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Once Upon a Tower
Once Upon a Tower
Once Upon a Tower
Audiobook12 hours

Once Upon a Tower

Written by Eloisa James

Narrated by Susan Duerden

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Once upon a time…

A duke fell in love

Gowan Stoughton of Craigievar, Duke of Kinross, values order and self-control above all else. So when he meets a lady as serene as she is beautiful, he promptly asks for her hand in marriage.

With a lady

Edie—whose passionate temperament is the opposite of serene—had such a high fever at her own debut ball that she didn’t notice anyone, not even the notoriously elusive Duke of Kinross. When her father accepts his offer… she panics.

And when their marriage night isn’t all it could be, she pretends.

In a tower.

But Edie’s inability to hide her feelings makes pretending impossible, and when their marriage implodes, she retreats to a tower—locking Gowan out.

Now Gowan faces his greatest challenge.  Neither commands nor reason work with his spirited young bride. How can he convince her to give him the keys to the tower…

When she already has the keys to his heart?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateMay 28, 2013
ISBN9780062265173
Once Upon a Tower
Author

Eloisa James

Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

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Reviews for Once Upon a Tower

Rating: 3.6225805161290325 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

155 ratings21 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have read a few books from this author, and whenever I have, I usually have a fun time with her stories. The last one I read was the Ugly Duchess, which was one of my favorite historicals to read. So I have been so excited to read this, so when I received the ARC from Avon and Edelweiss I was thrilled. I haven't read all of the fairy tale series, but I have read a couple and LOVED it so far. I do enjoy a strong romance that is based on the Fairy Tales. It almost bring a magic into the story, and there is always a HEA right? I had heard some good reviews about Once Upon A Tower, so I knew I would like it. I was blown away by how much I just LOVED this one. Its probably my favorite of her books so far.Gowan and Edith first meet at a ball, where they don't talk much, but dance and it seems to be enough for them both. Gowan knows from the first moment he dances with Edith, that she is the one he would choose as his wife. As the Duke of Kinross, he has quite a bit of wealth, prestige and power. But he finds himself falling in love with Edith fast, and a intense desire seems to escalate between them both. Edith doesn't know much about her Fiancee, and she wonders what type of relationship they will have. Edith is a talented cello player, just like her father, but has yet to be made known to the public. Music is life to her, it is everything...until she meets Gowan who introduces her to a new passion and a love. When she married Gowan there is quite a bit that she learns about her self and her new husband. When she begins to doubt herself and the outcome of their relationship, she could very well destroy the one thing that she holds most dear.Gowan is a Scot, handsome, a sexy brogue and is more than enough of a male to appeal to any woman. I just adored Gowan, he is possessive yet protective, and he is very sensual despite being a virgin. He definitely had my heart rate up. Edith is the type of heroine, you can't help but admire. I love how strong she is inside and out. She is very musically talented, but there is much more to her than meets the eye. She makes some mistakes, but I found that a admirable, she seems human and easier to relate with. I loved how she stuck with things when it really gets rough. Such a lovely pair. At first they are so different from each other, but I enjoyed seeing these two interact and it was quite a ride with all the bumps and hills these two had to climb over to get their happy ending. There was quite a bit that I liked about this one. I do love a fun romance based on a fairy tale...this one being Repunzel. There is quite a bit of playfulness at times, a deep sense of sensuality and even though this couple hits some strong conflict, it only helps strengthen their connection to each other. It has been a little while since I have enjoyed such a book. Such a deep riveting tale that is filled with enriching characters and a plot to take you on a adventure and passion. One you don't want to ever miss out on!!! A FAVORITE!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book very much, but I did feel like the tower conceit was an aftermarket add-on -- like she had a great story, great characters and just couldn't figure out how to resolve it without an aritficial nod to fairy tale. It didn't hurt the story significantly, but I can't say that I think it really added to it either.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This story really seemed to focus on the 'struggle' aspect of their relationship. I don't need things to be all smooth sailing, there are definitely hurdles to relationships! But still, the concerns started pretty early in the story and didn't resolve until just before the end. So rather than basking in the flourishing of new love, I instead spent the majority of the time feeling a bit pained for them. I'm totally fine with portrayals of couples who don't hit the ground running their first time, it's a counterpoint to the the many other stories where they have a string of simultaneous orgasms until dawn. =D But I felt sort of cringey in empathy when it continued to be excruciating time after time. Eesh. And then of course emotional turmoil piled onto the physical, so it got worse long before it got better! On the plus side, I was engaged enough to *care* about their turmoil and not just tune it out. I think it was otherwise interesting and well written, (I doubt I'll forget it anytime soon...) but definitely also more stressful (in length rather than depth) than I prefer.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While in theory, I appreciate this book's laser focus on relationship negotiations, how to screw them up and how to fix them (perhaps it should be required reading for teenaged girls?), in practice I got tired of it and wanted some external plot.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Liked the OTP (although insta-love is getting annoying). For once, I thought a book in this series had a better opening that ending. The letter exchange between the OTP was fantastic, and I thought it set a great tone. However, that tone faded away in the midst of a lot of melodrama and bad sexual experiences. Sex was a huge theme in this book, which normally would be fun, but these scenarios really weren't fun. They were painful to read, and the resulting conflict felt really over the top. Real rating: 3.5
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Once Upon a Tower
    2 Stars

    Series note: None of the books in this series are connected and each can be read as a standalone.

    Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross, is handsome, wealthy and in search of a wife. Upon seeing Lady Edith Gilchrist at a ball, Gowan, completely smitten by her stunning beauty and quiet manner, decides to ask for her hand immediately. Little does he know that passionate and feisty Edie is nothing like she seems, and when the truth emerges, these two headstrong lovers find themselves in a battle of wills that may end in true love or in life-long disappointment …

    The book shows shards of brilliance every now and then, but the annoying keeping secrets trope and the unappealing secondary storylines overshadow the romance. Not one of Eloisa's better efforts.

    Despite an intriguing beginning, Gowan and Edie’s romance quickly falls flat as Edie’s extreme reactions to their physical intimacy puts a pall on the relationship. Instead of lying to Gowan, Edie should have been open and honest. All her lies succeed in doing is creating a ridiculous misunderstanding that gets blown completely out of proportion and undermines the entire book.

    James also has a tendency to focus on secondary characters with their own dilemmas and angst. These tales can be charming and add an extra layer of enjoyment to the story. However, that is not the case here as Edie’s stepmother and father are not that likable and it is difficult to care one way or the other about what happens to them.

    Another problem is that the Rapunzel element feels tacked on and adds little to the plot or characterization. It feels as if James added it so that this book could be included in her fairytale series.

    In sum, Eloisa’s Fairytales comes to an end with this installment. While the series has been fun overall with one or two jewels such as When Beauty Tamed the Beast and The Duke is Mine, some of the others, this one included, have been less than stellar.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    How refreshing to have a book where 1) the man is a virgin too and 2) the sex doesn't really work out as planned for a while.... real human concerns and interactions imbue this book with charm . While not as flashy or sexy as some, this book leaves a warm, comfortable feeling like a glass of brandy in front of the fireplace on a cold, blustery day....
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    2.7 stars
    I really love this authors retelling of fairytales, normally. This one missed the mark for me. I liked it, it was enjoyable but it lacked something that I found in the other books in the series. I never felt the characters drama, I just couldn't connect with them. He seemed to drift from one action to the next and I just didn't feel him and he was the one I wanted to like the most. I wanted more on him, what I got was a lot of business, a lot of responsibilities and blankness. The female lead was all music and just rubbed me wrong. I just didn't like her pure and constant need to talk music. The sex was painfully awful, the communication was not there. I could go on and on, but it just wasn't a great read for me. it wasn't the writing it was the characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross, falls in love with Lady Edith Gilchrist at her coming out ball and immediately proposes marriage. Edie accepts, even though she was ill at the ball and can’t quite remember Gowan. This is a weird book by romance standards, yes it follows many of the conventions of the romance novels, but in this book most of the obstacles are created by the couple themselves, through their inability to communicate and their rigid habits – Edie is passionate musician who has to practice at certain times and Gowan is a control freak who has to know everything about his estates. An enjoyable read nonetheless, although the Rapunzel elements of the story felt forced.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Gowan had fallen in love with Edie at first sight. Being a wealthy man who is used to getting what he wants, he went to her father the next day and offered for her. Her father said yes, and that was that. Edie had been running a fever during her ball and spent the evening and the next day in a fog. She consented to the marriage, trusting her father to choose well, but she can't even recall what Gowan looks like. Both of them consider themselves to be practical people and plan to treat their marriage the same way.I mostly liked Gowan. He knew it was time to marry, but wasn't sure how successful he'd be at finding a suitable wife. He's not impressed with most of the English women that he sees. He's taken with Edie right away, seeing the beautiful but quiet girl as the perfect match. He's later surprised to receive a letter from her informing him that she isn't really like the girl he met that night. When they actually get to spend some time together, his desire for her grows, and he thinks that they will be able to deal together well enough. Gowan had inherited his title when he was fourteen, and has spent the eight years since then working very hard to undo the damage that his father did. His parents weren't well suited and both were unfaithful, creating the kind of marriage that Gowan doesn't want. He has remained celibate, waiting for marriage, in reaction to his parents' relationship. I really liked his determination to have a great marriage. Unfortunately, he was so regimented in his life he didn't seem to have any ability to compromise. When he spends the days after his wedding conducting business in the carriage instead of spending time getting to know Edie I wanted to shake him. He couldn't be bothered to make time for her during his day. Once they were alone at night, all he could think about was bedding her. Because of his own inexperience, those activities were a living hell for her and he was totally oblivious. He is also jealous of the amount of time she spends on her music. When the truth comes out about her feelings, Gowan is devastated and says some really cruel things to her, before leaving to visit another property. Once his hurt and anger start to fade, he begins to realize it isn't all her fault. His love for her is still there and he has to figure out how to fix things. I liked the way that he finally went to her and actually talked and listened to what she said in return. Edie is a talented musician. Her father had encouraged her music, to the point of neglecting everything else that she should have been learning. After her engagement, I really enjoyed the letter that she wrote to Gowan. She wants to make sure that he understands her needs. She considers herself to be very practical. Her father and stepmother have a very tumultuous marriage and she finds herself acting as peacemaker very often. She doesn't want that kind of drama in her own life. When she gets a chance to actually spend time with Gowan, she is quite happy with him. She discovers he has a sense of humor and they have some very interesting conversations. She is also attracted to him, which makes her think that the physical side of marriage will be good also. Unfortunately, their wedding night does not go well, and thanks to some bad advice from her stepmother, she makes some terrible decisions. She is also frustrated by the way that he pays no attention to her during the day, preferring to work constantly. What she doesn't seem to see is that she is very much the same way when it comes to her music. She shuts him out, along with everyone else, when she is playing. I thought it was incredibly selfish of her to not want to participate in the running of the house at all. She expected everyone to cater to her when it came to her music. I was glad that she felt bad about her treatment of Gowan, but felt like she really needed to take more responsibility for her part in their problems. Gowan and Edie were affected by the things they had seen in their parents' marriages. Both of them had to move past those fears and create their own reality. Gowan's fear of being like is father sent him too far in the other direction. He was so completely unconscious of how controlling he was over every detail of his life that watching him see it through Edie's eyes was great. Both of them had a fear of failure that had contributed to their marital problems. Neither wanted to admit to the other that everything wasn't a great as they were pretending. I loved the tower scene where they were finally able to be honest with each other and get their marriage going the way they wanted it.The secondary characters of Layla and Edie's father were great at showing what not to do. I could never quite understand why Edie was always taking Layla's advice when it was obvious that what she was doing in her own marriage wasn't working. Edie's dad also didn't do her any favors when he encouraged her total absorption in her music. He was being selfish in his own way because he didn't want to lose his music partner. He also needed to look at his own attitude toward his wife and see that his actions were feeding hers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sweeping and utterly romantic. This is a reminder of just how fantastic a romance writer Eloisa James is.Gowan is a force of nature. Young, brilliant, commanding and swift. He gets what he wants by demolishing barriers and relentless pursuit. Edie is powerless to his attentions and falls hard for the Duke. Gowan is deeply effected by her. He is completely distracted, pent up and delirious with desire for Edie. She swiftly becomes his everything. His future, his focus, his reason to breathe.I loved reading his perspective. He's super sharp when it comes to most things but with Edie, he keeps missing the mark so to speak. They both are learning each other. It's innocent and fun and his passionate attentions are highly commendable and enviable.When he climbs that tower after coming to his senses, it is so fabulous. He has to get to her. He risks everything to win her back. It's wonderful. He never stops, even into the epilogue- which made me misty-eyed. Gowan is a serious heart-thumping keeper.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I usually really enjoy Eloisa James's books, but while this wasn't horrible, it wasn't as fun as her books usually are. The plot point keeping the two apart (they were both virgins and the first time wasn't magical) dragged on for quite a while. Especially considering the heroine made such a big deal about communication and avoiding drama before her marriage and then couldn't follow through after. However, as usual, Eloisa James creates very compelling side plots that keep you reading.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This one made me kind of mad. Gowan was not the only one in the wrong. I hate that he was made into an ogre when Edie shouldn't have deceived him. She should have had to make compromises as well. Annoying.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Who knew that being so sick that you feared to talk could land you a duke? Certainly not Edie, especially when the pale, quiet girl she was during her own debut ball, was about as far from the truth as one could get! But determined to make the best of her marriage, she decided to lay out her expectations, and what better way to do that than a letter? What she didn’t expect was the scandalous letter she received in return! When Gowan and Edie finally marry, they must learn how to live with one another, how to compromise, and most importantly, how to trust. Enjoy the comical and enchanting tale of Edie and Gowan in Eloisa James’ latest installment in her Fairy Tale Series!This book did not disappoint! It had everything you have come to expect from Eloisa James from dynamic characters and wonderful prose to passion, drama, and yes, comedy! While Edie and Gowan’s characters were superb within themselves, what really took this novel over the top for me was Edie’s not-so-typical stepmother, Layla and Gowan’s much younger sister. Their character traits and dialogue added so much to the story and truly made it a one of a kind read! I loved the Romeo and Juliet references throughout the book and of course the tower! Reading as Gowan and Edie “grow up” and deal with marital and family problems made the novel seem very realistic, even though it did have the typical happily ever after that we all long for! If you are a fan of Historical Romance set in the Regency Era, then this novel is a MUST READ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Once Upon A Tower and am patiently, (or maybe not so patiently) awaiting Ms. James’ next novel!Rating: 4.5Heat Rating: MildReviewed by April PCourtesy of My Book Addiction and More
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors because I know I can depend on a good story from her. But, alas, it is a truth universally acknowledged that every author, no matter how good, can have a clunker of a book from time to time. Once Upon a Tower, is I'm afraid, Eloisa's clunker. While the book does have many redeeming qualities, it has severe flaws that overcome the good.Once Upon a Tower is the love story of Lady Edith Gilchrist and Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross. The couple meets at a ball that Edith's father is giving. Gowan is there because he is in need of a no-nonsense wife, even if she is English. Did I forget to mention that Gowan is Scottish? Yummy! Edith is there because, well...it is her father's ball. She is attending the ball despite being sick with a cold. I did enjoy Edith being under the weather because it did lead to the plot gem of Gowan being entranced by Edith and Edith later having absolutely no clue who Gowan was, despite the fact that she agrees to marry Gowan while under the weather. Just the kind of levity I like from Eloisa. The story starts off good, but slams to a halt once Gowan and Edith marry. Why? Because the big plot device keeping them apart, they're both virgins and the first time wasn't exactly magical, can be solved with a conversation that simply doesn't happen until later in the story. This unfortunately leads to pages and pages of stupidity on both characters fault. It drug on too long, and in the end, really wasn't worth all of the drama. It would have been far more fun for them to have the conversation, and then have them “practice” to get better. The heat was most definitely there between Gowan and Edith! I found myself drawn in more by the story of Edith's father and step-mother. Their romance is the story of the disappointment that comes with a May/December romance that starts off happy and veers off track by the realization that your partner is not perfect and having infertility problems. Their story, to me, seemed more meaty and more deserving of being the lead couple than Edith and Gowan.Overall, this wasn't the worst book ever written (Fifty Shades of Grey), but it was not an easy, frothy, fun read that is Eloisa's typical fare. The thing to remember is that a bad book by Eloisa James is better than some of the best books written by other authors. This book is only recommended to Eloisa James' previous readers and admirers. Newbies to Eloisa should start with her older titles, such as Duchess in Love.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A review of Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa JamesEloisa James has enchanted us again with her newest romance novel. Once Upon a Tower is the love story of Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross, and Lady Edith Gilchrist. She mixes in a little bit of Rapunzel, a little bit of Romeo and Juliet, and, of course, a whole lot of happily ever after. You'll enjoy how these two strong-willed people fall in love, learn to communicate, overcome their differences and make their marriage work.The Duke is one of those responsible types who has his life all planned out. Since he's of an age where he needs to get a wife, who better than his good friend's daughter who just happens to be making her debut. He meets Edith (aka Edie) and is immediately smitten. After a day Duke, father, and daughter all agree on the marriage. That's when the fun begins.Edie was sick during her debut so she doesn't really remember a lot about the duke, but her father approves so she agreed. Being a level-headed person she sends him a practical marriage letter spelling out what she expects in marriage. Gowan thinks he is getting a sensible bride, who will adjust to his full schedule. But complications occur on the way home to Scotland. His world class cellist wife demands her practice time every day and he is constantly working as they journey home. Complicating matters is the fact that these two virgins are having some trouble in the bedroom - though the Duke doesn't realize the problem because Edie hasn't said anything. Miscommunication, false assumptions, and family history almost tear Edie and Gowan apart.This is an enjoyable read filled with charming, witty characters who learn that a loving relationship takes a lot of work, but is well worth it. Ms. James has written another winner in her Happily Ever Afters series. I look forward to her next fairy-tale inspired romance.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Example of the best and worst aspects of romantic novels - likeable characters who fail to communicate.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I just didn't like this one. The engagement begins with neither of them knowing each other. It got better as they exchanged letters but then there seem to be some manufactured difficulties in order for the Rapunzel-like tower scene to work. The hero and the heroine are just horrid to each other at points (the hero mostly) and all the plot line around the hero's little sister was just wasted. The whole book just felt contrived. The more I think about it, the less I like it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I just have to start by sighing and saying that I adore this update of Rapunzel. :)With the exception of her passion for playing music, which I could not connect to (being a horrible musician myself) I felt like Edie was a mirror image of me. Down to the betchiness she showed so often; I loved her sass. And the fact that the first time(s) she tried the whole sex thing it was excruciating and awful… I can FULLY relate. And it gave me hope that some day these things can improve. These small and large facets made her journey feel like it was mine, and drew me into the world that Eloisa James created… I felt like just for me. It’s a special thing when an author can craft a work that touches you so deeply that it feels personal, and I commend her for her prowess.Gowan, Gowan, Gowan… while he may be a little anal retentive or OCD at times… whew. I would absolutely jump that. Let’s just say I would let him climb my tower any day. The red hair, the highland brogue, the castle… WHAT is NOT to love here?While perhaps a trifle long, Once Upon A Tower captured my heart. I stayed up way past my self-imposed bedtime reading, and it was worth every second of lost sleep.I recommend this book to lovers of fairytales, historical romance, highlanders, castles, and happily ever afters. I haven’t read James’ other updated fairytales, but I think I’m going to have to pick up every single one now. I’m definitely the newest fan of this series; the disney princesses better watch out for Eloisa James.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Once more I fell in love with a fairy tale. This was a story that had me rooting for the hero. An intriguing mix of Rapunzel and Romeo & Juilett that will keep you enthralled.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    BEST OF THE FAIRY TALES SERIES!!This is now my new favourite and the best of this Fairy Tales series! Eloisa James is getting better and better, funny and witty.