Dream Island (Medieval Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

Josie Litton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Medieval Trilogy | Publication Date: February 26, 2002

The legendary island nation of Akora has shunned outsiders for centuries, but fate is about to deliver a young Englishwoman into the arms of its prince–and sweep them both into a daring love that knows no boundaries....

DREAM ISLAND

Lady Joanna Hawkforte spent her childhood reading about the wondrous beauty of Akora. But now the country of her dreams has become a symbol of her worst nightmare. Nine months ago her brother embarked on a dangerous journey to find the mythic land–and Joanna never heard from him again. Believing he is being held captive in Akora, she is compelled to devise a desperate plan to find him....

The son of an English lord and an Akoran princess, Lord Alex Darcourt has spent months in England on a secret mission. Now he has set sail back to the land of his youth–and to an unknown fate in a nation fraught with unrest. But Alex’s discovery of a secret stowaway has thrown his voyage into turmoil. A bold, honey-haired beauty, Joanna has no idea of the danger she’s placed herself in. As Alex’s ship enters its home port, he hopes he can protect her in a world where she is unwelcome. But his greatest challenge proves to be protecting Joanna from his own smoldering desire–a forbidden passion that could put both their lives in jeopardy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fantasy realm of Akora, an ancient island civilization hidden from the world by its geography and its citizens, serves as the backdrop for this fanciful Regency-era romance, the first in a new series from Litton (Come Back to Me). Determined to travel to Akora with Lord Alex Darcourt, a half-English Akoran prince, and search for her missing brother, Royce, Lady Joanna Hawkforte stows away on his ship. She's discovered after she injures herself on board, but Alex, intrigued by her courage and beauty, tends her back to health and introduces her to the customs of his homeland. Despite Akora's party line on female behavior that women should be submissive to their warrior men and treated like birds in a gilded cage Joanna and Alex's sister, Kassandra, roam about Akora freely. In the midst of one of her wanderings, Joanna overhears two men plotting against the leader of Akora, Alex's half-brother. Fortunately, Joanna and Kassandra possess special psychic abilities that may help them rescue Royce and thwart the traitors' plans. Through descriptive and sometimes flowery prose, Litton (aka Maura Seger) conveys the fairy tale-like perfection of Akora, but her protagonists, who also seem pulled straight from a storybook, are only marginally developed. Indeed, this frothy fantasy is driven more by flashy and unlikely action than genuine romantic tension or character development.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Lady Joanna Hawkforte's brother is missing. With nowhere else to turn, she intends to make Lord Alex Darcourt help her find him. Alex is not only an English lord but he's also a prince from the mysterious island of Akora, where Joanna's brother was headed. After Alex summarily dismisses Joanna at one of the Prince Regent's many fetes, she stows away on his ship bound for Akora. Alex is stunned to find her on board; no woman from Akora would ever behave in such a manner. But Joanna is hard to resist; she's intelligent, brave, and poses a challenge. Set among the royalty of the Regency era amid the intrigue of the Napoleonic Wars, Litton's novel is appealing even though some readers may resist the unusual idea of a utopian island kingdom similar to ancient Greece. The key to its likeability is the cast. Alex and Joanna are interesting individually and together and hopefully will be seen again in future forays. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553583891
• ISBN-13: 978-0553583892
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT, GREAT, GREAT..., March 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dream Island (Medieval Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you haven't discovered Josie Litton, do so immediately. She is a writer who blends adult romance, suspense, and historical detail with a style that will keep you reading into the night. For all you Garfield fans who have been left hungering for the author to return to the historical genre, try Josie Litton. And check out her Viking-Saxon trilogy. The heroes are strong, intelligent and fair, and the heroines are spirited (and each has something just a little "different" about them)and practical.

I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, March 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dream Island (Medieval Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read a lot of romance but by far I find Josie Litton the best author. Her books never fail to bring you into the story and completly saturate your every thought. This story, while not on the same line as her previous books was every bit what I had hoped it would be. I could not put it down, I recommend this book for the regency romantics while her previous books I would recommend for the historical romantic. All are excellent reading!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting beginning to a new trilogy, July 30, 2002

By 

Jen. M. "murrayj51" (Baton Rouge, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dream Island (Medieval Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first thing I appreciated about this book was Ms.Litton's departure from the traditional Regency romance setting of London. Instead the majority of this novel takes place on the ficticious island nation of Akora.
Lady Joanna is looking for her brother Royce who has disappeared on his voyage to Akora. Because Joanna is determined to find him she stows away aboard the ship of an Akoran prince, Alex, and arrives on the island amid controversy and speculation. It would be difficult to say more without giving away the happy ending.
What's nice about this story is that although political undertones and the typical romance elements exist throughout, the characters of Joanna and Alex are well written, completely believable, and likeable as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.