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Once Upon A Romance #2
As the Last Petal Falls
Princess Vivienne never planned to get lost, when she set out to find the truth about her mother. She also never planned to be chased by wolves, break her arm, or be plucked from the snow by an enigmatic, scowling, beast of a man. Uncertain of just who has rescued her, she decides to hide who she is, all the while wondering who her grumpy savior is. Truly, it's a maddening situation.
Fain MacTíre has a problem. A beautiful, troublesome woman has appeared--injured and alone--practically on his doorstep in the dead of winter. And while he'd like to trust her, he hasn't kept himself and his men safe for so long by being foolish. He has dangerous enemies, and they're perfectly capable of sending a spy to worm her way into his band of rebels. Besides, his instincts are telling him that she's not being truthful, and he's learned to trust his instincts.
As the Last Petal Falls is the second book in the Once Upon a Romance series, and it offers a whole new version of "Beauty and the Beast." With charming characters, political intrigue, and a little dose of magic, this is truly a fairy tale for a modern audience.
Fain MacTíre has a problem. A beautiful, troublesome woman has appeared--injured and alone--practically on his doorstep in the dead of winter. And while he'd like to trust her, he hasn't kept himself and his men safe for so long by being foolish. He has dangerous enemies, and they're perfectly capable of sending a spy to worm her way into his band of rebels. Besides, his instincts are telling him that she's not being truthful, and he's learned to trust his instincts.
As the Last Petal Falls is the second book in the Once Upon a Romance series, and it offers a whole new version of "Beauty and the Beast." With charming characters, political intrigue, and a little dose of magic, this is truly a fairy tale for a modern audience.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2012
27 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 29, 2015
Authors who choose to do the re-telling of fairy tales have a lot to live up to. These tales have stood the test of time because of the drama, the characters, the creativity and the lessons they impart. Woodard does a credible job in her version, especially in creating the likable characters in the beast's home. She also gives vivacious Vivienne, this fairy tale's heroine, a sweetness and cheerfulness reminiscent of the Disney princess. We even get the iconic gold dress late in the story! Actually, this re-telling has more in common with the Disney version than the original Beauty and the Beast tale.
In the opening scene, Vivienne is being chased through the woods by fearsome wolves. There is an other-worldliness about the wolves, and their ability to commune with Fain, the master of the neglected keep in the heart of the mountains. Only subtle hints of magic, which could be easily explained by natural occurrences, continue throughout most of the story. I always loved how the movie "Ever After" was the account of Danielle de Barbarac before she was romanticized by generations of story-telling and the Grimm Brothers as Cinderella; much of this book was in that same vein.
Vivienne and her interactions with the keep's staff were a joy, full of gentle humor and kindness. Woodard's descriptions of Vivienne's brave steed flying through ravines with the purple ribbons in her tail were well done. I could really see the ramshackle keep and the surrounding winter landscape in my mind's eye.
The romance between Vivienne and Fain develops slowly and as expected. He is mistrustful and she is naive. Tender moments abound as they come to know one another. However, this is an adult fairy tale, so expect physical illustrations of desire and love-making.
The last 25% of the book moves rapidly, but I missed the lovely, intimate quality of the first three quarters. In the end, though I wanted the Beast to be more menacing to the enemies, it was Vivienne who surprised me most. She found her inner queen, and bowed to duty but not a tyrant.
In the opening scene, Vivienne is being chased through the woods by fearsome wolves. There is an other-worldliness about the wolves, and their ability to commune with Fain, the master of the neglected keep in the heart of the mountains. Only subtle hints of magic, which could be easily explained by natural occurrences, continue throughout most of the story. I always loved how the movie "Ever After" was the account of Danielle de Barbarac before she was romanticized by generations of story-telling and the Grimm Brothers as Cinderella; much of this book was in that same vein.
Vivienne and her interactions with the keep's staff were a joy, full of gentle humor and kindness. Woodard's descriptions of Vivienne's brave steed flying through ravines with the purple ribbons in her tail were well done. I could really see the ramshackle keep and the surrounding winter landscape in my mind's eye.
The romance between Vivienne and Fain develops slowly and as expected. He is mistrustful and she is naive. Tender moments abound as they come to know one another. However, this is an adult fairy tale, so expect physical illustrations of desire and love-making.
The last 25% of the book moves rapidly, but I missed the lovely, intimate quality of the first three quarters. In the end, though I wanted the Beast to be more menacing to the enemies, it was Vivienne who surprised me most. She found her inner queen, and bowed to duty but not a tyrant.
January 22, 2013
This was a very different twist to Beauty and the Beast.
It was a very well-written novel. The action and suspense
remained throughout the book. However, I fluctuated between
giving it a three or four star rating for two reasons.
First: About two-thirds through the story a ridiculous explicit
sex scene was thrown in. The scene was not consistent with the
time frame in history, nor with the customs of that period among
nobility. It was an aberration to the story. They could have briefly
stated the affair without such detail or ridiculous verbal exchanges.
Secondly: The story flowed with increasing anticipation then ended
abruptly and felt like a splash of cold water in one's face. The epilogue
hinted at a continuation but left a lot to be desired.
This would have been a wonderful YA novel but the author ruined it
for that purpose. The adults inclined to enjoy this will mostly be disappointed
it was ruined with a stupid sex scene.
It was a very well-written novel. The action and suspense
remained throughout the book. However, I fluctuated between
giving it a three or four star rating for two reasons.
First: About two-thirds through the story a ridiculous explicit
sex scene was thrown in. The scene was not consistent with the
time frame in history, nor with the customs of that period among
nobility. It was an aberration to the story. They could have briefly
stated the affair without such detail or ridiculous verbal exchanges.
Secondly: The story flowed with increasing anticipation then ended
abruptly and felt like a splash of cold water in one's face. The epilogue
hinted at a continuation but left a lot to be desired.
This would have been a wonderful YA novel but the author ruined it
for that purpose. The adults inclined to enjoy this will mostly be disappointed
it was ruined with a stupid sex scene.
February 10, 2014
***Personal Note: I seem to be finding all kinds of fairy tale based books to read right now. Must be because Grimm, Once Upon A Time, & Once Upon A Time in Wonderland are all on hiatus right now. ***
I am enjoying Jessica Woodard's retelling of the fairy tales with her books. Before the Midnight Bells (a Cinderella tale) was the first one in the series giving us Max & Ella and introduced us to Vivienne. This book (As the Last Petal Falls) is Vivienne's story and takes up where the first one left off. It has a Beauty & the Beast feel to it, which is awesome. I love how Ms. Woodard is not just retelling the fairy tale, she is crafting a whole new story with a nod to the theme. I think she did an excellent job and I can't wait to read the next one.
I am enjoying Jessica Woodard's retelling of the fairy tales with her books. Before the Midnight Bells (a Cinderella tale) was the first one in the series giving us Max & Ella and introduced us to Vivienne. This book (As the Last Petal Falls) is Vivienne's story and takes up where the first one left off. It has a Beauty & the Beast feel to it, which is awesome. I love how Ms. Woodard is not just retelling the fairy tale, she is crafting a whole new story with a nod to the theme. I think she did an excellent job and I can't wait to read the next one.
October 19, 2015
I was so bored with this book! I understand that this was supposed to be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but Fain never came across as beastly at all! It also had a distinct Snow White vibe, which doesn't work since the next book is supposed to be the Snow White retelling! Vivienne was just clueless, and not much was resolved by the end of the book, other than that Fain and Vivienne would marry, which was a foregone conclusion since they declared their love. All in all, this book just wasn't for me, and with how lukewarm I felt about the first book, I won't be finishing the series. In fact, I'll be deleting it from my Kindle!
May 30, 2019
Okay book.
I liked the concept and characters were interesting. I liked the beginning more than the ending. I felt it got a little weird at the end. Major magic came out of the wood works when it wasn't really mentioned in the rest of the book. And not all was resolved in the end. We get a HEA for the couple, but the conflict looks like it will continue into the next book. It wasn't enough to make me need to read the next book. I was satisfied enough.
There was a sex scene in this book. And I must say it wasn't written very well. It was a little confusing to read. It kind of fit in with the story...but the setting was odd and it did seem a little thrown in there. And Vivi's knowledge...came out of nowhere! She had questionable governesses...
I liked the concept and characters were interesting. I liked the beginning more than the ending. I felt it got a little weird at the end. Major magic came out of the wood works when it wasn't really mentioned in the rest of the book. And not all was resolved in the end. We get a HEA for the couple, but the conflict looks like it will continue into the next book. It wasn't enough to make me need to read the next book. I was satisfied enough.
There was a sex scene in this book. And I must say it wasn't written very well. It was a little confusing to read. It kind of fit in with the story...but the setting was odd and it did seem a little thrown in there. And Vivi's knowledge...came out of nowhere! She had questionable governesses...
December 17, 2019
Great book
June 6, 2015
Loved it! This was REALLY good. I mean, the writing was really clear and detailed, the plot was intriguing, and the characters were AWESOME. The characters had major spark, were really interesting people, and actually relatable and lovable. Immediately I loved the main character. She was one of those characters who was just the right mix of confident, sassy, smart, and still sensitive: the perfect mix to be interesting, but the story still has actual depth. Fain was also a really great character. He was rugged and stand offish, but cared about his men. I really liked the secondary characters too. They gave the story a little more depth, and made the characters' missions more important.
SUMMARY: Vivienne is a rowdy Princess. Her mother having been captured and killed long ago, she has learned to fend for herself in the political castle life. Her mischievous nature is frowned upon, but her stubborn self refused to be caged. Angered by her father (the King) trying to marry her off, she sets out to meet her mother's family, to learn more of her past. Having encountered a number of misfortunes, she finds herself marooned at the fortress of a surly, uncivilized man. She conceals her identity, and in return is unaware of the nature of the men's work in the fortress. She battles with Fain to gain his trust, to learn more about the country she now lives in, to escape this fortress. Will Fain learn to trust her? What is happening to the people in this foreign land? Can she return to her duties as Princess? What will happen when she admits she is the Princess of Albion?
the not-so-best-parts: So there's this evil king, because, well, of course there is. And this King is... related to her? Married in? I have no clue. The guy is the perfect villain, perfectly written. But I have no idea what the family dynamics/relations are. Frankly, it didn't really detract from the story experience, just something to mention. Also, there were a number of typos: not commas, not apostrophes. No, this was a weird one that WAS EVERYWHERE. And it looked like t his . Personally, I didn't think it was too bad. But if you're the sort of person that CAN'T STAND TYPOS... first I apologize for THIS grammatical mess, and also I suggest you look elsewhere.
the best parts: the book had an interesting plot. You really felt the characters' emotion, without having direct and boring: e.g. she was sad. Additionally, you really came to appreciate the characters' selflessness and leadership qualities. That sort of thing where someone would give a toast, or speak to their men in a kind way, with saying "everyone looked on and was overcome by admiration". Also, the secondary characters were AMAZING. Personally, I loved this one character at the end, Fae MerryWinkle (or something like that). This book had humor that was fun spirited, and perfectly captured the relation between characters. Not a dull moment! Which brings us to the heroine. LOVED her. Strong, passionate, fierce. Not superwomen, but not a doormat. Great balance. And Fain was super sweet yet capable. They had a great relationship where they felt an instant connection, but still got to know each other and interacted quite a bit (not a slow build up, but not declaring eternal love after three days). They also were just adorable, what with their stubborn clashes, hilarious scenes, and the amusing interference of secondary characters. Also, I actually really liked the magic bit. It wasn't overwhelming. It was a little out of the blue, but I thought that the magic made sense with the story line: nothing too mind blowing, just added a little extra sumthin' (note: I read that someone found the magic WAY out of line. I did not feel the same way). The story was nicely balanced with ever-present humorous dialogue to prevent the story from ever becoming boring!
Overall, really great fun read. Yes, the characters are a little cliche, but the witty banter and emotion really makes up for that. When describing, feisty princess, closed off ruffian, the plot seems narrow minded, but felt original and fresh. It was nice to see a princess claim she actually did stuff, and then actually HELPED (usually they talk about helping and are USELESS). Super sweet story, lots of emotion and clever writing. A few obvious typos, but not the sort of thing you can't just read past. Highly recommend!
SUMMARY: Vivienne is a rowdy Princess. Her mother having been captured and killed long ago, she has learned to fend for herself in the political castle life. Her mischievous nature is frowned upon, but her stubborn self refused to be caged. Angered by her father (the King) trying to marry her off, she sets out to meet her mother's family, to learn more of her past. Having encountered a number of misfortunes, she finds herself marooned at the fortress of a surly, uncivilized man. She conceals her identity, and in return is unaware of the nature of the men's work in the fortress. She battles with Fain to gain his trust, to learn more about the country she now lives in, to escape this fortress. Will Fain learn to trust her? What is happening to the people in this foreign land? Can she return to her duties as Princess? What will happen when she admits she is the Princess of Albion?
the not-so-best-parts: So there's this evil king, because, well, of course there is. And this King is... related to her? Married in? I have no clue. The guy is the perfect villain, perfectly written. But I have no idea what the family dynamics/relations are. Frankly, it didn't really detract from the story experience, just something to mention. Also, there were a number of typos: not commas, not apostrophes. No, this was a weird one that WAS EVERYWHERE. And it looked like t his . Personally, I didn't think it was too bad. But if you're the sort of person that CAN'T STAND TYPOS... first I apologize for THIS grammatical mess, and also I suggest you look elsewhere.
the best parts: the book had an interesting plot. You really felt the characters' emotion, without having direct and boring: e.g. she was sad. Additionally, you really came to appreciate the characters' selflessness and leadership qualities. That sort of thing where someone would give a toast, or speak to their men in a kind way, with saying "everyone looked on and was overcome by admiration". Also, the secondary characters were AMAZING. Personally, I loved this one character at the end, Fae MerryWinkle (or something like that). This book had humor that was fun spirited, and perfectly captured the relation between characters. Not a dull moment! Which brings us to the heroine. LOVED her. Strong, passionate, fierce. Not superwomen, but not a doormat. Great balance. And Fain was super sweet yet capable. They had a great relationship where they felt an instant connection, but still got to know each other and interacted quite a bit (not a slow build up, but not declaring eternal love after three days). They also were just adorable, what with their stubborn clashes, hilarious scenes, and the amusing interference of secondary characters. Also, I actually really liked the magic bit. It wasn't overwhelming. It was a little out of the blue, but I thought that the magic made sense with the story line: nothing too mind blowing, just added a little extra sumthin' (note: I read that someone found the magic WAY out of line. I did not feel the same way). The story was nicely balanced with ever-present humorous dialogue to prevent the story from ever becoming boring!
Overall, really great fun read. Yes, the characters are a little cliche, but the witty banter and emotion really makes up for that. When describing, feisty princess, closed off ruffian, the plot seems narrow minded, but felt original and fresh. It was nice to see a princess claim she actually did stuff, and then actually HELPED (usually they talk about helping and are USELESS). Super sweet story, lots of emotion and clever writing. A few obvious typos, but not the sort of thing you can't just read past. Highly recommend!
July 4, 2013
The first half or so was pretty good. The characters were engaging, and I really enjoyed seeing Vivi floundering about the castle trying to learn how not to be a spoiled brat. Fain was a bit thickheaded at times but I was genuinely interested in whatever his secrete was. Unfortunately this was ruined by a random and strangely explicit sex scene. I call it 'random' because we are given little reason to see it coming; the hero is clearly attracted to the heroine, and vice versa, but their interactions did not appear to be leading to an X rated encounter so early in the story. If the author had simply alluded to the sex, instead of throwing in painful detail (seriously, use of the word "phallus" in a YA?) I would have been able to continue reading. With the story in its current form I had to stop. I was so thoroughly thrown out of the story by that event, and I'm very frustrated and confused that it was included. The entire scene could have been cut from the story with no ill effects.
May 24, 2016
WHY Woodard saw necessary to throw in what are apparently meant to be Scottish characters when the rest of the cast AND setting is so very obviously English-influenced is beyond me. At first I thought maybe she was trying to do some sort of "class" thing, but that wasn't right because members of ALL classes, EXCEPT for these few, spoke English, albeit with varying levels of slang. Then I thought it had something to do with the fae, but that's not right either, because all other fae characters ALSO speak perfect English. I can only conclude that it was an attempt to add variety, though in the end the endless repetitions of "lad" and "lass" and words that I could barely understand was simply maddening.
ASIDE from that, quite an enjoyable romance. I haven't read the first one yet, actually, but it seems that they can be read a bit out of order as long as you presume a fairy-tale happy ending, which, given the titles, I think is a given.
ASIDE from that, quite an enjoyable romance. I haven't read the first one yet, actually, but it seems that they can be read a bit out of order as long as you presume a fairy-tale happy ending, which, given the titles, I think is a given.
March 5, 2020
Hmm. In some ways this was better than Midnight Bells, and in other ways not so much.
Perhaps because the first story felt much lighter and charming, this one felt a bit heavier and a bit convoluted in comparison. While I get that there's bound to be more plot twists and intrigue when dealing with the royal family, it felt like a bit much to me when Vivienne finally makes it to the Toldas court.
And Vivienne. Well, I liked her enough in Midnight Bells, but she certainly is a character. While I do like her need to make people happy and whatnot, she's sometimes so headstrong that she comes across as a little bit silly. But you know, I figure that's part of her character so it's fine. And Fain! Again, understandably suspicious of new people. But still.
Overall, an okay read. There were parts that I really enjoyed and found quite funny, but I think (in the series so far) Max and Ella's story was more fun.
On a side note, I'm quite curious about Bianca's Snow White-inspired tale...
Perhaps because the first story felt much lighter and charming, this one felt a bit heavier and a bit convoluted in comparison. While I get that there's bound to be more plot twists and intrigue when dealing with the royal family, it felt like a bit much to me when Vivienne finally makes it to the Toldas court.
And Vivienne. Well, I liked her enough in Midnight Bells, but she certainly is a character. While I do like her need to make people happy and whatnot, she's sometimes so headstrong that she comes across as a little bit silly. But you know, I figure that's part of her character so it's fine. And Fain! Again, understandably suspicious of new people. But still.
Overall, an okay read. There were parts that I really enjoyed and found quite funny, but I think (in the series so far) Max and Ella's story was more fun.
On a side note, I'm quite curious about Bianca's Snow White-inspired tale...
October 17, 2014
I vastly enjoyed the first half of the book, which builds up a sweet romance with a lot of fun banter between the heroine and the hero, and lots and lots of innocently sexy scenes. Didn't think much of the obligatory sex scene in the middle, which was more on the graphic side, but thankfully short and completely unnecessary for the plot, so that it could be skipped without losing anything. Felt that everything slows down considerably in the second half and becomes too much of a typical chosen/magical girl story.
Not entirely sure about the world building here, it seems to be a close to but not quite our world fantasy setting where they've got gaslight and feudalistic governments.
The book would have needed tighter editing, in my opinion, but then I downloaded it for free so I can't really be picky about that.
Not entirely sure about the world building here, it seems to be a close to but not quite our world fantasy setting where they've got gaslight and feudalistic governments.
The book would have needed tighter editing, in my opinion, but then I downloaded it for free so I can't really be picky about that.
July 26, 2013
first thing i have to say, the book cover has to be changed!!, it does'nt do the book justice!, princess vivienne our heroine runs away from her pampered life, after being found in the wilderness, near to death she is taken to "the keep", where she meets the unusual inhabitants, what are their secrets, why are they there and who is Fain McTire?, the brooding leader of the men, the sparks "literally" fly between Vivi & Fain, both wary of each other at first, slowly they form a friendship, their relationship is written really well and you can picture the two of them together, i loved the other characters in the book, especially Connelly the mysterious medic and maker of potions, i don;t want to give the plot away, but its a lovely grown up fairytale, just sit back and enjoy...
June 2, 2017
A lovely Beauty & the Beast themed story. I was a bit disappointed that some aspects were not developed as much as I would like and it had the potential for a lot more adventure/suspense but when the author seemed to be approaching these potential scenes, she backed right off and turned it into a pure romance again.
Overall, it's a lovely story. If you're in between books and looking for something light and a little funny to refresh your palette before your next 'serious' book then this is a good way to go.
I would read it again, maybe in a few years, I certainly enjoyed it, but it had the potential to be a great story, rather than just a nice diversion .
September 22, 2012
This is the 2nd book after Before the Midnight Bells, but I read it first by accident, but there was no impediment to my enjoying & understanding the story or the characters. This is a fun, flirty retelling of Beauty & the Beast, but the beast is not a weird transforming thing (we don't think) and is pretty feminist, and the beauty is also smart and talented and kind of a spoiled bitch at first, but you can't help but like her. Multifaceted characters in a fairy tale!? No way! Good job, Jess!
July 4, 2015
I loved this book! I liked how it was different compared to the Beauty and the Beast story we know. I love the main characters name. in fact it is the name of my main character in my book series as well. Does anyone know if Jessica is writing a sequel to this one? I sure hope so. I want to know if they ever kill the villain (name is escaping me at the moment) and rescue the mother. I would love to read a sequel to this book! I read this book in a matter of a few days. I hate it when I read through a very good book quickly.
February 3, 2013
(100%)
I'm finished with As The Last Petal Falls: I had never read anything by this author before and actually this is the 2nd book in her series, but it reads by itself without having had to read the first. I'm looking forward to the third! A take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, it takes it a giant step forward with some magic, one great steamy scene, and a really good love story. I'm looking forward to the second!
September 16, 2012
Enchanting. I love the author's take on the traditional fairy tale; she's rejuvenated it and made it fun again. This second book of the series is even better than her first outing, and I'm anxious to see where Ms. Woodard takes us with her version of Snow White.
September 10, 2012
I have been looking for a good fairy tale remake that was not YA or smutty. This was a great book. It has a twist on Beauty and the Beast, some magic, and a little love. There is a semi steamy scene but overall it was a well written and engaging book!
March 11, 2014
Cute adaptation of the beauty and the beast book.
There is no real beast inside unfortunately, but it's well writen and there is a little magic in it anyway.
I only give 4 stars because of the end, it's too fast and seems to be unfinished !
There is no real beast inside unfortunately, but it's well writen and there is a little magic in it anyway.
I only give 4 stars because of the end, it's too fast and seems to be unfinished !
June 24, 2014
loved it! nothing about this book I didn't like. I highly recommend it. the best retelling of beauty and the beast. lovely. my only regret is that this is the second book in a series and I haven't read the first yet...but I will be soon=)
April 20, 2016
I think this is my favourite telling of beauty and the beast. It is just so much fun, and what an awesome twist on the old tale. Now I would write a longer review, but I'm going to read the next book now instead.
October 26, 2012
Loved the first book by Jessica Woodard and this sequel does not disappoint. Looking forward to the third book.
September 20, 2012
Does anyone know when the third one will be out?
September 22, 2012
Clever retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Dragged towards the end, and cold have been at least 50 pages shorter.
Quick way to pass the time on a long airplane ride.
Dragged towards the end, and cold have been at least 50 pages shorter.
Quick way to pass the time on a long airplane ride.
October 18, 2012
Cute story. Smart twist on a classic tale.
November 14, 2015
I loved this book! This book had everything I felt I was missing, (A heroine that didn't irritate me by complaining every five seconds and real clever chemistry between the main characters).
December 21, 2015
The middle book in a series always has a tendency to be the worst. I am happy to say that this book was able to keep up the momentum that the first book started.
December 23, 2013
Better than the first book.
June 8, 2014
So dull.
February 5, 2015
I don't usually go for the fae and paranormal stuff, but this was a fairy tale. It was cute. I liked the spunky Belle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews