Much Ado about Love

by Malia Martin and Eden O'Neill

Shakespeare's In Love At the royal command of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Ian Terrance has sought out a popular local playwright named William Shakespeare-only to discover that he is a she ...and a most desirable and delectable she indeed And now that the remarkable Olivia is his prisoner, Sir Ian is the one in chains-bewitched by the singular young woman's irrestible beauty, deliciously sharp wit, and innocent sensuality. Olivia's secret life was well hidden,...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380815176
• ISBN13: 9780380815173
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Creative and Intelligent

Malia Martin has changed my taste for historical romance! To take the creative twist of having one of the greatest playwrights in history and making him a woman is indeed imaginative! To take it a step further and make this playwright the illegitimate daughter of Queen Elizabeth is genius. Martin shows her true ability to weave a tale in this one. Sir Ian's stubborn loyalty to his Queen is challenged when he discovers the poor writer he's been ordered to bring to the Queen's prison tower is but a willowy woman with a tongue as sharp as a two-edged sword. True, her wit is that of a writer of plays, but Sir Ian is hard pressed to believe her and more than a little curious to find out who this woman really is. Beside, he cannot stand the thought of taking a woman to the tower. Instead, he takes her to his own quarters, hiding her until he can find out some information on his own. So begins the adventures of these two, first enemies, then friends, then lovers,on their journey to a destiny they can niether turn away from. The riotous banter between Sir Ian and the woman, who calls herself "Beatrice" is as sharp and comical as Shakespeare's own classic tale, "Much Ado About Nothing." Fresh and lively characters, earthy and robust romance. A delightful read!

Variation on the theme of Shakespeare in Love

To be or not to be--a woman? That was the question plaguing Sir Ian Terrance as he sought out the famous playwright. Little did Ian know the great "Will" was actually Olivia, a very lovely woman indeed. Would he uncover her secret to Her Majesty the Queen? This light, frothy book has its moments, just like Shakespeare's comedies. The characters are endearing, and Her Majesty is just as feisty as ever. If you want a different take on last year's hit Shakespeare in Love, perhaps this book will provide just the refreshing break.

Simply Romantic

This book was a great read!! I loved the love-bewildered relationship between Ian and Olivia. I don't know about the rest of you, but I adore Shakespeare. To think that it could have been a girl as the legendary playwrite tickled me pink! When I read the bio for the book, I thought this would be a typical capture-captive story...but it's not! It's such a sweet story because Ian struggles so hard against loving Olivia, but ends up falling deeper in love than he'd ever dreamed of. The word play between the two was excellent: Olivia is one witty character. That's a key to what made this book so fun to read. Final word: If you enjoyed Shakespeare in Love, this is the book for you!

Elizabethan fans are going to love this romance

In 1597 England, Queen Elizabeth demands that her agent Sir Ian Terrance bring in author William Shakespeare. Ian quickly learns that the growing popular playwright is actually a female, Olivia Tudor, the queen's bastard daughter, who he was supposed to kill years ago. What should have been "much ado about nothing" may prove deadly for the now too famous William and Ian.He makes Olivia his prisoner, but Ian soon falls in love with her. As Ian struggles to tame the shrew, Olivia, feeling like an idiot filled with sound and fury, returns his love. However, someone else seems to know that Olivia is William and has Lady MacBeth plans to disrupt the court even if they kill Olivia in the process. With growing court intrigue and a deep love, the witches would foretell that this relationship would prove that all's well do not end well for everyone especially these two lovers.This Elizabethan romantic romp places a gender twist on "Shakespeare in Love." The story line is fun and often amusing as the lead couple dual with lips (words and kisses) even as danger threatens to engulf them. Perhaps intrepid author Malia Martin should have chosen Marlowe in love so as to avoid comparison to the works of the greatest writer of all times and the recent award winning movie. Still, though requiring leaps of faith that a daughter of Elizabeth is the Bard, Ms. Martin provides a refreshing look at Elizabethan romance that will elate sub-genre readers.Harriet Klausner