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Primrose and the Dreadful Duke

A Baleful Godmother Novel (Garland Cousins, Book 1)

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Primrose and the Dreadful Duke

By: Emily Larkin
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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About this listen

A double award-winning historical romance

An irrepressible duke, a bookish spinster, a devious murderer... Regency house parties have never been so hazardous!

Oliver Dasenby is the most infuriating man Primrose Garland has ever known. He may be her brother's best friend, but he has an atrocious sense of humor. Eight years in the cavalry hasn't taught him solemnity, nor has the unexpected inheritance of a dukedom.

But when Oliver inherited his dukedom, it appears that he also inherited a murderer.

Oliver might be dreadfully annoying, but Primrose doesn't want him dead. She's going to make certain he survives his inheritance - and the only way to do that is to help him catch the murderer!

Length: full-length novel of 85,000 words.

Sensuality level: regency romance with steamy love scenes.

Winner of the 2019 Romance Writers of New Zealand Long Romance of the Year Award

Winner of the 2019 Romance Writers of New Zealand Best Overall Romance of the Year Award

©2018 Emily Larkin (P)2020 Emily Larkin Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Witty Crime Comedy Murder

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All stars
Most relevant
I was totally enthralled by this story, especially as it was narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Brilliant.

Very compelling

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A lovely book but its one of those books you know the ending way before the end,

A lovely story

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I love murder mysteries and historical novels, with or without romance, and listen to them to relax (and as an antidote to a very demanding job), so I tend to seek out the "Cosy Murder Mystery", end of things. I always find the strength of the relationships between characters key to enjoying and getting hooked into a series of books, and I am always sad to get to the last book in a series, so had been looking for another series to get into. It's always good to have mystery and intrigue, but the bonds that build between characters interest me more.

I had hoped to enjoy this series, and although the evolving characters do not quite yet in this first book have the level relationships that evolve in the writing of authors such as Karen Baugh Menuhin's Heathcliffe Lennox series, Irina Shapiro's Redmond and Haze Mysteries, Verity Bright's Lady Swift Mysteries, or Ashley Gardners' Captain Lacy series, or Diane Freeman or Karen Charlton's work (all of whom write similar books that combine mystery with an element of romance and period settings) I thought way in which the mystery unfolded and the relationships between characters might develop well. By 2/3 of the way through the book, I'd started to wonder what would be in store next for the characters.

Then, towards the end of the book, there is the worst sex scene I have ever read or listened to. Unfortunately, it's like a badly printed two-dimensional manual. This is no "Stella Riley or India Holton" (who have different approaches to sex scenes, but have a sensual balance.) It's a great pity for this book. Sometimes, if something is not an area of strength or experience then less is more.

I wanted to like this , but it just doesn't work

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It was a joy listening toothier story- it turned into a crime story which was gripping and fun.

Could have done without the boring sex chapters but guess it is needed for others …

Great crime story…

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I found the book very entertaining and amusing
The narrator was excellent and brought the characters to life

Primrose and the Dreadful Duke

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