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Beyond the Dawn
She lifted her pursed mouth to his like a child. Good lord, he thought, she doesn't even know how to kiss a man. Yet, the moment her mouth touched his, he was lost in passionate thrall.
Who was this slight, young girl with fiery hair and deep green eyes? Why had she come to this disreputable dockside inn for an assignation with a stranger? And where, he raged when he awakened, where had she gone?
Captain Garth McNeil's night with Flavia, the Duchess of Tewksbury, would change his life forever. Now she carried the son she needed to save her life -- and a love so fierce it would shelter her through all the tumultuous tomorrows.
Who was this slight, young girl with fiery hair and deep green eyes? Why had she come to this disreputable dockside inn for an assignation with a stranger? And where, he raged when he awakened, where had she gone?
Captain Garth McNeil's night with Flavia, the Duchess of Tewksbury, would change his life forever. Now she carried the son she needed to save her life -- and a love so fierce it would shelter her through all the tumultuous tomorrows.
474 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
JoAnn Wendt
6 books6 followersJoAnn Wendt was born and raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At the tender age of 19, she married a young Air Force officer and immediately plunged into a life of constant travel. JoAnn, however, managed to stop along the many roads to earn both a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a master's degree from Wisconsin State University.
Her talented pen and diverse background led her into freelance writing, where she went on to win the Catherine L. O'Brien Award for outstanding achievement in women's interest newspaper reporting.
JoAnn's stint as a freelance writer stimulated her creative energy. The romantic plots she contemplated grew as her knowledge and love of history increased. The result: a blend of sizzling romance and historical intrigue that has made loyal fans of her four award-winning novels, BEYOND SURRENDER, BEYOND THE DAWN, THE GOLDEN DOVE and BEYOND THE SAVAGE SEA.
JoAnn lives with her husband in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe, where she is currently working on two novels: an historical romance, THE GOLDEN RAVEN, and an historical mystery, HANGMAN'S LULLABY.
In her spare time she enjoys yoga, tai chi and four delightful young grandchildren.
Her talented pen and diverse background led her into freelance writing, where she went on to win the Catherine L. O'Brien Award for outstanding achievement in women's interest newspaper reporting.
JoAnn's stint as a freelance writer stimulated her creative energy. The romantic plots she contemplated grew as her knowledge and love of history increased. The result: a blend of sizzling romance and historical intrigue that has made loyal fans of her four award-winning novels, BEYOND SURRENDER, BEYOND THE DAWN, THE GOLDEN DOVE and BEYOND THE SAVAGE SEA.
JoAnn lives with her husband in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe, where she is currently working on two novels: an historical romance, THE GOLDEN RAVEN, and an historical mystery, HANGMAN'S LULLABY.
In her spare time she enjoys yoga, tai chi and four delightful young grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2021
This is the first book I've read where I didn't see tons of reviews with lots of spoilers. I'm not very good at writing those but I'll do my best.
Only read this if you want to know the entire storyline though.
Alright, you've been fairly warned. 🤣
Flavia's husband, The Duke of Tukesberry, is behind the scenes awful. We see him acting cold and reprehensible-- we even hear about how he went to her with uncaring efficiency to get her with child, but all of this is in tell-don't-show style. Dukesberry has been married twice before to other young women but is clearly sterile. He blames the women, sends them packing and picks up a new child bride to bear Duke Jr. Obviously his new wife isn't cutting it, because she can't magically produce an heir and her time (as well as her mooching family's time) is growing short.
So Flavia is encouraged by her aged uncle to pose as a doxy and get herself with child. Her uncle chose their mark for his looks (because there were no other dark haired dudes who wanted a mystery prostitute I guess). And sends his innocent, terrified niece into a seedy dock side hotel to do the deed.
Garth sees Flavia and falls instantly in love with her. Then he gets her with child in one night, teaches her passion and bla bla bla (also in tell-don't-show fashion) before she runs off leaving him pining after his lost love.
Then the story gets messy, or at least, we're told by the author that it does, because she doesn't really show us anything aside from the fact that Flavia is some sorta magical siren creature whose pheromones must make men fall in instalove, (poor girl, what a hassle).
Flavia and Garth meet by chance at a Dukesberry party, they kiss and get caught. The Duke fakes her death and makes sure her hot chocolate is drugged so she can be shipped off to the America's.
The rest of the book is a recount of how everyone Flavia comes across has truly awful, horrific things happen to them. Some women are raped (we're told about it) and lose their families. They are all sold into abusive households and experience lives that would break a lesser character all while Flavia just kinda lives in a bubble. I mean she has to work but so does everyone. Nothing ever happens to her, it only happens to the people around her. And every guy within a hundred mile radius of Flavia wants to pay off her bonds woman debt and either marry her or set her up in the lap of luxury. But she says nope because.... GARTH. 🤤 Yeah, that guy she literally met twice, never talked to but is in deep, passionate love with.
Meanwhile, Garth is being pampered and undeservedly loved by Annette. Annette is actually a really strong, amazing woman who is there for him at every turn. He loves her even though he pretends not to because... FLAVIA. 🤤
A bunch of nonsense happens, I skimmed most of it. But Garth eventually figures out that Flavia's son Robert is his. He kidnaps the little boy and ends up (in typical old school novel style) harboring just about anyone who ever came across Flavia. But he still thinks she's dead so he continues to take Annette for granted.
Eventually (like in the last 20 pages and an epilog) he and Flavia reunite, still haven't spoken ten words to each other. Get married and live happily ever after. Which apparently includes him kissing Annette passionately goodbye. "Hey thanks for basically being my substitute wife, loving me and teaching me how to be less of a douche all so my instalove girlfriend can come back and reap all the benefits."
Poor Annette. Poor random "drab" pawn whose name I can't remember that Garth decided to be engaged to in order to have an alibi for when his son disappeared from Dukesberry hall.
Poor Mab who is the real hero of this story.
Poor baby boy whose name I can't remember who was hanged because he saved Flavia from the one time she was almost dishonored.
Seriously I found this entire book slow and disappointing. There was no action. There were so many side characters the book should have been about but wasn't. There were so many strong, unbreakable cast and crew along the way that were lucky if they were given a name.
I feel like the author had this world fleshed out in her head and decided she could only write about the richest most boring people leaving the rest of the people (who actually had character) forgotten.
*sigh*
That's all.
Only read this if you want to know the entire storyline though.
Alright, you've been fairly warned. 🤣
Flavia's husband, The Duke of Tukesberry, is behind the scenes awful. We see him acting cold and reprehensible-- we even hear about how he went to her with uncaring efficiency to get her with child, but all of this is in tell-don't-show style. Dukesberry has been married twice before to other young women but is clearly sterile. He blames the women, sends them packing and picks up a new child bride to bear Duke Jr. Obviously his new wife isn't cutting it, because she can't magically produce an heir and her time (as well as her mooching family's time) is growing short.
So Flavia is encouraged by her aged uncle to pose as a doxy and get herself with child. Her uncle chose their mark for his looks (because there were no other dark haired dudes who wanted a mystery prostitute I guess). And sends his innocent, terrified niece into a seedy dock side hotel to do the deed.
Garth sees Flavia and falls instantly in love with her. Then he gets her with child in one night, teaches her passion and bla bla bla (also in tell-don't-show fashion) before she runs off leaving him pining after his lost love.
Then the story gets messy, or at least, we're told by the author that it does, because she doesn't really show us anything aside from the fact that Flavia is some sorta magical siren creature whose pheromones must make men fall in instalove, (poor girl, what a hassle).
Flavia and Garth meet by chance at a Dukesberry party, they kiss and get caught. The Duke fakes her death and makes sure her hot chocolate is drugged so she can be shipped off to the America's.
The rest of the book is a recount of how everyone Flavia comes across has truly awful, horrific things happen to them. Some women are raped (we're told about it) and lose their families. They are all sold into abusive households and experience lives that would break a lesser character all while Flavia just kinda lives in a bubble. I mean she has to work but so does everyone. Nothing ever happens to her, it only happens to the people around her. And every guy within a hundred mile radius of Flavia wants to pay off her bonds woman debt and either marry her or set her up in the lap of luxury. But she says nope because.... GARTH. 🤤 Yeah, that guy she literally met twice, never talked to but is in deep, passionate love with.
Meanwhile, Garth is being pampered and undeservedly loved by Annette. Annette is actually a really strong, amazing woman who is there for him at every turn. He loves her even though he pretends not to because... FLAVIA. 🤤
A bunch of nonsense happens, I skimmed most of it. But Garth eventually figures out that Flavia's son Robert is his. He kidnaps the little boy and ends up (in typical old school novel style) harboring just about anyone who ever came across Flavia. But he still thinks she's dead so he continues to take Annette for granted.
Eventually (like in the last 20 pages and an epilog) he and Flavia reunite, still haven't spoken ten words to each other. Get married and live happily ever after. Which apparently includes him kissing Annette passionately goodbye. "Hey thanks for basically being my substitute wife, loving me and teaching me how to be less of a douche all so my instalove girlfriend can come back and reap all the benefits."
Poor Annette. Poor random "drab" pawn whose name I can't remember that Garth decided to be engaged to in order to have an alibi for when his son disappeared from Dukesberry hall.
Poor Mab who is the real hero of this story.
Poor baby boy whose name I can't remember who was hanged because he saved Flavia from the one time she was almost dishonored.
Seriously I found this entire book slow and disappointing. There was no action. There were so many side characters the book should have been about but wasn't. There were so many strong, unbreakable cast and crew along the way that were lucky if they were given a name.
I feel like the author had this world fleshed out in her head and decided she could only write about the richest most boring people leaving the rest of the people (who actually had character) forgotten.
*sigh*
That's all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2019
Dear Joanne Wendt. I'm writing one review on each of your books in hopes you'd read this. I have brought all your books. It was the 'Beyond The Savage Sea' that made me sceptical to further read your books but later (much later) I chanced upon another of your books, 'Beyond Surrender' and I fell in love with your plots and writing style. I finally finished reading your fourth (earlier) book, The Golden Dove and it was absolutely amazing. There's something about your books that are so addicting and it's saddening that there's no other instalments.
You must continue writing because you are brilliant at it! Please let Goodreads know if there's any other book a you'd be publishing.
From a fan. :)
You must continue writing because you are brilliant at it! Please let Goodreads know if there's any other book a you'd be publishing.
From a fan. :)
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