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  • A Bachelor Establishment

  • By: Jodi Taylor
  • Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
  • Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,067 ratings)
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A Bachelor Establishment cover art

A Bachelor Establishment

By: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
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Summary

High adventure and dark mystery combine in a sparkling historical romance, by Jodi Taylor writing as Isabella Barclay from The Chronicles of St. Mary's.

Bascombe, widowed and tied to an impoverished estate, has learned to ask little of life. With no hope of leaving, the years have passed her by. Lord Ryde, exiled abroad after a scandal, has returned to strip his estate and make a new start in America. A chance encounter changes their plans, plunging Elinor and Lord Ryde into adventure and not a little peril until, finally, they are forced to confront the mystery of what happened on that night, all those years ago.

Are they both so entangled in the riddles of the past that they are about to miss this one last opportunity for future happiness?

©2015 Jodi Taylor (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about A Bachelor Establishment

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

At last an author worthy of comparing with Heyer

I have yet to find any novel by Isabella Barclay, better known as bestselling author Jodi Taylor, that I wouldn't give five stars. Her wit, intelligence and love of history comes through in all her stories, so it's not surprising that she is a natural at writing historical romances. I've loved Georgette Heyer's books since reading them in my teens but without going to the classics like Austen, I have never found an author of this genre to match her before and would sincerely recommend this novel to any fan. The plot pulls you in from the start with a missing heir, a beleaguered but undaunted widow and the return of a scandalous rake. Anna Bentinck took me a few minutes to warm up to but soon brings out all the humour and romance in the book. Her acting is really good and she does a great job with all the different character voices.

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47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Almost as good a discovering a new Georgette Heyer

The above is not damning with faint praise but rather exalting with hosannas of praise. For to be almost as good as Georgette Heyer at her best is a superhuman feat of excellence.

The tone is just right and our heroine is suitably forthright and unconventional. I like the fact that she's a good 20 years older than your standard romantic lead. It's great fun and what I can only describe as rollicking. There is witty banter and excellent use of Regency slang. Unlike the oevure of the estimable Ms Heyer, there is a sex scene if that sort of thing worries you. But don't worry it's not too embarrassing.

Anna Bentinck is a good narrator for this sort of thing with excellent tone and annunciation.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Unexpected but fun

What made the experience of listening to A Bachelor Establishment the most enjoyable?

Being used to the usual Jodi Taylor, it took a couple of chapters to realise this was Isabella Barclay as a nom de plume. But, once you realise time travel isn't going to happen, I really enjoyed this charming book. Still has JT's wit and the characters were enjoyable to be a part of.

What other book might you compare A Bachelor Establishment to, and why?

Pride and prejudice, if the characters were just a lot more real and 21st century-esque.

What does Anna Bentinck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her timing and fluency brings the relationships to life

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cringe at times, but Jodi has a good way to bring the stupidity into sensible proportions - letting the characters be more than just one dimensional love stories creatures.

Any additional comments?

Great fun and unexpected. Not as brilliant as St Mary's, but loved the book and glad I found it.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jodi Taylor - Isabella Barclay

Another really fun book by Jodi Taylor, I cannot see why it is shown as 'writing as Isabella Barclay', there doesn't seem any point - IB is a character in the St Mary's series, and really nothing like this book.

The story was fun, and written in the nice humerous way the Jodi Taylor uses for the excellent St Mary's series. There's a little bit of intrigue, a little bit of love and a 'little bit' of murder. All in all, the characters are a delight, the story very good - I really enjoyed it ........ but 'Isabella Barclay .......?'

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilariously sublime!

The most heartwarmingly humorous human galloping love story I've read in years! Truly uproarious and life confirming!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A historical novel that is gentle and fun

What did you like most about A Bachelor Establishment?

The story line is a fun twist on an Agatha Crhistie type mysteries and has some lovely characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The female characters are fun, feisty and well represented by the narrator

Have you listened to any of Anna Bentinck’s other performances? How does this one compare?

She always reads well and makes the characters come alive

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me smile a lot

Any additional comments?

Well worth a read - a nice gentle pace with some amusing scenes.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jodi can't go wrong

What did you like most about A Bachelor Establishment?

With yet another change of genre, Jodi Taylor proves that whatever she writes is magic. The story flows, there are highs and lows and there is dry humour. You know there's a mystery to be solved but it's hard to fathom its nature. You know there's going to be a love interest.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'm not sure I had one, I liked most of them.

What does Anna Bentinck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her amazing voice. Well able to cope with all the voice characterisations and to differentiate between them all.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This was not an emotional rollercoaster ride like some of the St Mary's books, it left me with a warm feeling.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

Totally sweet story and quite humourous. Quite enjoyable period piece of writing and nice characters.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful way to while away a wintry weekend

-Slightly less formulaic plot than others of the genre
-Great cast of characters
-Very well written
-Enjoyed the narration although some of the male voices sounded like nasally old ladies at times which could be irritating.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Historical Romp!

What does Anna Bentinck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

She brings the whole thing alive. Clear diction for a start.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot. The brutal deceased husband got me angry. Given the genre I didn't take it too seriously though.

Any additional comments?

I haven't enjoyed an audible book so much. I will certainly look for Anna Bentinck's narration again. I also read a lot of crime novels and have problems with understanding some of the American narrators. I can understand accents can add something but if you have problems with the accent it detracts from the book. This was great - it was as if Georgette Heyer lives again!

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6 people found this helpful