[Enchanted Regency Romances, Books 1-3]: A Series Review]

Hi y’all!

I hope you are staying cool and enjoying the end of summer. We go back to school next week and I have to admit that I am ready. Haha! Besides the painful process of getting us all back on an earlier bedtime and wake up time, I am ready for routine and for my kids to get back into school. We just got our AC replaced so finally I am not worrying about my house being too hot — the worst thing ever for my pregnant self! So grateful for AC!

I am thrilled to share my review of the three books in Anneka R. Walker’s enchanted regency romance series: The Masked Baron, The Dreaming Beauty, and The Lady Glass. I’ve seen these around blogs and bookstagram lately with the new release of The Lady Glass and was lucky to get all three at the same time from the library.

I absolutely loved these fairy tale retellings set in Regency England. The romance is beautiful, the characters are fascinating, and the fairy tale connections are so clever.

Book Summaries – 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 finds 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 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.“

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. For 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 makes, 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?“

Lady: “Nothing shapes glass like fire. Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents—nothing save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers—even assume a false identity and steal her future back. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome naval captain Rolland Reese, her mission is compromised. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but when he makes a daring proposal she cannot refuse, she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their aim.

Rolland is stunned when his homecoming from the war takes a decidedly deadly turn. The quickest solution is to throw a house party and invite all the suspects. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer before they turn their sights to the next potential victim: his own father. The mysterious Theresia is undoubtedly the most suspicious of his guests, but against all odds, he finds himself risking everything to protect her. As Rolland unravels a tangle of clues, he faces the greatest threats of all: a heart of fire and a future as fragile as glass.”

Thoughts on The Masked Baron: I loved this retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in Regency England. I have always enjoyed this story. Probably because I enjoy bookish Belle so much. 🙂

The characters were so vibrant and complex. I loved getting to know Ellis and Annie and seeing them become friends and more. Their enemies to lovers story is so beautifully told. They both have tragedy in their pasts and to see them overcome their fears, heartache and disappointments was so satisfying. I loved seeing how they trust each other and confide in each other so early in their acquaintance. They give each other something to live for and that is truly a beautiful love story.

The Beauty and the Beast elements are subtle and creative. I enjoyed the twists on the original fairy tale. The way Ellis wears a mask to hide some sort of scar. The secluded location of the castle. The loyal servants keeping the family’s secrets. Small moments together that make all the difference. Discovering secrets and reasons for family curses. Even the relationship between Annie and her father. I loved the connections and the unique twists on the story.

This story is such a clever retelling because it doesn’t just feel like a retelling. It has its own plot and twists that make it come alive for readers.

Thoughts on The Dreaming Beauty: Another clever, lovely fairy tale retelling this time of Sleeping Beauty! I haven’t read many retellings of this particular fairy tale. So it was really fun to

My favorite elements were the fairy tale and the magical elements in the story. Daisy’s love and fascination with fairies was delightful. I loved her belief in something so magical and how it gives her hope and life. The different ways Walker brings in the original fairy tale were so clever! The situation of Tansy and her aunts living away from her birthright. The surprise identities. The way Marcus and Tansy get to know each other at Rose Cottage. And of course their very first meeting. Even the dream elements and the birthday celebration were clever connections to the original story.

I enjoyed getting to know Tansy and Marcus. They both have complicated pasts and surprising reveals about those pasts. I appreciated how they come to trust each other and be friends. They enjoy being together and that is a beautiful place to begin their romance. Their happily ever after seems impossible and the way everything comes together is surprising and so satisfying.

There were so many twists and turns in this book. It’s quite the ride to finally discover how everything fits together and find Tansy and Marcus together.

Thoughts on The Lady Glass: Oh my goodness! What an ending to this series (unless Walker wants to write more books? I’m definitely hoping she keeps going)! I absolutely loved this Cinderella retelling!

Once again the characters are fantastic! Rolland is strong, fiercely loyal, and strangely drawn to the woman who seems to be everywhere. I loved seeing him fall in love (somewhat against his will) and to see how that love brings such happiness, purpose and hope back into his life. His experiences in the Navy have defined his whole life but he is beginning to see that life can be more beautiful than he ever thought possible. Theresia is stubborn, determined and a delight to get to know. At times, I couldn’t believe her bravery (or stubbornness?) led her into such unexpected situations. But I soon came to admire her determination to connect with her father through the vase. Seeing Theresia and Rolland together was my favorite! The chemistry and banter are fantastic as they seek a murderer and a thief. With so many twists and turns along the way.

I loved the clever ways Walker connects with the fairy tale and creates her own story. The small details like Theresia’s relationship with her stepmother, gifts from her godfather, the glass slippers and more were clever and subtle. They add to the story set against a fascinating historical backdrop. The ways Walker brings historical details like the council of Vienna and the defeat of Napoleon into her story are seamless and intriguing. I have read many regency romances but none with this level of detail about the historical time. All these pieces make the story so engaging and impossible to put down.

I loved the happily ever after especially because it felt like it couldn’t not ever happen! Revealing the murderer was surprising and well done. And it doesn’t take away from the beautiful reveals of how much Theresia and Rolland love each other. Potentially my favorite in the series!

I’m so glad I read this entire series! The stories are engaging and surprising, the characters are fantastic, and the fairy tale connections are clever. I loved how these characters are able to find happily ever afters amidst such compelling backdrops. High recommend all three!