Once Upon a Spring Morn

Once Upon a Spring Mornby Dennis L. McKiernanOk, so I borrowed this book from the library in the summer and I never completely finished it. Sadly disappointed in the writing and story-line, I had been hoping to finish it so I could say I had read the entire series. Each book was titled with a season and I enjoyed the first one I read back in 2002, Once Upon a Winter's Night. That one caught my eye due to the cover art and the word Winter. Isn't that pathetic? But it worked out ok because I enjoyed the book enough to pick up the second one, Once Upon a Summer's Day.All four books cover the individual lives of four brothers and sisters, each the ruler of their own land of Seasons. Prince Borel, of the Winterwood, Prince Alain, of Summerwood, Princess Liaze of the Autumnwoods, Princess Céleste of Springwood each have their own story. The author remade some traditional fairy tales into his own fantasy story. Some worked, some didn't. Once I fought my way through Once Upon a Autumn Eve I pretty much resigned myself to knowing I would not be buying the Spring chapter.When I saw it in the library I thought, why not? This way if I don't like it, at least I didn't waste $12! And I didn't like it. Not enough to finish it. The author does not write female main characters well at all. I realize he was trying to make a romantic fairy tale, but come on. All the swooning and the falling in-love at first glance and swooning and avenging. It wasn't very original and got tiresome very fast.Also for some reason the author chose to make these characters french because he finds it the most romantic language and so on. However this made the dialogue tiresome as well. I have my own issues about french, but this wasn't why I didn't like it. I didn't think it was used well enough.I don't know. I just felt like I it had so much potential at the start of the series but then fell terribly flat. And while I was surfing amazon for my links, I notice there is a 5th book in the series now - Once Upon a Dreadful Time. From the synopsis it looks like it's less romance and more battle oriented as the Big Bad from all the other books is confronted for the final time. Will I buy it? Not likely. Will I borrow it if I see it in the library? Likely. I am curious to see how this story is supposed to be rounded out.