Utterly Charming by Kristine Grayson

As a child, I loved the “Fractured Fairy Tales” that were part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Truthfully I didn’t care much for Rocky and Bullwinkle themselves, but I loved Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-Right, and Peabody’s Improbable History. I loved how the Fractured Fairy Tales took a classic tale that you thought you knew and turned it upside. I also loved reading traditional fairy tales when I was around 13 and read everything in my school library. It was interesting to see the depth of the stories so much beyond the Disney cartoons.


Utterly Charming is similar to the Fractured Fairy Tales by taking a classic story that you thought you knew, and turning it upside down into a fun, thrilling, modern adventure. Nora is just out of law school and is trying to get her struggling practice off the ground. One day she is visited by a very handsome man named Aethelstan Blackstone and his sidekick, Sancho Panza. Nora has always believed a bit in magic, but even she is overwhelmed by the events that take place when Aethelstan fights his arch nemesis, Ealhswith. Nora helps Aethelstan to break the curse on his soul mate, Emma aka Sleeping Beauty, but finds herself enamored with Aethelstan. Will they all be able to have their happy endings?

I loved Utterly Charming. The plot was witty, fast-paced, with never a dull moment. It kept you interested and wondering how it would all end. It also had its humorous moments. All of the characters were great, including the secondary characters such as Nora’s Mom, Amanda, and hardworking secretary Ruthie. Although the material is vastly differently, it reminded me of the quick-paced plot and charm of a Stephanie Plum novel, which I adore. But in a new fresh way. I thought it was a very original and interesting take on a classic fairy tale. I enjoyed the romance, it was my favorite kind with lots of build-up and the question of sex left to your own imagination.

Overall, Utterly Charming was a very charming novel that was the best romance novel I’ve read in quite a while. I will definitely be reading more Kristine Grayson novels, and particularly want to read more of her fractured fairy tales.

If you’d like to read about Kristine Grayson’s love affair with fairy tales, check out her great guest blog. If you’d like a chance to win a copy of the novel, please leave a copy by midnight November 11th.

Book Source: Review Copy from Sourcebooks. Thank-you!