One of my favorite aspects of Lions in the Garden was the setting. I’m no history buff, and I don’t know much about Prague and Budapest, so the historical tidbits Chelsea sprinkled in were really interesting, especially with the religious war brewing and the king’s precarious hold on the realm.

I love stories with castles, swords, and romance, so of course this book caught my eye…even without any magic. :) Mila is a likeable character, and while she’s in the hopeless situation of being a noble forced into an undesirable, loveless marriage, she doesn’t just roll over and accept it. She tries to do something about it, which drives her right into Marc, a commoner. Forbidden romance, anyone? But while Marc may be a peasant and a *gasp* Protestant as well, he’s honorable and refuses to let Mila head into danger on her own. So, he takes her back to her prison, the castle. Not exactly what Mila had in mind when she snuck out in her quest for freedom.

Marc is not only honorable and likeable, he’s in a tight spot too. He sees every day the poverty of the people and how they’re oppressed by the nobility. Some members of his family feel the only way to force change is through less-than-noble methods, and he gets stuck between what’s right, what’s wrong, and what to do about it.

While the romance is slow moving, there’s tension and a definite attraction between Mila and Marc. They’re both respectable characters who are restrained by their circumstances, so that’s understandable. I love how Marc reveals to Mila the world outside the castle, the terrible problems citizens face, the danger and injustice. And what I enjoyed best about them both together is how they don’t sit back and let others deal with it—they tackle the problems head on, no matter their station.

Lions in the Garden doesn’t end on a cliff-hanger, but the story is nowhere near complete and will leave you ready for the rest. Nice historical romance.

The synopsis made me want to read Lions in the Garden. But, I must say that this book was not my cup of tea. I didn't get drawn into the plot or feel any sort of connection or feelings for the characters. the dialogue was ok, at best and the scenes were not so clear. I didn't get past the first couple of chapters without putting it down, at least twice. But, I kept trying. I had mixed emotions about this book, I loved and hated it all at the same time. Overall, I finished the book, which got better halfway through and I wasn't left with too many unanswered questions. I'm not sure I would continue with book 2.

Boring, flat, and failed to hold my interest after the first 20%. DNF.

Light, entertaining read -- I think it makes a good beach/airport read.