Review: Upon a Midnight Dream by Rachel Van Dyken
June 7, 2012
Filed under Book Review, Romance
Tags: Astraea Press, book review, clean fiction, ebook, fairy tales, four-quills, London Fairy Tales series, Rachel Van Dyken, Regency romance, Romance novels, sleeping beauty
Title: Upon a Midnight Dream
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Astraea Press
Format: E-book ($3.99)
Pages: 223 pages
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: Regency Romance, Fairy Tale
Available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press
Summary: Rosalind Hartwell’s family has fallen under a curse, and it is all her fault… Well, it’s half her fault.
The other portion of culpability falls on Stefan Hudson, the recently returned prodigal, the Marquess of Whitmore and soon to be Duke of Montmouth. It was their responsibility to marry and join the two families in order to avoid bringing the full fury of the family curse crashing down around them.
When Stefan and Rosalind call off their engagement, members of both families start dropping like flies, starting with the fathers of both houses. It seems as though Stefan and Rosalind have no choice but to follow through with marriage after all. But Rosalind insists on being wooed, and Stefan had been stranded on a deserted island for so long, he has all but forgotten most of the social graces.
In their quest to reverse the family curse, they find out there is much more to all the strange sickness and death than meets the superstitious eye. But will they figure out the secret in time to save the rest of their families?
Review: A much-loved favorite fairy tale re-mixed in a new and intriguing story. Rachel Van Dyken was able to weave a brand new story out of the old, which is not easy to do. Between the heroine’s narcolepsy and the over-protective, cane-wielding godmother there is a wonderful mix of the original fairy tale with Van Dyken’s own inventions.
The hero, who suddenly re-appears after having been presumed dead, is an interesting mix of knight in shining armor and unbearable shipwrecked savage returning to polite society.
The heroine, who is convinced she is dying, is a strong female lead holding out for love even in the midst of the threat of a curse befalling her family. She is a worthy opponent of the stubborn, arrogant Stefan, and often gives him a taste of his own medicine in more ways than one.
Recommendation: This is an enjoyable read, a bit steamy in some places, but clean overall. It was written for an adult audience, and I probably wouldn’t recommend it for readers under fifteen. It has mystery, betrayal, romance and suspense all rolled in, so there is a little something for everyone. It is an excellent start for the new series, and I am looking forward to the next installment about Beauty and the Beast. I give Upon a Midnight Dream four quills.
For those of you who haven’t yet read the House of Renwick trilogy, the characters in this book do make an appearance in The Redemption of Lord Rawlings. It’s definitely worth picking up. You can check out the review here.
Review: Desperate Measures by Candice Hern
April 10, 2012
Filed under Book Review
Tags: Astraea Press, book review, Five Quills, House of Renwick, Rachel Van Dyken, Reading, Regency romance, Romance novels
Title: Desperate Measures (a Regency short story)
Author: Candice Hern
Publisher: self
Format: E-book
Pages: 32
Release Date: May 29, 2011
Genre: Romance – Regency/Historical
Available at: Amazon (free)
Summary: Lydia Bettridge is in love with a man who seems not to notice her existence. But she has a plan and has enlisted her brother’s friend to assist her in carrying it out. Things fall apart however, when her co-conspirator stands her up and sends in his place the very man she was plotting to catch, Geoffrey Danforth. He knows the plan. He doesn’t know he is the intended victim. Together Lydia and Geoffrey spend an evening pretending to be love-stricken in order to make her “intended” victim notice her enough to become jealous.
Review: Short, sweet and straight to the point. This was a delightful read which can be read in one sitting. Of course, you want more. That’s the point. Get a taste of what the author can do and then go buy her novel-length books, because her writing is like a Pringle’s potato chip. You can’t just have one.
Recommendation: Well worth the time and the price (Um, it’s free. Can’t really go wrong.). You will want to pick up a few of her other titles after you’re done. I enjoyed this and will read it again. I give it four quills:
Review: The Redemption of Lord Rawlings by Rachel Van Dyken
March 28, 2012
Filed under Book Review
Tags: Astraea Press, book review, clean fiction, Five Quills, House of Renwick, Rachel Van Dyken, Regency romance, Romance novels, sweet romance
Title: The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Astraea Press
Format: E-book
Pages: 204 pages
Release Date: March 2012
Genre: Romance – Regency/Historical
Available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press
Summary: Lord Rawlings is in trouble. His inheritance comes with strings. He must get married before his next birthday or he loses everything. After having given up his chance with his former betrothed for a life of wild oats, he now finds himself with no money, no prospects and no hope.
And that’s where his only hope finds him. Down and out and sitting in the rain all alone in the park.
The problem? He still thinks of the young lady as the little girl in pigtails he used to know. And it’s up to her to change his perception of the situation. And all this amidst the public scrutiny of the revered Mrs. Peabody who seems to have it out for him.
Review: I was offered the opportunity to read this book before its release in order to give an honest review. This is the third book in the House of Renwick series. In both the first and second books Rawlings was an antagonist, and a bit of a slimeball at that. I was anxious to see how the author would develop her third protagonist into a character worthy of redemption, let alone deserving of his happily ever after.
Van Dyken did not disappoint. From the very beginning, the character development was well done. All Rawlings’ former rogue-ish qualities were shown to be steps on the way to that redemption. The heroine in this book was younger than the first two, and she often behaved like a spoiled child, but her growth also led her to maturity worthy of being Rawlings’ match.
The attraction between the two characters is undeniable, and the tension is built throughout the story through passionate interactions, though clean and sweet. I love this author’s ability to build the intensity of the relationship without crossing the line. Add to this, her usual knack for comedic wordplay, and you have a winning combination.
Recommendation: With every new release, Rachel Van Dyken’s books keep getting better and better. I was completely absorbed in Lord Rawlings’ story from start to finish, in spite of hating his guts after the first book and being on the fence about him after book two. This is an enjoyable story, one of the best romances I’ve read in a while. I give it my highest rating:
The third book in The House of Renwick series is a don’t miss in the trilogy. And if you haven’t read The Ugly Duckling Debutante and The Seduction of Sebastian St. James, you should add them to your must read list.
Review: The Black Duke’s Prize by Suzanne Enoch
March 18, 2012
Filed under Book Review
Tags: book review, clean fiction, deceased parents, four-quills, novella, Reading, Regency romance, Romance novels, suzanne enoch, sweet romance
Title: The Black Duke’s Prize
Author: Suzanne Enoch
Publisher: NYLA
Format: E-book ($2.99)
Length: novella
Release Date: November 23, 2011
Genre: Romance – Regency
Available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Summary: The Black Duke is a man with a temper who strikes fear in everyone who knows him. He does what he wants and pity the fool who gets in his way. In spite of his bad humor, he does have a close circle of friends who seem to tolerate him. A group of friends who take under their wing one Katherine Ralston, a young lady of considerable strong will herself — and the only one, it seems, who can put the Black Duke in his place and live to tell about it.
Katherine is the heiress to her deceased parents’ estate, but her uncle is in control of it until she comes of age. He sends her away to London for a Season to live with her godparents, while he secretly sells her inheritance off piece by piece. She suspects his motives and is determined to keep her property. But her plans are thwarted by her own godfather and the Black Duke himself…or so she believes. And in spite of her connection to her inheritance, she will have to choose between that and rescuing the man she loves.
Review: This is a well-written and clean romance novella. It was a quick read and sucked me in to the story line immediately. The plot was well-developed throughout. And the characters were both strong. Their evenly matched tempers made the tension mount steadily, which developed the relationship between them as well as set up the climax of the story. My least favorite thing about it was the double-antagonists, which is less a reflection on the writing and more a reflection of me as reader. I can only take so much confrontation. 
Recommendation: What’s not to like? Great writing. Strong characters. Clean romance. Suspenseful twists and surprises. It’s easy to see why The Black Duke’s Prize has been a top-seller for such a long time. A very enjoyable read. I give this book four quills:
Review: Seduction of Sebastian St. James by Rachel Van Dyken
December 23, 2011
Filed under Book Review
Tags: Astraea Press, book review, Five Quills, House of Renwick, Rachel Van Dyken, Reading, Regency romance, Romance novels
New release from Rachel Van Dyken
Title: The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Astraea Press
Format: E-book
Pages: 213
Release Date: December 23, 2011
Genre: Romance – Regency/Historical
Available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press
Summary: Sebastian St. James is the Duke of Tempest who earned the nickname “Angel Duke” because of his heroic exploits and his impeccable reputation. When he decides it’s finally time to find a wife, his search leads him to enlist the help of an old friend. It just so happens that old friend is also the cousin Lady Emma Gates, an eligible young woman who is also searching for a spouse.
The duke is very protective of his reputation and his family’s name. Emma is hiding a volatile secret. They team up to help each other find a suitable spouse. But what they thought was a great scheme for finding the perfect spouses turns into a disaster when they find themselves unable to shake the feelings they develop for one another. When their respective pasts come back to haunt them, things get complicated.
Review: This was a fantastic read. It had everything in it I would want. Steamy romance (but clean), suspense, laugh out loud sequences, action. The characters were well developed and consistent. Gotta love the hot, fun-loving male lead – and if I may say so, even Nicholas Renwick was slightly more likable in this book. Emma was just the right mixture of strong-willed and vulnerable. Her strength in her circumstances is inspiring.
The story moves fast and throws just enough twists in to keep it going at a good pace. The plot is well-constructed all the way to the end.
Recommendation: Not gonna lie, there were parts I read several times just because they were so good. Out of all of Rachel Van Dyken’s books so far, this is easily the best. I’m looking forward to Books 3 and 4 in this series! I’m gonna have to give it my highest rating:
You don’t want to miss out on The Seduction of Sebastian St. James by Rachel Van Dyken. And if you haven’t yet read The Ugly Duckling Debutante, you’ll want to pick that up too.
