Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
1.0
First in the De Piaget historical romance series and revolving around the De Piaget family (it's not yet paranormal). (It’s seventh in the combined De Piaget/MacLeod series.) The couple focus is on the landless Sir Rhys de Piaget and Gwen of Segrave.
My Take
Kurland uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we get a lot of perspectives from a wide range of characters.
Poor Gwen. She’s been spoiled by all those chansons d’amour her mother loved, which helps explain the strange start with her planning on theft and lying to running away, not having any idea how to ride — all a plan that goes nowhere. The whole story is something of a comic opera, what with the Fitzgeralds and Alain with Rollan as the truly evil villain and Rhys' grandfather holding back such secrets.
Alain is such a jerk with such a weird preference for cooks’ daughters — he is an idiot. And it’s both funny (and a relief) that cooks are so important. Rollan is much worse. You will not believe how deluded these two are! Wait’ll you read Rollan’s emotions towards the end, oy. As for that deus ex machina at the end, oh brother.
I do feel for Rhys. He loves Gwen and can never again have her, tortured by having to remain near her. Now Robin, oh yeah, after having read so many later stories in which he appears, yeah, you can easily see how this small lad’s personality is evident from the beginning, lololol. The twins now, they’re a right pain if loyal to Rhys.
Jeez, what I do hate about these historic romances is how beat down-upon women are. They have no rights at all! They can be handed out to whomever the man in power owes a favor. Why can’t a father set it up in advance as to who his daughter will be forced on? As for law, hah! It’s the law of whoever is the strongest or has the most money.
It’s sad that noble children are sent out to foster at seven. I much prefer Rhys’ argument for twelve being an age when “a lad truly appreciates the adventure”.
There certainly is a ton of ill-will in Another Chance to Dream, what with Alain's and Rollan’s hateful disdain and Geoffrey’s disgust toward Rhys. Then there’s the arson which points Rhys to the estate that will come down through the centuries.
The plot in Another Chance to Dream is full of plots by all sorts of characters. Evil. Good. Duplicitous from both ends and on both sides. The action is most definitely character-driven with Rhys seeming to be the only honest one.
I didn't like Another Chance to Dream, but a friend liked the stories, so I'll persevere. And, well, this story does set the basis for most of the future tales.
The Story
To have land, Sir Rhys will have to submit to the hideous will of Alain of Ayre, the man set to wed the woman Sir Rhys wants. And whom he's plotting to steal.
The Characters
1200, Ayre, England
Gwennelyn “Gwen” of Segrave will be forced to marry Alain of Ayre. Her mother, Joanna of Segrave, is still alive but was not invited to the wedding. Hugh of Leyburn is Gwen’s guardian. Robin is her newborn son, who will be followed by Amanda. Artane is an estate left to Gwen by her father and is on the border with Scotland.
Captain Sir Rhys de Piaget, Bertram’s foster son with a reputation for wenching, has always been landless and now he wants both Segrave and Gwen. His grandfather, Sir Jean, had been a knight of renown at the French court. His father, Sir Etienne, had been a knight and a healer, burned as a heretic for breathing life into someone twenty years ago. His mother is the abbess at a French convent. Wyckham is to be Rhys’ — once he reaches twenty-six after Alain weds Gwen and yet another penalty.
The argumentative Jared and Connor Fitzgerald are Viking twins, loyal to Rhys who much prefer to walk. They and Sir Montgomery of Wyeth will be part of Gwen’s personal guard.
Alain of Ayre is its rutting boar of a lord. The venomous Rollan is Alain’s younger brother; another brother, fourteen-year-old John, worships Rhys and is his squire. Bertram is their deceased father. Master Socrates is the keep’s healer. A girl-child with a touch, Socrates’ granddaughter, Berengaria, who cannot help Gwen or Rhys. Osbert is captain of Alain’s guard and hates Rhys.
The widowed Geoffrey of Fenwyck has some power, and Gwen hates him for what he did to her as a child. He had been a friend to Gwen’s father and still has a liking for her mother. Anne is Geoffrey’s daughter. Edlred is a messenger.
Canfield is . . .
. . . held by Rachel, a slut who has Alain’s attention . . . as well as others. Lord Edward of Graundyn is her brother, interested in her lands.
John, Richard the Lionhearted’s brother, a.k.a. Johnny Lackland, is the king of England. Phillip is the king of France. The Count d’Auber is but one of many from whom Rhys accepts ransoms. Nicholas is a bastard child by the blacksmith’s sister. Seakirk is an abbey near Artane. Patrick of Sedgwick is uncle to the kidnapped Mary, who would have been the true heir to Sedgwick when her father, Henry of Sedgwick, died.
François, Jean-Luc, and Pierre, who is the leader of their little group, are hired thugs.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white background with a thin tapestry-like border on the right with a pattern that reflects the rose trailing up the staff for Rhys’ swallowtail red banner with gold fleur-de-lis populating the background and a square Iberian shield with its reflective gold background and a thin orange border with a black lion pacing in the center. At the very top on the right is an info blurb in black. To the left is the author’s name in a deep purple script above the pennant. The title is in a scripted red below the banner. Below that is an info blurb in black.
The title is a such a relief to Rhys, for he and Gwen have Another Chance to Dream.
My Take
Kurland uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we get a lot of perspectives from a wide range of characters.
Poor Gwen. She’s been spoiled by all those chansons d’amour her mother loved, which helps explain the strange start with her planning on theft and lying to running away, not having any idea how to ride — all a plan that goes nowhere. The whole story is something of a comic opera, what with the Fitzgeralds and Alain with Rollan as the truly evil villain and Rhys' grandfather holding back such secrets.
Alain is such a jerk with such a weird preference for cooks’ daughters — he is an idiot. And it’s both funny (and a relief) that cooks are so important. Rollan is much worse. You will not believe how deluded these two are! Wait’ll you read Rollan’s emotions towards the end, oy. As for that deus ex machina at the end, oh brother.
I do feel for Rhys. He loves Gwen and can never again have her, tortured by having to remain near her. Now Robin, oh yeah, after having read so many later stories in which he appears, yeah, you can easily see how this small lad’s personality is evident from the beginning, lololol. The twins now, they’re a right pain if loyal to Rhys.
Jeez, what I do hate about these historic romances is how beat down-upon women are. They have no rights at all! They can be handed out to whomever the man in power owes a favor. Why can’t a father set it up in advance as to who his daughter will be forced on? As for law, hah! It’s the law of whoever is the strongest or has the most money.
It’s sad that noble children are sent out to foster at seven. I much prefer Rhys’ argument for twelve being an age when “a lad truly appreciates the adventure”.
There certainly is a ton of ill-will in Another Chance to Dream, what with Alain's and Rollan’s hateful disdain and Geoffrey’s disgust toward Rhys. Then there’s the arson which points Rhys to the estate that will come down through the centuries.
The plot in Another Chance to Dream is full of plots by all sorts of characters. Evil. Good. Duplicitous from both ends and on both sides. The action is most definitely character-driven with Rhys seeming to be the only honest one.
I didn't like Another Chance to Dream, but a friend liked the stories, so I'll persevere. And, well, this story does set the basis for most of the future tales.
The Story
To have land, Sir Rhys will have to submit to the hideous will of Alain of Ayre, the man set to wed the woman Sir Rhys wants. And whom he's plotting to steal.
The Characters
1200, Ayre, England
Gwennelyn “Gwen” of Segrave will be forced to marry Alain of Ayre. Her mother, Joanna of Segrave, is still alive but was not invited to the wedding. Hugh of Leyburn is Gwen’s guardian. Robin is her newborn son, who will be followed by Amanda. Artane is an estate left to Gwen by her father and is on the border with Scotland.
Captain Sir Rhys de Piaget, Bertram’s foster son with a reputation for wenching, has always been landless and now he wants both Segrave and Gwen. His grandfather, Sir Jean, had been a knight of renown at the French court. His father, Sir Etienne, had been a knight and a healer, burned as a heretic for breathing life into someone twenty years ago. His mother is the abbess at a French convent. Wyckham is to be Rhys’ — once he reaches twenty-six after Alain weds Gwen and yet another penalty.
The argumentative Jared and Connor Fitzgerald are Viking twins, loyal to Rhys who much prefer to walk. They and Sir Montgomery of Wyeth will be part of Gwen’s personal guard.
Alain of Ayre is its rutting boar of a lord. The venomous Rollan is Alain’s younger brother; another brother, fourteen-year-old John, worships Rhys and is his squire. Bertram is their deceased father. Master Socrates is the keep’s healer. A girl-child with a touch, Socrates’ granddaughter, Berengaria, who cannot help Gwen or Rhys. Osbert is captain of Alain’s guard and hates Rhys.
The widowed Geoffrey of Fenwyck has some power, and Gwen hates him for what he did to her as a child. He had been a friend to Gwen’s father and still has a liking for her mother. Anne is Geoffrey’s daughter. Edlred is a messenger.
Canfield is . . .
. . . held by Rachel, a slut who has Alain’s attention . . . as well as others. Lord Edward of Graundyn is her brother, interested in her lands.
John, Richard the Lionhearted’s brother, a.k.a. Johnny Lackland, is the king of England. Phillip is the king of France. The Count d’Auber is but one of many from whom Rhys accepts ransoms. Nicholas is a bastard child by the blacksmith’s sister. Seakirk is an abbey near Artane. Patrick of Sedgwick is uncle to the kidnapped Mary, who would have been the true heir to Sedgwick when her father, Henry of Sedgwick, died.
François, Jean-Luc, and Pierre, who is the leader of their little group, are hired thugs.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white background with a thin tapestry-like border on the right with a pattern that reflects the rose trailing up the staff for Rhys’ swallowtail red banner with gold fleur-de-lis populating the background and a square Iberian shield with its reflective gold background and a thin orange border with a black lion pacing in the center. At the very top on the right is an info blurb in black. To the left is the author’s name in a deep purple script above the pennant. The title is in a scripted red below the banner. Below that is an info blurb in black.
The title is a such a relief to Rhys, for he and Gwen have Another Chance to Dream.
miaev's review
5.0
For some reason, despite owning the book, I never read the book that started this series. Loved it.
hayleyde's review
DNF because I realised it wasn’t the kind of book I thought it was
hb2935's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sadie_rae's review
4.0
A whole lot to take in in this book. Rhys and Gwen meet when he is 14 (I think Gwen was 8 or 9), within moments of meeting Gwen had convinced Rhys to be her champion and 'avenge' her honor. A day after their first meeting Gwen is in love, Rhys is besot and then quickly left dis-heartened after overhearing her father say that he could never marry Gwen to a landless knight(with no title). Thus our story begins, Gwen and Rhys meet again about 6 years latter and after that meeting Rhys gathers his conviction and sets off to make his fortune with the intent of coming back in time before Gwen is married to another.
In another book you would read about the in between years and then Rhys fight to accomplish his goal to have Gwen as his own. This is not that book however. When Rhys does return he finds that Gwen is to marry much sooner than either had thought, and what's more his Foster Lord has died and he still owes another year or so of service to his son Alain, Gwen's Betrothed.
After everything is sorted out Gwen end's up married to Alain and Rhys must spend two years as the captain of her guard. Still very much in love but unable to do anything about it they make due with their lot's until Alain refuses to hand over the land that was promised to Rhys at the appropriate time. Another 3 years of separation ensues as Rhys spends his time making money and hiring mercenaries to fight for him and his land, during this time he wrights to Gwen every fortnight and she wrights back... maybe?
Enter Alain illegitimate brother Rollan who is after not only his brother Alains holdings but Gwen as well. Rollan is an interesting character, not a good man in the least but rather smart and cunning, or is it that everyone around him is stupid? Rollan has been working in the shadows for years trying to off his brother so that he can take over his holdings. Some how he manages to intercept the letters to Gwen from Rhys, and vice versa. Imagine how surprised Rhys is to not be welcomed back with open arm but rather a punch to his nose.
After all this you still end up with about a third of the book to go with many surprises and twist both before and after. I Love how devoted Gwen and Rhys are to each other, despite that their ever being together seems impossible they keep working towards it and never give up. I also really appreciate that while she was still married to Alain, Gwen and Rhys were never physically together. Also have to love that Rhys is a disappointment to his grandfather for not carrying on the family tradition, should you read this book I'm sure you'll get a kick out of what that tradition is!
3.5 stars in the end, looking forward to reading more in this series!
In another book you would read about the in between years and then Rhys fight to accomplish his goal to have Gwen as his own. This is not that book however. When Rhys does return he finds that Gwen is to marry much sooner than either had thought, and what's more his Foster Lord has died and he still owes another year or so of service to his son Alain, Gwen's Betrothed.
After everything is sorted out Gwen end's up married to Alain and Rhys must spend two years as the captain of her guard. Still very much in love but unable to do anything about it they make due with their lot's until Alain refuses to hand over the land that was promised to Rhys at the appropriate time. Another 3 years of separation ensues as Rhys spends his time making money and hiring mercenaries to fight for him and his land, during this time he wrights to Gwen every fortnight and she wrights back... maybe?
Enter Alain illegitimate brother Rollan who is after not only his brother Alains holdings but Gwen as well. Rollan is an interesting character, not a good man in the least but rather smart and cunning, or is it that everyone around him is stupid? Rollan has been working in the shadows for years trying to off his brother so that he can take over his holdings. Some how he manages to intercept the letters to Gwen from Rhys, and vice versa. Imagine how surprised Rhys is to not be welcomed back with open arm but rather a punch to his nose.
After all this you still end up with about a third of the book to go with many surprises and twist both before and after. I Love how devoted Gwen and Rhys are to each other, despite that their ever being together seems impossible they keep working towards it and never give up. I also really appreciate that while she was still married to Alain, Gwen and Rhys were never physically together. Also have to love that Rhys is a disappointment to his grandfather for not carrying on the family tradition, should you read this book I'm sure you'll get a kick out of what that tradition is!
3.5 stars in the end, looking forward to reading more in this series!
bleyz16's review
DNF....I'll refrain from rating as I'm only about 15% in. I found this too unexciting and dull to continue.
rayn0n's review
5.0
Extremely enjoyable - I'm not huge on romance, this was recommended to me by a friend, but I absolutely loved this one. I've been on something of a feudal era kick so this hit all the tropes that I was desperately craving. Delightful characters, a thrilling plot, plenty of hijinks and shenanigans.
lauriereadsrom1's review
4.0
Not my favorite of the de Piaget stories, but still pretty magical IMO. I love the lyricism of Kurland's writing!
valerielong's review
3.0
This is not one of my favorites as the villains in this one are often deliberately cruel and I just don't like that, but it's still well-written. And it was important to re-read it to understand some other things that are coming down the pike in ones I plan to re-read later.
More...