"Delightful sequel to Prince of Charming"
Buttercup Baby is the sequel to Ms. Fox's PRINCE OF
CHARMING released in 2000. Those familiar with the tale
will remember that Titania, the faery queen, had trapped
the half-fae son of King Oberon, Robin Goodfellow, in a
painting. His essence was to be trapped there for all
eternity. Ariel, Queen of the Pillywiggins (flower
faeries), one of Robin's few friends among the fae, had
protested this treatment. She had been banned from the
faerie court for all eternity. Life tends to become very
lonely for a faerie who is no longer needed. Fortunately, Robin had had better luck. A specially gifted
mortal woman had freed him from Titania's curse. He had
fallen madly in love with her, and had given up his
immortality to wed her. They had recently been blessed with
a lovely boy child. The faery king, Oberon, took pity on poor Ariel, and
curious about his new grandson, had charged her with
observing the child and bringing him a full report. Ariel
had never seen a baby before. Faeries are immortal and do
not reproduce. But once she had held the child she couldn't
help but yearn for one. If she could only have a baby, she
would not be so alone. She would have someone to need her
again. Robin's very existence proves that there must be a way.
Ariel vaguely remembers hearing that a faery could have a
child by mating with a mortal. This she could bring herself
to do, but the mortal male would have to have all the
qualities she would want in her child. Voices cause Ariel to hide herself, while the proud mama
shows her slumbering son off to her guests. The handsome
young man appears disinterested until the women leave the
room. Rand Thayer had grown up the only male among ten
sisters. He had all the children he could ever want to play
with in their progeny. He had determined to be a bachelor
for life, and yet he couldn't resist a baby. Ariel's heart melted at the gentle way Rand touches the
child. Yes, he would do. Rand is young, healthy, handsome,
and kind of heart. Ariel had had contact with mortal men
over the centuries. They tended to be lustful creatures.
She had no inkling that such a creature would refuse to
accommodate her. When she blurts out her proposition to Rand however, he
flatly refuses. She doesn't understand. He is definitely
attracted to her. Perhaps he needs time to get to know her
better. Perhaps she needs time as well. This story proceeds from bizarre to hilarious as the
charming former fairy seduces the confirmed bachelor.
Having had her way with him, she leave as planned. Ariel
is well aware of the short life expectancy of mortals and
doesn't want to stick around to watch Rand age and die. She
has what she came for. However, upon returning to the
faerie gate, she finds that the life within her has barred
her entrance. She has no other choice but return to Rand
for the time being. Rand had awoken to find Ariel gone and felt used. Yet he
found he could not refuse her shelter when she returned.
She was bearing his child after all. He might not have
planned on being a father, but now that it had become a
reality, he was determined to be a part of his child's
life. Dealing with a faerie pregnancy is completely outside
his experience and he is forced to let his sister and his
best friend, an obstetrician in on the deal. Before long
every one of Rand's meddling female relative is determined
to see them married. Neither Ariel nor Rand wanted that! Or
did they? Readers who delighted in Prince of Charming will adore
Buttercup Baby. I found it funny, charming, sweet, and very
romantic, a read of the pick-me-up, feel good variety . It
is this reviewer's hope that Ms. Fox will continue to share
the lives of the Fae with her readers. Copyright 2001
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted July 19, 2001
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