Left on a Doorstep

The DuPree Dynasty Book One

Romance - Historical
229 Pages
Reviewed on 08/09/2021
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Beatrice discovered her love of books in the fourth grade. Her favorite genres are Historical Romance (particularly those set in England), Mysteries, and Thrillers. Whenever a book captures her imagination, she will read until the early morning hours to finish it.

Usually, Beatrice’s dreams could be made into complete novels, which her friends encourage her to write down with the eventuality of publishing them. In 2021, she came across a manuscript she had started writing in high school. Using that template, she wrote and then published her first historical romance mystery, "Left on a Doorstep," Book One of The DuPree Dynasty, to excellent reviews.

Currently, she is writing "Left in the Dark," Book Two of The DuPree Dynasty.

Beatrice also writes poetry, usually as a subject comes to her. The poems reflect her positive outlook on life; they are uplifting and come from a place of compassion and deep emotion.

To learn more about her works, visit www.beatricecrew.com. While there, join her mailing list for important news updates and notifications about future novel releases.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

Left on a Doorstep is a work of historical romance fiction by author Beatrice H. Crew. Our protagonist Victoria was a kind young woman, but a good deed brought an unexpected threat into her life. She had to move with her parents to their private estate. On her twenty-first birthday, Victoria learned that the Montgomerys, whom she loved so much, weren’t her actual parents. She had been abandoned on their doorstep as a baby to save her, which sparked a visit to DuPree Island to meet her birth family. Here she met the charming Allistair, but strange things started happening. There were several attempts on her life, but who could be the culprit? Allistair, her lover, Henry, or Daniel, her brother, who were potential heirs to the Island? Emma, her best friend, who was in love with Allistair, or someone from the past, whose daughter she rescued? Read Left on a Doorstep by Beatrice H. Crew for the intriguing details.

Left on a Doorstep by Beatrice H. Crew is a beautiful historical tale of love, deceit, greed, kindness, and sacrifice. The plot had a unique depth. I loved the realistic storyline which still applies to the current world: the eternal message that people can often be cold and evil! They wouldn’t hesitate to ruin the lives of others out of greed, no matter how much they’re blessed with. I felt immense pain for Esther, suffering for nothing. The world is really cruel and trust is a scarce commodity. Beatrice is a gifted storyteller, who pulled at my heartstrings with this emotional read. Her writing was stylish, and the story was easy to follow, courtesy of flawless editing. Will there be a story for Daniel and Laura? Thumbs up to Beatrice on this beautiful book. I look forward to more in the future.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Left on a Doorstep is a work of historical romance fiction by author Beatrice Crew. On the day of her twenty-first birthday ball, Victoria discovers she’s not the natural-born daughter of the wealthy parents who loved her, raising her to be the fine lady she is. Victoria has devoted her young life to helping other women caught in the web of unwanted pregnancies, in an era (the late nineteenth century) when unwed mothers were taboo. But now there’s a ruthless man out to take revenge on Victoria for interfering with his baby-selling enterprise, and there’s a stranger in her home claiming to be her distant cousin with a message. Her birth father, after all these years, wants to meet Victoria and explain why she was left on a doorstep as a baby. Was Victoria always a target for those wishing to kill her? And why?

Beatrice Crew’s novel Left on a Doorstep is a compelling nineteenth-century, late Victorian era romance and mystery. The novel opens with a poem, written by the author, that gives an eloquent sense of place to the drama that will reveal itself later down the line. The plot unravels as protagonist Victoria is forced to redefine her life, past and present, through dramatic intertwining and unexpected complications which include serious death threats. The characters are well-developed and dialogue is used effectively to carry the story along. The engaging descriptive narrative is well-orchestrated, giving the reader a solid sense of time and place. The author knows the late Victorian era well and this is evident in her storytelling talents. There is a building tension as the mystery thickens and the romance evolves, making for an enormously enjoyable read.

Viga Boland

Reading Left on a Doorstep by Beatrice H. Crew was like watching those romantic movies set in the 1800s, or for younger generations than mine, current popular series like Bridgerton. The protagonist, Victoria, embodies femininity and loveliness in the traditional sense of 19th-century women: she is emotional and caring, weeps readily, and is looking for that handsome husband who will father her children. When Allistair enters her life, both she and the readers know Victoria has found him (be still our trembling hearts), but what Allistair reveals to Victoria and how she handles it shows that she is also feisty and intelligent; just what readers of historical romance want their heroines to be.

The story that follows their meeting is more than a beautiful rendering of blossoming love. Someone is threatening Victoria’s happiness, even her life. The question is not just who but why. Does it have anything to do with the recent revelation that Victoria was adopted? Is it connected to Victoria’s possibly deranged grandmother, the one who tried to throw her off a cliff when she was a baby? Just who is lurking in the shadows of Victoria and Allistair’s burgeoning love? Beatrice H. Crew has crafted a delightful read in Left on a Doorstep. From its catchy title to the historically appropriate settings, clothing, pastimes, foods, mannerisms, terms of endearment, characters, and dialogue, this novel will please ardent historical romance fans. It is a well-executed blend of mystery and romance that can even win over non-romance readers like me. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Peggy Jo Wipf

Left on a Doorstep by Beatrice H. Crew begins with Victoria Montgomery risking her life for a girl living in the slums of London: a girl who wishes for a different life for herself and her unborn child. This single act of kindness threatens Victoria's life and those she loves. Finding out on her twenty-first birthday that she was adopted, Victoria chooses to meet her biological father, far from the dangers that followed her to their country home. The secret behind her being abandoned on a doorstep is hard for Victoria to understand until she discovers the deceit and lies in the dark, hidden history of her family. Will danger follow her to the island of her biological family? She wonders if her heart is in danger of being broken as well.

I found Left on a Doorstep to be a maze of intricate events. Beatrice H. Crew spins a web of suspense that blends murder, mystery, and family issues into one unpredictable piece of entertainment. The transition of Victoria learning that she was adopted was carefully penned, and the author handled the meeting with her biological family with a touch of uncertainty and anger. The real enemy was meticulously implanted, with few clues as to their real identity until the end. The attraction between Victoria and Allistair gets steamy when danger lurks closer, and she wonders who she can trust. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and found the ending a surprise. The author reveals little acts of kindness can make just as large wave a of events as leaving a child on a doorstep for her safety.

Teresa Syms

Left on a Doorstep by Beatrice H. Crew is an intriguing historical romance novel set in England in 1896. Victoria Montgomery is the daughter of Lord and Lady Montgomery. She has taken it upon herself to help young unwed mothers escape the brutality of their situations and for their babies to have a better chance in life, a charity she is very passionate about. On her 21st birthday, Victoria discovers that she was one of those babies who was given up and left on a doorstep. Luckily for Victoria, she was raised by two people who loved her dearly, and she became their daughter. On the eve of her birthday, her parents tell her that a man named Allistair DuPree has come to ask her to return to DuPree Island with him. Her biological father is dying and wants to see his daughter, to tell her the truth about her family and why the Montgomerys raised her. Strange occurrences begin, and it becomes apparent that Victoria needs to leave London or she could be killed by the father of one of the girls she has helped. What answers will she find on DuPree Island? Who is her birth father, and why was she never told about this until now? So many questions plague Victoria, but she is driven by fear and craves knowledge that may help her settle in her life.

Beatrice H. Crew has written a highly captivating novel set in nineteenth-century London. Left on a Doorstep is a must-read for everyone who enjoys a historical romance story. You will enjoy how Victoria learns about her mother, the curse around her grandmother, why her father, wanted her to come home. But that is not all. During her time on DuPree Island, Victoria believes herself to be safe from the threats from London, and this is not so. She and her companion, Emma, are almost thrown over a cliff, Victoria is attacked and choked, the things in her private room are rummaged through, and items go missing which nobody can explain. The best part of her time on the island is spent with Allistair, her protector, friend, and soon-to-be husband if she survives all the attacks. Crew does an exceptional job of keeping the reader glued to the book: it wasn't easy to put down. While reading, I envisioned the costuming, the island, the parties, and the final year-end ball on Swan and DuPree Island. Bravo, Beatrice H. Crew. You have written a novel that readers will enjoy for years to come. I look forward to your future work.