Once Upon A Dream Paperback – April 12, 2016

Fair warning to our faithful readers: the following is a giddy fan-girl review.Two of my favorite authors: Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes. One of my favorite settings: country house parties. My favorite duke – the Duke of All Dukes: Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle. No way was I not going to like these two stories.I’m giving this book five stars, based upon how very much I enjoyed reading it. Some of my HR friends, whose opinions I respect, have been more critical, with one calling these two novellas “just reader-friendly, predictable, comfort romance reads.” Just?? After some of the stinkers that I have read lately, that sounds like exactly what I want.Mary Balogh’s story takes us back Bedwyn World, a place that I came to love when reading her Slightly and Simply series. Our heroine, Miss Eleanor Thompson, played a secondary role in Slightly Dangerous, when her sister Christine married the top-lofty Duke of Bewcastle. She appeared again in Simply Perfect, when Claudia Martin married the Marquess of Attingsborough, and Eleanor took over Claudia’s role as headmistress of a girls’ school in Bath. (Although Eleanor is pushing forty, she was destined to marry well, as all of the teachers at Miss Martin’s school went on to marry aristocrats.) On her way to a summer house party at Bewcastle’s estate, she stops at an inn to wait out a sudden storm, and while enjoying a quiet cup of tea she is accosted by an overly precocious ten-year-old girl. Georgette Benning is traveling with her young brother and their father. Although it is slightly improper, Eleanor enjoys a lovely dinner with Mr. Benning, and the next morning the travelers go on their separate ways.Eleanor is quite surprised, therefore, when the Benning family arrives the next day to join Bewcastle’s house party. It turns out that “Mr. Benning” is in fact the Michael Benning, Earl of Staunton, and Christine has invited him with the expectation that he is on the verge of proposing marriage to another guest, a proper young miss with a dragon of a mother. The children have other ideas, however, and their antics help bring Eleanor and Michael together. Interestingly, Wulfric also plays matchmaker and there is a lovely scene where he counsels Eleanor after she confesses her unhappiness with running a school: “Sometimes our dreams lead us in the wrong direction and it would be foolish to continue pursuing them out of sheer stubbornness or the fear of disappointing others. There are other dreams waiting to be dreamed — the right dreams, the ones that will lead to contentment.”If you haven’t visited Bedwyn World before, this novella probably will not appeal to you. Characters from almost all of the previous books are mentioned, along with the many children they have brought into the world. The plot is not particularly inventive. Indeed, it is very reminiscent of Ms. Balogh’s 1991 story The Best Christmas Ever (recently republished in Christmas Gifts). Young Georgette is a bit too eloquent for a ten-year-old and there is a jarring scene where Michael asks Eleanor whether she is a virgin when it’s clear that even if she is she won’t be for long. But for me, the romance was lovely, and visiting with Wulfric and Christine and rolling down that infamous hill with the rest of the Bedwyns was a joy.Purely by accident, Grace Burrowes’s story bears some resemblance to Mary Balogh’s. Both feature slightly older and quite independent heroines who fall in love with widowed fathers and in both stories, the children play pivotal roles in bringing the couple together. The respective fathers’ attitude toward their children is quite different, however. Michael Benning is devoted to his, and his prospective fiancee’s desire to send them away to school is his first clue that she may not be the one for him. I had the impression, however, that Ms. Burrowes’ hero, Elias, Duke of Sedgemere, did not dote on his three little boys in the same way. He loved them, of course, but did not quite know what to do with them and frequently found himself apologizing for their behavior when they were just being typical little boys.At first, Anne Faraday does not seem like the woman to bring this family together. She is the commoner daughter of an immensely wealthy banker, dedicated to taking care of her father. Although she moves among the ton, the ladies really do not like her and the men simply want to marry her money. Elias likes her, however, and when they are thrown together during the house party, he finds himself falling in love with her. She works magic with his little boys and teaches Elias how to let loose and enjoy their company. When they are caught in a compromising situation, however, she adamantly refuses to marry him, for she has a secret that she believes prohibits her from ever marrying. Elias figures out what it is, but this reader did not, and I can’t think of any other historical romance heroine with this particular secret.At times, it was hard to know whether Anne was falling in love or just in lust. I enjoy a little hotness in my historical romances, but I do think that the author got a bit carried away, what with Elias and Anne getting it on at every available moment and in places where they could easily be caught. I also found that the presence of the Duke of Hardcastle was superfluous to requirements. He is Elias’s best friend and determined to dodge the matchmaking mamas. Other than that, he doesn’t do much. There really wasn’t much time for Burrowes to write those long, heart-felt conversations between gentlemen that she is so good at. If, however, you have read her May I Have This Duke in the anthology Dancing in the Duke’s Arms, you already know that he is going to meet his match when Elias and Anne throw their own house party.Giving a rating to an anthology can be tricky unless the reader’s opinion of each story is exactly the same. In this case, I give the Balogh story five-plus stars and the Burrowes a four. If, like me, you consider these ladies to be two of the very best historical romance authors publishing today, I am confident that you will enjoy Once Upon a Dream.

ONCE UPON A DREAM consists of two separate and unconnected stories.ANOTHER DREAM by Mary Balogh is the story of Eleanor Thompson an independent woman of almost forty. On the way to visit her sister, the Duchess of Bewcastle, she is forced to seek shelter at an inn because of the weather. There she meets Michael Benning, Earl of Staunton and his two precocious children. These two mature adults find sweet platonic companionship with one another but never expect to meet again. When they do, at Eleanor's sister's home, they discover that Michael's children already have plans for Eleanor to be their new mother.This story was reserved and sweet. It is book 6.5 in the Bedwyn series and, for me, the best part was seeing all my favorite characters from that series again. The relationship between Eleanor and Michael was not complicated and they are rather reserved characters, but I enjoyed their romance because it wrapped up some lose ends from the series and I like that these more mature characters also get their happy ending. The children in this story are simply adorable as well.Rating: 4 stars.DUKE OF MY DREAMS by Grace Burrowes is the story of a banker's daughter Anne Faraday who ends up at a house party with Elias, Duke of Sedgemere. Sedgemere has been attracted to the prickly Anne but she has gently rebuffed him. She knows that she is not the match for the stoic duke. During the house party, however, with a duke determined to woo, three irrepressible children and one duck, Elias and Anne find that there is more to them than the duke and the banker's daughter. I really enjoyed this story especially as it kept a mystery why Anne was so determined to refuse Elias's completely proper proposals. Their relationship was sweet and gentle, but Anne is strong and loving. I love how she cracks the shell of Elias.The story is connected to "May I Have This Duke" in DANCING IN THE DUKE'S ARMS.Rating: 4 Stars

Two of my favorite authors! I thoroughly enjoyed these novellas of unexpected love. I liked both heroes and heroines, who are more mature than you find in most books, and fell in love with both heroes' children. The setting for both stories is a house party. I can easily recommend this book. Since these are novellas I won't give away too much as I don't like to spoil the story.In Mary Balogh's "Another Dream" Michael, Earl of Staunton and widower, and Eleanor meet while stranded at an inn due to a storm. Michael's daughter, Georgette (10), leaves her brother resting and has tea with Eleanor, who does not dismiss her constant questions but discusses them with her. She takes an immediate liking to Eleanor and decides she has found their new Mama. But Eleanor is gone the next morning. The children are disappointed until they reach the house party and find Eleanor there. A lot happens at the house party and you should read this to find out.In Grace Burrowes' "Duke of My Dreams" Elias, Duke of Sedgemere, agrees to attend the Veramoor house party, children welcome, at the request of his oldest, dearest friend Gerard, Duke of Hardcastle*. Miss Anne Faraday, a wealthy, single commoner is attending as her mother was friends with the Duchess of Veramoor. They have met in London but run into each other at The Duke's Arms inn when Anna is having trouble getting fresh horses for her coach. Elias's home is nearby and he arranges for her to use his horses for the rest of her trip. While waiting, they enjoy a meal and a kiss. Elias assumes she is going to her country home and is surprised to meet her at the house party. She's already met his 3 charming sons whom he considers hellions. One of the boys has brought his pet duck with him. The rest you should read as it's wonderful and fun.* If you have not read the anthology, "Dancing In the Duke's Arms", I recommend it. Hardcastle finds his HEA in that book.

Mary out does herself again so nice to meet all my old friends again and find out what has happened in there lives I can always know that Mary will hold you from the first chapter to the last I recommend this book for all romance lovers.ppl

A very pleasant set of novellas by two outstanding Regency authors. The characters in both stories held my attention and sympathy - not always easy when the authors have already given us so many interesting stories!

Mary Balogh is always a good read. She has the gift of keeping the story going, so that you wish to get to the end, then but are sad when you get there.

Excellent as usual this is a wonderful author every book she writes is a a super read

My two favourite authors in one book and two delightful stories.