The Earl and Countess of Banfield cordially request your attendance at the wedding for their daughter Lady Gwyn Hambly to Lord Locryn Pendarvis on the 20th day of June, 1812, at Castle Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall.DAZZLED AT THE WEDDING includes:Kate Pearce’s A Storm in a Teacup
When Hezekiah Makepeace, scholar, pragmatist, and poet visits Bocka Morrow for his old pupil’s wedding, he doesn’t … and poet visits Bocka Morrow for his old pupil’s wedding, he doesn’t expect to become embroiled in an ancient prophecy involving Malakia Clovelly the beautiful barmaid at the Mermaid’s Kiss. On the summer solstice when nothing is, as it seems, will Hezekiah find the courage to face his darkest fears, and find his own particular happy ever after?
Ava Stone’s Once Upon a Midsummer Dream
Garrett Hillyard, the widowed Duke of Markham, is in desperate need to tame his unruly daughters, especially when the pair hurls a stone and accidentally knocks a wedding guest in the head. After Miss Frances Dallimore regains consciousness, she finds herself with a giant welt on her face and missing the mystical pouch that was supposed to keep her safe from the ghosts of Castle Keyvnor. When the duke offers to help her find what she’s lost, is it possible that love was always just a stone’s throw away?
Nicole Locke’s Captured By Fate
Lieutenant Hugh Fenton wants nothing to do with Bocka Morrow. It’s a place full of nonsense and heartbreak. But when Fate forces his hand, what choice does he have. At least there will be a wedding to help him forget the reasons he avoided the village for so long. * Abigail Angove knows exactly when The Honourable Baron Fenton walks down Castle Street, and she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do: help this man who once believed in fairy tales, believe them once again. The only issue? There’s Fae conspiring against them.more
Another three Castle Keyvnor novellas filled with magic and mayhem.
A Storm in a Teacup by Kate Pearce – 2.5 stars – This is the story of Hezekiah God is My Strength, King of Judah Makepeace, former tutor to the groom Lord Locryn , a man with no family who is terrified of the sea and Malakia “Mally” Clovelly the beautiful tavern wench at the inn, who happens to be a water nymph and believes Hezekiah is her destined mate but how can he be since she can’t live without the sea and he hates it?? This novella confused me from page one – there is a prologue, but it doesn’t feature either character from the novella – then when the story starts, I felt like I should know things – things I had no way of knowing. I tried to fill in blanks, but I just felt lost. This novella is the steamiest of the three and if I had known more about Hezekiah’s past that I would have enjoyed it more.
Once Upon a Midsummer Dream by Ava Stone – 4 stars – This novella was a sweet story of Garrett Hillyard, Duke of Markham who lost his beloved wife and Miss Frances Dallimore, the woman who helps him move past his grief and find love again. Add in his sweet but hoydenish daughters, pixies, gypsies, and ghosts and you have a fun novella!
Captured by Fate by Nicole Locke – 3 stars – Lieutenant Lord Hugh Fenton, Baron Fenton has arrived in Bocka Morrow to attend his friend Lord Locryn’s wedding and to finally fulfill his uncle’s last wishes – years have passed since they had spoken and Hugh still hasn’t really forgiven his uncle for choosing the fae over him. He arrives at the cottage and is greeted by a woman who clearly believes Hugh should know who she is – he has no idea and can’t get in the cottage – vowing to return with an axe – he leaves – the next day he returns and the woman is there again – Abigail Angove was friends with Peter Fenton – Hugh’s uncle and has been waiting for months for him to arrive – she is also someone who helps people with problems with the fae – problems that have turned dark in the Fenton cottage! This was a nice story, but I didn’t really feel the romance and had a hard time believing they were in love.
This was a decent anthology – I love all three of these authors and have enjoyed their previous works and I liked this collection, but this book is not my favorite in the Castle Keyvnor series.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me*
Since there is no introduction at the beginning of the book, I imagined that Kate Pearce got together with two of her author friends, over drinks, and came up with the idea of haunted Castle Keyvnor and it’s fishing town, Bocka Morrow, full off magical creatures, pixies, brownies, ghosts, witches, mermaids and more, during the Regency Era. Each author’s highly entertaining story is slightly interconnected with the others. Delightful characters, amusing banter and an interesting setting make this as fun a book to read as I imagine the authors had in writing it.
I read an ARC from Bookfunnel.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall, where love gets a little help from the magical inhabitants of this wonderful little town.
You’re sure to be enchanted by the hijinks, the fun in the humor and the love that abounds!
Kate Pearce’s A Storm in a Teacup is a fantasy story of magical proportions. It was a fairytale romance with surprising little twists to hold your interest and capture your heart.
I enjoyed the characters so much and found their story intriguing. The dialogue was good with bits of humor throughout. I appreciated the fairytale element and have definitely found myself a new author.
Ava Stone’s Once Upon a Midsummer Dream has the ghosts and pixies at it again. This is a just charming love story of Frannie and Garrett and was an absolute joy to read.
I loved the characters, Frannie and Garrett, the children, and the Duke’s mother, they were all delightful and written so beautifully. The pixies and ghosts added to the charm wonderfully. This is a fun little story that touches your heart one when you sure don’t want to miss. I’ll be reading a lot more of Ava Stone from now on.
Nicole Locke’s Captured By Fate is another delightfully written magical tale of Garrett Hillyard, the widowed Duke of Markham, who has an aversion to magic he will soon get over with a little help from Abigail. I enjoyed this charming tale and again I’ve found another new author.
The characters were interesting, the dialogue good and the story sweet.
In all, this is a wonderful little collection of stories to begin a series. I for one enjoyed them all and I’m sure you will too if you’d like a little touch of magic. I also had the pleasure of finding new authors and I can’t wait to look into their other writings.
Thank you so much ladies for such wonderfully warm and magically delicious stories!
Three good stories with pixies, ghosts and brownies. I always enjoy Castle Keyvnor, the people and other creatures are so interesting. Castle Keyvnor is the place to fall in love. It is known to bring people together in unusual circumstances. Looking forward to more stories from there.
A Storm in a Teacup (2): I didn’t really like this one, it was extremely confusing for me. The hero was tutor to someone getting married but it seems in the story that the author is trying to portray him as younger? I didn’t like how they immediately jumped into having sex as well. There didn’t seem to be any chemistry, just sex.
Once Upon a Midsummer Dream (5): I really liked this one, it was an actual story! I loved how the heroine put the kids safety with ghosts above her own comfort. Garrett was attracted to her from first sight and quickly fell for her, the same for Frannie! Loved the ending!
Captured by Fate (3 1/2): This story was a toss up. I really liked the idea behind the story, but the heroine was extremely confusing throughout the whole story. I have no idea what she was trying to do at the beginning or what she really was. Her father was human but she didn’t know who/what her mother was, yet she claimed to be all human? But I did like Hugh.
Thank you for the gifted copy.
Dazzled at the Wedding is a cute collection of 3 short stories set at Castle Keyvnor in Bocka Morrow, Cornwall. I loved revisiting this setting and getting glimpses into the lives of past characters. This collection does stand perfectly fine on its own however. The addition of the magical creatures was great! Loved them!
This 3 Book Collection was a very enjoyable and entertaining read! Each book in this box set was well written with characters that were so well defined that I was totally captivated as each and every page was turned until the very end!
This is a delightful collection of three stories full of magic and love. All in all there are nine stories that take place in and around Castle Keynor for a summer wedding. This place is over run with magical creatures and the community lives mostly in harmony with them.
Kate Pearce’s A Storm in a Teacup is about Professor Hezekiah Makepeace who is attending his former student’s wedding. He teaches classical lit at Cambridge and writes books. He meets Malakia Clovenly a barmaid at the inn he’s staying at. She realizes quickly that he’s her prophesied mate as he’s the Hezekiah king of Judah that’s meant for her. Unfortunately he’s afraid of the sea and that’s a problem as she’s the Guardian Of The Bay. We find out why he fears the sea and in the end he overcomes his fear trying to save her.
Next up is Ava Stone’s Once Upon a Midsummer Dream. Widowed Duke of Markham, Garrett Hillyard has his hands full with two rambunctious young daughters who love to play with the pixies. Unfortunately they accidentally knock out Miss Frances Dallimore with a rock they threw. Miss Dallimore lost her pouch a local gypsy made her to protect her from seeing the castle’s ghosts. Garrett helps her find her lost pouch and Frances ends up helping his daughter’s with their sewing skills. Garrett soon discovers a woman who can heal his heart and love his daughters.
Nicole Locke’s Captured By Fate is the story of Lieutenant Hugh Fenton who’s a guest at the wedding who is also there to deal with the cottage his estranged uncle left him. He meets Abigail Angove at the cottage and the two of them try to find some way through the front door as brownies have locked everyone out. Abigail is gifted with being able to deal with magical creatures that have invested homes to make them habitable once again. Hugh must make peace with his aversion to magical creatures and heal from his aunt’s death that he blames on the brownies.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Guests at a wedding at Castle Keyvnor encounter mermaids, ghosts, gypsies, and brownies. 3 very entertaining stories. I received an ARC of this book.
This was a delightful collection of stories all centered around Castle Keyvnor and the village of Bocka Morrow. All three of the stories involved some magical being(s) and romance. They were all very sweet and fun with great characters. I’m really looking forward to reading more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
The residents of Bocka Morrow, Cornwall gather together at Castle Keyvnor for the nuptials of Lord Locryn. The village is much more than it seems as faeries, pixies and otherworldly creatures mingle with unsuspecting humans. Discovery and romance are intertwined as couples come together during the magical Summer Solstice. I enjoyed each book within the collection, my favourite being torm n eacup by Kate Pearce.
A little bit of fantasy and a whole lot of love. Each story is an enchanted read that pulls you away from real world worries and expands your imagination. I really enjoyed each of the stories but my favorite was by Ava Stone, her characters are just so loveable.
A Storm in a Teacup by Kate Pearce
I enjoyed this first story, although I thought it was a bit confusing. A tutor attending the wedding has an affair with a maid who has secrets. Overall, a good story. It does have a few steamy scenes. I would give this tale four stars.
Once Upon a Midsummer Dream by Ava Stone
I have never read a book by Stone, but I will put her on my list. I enjoyed this story. I usually don’t like children in romances; after all, I read to escape. But I enjoyed Stone’s development of her characters, and the children were adorable. My only qualm is that this tale needed editing. Five stars
Captured By Fate by Nicole Locke
I struggled through this tale. The heroine is trying to be confusing through the first part of the book, and she thoroughly confused me. It was ok. I would have to give this one a 3 star. I was gifted with a copy of these stories.
Dazzled at the Wedding is the First Book/Box Set in A Summer Wedding at Castle Keyvnor. This is a really great set that has three wonderful authors. If you have been looking or wanting to try some other authors this is a great set to start with. If you are like me these authors are some of my favorite so it was a much read set for me. This has three books that are novellas totaling 266 pages. Below is the list of books that you get in this box set:
Kate Pearce’s A Storm in a Teacup
Ava Stone’s Once Upon a Midsummer Dream
Nicole Locke’s Captured By Fate
ℤℤ ℍ ℕ
#1
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https://www.facebook.com/Kate-Pearces-Fan-Page-220636502580/
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https://www.facebook.com/NicoleLockeAuthor/ Release date 05/22/2020
Publisher Ava Stone
Global blurb :
The Earl and Countess of Banfield cordially request your attendance at the wedding for their daughter Lady Gwyn Hambly to Lord Locryn Pendarvis on the 20th day of June, 1812, at Castle Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall.
When Hezekiah Makepeace, scholar, pragmatist, and poet visits Bocka Morrow for his old pupil’s wedding, he doesn’t expect to become embroiled in an ancient prophecy involving Malakia Clovelly the beautiful barmaid at the Mermaid’s Kiss. On the summer solstice when nothing is, as it seems, will Hezekiah find the courage to face his darkest fears, and find his own particular happy ever after?
Will he be able to see past logic and appearance…
What a fun and enjoyable short tale, full of lively meddling creatures.
Hezekiah is a kind and nice man I would love to hug to cheer him. He is a lonely soul still looking for his right place. He never felt like he was part of something, he senses like he is always left out.
Malakia is an enigma, she belongs to the non-human world but still meddle with it. Like all the creatures living in Bocka Morrow, she has her own tasks, she happily follows until an old prophecy might be coming true.
It was humorous and entertaining to watch both dancing together, as Hezekiah has a long way ahead of him to overcome his fears and everything he had ever known.
A sensual story, 4 stars
Garrett Hillyard, the widowed Duke of Markham, is in desperate need to tame his unruly daughters, especially when the pair hurls a stone and accidentally knocks a wedding guest in the head. After Miss Frances Dallimore regains consciousness, she finds herself with a giant welt on her face and missing the mystical pouch that was supposed to keep her safe from the ghosts of Castle Keyvnor. When the duke offers to help her find what she’s lost, is it possible that love was always just a stone’s throw away?
Will he find in his heart room for a second chance at love …
This is my first read by Mrs Ava Stone, and what a sweet tale. One about two kind people get a new beginning together.
While it is a romance, this story is told from three points of view, Frannie, Garrett and Maddie, Garrett elder’s daughter.
Frannie is the invisible miss, the poor relative with no other asset than her beauty, but for a shy miss, it is no real talent, why she knows she must give a new direction to her life out of the marriage mart.
Garrett loved his late wife, thus he was very much indulgent about his daughters whom have lost as much as him. Until they arm even if involuntary someone else.
Maddie, a motherless Duke’s daughter, who feels the weight of loneliness without a mother to guid her.
Those three will be brought together by fate and some mischievous pixies and ghosts. Up to them to see past their first encounter’s circumstances and give their new acquaintance a chance for more.
A sweet story, 4.25 stars.
Lieutenant Hugh Fenton wants nothing to do with Bocka Morrow. It’s a place full of nonsense and heartbreak. But when Fate forces his hand, what choice does he have. At least there will be a wedding to help him forget the reasons he avoided the village for so long.
Abigail Angove knows exactly when The Honourable Baron Fenton walks down Castle Street, and she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do: help this man who once believed in fairy tales, believe them once again. The only issue? There’s Fae conspiring against them.
Will a bullheaded man accept to see past his grief …
At the beginning I was a bit confused at Abigail, she has all the answers but keeps being cryptic about her replies.
But as the same time, Hugh stubbornly refuses to acknowledge what he knows but denies.
In all, it is a fun tale of insta-love bathing in the magic of the world around them.
A sweet foray in the household magical creatures lore.
4.25 stars
I was granted an advance copy, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Dazzled at the Wedding
By Kate Pearce, Ava Stone & Nicole Locke
Dazzled by enough to fall in love, three couples meet their mates with ghosts, pixies, brownies, water sprites, mermaids, a god and perhaps others lurking, watching and perhaps prodding. This is an excellent addition to the previous books (six I believe) that take place on or near the Castle Keyvnor premises. In this collection the locale is Bocka Morrow, a village that is down the hill from the castle. All hree stories take place during the time of a scheduled wedding though the characters have little to do with the actual event.
What I liked:
* The magical beings
* Being reminded of previous stories in the series
* The strength of the women
* The delightful romances
* Each story had a flavor of its own with the common themes magic and romance
* Hezekiah & Malakia: So right for one another and that Hezekiah was so much MORE than he first seemed to be
* Garrett & Franny: Loved how Garrett was able to “see” Frannie and appreciate her. Also enjoyed Maddie, Lucy and the trip to the Gypsy camp
* Hugh & Abigail: Abigail had Hugh’s head spinning with her question for each of his questions. Loved the house as a thwarting device.
* The time that I was taken away from thoughts of covid-19
* Being reminded of how much I used to love fairy tales as a child.
What I didn’t like:
* Having the book end and wondering what would happen to the characters in the future.
Thank you to the authors for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Kate Pearce: A Storm in a Teacup – 3.5 stars
I can only say that this story was rather bizarre. It was interesting, and entertaining in its strangeness. The lead characters had this peculiar banter going on, while Mally’s sister was intense, slightly threatening, intimidating, and humorous all at once.
A very quick read with an ending I felt was left open to all types of possibilities. It was not a cliffhanger, but I could definitely see it being a HFN.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
***I will review the other books as I complete them.***
Three steamy fast-paced reads that take place during the wedding at Castle Keyvnor. Each read is fast-paced with great characters, loads of drama and suspense and plenty of steam. Three great authors one great collection. I loved it!
A fantastic collection of historical romances. One author I am very familiar with but I had the pleasure of discovering two new-to-me authors! I was not disappointed and I will be looking for their books in the future.
5 stars!!
This book takes us back to the land of Castle Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall. The area is filled with magical creatures and oh so fun. I really enjoyed the story; the characters are interesting and the pace keeps you reading into the night. I always enjoy these stories, and this did not disappoint. Can’t wait for the next installment.