Much ADO in the Moonlight

by Lynn Kurland

Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Lynn Kurland "consistently delivers the kind of stories readers dream about."* Now, she pens a wonderfully romantic tale about an eight-hundred-year-old ghost and the modern woman who turns his plans for a peaceful afterlife upside down... When Victoria McKinnon's brother offers to finance her production of Hamlet, she leaps at the chance. She can't imagine anything better than staging Shakespeare's masterpiece...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515141275
• ISBN13: 9780515141276
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Another Hauntingly Humorous Romance by Ms. Kurland

Victoria McKinnon is more than a little suspicious when her pain-in-the-neck brother Thomas offers Thorpewold Castle for her upcoming performance of Hamlet. Who could turn down the chance to direct Shakespeare in a honest to goodness English castle? Of course if you've read "Three Wise Ghosts" (little sister Megan's novella) or MY HEART STOOD STILL (Thomas' own story) then you are in on the joke. If not then you'll just have to find out along with Victoria. Following Thomas McKinnon's return to America with his new bride Iolanthe, Connor MacDougal has assumed control of the castle as its laird. He is not unfamiliar with the responsibility, having been the laird of his own keep before his untimely murder in medieval Scotland. He is in the process of interviewing a motley crew of shades for the position of his Captain of the Guard when he is brought the news that yet another pesky MacKinnon is on the way to plague him. Connor hates all McKinnons and is determined to send this V. MacKinnon packing with "his" tail tucked between "his" legs at the first opportunity. What he hadn't expected was that V. MacKinnon was a beautiful and spirited woman. She's a canny one as well. Taking the presence of ghosts both at the Inn and at the castle in stride, she exacts a promise from Connor not to haunt her cast during their stay by promising him a part in her play. Connor like many born in his own time had never learned to read, and finds himself at the mercy of the Boar's Head Trio, the most devious group of matchmaking ghosts you'll ever come up against. Victoria, who is otherwise savvy, is blinded by her leading man who is vain and self-serving and completely oblivious to her interest in him. Connor soon finds himself loathing the man. Although he has promised to behave himself around her cast and crew the other ghosts have promised no such thing and when one of Victoria's erstwhile relatives "several generations removed" frightens away her costume man, her Grandmother throws herself into the breach. It is Grandma who actually sets things in motion inadvertently by disappearing during a picnic. Victoria's leading man turns up missing shortly afterward. Brother Thomas contacts Jamie MacLeod, who has appeared in numerous Kurland offerings as well as his own story (A DANCE THROUGH TIME), and is an expert on "mysterious disappearances" (i.e. time travel gates). With Jamie's aid, the MacKinnon's learn exactly where the two have gone and Victoria becomes determined to retrieve them. Mere moments after she arrives in the past, she begins to understand the perils of time travel. By the time she returns Victoria is completely disillusioned with her leading man, but she suspects she might be harboring strong feelings for yet another man she can never have. It's an impossible situation, or is it? Lynn Kurland is a consummate storyteller. With an incorporeal hero, she must rely on sexual tension alone to fuel the romance and she succeeds in doing so beautifully and

Lynn Kurland is one of the best!

I must say that "Much Ado In the Moonlight" has been added to my Favorite Books list. As an English Lit major I enjoyed the Shakespeare tie-in. I highly recommend all of Lynn Kurland's books, of which I have read and own most of them. She is one of the best of the best.

Worthy read!

I am a Lynn Kurland fan and she did not disappoint with this book. While it may not be as humourous as some of her others, it is still worth each and every of the 5 stars I've given it. This is the story of Victoria McKinnon and the ghost Connor MacDougal, whom she comes to love and who loves her. The problem of course is that he is a ghost, he died over 800 years ago. But there is a way to restore his mortality by going back in time through a fairy ring and preventing his death. Of course Victoria sacrifices everything to do this because even if she can save him, he may not want to come forward in time to be with her, and even if he did he may not remember her or the love that they shared while he was a ghost. This is a beautifully written love story with great supporting cast. The time travel elements are also well done. The reader has no trouble following the time frames that the author takes you through.

terrific paranormal romance

Producer Victoria McKinnon is exhilarated that her wealthy brother Thomas is allowing her to produce Hamlet at his Thorpewold Castle in England. Victoria thinks a genuine old castle adds flavor to the staging of the Shakespearean masterpiece. However, Thomas failed to inform Victoria of a minor problem, Connor MacDougal, the grumpy resident ghost who not only opposes people especially women because he was betrayed by his wife when he was alive eight centuries ago; he also is irate that they plan to butcher the Bard. Victoria is not one to back down from a specter, but is outraged that her sibling failed to warn her. Still on with the show, but instead of causing further trouble, Connor finds himself attracted to Victoria and wants to help her achieve her goal because he finally has met his true love; alas there is a slight problem as she is mortal and he is dead. Few writers if any can merge humor with the supernatural inside a star-crossed romance as well as the incomparable Lynn Kurland can consistently does. If you believe that just try this novel, MUCH ADO IN THE MOONLIGHT, or Ms. Kurland's terrific time travel tales like DREAMS OF STARDUST; you will be a fan after reading any of those. Her latest entry is a terrific paranormal romance starring a crusty creaky ghost and the enthusiastic human female who brings him to life for the first time in his existence. Sub-genre fans will curl around this one sitting treat. Harriet Klausner

Much Ado In the Moonlight

Victoria McKinnon is delighted to get the chance to go to England where she will produce Hamlet in her brother's castle. Moreover, she will get the chance to work with noted actor Michael Fellini. That is just the surface of what will happen to her almost as soon as Victoria arrives. Her brother's castle is haunted by four ghosts, one of whom is not all that pleased to have her there. Connor MacDougal is annoying, grumpy, and a scoundrel; he is also magnficent, and despite obvious barriers, he and Victoria begin to fall in love. However, the only way she can actualize that love is by repeating her brother's daring mission to the past and rescuing her love before he can die, then bringing him forward in time. Of course, the Connor of the past won't remember her, and could think she's a witch. But, if her bone headed brother could do it to get a wife, then surely Victoria can, can't she? ***** Lynn Kurland smoothly mingles time travel and ghosts into a story that is sad, fun, and uplifting all at once. This is a pure delight to read. Old friends from her earlier works reappear, but you don't need to have read their stories to enjoy this one. You can catch up while waiting for the next. ***** Amanda Killgore.