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Awaiting #1
Awaiting the Moon
The wait for a new take on werewolf romances is over.
It is said that werewolves roam the woods around Wolfram Castle--but Elizabeth Stanwycke, newly arrived tutor to the Count's niece, is not a child to be frightened by bedtime stories. Of more pressing concern is her attraction to the mysterious Count.
It is said that werewolves roam the woods around Wolfram Castle--but Elizabeth Stanwycke, newly arrived tutor to the Count's niece, is not a child to be frightened by bedtime stories. Of more pressing concern is her attraction to the mysterious Count.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Donna Lea Simpson
45 books114 followersDonna Lea Simpson is a nationally bestselling romance and mystery novelist with over twenty titles published in the last ten years. An early love for the novels of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie was a portent of things to come; Donna believes that a dash of mystery adds piquancy to a romantic tale, and a hint of romance adds humanity to a mystery story. Besides writing romance and mystery novels and reading the same, Donna has a long list of passions: cats and tea, cooking and vintage cookware, cross-stitching and watercolor painting among them. Karaoke offers her the chance to warble Dionne Warwick tunes, and nature is a constant source of comfort and inspiration. A long walk is her favorite exercise, and a fruity merlot is her drink of choice when the tea is all gone. Donna lives in Canada.
The best writing advice, Donna believes, comes from the letters of Jane Austen. The author wrote, in an October 26th, 1813 letter to her sister, Cassandra, “I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am.”
The best writing advice, Donna believes, comes from the letters of Jane Austen. The author wrote, in an October 26th, 1813 letter to her sister, Cassandra, “I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am.”
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 19, 2009
It took me forever to review this book, and I have no idea why. It was the sort of novel that grabbed me in the beginning and was impossible to put down - the richness of mystery, the fascination with potential werewolf legend, and the budding romance cost me precious hours of sleep. Sleep-deprivation be damned, this book was unique and stood above the rest in this sub-genre, demanding all the attention I happily gave it.
Things generally work better when done differently, and here it's with the heroine Elizabeth. She's the ideal woman I like reading about in these types of books. Certainly no doe-eyed, virginal beauty who sits by idly while crocheting by the fire, instead she's a woman with a flawed past, holding firmly to strong morals despite her tainted decisions. Too curious for her own good, she never heeds her own advice not to wander into situations she doesn't belong, and never finds it too low to easedrop. (A striking contrast to her role as a teacher of being a proper lady with manners.) Her sexual curiosity isn't nauseatingly naive, propelling the realism of the story forward.
As for the hero? Well, he's hysterical with his overbearing attitude and impatient anger. It's hard to find much humor in this sort of novel, so when a sudden burst erupts from the serious tone, you sit up and pay attention. He's the typical haunted, dark, grave sort that dominates the small village with financial wealth and family esteem. Nothing unique here, but his earnest for Elizabeth still makes great reading.
Of course if a book is enjoyed, it can't have been written terribly. In this case the words are weaved almost hypnotically, using a curiously different style. The phrasing is a bit formal compared to other books, and this may be a turn off for some who don't hold the high reading enthusiasm I do. Simpson's writing blends well with the serious, stark atmosphere haunting the castle, showcasing the old-world stiff English thoughts of the heroine.
Sexually speaking, there's plenty here without the garish porn-like trails some romance suffers from. Erotic scenes are done delicately without trash and melodrama, yet not with just scant details that leaves the reader frustrated rather than satisfied. While not overly steamy in sensuality, the build-up is fierce and the release fun.
As to the paranormal aspect, it's barely present despite the back cover blurb. Werewolves are mentioned briefly and not often. Instead the history of the legend is wrapped around a decently tight mystery, one I wasn't able to figure out. Emphasis was not on the furry, but on Elizabeth and Nikolas. Hard-core paranormal addicts may be slightly disappointed as a result, but I still urge them to give this one a try. Mystery buffs should be enthused, romance fans enthralled, and Gothic fans absolutely addicted. A nearly ingenious blend of all the above, incorporating the right touch of mysterious family, old crumbling castles, bizarre howls and even stranger legend.
I, for one, can't wait to read more of this author's work!
Things generally work better when done differently, and here it's with the heroine Elizabeth. She's the ideal woman I like reading about in these types of books. Certainly no doe-eyed, virginal beauty who sits by idly while crocheting by the fire, instead she's a woman with a flawed past, holding firmly to strong morals despite her tainted decisions. Too curious for her own good, she never heeds her own advice not to wander into situations she doesn't belong, and never finds it too low to easedrop. (A striking contrast to her role as a teacher of being a proper lady with manners.) Her sexual curiosity isn't nauseatingly naive, propelling the realism of the story forward.
As for the hero? Well, he's hysterical with his overbearing attitude and impatient anger. It's hard to find much humor in this sort of novel, so when a sudden burst erupts from the serious tone, you sit up and pay attention. He's the typical haunted, dark, grave sort that dominates the small village with financial wealth and family esteem. Nothing unique here, but his earnest for Elizabeth still makes great reading.
Of course if a book is enjoyed, it can't have been written terribly. In this case the words are weaved almost hypnotically, using a curiously different style. The phrasing is a bit formal compared to other books, and this may be a turn off for some who don't hold the high reading enthusiasm I do. Simpson's writing blends well with the serious, stark atmosphere haunting the castle, showcasing the old-world stiff English thoughts of the heroine.
Sexually speaking, there's plenty here without the garish porn-like trails some romance suffers from. Erotic scenes are done delicately without trash and melodrama, yet not with just scant details that leaves the reader frustrated rather than satisfied. While not overly steamy in sensuality, the build-up is fierce and the release fun.
As to the paranormal aspect, it's barely present despite the back cover blurb. Werewolves are mentioned briefly and not often. Instead the history of the legend is wrapped around a decently tight mystery, one I wasn't able to figure out. Emphasis was not on the furry, but on Elizabeth and Nikolas. Hard-core paranormal addicts may be slightly disappointed as a result, but I still urge them to give this one a try. Mystery buffs should be enthused, romance fans enthralled, and Gothic fans absolutely addicted. A nearly ingenious blend of all the above, incorporating the right touch of mysterious family, old crumbling castles, bizarre howls and even stranger legend.
I, for one, can't wait to read more of this author's work!
March 31, 2009
I'm a little torn on whether or not I like this book. I liked the overall storyline and I loved the two main characters but there were some things that bothered me.
The writing was a little bothersome, and there were long passages of description, especially in the beginning. The book had a definite gothic feel to it and it was pretty dark. Another issue was that it was hard to keep track of the characters because the names were similar and it was a tad bit confusing especially since the names were foreign.
Otherwise I enjoyed the story, and I put the next book in my TBR
The writing was a little bothersome, and there were long passages of description, especially in the beginning. The book had a definite gothic feel to it and it was pretty dark. Another issue was that it was hard to keep track of the characters because the names were similar and it was a tad bit confusing especially since the names were foreign.
Otherwise I enjoyed the story, and I put the next book in my TBR
October 12, 2012
High three and a half stars. This was an impulse add to the book I was buying at the time, and I was pleasantly surprised. The outline is pretty typical romance-y stuff: plucky new governess, dark and brooding head of the household, steamy times inevitably ensue. Bonuses here were the reasonably rich dysfunctional family drama, relative understatedness of the supernatural elements, and a fairly likeable heroine. The book had its flaws (like the way said heroine went kind of spineless whenever sexytimes came around), but overall I'm pleased enough to look for the next one in the series.
December 28, 2012
Awaiting n. 1. Sorprendentemente tenero ed avvincente, ed oltre le mie aspettative!
In una notte gelida e tenebrosa, tra nevi e boschi che sembrano usciti dalle cupe fiabe dei fratelli Grimm, una carrozza procede a fatica, portando con sè una giovane inglese, con uno scandaloso passato alle spalle e il cuore infranto, a far da istitutrice per una nobile e misteriosa famiglia tedesca.
Ma il maniero medievale, tra gallerie buie e passaggi segreti, nasconde intrighi e veleni familiari che si trascinano da decenni...
Semplicemente strepitoso il personaggio del conte Nikolas, con le sue paure la sua fierezza. Quasi una sorta di Cappuccetto Rosso molto gotico, come va di moda ultimamente, ma io impazzisco per le fiabe dove vince il lupo e non il cacciatore!!
Caldamente consigliato.
"Ti amo" pensò Elizabeth, ma non osò sussurrarlo.
"Ti amo" pensò lui, ma non osò crederci.
In una notte gelida e tenebrosa, tra nevi e boschi che sembrano usciti dalle cupe fiabe dei fratelli Grimm, una carrozza procede a fatica, portando con sè una giovane inglese, con uno scandaloso passato alle spalle e il cuore infranto, a far da istitutrice per una nobile e misteriosa famiglia tedesca.
Ma il maniero medievale, tra gallerie buie e passaggi segreti, nasconde intrighi e veleni familiari che si trascinano da decenni...
Semplicemente strepitoso il personaggio del conte Nikolas, con le sue paure la sua fierezza. Quasi una sorta di Cappuccetto Rosso molto gotico, come va di moda ultimamente, ma io impazzisco per le fiabe dove vince il lupo e non il cacciatore!!
Caldamente consigliato.
"Ti amo" pensò Elizabeth, ma non osò sussurrarlo.
"Ti amo" pensò lui, ma non osò crederci.
November 5, 2009
What a great read! I loved this book. For someone who's read so many paranormal romances she's lost count, this book was one of the most beautifully written, refreshing takes on the "werewolf romance" that I've ever encountered. Great romance, terrific mystery and gorgeous setting. I can't wait to read the second one!
2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!!
2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!!
August 12, 2025
With no prospects or family whom to rely on in her home country of England, Elizabeth embarks on a journey into Germany for a position teaching manners and pose to the niece of a Count. The journey is long and cold in the vast forests of the estate in the dead of winter and made terrifying when they encounter a naked woman running through the woods being chased by a cloaked figure on horseback. That is how her introduction to her new home began. Upon arrival, Elizabeth becomes familiar with chilly and emotionally damaged family whom she works for.
The Count, Nikolas, is a hard man who is not prone to warm interactions or patience. He rules over his family with a hard hand and some have ground to despise him for it though he seems to endure a great deal of Elizabeth’s independent and willful personality. She can’t help but insert herself into the secrets and the whispers of trauma and tragedy surrenders the family in her new home and there’s so much of it, she can hardly keep up. All she knows is that the Counts older brother and secret lover died in a fire, that the counts sister is mad and thinks she is a wolf who seeks out into the forest during nights of the full moon. Still, despite the constant reprimand about sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, Nikolas soon develops a deep attachment to the beautiful Englishwoman. She is kind and well-meaning though there are things that he can never allow to come to the light.
This is a gothic romance first then a PNR second. The paranormal aspect doesn’t come until the last bit of the book which vastly improved a novel, to that point, I considered slow and lackluster. The first chunk of the story was about establishing characters and there’s role in the small isolated family unit. In addition, it only managed to make Elizabeth as a character extremely unlikeable to me. She was far too nosy for my taste and for someone teaching a young girl about manners and ladylike behavior, she failed because she was headstrong and had a gossip mouth. For someone who no other hopes for employment or situation, I would be a bit more careful about what I did or said that could get me sacked. No, instead for some reason this only endeared her to Nikolas. And I can’t help but think that this is only because he is lonely- though he disputes this when asked.
The second half though, after Nikolas and Elizabeth begins their secret affair, sees a progression in the haunting and nerve wrecking atmosphere of the story. And what this book did really well was throw off my idea that I know what’s coming next and who the true villains/werewolves are. And I started to like Elizabeth more and more as she clearly loves Nikolas and his family and wants to protect them, even from themselves. I can’t justify a 4 star rating because of how disagreeable to first chunk of the book was but the ending definitely was great.
The Count, Nikolas, is a hard man who is not prone to warm interactions or patience. He rules over his family with a hard hand and some have ground to despise him for it though he seems to endure a great deal of Elizabeth’s independent and willful personality. She can’t help but insert herself into the secrets and the whispers of trauma and tragedy surrenders the family in her new home and there’s so much of it, she can hardly keep up. All she knows is that the Counts older brother and secret lover died in a fire, that the counts sister is mad and thinks she is a wolf who seeks out into the forest during nights of the full moon. Still, despite the constant reprimand about sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, Nikolas soon develops a deep attachment to the beautiful Englishwoman. She is kind and well-meaning though there are things that he can never allow to come to the light.
This is a gothic romance first then a PNR second. The paranormal aspect doesn’t come until the last bit of the book which vastly improved a novel, to that point, I considered slow and lackluster. The first chunk of the story was about establishing characters and there’s role in the small isolated family unit. In addition, it only managed to make Elizabeth as a character extremely unlikeable to me. She was far too nosy for my taste and for someone teaching a young girl about manners and ladylike behavior, she failed because she was headstrong and had a gossip mouth. For someone who no other hopes for employment or situation, I would be a bit more careful about what I did or said that could get me sacked. No, instead for some reason this only endeared her to Nikolas. And I can’t help but think that this is only because he is lonely- though he disputes this when asked.
The second half though, after Nikolas and Elizabeth begins their secret affair, sees a progression in the haunting and nerve wrecking atmosphere of the story. And what this book did really well was throw off my idea that I know what’s coming next and who the true villains/werewolves are. And I started to like Elizabeth more and more as she clearly loves Nikolas and his family and wants to protect them, even from themselves. I can’t justify a 4 star rating because of how disagreeable to first chunk of the book was but the ending definitely was great.
July 11, 2013
I love the book >:0 can't help it...
though it would be a heaven sent if i could buy another copy of this book.... T_T
though it would be a heaven sent if i could buy another copy of this book.... T_T
January 17, 2025
Elizabeth Stanwycke is leaving her home in England to work as a tutor in Germany. She will be staying at Wolfram Castle near the little town of Wolfbeck. She is employed by the very sexy Count Nikolas von Wolfram who lives with his kooky aunts and uncles. On her way to the castle Elizabeth's coach halts and she sees a naked girl being chased by a man on a black horse deep into the forest. To her dismay she tries to help but is stopped by the coach driver as it is not safe to go into the woods, there are wolves afoot, maybe even werewolves.
As with any gothic tale there are plenty of family secrets, a gypsy curse, and things going bump in the night. From the very beginning Elizabeth is strongly attracted to the very sexy Count Nikolas, and believe me he is very sexy indeed ! The attraction is mutual and very soon they are rolling around in bed together. The story then turns to a full blown Mills and Boon. Elizabeth should have known better than to fall for the count so quickly as she had only just left an awkward situation concerning a man. I think the expression is out of the frying pan into the fire. However if you take away the cheesy names and and most of the silly sex scenes the plot is not too bad. I acquired this book thinking it was going to be a gothic werewolf tale, not realizing it is actually a paranormal romance. I am just glad that I didn't keep this yarn for one of my Halloween reads.
As with any gothic tale there are plenty of family secrets, a gypsy curse, and things going bump in the night. From the very beginning Elizabeth is strongly attracted to the very sexy Count Nikolas, and believe me he is very sexy indeed ! The attraction is mutual and very soon they are rolling around in bed together. The story then turns to a full blown Mills and Boon. Elizabeth should have known better than to fall for the count so quickly as she had only just left an awkward situation concerning a man. I think the expression is out of the frying pan into the fire. However if you take away the cheesy names and and most of the silly sex scenes the plot is not too bad. I acquired this book thinking it was going to be a gothic werewolf tale, not realizing it is actually a paranormal romance. I am just glad that I didn't keep this yarn for one of my Halloween reads.
January 12, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐ : I really enjoyed it
° Third person limited perspective: switches between the two leads
° Trigger warnings: mentions of incest, mentions of pedophilia
° Other warnings: Sexually explicit
Lea Simpson builds such a world of tension and mystery that I found this book very hard to put down. Elizabeth is curious to a fault, but readers become so as well as we witness more and more of the Count's family. There is always more than meets the eye.
The chemistry between Elizabeth and the Count is present from the start, but the way their romance grew and flowered was interesting to witness, especially given it wasn't conventional and they both hold secrets.
Overall, more historical romance than fantasy, and a good amount of mystery tied into it all. My favorite aspect of the story was the setting, because it felt real and ambient and truly felt like we are stuck in the castle too.
° Third person limited perspective: switches between the two leads
° Trigger warnings: mentions of incest, mentions of pedophilia
° Other warnings: Sexually explicit
Lea Simpson builds such a world of tension and mystery that I found this book very hard to put down. Elizabeth is curious to a fault, but readers become so as well as we witness more and more of the Count's family. There is always more than meets the eye.
The chemistry between Elizabeth and the Count is present from the start, but the way their romance grew and flowered was interesting to witness, especially given it wasn't conventional and they both hold secrets.
Overall, more historical romance than fantasy, and a good amount of mystery tied into it all. My favorite aspect of the story was the setting, because it felt real and ambient and truly felt like we are stuck in the castle too.
July 22, 2020
Nella buia Germania....mi annoio ed incupisco da morire.
Grande fatica a portare avanti questo libro. Il mio interesse scende drasticamente mano a mano che si prosegue la lettura. Affaticamento mentale forse? Non penso ma questi licantropi o il fitto mistero che si annida tra ed attorno ad essi non riesce praticamente a far decollare al lettura.
Forse mezzo votino in più lo merita ma proprio non ha attrattive.
Grande fatica a portare avanti questo libro. Il mio interesse scende drasticamente mano a mano che si prosegue la lettura. Affaticamento mentale forse? Non penso ma questi licantropi o il fitto mistero che si annida tra ed attorno ad essi non riesce praticamente a far decollare al lettura.
Forse mezzo votino in più lo merita ma proprio non ha attrattive.
Read
April 5, 2025DNF @ 30%
I was hoping this book would be more... I came in expecting something gothic and something with werewolves, but I couldn't stay invested, reviews were hinting at werewolves not really playing much of a role, and I overall was so bored and was starting to dread reading this.
Just saving myself grief, getting better at DNF-ing books as a form of self care, and I'm putting this book away indefinitely.
I was hoping this book would be more... I came in expecting something gothic and something with werewolves, but I couldn't stay invested, reviews were hinting at werewolves not really playing much of a role, and I overall was so bored and was starting to dread reading this.
Just saving myself grief, getting better at DNF-ing books as a form of self care, and I'm putting this book away indefinitely.
November 1, 2019
ce l'ho in giro per casa da una settimana e quando questo accade qualcosa non va. è vero che ho avuto moltissimo lavoro da fare, ma evidentemente la trama non è stata sufficiente a trascinarmi nel vortice della lettura. donna lea, salutiamoci qui.
January 24, 2024
I liked it. Great build up. Getting the 2nd & 3rd asap!!
January 31, 2026
I read this years ago. In 2024, I tried to reread it, but that’s when I remembered it’s not really a paranormal gothic romance. The PNR part is minor and not very important. I moved it from my PNR shelf to my historical romance shelf.
Most of the story is about dysfunctional family drama, and there are many side characters with their own stories. The romance felt more like a subplot. ☹️
It’s clear my taste in books has changed. While I enjoyed it long ago, I’m no longer interested in it.
Most of the story is about dysfunctional family drama, and there are many side characters with their own stories. The romance felt more like a subplot. ☹️
It’s clear my taste in books has changed. While I enjoyed it long ago, I’m no longer interested in it.
July 9, 2009
this was a bit like a victorian gothic novel-a bit deep,
dark and long winded full of strange characters which I
did not get a strong feel for. The main characters seemed
to skirt around one another for ages and I did not feel any
particular intensity between them. I am not sorry I read
the book because it had something-maybe I should have
savoured it slower-it did not really engage me though.
dark and long winded full of strange characters which I
did not get a strong feel for. The main characters seemed
to skirt around one another for ages and I did not feel any
particular intensity between them. I am not sorry I read
the book because it had something-maybe I should have
savoured it slower-it did not really engage me though.
June 26, 2011
this was a completely random purchase while at a used book store. the overall story was good, but it was hard to like the standoffish hero.
Read
November 25, 2013Abbandonato e scambiato su comprovendolibri.it
July 27, 2015
Took some stamina to finally finish this one...
March 9, 2016
Pretty good romance set in the olden days in Europe.
November 27, 2016
A little too drawn out. Too much mystery and not enough romance.
September 9, 2016
I had entirely too much fun reading this book.
May 1, 2017
I couldn't put the book down. Just wanting to know what is going to happen and not being able to work out what will happen next. It is a really pleasure to read this book and been keep on the edge of my seat wondering it does happen very often but you have a very good insite how to keep readers on the edge alot lot thank you.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews