What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Renwick #Spinoff
Two Turtledoves
Baldwyn Sinclair, the Duke of Paisley, returns to London in the dead of winter at the request of his over-bearing grandmother to find she has forged a betrothal contract on his behalf... without his knowledge. Now he is to be married to none other than the girl who used to throw mud at him in order to gain his attention. He is not happy about the prospect, but he is nothing if not devoted to duty. Anastasia Trent has been in love with the Duke of Paisley since she was seven years old and has spent her life pining for him, fantasizing about the moment they would see each other again. But when he makes it clear that her imaginings are in vain, her disappointment drives her into the arms of a dangerous man. It is up to Baldwyn to rescue her once again, to save her from herself, and to find perhaps, along the way, exactly what his own heart was searching for.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2012
25 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 14, 2012
I’ve recently read the fourth House Of Renwick novel by Rachel van Dyken, The Devil Duke Takes A Bride. I’ve loved every book in the series and I love the work that Rachel van Dyken does; so when I heard that her sometimes writing partner Leah Sanders had written a House Of Renwick novel herself, I was eager to see what it would be like.
The Devil Duke Takes A Bride followed the story of Benedict, Duke of Banbury, as his aunt forced a betrothal between him and a face from his past. Two Turtledoves runs in parallel to this, and follows Baldwyn, Benedict’s cousin and Duke of Paisley, as he faces the same dilemma. Their meddlesome aunt has matched them up with the two people they would least expect to marry; for Benedict that means a betrothal to the little girl who threw mud at him in her youth and caused him great embarrassment. He hasn’t seen Anastasia in several years and still imagines her as a little girl with pigtails, he dreads their first meeting and is resigned to a marriage where he’s not going to be as engaged as he could be; so when he is introduced to a beautiful young woman, his instant attraction to his future bride shocks him. However, he is duty-bound to her and tries to keep it at just that, leading to severe disappointment for Anastasia as she has been in love with the Duke since she was a child. Her disappointment leads her into danger, and it is up to the Duke to rescue her from the arms of an evil man, and maybe rescue himself along the way.
I really enjoyed the familiarity I felt when reading this novel; the characters were people I already knew thanks to having read The Devil Duke beforehand so it didn’t take me long to immerse myself in that world again. Aspects of the plot were also familiar, as Leah Sanders had referenced particular points from Rachel van Dyken‘s version of events to make it seem as if both books were happening at the same time. I also liked how this sense of familiarity was not overpowering (as it could have so easily been), because even though the characters and setting were the same, there was a nice balance struck in the style of writing. The style of writing was different enough to plausibly feel like a different point of view, but the history that Leah Sanders and Rachel van Dyken have of writing together meant that it was not so different that it felt like something completely unrelated to the original story.
Both Baldwyn and Anastasia’s characters were built upon nicely from the base that was given to them in The Devil Duke. Baldwyn was stubborn yet affectionate throughout, and his sense of uncertainty was carried through nicely. Anastasia was afforded more time to grow as a character (of the four, she was the least explored in The Devil Duke) and it paid off, as she was a great character. Her long-standing love of Baldwyn was well-written, as was her disappointment that her life didn’t seem to be panning out the way she expected, but she never gave up and stuck it out with a positive conclusion. It was nice that their story hadn’t been properly resolved in van Dyken‘s version of the story, as it left a little suspense and mystery for this story. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two flourish; as mentioned above, certain plot points were fixed but Sanders had plenty of room to give the characters in her novel just as strong a story as the ones in van Dyken‘s sister novel.
It’s not often you get two books that are so intertwined written by two different authors and I really liked the reading experience that came from reading them both so close together. Well done to both of the authors for handling the situation so well, and what a brilliant idea.
The Devil Duke Takes A Bride followed the story of Benedict, Duke of Banbury, as his aunt forced a betrothal between him and a face from his past. Two Turtledoves runs in parallel to this, and follows Baldwyn, Benedict’s cousin and Duke of Paisley, as he faces the same dilemma. Their meddlesome aunt has matched them up with the two people they would least expect to marry; for Benedict that means a betrothal to the little girl who threw mud at him in her youth and caused him great embarrassment. He hasn’t seen Anastasia in several years and still imagines her as a little girl with pigtails, he dreads their first meeting and is resigned to a marriage where he’s not going to be as engaged as he could be; so when he is introduced to a beautiful young woman, his instant attraction to his future bride shocks him. However, he is duty-bound to her and tries to keep it at just that, leading to severe disappointment for Anastasia as she has been in love with the Duke since she was a child. Her disappointment leads her into danger, and it is up to the Duke to rescue her from the arms of an evil man, and maybe rescue himself along the way.
I really enjoyed the familiarity I felt when reading this novel; the characters were people I already knew thanks to having read The Devil Duke beforehand so it didn’t take me long to immerse myself in that world again. Aspects of the plot were also familiar, as Leah Sanders had referenced particular points from Rachel van Dyken‘s version of events to make it seem as if both books were happening at the same time. I also liked how this sense of familiarity was not overpowering (as it could have so easily been), because even though the characters and setting were the same, there was a nice balance struck in the style of writing. The style of writing was different enough to plausibly feel like a different point of view, but the history that Leah Sanders and Rachel van Dyken have of writing together meant that it was not so different that it felt like something completely unrelated to the original story.
Both Baldwyn and Anastasia’s characters were built upon nicely from the base that was given to them in The Devil Duke. Baldwyn was stubborn yet affectionate throughout, and his sense of uncertainty was carried through nicely. Anastasia was afforded more time to grow as a character (of the four, she was the least explored in The Devil Duke) and it paid off, as she was a great character. Her long-standing love of Baldwyn was well-written, as was her disappointment that her life didn’t seem to be panning out the way she expected, but she never gave up and stuck it out with a positive conclusion. It was nice that their story hadn’t been properly resolved in van Dyken‘s version of the story, as it left a little suspense and mystery for this story. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two flourish; as mentioned above, certain plot points were fixed but Sanders had plenty of room to give the characters in her novel just as strong a story as the ones in van Dyken‘s sister novel.
It’s not often you get two books that are so intertwined written by two different authors and I really liked the reading experience that came from reading them both so close together. Well done to both of the authors for handling the situation so well, and what a brilliant idea.
November 1, 2012
3.5
I liked this one, it had a fun premise and likable characters. I also enjoyed the winter setting. I thought Anastasia and Baldwyn had nice chemistry, I do wish their relationship had a bit more depth though. By the end it still felt like there was more focus on physical attraction and not on their personalities or deeper characteristics. Overall, I thought it was a fun read and a good addition to the series. Oh, and I love the covers!
Content: Clean.
The House of Renwick Series
The Ugly Duckling Debutante
The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
An Unlikely Alliance
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
Two Turtledoves
The Devil Duke Takes a Bride
I liked this one, it had a fun premise and likable characters. I also enjoyed the winter setting. I thought Anastasia and Baldwyn had nice chemistry, I do wish their relationship had a bit more depth though. By the end it still felt like there was more focus on physical attraction and not on their personalities or deeper characteristics. Overall, I thought it was a fun read and a good addition to the series. Oh, and I love the covers!
Content: Clean.
The House of Renwick Series
The Ugly Duckling Debutante
The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
An Unlikely Alliance
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
Two Turtledoves
The Devil Duke Takes a Bride
October 28, 2012
I am a huge fan of Leah Sanders's books and this one did not disappoint. My favorite line was where she wanted to tear Katherine's hair out by handfuls and another scene where she wanted to scratch out her eyes. I enjoyed that Anastasia who had been in love with Baldwyn since she was a child was open about wanting the fairy tale. I thought it was funny that the servants were afraid of the dowager and that her dad was trying to get Anastasia and Baldwyn alone together. She and her dad had a great relationship. Truly it was a very enjoyable book. for the level of sex, violence, etc visit More Than a Review.
January 8, 2013
This story was quite the combination of Anastasia appearing to get exactly what she wants and Baldwyn seeming to be stuck with exactly what he doesn't want: a bride. Being a Duke Baldwyn knows he must do what has been asked of him and marry this girl even though his memory of her as a child is anything but pleasant. He finds himself taken aback when he discovers that she is far from being a child and has blossomed into quite a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately his remarks made to her before her identity was known to him caused Anastasia to be heartbroken since his words assured her that he has no desire to marry her. Upon the announcement of their engagement Baldwyn realizes what he has done but his apologies do little to repair the damage. Soon Anastasia finds herself being led to the garden by a Spaniard who has her engrossed in conversation. His unwelcome advances were put to a stop by Baldwyn who happened to be watching from the terrace. It will come as no surprise that this isn't the last time he has to save her from someone or something. As the story progresses you can't help but hope that Baldwyn's heart will soften and Anastasia will give him a chance and not let her emotions run wild getting her into trouble. This is a wonderful story and the way the author ties in the turtledoves is really beautiful!
I received this book free of charge from Astraea Press in exchange for my honest review.
I received this book free of charge from Astraea Press in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2012
Surprise! You are engaged! I am accustomed to female characters finding themselves in this situation but not male characters. And for the man to be hold the rank of Duke? Oh sure, there are plenty of stories out there with a reluctant groom or a trapped groom but this groom is different. I think that difference is why I enjoyed it so much.
For some reason I had not made the connection between Leah Sanders and Rachel Van Dyken working together on Waltzing with the Wallflower and this series. So when I finished The Devil Duke Takes a Bride by Rachel Van Dyken and took a look at the excerpts of other books from the publisher, I was confused. Why were the characters I was just reading about in another author’s book? Not only were they the same characters but it seemed to be the exact story that I wanted to read with Anastasia and Bladwyn! How could this be? Well, I am so glad that it was to be, because it was exactly to story I wanted to read. All my fears that “some other author” would mess up what I had imagined were laid to rest immediately. I enjoyed this much as the other House of Renwick books. I see that is also listed as The House of Renwick #4 just like The Devil Duke Takes a Bride. This is a smart way to list them as the two stories take place at the same time.
For some reason I had not made the connection between Leah Sanders and Rachel Van Dyken working together on Waltzing with the Wallflower and this series. So when I finished The Devil Duke Takes a Bride by Rachel Van Dyken and took a look at the excerpts of other books from the publisher, I was confused. Why were the characters I was just reading about in another author’s book? Not only were they the same characters but it seemed to be the exact story that I wanted to read with Anastasia and Bladwyn! How could this be? Well, I am so glad that it was to be, because it was exactly to story I wanted to read. All my fears that “some other author” would mess up what I had imagined were laid to rest immediately. I enjoyed this much as the other House of Renwick books. I see that is also listed as The House of Renwick #4 just like The Devil Duke Takes a Bride. This is a smart way to list them as the two stories take place at the same time.
October 8, 2013
This.was.awful. Clunky writing, way too much telling vs. showing, and two main characters who were absolute idiots. Bonus points for a ridiculous degree of 19th-century style slut shaming. The female character forgets to put her hair up and the male character is*thisclose* to losing it and attacking her on the spot, because her long, flowing hair is turning him on...god! Doesn't she know what it does to a man, seeing a woman being all immodest? And then there's the night when he's drunk and shows up at her bedroom door, demanding she help him find his room, and then gets all turned on and pissy because she's wearing a nighty and being all immodest, and god! Doesn't she know what that does to a man? Maybe he should show her...teach her a lesson...
I stopped reading at that point and returned it to the library. Maybe she stopped being a sniveling, immature whiner. Maybe he stopped embracing his inner caveman. Don't know, didn't care.
I stopped reading at that point and returned it to the library. Maybe she stopped being a sniveling, immature whiner. Maybe he stopped embracing his inner caveman. Don't know, didn't care.
January 16, 2013
At some points in the book I flat out just wanted to scream at the characters, especially the Lord in this book. I was so frustrated that he was to shy to tell Lady Anastasia about how he felt until it had to come to a could-have-been-fatal event. Then again, that's what well written books do to a person... I absolutely loved Agatha and her mischief in this one :)
January 12, 2013
Another great book in the House of Renwick series, Baldwyn Sinclair returns from Scotland at the instruction of his grandmother to find out that he has been betrothed to Lady Anastasia. This whole series is so full of romance and the trials one must go through to find that true love.
August 16, 2014
The characters in this story certainly have a lot of character. They have an animated quality that makes them larger than life.
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
November 6, 2012
Excellent book
April 16, 2013
Sanders is a great addition to Rachel Van Dyken's House of Renwick series. I so hope they continue writing this series together. Each has unique styles to their writing, yet mesh so well together.
March 3, 2020
Nice book but a little too mild for my tastes
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A sweet and slightly humorous holiday-themed romance, Two Turtledoves follows Baldwyn Sinclair, the Duke of Paisley, who is forced into a marriage contract with a woman from his past, Anastasia Trent. The story is filled with nostalgia and unrequited love, and it explores themes of duty and redemption. Though the romance is heartwarming, the plot can feel predictable at times. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, but the emotional stakes feel a bit low for the most part. It’s a pleasant, holiday-themed read for those seeking a light, romantic escape.
A sweet and slightly humorous holiday-themed romance, Two Turtledoves follows Baldwyn Sinclair, the Duke of Paisley, who is forced into a marriage contract with a woman from his past, Anastasia Trent. The story is filled with nostalgia and unrequited love, and it explores themes of duty and redemption. Though the romance is heartwarming, the plot can feel predictable at times. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, but the emotional stakes feel a bit low for the most part. It’s a pleasant, holiday-themed read for those seeking a light, romantic escape.
November 28, 2012
What a delightful story, and I don’t say that lightly. The reviewers who complain that Agatha, the dowager duchess, could not have forced her grandson into an arranged marriage against his will, in my opinion, have rather missed the point of the story. Of course she could not have forced him into the marriage, and I have no doubt author Leah Sanders is perfectly aware of that fact. Baldwyn accepted his grandmother’s machinations out of love for her; certainly Agatha made loving her into a duty…
No, the characters aren’t the deepest. The plotline is based upon the characters’ emotions, not upon successive events or some grand occasion, and it almost doesn’t matter where they are or what they’re doing; only their interactions carry the story. For what it’s designed to be, this is a sweet, engaging read with some laugh-out-loud lines, and I quite enjoyed it.
Look out, Devil Duke. Here I come.
No, the characters aren’t the deepest. The plotline is based upon the characters’ emotions, not upon successive events or some grand occasion, and it almost doesn’t matter where they are or what they’re doing; only their interactions carry the story. For what it’s designed to be, this is a sweet, engaging read with some laugh-out-loud lines, and I quite enjoyed it.
Look out, Devil Duke. Here I come.
January 30, 2013
This was a light and sweet romance. There are some good scenes and fun interactions, but I felt like perhaps I missed a previous book. There were good side characters that weren't really explained or introduced, which makes me think they were main characters previously, but left the story feeling a bit incomplete. The main characters interactions were fun, though it seemed more like a string of cute scenes strung together rather than a smooth plot line. It was interesting and syrupy sweet, which is great when you're in the mood for it. I just felt like it left me wishing for more.
www.cleanromancereviews.com
www.cleanromancereviews.com
November 8, 2012
I purchased the story as an ebook through barnes & noble. I really enjoyed the book, but it seems to have some major editing issues. At several spots, paragraphs or pages seem to be missing and the story jumps becoming confusing. Also there are teasers for other books at the end, but the book's cover picture is over the first couple of paragraphs. Overall a great story, but needs some editing/formatting adjustments.
March 15, 2013
First of all this is a beautiful cover. I enjoyed reading about the different characters in this series. A little SPOILER, I am happy that the girl get the guy that she was in love with for all those years. I will continue to read this series
January 1, 2013
Extremely blah characters in the h/h. Nothing admirable about either.
rom-historical
January 30, 2016For a star rating and complete review, visit Ind'tale Magazine online. June 2013 http://indtale.com/reviews/two-turtle...
May 17, 2013
It was just like all the others in story style.Guy tries not to fall for girl.Girl is in love but doesn't want to make a fool of herself.Girl doesn't trust rake type guy!Getting boring.
historical
January 7, 2019Baldwyn Sinclair, the Duke of Paisley, returns to London in the dead of winter at the request of his overbearing grandmother to find she has made a betrothal contract on his behalf... without his knowledge. Now he is to be married to none other than the girl who used to throw mud at him in order to gain his attention.
He is not happy about the prospect, but he is nothing if not devoted to duty.
Anastasia Trent has been in love with the Duke of Paisley since she was seven years old and has spent her life pining for him, fantasizing about the moment they would see each other again. But when he makes it clear that her imaginings are in vain, her disappointment drives her into the arms of a dangerous man.
It is up to Baldwyn to rescue her once again, to save her from herself, and to find perhaps, along the way, exactly what his own heart was looking for.
He is not happy about the prospect, but he is nothing if not devoted to duty.
Anastasia Trent has been in love with the Duke of Paisley since she was seven years old and has spent her life pining for him, fantasizing about the moment they would see each other again. But when he makes it clear that her imaginings are in vain, her disappointment drives her into the arms of a dangerous man.
It is up to Baldwyn to rescue her once again, to save her from herself, and to find perhaps, along the way, exactly what his own heart was looking for.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews