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Riches to Romance#1
Dreaming of Manderley
Going from old money to no money, the three Maxwell sisters' lives are about to change drastically. Now, one by one, each must blaze her own trail to happily-ever-after...
Manderley Maxwell has always been the dependable, hard-working one while her younger sisters live
A-list lives, courtesy of their family fortune... until it's suddenly lost, leaving behind a truckload of debt! Now Mandy is faced with two choices: play perpetual caretaker to her spoiled siblings, or finally break out of her predictable routine--by way of France...
When Mandy's boss relocates for the summer, Mandy is really just trading in coffee runs for running errands through the streets of Cannes--until handsome, debonair Girard Fortune Xavier de Maloret sweeps her off her feet--by saving her from falling off a cliff. Mandy's walking on air--except that she's living in the chic shadow of the first Madame de Maloret, complete with whispers about the suddenly secretive Xavier's part in herdisappearance.Again, Mandy has two choices: be the unfortunate, duped American--or the gutsy, fierce woman who'll track down the truth in the name of true love...
Manderley Maxwell has always been the dependable, hard-working one while her younger sisters live
A-list lives, courtesy of their family fortune... until it's suddenly lost, leaving behind a truckload of debt! Now Mandy is faced with two choices: play perpetual caretaker to her spoiled siblings, or finally break out of her predictable routine--by way of France...
When Mandy's boss relocates for the summer, Mandy is really just trading in coffee runs for running errands through the streets of Cannes--until handsome, debonair Girard Fortune Xavier de Maloret sweeps her off her feet--by saving her from falling off a cliff. Mandy's walking on air--except that she's living in the chic shadow of the first Madame de Maloret, complete with whispers about the suddenly secretive Xavier's part in herdisappearance.Again, Mandy has two choices: be the unfortunate, duped American--or the gutsy, fierce woman who'll track down the truth in the name of true love...
331 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 26, 2017
About the author
Leah Marie Brown
12books263followersI am an American writer with a penchant for Paris and all things pink!
Before writing novels, I worked as a print journalist for a Pulitzer prize winning newspaper and served in the United States Air Force as a Radio and Television Broadcaster.
An avid traveler, I have had adventures and mishaps from London to Tokyo, which I write about on my blog, On Life, Love & Accidental Adventures, and in my contemporary romantic series, The It Girls.
I was once a collector of truly useless bric-a-brac and cheesy tee-shirts. My cheesiest? A tee with a cartoon Jesus riding a surf board and the words, "And on the eighth day, Jesus went surfing in Greece."
Today, I prefer to gather friendships and memories as travel souvenirs.
I live in the shadow of Pike's Peak Mountain, near Colorado Springs, with my family and shamefully pampered poodles.
In my free time, I like to watch movies, read, and snap photographs. You can view my photography by clicking on the Adventures tab above or by following me on Instagram.
I love to hear from readers, so send me a note! Or connect with me on Pinterest, Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram!
Leah Marie
Before writing novels, I worked as a print journalist for a Pulitzer prize winning newspaper and served in the United States Air Force as a Radio and Television Broadcaster.
An avid traveler, I have had adventures and mishaps from London to Tokyo, which I write about on my blog, On Life, Love & Accidental Adventures, and in my contemporary romantic series, The It Girls.
I was once a collector of truly useless bric-a-brac and cheesy tee-shirts. My cheesiest? A tee with a cartoon Jesus riding a surf board and the words, "And on the eighth day, Jesus went surfing in Greece."
Today, I prefer to gather friendships and memories as travel souvenirs.
I live in the shadow of Pike's Peak Mountain, near Colorado Springs, with my family and shamefully pampered poodles.
In my free time, I like to watch movies, read, and snap photographs. You can view my photography by clicking on the Adventures tab above or by following me on Instagram.
I love to hear from readers, so send me a note! Or connect with me on Pinterest, Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram!
Leah Marie
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 22, 2018
I love Daphne Du Maurier's "Rebecca". I have read it and re-read it more than dozen times. I know some parts by heart. Also I saw the movie more than once. Actually "Rebecca" is my favorite book of all time. So I was a bit curious when I found that Leah Marie Brown's "Dreaming of Manderley" is based on "Rebecca". I start reading it with a great caution and hoping that it will be good as an original story. It would be a great disappointment for me if the story was bad. Luckily, Leah Marie Brown did a great job in reviving a story based on "Rebecca" and giving it a new fresh twist.
I was hooked from the first page partly due to my own curiosity, partly because the author writing is amazing. She manages to keep the story very intense both in the sense of the romance and mystery. The plot line is very similar to the one from Daphne’ Du Maurirer’s "Rebecca"; there are even few references to the movie Rebecca in the book. On the other hand the author inserted a few twists and turns of her own, so the story does not follow the original one to the letter, which is absolutely great.
Full review available at:Night Owl Reviews
I was hooked from the first page partly due to my own curiosity, partly because the author writing is amazing. She manages to keep the story very intense both in the sense of the romance and mystery. The plot line is very similar to the one from Daphne’ Du Maurirer’s "Rebecca"; there are even few references to the movie Rebecca in the book. On the other hand the author inserted a few twists and turns of her own, so the story does not follow the original one to the letter, which is absolutely great.
Full review available at:Night Owl Reviews
November 26, 2017
In the interests of full disclosure, I've never read Rebecca. I think I started it once, wasn't in the mood, and put it down about halfway through the first chapter. So, I went into DREAMING OF MANDERLY with no real idea what it was about. But I loved Leah Marie Brown's IT GIRLS series, so I was excited to read this.
The first thing I noticed is that the voice is very different from what I've come to expect from those books. I liked seeing Brown show her range. The book is a bit less fluffy than her other works - but I had enough of a vague inkling about Rebecca to expect that. It's still thoroughly enjoyable, with plenty of humor sprinkled throughout.
Mandy is a great heroine, Xavier is completely swoon-worthy, and I loved reading their story. Looking forward to see what happens to Mandy's sisters in the sequels.
The first thing I noticed is that the voice is very different from what I've come to expect from those books. I liked seeing Brown show her range. The book is a bit less fluffy than her other works - but I had enough of a vague inkling about Rebecca to expect that. It's still thoroughly enjoyable, with plenty of humor sprinkled throughout.
Mandy is a great heroine, Xavier is completely swoon-worthy, and I loved reading their story. Looking forward to see what happens to Mandy's sisters in the sequels.
November 5, 2017
Manderley Maxwell is the reliable and sensible sister. Her other two younger sisters are immature and not responsible. Manderley (Mandy) also works for her best friend Olivia. She is the dependable and hard working person that her sisters and best friend rely on. When Mandy travels to France with Olivia things begin to change. Mandy is swept off her feet by the handsome, sexy Frenchman Xavier. Xavier is something of a mystery. Mandy is unsure if she can put her trust in this sexy, seductive strange man. This book is well written and will leaving you yearning for more.
December 28, 2017
Thank you Kensington Books for providing me with an advance copy of DREAMING OF MANDERLEY BY LEAH MARIE BROWN in exchange for my honest review. Happy publication day yesterday to this book! This book could be described as a modern re-telling of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and fans of Rebecca will get a kick out of this book. Manderley (Mandy, for short) Maxwell is a sensible, self-described life preserver for her friends and two younger sisters, Tara and Emma Lee since her mother passed away many years ago. It's become even more true after the recent deaths of their father and aunt. She works for her best friend from college, Olivia, who is a screenwriter. They travel to France for the Cannes Film Festival where Manderley meets the mysterious, rich, dreamy Frenchman Xavier de Maloret (Maxim de Winter). Manderley loves everything about the 1930s and 1940s and there are plenty of references to literature, movies and actors from that time period. The first 3/4 of the book is pure contemporary chic lit and though I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, I was conflicted with the cover of the book until I read the last several chapters. The artwork seemed too dreamy and romantic to fit the Hollywood scenes, comedy and girl talk that comprised the beginning of the book.
I love the book Rebecca, so I thoroughly enjoyed the plugs and hidden references throughout the book. Dreaming of Manderley even opens with the line "Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhall again" which is a nod to du Maurier's opening line, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again". Brown intends to come out with two more books featuring Manderely's younger sisters so watch for those in the future!
I love the book Rebecca, so I thoroughly enjoyed the plugs and hidden references throughout the book. Dreaming of Manderley even opens with the line "Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhall again" which is a nod to du Maurier's opening line, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again". Brown intends to come out with two more books featuring Manderely's younger sisters so watch for those in the future!
January 3, 2018
A gorgeous escape! This is exactly what I dreamed would happen when I went to France, but I guess we can't all find our handsome rich hunks who will sweep us off our feet- huh? At least I can read and dream about it from the comfort of a blanket burrito instead.
December 13, 2017
Naughtiness 3 *
This enchanting book is the first I've read from Leah and most definitely will not be the last.
This a book has everything you can want in a modern romance, love, passion, a little Mystery and humour. I found it beautifully written and a delightful read.
As always I will not give spoilers however I will say that I very highly recommend this book, it's beautifully written and has you intrigued and hooked within a couple of pages. More than once chuckled at the humour, was very connected to our heroine as things unfold aswell as delighted by the end of this book.
Thank you Leah for writing this amazing book and offering the opportunity to read it 💕
This enchanting book is the first I've read from Leah and most definitely will not be the last.
This a book has everything you can want in a modern romance, love, passion, a little Mystery and humour. I found it beautifully written and a delightful read.
As always I will not give spoilers however I will say that I very highly recommend this book, it's beautifully written and has you intrigued and hooked within a couple of pages. More than once chuckled at the humour, was very connected to our heroine as things unfold aswell as delighted by the end of this book.
Thank you Leah for writing this amazing book and offering the opportunity to read it 💕
December 27, 2017
So good!
A modern spin on an old story, Dreaming of Manderley is the Rebecca I didn’t know I wanted to read. Once again author Leah Marie Brown gives readers a cast of characters they can route for and delivers a great romance in a fabulous setting. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
A modern spin on an old story, Dreaming of Manderley is the Rebecca I didn’t know I wanted to read. Once again author Leah Marie Brown gives readers a cast of characters they can route for and delivers a great romance in a fabulous setting. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
January 12, 2018
Review also found athttps://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/...
I had received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. While I read it before its publication date, my busy schedule is only allowing me to post my review now.
This is the first in a new series from Brown. Those familiar with her It Girls series will want to pick this up. It has the same quirky sense of humor that was found in her previous works. The same fish out of water leading lady, swoon worthy leading male and pop culture references (although thankfully slightly tones down).
A few minor things bothered me. I did get a little sick of hearing how many times Xavier's hand was on the small of her back, however it seemed to be a big deal for Manderley so I overlooked it. I also felt Manderly was a little step backwards for all womankind. I wont go in to detail, I will just say that a woman can have it all, a high power career and a loving man. There is no need to wish it is the forties.
Now that I got that out of the way, the story was just fun. This is something I have discovered with Brown's work so far. Her characters always tend to be a little bit of a train wreck that can make us appreciate that our lives are vastly different. I look forward to reading about the rest of Maxwell sisters because based on the little bit this book shares of them, they are way bigger train wrecks than Manderly could ever hope to be. It should be fun.
I had received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. While I read it before its publication date, my busy schedule is only allowing me to post my review now.
This is the first in a new series from Brown. Those familiar with her It Girls series will want to pick this up. It has the same quirky sense of humor that was found in her previous works. The same fish out of water leading lady, swoon worthy leading male and pop culture references (although thankfully slightly tones down).
A few minor things bothered me. I did get a little sick of hearing how many times Xavier's hand was on the small of her back, however it seemed to be a big deal for Manderley so I overlooked it. I also felt Manderly was a little step backwards for all womankind. I wont go in to detail, I will just say that a woman can have it all, a high power career and a loving man. There is no need to wish it is the forties.
Now that I got that out of the way, the story was just fun. This is something I have discovered with Brown's work so far. Her characters always tend to be a little bit of a train wreck that can make us appreciate that our lives are vastly different. I look forward to reading about the rest of Maxwell sisters because based on the little bit this book shares of them, they are way bigger train wrecks than Manderly could ever hope to be. It should be fun.
March 17, 2018
Ok, this book was a huge disappointment. I was so excited about a modern Rebecca retelling but this was awful.
The biggest hurdle for me was that the heroine (and author?) are anti-feminist. The heroine has conversations with her best friend about how she misses a time when women could be coddled and ordered around by men. At one point, she thinks to herself how it’s not feminist but she loves how controlling Xavier is. I hate when romance authors write lines like this. It makes me lose respect for them and their characters.
In Rebecca, our narrator/heroine had very few options for a happy life and so jumps at the chance to marry a handsome man, despite his mysterious past. Our heroine, Manderley, has many many options (well educated, writer, has money) and yet chooses to marry the angry controlling creep she has just met.
The descriptions of the beautiful settings of southern France were great. I loved the friendship between her and her best friend Olivia. I loved the clothing and food that was described.
She makes terrible choices. Xavier is completely creepy and untrustworthy. The first half of the book is clogged with references, making the dialogue horribly stilted. Worst of all, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier exists in this universe and is referred to often!! So how she doesn’t see parallels between her own life and the book are incomprehensible.
Basically, this is not a romance. It starts out like glam women’s fiction mixed with travel porn and then turns into a badly written horror halfway through. I do not recommend.
The biggest hurdle for me was that the heroine (and author?) are anti-feminist. The heroine has conversations with her best friend about how she misses a time when women could be coddled and ordered around by men. At one point, she thinks to herself how it’s not feminist but she loves how controlling Xavier is. I hate when romance authors write lines like this. It makes me lose respect for them and their characters.
In Rebecca, our narrator/heroine had very few options for a happy life and so jumps at the chance to marry a handsome man, despite his mysterious past. Our heroine, Manderley, has many many options (well educated, writer, has money) and yet chooses to marry the angry controlling creep she has just met.
The descriptions of the beautiful settings of southern France were great. I loved the friendship between her and her best friend Olivia. I loved the clothing and food that was described.
She makes terrible choices. Xavier is completely creepy and untrustworthy. The first half of the book is clogged with references, making the dialogue horribly stilted. Worst of all, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier exists in this universe and is referred to often!! So how she doesn’t see parallels between her own life and the book are incomprehensible.
Basically, this is not a romance. It starts out like glam women’s fiction mixed with travel porn and then turns into a badly written horror halfway through. I do not recommend.
October 23, 2017
Humor, heat, and a sexy Frenchman… Brown’s nod to Daphne du Maurier’s classic is a winner!
January 9, 2018
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2018/01/review-...
Favorite Quote
Talking to Siri:
“Search the web for Xavier de Maloret.”
“Here’s what I found for Xavier the Malaria.”
“Xavier de Maloret!”
“I’m sorry Olivia the Brilliant, I couldn’t find anything on the web for Savored the Mallory.”
“Xavier. De. Maloret!”
“Okay, here’s what I found for David and Valerie.”
Manderley (Mandy) Maxwell has always been the dependable one her father and siblings leaned upon. When an unfortunate accident claims their father’s life, they discover the estate is submerged in debt. Luckily, their mama left Mandy a sizable inheritance to help stave off the wolves. When sisters’ neediness gets a little overwhelming, Mandy decides to take a work-cation from her problems heads to the Cannes Festival with her best friend and boss. A chance of fate introduces Mandy to the mysterious Monsieur X. Monsieur X who we soon learn is Xavier de Malort, courts Mandy with a vengeance, convincing her she is the one for him. But there was a first Madame de Maloret and no one knows exactly what happened to her. Did she leave of her own free will? Or was it something more sinister? Mandy decides to find out what happened to the first wife…before something happens to her.
Dreaming of Manderley is Leah Marie Brown’s homage to Daphne du Marner’s Rebecca. A lightweight romance that amuses but does not contain the atmosphere or the weight one might expect.. A rather cute opening line… “Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhaal again, “introduces our heroine and left me curious to see how Brown would choose to frame this story. Set in the present, the story stays modern with a few character quirks that Brown tries to convince us are quaint when really they are just odd. The first couple of chapters lay the foundation, setting the romance in motion and alerting us to the faint similarities to Rebecca while Brown attempts to stamp her own personality on the story.
Mandy is the personal assistant to a famous screenwriter who’s also her best friend. She has two younger siblings whom she acts as pseudo-mother to. While walking the cliffs for privacy and almost falling, Mandy meets a handsome yet elusive Frenchman, Xavier de Maloret, who thinks she is suicidal and jumps to her rescue. As the weeks pass, Xavier and Mandy spend more time together with Xavier rescuing her from various emotional and physical calamities. She may feel his mercurial personality is a bit overpowering, but his debonair attitude and sweet kisses slowly win her over and they marry. He takes her to their new home, she meets his odd housekeeper, hears all the gossip over his first wife, and decides to discover the truth by facing her greatest fear, forcing Xavier to rescue her for the umpteenth time, rather than just asking him.
And that my lovelies, is the end. There s no grand reveal, no hidden agenda, no real meat to sink your teeth into. This is the Disney version of a classic. Pretty, shiny and scrubbed down.
Regardless of its cotton candy-like substance, the story has it’s moments with strong characterization, amusing narrative, and a sub-storyline that focuses on friendship and family. Mandy’s relationship with her bestie, Olivia, and her sisters, Tara and Emma, is overflowing with wit, charm, some pretty astute insights, and endless text messages.
“Why am I Honey Ryder? I would rather be Vesper Lynd. She was clever.”
“Vesper Lynd was cold. You are not cold, Manderley.”
“But Honey Ryder was merely boobs in a bikini.”
“Honey Ryder was MORE than boobs in a bikini. She was a beautiful, mysterious, sexually liberated woman!”
[…]
“Still…I’d rather be Vesper Lynd.”
“Fine! But you know she betrayed Bond and then died, prompting him to speak one of the cruelest lines ever uttered, ‘The bitch is dead.’”
Mandy is the poster girl for what romancelandia likes to call the Mary Sue. Low self-confidence, innocent, naive, clumsy with a slight stutter to boot. She is one who lives to serve others and its here we see just how ingrained that attitude is and why. When Mandy’s mother died, Mandy’s father made her the one they all turned to. She raised her sisters, took care of their father, and essentially set aside her life for theirs. Even now she plays mommy while taking care of Olivia. There is a rather sobering scene where Mandy gives her opinion on women, men, and society that is quite antiquated yet only furthers serves to show us how much she longs for someone to love and care for only her. I did like that none of these women were made villains of the piece in order to elicit sympathy for our heroine.
The romance moves pretty fast for how cautiously Mandy is written but again, she’s subconsciously looking for a savior and once she finds him, she’s not letting go. Xavier is the perfect match for Mandy but we really go to know him well. Brown writes him as the ultimate hero. Dashing, heroic, commanding, handsome, rich, and mysterious. He sees the real Mandy and lavishes her with the affection and attention she’s always wanted but never felt she deserved. Yet, it’s all very superficial. He is written to elevate the heroine. As the main protagonist, Mandy is far more developed and it shows.
Dreaming of Manderley promises more than is delivered but has potential. The adaptation of Rebecca, in my opinion, doesn’t work but the secondary characters and additional storylines help to keep the book from stuttering to an uninspired finish. There are two more sisters and I have a feeling their stories will also be modeled after a classic.
Grade: C
Favorite Quote
Talking to Siri:
“Search the web for Xavier de Maloret.”
“Here’s what I found for Xavier the Malaria.”
“Xavier de Maloret!”
“I’m sorry Olivia the Brilliant, I couldn’t find anything on the web for Savored the Mallory.”
“Xavier. De. Maloret!”
“Okay, here’s what I found for David and Valerie.”
Manderley (Mandy) Maxwell has always been the dependable one her father and siblings leaned upon. When an unfortunate accident claims their father’s life, they discover the estate is submerged in debt. Luckily, their mama left Mandy a sizable inheritance to help stave off the wolves. When sisters’ neediness gets a little overwhelming, Mandy decides to take a work-cation from her problems heads to the Cannes Festival with her best friend and boss. A chance of fate introduces Mandy to the mysterious Monsieur X. Monsieur X who we soon learn is Xavier de Malort, courts Mandy with a vengeance, convincing her she is the one for him. But there was a first Madame de Maloret and no one knows exactly what happened to her. Did she leave of her own free will? Or was it something more sinister? Mandy decides to find out what happened to the first wife…before something happens to her.
Dreaming of Manderley is Leah Marie Brown’s homage to Daphne du Marner’s Rebecca. A lightweight romance that amuses but does not contain the atmosphere or the weight one might expect.. A rather cute opening line… “Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhaal again, “introduces our heroine and left me curious to see how Brown would choose to frame this story. Set in the present, the story stays modern with a few character quirks that Brown tries to convince us are quaint when really they are just odd. The first couple of chapters lay the foundation, setting the romance in motion and alerting us to the faint similarities to Rebecca while Brown attempts to stamp her own personality on the story.
Mandy is the personal assistant to a famous screenwriter who’s also her best friend. She has two younger siblings whom she acts as pseudo-mother to. While walking the cliffs for privacy and almost falling, Mandy meets a handsome yet elusive Frenchman, Xavier de Maloret, who thinks she is suicidal and jumps to her rescue. As the weeks pass, Xavier and Mandy spend more time together with Xavier rescuing her from various emotional and physical calamities. She may feel his mercurial personality is a bit overpowering, but his debonair attitude and sweet kisses slowly win her over and they marry. He takes her to their new home, she meets his odd housekeeper, hears all the gossip over his first wife, and decides to discover the truth by facing her greatest fear, forcing Xavier to rescue her for the umpteenth time, rather than just asking him.
And that my lovelies, is the end. There s no grand reveal, no hidden agenda, no real meat to sink your teeth into. This is the Disney version of a classic. Pretty, shiny and scrubbed down.
Regardless of its cotton candy-like substance, the story has it’s moments with strong characterization, amusing narrative, and a sub-storyline that focuses on friendship and family. Mandy’s relationship with her bestie, Olivia, and her sisters, Tara and Emma, is overflowing with wit, charm, some pretty astute insights, and endless text messages.
“Why am I Honey Ryder? I would rather be Vesper Lynd. She was clever.”
“Vesper Lynd was cold. You are not cold, Manderley.”
“But Honey Ryder was merely boobs in a bikini.”
“Honey Ryder was MORE than boobs in a bikini. She was a beautiful, mysterious, sexually liberated woman!”
[…]
“Still…I’d rather be Vesper Lynd.”
“Fine! But you know she betrayed Bond and then died, prompting him to speak one of the cruelest lines ever uttered, ‘The bitch is dead.’”
Mandy is the poster girl for what romancelandia likes to call the Mary Sue. Low self-confidence, innocent, naive, clumsy with a slight stutter to boot. She is one who lives to serve others and its here we see just how ingrained that attitude is and why. When Mandy’s mother died, Mandy’s father made her the one they all turned to. She raised her sisters, took care of their father, and essentially set aside her life for theirs. Even now she plays mommy while taking care of Olivia. There is a rather sobering scene where Mandy gives her opinion on women, men, and society that is quite antiquated yet only furthers serves to show us how much she longs for someone to love and care for only her. I did like that none of these women were made villains of the piece in order to elicit sympathy for our heroine.
The romance moves pretty fast for how cautiously Mandy is written but again, she’s subconsciously looking for a savior and once she finds him, she’s not letting go. Xavier is the perfect match for Mandy but we really go to know him well. Brown writes him as the ultimate hero. Dashing, heroic, commanding, handsome, rich, and mysterious. He sees the real Mandy and lavishes her with the affection and attention she’s always wanted but never felt she deserved. Yet, it’s all very superficial. He is written to elevate the heroine. As the main protagonist, Mandy is far more developed and it shows.
Dreaming of Manderley promises more than is delivered but has potential. The adaptation of Rebecca, in my opinion, doesn’t work but the secondary characters and additional storylines help to keep the book from stuttering to an uninspired finish. There are two more sisters and I have a feeling their stories will also be modeled after a classic.
Grade: C
March 10, 2018
Loved this book! Seriously- where were guys like this when I was in my 20's and 30's? Leah Marie Brown has written her best book to date...Dreaming of Manderley. From Cannes to Lake Como, you can just picture the gorgeous Mediterranean and the pretty people who are there. Your heart races every time Xavier enters the scene....You feel a heat rash spreading every time Manderley feels uncomfortable...You picture yourself as Manderley and honestly feel that your true love is about to step up and save you from falling off that cliff!
February 12, 2018
Ms. Brown has crafted a love story that spans the test of time. Very well written and I'm excited to read the next book in the Maxwell series!
January 27, 2018
Bravo! What a joyous book! I love the way Leah Marie Brown writes. Her stories are infused with beautiful prose, joy-filled tales that make you giggle in delight or cry in empathy. Dreaming of Manderley, is just that.
Manderley Maxwell, a smart young woman, who is a quietly force in her own right, allows herself to be others' "life preserver"...many times in sacrifice of her own wants and desires. As an assistant to her best friend from college, Olivia, who has gone on to be a successful screenwriter, Manderley once again puts someone else's needs in front of her own. One night in the south of France, while visiting for the Cannes film Festival with her friend Olivia, Manderley finds herself perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, bemoaning her life at the time; her father has recently died, her younger sisters rely on her for all sorts of things not really needed. A handsome Frenchman finds her there and mistakenly believes she is considering taking her own life, pulling her away from the edge.
Xavier de Maloret, a shipping empire tycoon, is a romance reader's dream. Swarthy, handsome, French speaking, romantic whispering crooner, Xavier is the dream come true gentleman who begins to romance Manderley over the next few weeks of her extended vacation following the festival. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and Olivia's work calls them to leave the south of France unexpectedly. So, Xavier does what every romance reader would want. He proposes.
What follows is a tale of mistrust and rumors filled by the local townspeople in Xavier's hometown, abetted by best friend Olivia's wild imagination.
Brown writes such an intriguing tale of romance, friendship, love, anxiety and finally... a happily ever after. Her writings take the reader places with such authenticity, that one can swear they smell the jasmine blooms she describes. This is my first 5 star read of 2018. Buy it now! This is one swoon-worthy romance that makes me want to start it all over again from the beginning.
Manderley Maxwell, a smart young woman, who is a quietly force in her own right, allows herself to be others' "life preserver"...many times in sacrifice of her own wants and desires. As an assistant to her best friend from college, Olivia, who has gone on to be a successful screenwriter, Manderley once again puts someone else's needs in front of her own. One night in the south of France, while visiting for the Cannes film Festival with her friend Olivia, Manderley finds herself perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, bemoaning her life at the time; her father has recently died, her younger sisters rely on her for all sorts of things not really needed. A handsome Frenchman finds her there and mistakenly believes she is considering taking her own life, pulling her away from the edge.
Xavier de Maloret, a shipping empire tycoon, is a romance reader's dream. Swarthy, handsome, French speaking, romantic whispering crooner, Xavier is the dream come true gentleman who begins to romance Manderley over the next few weeks of her extended vacation following the festival. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and Olivia's work calls them to leave the south of France unexpectedly. So, Xavier does what every romance reader would want. He proposes.
What follows is a tale of mistrust and rumors filled by the local townspeople in Xavier's hometown, abetted by best friend Olivia's wild imagination.
Brown writes such an intriguing tale of romance, friendship, love, anxiety and finally... a happily ever after. Her writings take the reader places with such authenticity, that one can swear they smell the jasmine blooms she describes. This is my first 5 star read of 2018. Buy it now! This is one swoon-worthy romance that makes me want to start it all over again from the beginning.
February 5, 2018
4.5. I loved the romance, the banter, the sexiness, the mystery and I loved that it was all inspired by “Rebecca.”
March 10, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. Leah knows how to keep your attention and this is one of them too. Manderley has lost her parents and her sisters act like she is the one in control of their lives, expects her to do so many things for them she doesn’t have time to live her own life till Xavier comes along and then she gets to know what true love is. This is my very favorite book. There is more to book but I won’t spoil it all so be sure and get this great book.
December 25, 2017
4,5 stars
After Manderley and her two sisters are left in a difficult situation, they all have to find how to manage their life. Manderley is the oldest and the wisest, her younger sisters are relying on her,but now they have to grow up especially because Manderley is going to France for work with her best friend and boss. In Cannes Manderley is saved more than once by a charming local man Xavier. The two of them happen to stay at the same hotel and meet on several occasions by a fluke. Manderly and Xavier spend more and more time together and not long after their first meeting they decide to get married. Maderly couldn’t be happier, but there’s seems to be something off about Xavier and the disappearance of his first wife. Does she really know him? Did she make the right decision marrying him?
I really enjoyed the story about Manderly and Xavier. It was a sweet romantic tale with a bit of mystery. A well written story with great characters, the charming Xavier totally stole the show for me. The interaction between the sisters made me really curious about their stories. I had a great time reading it and can’t wait to continue with the series.
After Manderley and her two sisters are left in a difficult situation, they all have to find how to manage their life. Manderley is the oldest and the wisest, her younger sisters are relying on her,but now they have to grow up especially because Manderley is going to France for work with her best friend and boss. In Cannes Manderley is saved more than once by a charming local man Xavier. The two of them happen to stay at the same hotel and meet on several occasions by a fluke. Manderly and Xavier spend more and more time together and not long after their first meeting they decide to get married. Maderly couldn’t be happier, but there’s seems to be something off about Xavier and the disappearance of his first wife. Does she really know him? Did she make the right decision marrying him?
I really enjoyed the story about Manderly and Xavier. It was a sweet romantic tale with a bit of mystery. A well written story with great characters, the charming Xavier totally stole the show for me. The interaction between the sisters made me really curious about their stories. I had a great time reading it and can’t wait to continue with the series.
January 29, 2018
Fun. A wonderful homage to Du Maurier's Rebecca.
January 14, 2018
This was a good read and I enjoyed it a lot.
The setting is Cannes and american girl meets sexy falls french gentleman, who seems to be there when she needs a helping hand. Manderley is in Cannes with her best friend and boss for the summer.
Manderley is also the eldest sister and most dependable of her siblings.
Dealing with the loss of her father and aunt and a pile of debt, she sti;; has always beend there to help solve everyone's problems but her own life.
Xavier de Maloret is a sexy yet moody man, and sweeps Manderley off her feet, they elope after a month and they travel to his home.
The twist is Xavier has been married before but he doesn't explain what has happened to his 1st wife. you'll have to read it to see what happens next.
The setting is Cannes and american girl meets sexy falls french gentleman, who seems to be there when she needs a helping hand. Manderley is in Cannes with her best friend and boss for the summer.
Manderley is also the eldest sister and most dependable of her siblings.
Dealing with the loss of her father and aunt and a pile of debt, she sti;; has always beend there to help solve everyone's problems but her own life.
Xavier de Maloret is a sexy yet moody man, and sweeps Manderley off her feet, they elope after a month and they travel to his home.
The twist is Xavier has been married before but he doesn't explain what has happened to his 1st wife. you'll have to read it to see what happens next.
December 14, 2017
I chose this Amazon Vine ARC because of its connection to that grand classic REBECCA. Brown's modern story has easy-breezy writing that keeps the plot and romance moving along nicely and entertainingly, with a really swoony, ultra-wealthy, ultra-handsome French hero, and the plot is indeed inspired by Daphne duMaurier's 1938 classic gothic thriller but in a rather glib, glossy, shiny way. After all, Brown's book opens with the line "Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhaal again." That's a cute, ha-ha riff on duMaurier's rather pensive, plaintive "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."
In the original REBECCA, the heroine is a young, innocent, naive girl who, while serving as an older woman's companion in Monte Carlo, meets up with an older, handsome, brooding, suave, sophisticated, mysteriously closed-off rich widower, Maxim de Winter, who sweeps her off her feet, marries her, and takes her to his Cornish estate Manderley, where he proceeds to neglect her a bit and leave her to the devices of his creepy housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. There's a mystery here involving Maxim's first wife which must be sorted out in a very dramatic way.
This story is much less dramatic. Nothing and nobody is quite as mysterious or creepy or ominous as in the original. This one is a bit of a teenybop, bubblegum version and is entertaining enough for a younger reader but less so for someone as old as I am. There is a rather naive, innocent heroine here who is lacking assertiveness and self confidence or even much self esteem. She's an enabler to her two younger sisters, who depend on her for everything, even for making their own life decisions, especially since the recent death of their father has caused them economic problems due to daddy's debts and lack of financial planning.
Brown's heroine, named Manderley, is in Cannes accompanying her best friend and employer, a known Hollywood screenwriter, when she meets suave, sophisticated, swoony, gorgeous, rich, sometimes a bit brooding, take-charge-kind-of-guy Xavier de Maloret. He sweeps her off her feet and she finally agrees to marry him, all the while wondering what on earth he sees is her. Just like in REBECCA, he takes her to his estate, where Manderley meets his strange housekeeper and also discovers secrets in Xavier's life, including an ex who has mysteriously disappeared.
There it is. A cute, romantic take on REBECCA. It's less dramatic and haunting and ominous and spends more time in Cannes and much less time on the couple's married life at the estate and can be a fun way to pass a few hours. I admit to swooning a bit over Xavier. After all, he's handsome and rich and very nice (except when he has his little brooding, closed-off moments). What I didn't like as much was the heroine. She has an unassertive, somewhat passive personality similar to the young woman in the du Maurier book. That works okay in 1938 but no woman in 2017, at least one who is well educated, with a good job, interacting with people in the film industry, and always helping get her sisters out of fixes, should be so meek and lacking confidence as this Manderley is in her interactions with Xavier.
I suppose the author felt she needed to make Manderley's personality similar to the original heroine in REBECCA, but since much of the plot here varied from the original, this modern heroine could have been given a bit more self confidence. Manderley couldn't quite understand why Xavier had fallen in love with her, and, frankly, I couldn't either.
In the original REBECCA, the heroine is a young, innocent, naive girl who, while serving as an older woman's companion in Monte Carlo, meets up with an older, handsome, brooding, suave, sophisticated, mysteriously closed-off rich widower, Maxim de Winter, who sweeps her off her feet, marries her, and takes her to his Cornish estate Manderley, where he proceeds to neglect her a bit and leave her to the devices of his creepy housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. There's a mystery here involving Maxim's first wife which must be sorted out in a very dramatic way.
This story is much less dramatic. Nothing and nobody is quite as mysterious or creepy or ominous as in the original. This one is a bit of a teenybop, bubblegum version and is entertaining enough for a younger reader but less so for someone as old as I am. There is a rather naive, innocent heroine here who is lacking assertiveness and self confidence or even much self esteem. She's an enabler to her two younger sisters, who depend on her for everything, even for making their own life decisions, especially since the recent death of their father has caused them economic problems due to daddy's debts and lack of financial planning.
Brown's heroine, named Manderley, is in Cannes accompanying her best friend and employer, a known Hollywood screenwriter, when she meets suave, sophisticated, swoony, gorgeous, rich, sometimes a bit brooding, take-charge-kind-of-guy Xavier de Maloret. He sweeps her off her feet and she finally agrees to marry him, all the while wondering what on earth he sees is her. Just like in REBECCA, he takes her to his estate, where Manderley meets his strange housekeeper and also discovers secrets in Xavier's life, including an ex who has mysteriously disappeared.
There it is. A cute, romantic take on REBECCA. It's less dramatic and haunting and ominous and spends more time in Cannes and much less time on the couple's married life at the estate and can be a fun way to pass a few hours. I admit to swooning a bit over Xavier. After all, he's handsome and rich and very nice (except when he has his little brooding, closed-off moments). What I didn't like as much was the heroine. She has an unassertive, somewhat passive personality similar to the young woman in the du Maurier book. That works okay in 1938 but no woman in 2017, at least one who is well educated, with a good job, interacting with people in the film industry, and always helping get her sisters out of fixes, should be so meek and lacking confidence as this Manderley is in her interactions with Xavier.
I suppose the author felt she needed to make Manderley's personality similar to the original heroine in REBECCA, but since much of the plot here varied from the original, this modern heroine could have been given a bit more self confidence. Manderley couldn't quite understand why Xavier had fallen in love with her, and, frankly, I couldn't either.
April 17, 2018
2.5 stars
This Rebecca-inspired tale is worth a read. The last part has atmosphere and intrigue. But, for a suspense romance novel, it's a convenience store candy bar compared to a boutique handmade chocolate.
The mc is 100% Mary Sue. The hero is a cliched, "romantic," debonair rich man. Bold, funny Olivia, the heroine's best friend, and the peripheral but troublesome Tara and Emma, the heroine's sisters, all appear to be better bets for heroines, so I will read their tales when they come out.
The two mcs don't use contractions in their speech. It's jarring at first, but eventually, I stopped being distracted from the story's flow by it, and began feeling the intended(?) "otherworldly" effect to their private circle of two. As a storytelling tool, I can see it being effective, but it feels forced here.
Too much time is spent naming names. I don't care who's who in the world of "A-listers." And places. (Seriously, their relationship seems to be based on visiting fabulously expensive and exclusive locales.) And perfume brands. (Just use a freaking bar of soap, rinse off and be done with it, for god's sake.) And clothing brands. (When I buy clothes, I buy whatever catches my eye in the thrift store racks. I never look at the label.) It all feels very pretentious and superficial. And odd. One of the biggest influences for the hero's love is the heroine's lack of interest in luxuries and "stuff." Indeed, even the heroine herself proclaims her disinterest (many times). Why, then, spend so much time in her headspace, thinking about A-listers, expensive perfumes, exclusive locations and Dior handbags?
And the mystery, which, granted, is exciting in the last fifty pages, is excruciatingly forced, based on a ridiculous, wafer-thin reason for withholding information. Communication--basic communication--is all we're playing with here, folks.
Regardless of all the problems though, it is cheap and satisfying. *unwraps KitKat, snaps off a piece*
This Rebecca-inspired tale is worth a read. The last part has atmosphere and intrigue. But, for a suspense romance novel, it's a convenience store candy bar compared to a boutique handmade chocolate.
The mc is 100% Mary Sue. The hero is a cliched, "romantic," debonair rich man. Bold, funny Olivia, the heroine's best friend, and the peripheral but troublesome Tara and Emma, the heroine's sisters, all appear to be better bets for heroines, so I will read their tales when they come out.
The two mcs don't use contractions in their speech. It's jarring at first, but eventually, I stopped being distracted from the story's flow by it, and began feeling the intended(?) "otherworldly" effect to their private circle of two. As a storytelling tool, I can see it being effective, but it feels forced here.
Too much time is spent naming names. I don't care who's who in the world of "A-listers." And places. (Seriously, their relationship seems to be based on visiting fabulously expensive and exclusive locales.) And perfume brands. (Just use a freaking bar of soap, rinse off and be done with it, for god's sake.) And clothing brands. (When I buy clothes, I buy whatever catches my eye in the thrift store racks. I never look at the label.) It all feels very pretentious and superficial. And odd. One of the biggest influences for the hero's love is the heroine's lack of interest in luxuries and "stuff." Indeed, even the heroine herself proclaims her disinterest (many times). Why, then, spend so much time in her headspace, thinking about A-listers, expensive perfumes, exclusive locations and Dior handbags?
And the mystery, which, granted, is exciting in the last fifty pages, is excruciatingly forced, based on a ridiculous, wafer-thin reason for withholding information. Communication--basic communication--is all we're playing with here, folks.
Regardless of all the problems though, it is cheap and satisfying. *unwraps KitKat, snaps off a piece*
April 22, 2019
Such a fun take on a classic. From the opening line, "Last night I dreamt of Jake Gyllenhaal again," you know you're going to get a lot of fun allusion to Rebecca, but with a modern twist. And that's exactly what this is -- a super fun homage with its own spin. Just like in the original, Manderley (Mandy) finds herself in the south of France, working as an assistant, this time to a screenwriter who is garnering awards. She meets the posh and debonair Xavier while standing on the cliffs overlooking the sea, and as they're relationship develops from chance encounters to planned outings to dates and then finally begins to really blossom right as Mandy is supposed to leave France. During all this time, she's discovered that Xavier is rather perfect in every way -- not only because he is mega rich and movie star handsome -- but he's gracious and considerate and protective of her. All the things she's been missing since her father died. She knows she'd be a fool to let him go, but there's still so much she doesn't know about him. How crazy would it be to commit to something serious when there's so many questions about his past, especially about the ex whose name keeps cropping up?
This book would be fun whether or not you've read Rebecca, but there's an added layer for anyone who loves the Daphne du Maurier book, from trying to guess how different plots will echo to the names of sub characters. It took me halfway through the book to realize the friend Olivia's name is a play on Laurence Olivier. There are a lot of subtle little nods like that throughout that work like Easter eggs.
Apart from the parallels, there's a real solid romance here, and Xavier is dangerous and yummy, dark, mysterious, and adorable all at once. Leah Marie Brown does an excellent job of making you root for the eventual hook up while also keeping one eye narrowed with suspicion. Just what is that man up to? It all adds up to a book I read in one day because I just needed to read one more chapter.
This book would be fun whether or not you've read Rebecca, but there's an added layer for anyone who loves the Daphne du Maurier book, from trying to guess how different plots will echo to the names of sub characters. It took me halfway through the book to realize the friend Olivia's name is a play on Laurence Olivier. There are a lot of subtle little nods like that throughout that work like Easter eggs.
Apart from the parallels, there's a real solid romance here, and Xavier is dangerous and yummy, dark, mysterious, and adorable all at once. Leah Marie Brown does an excellent job of making you root for the eventual hook up while also keeping one eye narrowed with suspicion. Just what is that man up to? It all adds up to a book I read in one day because I just needed to read one more chapter.
December 13, 2017
A 2017 update to Rebecca, which arguably needs no update at all. That said, this is funny, and, if you let go and just enjoy it as a rom-com, it's pretty entertaining. Mandy is a nicely drawn character who you will find sympathetic- especially when she's dealing with those sisters! Xavier, the wealthy and mysterious man she meets in Cannes- well he's an interesting one. No spoilers but this is quite a bit lighter than DuMaurier (that's an understatement). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a quick, entertaining read.
April 26, 2018
January, 2018 Dreaming of Manderley arrives on my doorstep. Leah Marie Brown's rendition of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca drew me in immediately. A fresh restyling bringing the characters into this century. Brown IS funny and engaging. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in her A Riches to Romance series, You'll Always Have Tara, about her matchmaking sister, Tara's claim to her inheritance, Castle Tásúildun.
Manderley Maxwell has her hands full being the responsible older sister while her two younger, very spoiled sisters, Emma and Tara,lean on her for nearly everything. After Manderley's father and aunt perish prematurely leaving little behind but sweet memories and piling debt Manderley needs an escape. A trip to Cannes and a chance meeting with debonair, sexy Xavier captures the romantic, colorful essence of beautiful France as Manderley takes a leap of faith and trusts this sometimes overly machismo stranger with her heart. Will he be a dream maker or dream killer with his paternalistic tendencies and broody shifts in his mood? I read the book in one afternoon and must say I liked the story more and more after each page turned to the satisfying, left s smile on my face, ending.
Brown is a talented writer who pens some fearful, life is uncertain characters, that get caught up in the twists and turns of life and how to be growing, learning human beings, sometimes bursting with wit and joie-de-vivre but always willing to test the waters and be a bit adventurous. From Brown's bio I surmise she is well acquainted with travel in France and from her blog it's plain to see this is one stylish lady that lives life to the fullest, so I would guess each of her well-defined characters (even if a wee bit too label dropping, self-absorbed, appearing directionless at times to some readers that can't get caught up in the heat of hormones and romance) come from the heart of this author. Brown's writing is a voice to be heard and encouraged. I'm excited to watch as this writer blossoms and grows even more characters to love-hate, love-love, hate-hate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9omj4...
Manderley Maxwell has her hands full being the responsible older sister while her two younger, very spoiled sisters, Emma and Tara,lean on her for nearly everything. After Manderley's father and aunt perish prematurely leaving little behind but sweet memories and piling debt Manderley needs an escape. A trip to Cannes and a chance meeting with debonair, sexy Xavier captures the romantic, colorful essence of beautiful France as Manderley takes a leap of faith and trusts this sometimes overly machismo stranger with her heart. Will he be a dream maker or dream killer with his paternalistic tendencies and broody shifts in his mood? I read the book in one afternoon and must say I liked the story more and more after each page turned to the satisfying, left s smile on my face, ending.
Brown is a talented writer who pens some fearful, life is uncertain characters, that get caught up in the twists and turns of life and how to be growing, learning human beings, sometimes bursting with wit and joie-de-vivre but always willing to test the waters and be a bit adventurous. From Brown's bio I surmise she is well acquainted with travel in France and from her blog it's plain to see this is one stylish lady that lives life to the fullest, so I would guess each of her well-defined characters (even if a wee bit too label dropping, self-absorbed, appearing directionless at times to some readers that can't get caught up in the heat of hormones and romance) come from the heart of this author. Brown's writing is a voice to be heard and encouraged. I'm excited to watch as this writer blossoms and grows even more characters to love-hate, love-love, hate-hate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9omj4...
November 24, 2017
I’ve been a fan of Leah Marie Brown for a while and when I heard about her new Maxwell Sisters series, I was thrilled.
In the first book, DREAMING OF MANDERLEY, Brown channels her inner Daphne Du Maurier to tell the story of oldest sister Manderley “Mandy” Maxwell. And just like the classic du Maurier REBECCA, this book is chockablock full of romantic suspense, secrets, and sexy guy who just might be more than he seems.
But it’s not just one more retelling of a classic with a modern spin: It’s a book full of the trademark Leah Marie Brown sass, snark, pop culture references, comedy, and heart.
Mandy’s in Cannes with her bestie Olivia – a Hollywood screenwriter - when she’s robbed while walking along the pier. Enter the dashing hero Xavier. Tall, suave and French, Xavier flirts, Mandy responds, and the duo has an innocent little foreign fling. Mandy falls hard. HARD. So hard that when Xavier asks her to marry him after only knowing her a month, she agrees.
What does she really know about her new guy, though? And what about all those rumors circling around him? Is he a con artist? A murderer? A philanderer?
I hate spoilers so you’ll have to read this fab book to discover those answers, and I highly recommend read it, you should!
5 well deserved stars to another Leah Marie Brown gem.
I was graciously allowed to read an ARC from Kensington via Netgalley for an honest opinion of this work. My honest opinion? It’s well worth the read!
December 27, 2017
3 dark, mysterious and French stars for DREAMING OF MANDERLEY.
Manderley Maxwell grew up wealthy and privileged, but when her father died and left her and her sisters broke, Mandy moves to the South of France with her screenwriter BFF and takes a job as her assistant. Mandy is always the life preserver for other people, and she's mostly fine with that, until she meets a handsome Frenchman named Xavier who sweeps her off her feet and has her imagining herself in the place of her beloved 1940's movie stars.
Girard Fortune Xavier de Maloret is the CEO of a 200-year-old family shipping company, and everything about him is the stuff that dreams are made of. But Xavier has secrets, and Mandy will need to decide whether she's willing to live with them, or if her head in the clouds dreams will hurt when she falls back to earth.
I'm a huge fan of Ms. Brown's It Girls series due to the biting wit, sexy characters and sweeping setting. DREAMING OF MANDERLEY had the sweeping setting, and a little bit of the wit in the form of Mandy's BFF Olivia but the characters left me cold. Oh, for certain, they were well developed, but something about them didn't leave me inspired. This was a very well written book, and I'm sure that many people will fall in love with Mandy and Xavier and their exotic and fast-paced romance, but for me the darker tone was a little boring. The saving grace for me was the incredibly gorgeous descriptive settings that Ms. Brown has woven, making me feel as if I was exploring France alongside the lovers.
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; no condom use; no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; no violence/murder.
Manderley Maxwell grew up wealthy and privileged, but when her father died and left her and her sisters broke, Mandy moves to the South of France with her screenwriter BFF and takes a job as her assistant. Mandy is always the life preserver for other people, and she's mostly fine with that, until she meets a handsome Frenchman named Xavier who sweeps her off her feet and has her imagining herself in the place of her beloved 1940's movie stars.
Girard Fortune Xavier de Maloret is the CEO of a 200-year-old family shipping company, and everything about him is the stuff that dreams are made of. But Xavier has secrets, and Mandy will need to decide whether she's willing to live with them, or if her head in the clouds dreams will hurt when she falls back to earth.
I'm a huge fan of Ms. Brown's It Girls series due to the biting wit, sexy characters and sweeping setting. DREAMING OF MANDERLEY had the sweeping setting, and a little bit of the wit in the form of Mandy's BFF Olivia but the characters left me cold. Oh, for certain, they were well developed, but something about them didn't leave me inspired. This was a very well written book, and I'm sure that many people will fall in love with Mandy and Xavier and their exotic and fast-paced romance, but for me the darker tone was a little boring. The saving grace for me was the incredibly gorgeous descriptive settings that Ms. Brown has woven, making me feel as if I was exploring France alongside the lovers.
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; no condom use; no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; no violence/murder.
April 22, 2020
A contemporary re-telling of Rebecca except as a romance rather than a thriller. The result is pretty tepid. The hero is ooh-la-la handsome, mysterious, rich Frenchman, who doesn't have much of a personality beyond being ooh-la-la romantic. The heroine is worried about his ex-wife, but overall doesn't really do much.
Maybe it was the comparison to Rebecca that was the sticking point for me, because I kept waiting for things to get creepy/chilling, but they never really did. The big reveal was mostly just anti-climactic, only slightly spiced up by a jerk move by a minor character that never really went anywhere.
Frothy fantasy type billionaire romance. Not quite frothy enough to be a full-on delight, not quite angsty enough to be emotionally gripping, and the thriller aspect promised by the Rebecca parallels fell flat.
The writing wasn't bad, and I liked the BFF Olivia. manderley's sisters also seem interesting.
Maybe it was the comparison to Rebecca that was the sticking point for me, because I kept waiting for things to get creepy/chilling, but they never really did. The big reveal was mostly just anti-climactic, only slightly spiced up by a jerk move by a minor character that never really went anywhere.
Frothy fantasy type billionaire romance. Not quite frothy enough to be a full-on delight, not quite angsty enough to be emotionally gripping, and the thriller aspect promised by the Rebecca parallels fell flat.
The writing wasn't bad, and I liked the BFF Olivia. manderley's sisters also seem interesting.
January 29, 2018
Daphne Du Maurier is one of my ultimate all-time favorite authors so, naturally, when I saw a book titled "Dreaming of Manderley" I was instantly interested. I love that the author references Du Maurier throughout this book, especially in the first line which mirrors that of "Rebecca", the story this book is obviously modeled after. Despite the fact that there are some definite similarities, these stories are very different (in a good way). I don't think anything will replace "Rebecca" as my favorite book, but this one didn't disappoint. Unlike some authors who can take a story and twist it into something completely unrecognizable, this story took the suspense and love story qualities found in Du Maurier's work and used them in a way to retell the story for a whole new generation of readers.
May 23, 2018
First I would like to state that I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. I really enjoy the authors writing style, the author pulls you into the book from the very beginning and makes it so you don't want to put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading from cover to cover. This book was a very interesting read. The author kept you interested from the first chapter to the very last. It pulls you in quickly and keeps you hooked wanting to read and find out what is happening. I would recommend this to anyone. This was a very great book, one I'll be reading over and over. Loved it
April 22, 2019
This book was so good. Manderley and Xavier were great characters. I loved how their personalities were complete opposites but together they were a power couple. Their romance was so old fashioned, romantic, sexy yet sweet. Xavier, the ultimate dark and brooding character I always fall for. Manderley was such a likeable character, I identified myself with her in some situations.
After reading this, I want to visit Cannes and the Cote du Azur.
This was a kind of Rebecca retelling and even though I’ve yet to read the original tale, I enjoyed this story, however I would’ve like one or two more chapters because I felt the ending was rushed. Still, I could not stop reading once I started.
This book could really be movie.
After reading this, I want to visit Cannes and the Cote du Azur.
This was a kind of Rebecca retelling and even though I’ve yet to read the original tale, I enjoyed this story, however I would’ve like one or two more chapters because I felt the ending was rushed. Still, I could not stop reading once I started.
This book could really be movie.
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