Kind of a weird plot situ happening but I liked it. ( )

This was highly recommended, but I guess it wasn't just for me. Gabriel Fairchild has returned from the battle of Trafalgar scarred and blinded. He's roaring around his estate until nurse Samantha comes to take him in hand, so a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which is one of my favorite tropes. Gabriel only goes into the Navy to prove his worth to his secretly betrothed Cecily, but she runs away once she sees him in the hospital.
There's a twist but I thought it too ridiculous, so maybe I can be excused for not seeing it coming. I just couldn't suspend my belief enough to buy this story. Gabriel and Samantha are fine, he the handsome but proud rake while she's the bookish female. It's a quick read, but I guess I hoped for more. ( )

Yours Until Dawn
4.5 Stars

After losing his sight at the Battle of Trafalgar and being abandoned by the woman he adored, Gabriel Fairchild, Earl of Sheffield, has sequestered himself at his country estate to lick his wounds. Convinced that she can help him cope with his disability, prim and proper nurse Samantha Wickersham engages in a battle of wills with the arrogant and angry earl who will do anything to rid himself of the shrewish spinster - at least that is what he tells himself...

Yes, this is another retelling of Beauty and the Beast - What can I say? I love this trope.

Mederios's version contains several original elements that contribute significantly to the story. To begin with, her portrayal of Gabriel's blindness, both in terms of the physical realities and psychological stresses, is very realistic. Second, Gabriel and Samantha's adversarial relationship, with its verbal sparring and slow-burn chemistry, is a typical representation of the theme; however, the twist revolving around her real identity is delightful even if it is easy to guess.

Several reviewers have highlighted certain issues that I personally did not find objectionable. First, the miraculous return of Gabriel's sight is not only believable but is also crucial for the progression of the plot following the revelation of "Samantha's" secret. Second, Gabriel's failure to recognize that Cecily and Samantha are one and the same, and the idea that he ostensibly "cheats" make sense within the narrative as it is clear that Gabriel's love for Samantha is actually an extension of his love for Cecily and perhaps he even suspected the truth on a subconscious level. After all, he basically falls in love with the same woman twice..

Overall, this is a well-written romance with engaging characters and a surprising twist or two. I will definitely be reading more books by this author. ( )

Cuando Samantha acepta el empleo como enfermera para cuidar a Gabriel Fairchild, nadie cree que aguante más de un día. Su tarea es desalentadora: Gabriel, antaño un joven y apuesto oficial adorado por todas las mujeres, es ahora un hombre roto. La metralla lo cegó para siempre en la batalla de Trafalgar, y vive desde entonces recluido de un mundo que no sabe ofrecerle más que una dolorosa compasión que él desprecia. Sin embargo, Samantha sabe ver, bajo la coraza de ironía y mal genio, al hombre seductor y apasionado que sigue vivo en el interior de Gabriel; un hombre que no necesita la vista para enamorar perdidamente a una mujer... Un duelo de voluntades comienza en la mansión de los Fairchild, cuando Samantha intenta que él recupere el orgullo y la alegría de vivir a pesar de las tinieblas. Pero nadie sospecha que ella guarda su propio secreto, uno más oscuro y profundo que la negra noche de la ceguera.

Hah, disability cured by One Twue Wuv for the win. I saw the twist coming pretty early too. All of the characters behaved inconsistently but I found the about-face from Samantha to be particularly confusing. I'm glad I waited for my library to get a copy and that I didn't spend my own money on it. I generally like Teresa Medeiros' work, but this one was a disappointment, especially since I love the Beauty and the Beast trope. ( )