Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Rêve éveillé

I was really enjoying the story for the first half and then it just... Lost the charm. It wasn't bad, but I was not excited about it anymore.

It felt like everyone was robbed of their personality for the second half (To be fair, they didn't have a lot of it to begin with) to favor a plot that wasn't that interesting or enjoyable. The jewel's thing went for too long for the unsatisfactory way it ended.

Judith could be easily replaced by a rock and not much would change, long gone was the girl that loved acting and daydreaming, or doing anything at all. I usually don't mind when the FMCs let the MMCs help them (It's actually refreshing sometimes) but in this instance, seeing her have 0 influence on how the conflict was resolved was annoying.

Rannulf was good, I liked him as the MMC well enough.

His family on the other side... This was the first book I read from the Bedwyn saga and when meeting the other Bedwyn's should have made me want to read their stories, they seemed bland and uninteresting. With the exception maybe of Wulf.

Mostly I ended what I originally thought would be a solid 4 starts with a feeling of "meh". I don't regret reading it, but I probably won't be re-reading anytime soon.

The only thing I actually disliked about the book was the author planting this things about Judith's family during all the book, just to have them be good and suportive at the end...

"Oh her parents made her feel like she was hideous and sinful all her life, constantly trying to hide her appearance and interests, but they were just doing it because they were worried about no one being good enough for her" Ugh.

"Her uncle is probably the most indifferent person in the whole world but he magically had a change of heart and now he cares (Feels guilty?) and offers his home for her to get married" Give me a break.

If you're going to spend 90% of the book talking about how awful they have been to her, maybe don't decide that for the last 10% they will become a happy loving family. It's the main thing I wish was different and that had me ending the book with a sour taste in my mouth

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devilbunny6's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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katdid's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I enjoyed this and unexpectedly it gave me Pride & Prejudice vibes although the plots are v different -- I think just because

there's a reference to Judith being a "gentleman's daughter" (as per Lizzie's confrontation with Lady Catherine) and also her rejection of Rannulf's marriage proposal although not for the same reasons as Lizzie refuses Darcy.

I liked the while situation with Judith being the poor relation and how excruciating the house party was for both her and Rannulf. And I kind of live for any time Bewcastle and/or the rest of the Bedwyns show up. Also I have to say it but Judith Law/Jude Law?

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juf's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense

4.0

It was so tense when Judith had to navigate such unsafe living arrangements all the time. But I loved other aspects of this intense love story. And in, what I am coming to understand as full Bedwyn style, the family came to the rescue at last. Always with style, funny Interactions, station and the extra mile.

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janaya's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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solacelight's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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whalesounds's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

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now_booking's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This series is just as amazing as I remember. Often when you binge a series, by the 3rd or 4th book, you begin to notice certain patterns that are repetitive and that can make things a little boring. Between the 2 prequel books and the 2 Bedwyn series books I’ve read, each one has been uniquely interesting and explored really meaningful themes that are as relevant today as they are in the context of the historical romance.

The premise of this book is that Rannulf meet Judith when he rescues her from an overturned coach and due to the weather, they spend a cosy couple of evenings together, thinking never to meet again, and for that reason giving each other false identities. Sparks fly but they separate once the weather gets better only to reunite unexpectedly when they separately reach their destinations and discover an unexpected connection that makes any potential relationship impossible, especially when scandal brews around Judith.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are written with such heart and compassion, especially Judith. The emotional abuse she went through with her parents and then her coming into her own with accepting her appearance. Yes it smacks a bit of the annoying “she so gorgeous but she doesn’t know it” trope but it’s done in a way that it is not oppressive and it is not about her lack of consciousness of her looks being one of her attractions. Like a lot of Mary Balogh’s books, class and classism are major themes, but equally important are themes of family, responsibility, the vulnerable position of women in society, gender equality and misogyny. I loved both characters but perhaps I would have changed the order of the resolution a bit so that the heroine’s acceptance doesn’t seem so… potentially bought, especially since to the reader she’s already admitted her feelings. I loved this and couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend.

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