Delightful gothic adventure, worthy of Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters, with the notable distinction that the characters are re-imagined out of European fairy tales and nursery rhymes. It's told in first-person by Ursula, a she-bear working as governess to the wealthy Vaughns, a family of bears who live in the titular cottage. The story of the family and the secret they are protecting is set against a backdrop of prejudice by humans against Enchanted animals like themselves. Additional themes, including freedom of the press, make for an exciting tale.

This book is simply irresistible. The three little bears are back and better than ever. What were the bears like before Goldilocks barged into their house? What happens after? It's a delightful book written at a higher level(middle school) for a much younger audience. ( )

This novel is a retelling of “Goldlilocks and the Three Bears;” it’s nothing like you think it will be!

Ms. Brown has been hired as a governess to Teddy Vaughn. Yes, they are bears who are enchanted, which means that they talk and live lives much like human. Teddy is a sweet cub and Ms. Brown loves teaching him, but her necklace gets stolen. Come to find out, there’s a wild human girl living in the house that they’ve named Goldlilocks. She likes to take things, but Ms. Brown still can’t find her necklace. She finds Goldilocks in need of love and wants to help her.

All sounds well, but there are problems brewing. There’s an association that wants to keep the enchanted animals under curfew and take some of their rights away. Mr. Vaughn is part of the underground enchanted animals meeting, which is against the law. Ms. Brown tries to help keep their cover by playing the organ while they “practice” for “church choir.” There’s also some teens running around who are threatening and stealing from everyone, and they want Goldilocks. They’ll do anything, including violence, to get her. The association will do anything to stop Mr. Vaughn from his activities, which includes helping these violent kids. In the midst of this turmoil, Ms. Brown falls in love with Mr. Bentley, but he is betrothed to another woman.

It’s a somewhat long but cute book. I didn’t like it at the beginning because I don’t like talking animals. I ended up being pulled into the story and wanting the Vaughn’s to win against the humans and find love for Ms. Brown. There’s a small comment being made about people who criticize people who don’t feel like people of different races can adopt children of other races. It’s cute. ( )

Amount Listened to: About 9%

Honestly, I picked this up solely because Katherine Kellgren is a fantastic narrator. Plus, it's fairy tales, so why not? Even if the cover really freaks me out.

The fact that it's Katherine Kellgren narrating actually ended up being the kiss of death for me, not because she's doing any less of a good job. The problem is that this is about an ursine governess going to a house to educate a kid. I've been listening to The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, about a governess who goes to a house to raise three children. The stories end up feeling the same, because a lot of the voices she chooses match up. Only now they're all animals. I don't have interest in trying the print, so I bid this book adieu.