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Through their innocent correspondence, a lonely young wife grows to love an imaginary man thousands of miles away. But when he returns to England from India, her idea of reality is turned upside down. Drawn from a safe world of tea and parlor chat into madness and mystery, she cannot find her own cherished Robert in the frightening stranger who claims her love. Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to voice her favorite heroine, sweet, witty Folie with her ferret, Toot.
He's a duke. He's a mathematical genius. He can't talk and he's locked in a lunatic asylum. Only a modest Quaker girl can reach him, but when she helps him to escape, she's swept into his glittering aristocratic world, her life torn apart by his desperate attempt to save himself.
As a lovely heiress, Roderica Delamore should be a prize catch--except for her shameful secret. She has the ability to hear the thoughts of those around her. Even her family and close friends can't hide from her strange gift. Knowing that she can never marry, for no man could bear it, Roddy still longs hopelessly for a family of her own. Until she meets the man she's been waiting for--the Earl of Iveragh, a mysterious Irish aristocrat whose thoughts are entirely closed to her.
Trevelyan d'Augustin and Lady Callista Talliafaire were secret sweethearts, until the day her father dismissed him with a whip across the face. Ten years and three jiltings later, shy Callie is resigned to a quiet village life as the late earl's spinster daughter. But now Trev has returned from his estates in France, upending everything, dragging her into adventures, stealing Hubert the prize-winning bull, and flinging Callie's heart into mayhem again.
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?
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.
Through their innocent correspondence, a lonely young wife grows to love an imaginary man thousands of miles away. But when he returns to England from India, her idea of reality is turned upside down. Drawn from a safe world of tea and parlor chat into madness and mystery, she cannot find her own cherished Robert in the frightening stranger who claims her love. Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to voice her favorite heroine, sweet, witty Folie with her ferret, Toot.
He's a duke. He's a mathematical genius. He can't talk and he's locked in a lunatic asylum. Only a modest Quaker girl can reach him, but when she helps him to escape, she's swept into his glittering aristocratic world, her life torn apart by his desperate attempt to save himself.
As a lovely heiress, Roderica Delamore should be a prize catch--except for her shameful secret. She has the ability to hear the thoughts of those around her. Even her family and close friends can't hide from her strange gift. Knowing that she can never marry, for no man could bear it, Roddy still longs hopelessly for a family of her own. Until she meets the man she's been waiting for--the Earl of Iveragh, a mysterious Irish aristocrat whose thoughts are entirely closed to her.
Trevelyan d'Augustin and Lady Callista Talliafaire were secret sweethearts, until the day her father dismissed him with a whip across the face. Ten years and three jiltings later, shy Callie is resigned to a quiet village life as the late earl's spinster daughter. But now Trev has returned from his estates in France, upending everything, dragging her into adventures, stealing Hubert the prize-winning bull, and flinging Callie's heart into mayhem again.
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?
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.
He was once a legendary highwayman. Now he's a recluse in a ruined French castle, with only a half-wild wolf for a companion. When Lady Leigh Strachan comes looking for a man to aid in her revenge, she's disillusioned to find that the famed Prince of Midnight couldn't help even if he cared to - which he doesn't. S. T. Maitland wants nothing to do with his legend, or with this fierce, beautiful, broken woman... until the old thrill of living on the cutting edge of danger begins to rise in his blood again.
Pursued by her enemies, flattered and courted for her lands, a powerful, devious princess is desperate to reach refuge. Haunted by the shadow of the young assassin set upon her, Princess Melanthe knows that an ice-cold countenance is her only protection. To succumb to love is the greatest danger of all. She can trust only one man amid the lies, the mysterious Green Knight - a true knight who never wavers once he gives his heart; a man who cannot comprehend deceit.
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.
When her naturalist father dies on the upper reaches of the Amazon, Lady Tess Collier sets out to fulfill his last wish: return to England and marry. Desperate and broke, privateer Gryphon Meridon takes on an assignment he'd much rather refuse - shepherding a beautiful, eccentric young lady through London's ballrooms.
Captain Sir Sheridan Drake is no knight in shining armor, even if he happens to be famous for his heroism. An exiled princess with revolutionary ideas is just a convenient opportunity to get himself out of debt. Princess Olympia isn't precisely fairy-tale royalty herself; she's plump and a little shy, and desperate to do something of importance in the world. But though their meeting begins with her hopeless hero worship, a harrowing journey to the bleak edge of the world will transform them both.
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?
In search of a legendary mare, Lord Winter enters the crucible of the red sands, forging unbreakable bonds of loyalty and trust with his young companion in the desert. But hidden beneath the ragged costume of a Bedouin boy is a remarkable young woman: Zenia Stanhope, daughter of the extraordinary Queen of the Desert. Zenia wants nothing of the danger that Lord Winter lives for. She wants only to reach England, far from the blood and sand of the desert.
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.
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.
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?
It's 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London and the shocking news his estranged elder brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but become engaged to the woman he had hoped to marry. When Alec reluctantly attends a weekend house party to celebrate his brother's engagement he gets more than he bargained for when a lady's maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead.
When a powerful, decisive aristocrat undertakes to protect an absent-minded young inventress from England's enemies, he finds his orderly world turned into chaos. Merlin Lambourne's stubborn dream of flight puts her at risk, not to mention driving Ransom crazy. In spite of himself, he's oddly enchanted by this muddled miss and her eccentric ways... but can he overcome his own fears and realize her invention may be the answer to saving both their lives?
A whimsical Regency-era tale of flying machines, fancy, and love among the hedgehogs.
Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to narrate Midsummer Moon as a fully voiced audiobook, creating a unique work that brings all the life and color of the original to audio.
I enjoyed the story, narration and characters alot and its one that is is my library that I love to listen to again and again.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Would you consider the audio edition of Midsummer Moon to be better than the print version?
I am in love with Nicholas Boulton's voice and he is so talented as a narrator that the book is enhanced by his work.
What did you like best about this story?
Laura Kinsale can do no wrong for me and I enjoy the subtle humour as well as her ability to bring tears to the eyes. Each book is different and so very detailed that I forgive the occasional Americanisms, as Nicholas has a way of disguising them somehow.
What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?
I have checked so many other voices out there but he is the very best there is!!!
Nicholas Boulton has the gift of making each voice, be it a man or woman, young or old, recognisable as the character in the book.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made be both laugh and cry.
Any additional comments?
I look forward to listening to "For my Lady's Heart" next and hearing Nicholas as Ruark.Then, Allegretto's story after that one. WONDERFUL!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Another fab performance from Nicholas Boulton, characters and their personalities are brought to life by him, his voice never grates on me. Laura Kinsale provides a great vehicle to showcase his skills with her complex and comedic story lines, I find myself grinning, and even laughing out loud, this is excellent escapism
For anybody who has grown up in a large family where one person acts as mother/father/mentor/teacher/saint-in-residence, this book will resonate. The "saint" In Midsummer Moon is the master of the castle, His Grace the Duke of Damerell; and Ms. Kinsale has surrounded him with a cadre of deeply-flawed and delightful characters, who thwart and frustrate him at every turn.
This character-rich book offers the great narrator, Nicholas Boulton, a perfect opportunity to show off his extraordinary range. Of particular note are Boulton’s reading of Brother Shelby’s entrance into the story and the voice he gave to the duke’s nurse, “Pruneface.” I went back and listened again and again, just for the pure fun of it!
There is a romance in this book, but it is only one of many relationships that swirl around His Grace as he desperately tries to get the lives of the people he loves under control. His sweetheart, Merlin, says it best (and often): “Poor Mr. Duke…” I give this story a “5” as one of my all-time favorites from this author. Mr. Boulton gets a “4” because, well, Ms. Kinsale is the star.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I find it a breath of fresh air found a new favorite narrator has turn me back into wanting to hear men vs women. A must listen you won't be disappointed makes you shock, happy,sad,laugh, irrated for me it was a perfect combination.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about Midsummer Moon?
This book was really cute. I totally enjoyed it, the characters were great and given SUCH personality by a fantastic narrator. It was more acted like a play. Fantastic. The story is about a very eclectic woman who invents things like her uncle before her. She is in danger from the French because one of her inventions is something that would give them power. Ransom takes it upon himself to keep her, and the item, safe. As continued attempts to kidnap her take place, he is now also tasked with who is trying to betray his trust among his household full of family and guests. It was a little silly with how instantly they fell in love, but thats often par for the course in romance novels. The ending is quite fun. I also appreciated that the book continued with an easy flow without TOO much suspense.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Midsummer Moon?
There was one scene where Ransom, who is afraid of heights, looked to jump over a wall, only to find it a cliff on the other side. I really felt the shock of that and was so relieved when he got down. Lol
Which character – as performed by Nicholas Boulton – was your favorite?
I enjoyed every single character. I did think the character of Shelby sounded a lot like Carey Grant and so every time he spoke it was Careys face I oictured. Lol. I loved Ransoms little stuttering mephew. Fantastic addition. I have no clue how Nicholas manages such individual characters with such consistency. I have heard a lot of great narrators, but for some reason he really stood out so much. Could be because I tend to avoid men narrators. In any event, I am going to listen to another of her books. The narrator really makes or breaks an audio book. He hit this one out of the ballpark.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I loved this story. Loved it! Not just a little, but over the moon loved it! Fun, romantic, sexy,
I've read some reviews and it seems that Merlin, our 'genius with little common sense' heroine, grated on some people's nerves, but not mine. Oh, no. Not mine! I love her! In fact,I found her to be refreshingly unique, and she's now one of my all time favorite heroines. She and Ransom, so different, so completely and totally different... but absolutely brilliant together. They made me laugh, made me sigh, kept me listening through the wee hours of the morning.
Nicholas Boulton is an amazing narrator. I wish he'd narrate ALL audio books. Heck, I wish he'd narrate my name! Just my name... I'd play it over and over and over. Such a deep, rich, sexy voice.
*sigh* I'm just rambling, so I'll quit here, except to say that Laura Kinsale and Nicholas Boulton are, hands down, my favorite author/narrator team. I can't get enough of them, and I hope that he'll narrate all her books.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
This book is about an autistic woman with a great capacity for inventions but reduced abilities to interact within the society and a duke with his shortcoming and debilitating fears. Both characters are lovely but I admire Merlin. She manages to win everyone over with her childish innocence, kind heart and brilliance. Her greatest asset is that she is persistent and dedicated to her goals. Yes she is very different and the book obviously points that out but how everyone behaves toward her and accepts her oddities is very endearing.
Merlin invents the “speaking box’ as well as a flying contraption which makes her highly sought after by not only her government (British) but also the French since this story takes place during the war. The duke must not only save and protect her but also encourage her to complete the speaking box, which can prove very beneficial for the Brits in the war. He takes Merlin to his estate but finds that she is not safe there either. The story takes great twists and turns and the family’s interpersonal conflicts that get worked through are very heartwarming in the process.
I love how Laura selects her main characters with disabilities and shows how it makes them any not worse but really just different but great in their own way.
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
So I didn't realize from reading the description that this would have graphic romance scenes. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind them, but definitely was not expecting them.
I liked this book, especially the author's note at the end. However, it was like a roller coaster. At one point they have a normal budding romance, the next the main male character is being a super controlling douche. Merlin, the leading lady, is sometimes portrayed as an idiot, instead of just someone sheltered. If she was a brilliant scientist as they she is, she wouldn't act so dumb. It was just very up and down.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bolton does a great job performing overbearing male characters, distracted females, blustery "Hale Fellow, Well Met" characters, and stuttering children in his narration of a favorite Kinsale book.
Written in the late 1980's, the book has many standard characters from Regency Romances, but Kinsale shifts them ever so slightly to make them more relatable. The blustering Duke carries out a delightful conversation with an errant hedgehog who has taken up residence in his stationary box when he thinks he is alone in his study, and then returns to his commanding personal when he realizes his secretary is standing in the door. It's little touches like these that make the novel so charming.
Although I've read this book many times, I think I actually enjoyed listening to it more.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Where does Midsummer Moon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Its among the best books I've ever listened to. Midsummer Moon is my favorite romance novel and I've been waiting for it to come out on audio for the longest time. This narration really brought it to life just as I'd imagined it.
Who was your favorite character and why?
My favorite character is Ransom, followed closely by Merlin. The way they provoke responses from each other is sweet, hilarious and touching all at the same time. They're very human in the way they sort through their circumstances. The hero is not at all the usual alpha male that is so prevalent nowadays. They're both real people, and that makes it a very refreshing story to hear. Of course, we can't review this book without pointing out the hedgehog - my favorite pet ever.
Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
The narration was simply brilliant. Nicholas Boulton handled all accents, genders and feelings like a true artist. Wish he could narrate more romance novels. Bravo!
Any additional comments?
This is probably the best credit I ever used at Audible. I've been waiting for Laura Kinsale novels to come out for a long time. This pairing of author and narrator was all I could have hoped for. Hurry up and come out with more from both Laura Kinsale and Nicholas Boulton!
17 of 21 people found this review helpful
Nicholas Boulton is the best romance narrator out there so the fact that the hero was an overbearing blowhard and the heroine let him get away with it didn't ruin this story. the sub-characters and plot were really quite entertaining but the hero's bullying and the heroines lack of spine drove me nuts. i think some will find many of the scenes quite funny. i probably would have enjoyed them more but i found myself angry at the powerlessness the female characters were subject to. such a domineering hero needed a more formidable heroine to balance the power struggle so the reader wasn't weighed down with outrage on behalf of the meeker character. fortunately, there were several steamy and passionate love scenes that made up for the stressful conflict.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Richly plotted romance with appealing characters. A fun read.
Richly plotted romance with appealing characters
2 of 2 people found this review helpful