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Witty, saucy Regency romance... 'I am a Duke. I'm not asking you to marry me. I am offering to marry you. It's a different thing entirely.' When the Duke of Ashbury returns from war scarred, he realises he needs an heir - which means he needs a wife! When Emma Gladstone, a vicar's daughter turned seamstress, visits wearing a wedding dress, he decides on the spot that she'll do....
England, 1666; the year all the prophecies said the world would end. For Chloe Hervaux, marriage to wild, unpredictable Alex Deveril offers escape from a home she hates. For Alex, waking up with an epic hangover, the discovery that he has acquired a bride is an unwelcome shock. But while the marriage remains in name only, other forces are gathering. England is at war with the Dutch, and Prince Rupert suspects that sabotage is at work in the fleet. Instructed to find and stop the traitor, Alex enters a dark, secret labyrinth of intrigue.
When the Marquis of Amberley's coach is waylaid by highwaymen and his coachman shot, he is forced to take shelter at the first house he finds and is subsequently trapped there for a week by a severe snowstorm. Oakleigh Manor is the home of Rosalind Vernon who lives alone but for her devoted servants and an ill-natured parrot, cut off from the outside world by the tragic result of a childhood accident.
1740s France and England. Abandoned to fend for herself at the court of Versailles, Antonia turns to her distant cousin, the all-powerful Duke of Roxton, to help her escape the attentions of a lecherous nobleman. Roxton is an unlikely savior - arrogant, promiscuous, and sinister. Antonia's unquestioning belief in him may just be his salvation, and her undoing.
Governess Abigail Chantry will do anything to save her sister and two dearest friends from destitution, even if it means breaking into an empty mansion in the hope of finding something to sell. Instead of treasures, though, she finds the owner, Lady Beatrice Davenham, bedridden and neglected. Appalled, Abby rousts Lady Beatrice's predatory servants and-with Lady Beatrice's eager cooperation-the four young ladies become her "nieces," neatly eliminating the threat of disaster for all concerned!
Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except...she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her... and more. Did he think she was mad?
Witty, saucy Regency romance... 'I am a Duke. I'm not asking you to marry me. I am offering to marry you. It's a different thing entirely.' When the Duke of Ashbury returns from war scarred, he realises he needs an heir - which means he needs a wife! When Emma Gladstone, a vicar's daughter turned seamstress, visits wearing a wedding dress, he decides on the spot that she'll do....
England, 1666; the year all the prophecies said the world would end. For Chloe Hervaux, marriage to wild, unpredictable Alex Deveril offers escape from a home she hates. For Alex, waking up with an epic hangover, the discovery that he has acquired a bride is an unwelcome shock. But while the marriage remains in name only, other forces are gathering. England is at war with the Dutch, and Prince Rupert suspects that sabotage is at work in the fleet. Instructed to find and stop the traitor, Alex enters a dark, secret labyrinth of intrigue.
When the Marquis of Amberley's coach is waylaid by highwaymen and his coachman shot, he is forced to take shelter at the first house he finds and is subsequently trapped there for a week by a severe snowstorm. Oakleigh Manor is the home of Rosalind Vernon who lives alone but for her devoted servants and an ill-natured parrot, cut off from the outside world by the tragic result of a childhood accident.
1740s France and England. Abandoned to fend for herself at the court of Versailles, Antonia turns to her distant cousin, the all-powerful Duke of Roxton, to help her escape the attentions of a lecherous nobleman. Roxton is an unlikely savior - arrogant, promiscuous, and sinister. Antonia's unquestioning belief in him may just be his salvation, and her undoing.
Governess Abigail Chantry will do anything to save her sister and two dearest friends from destitution, even if it means breaking into an empty mansion in the hope of finding something to sell. Instead of treasures, though, she finds the owner, Lady Beatrice Davenham, bedridden and neglected. Appalled, Abby rousts Lady Beatrice's predatory servants and-with Lady Beatrice's eager cooperation-the four young ladies become her "nieces," neatly eliminating the threat of disaster for all concerned!
Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except...she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her... and more. Did he think she was mad?
For two years, England has been in the grip of Civil War. In Banbury, Oxfordshire, the Cavaliers hold the castle, the Roundheads want it back and the town is full of zealous Puritans. Consequently, the gulf between Captain Justin Ambrose and Abigail Radford, the sister of a fanatically religious shopkeeper, ought to be unbridgeable. The key to both the fate of the castle and that of Justin and Abigail lies in defiance...but will it be enough?
Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball, or that 'Prince Charming' would be waiting there for her!Even though she's the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.
Miss Elisabeth Elham is an unlikely heiress. She never knew the curmudgeonly uncle who died suddenly and left her a fortune. She's proud, outspoken, and independent - a definite challenge for London's fortune hunting suitors. As various determined gentlemen vie for her attention at balls, routs, picnics, and parties, Elisabeth finds herself embroiled with a charming rake, a mysterious nabob, and an elegant neighbor. This would all be great fun, if only she wasn't so fascinated by the one man in London who's not trying to woo her....
Ranulf Ombrier is notorious throughout England for his skill at swordplay and murderous reputation. But after years of doing his king's bidding, he follows his conscience away from Edward, all the way to the wilds of Wales. Gwenllian of Ruardean, Welsh daughter of a powerful Marcher lord, has every reason to leave Ranulf for dead when one of her men nearly kills him. As a girl she was married by proxy to a man Ranulf murdered, only to become a widow before she ever met her groom.
Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart - and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection, nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart.
This special boxed set edition is for all the fans who requested actor Alex Wyndham's narration of two of Lucinda Brant's best-loved books, Salt Bride and its sequel Salt Redux. Also included is a 20,000-word bonus novella, Salt Angel, featuring well-loved characters from the Salt books.
Lady Jane Lovelace has conceived the idea of approaching the most notorious man about town, Lord Charles Welbourne, with a most unique proposition. But when he counters her offer with a condition that he thinks will halt her impudence, much to the surprise of both, she accepts. A novel of passion and intrigue, The Westerby Inheritance is the first volume of this new and emotionally charged romantic saga all played out against a backdrop of elegant 18th-century society.
Life for Victoria Lacey should be perfect. And it is - perfectly boring. Agree to marry a lord who has yet to inspire a single, solitary tingle? Why, of course. Smile as though this is not the thousandth time he's mentioned hounds and hunting? It's all in a day's work for the oh-so-proper sister of the Duke of Blackmore. Surely no one would suspect her secret longing for heart-racing, head-spinning passion. Except, perhaps, a dark stranger...on a terrace...at a ball where she should definitely not be kissing a man she has only just met.
An arrogant duke does the unthinkable - he falls in love with his mistress.... She raced onto the green, desperate to stop a duel. In the mêlée, Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, was shot. To his astonishment, Tresham found himself hiring the servant as his nurse. Jane Ingleby was far too bold for her own good. Her blue eyes were the sort a man could drown in - were it not for her impudence. She questioned his every move, breached his secrets, touched his soul. When he offered to set her up in his London town house, love was the last thing on his mind.
This time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry; he's also chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield: the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate's the woman haunting his dreams....
Michael Stirling and his cousin, John, the Earl of Kilmartin, are as close as brothers. However, Michael is secretly in love with John's wife, Francesca Bridgerton. When John suddenly dies, Michael is wracked with guilt and pain. Even though he is determined to remain simply Francesca's friend and confidant, the temptation is far too great.
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage in Bath knowing nothing of her family. Now she discovers that the late Earl of Riverdale was her father and that she has inherited his fortune. Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, keeps others at a distance. Yet something prompts him to aid Anna in her transition from orphan to lady. As London society and her newfound relatives threaten to overwhelm Anna, Avery steps in to rescue her....
Laura Kinsale presents...
He came looking for the disgraced object of scandal, and found a delightful woman too proud to reveal her heart. A memorable Regency heroine highlights Elizabeth Kingston's special talent to create characters who steal your heart, with Nicholas Boulton to bring them to life.
For reasons of his own, Stephen Hampton, Lord Summerdale, is determined to learn the truth behind the tangled tale of Helen's ruin. There is nothing he abhors so much as scandal - nothing he prizes so well as discretion - and so he is shocked to find that he cannot help but admire her.
But how can she trust a man so steeped in the culture of high society, who conceals so much? And how can he, so devoted to the appearance of propriety, ever love a fallen lady?
This book was such a refreshing change from some of the romance books I've tried to listen to and had to return lately because the stories just didn't hold my interest. Nicholas Boulton has narrated many of the audible releases by Laura Kinsale (e.g., Flowers from the Storm), and these are among my favorites. I'll be checking for more audible releases of Elizabeth Kingston and Nicholas Boulton.
23 of 24 people found this review helpful
Where does A Fallen Lady rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
One of the best historical romantic books I have experienced.However, this book is so much more than a romance; it is an experience of friendships, hope, and learning to be emotionally strong.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This book was SO full of love. Storyline drips with such amazing sentences I will never want to forget. Marianne was perhaps my favorite character. Her lines were so hilarious and well thought out that I found myself laughing out loud to some of her comments. (The scene where she fell off her chair from laughter and then asked for help to get back on but changing her mind is priceless).
I find myself still sitting here after 20 minutes of finishing the book in awe of EK's talent. She makes it seem a life actually lived with characters so well developed it makes your heart ache with sadness and swell with happiness at every turn. She has quickly become one of my all time favorite writers. Laura Kinsale books have always been a favorite of mine but I do have to congratulate her at presenting this amazing and wonderful writer whom in my view surpasses almost all others in quality, details, writing and emotions evoked in her readers. Job well done ELizabeth. You truly have talent.
To conclude I have to say Nicholas Boulton will never have an equal. This writer/narrator combo is one of the best you will ever be exposed to. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
For the most part, this was a great story. The heroine and hero were both really likable with amazing secondary characters, Marie-Anne and Maggie were my favs. I thought that the plot was really interesting, what brought these two together was one I've not read before. There were also a few curve balls I didn't expect. This is a new author, highly recommended by Laura Kinsale. I do have two gripes:
1) While the plot was great, the buildup to understanding the heroine's fall from grace took entirely too long.
2) I said "For the most part this was a great story" Well it was, up until the last hour where the heroine took a turn onto misunderstanding stubborn lane and you know the rest of the story.
Why can't authors get creative instead of having a long, drawn our angst fest when we KNOW how it ends? Luckily this one was just an hour or so.
As a result, I'm giving the author 4/5 stars for this story, she has promise and I'll keep an eye out to the followup of this book. I actually bought the first book in her "Welsh Blades" series" before purchasing this one.
The narrator 5/5 stars, hands down. Nicholas is always so clutch.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Would you consider the audio edition of A Fallen Lady to be better than the print version?
I don't thinks so. I believe they're equally good.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Fallen Lady?
The moment in which Helen embraces her brother is very moving.
What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His voice is memorable and it is what he brings to the story, making the story memorable as well.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
It takes love to break the barriers and bring two vastly complex characters to accept each other.
Any additional comments?
I’ve only recently discovered this author and the two medieval books she wrote, I just loved. This one is set in Regency period and while the plot was slow moving, I thought the story revolved mostly around the developing characters and their growing relationship. I believe the complexity of the characters (and trust me, both characters had a lot of issues that only with time would be resolved) and their growing romance are as much of a plot as the real reason behind their meeting and the heroine’s past.
Our hero Stephen is sharp, intuitive and funny while the heroine Helen, is strong, witty and vulnerable. No wonder Stephen was taken with her, despite her reputation.
The story not just starts slow, but it moves at a sedate pace throughout and to some this might be an obstacle. To me, I rather thought it was a conscious decision on the part of the author. I believe that if this story was given a fast pace, we would have lost the point of what it really takes for two vastly different, extremely complex individuals to not just fall in love with one another, but to accept each others flaws and circumstances that brought them together.
Some stories are written to entertain and titillate, some to make us laugh and some to make us cry. This story actually has all of those elements but it also makes us think. We are forced to see the society and its people of Regency Era as they truly were. A society that treated women as property and put very little value on them.
Elizabeth Kingston and Nicholas Boulton are a force to be reckoned 🙂 I love them both.
Melanie for b2b
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
enjoyed this much, two people, each afraid, each lonely, each stubborn, each having suffered cruelty, each with a great desire to love and be loved, only to trust and let go...
the narrator, Nicholas Boulton.....I love his narration, his voice, am willing to listen to every book he's done, again and again...
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book until, like another reader mentioned, the last hour or so. Helen began to act so out of character-so silly! It really annoyed be because I enjoyed the rest of the book so well. I've read a few reviews of her other books and some people believe this is Laura Kinsale writing under a different name. Nope. This isn't anything as entertaining and well written as one of her books-
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
First, Nicholas Boulton is my favorite narrator of all time! He is amazing with any book. That said, this story is fabulous. The dialogue is amazing, love Marianne and her great lines! I want to listen to it again just to catch everything. Just love this author, one of my new favorites. Really look forward to finding more books by her.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Five Stars!!! All Around!!
This was a funny and engrossing story brought to life by Nicholas Boulton. His narration made me laugh out loud and cry at times, bringing each of Elizabeth Kingston’s characters to life. I LOVED his voice of Helen’s French friend - Maryanne. It was like listening to a female version of Hercule Poirot. His characterization of Maryanne was superb and her dialogue leapt off the page. I laughed out loud many times when Maryanne had her words of wisdom for Helen or Steven and in the same breath Mr Boulton could deliver an intense scene volleying back and forth between characters as if listening to a tennis match that you need to stop what your doing and completely listen to the narration so as not to miss a biting word. I highly recommend this audiobook.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I know that often novels are based on misunderstandings and secrets, but this was extreme. Some gorgeous writing underscored just how tedious the secrets and the misunderstanding came to be. Gave up half way through and skipped to the end.
Mind you the narration was very good.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful