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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.
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.
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?
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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....
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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....
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.
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....
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?
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.
Stranded together in a rustic country inn, Lucius Marshall, who is the Viscount Sinclair, and Frances Allard share a night of glorious, unforgettable passion. But Frances knows her place, and it is far from the privileged world of the sensual aristocrat. Due to begin her teaching position at Miss Martin's School in Bath, Frances must try to forget that one extraordinary night - and the man who touched her with such exquisite tenderness and abandon.
When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a copy of How to Marry a Marquis in her employer's library, she's convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for money, but who might have guessed how desperate she's become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs - and what harm could there be in taking a little peek?
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from marriage: he will pretend to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry.... Although, there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. But Daphne soon finds herself forgetting that their courtship is a complete sham....
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....
Tragedy drove him into unwilling exile. Death demands his reluctant return. In the decade between, he has answered to many names and amassed a variety of secrets. Now the actor known to Paris as L'Inconnu must resume his real identity and become Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre...a man he no longer knows how to be and whose name, thanks to the malice of a friend turned enemy, remains tarnished by an old scandal. Revenge, so long avoided, slithers temptingly from the shadows.
Granddaughter of a wealthy wool-merchant, Caroline Maitland is not finding her society debut either easy of enjoyable...but, to Marcus Sheringham, she is the perfect solution to his crushing mountain of debt. Knowing she will be married for her money, Caroline never believed she would find love; but neither did she bargain for a certain charming French highwayman...and a surprising turn of events. The stage is set, the cast assembled, and the Duke of Rockliffe waits for the curtain to rise. In the wings, Lord Sarre prepares to make his entrance. He doesn't expect to be greeted with applause.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, without hesitation because it is beautifully written and brilliantly narrated.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Player?
Mr Bailes - see review
What does Alex Wyndham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
A expertise in being able to transition seamlessly from one character to another and then back into the narrative. All his characters are well crafted.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Yes - Mr Bailes - see review.
Any additional comments?
Sublime is the one word I can use to describe the final audio in Stella Riley’s Rockliffe series, The Player.
Once again the collaboration between Ms Riley and Alex Wyndham has proved to be a triumph because of the written and narrated content.
The hero in The Player is Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre who has spent the last 10 years living in France only returning to England now due to a family bereavement.
While living in France he has learned new interesting skills (I won’t say more!) and acquired a good friend Bertrand who adds a lot of fun to the story. As a result French and English characters are sprinkled throughout the book so Mr Wyndham has to narrate the different languages that he does seamlessly - Wonderful.
The storyline is typically Stella Riley with assured and well-constructed dialogue between all characters where not one word is wasted - Superb.
There are a number of touching scenes in the book but my favourite is when Adrian meets a former employee of his father, Mr Bailes. This is beautifully written and with a real emotional pull.
I will not say anymore regarding the plot but will concluded by highly recommending this book to anyone who likes a really good romance coupled with an outstanding narration, which I can only describe as Sublime.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have quickly come to realise that if I see the name Stella Riley on the cover of a novel then I know I'm going to disappear into 'book land' and not emerge for hours! THE PLAYER is no exception and add the velvet voiced, talented and versatile, Alex Wyndham, into the mix and we have perfection, clear and simple.
THE PLAYER, the third in Ms. Riley's Rockliffe series is simply superb. There are deeply moving moments, giggly moments and sheer genius moments. Stella Riley has a deep understanding of human nature and because of this quite unique talent, her writing tweaks something in my heart every time. All of her books are different yet she subtly introduces old friends/favourites - like the swoon worthy Rock from THE PARFIT KNIGHT and THE MÉSALLIANCE - into each of her stories.
Ms. Riley couldn't have chosen a more perfect narrator to perform her fab books; long may their partnership continue. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her writing.....The whole series is highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Wonderful. Great characters, well written and funny too. A worthy successor to Georgette Heyer. More Rockliffe novels please
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Hero despite all his problems is still a kind man.
The Heroine is sensible.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
If you have listened to the previous two books by Stella Riley/Alex Wyndham you will know that this one is another roaring success. Brava both
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This book was a delight from star to finish. It is a good stand alone story but better if read in order The Parfait Knight A Misalliances then The Player.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
The Player is the final book in the Rockliffe trilogy, the others being The Parfait Knight & The Mesalliance. All 3 books are very well written & read superbly by Alex Wyndham. The stories ideally would be read in chronological order, but I think wouldn't detract from each story if that wasn't possible. The first book centres around The Marquis of Amberley and the beautiful blind Rosalind; the second is about the Duke of Rockliffe & his life and the third (The Player) around Adrian Deveroux & the Yorkshire heiress Caroline. All 3 tales have Rockliffe (or Rock as he is known to his friends) featured in the storylines. He is, like the other 2 men, a wonderful, gallant hero (very much in the style of the Duke of Avon in GH's These Old Shades, which is one of my favourites).
All the main male characters are handsome, but all have a vulnerable, sensitive side to them, which endears them to the reader. I really enjoyed the minor male characters who were friends to our 3 hero's - Jack, Harry, Philip & Nicholas. I really enjoyed their male relationships, they were written as such good friends to each other, which was a joy to be a part of.
The main female characters were also well drawn, my favourites being blind Rosalind who was gorgeous and in The Player, Caroline. I was a little unsure about Rock's lady - I thought she should have been more feisty.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Rock, Adrian and Caroline
What does Alex Wyndham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
He is a superb reader. Like Nicholas Boulton, he acts out the story as well as reading it too. I think there is nothing finer than a well-written book that has a superb narrator. Stella Riley & Alex Wyndham are an outstanding combination. Highly recommended.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes. I didn't manage it in one sitting, but over two days, staying up into the early hours to finish off the last few chapters.
Any additional comments?
All 3 books very highly recommended.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but once I got into it, I couldn't stop listening. This is my favorite kind of hero - one who is an actor when he needs to be someone else, has a wicked sense of humour, and gets himself out of situations in ways I'd never imagine. I check the Amazon reviews before buying most books (and if I don't I usually end up returning them), and this book is one I'd recommend. The reader was perfect. How many characters argue with themselves while playing two different people?
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
4.5 "The Gentleman Actor and the Merchant's Daughter" Stars for the story and 5+ Stars for the narration! (Narration by Alex Wyndham)Stella Riley's creative imagination and wit are in top form for the third book in the Rockcliffe Series, The Player. Proving her ability to weave in unconventional and unique circumstances into a romantic tale, Ms. Riley kept me intrigued and on my toes throughout the entire listen (a 10+ hour listen which I devoured over two short days!). Moreover, Alex Wydham's appealing and soothing voice kept me glued to my earbuds. The rumors surrounding his rushed departure from his home in England have kept Adrian Sinclair Devereux away for a decade. But upon becoming the Earl of Sarre, he can no longer run away from his fate, so home he returns with revenge plans in hand.Having survived in the interim in Paris through an unconventional trade for a gentleman--one which mixed gambling and acting--he soon finds himself leaning on old habits when he uncovers a potential damsel in distress (Caroline Maitland). Caroline appears perilously close to falling victim to a former friend who betrayed him in the worst of possible ways (Marcus Sheringham). Caroline's grandfather has determined to marry her off to a gentleman with a title, and as is typical of the time, the one who has taken a particular interest in her (Marcus), is much more interested in her dowry than love. But the only way Adrian can get close to her involves him polishing off his old acting skills, so he dusts off one of his favorite roles and puts on a show worthy of an encore. But though Sarre first crossed paths with Caroline as an unintended effect of his planned revenge, he must soon determine if his role in the play that involves her salvation (and, in turn, Marcus' damnation) is merely an act spurred by revenge or driven by something much deeper and heartfelt. Moreover, having met her under a cloud of deception will he be able to convince Caroline that he has her true interests at heart?As always, Alex Wyndham delivers a spell-binding narration. Without a doubt Mr. Wyndham is one of my top-favorite historical romance narrators. His voice is so soothing and his deliver is always perfectly timed to give heightened effect to the scene enacted. Additionally, Mr. Wyndham's attention to even the minutest details is sublime. From the age to the regional accent of each character (and even of the same character, like Adrian who switches accents back and forth depending on the role he is playing), you can count on Mr. Wyndham to present both an authentic and easily distinguishable voice for each and every character that perfectly matches the story Ms. Riley has written. Perhaps one of my favorite things about Ms Riley's romances is her ability to capture the societal conventions of the historic times she writes about. Things that appear trivial in today's world, such as whether you earned or inherited your wealth, had profound ramifications in the times Ms Riley writes about. Capturing this cultural depiction and mixing it together with compelling characters worthy of a true HEA makes her romances especially endearing. The Player is no different, and given Mr. Wyndham's extraordinary narration to boot, deserves to be on every historical romance listener's to be listened to list. Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I've listened to all three books-this one is the most interesting and funny. The first two are good-and listening to them in order would be best. Alex Wyndham out does himself with the accents!!
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I loved this book! Everything about it.
Alex Wyndham is my favorite male narrator for period romances. He does a wonderful job with all the characters. It's too often that a male narrator makes the female characters sound like whiny children or old ladies. Wyndham is perfect!
This has been a great series. I'm so glad I discovered it recently so all the books were available in audio format. I hope there are more. Stella Riley is one of my new favorites.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Amazing characters and storyline along with Alex Wyndham-what more could you ask for.
I hope you are continuing this series as each one has been a jewel.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have enjoyed this series so much but I think this book is, so far, my favorite of all. I love a book that basis it's love on true love and gives a legitimate reason as to how that was formed. What I find frustrating is that in most other books love is based on looks mostly and here that is entirely taken out of the equation. An engaging and wonderful story, characters to fall in love with and a believable plot. Can't go wrong with this book.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Which character – as performed by Alex Wyndham – was your favorite?
All. That man is a genius.
Any additional comments?
I was pretty disappointed with the previous book in this series. I wash hoping this one would be better and it was by far. The book started out with potential although I was a bit annoyed by the way that things progressed because I could see it causing a huge ongoing conflict. There was a brief moment where I thought the travel down Misunderstanding Lane would consume the book but luckily enough, the author tidied the conflict up in a reasonable time.
From there, it kept getting better. Despite not knowing much about the hero, I really connected with him. There's a great host of secondary characters and laugh out loud moments throughout the entire book. I just LOVE The Duke of Rockliffe. I wish that his book has been better (i.e. not having a secret/conflict consume the entire story). Very good read that I was done with in pretty much one day.
We don't even need to talk about Alex Wyndham. That man has a voice that I can listen to all day. I ♥ him.
4.5 stars for story
5 stars for narration
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Great storyline. I truly enjoyed getting to know and appreciate both Caroline and Adrian/Dev. Theirs was such a lovely unexpected romance with gradually deepening love and understanding. I fell asleep late last night while reading and have been anxiously waiting all day to finish. I know I will be thinking about them and hope to catch up with them (and the others from this series) in the next book.
Of course, Alex Wyndham's narration is incomparable!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I enjoyed very much the series and Mr. Wyndham's outstanding performance. This is definitely the best of the three so far. While a talented narrator cannot be the making of a book, he can however propel a good book to the next level. The characters are so vivid and alive. Bravo!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
good plot and characterization perhaps a little too much of the plot is giving away a little too early but still well worth the time excellent voice acting
2 of 2 people found this review helpful