Review: Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle

When I heard about Kissing Shakespeare, I thought it sounded great—a modern day actress who loves Shakespeare going back in time to save his life…by getting him to fall for her.

Well, I’m pleased to say, once I got past the abrupt and slightly confusing start, I loved it as much as I hoped!!

(Please note that while this book is released, my review is of an uncorrected advanced copy :D)

Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle
Released August 14, 2012
Source of my copy: NetGalley

A romantic time travel story that's ideal for fans of novels by Meg Cabot and Donna Jo Napoli--and, of course, Shakespeare. 

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school's staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide. 

Fellow cast member Stephen Langford has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she'd like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he's a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England—the world Stephen's really from. He wants Miranda to use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lost its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn't convinced she's the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it's her only chance of getting back to the present and her "real" life. What Miranda doesn't bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required.

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The curtain opens on Miranda, a teenage girl who’s just played Katherine in the Taming of the Shrew. She’s obviously distraught and bitter over her performance, knocking over props and throwing things around. She’s angry at herself, angry at everyone expecting her to be her mother, who is a famous actress herself.

Enter another actor, Miranda’s classmate, Stephen Langford.  He’s dressed up in what looks like a Shakespearean reenacter’s outfit, spewing crazy talk and dragging her up to the roof. Finally, he does the unthinkable, the unimaginable: He takes her back in time.

Once they arrive in 1581, Stephen explains to Miranda that young William Shakespeare is in grave danger—and she needs to help save him, by seducing him. Yeah.

Though reluctant and disbelieving at first, Miranda eventually agrees to help. After all, what could be cooler than kissing Shakespeare, her idol? But danger threatens more than just Will. Getting involved with Shakespeare and the possibility of his death could get Miranda herself hurt—or worse. And the mystery, the plot, and those involved are more complicated than Miranda or Stephen saw coming.

The characters were fantastic—Miranda was realistically freaked out and angry without being annoying, and she was brave and smart without being unrealistic. Stephen, though unbelievably infuriating a lot of the time, grew on me easily. He was smart and brave and, in his best moments, wonderfully sweet. The others, like Stephen’s aunt and uncle, Jennet, Thomas, and yes, Will, were all interesting, real, and enjoyable to read about.

As far as the romance goes…it was certainly romantic! If you know me, you know that I adore a good love story—not to mention a good kissing scene ;) And the flirting, kissing, and romantic tension were excellently put together. But even though the novel is entitled “Kissing Shakespeare” and its incarnation of Will Shakespeare was certainly kiss-worthy, I personally was more inclined to want to kiss Stephen…and I may not be the only one.

Kissing Shakespeare receives <*><*><*><*><*>

(:D)

~Mag