Victoria Day, Fairy Tales, Lila DiPasqua, and AWAKENED BY A KISS

Today is Victoria Day in Canada, bringing our northern neighbors a three day weekend:

Victoria Day, also known as May Two-Four, May Long and May Long Weekend, is a Canadian holiday on the Monday preceding May 25.

This holiday honors Queen Victoria's birthday.  From Victorian Station,

Victoria was was born in Kensington Palace in London on May 24th, 1819.    In 1837 Queen Victoria took the throne after the death of her uncle William IV.   Popular respect for the Crown was at a low point at her coronation, but the modest and straightforward young Queen won the hearts of her subjects.

On Feb 10th, 1840, only three years after taking the throne, Victoria took her first vow and married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Their relationship was one of great love and admiration. Together they bore nine children - four sons and five daughters: Victoria, Bertie, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold, and Beatrice.

It's time to play Six Royal Degrees of Fairy Tale Separation.

1.  Queen Victoria lived a Fairy Tale - she was born a princess, married a German Prince, and built her own castle (Balmoral). 

2.  Today's fairy tales animated by Disney were written by European authors - Denmark's Hans Christian Andersen, Germany's The Brothers' Grimm, and France's Charles Perrault.

3.  Charles Perrault wrote fairy tales based on folk stories for the French Court, including Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, and Little Red Riding Hood.

4.  Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, and Little Red Riding Hood inspired AWAKENED BY A KISS.

5.  AWAKENED BY A KISS was written by Lila DiPasqua.

6.  Lila PiPasqua lives in Canada ... and Canada celebrates Victoria Day!

From Lila's website,

Three classic fairytales—“Sleeping Beauty,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—cleverly retold with enough sensual twists to prove wickedly ever after does exist…

Sleeping Beau: Five years ago, the notorious rake, Adrien d’Aspe, Marquis de Beaulain, was awakened by a sensuous kiss—and experienced a night of raw ecstasy that was branded into his memory. Years later, he spots his mysterious seductress—and this time, he has no intention of letting her go…

Little Red Writing: Nicolas de Savignac, Comte de Lambelle, has been assigned by the King to uncover the secret identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful courtiers. He never expected his investigation would lead to his grandmother's house, or to a ravishing woman who would stir his deepest hunger…

Bewitching in Boots: Elisabeth de Roussel, daughter of the King, is accustomed to getting what she wants—and she wants Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel, an ex-commander of the King’s private Guard. A recent injury has forced Tristan to leave his distinguished position, but Elisabeth is determined to make him see he's every bit the man he once was—and more than man enough for her.



Queen Victoria's Fairy Tale Castle -
Balmoral

I met Lila and the RT Booklovers' Convention.   She gave me three copies of AWAKENED BY A KISS.  I mailed two copies to deployed personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I am giving away the third copy today.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite Fairy Tale - real (Queen Victoria) or fictional (Little Mermaid).

2.  This giveaway is open to all.  I welcome your comments even if you already have this book!

3.  Comments are open through  Saturday, May 28, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Queen Victoria engaged in an transoceanic friendship with Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke of Hawaiʻi.   Queen Emma sailed to Britain where she was welcomed by Queen Victoria:

The two widow queens sympathize with each other and Queen Victoria recorded in her journal on the afternoon of September 9, 1865:

"After luncheon I received Queen Emma, the widowed Queen of the Sandwich Islands or Hawaii. Met her in the Corridor & nothing could be nicer or more dignified than her manner. She is dark, but not more so than an Indian, with fine feathers & splendid soft eyes. She was dressed in just the same widow's weeds as I wear. I took her into the White Drawing room, where I asked to sit down next to me on the sofa. She was moved when I spoke to her of her great misfortune in losing her only child. She was very discreet & would only remain a few minutes. She presented her lady, Mrs. Hoopile whose husband is her Chaplain, both being Hawaiians...."

Queen Emma's summer palace, Hānaiakamālama, displays many of Queen Victoria's gifts to Queen Emma.   Hānaiakamālama - Southern Cross - is located outside Honolulu along the Pali Highway.  It gives glimpses of Queen Emma's own fairy tale.