I’ve been holding on to these titles for several weeks now, hoping for a good time to mention them on my blog. Well, today’s the day! From historic princesses to fairy tale recipes to a bloodthirsty Sleeping Beauty, here are three books I thought readers of Skipping Midnight might enjoy:
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Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings
by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Blurb:
You think you know her story. You’ve read the Brothers Grimm, you’ve watched the Disney cartoons, and you cheered as these virtuous women lived happily ever after.
But real princesses didn’t always get happy endings. Sure, plenty were graceful and benevolent leaders, but just as many were ruthless in their quest for power—and all of them had skeletons rattling in their royal closets.
Princess Stephanie von Hohenlohe was a Nazi spy. Empress Elisabeth of the Austro-Hungarian empire slept wearing a mask of raw veal. Princess Olga of Kiev slaughtered her way to sainthood while Princess Lakshmibai waged war on the battlefield, charging into combat with her toddler son strapped to her back.
Princesses Behaving Badly offers true tales of all these princesses and dozens more in a fascinating read that’s perfect for history buffs, feminists, and anyone seeking a different kind of bedtime story.
Why I chose it:
I love history, I love fairy tales, and I love learning about little-known women throughout history. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s a very intriguing idea!
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Fairytale Food: Enchanting Recipes to Bring a Little Magic to Your Cooking
by Lucie Cash
Blurb:
If you fancy tucking into a steaming hot bowl of Princess & the Pea Soup, curling up by the fire with a cup of tea and a slab of Hansel & Gretel’s House Gingerbread, or tickling your taste buds with a dollop of Tinkerbell’s Trifle, then this is the cookbook for you.
Once upon a time, a young(-ish) maiden decided she was fed up with cooking the same old pasta bakes every night; she longed for some magic in her cooking. So she left her cozy cottage (London apartment), pen and paper in hand, and set off to find inspiration in the land of fairytales. For months and months she toiled, visiting best-loved characters; some were wonderfully sweet and generous, others were a bit grumpy and a little scary, but they all gave her ideas, tips, and the confidence to create her very own delicious recipes.
Why I chose it:
With temptations like Mad Hatter’s Teacakes, Snow Queen Cookies, and Enchanted Forest Gateau … why not?
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Awakening: A Paranormal Retelling of Sleeping Beauty (Alventia #1)
by Laura Greenwood
Blurb:
In order to have a child, the Queen made a deal but was unaware that the price of that deal would be her daughter. At age 18, Keira would return to the Dark Power that allowed her to be born and there is nothing that the King or Queen could do about it. The Queen’s mother changes the curse so that instead Keira will sleep for 100 years, but there is a catch; if Keira awakens before then the curse would remain.
After sleeping for over 90 years, Keira is awoken by Philip, the son of the Dark King and the one she was intended for. Despite sharing his father’s bloodline, Philip refuses to be like his father and won’t make Keira do anything that she isn’t ready for.
Supported by a powerful witch, Gretel, and her brother, Hansel, Philip and Keira have to make a choice, and when his father forces their hand, Philip has to make that choice, one that will define Keira’s destiny.
Why I chose it:
I greatly enjoyed Greenwood’s 3,000-word Awakening Short Story Collection, and this expands one of those tales (Keira was called Maia then) to 59 pages! I’m looking forward to learning more about the doomed princess’s story.
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AND DON’T FORGET…
Giveaway!
Elizabeth Maxwell is giving away a print copy of Happily Ever After through Tuesday.
Click here for details, and best of luck to you all!
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Coming up!
This Wednesday, May 28, dynamic duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke will discuss their 25-year friendship and reveal how a college vow (to one day write a book) turned into one massive dream come true.
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Blockbuster announcement!!
In conjunction with the release of Disney’s Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning, I will have some BIG news Friday involving Desperately Ever After. Set your clocks and don’t forget to tune in 😉
Sign up here for exclusive updates and advanced notice of giveaways
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Click here for her interview and giveaway details. Best of luck to you all!
laurakenyon.com 
Ooh the Fairytale Food sounds so cool!