Christina Dodd

A Daughter of Fair Verona is an extension of Romeo & Juliet wherein the star-crossed lovers did not perish, but instead lived and found much happiness in their love to the point where it is the stuff of legend.

Much to Rosaline's, their eldest daughter's, dismay of course because now all love is compared to the greatest of loves. Not only that but her parents having found the love of a lifetime for themselves want nothing more than for Rosie to find it for herself. Rosie will have none of show more that, however, and has been successful at steering her would-be betrothed to others. Unfortunately, with her third betrothal, to an all-around detested man, Rosie has no other recourse. That is, until said man is found murdered in the Montague gardens.

Of course, Rosie becomes suspect number one. Knowing her innocence, she sets out to clear her name and find the true murderer who, it appears, is not content to kill just once.

This book really gave me a "My Lady Jane" vibe. I think it's the repositioning of a classic story, and updating it to be slightly modern and upbeat. I did think that Christina Dodd did a great homage to Shakespeare including small Easter eggs throughout for the larger Shakespeare universe - whether that is a name or a well-known turn of phrase - as well as often utilizing the same cadence and rhythm to the dialogue.

With all this in mind, however, I felt like it did stand very well on it's own outside the canon of Romeo & Juliet. I liked the way it made light of how in love, and almost obsessively devoted to one another the two are, much to the chagrin of their oldest, but this really placed Rosie firmly in the spotlight without alienating the now "elder" Montagues.

I was genuinely pulled in by the mystery. It led on a few twists and turns and overall I enjoyed the way it played out.

Possibly, though, one of the most delightful aspects of the book was Rosie navigating love. While she may claim that her parents' sickly sweet love is completely overdone, really she yearns for such a love for herself. When she meets handsome Lysander, it is love at first sight and Rosie is poised to repeat her mother and father's love - without the tragedy aspect mind you. But, "The course of true love never did run smooth" and of course there's more to Rosie's potential romance than just one suitor. The way things are left at the end begs for another book. I'm interested to see how things continue and not just for Rosie but for the entire rambunctious Montague brood. show less

In a bit of a fresh take on an old tale, Romeo and Juliet didn't die--and it all makes perfect sense how! Here we are 20 years later. They are parents and the oldest daughter, Rosaline, is welcoming her spinsterhood by deftly avoiding matrimony by matchmaking off various suitors. When Duke Stephano comes calling, requiring no dowry, it seems she may be stuck. The quickly put together engagement party ends when the Duke is discovered dead in the garden. Rosie, with her outspokenness about the show more Duke's previous 3 dead wives, is under scrutiny right away. Truly a crazy romp thru old Verona as Rosie, aptly accompanied by Nurse, attempts to solve the murders and unknowingly catches the eye of another. show less

‘No one remembers what I remember....except you.’

Lady Rosie is haunted by... the failure to entrap her One True Love like they planned...the responsibilities that have fallen on her to help raise all of the other children of Romeo and Juliet...and her future father-in-law’s ghost. When Escalus the Elder comes to her during a family visit to the palace and tasks her with finding his assassin, she makes a deal with the devil. If she finds his killer, he’ll free her to be with her One show more True Love. And it’s never good when a Montague or a Capulet tempt fate. What follows is a hilariously enjoyable sequel that only reiterates that Romeo and Juliet was only the beginning of a fantastic tale. show less

T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. Not the writing but the characters OH GOD the characters.

Charlotte is the improbably prim/proper/perfect governess-cum-heiress with a secret past (OF SCANDAL) who falls for the improbably-named Wynter, the young Englishman who moved to a desert country and returned with young children in tow. They and he need to be Civilized posthaste for some vague English ceremony involving Queen Victoria: hence, Lady Miss Governess Charlotte.

... and then it gets icky.

Wynter decides early show more on that Charlotte (for whom he holds no romantic feelings) will be his wife, and to hell with what she wants because women are a possession, like one's dog or horse, only rather lower down. I am not making this up. He sets about seducing the unwilling young governess by removing his shirt and talking about his scars and making her touch his "man nipples". I am not making this up.

And! After Wynter discovers her Tiny Scandal From Long Ago, he entraps her in the same way -- and in front of the vicar, too! Charlotte may be forced to marry him, but she refuses to bed him. On their wedding night, she locks the door. He blows upon the lock with a quick blast from his pistol as she screams, cuts off her dress as she protests, and seriously just rapes her I mean, wrestles naked with her and leaves her screaming again (orgasm this time).

"You're marrying a woman who won't have the right to demand anything from you, because you saved her. Never mind that your ruined her in the first place ..."

I am not making this up.
I sincerely hope Ms Dodd has a better imagination. I hope this isn't anyone's real story. I am too cynical to expect it, but I can hope. show less