This book brought magic to the Regency Era in the most fantastic, realistic ways. I loved the nods to the original fairytale, especially the emphasis on dreams. The aunts were a hoot! I related to every character in this book in one way or another. About halfway through the book I thought, "well, this is a little predictable" but the ending still managed to catch me off guard. It took a few chapters to really get into the book, but by the end I was willing to give up my beauty sleep to finish the story. Four stars, definitely recommend!

Thanks to Anneka Walker, Covenant Communications, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Dreaming Beauty is a sweet, wholesome love story with lots of mutual pining, misunderstandings, and secret identities. It’s a lovely, quick read with lots of endearing characters and a good heart. I was hoping for a little more than just some kisses, but if you’re looking for a clean, Christian-leaning historical romance, you’ll like this one.

I thought this book was like a lovely, springtime stroll through a fairy garden. It was whimsical and full of heart. I really liked the aunts, perhaps even more than the main characters (who I also really liked). They were a breath of fresh air and added so much life to the story.

#thedreamingbeauty #netgalley

This was a great story to read. I loved the storyline and the characters, definitely recommend this book!

The Dreaming Beauty by Anneka Walker was kind of slow in the beginning but once it got into the story about half way through, I really enjoyed it! It's a Sleeping Beauty retelling so it's got some fairytale vibes to it.
My favorite part was the friendship between Tansy's and Marcus that turned into more. The tension and chemistry between these two were great! This is a story full of mystery that will keep you turning the pages and keep you guessing what will happen next.
I really enjoyed Tansy's relationship with her aunts! The way she cared for all of them -especially her aunt Daisy- showed how loving and kind she is. She's always willing to help those around her.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings with a bit of mystery, I recommend this book!

Thanks to the author as well as Netgalley for my early copy.

This was a delightful read. Life made it very hard to read it as fast as I would have liked, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. I love a clean sleeping beauty retelling and this one had an interesting twist on it. Tansy was so sweet and thoughtful towards all around her, I couldn’t help but admire her. Marcus was a complete gentleman. He protected Tansy and saw to not only her needs, but to her aunts as well. Despite how terrible his mother could be at times, he showed her nothing but respect. That ending I did not see coming, it was completely different than what I’m used to seeing.

I received an eARC from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I loved this fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in the Regency era. I find fairytales enjoyable under most circumstances. They don't have to be totally believable but they do have to be feel-good. And this was feel-good to me. It had twists and turns, some that I could see building up and some I just did not see coming. And it had moments that made me smile or laugh out loud.
I loved the idea of the dreams leading the main characters to find their place in life beside each other. They were both good people who, though content with their lives as was, get to have the fairy-tale ending they deserve. The story is a fun blend of fairy-tale and Regency.

No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

The Dreaming Beauty is a great story. Tansy White is a young lady, almost 20, that lives with her aunts. They move to a cottage that hasn't been lived in for almost twenty years, and rumors have it that it is haunted by a woman ghost. This doesn't keep the ladies from living there, and Tansy knows very little about either of her parents. She has vague memories of her mother, but she often has haunting dreams about her. After one of those dreams, she decides to take a walk outside, but a storm comes up and she gets lost and finds her way to a large house where she collapses. The man of the house, Marcus, finds her and takes her to his room. Marcus is tormented by dreams as well, and he , being a professor, becomes very interested to know more about her dreams. Their friendship develops, until his brother returns home, and he decides he wants to court her. His mother doesn't like that at all, and does what she can to keep them apart.As the story goes on, she learns about her parents, and many great discoveries are made. Excellent and clean book I will read over and over again!

There was a lot to enjoy about this book!

First off- the mystery was intriguing--and subtle; making it perfect for all audiences, especially the younger crowd. There were a lot of twists and turns that made turning each page new and exciting. There were a lot of plot twists in this one that I definitely did not see coming.

Second... the characters! Tansy had such a fun personality. I usually lean towards the take-charge female main characters and while Tansy was completely different in that regard, she was also a very strong character...just in a more reserved way. Marcus was so patient and caring. The two really suited each other and it was fun to cheer them on and hope their romance would lead to the happy ever after we're all looking for!

I haven't read the first book in this series and while there was mention of 'The Masked Baron' I didn't feel that it took away from any enjoyment from reading this book. I love the subtle hints to the respective fairytale and the different elements it added to the overall storyline! My fingers are also crossed a certain character from this book gets his story!!

I'm excited to see what comes next from this author and series!

Thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Tansy is beautiful and lives with her three aunts. They take her to the Lake District to visit Rose Cottage her childhood home. She is hoping to learn more about her mother there who died when she was young. She meets handsome Marcus who is a professor but is also the land steward for his brother the Duke. Marcus is the perfect hard working hero and enjoys visiting with Tansy and her aunts.

There is a fairytale feel to the story as one of the aunts embraces the ideas of fairy folk but this isn’t fantasy. It is a wholesome romance with some plot twisting mystery. The pacing was off at times when something you thought was monumental happens and then there is an abrupt scene change and it’s a few days later. The aunts were frustrating by withholding so much information from Tansy about her parentage. And things feel more ominous than they actually are. I’m still not clear why the dowager wants to buy the cottage from the family. (It might have said but there were a lot of sub plots getting resolved quickly.)

The reason to read this is for the romance between Tansy and Marcus. The subplots add mystery and length but it almost seemed like too many twists. This can be read as a stand alone but it is a sequel to The Masked Baron. The main couple from the first story makes brief appearances in this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

Mr. Marcus Taylor has been researching dreams for years looking for a way to rid himself of reoccurring nightmares. One day a beautiful young woman "sleepwalks” right into his life. Does this dreaming beauty have the answers he has been searching for?

Miss Tansy White wants answers about her past and parentage as she is plagued by vivid dreams, but her Aunts refuse to give her these answers. A move to her mother and aunt's childhood home might just bring Tansy everything she has been hoping for...and more.

I really enjoyed this story! It was full of mystery and romance. The characters were well written and unique. I loved Aunt Daisy!

This book is set after the Masked Baron but definitely can be read alone. I will be recommending to my friends!

#netgalley #thedreamingbeauty

While this is a regency version of Sleeping Beauty, the story is still its own unique version. Tansy’s aunts were good supporting characters. Daisy was favorite aunt with her childlike enthusiasm. Tansy’s interactions with her family helps you get a full picture of her kindness and character. Marcus is also a great character. I loved how he was always out helping people and treated everyone with respect and kindness. I liked the relationship between the two step brothers. Overall it is a great book.

Sleeping Beauty was always my favorite fairy tale, so I was very interested to see how Anneka R. Walker would twist the fairy tale into a regency story. She did a wonderful job!

Some things I loved:
-The nods to the fairy tale were woven into the story and I loved finding them!
-The twists and turns really kept the story interesting!
-The romance between Marcus and Tansy was so sweet! Marcus is SUCH a romantic! I loved watching their interactions.
-The aunts were so fun and entertaining. I loved their personalities.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Regency stories with a bit of a fairy tale feel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Covenant Communications, and Anneka R. Walker for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wow! I’m truly at a loss for words right now. This story blew me away, and if I could, I’d give it 10 stars!
When I heard about this book, I honestly was hesitant to start it. I mean, a regency retelling of Sleeping Beauty? How in the world would that work? But it did! And I can’t even begin to describe how well it worked, just that it did it perfectly and unexpectedly. At the end all I could do was sit in happy bliss and just soak in the wonderful story I just read.
At one point I thought there was so much going on and it was difficult to keep up with things, but I really think that was a Sabrina problem and not a book problem. (I had a concussion years ago and sometimes it’s hard for me to keep things straight, hence a “Sabrina problem.”) But even so, I loved the plot and how I couldn’t put the book down because I just HAD to know what was going to happen. Many times I can figure out that part of the plot that is supposed to shock or surprise (most of the time towards the end) quite early in the book. But this story kept me guessing and unable to figure out the whole puzzle until each piece was beautifully and craftily revealed to the reader. All the twists and turns this story takes just add to the rich experience you go on while reading it.
And Marcus and Tansy? Holy moly the romance was so sweet and I loved how they each helped each other, plus they grew and developed so well as individuals. They fight for each other, help uncover secrets, and honestly just get each other on that level that makes you really believe in soul mates. Plus the conversations about stars (iykyk) basically made me swoon and sigh like a lovesick puppy.
This is a great regency romance not only filled with mystery and suspense, but also fairies, ghosts, and curses. So if you’re looking for something new in a genre you know and love, this is the perfect book for you.
And now I’m impatiently waiting for the next regency fairytale retelling by the wonderful Anneka R. Walker!

I think Walker's writing is getting better and better!! 'The Dreaming Beauty' is an amazingly written novel that winds its own path through a web of lies and deceit, that make the ending impossible to predict. This novel was a fun read and a wonderful adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I loved this retelling! So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Marcus and Tansy are so fun together. Marcus is sweet, kind and just what Tansy needs. Tansy is also very kind with a little bit of sass. The aunts have such interesting personalities. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

I love the idea of fairytale stories with a twist. These main characters were unique and very likeable, with mysterious others throughout. Through many twists comes happy ever after!

I loved this! It was very intense and gripping. Characters are really believable and likeable! I desperately need to read the third book I literally read this in a day couldn’t put it down!.

This was clean and had well-developed characters (though the villains turned out to be less villainous than suspected). It felt kind of long and slow, even though there were several plot twists. I would have preferred a lot more spark between the main characters (romance can be steamy without sex). Rounded up. It wasn’t bad, it was just a little meh.
I did enjoy the Sleeping Beauty inclusions and I liked that they were inspired by the original, while being different.

The Duke and the Dreamer:
My first time reading this author's writing and I did enjoy the plot and the characters very much, but it could have been much more romantic for me to give it more stars.
The story barely had a simmer of a couple of kisses at the end.
Possibly a good story for a teen to read as an introduction to reading romance books.
It is a delightful mix of characters, an epic mystery with many surprises and a fantastic conclusion.
A good epilogue completed the story with a heartfelt ending.
This is book 2 of a series and I wish I would have read book 1 The Masked Baron first even though these are standalone stories. It sounds really good.
I enjoyed the book enough to recommend this book to a friend and would be glad to read another Anneka Walker book.
I did receive an early copy for my honest opinion.