I love fairy tale retellings. This version of Sleeping Beauty was a fun read. The character development was very well done. I wasn’t sure how the love triangle between Simon, Marcus and Tanzy would work out as both brothers liked the same girl…..but it worked out in the end. I haven’t read the first book, so the references to it didn’t;t help me. Overall a fun and easy read.

This has been a long time coming and I’m not even sure why it took me so long to read this. I wanted to reread the first book in this “series” first but I just hadn’t gotten around to it until now.

I’m disappointed in myself for waiting so long because it ended up being a fantastic book! Anneka Walker is one of my favorite authors of all time and this book was just as good as the previous one (The Masked Baron).

I absolutely adored this loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It wasn’t a complete retelling, which I appreciated. It just had nods to the fairytale and I loved each aspect she included. Especially her aunts as the fairies. It was so well-done!

Daisy was one of my favorite characters. I loved how inclusive Anneka was for those individuals who may be a little “different”. I thought that was lovely.

The characters all had so much depth and there was a little bit of a mystery aspect to this book that I wasn’t expecting either. All in all, a fantastic book! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

(Note: I only did a mini review on my IG stories and not an IG post. I realized it too late and didn’t want to repost).

I absolutely LOVED this unique regency fairytale retelling! Marcus and Tansy both struggle to rest as they have vivid dreams both good and bad. They find that their dreams are clues of their pasts. I made so many predictions as I was reading, but was constantly surprised at every new turn. It was such a good read and included fairies, a cozy cottage, curses, and the kiss of a lifetime. You don’t want to miss this beautiful retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale!

I have always had a fascination with dreams and this just fed it! I loved this whole premise! I loved the slight combination of a couple different fairytales! I saw some Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and even a little Snow White! So fun! I fell in love with the main characters and hope there is a story for one of the others! Loved it!

While at first glance this appears to be a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, it is much more than that. The author brings her own perspective to the well known fairy tale, making it fresh and intriguing in its own right.

Daisy is endearing in her innocence, and the way her sisters and niece care for her is touching, particularly given the story is set in a day and age when many families would have had her institutionalized.

I found it refreshing that rather than sitting stewing over misunderstandings, the heroine of this novel confronts them and is direct in her communications. Tansy's cringe moments over her aunts is relatable to anyone who's ever been embarrassed by family and friends, but her love for them is still clear.

Great characters, intriguing mysteries to solve, and examples of how to set boundaries near the end. I loved the consequence Marcus gave the most selfish character at the end, but would have liked to see it carried out and how it impacted her.

3.75 stars

This book has a gorgeous cover and an interesting title. I largely enjoyed the protagonist and her family, and I appreciated the nods to classic fairytales scattered throughout the story. At its core, it was a fairly typical romance novel with an intriguing initial premise and a few unique, vaguely-supernatural undertones. I liked but didn’t love it, and although parts of the beginning allowed my attention to wander a bit, I’m glad I stuck with and finished the story.

5/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

After months where I've struggled to read or get into a book, this one was the perfect read for me! Historical fiction is not a genre I read often, but I absolutely loved this one and will definitely be reading more from this author.

This sweet, historical romance doubles as a Sleeping Beauty retelling, though it approaches the "sleeping curse" in its own way. No character pricks their finger and falls into an enchanted sleep; instead, the sleeping curse is evident in the dreams both main characters wrestle with.

I absolutely loved the romance and chemistry between Tansy and Marcus. They had many adorable moments together, as well as their fair share of troubles. By the end of the book, I was incredibly invested in their relationship and begging for things to work out.

One of my favorite things about this book was Tansy's aunts! They were hilarious, and I loved Tansy's relationship with all of them. More than that, I enjoyed how Marcus took the time to get to know them and was there for them when needed.

I also liked the mystery of the dreams and why both main characters struggled with them. It added a nice layer of suspense to the story that kept me intrigued until the very end.

As someone who usually sticks to fantasy romance, I can honestly say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It was wholesome and comforting, and I was drawn into the romance immediately. I hope we get more books in this series! I would definitely recommend this if you like historical fiction, or even if you just enjoy a clean romance!

"The world is changing so fast for both of us. We need this, Tansy. We need each other."

This was a regency spin on Sleeping Beauty and it was a beautiful story.

Tansy White doesn't want to end up alone like her three aunts. When she has the chance to go to Rose Cottage, the home of her late mother, she jumps at the opportunity. This is the home that has been in her dreams and mystery surrounds a past that has been hidden from her.

Marcus Taylor has also been plagued with dreams he cannot explain. He and Tansy meet through interesting circumstances and begin a friendship like they have never had.

I love how Tansy and Marcus meet and the growth of their relationship. The aunts are so sweet, especially Tansy's Aunt Daisy. There were so many sweet moments with Daisy.

I always love a little mystery and intrigue thrown into a romance and while I figured some things out, there were other aspects of the story that I never could guess.

It's a delightful read with some twists and surprises!

The Dreaming Beauty by Anneka Walker is a fairy-tale retelling of one of my favorite classics. Set in the regency era with the added bonus of suspense and intrigue. A unique, beautifully written story. What more could I ask for?
Synopsis: Marcus Taylor, is acting as a steward for his brother, the Duke of Westmoreland. Troubled by the dreams he has been having, he starts looking for answers.
Tansie White has been haunted by dreams of her late mothers home, Rose Cottage. Wanting answers for her own dreams and to find a way to move into the future without feeling cursed, she decides to go there with her three one-of-a-kind aunts.
After a dreadful storm hits, Tansie finds herself turned around after a walk late at night. Marcus then finds her, cold as ice, laying on the library floor of his brother's home.
What starts out as a quest for them to find out more about their dreams, turns into a friendship between the two. As more questions get answered, and lies come forward, they wonder if their love for each other can survive such wild discoveries.

I can't not express how much I love this book. One of my top reads this year. Anneka R. Walker has a way with words. All of the books I have read thus far from her, have been so well written. They capture you from the start. Highly recommend this one. Also while this one is the second of the Enchanted Regency Romances, it can be read as a stand-alone.

It’s just too slow for me. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read but not my speed.

Sleeping beauty revamp, historical romance, may be good for someone else

Very enjoyable read!
I love how the author hinted at Sleeping Beauty but in a realistic and believable way.
I loved Tansy’s aunts- they were so much fun.
I was thrown by the ending. I wasn’t expecting some of the twists, but they did not disappoint. The ending was amazing too.

Ms. Walker writes lovely, wholesome historical romances and I was as charmed by this story as I have been by her others. It is a creative sort of retelling of Sleeping Beauty and I was enchanted from the very start. The story is well-written with mystery and suspense woven into a beautiful romance.
Tansy ventures out to find answers about her past and gets caught in a terrible storm. She seeks shelter in Marcus' home and when he finds her cold and unconscious, he nurses her back to health. As they uncover secrets and spend more time together they grow closer and a beautiful romance develops.
The story was sweet, romantic and utterly charming and I am glad to have the opportunity to read it. The characters were very well-developed and I instantly fell in love with them. The storyline flowed smoothly and Ms. Walker did a very nice job of bringing the story and characters to life. I believe this is the second book of the series, and after reading this, I would love to go back and read the first one. I can't wait to see what fairytale retelling Ms. Walker will bring us next!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I really had a hard time getting into this one. That being said I usually gobble up Walkers books. The plot dragged on and the mysteries were annoying instead of intriguing. This is mostly because side characters were making things mysterious by not being open with the main characters. I also felt annoyed with how long it took to figure out what was happening with the dreams. I was annoyed with Marcus and Tansy they were not my favorite characters.
What I did like was a regency twist on this fairly tale and the aunt's made me laugh.

The Dreaming Beauty provides readers with a fairy-tale atmosphere while maintaining a very realistic, down-to-earth plotline. This was my favorite aspect of this book and achieving this balance was a true display of the author's talent. I enjoyed reading this one and think it would be a good pick for historical fiction fans in the mood for a light and sweet romance. This book appears to be a continuation of The Masked Baron, but reading it first is not necessary, as I felt no loss in understanding in starting where I did. If you are starting from scratch, however, and you desire to lengthen your reading time in this area, I'd say start at the beginning. I really liked the characters in this story. None were dull and each were well crafted, unique, and served their intended purpose well. Could there be another story that comes out of this one? Perhaps one where Simon will take center stage? If my assumptions are correct, I will happily add it to my TBR list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Anneka Walker is a GENIUS! She has yet again managed to write a beautiful regency fairytale full of suspense and romance. How she creates such compelling, sweet stories is beyond me. I’m not normally one to like suspenseful novels but if Anneka writes it, you better believe I’ll be reading it! She has mastered the art of storytelling and I hope more fairytale retelling are coming. An easy five stars for Dreaming Beauty. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be sharing this one with my friends.

With a whimsical and mysterious feel, this story is so wildly unexpected you almost feel like you’re being led by a fairy tripping through a forest on a grand adventure.

There were twists I didn’t expect, and though it began slow with a web of mystery, it was done in a way to create that feeling of whimsy instead of confusion and an aching desire to get more and more into their world.

Each of the family members was written in a way to irreversibly endear them to you and each villain was not as they seemed.

This is a sleeping beauty story with all the rights nods to the story you love, while being wholly and uniquely it’s own.

4.5 stars

Read if you love:
🧚🏼‍♀️Fairytale retellings
🧚🏼‍♀️Sleeping Beauty
🧚🏼‍♀️Dreams
🧚🏼‍♀️Fairies
🧚🏼‍♀️Meddling family
🧚🏼‍♀️Art
🧚🏼‍♀️Twists and turns
🧚🏼‍♀️Willow trees

Admittedly this took me a bit to get into and I almost gave up. I’m stating this because I’m so glad that I kept going and hopefully can help anyone that may have felt the way I did in the beginning. This story ended up being so beautiful and satisfying. The chemistry between Tansy and Marcus was instantaneous and I loved the friendship they formed. Marcus was such a gentleman; his longing for Tansy was so swoony. He owned his feelings for her and ughhh, I just couldn’t help but fall in the love with him for it. Not only was this story extremely romantic, but it had elements of mystery woven throughout that completely kept me enthralled. I loved the twist and turns this story presented while Tansy searched for answers from her past. Nothing was as it seemed! I was totally surprised by so many things — it was delightful. I absolutely adored Tansy’s aunts and the strong relationship she had with them, but it was her special relationship with Daisy that really warmed my heart. This was such a a satisfying read! I highly recommend this beautifully unique and mysterious Sleeping Beauty retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

This story was a beautifully mastered retelling of Sleeping Beauty! I love all the classic fairy tales and this new set of stories by Anneka are ones I await on the edge of my seat for. She took the original and remastered it into a work of art. The characters, the story, the setting, and all the little extras pieced perfectly together and made this book come to life for me. Thank you Anneka, I can't wait for the next one!

A little mystery, a little romance, and lots of surprises I didn’t see coming. I love the story as it is, but the twists make it even better.

Marcus Taylor is good at finding the truth when talking to people based on their physical cues. He has frequent nightmares and is trying to figure out what they mean. Simon, his brother by marriage, is the Duke of Westmorland but doesn’t want to be. Tansy White has dreams also, often warning her of the future. She worries that she won’t find a decent gentleman without a dowry or a father’s good name due to rumors her birth was illegitimate. She was raised by her spinster aunts Aster, Iris and Daisy after her mother died when she was a child.

This is loosely connected to the story of Sleeping Beauty. It is a clean romance with a little talk of violence. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for a temporary digital copy to use for my review.

This one was a tad slow for my taste only really picking up steam about half way through. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and world building. I loved that this is a regency piece but also a sort of retelling of sleeping beauty. The characters were well written and likable. Marcus is exactly what I think of when I hear the word gentleman. Tansy is a very lovely and strong driven woman. I enjoyed the relationships, and the romance aspects of the book. The plot was complex and it was fun to pick up the subtle nods to Sleeping Beauty through out the story line. Overall I found this story lyrical and just the right amount of whimsical.