Dawn R. (dmr030) reviewed on 10/8/2015 + 47 more book reviews

Go through the looking glass as these five authors deliver stories inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Wonderment In Death by J.D. Robb (In Death Series Book 41.5)
Lt. Eve Dallas finds that an open -&-shut case is not just that. Called in to an apparent murder-suicide, Eve must figure out who twisted the Lewis Carroll classic for their own murderous gains.

Author JD Robb delivers another stellar story in her acclaimed In Death series with a twist on the Alice in Wonderland theme. Filled with some of our favorite characters from the series, we get a wild ride as we tag along with Eve, Roark and their friends as they race to solve the murder that at first seems so cut and dry. But as the reader finds out, things are not all that they seem in this universe and a murder is using people's grief for their own ends. I love how this author skillfully weaves the anthology theme through the novella and delivers a pulse pounding ride from start to finish. It's quite twisted yet totally engrossing story that had me in it's grip till the very end. This is truly one of my favorite stories in this anthology and I am eager to see where the author goes next in the series.

Alice and the Earl in Wonderland by Mary Blayney
The new Earl of Weston is determined to save his estate, win the hand of the woman he is in love with and finds that sometimes magic happens in a way that will transform his life forever.

As a sequel to Amy and the Earl's Amazing Adventure' the reader is transported to the 1800's where it's a scandal to divorce, women were proper and the man is head of the house. When the Earl and his love, Alice, are transported to the 21st century via a magic coin, they find wonders beyond their imagination and truths that will set them free. I loved the first story, Amy and the Earl's Amazing Adventure, when I read it in the anthology, Dead of Night, and was thrilled to see it continue in this latest installment. This time we get to see t he historical couple's journey through the looking glass so to speak and it was quite enjoyable. The author delivers a sweet story of old lovers who find themselves in a time where women are more equal to men, people can love whomever they fall in love with and divorce is not a stigma in society. What I loved the most was the scenes of Weston and Alice marvel at the changes in 2005 as well as what is the same from their time, of 1805. I did have a little peeve about the character development in this story as there basically is none, in my opinion. The story focuses too much on Weston and Alice's adventures in the future which didn't leave much character development. Overall, it was a sweet story that you will enjoy.

iLove by Elaine Fox
Macy is in love with Jeremy but it seems he is in love with his Iphone more. When Macy dumps Jeremy, he is sucked into her phone and he finds that in order to leave, he will have to win Macy's heart and learn that sometimes it's better to put the phone down and find that love will walk away if he isn't paying attention.

I just absolutely adored this story. It's quite relevant to today's world and I loved how the author captures the essence of Alice in Wonderland's Heart Queen with the character of Mrs. Hartz. This author does an amazing job in capturing the characters and brings them to life amid the pages of DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. I loved how Jeremy had to figure out with a dating app and no cell phone how to win Macy back and learn a few things as well. A perfect second chance at love story that is really unique and entertaining.

A True Heart by Mary McComas
When a day of costume shopping goes haywire, can Elise figure out the message her supernatural guide is giving her as they journey through her life?

This had me a bit confused as I felt it was more A Christmas Carol than Alice in Wonderland but overall it was an enjoyable read. Elise has been badly hurt in the past and now has a hard shell over her heart, afraid to let any man too close in case they hurt her. The author does a great job in capturing Elise's pain, vulnerability and heartbreak. You get a sense of who the character is amid the layers and we get to see who the real Elise is amid the thorns, walls and more she has set up around her. This made her quite likeable and relatable, in my opinion. There is a lot of emotion in A True heart and the reader is taken on quite a ride but overall, it's quite a satisfying journey to take.

Fallen by R.C. Ryan
Beth Campbell is determined to impress her aunt and find her place in the family company by convincing a Scottish recluse to sell his land to her. But things don't go according to plan when Beth hits her head and is transported to the 1800's and soon Beth finds magic and a little intrigue while in the highlands.

A sweet story that will charm you as you read Beth's adventure in the Scottish Highlands that will leave you breathless. Ms. Ryan weaves a satisfying story that hits all my love buttons. Poor Beth is confused and just a little peeved when she finds herself transported to the eighteenth Century after hitting her head on her trip in the Scottish Highlands. Attracted to Colin Gordon wasn't in her game plan. Between confusion as over why anyone would want to kill Colin to figuring out how to get back home, Beth has to solve a mystery, save the man from death and figure out how to get back to her time. Easy, right? I loved the interactions between Colin and Beth. There was such a connection instantly and you get a sense of who these characters are and how they interact with one another. The downside to this story was there is so much information in the story; it doesn't feel long enough to get the job done. It felt rushed and a little incomplete in the end. I would have loved this story to be a bit longer and maybe fleshed out the magic portion of the story a bit more. Overall, it was a nice ending to the anthology as a whole.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE is a wonderful anthology that has something for everyone to enjoy. I personally preferred two out of the five stories more than others but all deliver some reading goodness. I do have to say that other than Wonderment In Death, the other four stories don't have much of an Alice In Wonderland connection that was a disappointment. I love the Alice in Wonderland theme and thought it could have been brought over better in the other stories. But DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE is truly a unique and entertaining story overall and even if you are an In Death fan like I am, all the stories in this anthology will keep you entertained till the very end.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

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