Upon A Midnight Dream (London Fairy Tales Book 1)

I liked this sweet story. It was enjoyable, and I liked the characters, even the non-human ones :) I got it for free on my kindle, so I overlooked the typos, missing words, and using the wrong words. At first I liked it well enough to start thinking about the others in the series, but the continuity of the story had some major hiccups. For example, the heroine's eyes suddenly went from green to blue. And in the end the villain contradicted himself and that was confusing. Things like an author forgetting their character's eye color is hard to dismiss. So I don't know if I will continue the series since the others are neither free, nor Kindle Unlimited. A little proof reading would have helped this story a great deal.

The good parts were really good and the bad parts were disappointing. No, Van Dyken does not create another Redemption of Lord Rawlings gem. The heroine was strong and the hero was funny and human. Neither of the leads were wooden and that made the characters enjoyable, along with their banter.

However, said characters were also very stupid when it counted the most. The reader and the characters were given the same amount of information, yet the reader was able to figure out the mystery at the beginning, while the characters, who are painted as being intelligent, could not. The clues were obvious. Glaring. The characters would remember things, yet could not piece the clues together. That made them frustrating and just plain idiots. I still cannot believe that Stefan and Rose actually got married, not because they felt compelled to, but because they still believed they had no choice. The answer was obvious all along. Thankfully, this was not the case with the entire novel.

The novel was enjoyable, even though there were many grammatical errors and other inaccuracies. How were the hero and heroine allowed the eat alone while her godmother dined with the cook? Why was the godmother characterised as a being of the social status no better than the valet whom she married, yet she is the godmother of a lady? Typical Van Dyken. However,the characters were fresh and, as usual with Van Dyken, there were many moments that were true gems: the characters dancing in the snow, Stefan talking to his horse, the numerous proposals and the romantic proposal in the orangery. Even the butler borrowing a page from Stefan with his "We shall marry at once," were smile worthy.

Van Dyken seems to be following her usual pattern in that she will take a character whom she introduces as a somewhat villain and create a hero of him in his own novel. She has set Dominique up as that character. Since she did the same thing with Rawlings, should we dare hope that Dominique's book will be as well written? From the excerpt, it seems that she has a gem, perhaps even better than Rawlings. She can definitely do so with Dominique, I hope that she does.

I like the book, but would have preferred to pay less for it. Although Van Dyken has done better, readers should still find this enjoyable.

I expected better. I'm disappointed with Rosalind.... She is just an annoying character...... Spoiler. Her family is dying and she wants him to woo her?! Selfish!! Plus she ridiculed him in public.... She ants him to be a laughing stock? Makes no sense! I liked the duke though.

I was dissapointed in Upon a Midnight Dream. It was the story of Rosalind from the previous story The Redemption of Lord Rawlings. I really enjoyed The Redemption of Lord Rawlings and thought this story fell really short compared to it. It's very strange that I find books that I really enjoy of Rachel Van Dyken and others I don't like at all. This fell in between. It was just okay. I felt alot of it was predictable. I thought the characters were idi*ts for not realizing what was causing Rosalind's illness. Especially towards the end when she started figuring things out yet she still fell prey to the cause of her illness without a blink. The story was short and I thought wasn't worth the $4. Maybe 99 cents. I read the sample for the next book with Rosalind's sister Isabella. It appears to be interesting plot with the male lead having a devestating childhood. I'll probably check it out but I'm wary as to what to expect. Sometimes her books are really good, other times just okay, and then even other times aren't good at all. Overall I think Ms Van Dyken has alot of potential as a writer. The good ones are good. I wish Rosalind 's story would have been better though.

I was pretty aggravated that this was a sleeping beauty knock off. There were so many similarities (names, places, etc.) that the book really screamed lack of originality. The writing was sub par and would more fit a young adult genre than adult. The characters changed personalities often. The story dragged, then sped up, then changed directions whenever the author needed to explain away something. I was really disappointed. Not romantic, mostly just annoying.

*SPOILER ALERT*
This book was delightful, and I am very fussy about my reading material. That being said, let me first point out the pros. Any story as well written as this one, which also has me howling in laughter deserves my attention. The witty banter between both main characters had me worried I'd wake my sleeping husband beside me, and at the very least attempting to stifle my giggles so as not to disturb him!! Bravo to this author for such an excellently written story of romance dotted with humor throughout the entire novel. I am always a bit doubtful when downloading a free book that it's going to be of quality in content.

Now, here comes the criticism: As an adult reader, I read these types of novels for the adult scenes! Believe me, I am not alone when I say that your readers can handle it if you go into more detail once the wedding night FINALLY arrives! Why, oh WHY did you drop the ball at the eleventh hour and just skip right over that??? I will assume you had your reasons, but I will not be selecting any future books, whether for free or for purchase, from you. Had that not been the case, this book would have easily earned a five star review from me.

Thanks, though for the laughs.

Upon a Midnight Dream is a sweet romantic fairy tale meets Regency with some twists that kept me captivated till the very last page. I could not pull myself away from this story to do anyother task. I am still thinking of this story weeks later. I look forward to the next book to see what happens with Rose's sisters. I was left enchanted but with hunger for more from the London Fairy Tale series. Ms. Van Dyken has proven many times she can produce a wide range of stories that leave me entranced!

Stefan is so funny and a sweet brute that has Rosalinds best interest at heart. I loved Stefan's horse Samson he has quite the personality. Rosalind is a strong heroine and likes to make things a little hard for Stefan. Not that I am complaining. I was delighted to see the many exchanges between Rosalind and Stefan. Rosalinds family is crazy and mad. I liked that they were really messed up and not perfect. Stefan's family has got a good mix of drama as well. If you like romance, fairy tales and regency this is a must read.

Just fyi this does not contain any swearing and all sex is behind closed doors.

Reviewed by Rachel
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

I really loved the concept behind this story and was looking forward to a revamped version of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ set in a regency setting. For me there was some disappointment still the story wasn’t that bad.

I think that when trying to re-tell a classic you find that you have an idea in your head but trying to convey it to people the way you see it sometimes doesn’t come out the way you intend for it to.

Two young lovers (first introduced in another of Ms. Van Dyken’s series) are once again re-united in Upon a Midnight Dream. We find Stefan somewhat on the debonair side with a tendency to be funny at times. Making him seem more real, down to earth is shipwrecked for a couple months coming back to England only to have changed into a brute of sorts. You might think that the experience would leave him a little more humble. Upon his entrance back into society he releases his fiancée Rosalind from their contract starting the beginning of the gypsy curse where family members start to die.

Rosalind finds that all she really wants is to be loved and wooed as any girl wants. She also is a bit Narcoleptic which when you think about it can be rather humorous in the story. Reminds me a little of Sleeping Beauty in the Shrek movie where she nods off in the middle of everything. Cute, but a little over the top…

The mystery of the gypsy curse is out there and easy for me the reader to figure out but at times you want to hit the characters up alongside the head as they are rather dunces when it comes to the clues. They are portrayed as idiots most of the time.

The overall story was fun to read with a touch of the old fairytale updated for the adult reader. The sexual tension adds that adult theme to this fairytale, along with the mystery over the deaths, strange sickness and everything else that happens in the story.

I really enjoyed Stefan’s horse Solomon who has a very strong personality of his own and it is kind of endearing the way Stefan would talk to him as if he were a human. The other element I found comical was Mary the resident fairy godmother (because no fairy tale is complete without a faux fairy godmother) and her cane.

As Stefan and Rosalind finally marry it is more for the sake of stopping the curse then for the happy-ever-after of the fairy tales. I did rather enjoy the story of Stefan and Rosalind despite the predictability of the mystery. I personally would have enjoyed somewhat more depth but it was after all a fairy tale.

To find out the actual outcome, to see if Rosalind finds her WOW, factor you’ll just have to read Upon a Midnight Dream for yourself.

I don't understand all the good reveiws. I couldn't finish reading this. The editing is just awful, with the conversations between the characters making no sense. SPOILER ALERT- The plot was confusing too- hero spent just a couple of months shipwrecked, but comes back a "barbarian"-from a couple of months?? And I really didn't read any behavior that I would consider barbaric- he just seemed to act a little conceited. The heroine had some kind of ailment that she's "dying" from, but it all but disappears as soon as the interactions begin between her and the hero. It's as if the author didn't need to talk about it anymore and just left off. Most of the first half of the book the heroine goes back and forth-between yelling at the hero and calling him a barbarian- because he isn't "wooing" her according to her expectations. Meanwhile, all their immediate family members are ill and dying because these two haven't married yet (which would break the curse that is causing everyones illness and death). Wow-nothing like complaining about the hero's "wooing" incapacities and holding out to marry him while your mother is ill and dying. What kind of heroine is this? Parts had me going back to reread thinking I missed a couple of pages. I really tried to get through this book (read about half) but the characters stupidity, the awful dialoge, and the lack of editing, had me putting this book out of its misery.

I have to share a little backstory before I review this. See, one day I was on the store and was adding books to my wishlist and I saw the House of Renwick books recommended and had to go look as historical romance is my absolute favorite genre. I quickly added them all to my wishlist and then went to play on Facebook and lo and behold I realize that I know Rachel as we review together for Romancing the Book! I kind of made a mess of myself as I gushed about how I couldn't believe that I didn't put two and two together when I wondered why the author's name sounded so familiar...and so y'all know that I'm a huge dork.

Anyway, after fulfilling all of my obligations, I chose Upon A Midnight Dream as my first book of the New Year purposely. I was intrigued by the storyline; a curse that would kill off two families if the oldest children didn't marry? A young lady who suffers from a disease that causes her to fall asleep randomly - and quite embarrassingly? Um, yes, please!

Rose is an enjoyable character. I pictured Kate Winslet's Rose from Titanic the whole story as she's just as spunky, humorous, child-like, and stubborn.

As far as Stefan goes, I could picture Ryan Reynolds as him. Or maybe Channing Tatum...ahem, I digress. Stefan is so sure of himself at times, but such a cute idiot at times. His proposals are quite blunt and not at all romantic; a woman wants to be "wooed", not commanded to marry her suitor.

I disliked Rose's mother throughout the whole story. There is a subplot that becomes apparent almost immediately and by nearly halfway in I was able to guess at what was happening, but that did not in anyway detract from the story; in fact, it made me speed along further to see if I was right.

I giggled. I sighed. I clenched my teeth. I was tearful. What a sweet, sweet story full of romance and intrigue. I can't wait to begin the second in the series as soon as I post this review.

By the way, not only do I highly recommend this book, but there's also no cussing nor explicit sex; you know they're having it but it's written in a way that lets your imagination run wild.

I loved this re-telling of Sleeping Beauty by Rachel Van Dyken! I love fairy tales and then to have it be a regency, well that was a bonus! Rachel has taken two genres that I love and married them! Upon A Midnight Dream was easy to read and I fell in love with the characters. Stephan was lovable and endearing. He made me smile and laugh constantly! Rosalind was fiery and stubborn and wanted Stephan to 'woo' her properly! I guess some women don't take kindly to being told they should marry immediately :) If you are looking for a fun and romantic read, then Upon A Midnight Dream is the book for you! It made me laugh (a lot) and it kept me guessing at the secret of the curse! I thought I had it figured out, but there was an underlying twist that I didn't see coming. Four stars for a fun and romantic read!

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

This is Rosalind and Stefan's story. I was already intrigued by Stefan (the bronze man) from The Redemption of Lord Rawlings. From the opening page, the reader knows this is not your classic prince charming. The mystery is easily figured out but I think you will still enjoy the tale. I love how the author creates a character in Stefan's horse, Samson. I think you will LOL over Mary and her caning. If you are looking for a humorous and entertaining book you found it in Upon A Midnight Dream. If you are interested in the level of sex, violence, drugs/alcohol and language see the website - More Than A Review.

So I know on Goodreads there's another version/cover of this book I like men on my covers call me biased or whatever but I need something pretty to stare at, at times so my covers that I choose for this series may not be the right ones on Goodreads or the store, but always know my reviews are for the same book just a different cover. Rosalind is such a saucy woman, "forgive me, your Grace, but I doubt even your barbaric virility could last all of fifteen minutes. And I was alluding the time it would take to accompany me on a walk." Stefan that man is determined, "he failed to woo her during their courtship, he would damn well woo her during their lovemaking, until she was marked as his." I love Rachel's fairy tales.

I loved this rendition of sleeping beauty! It was absolutely hilarious and charming and just a all out good time. Of course, there's a good dose of deception and dragons to slay. It was just perfect! I love a book that can make me laugh and make my heart race with anticipation and excitement! This author knows how to captivate your mind! I highly recommend you read this book. I'm excited to read the next one!