It Started in Budapest

First off, I just have to say how much I loved the setting in this book since it reminded me of my first trip to Europe last summer. It felt like I was back on my foreign adventure with everything new and unfamiliar, yet grounded in reality. We quickly get to know Molly and her family circumstances, which comes with an extreme dose of guilt for her brother's infirmities and an irrational phobia of the color white. I was surprised by her naive yet desperate belief that she can encounter a vampire if she follows the travels of Bram Stoker's character Jonathan Harker as told in Dracula. I haven't read the book (although I want to now!) and after learning that it's written as a series of letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, and ships' log entries, I can understand why Molly may have put faith in the realistic presentation of the paranormal story. <br /><br />I loved her rocky friendship with Percy, her self-appointed protector, who follows her as she gets in one predicament after another. The revealing of both Molly and Percy's deeper layers amidst their journey kept me interested in seeing how they could manage a happily ever after. There are powerful themes of death, grief, loneliness, duty, and loyalty. I was in tears as Molly learned some difficult but beautiful lessons about the fragility of life, the strength we can find in ourselves and those around us, and the inner peace that we can find in our faith. There is a lovely balance of adventure, excitement, and danger with quieter moments of connection and introspection.<br />(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I am in the minority when it comes to Julie Daines’ It Started in Budapest. Most readers have expressed a great deal of admiration for the book, and I completely respect that, but my experience of the novel inspired mixed feelings.<br /><br />It Started in Budapest is a sweet and chaste romantic narrative that flirts with gothic romanticism against a central Romanian backdrop. Molly’s devotion to Bram Stoker’s Dracula takes centerstage, thoroughly eclipsing the majesty of the luxury train line, but I hesitate to call it gothic literature as the story lacks the macabre thematic resonance I associate with the genre.<br /><br />Tonally speaking, I found Daines’ writing light and pleasant. That said, the novel’s lack of complexity, historical detail, and depth failed to captivate my imagination or satisfy my interest in dynamic and layered storytelling. I understood what the characters were doing, but I could not envision the world they inhabited, and I struggled to believe the emotions that drove them forward. Simply put, I wanted to sink my teeth into this book but found the author put too little meat on the bone to do so.<br /><br />It Started in Budapest has an audience, but the novel proved a poor fit for my tastes, and I doubt very much that I will continue the series forward.

The setting and premise of this story is what drew my interest. The Orient Express is a rare experience, as well as exploring the region of Transylvania, and that is why I wanted to read this. The story is about two people, Percy and Molly, who accidently meet on a train platform in Paris, and again on the Orient Express. <br /><br />Percy is a wonderful young man. He is intrigued by Molly from the moment they meet and is extraordinarily helpful in helping her deal with her eccentricities. Molly has a lot of "baggage." She is burdened with feelings of guilt because she is healthy, but her twin is sick. She also has a strange fear of anything white. Percy never judges her. Every time she embarks on a foolish and dangerous quest, he is right behind her saving her life. He is chivalrous, patient, caring, and very protective, but I just can't understand why. <br /><br />Molly is possibly the most immature, naive, and downright stupid character I have ever read about. She believes that she will meet a vampire and offer him money for some of his blood to save her brother. Another idiotic thing she does is to travel with a small fortune in her reticule, and is not discrete about showing it to strangers. In spite of the fact that Percy has proven over and over that he cares about her, she keeps throwing up unnecessary obstacles to their relationship. The trope used throughout this book is that both characters tell stories to each other as a way to give the reader insight into their past, but it is very cheesy. <br /><br />I am happy they got together, but I just couldn't feel happy for Percy. And I was very upset that the author never addressed the issue of her money being stolen. That was a HUGE problem for me.<br /><br />"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." <br /># ItStartedinBudapest #NetGalley<br />

4.5 stars rounded up.<br /><br />This book has a lot to love about it. A great author, a gorgeous cover, a wonderful story with a mysterious kind of Gothic feel, and it's part of a new four book series by some of my favorite historical authors!! The theme of the series is the Orient Express which is where this story starts. <br /><br />Molly and her family are on the Orient Express to go to the Black Sea for yet another treatment to try and help her brother, Matthew. Unbeknownst to her family, Molly has her own plan to try and help Matthew, which involves getting off the train in the middle of the night at Budapest, and going off on her own. Luckily for her, another passenger, the handsome Percy Hunt, follows her on her journey to Transylvania where they have several adventures and he saves her life.<br /><br />I loved learning about the iconic Orient Express, which was the most opulent train at the time. I liked how Percy helped Molly with her fear even though he didn't understand it, and how we find out how it developed through her memories of Matthew's prior treatments. Molly was naive and her plan was a fool's errand, but she learned that she and Matthew were "stronger together"; that they had been each other's strengths all along.<br /><br />We meet a few of the other passengers on board the train. Among them the mysterious Nicholas, who I can't wait to learn more about. I'm really excited to read the other books in the series as they're released.<br /><br />I received a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications via NetGalley, but also ordered a copy for my personal library. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love a great Gothic romance and this one did not disappoint!<br /><br />First, that cover. So beautiful and atmosperic!<br /><br />The location, the setting, and the ambiance were just perfect—turn of the century Europe on the Orient Express, the cities, the forest, and even the Paris Exposition. <br /><br />All of these made the perfect backdrop for Molly. She wants her twin brother to be healthy and feels guilty for this condition (on account of TTTS). After reading Dracula, she comes up with the plan of going to Transylvania and getting the blood of a vampire to restore her brother's health and make him immortal. <br /><br />Her family is traveling to the Black Sea on the Orient Express and she plans to exit in Budapest. <br /><br />Percy is an American Molly met in Paris when she bumped into him. They meet again in the train and he becomes aware of her plan, and decides to follow her so she's not alone. Percy is the best companion to Molly and comes to her aid at the worst of times, saving her life. <br /><br />Even though their friendship is new, it turns deep and into something more. <br /><br />Can't wait for the next books in the series!<br /><br />I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. <br />

<b>Gothic romance</b><br /> <br />I just might have convinced my family to take a "small" detour to Forks, WA on our road trip to the Pacific Northwest several years ago, so I could completely relate to and understand Molly's desire to use the book Dracula as a roadmap and Bible to seeking treatment for her sickly twin brother. Their connection was extremely endearing.<br /><br />Not only was the journey spent on the Orient Express exciting, but the secret disembarkment that began a dangerous, yet romantic, trek was thrilling. Percy, a new American acquaintance, just happened to turn up where ever Molly was and after a messy first meeting, their friendship began to blossom. Percy is great, accommodating Molly's fanciful whims, while watching out for her. I enjoyed the give and take of their relationship.<br /> <br />While the plot in this gothic romance is very compelling, I loved the parallels to real life that were conceived and drawn. The first book in the series is full speed ahead!<br /><br />Content: mild romance; mild violence/danger

I got to read the book in advance of publication, and I loved the characters. I also love that Julie Daines always puts the unexpected in her stories. This one had some deliciously gothic moments.

Well .. it was nice and short, and it did have an interesting idea .. but maybe because it was too short that I couldn't enjoy it to the fullest<br />The Story is about Molly, she has a twin brother who is sick from birth and she is determined to find a cure for him .. so one day she reads about Dracula who lives in Transylvania and she takes a train to find him and take his blood and make her brother immortal .. then she meets Mr.Hunt in the train and be decides to join her in the adventure and it will be more exciting than they both thought<br />I liked the overall atmosphere for the book since I love trains .. but Molly was really getting on my nerves with her stupidity .. so yeah

One can never go wrong with a book from this talented author. Her characters come to life in a way that the pages turn fast. There were so many things I loved about this book! The Orient Express was a fun backdrop. Each character is enduring and full of heart. Even the mother. I loved Molly and Percy. Their adventure was a thrill to read. Matthew was especially wonderful and even Father in the corner reading his paper was a delight. I loved how the backstory was told through “stories”. Very clever. Another win for Julie Daines!

It Started in Budapest<br />Romance on the Orient Express<br />Julie Daines <br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.juliedaines.com/?m=1">http://www.juliedaines.com/?m=1</a> <br />Release date 08/10/2020<br />Publisher Covenant Communications <br /><br />Blurb :<br /><br />Molly Cooper is haunted by one simple fact: it is her fault her twin brother, Matthew, has spent his life trapped in a frail body while she has thrived. Deep in her heart, she knows he can’t hold on much longer . . .<br />In her desperation to save her brother, Molly finds inspiration in an unlikely source: the newly published novel Dracula. When her family embarks on the Orient Express to seek treatment for Matthew in Bulgaria, Molly is prepared to set her plan in motion: she will sneak away from her parents and journey alone to Transylvania, where she will seek a vampire, whose blood can make her brother immortal. Molly’s rash plan is going flawlessly—until she encounters Percy Hunt, a handsome American traveler running from the shadows of his own past. When he discovers Molly’s plan, Percy’s concern for the naive young woman leaves him no choice but to accompany her on her strange quest. But neither Percy nor Molly is prepared for the feelings that quickly grow between them or for the death-defying escapade that awaits.<br /><br />Blurb :<br /><br />Will her stubbornness see her harmed or saved ...<br /><br />What a fun and entertaining read this book is, I liked following Percy and Molly in Bram Stoker’s hero footsteps in this coming of age tale.<br /><br />And while I would have loved to shake some senses in Molly’s brain more often than ever, it was entertaining.<br />Sure the heroine is worse than naive, she is so very gullible she got herself nearly killed. Does her youth and sheltered life can explain it, of course, after all she is after a vampire. <br />Yet when everything is put to right, she adds more dents and holes on her road to her happily ever after, believing herself to be the one behind everyone’s life challenge.<br />She is lucky to have wiser persons to help her see the light and choose the right path.<br />From her phobia of the color white or leukophobia to her misguided idea to save her twin brother, she embarks on the adventure of her life chasing after an impossible chimera, a journey she will come back changed forever.<br /><br />Percy while having no say in this tale is quite the knight in shinning armor, he stands by her side, a shoulder to rest her head in moment of weakness, an ear when she needs to clear her thoughts and a loving soul just waiting for her to be ready to accept him.<br /><br />Mrs Daines with this romantic road trip gives her heroes the time of their life to face their ghosts and heal their heart.<br />4.5 stars<br /><br />I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Covenant Communications, here is my true and unbiased opinion.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/670138226908685/?d=n">https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...</a>