course of the book. Plotholes litter the pages, as do historical inaccuracies, and while the writing isn't bad, it definitely feels lazy at times. The result is an uncomfortable, often boring read humming with unmet potential.
I think if Fair Maiden, and its author, had been challenged to provide stronger storytelling, a broader variety of detail and diction, and more complex characters, it would have been a truly engaging book. Perhaps that's something to hope for in Schmidt's future endeavors.
The characters are flat---a purely evil villain, a beautiful, angelic (if vapid) heroine, a beautiful, charming (if occasionally controlling) hero, none of whom really grows or changes in the course of the book. Plotholes litter the pages, as do historical inaccuracies, and while the writing isn't bad, it definitely feels lazy at times. The result is an uncomfortable, often boring read humming with unmet potential.
I think if Fair Maiden, and its author, had been challenged to provide stronger storytelling, a broader variety of detail and diction, and more complex characters, it would have been a truly engaging book. Perhaps that's something to hope for in Schmidt's future endeavors.
April 14, 2012
I kept putting this book off because I just wasn't sure if I could really stomach a ghost with a living human. Well, I am glad I picked it up and decided to finish it.
You don't learn the ghost's name for a while and that is for a reason. A lot of confusing things are for a reason that you just have to wait to get the reason.
I loved Christian in this book.He is a real man complete with man thoughts! But he is so cute at it and feels guilty for it from his time period. I could eat him up!
The only thing that bothered me was that it finished up too quickly. Once you learned all the secrets, it was over. We don't see any more and there could have been just a little more. I wanted to see more of the families together and I can't say any more unless I spoil it!
Clean read!
You don't learn the ghost's name for a while and that is for a reason. A lot of confusing things are for a reason that you just have to wait to get the reason.
I loved Christian in this book.He is a real man complete with man thoughts! But he is so cute at it and feels guilty for it from his time period. I could eat him up!
The only thing that bothered me was that it finished up too quickly. Once you learned all the secrets, it was over. We don't see any more and there could have been just a little more. I wanted to see more of the families together and I can't say any more unless I spoil it!
Clean read!
January 16, 2013
This is a fun, magical story that I got as a free kindle book from Amazon. When Christian becomes the new Earl of an old medieval castle, he is surprised to find it haunted by a beautiful ghost who can't remember who she is or how she got there. But, is she really dead, and why is she dressed as a bride.
This story kept me guessing. At first I thought it was a ghost story, but there are twists and turns that make it so much more. It is quite original and filled with humor, an evil villain, magic, and romance. This is a young adult book and a clean read. While the language was a little too modern at times, it wasn't too distracting. I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author and would love to see this story continue.
This story kept me guessing. At first I thought it was a ghost story, but there are twists and turns that make it so much more. It is quite original and filled with humor, an evil villain, magic, and romance. This is a young adult book and a clean read. While the language was a little too modern at times, it wasn't too distracting. I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author and would love to see this story continue.
October 14, 2011
This was a fun book. I'll admit it started out rather slow and could have done with more character development, but it was still good. I enjoyed the mystery of Tessa and what had happened to her in the past. The twists and turns keep you on your toes and anxious for a happily-ever-after. Christian is a great character and by the end you really enjoy the role he finds himself in. Tessa is a bit lacking in courage but is a sweet if slightly uninspiring girl - not that she wasn't written well, that's just her character. Their romance is sweet and frustrated by their circumstances. It was a fun book that I would recommend.
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July 7, 2014
This book was intriguing from the very beginning. I immediately wanted to know more about the young maiden and what had happened to her. Who was she? And why was she sleeping in an unfamiliar castle? I admit, I became a little frustrated when the author made us wait, and then wait some more to discover all the secrets behind her circumstances. But, her beautiful writing held my attention and kept me glued to the story to find out more. I loved the author's descriptions and talent for storytelling, she made me feel as though I were a part of each scene. I thought the second epilogue was a little unnecessary, but otherwise found the ending very satisfying. Happy and no cliff hangers :)
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