The Dreaming Beauty

GIVEAWAY

WALKER, ANNEKA R.

THE DREAMING BEAUTY

Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love...

Tansy White doesn't want to end up alone like her three aunts who raised her, but when she is betrayed by her would-be betrothed, she fears she might never change her fate. At her aunts' suggestion, she seizes the chance to visit Rose Cottage, the country home of her late mother. Fr years, dreams of the cottage have haunted Tansy, and she is convinced it holds the answer to her hidden past. But after getting caught in a terrible storm, she meets a man who is just as determined as she is to learn all her secrets.

Marcus Taylor, brother to the Duke of Westmorland, is also troubled by vivid dreams. On a sleepless night, as a tempest rages outside his brother's estate, he makes a discovery far more mysterious than any dream: a young woman, cold as ice, lies unconscious in the library, and he is sure she is the key to solving his problems. When she wakes, what begins as a shared quest for information turns into an unexpected friendship. As they piece together the fragments of their past, they discover a tangled web of lies, and their feelings for each other become just as entwined. But is their love as strong as their dreams...or their fate?

My Review:

Fantastical Romantical!!!! I'm not sure if I'm sufficiently resuscitated from my swooning frenzy to be articulate enough in order to write a review, so bear with me here.

The best Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read -- and I've read a ton over the years. Why you ask? Because...

- The way the author weaves the legend into her story 

- The familiar details transformed into something splendiferously unique and exciting 

- The myriad of twists and turns in the plot

- The romance so sweetly tender but fraught with impossibilities

- The layers of mystery!

- The Regency setting

- Tansy's aunts!!!!!!!!!

- 'The Masked Baron' cameos (book one in the 'Enchanted Regency Romance' series) This can totally be read as a standalone though.

- And I listened to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall which made it all the more thrilling. 

If you enjoy clever (brilliant even) fairytale retellings, 'The Dreaming Beauty' should definitely find it's way onto your TBR pile. ASAP

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the The Dreaming Beauty, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 29 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

 

The Masked Baron

GIVEAWAY

WALKER, ANNEKA R

THE MASKED BARON

Andalin is accustomed to her father's frequent travels -- and to being left behind. So when he returns home and instructs her to pack her belongings, she is bewildered -- but there is no time for questions as she is whisked away on a mysterious journey under the cover of night. 

When their tense flight leads them into the forbidding Black Forest, the pair quickly find themselves in great peril. With little hope of escape, father and daughter are spared when rescue appears in the form of the mysterious Dark Rider, a notorious deadly highwayman feared by all he meets. But his assistance does not come without a price: he is taking Andalin with him. Now her fate rests in the hands of the enigmatic masked man whose secrets are inescapably tied to the beautiful young woman now in his charge.

My Review:

Picture me twirling in a dizzying happy dance of Regency Romance elation until, overcome by the exquisiteness of it all, I gracefully swoon onto my fainting couch. That's what The Masked Baron has done to me. My toes might never uncurl and I'm not sure if I'll unswoon before Christmas because...that masked baron...oh mmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! Thud!!!!!

Eeeeepppp, eeeeepppppp, eeeeeeeeppppp!!!! A fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast -- and this is my all time favourite rendition...ever! And that's saying something because I do love a good B&B retelling. Walker has brought a freshness to the age old story but there are enough similarities (especially to the Disney version) that kept me squealing with delight as I made the connections. So many wonderful nuances that will keep me returning to this fantastical tale again and again.

And there's a lovely redemptive/reconciliation thread woven throughout that brought even more depth to the story. Simply stunning!

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall who is fast becoming one of my favourite narrators. She delivers a lively, captivating performance that kept me in compulsive listening mode right to the very end. Happy, happy sigh.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy (you must have an Amazon.com account) 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Masked Baron, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 19 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

A Hopeful Christmas : a Regency Romance Collection

GIVEAWAY

WALKER, ANNEKA R.

BESSEY, SIAN ANN

KELLY, CARLA

JENSEN, KRISTA LYNN

A HOPEFUL CHRISTMAS : A REGENCY ROMANCE COLLECTION

Kindle the spirit of the season as four of your favorite storytellers weave tales of love and hope in this charming yuletide collection.

Lord Blakely's Gift by Anneka R. Walker

When Miss ivy Hunt and Lord Curtis Blakely establish a secret acquaintance, neither can deny that their feelings extend beyond friendship. But as the children of bitter rivals, it will take a Christmas miracle for this star-crossed pair to reach their happily ever after.

A Season of Hope by Sian Ann Bessey

Following the death of her father, Amelia knows Christmas will be lean. But when circumstances become dire, it is the unexpected arrival of a childhood friend that renews Amelia's hope -- both for the future and for love. 

Christmas by the Sea by Carla Kelly

After two years at sea with the Royal Navy, surgeon Will Crenshaw longs for a quiet Christmas with his family. But when unrest at home threatens to ruin the holidays, it takes the kindly intervention of a mysterious house sitter to remind them of the true meaning of the season.

Expectations at Canterwood by Krista Lynn Jensen

Marina Rowley is a spinster, Richard Stanhope a war-weary military man. A case of mistaken identity throw them together, but the unexpected stirrings of their hearts lead to an unforgettable holiday romance. 

My Review:

I'm in twitterpated Regency heaven! What an exceptional collection of Christmas stories! I was only familiar with one author (Sian Ann Bessey) and bought A Hopeful Christmas because I loved the two books I've read by her but now I have discovered three new-to-me favourite authors! Woohoo! How cool is that?! 

And this is definitely a case of all four novellas being equally matched. Gripping, well-written stories that speak to the true meaning of Christmas with engaging characters and emotional plots. I can't name a favourite for they all deliver exactly what the title promises -- hope. (And some delicious toe-curls besides!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy (you must have an Amazon.com account)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Hopeful Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 12 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!