Beyond the Hedge

During a brief stop as she is driving to visit her aunt, Jennifer Paul finds her way into a magical town that is somehow removed from time when she chases after her dog who is in pursuit of a cat. Clipton Magna was created to be a refuge to shelter lovers who could not be together otherwise, and as a result, there are conditions about who can safely stay there and who may leave. Jennifer is sure that all she wants is to leave, to get back to the real world where there is plumbing, among other modern conveniences. She might enjoy Brigadoon on stage, but has no desire to live it, no matter than she finds herself drawn to one of the town's leaders. Never before has one of her decisions been more profound. Will she, like Tommy Albright, turn away from a magical destiny? And if she does, will she regret it forever or find a love that can work miracles? ****If you are a fan of the Lerner and Lowe show, then this is assuredly a must read. It is not exactly like Brigadoon and is in many ways more plausible, in others, more fantastic, but the feeling is much the same. You are never too old for fairy tales when they are as well written as this. **** Amanda Killgore

Time travel referenced with historically accurate Regency royal intrigue-with celtic mysticism, magical wise owls and a truly superior cat-all blend together to provide a great read. Jennifer is a contemporary career woman who isn't looking for a tall dark & handsome anyone to offer her a choice of worlds to live in. But through her travels into another time and place she is given that choice. Roby James writes a compelling romance, but more than love is at issue in the relationship of the characters. There is an intriguing framework of physics, philosophy and magic being developed here, and we can hope Ms. James will take us "Beyond the Hedge" again.

An orphan since her parents and her brother died in an accident, Jennifer Paul is a business executive at Glidden Industries currently based in London. She enjoyed her work for the firm in Boston and initially in London until her boss at both locales moved on to Barcelona leaving her to cope with the insidious Cobra whose unreasonable assignments are given to her so she would appear to simply want to resign. Thus spending Christmas with her Aunt Cecelia in Wales is a welcome respite. Accompanied by her greyhound Dragon, she drives towards her Aunt's home when she comes across a barrier on the road; a hedge is where no hedge should be and except for turning around Jennifer has no place to drive. While pondering what is going on, Jennifer takes a canine pit stop when a cat comes out of the hedge talking in the King's English; Dragon chases Malkin the cat back through the hedge. Jennifer follows her dog only to find a strange realm that should not be there. She learns she has stepped into Clipton Magna circa 1805 where King George III still misrules; a place in which nuns created a sanctuary for star-crossed lovers to include the Prince Regent whose marriage to Mrs. FitzHerbert was considered invalid. There Jennifer meets the Squire's son, Jeremy Clipton, who falls in love with Jennifer; but she does not belong there as this is magical land for the star-crossed not the no-crossed. If she fails to leave the land could die; if she leaves Jeremy could die of a broken heart. This is a fun Alice falling through the rabbit hole into a Brigadoon romantic fantasy. In some ways the story line feels like a time travel tale as the heroine leaves today when she crosses the hedge into the regency era. With a personification spin provided by Malkin and a wise owl (any other kind?), fans will enjoy Jennifer's adventures on the other side of the hedge. Harriet Klausner