Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in Romance, Historical

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Title: A Loving Scoundrel

Subtitle: A Malory Novel

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 610 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When Danny, a young woman who grew up on the streets of London with no memory of her real family, is banished from her gang because she helped handsome rakehell Jeremy Malory steal back the jewels his friend lost in a card game, Danny demands that Jeremy give her a job. She is determined to become respectable in order to fulfill her dream of marrying and starting a family. Intrigued by her beauty and spunk, Jeremy hires Danny as his upstairs maid, although he wants her as his mistress.

Under the tutelage of Jeremy and his cousin Regina, Danny blossoms into a lady. Although she is drawn to Jeremy by passionate feelings she has never experienced before, she refuses to be anything more than a servant to him, because she knows he is not the marrying kind.

When Danny undergoes a Cinderella-like transformation and poses as Jeremy's new love in an attempt to help him avert a scandal, a few highly placed members of the town remark on how familiar Danny looks. Now tongues are wagging, raising the question of her true identity, which threatens not only Danny's chances of capturing Jeremy's heart but her very life.

Critic Reviews:

"A terrific tale about a wickedly seductive hero and a wonderfully unconventional heroine....this fairy-tale-like love story [has] a dash of danger in a successful bid to please readers who like witty and sinfully sensual Regency romances." (

Booklist0"Laural Merlington's saucy rendition of Danny's Cockney accent meshes cleverly with her portrayal of Jeremy's deep, sensual voice. Her expert pacing transforms this novel into an all-encompassing listening experience." (

AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Love it

Jeremy is my favorite of the Malory men, although very closely followed by James and Derek. This was an excellent book and I didn't want to stop listening. The only thing that bothered me was the way the narrator pronounced Regina's name. Just a small thing though and she did an excellent job with all the different voices.

AWESOME!!!

Any additional comments?

Her portrayal of the characters with varying accents and dialects from the aristocrat to the London slums is fabulous and real!!

I love love love the Malorys

I love a HEA Regency Romance... but even better is one with a mystery, a threat, humor, honesty and a full range of emotions. Keeping that standard plus some makes it a perfect novel for me.

NARRATOR : First rate!

HEAT FACTOR: Ouch!

My favorite Malory

This was my first introduction to the Malory family, and after reading all the other wonderful Malory family stories, this is still my favorite!

Love johanna Lindsey

Her books always give you a break from the everyday humdrum, this book is no exception. It's also a Malory book so = awesome.

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Title: Gentle Rogue

Subtitle: A Malory Novel

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-29-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 731 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The black sheep of a proud, tempestuous family, Malory soon sees through Georgina's masquerade and is enchanted by the courageous, high-spirited lady he has forced into intimate servitude. But though he has sworn he will never be enticed into matrimony, Captain Malory has finally met his match on the high seas - undone by the passionate heart of one remarkable beauty whose love of freedom and adventure rivals his own.

Critic Reviews:

"A dreamspinner extraordinaire." (

Romantic Times)"High quality entertainment....The charm and appeal of her characters are infectious." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Great love story.

I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. This is one of my favorite out of Johanna Lindsey's Mallory series.

My favorite Mallory books

After reading "Love only Once" the 1st book in this series, I could not wait to read "Tender Rebel". I liked Regina in the first book but the character development of Anthony her Uncle made be rush to read the book about him, #2 the Tender Rebel. After reading that book I thought how could it get any better than this; and I was not in Love with Regina's other uncle James, also Anthony's brother. However; I committed to read the entire series and I will, I'm on the 4th book now. I was wrong in my assumptions of "how could it get any better than the story of Toni"? Well needless to say I loved this book, and this was my favorite so far. This love story was much different than most I have read, and it had a lot of humor along with steamy love scenes. I would recommend all 4 books so far.

An excellent read!!

This book was absolutely one of Johanna's best and the narrator Laurel did the best characters for each person. I love the Mallory family members, they make me so hopeful that family will always stick together and be there for each other no matter what! The hero and heroine in the book had me cracking up at times with their behavior towards each other and the other family members. It would be good to have a series about the Anderson brothers since they are all eligible and would fit well with some english wenches! What a delight those books would be to read or listen to! Can't wait to read more from this series.

Funny and sexy

I really liked this one by Johanna Lindsey, and I think I'd rank her among my favourite Romance authors.

The performance was great! It must have been hard to find someone who could speak with an American, English as well as a Scottish accent! The accents may not have been perfect, but I personally did not notice if they weren't.

This novel can easily be read without reading the others in the series. I haven't read any other of Lindsey's 'Malory' novels, but was perfectly able to follow this one on its own.

Loved it !

I adore the Mallorys ! And this book did not disappoint me :) although I feel that with another narrator it might have been perfect ! Laural Merlington is Ok but she did not perform James Mallory well . But still this book is lovely :)

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Title: Second Sight

Subtitle: Arcane Society, Book 1

Author: Amanda Quick

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-23-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 629 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

After a night to remember, Venetia is prepared to cherish the memories of her romantic encounter and move on, but she is shattered when, shortly after their night together, she reads of Jones's death in the papers. As a private tribute to her one-time lover, she adopts the name "Mrs. Jones" and the guise of a respectable widow, and embarks on a new career as a fashionable photographer in London, where her unique ability to "see" beyond her subjects and capture that quality in her photography makes her photographs highly prized.

But her romantic whim causes unexpected trouble. For one thing, Mr. Jones is about to stride, living and breathing, back into her life. And the bonds that tie them together include more than just the memory of passion; Venetia's special "double vision" has caught the attention of someone Mr. Jones is tracking - someone who will go to any lengths, even murder, to possess an ancient, extraordinary secret that has been lost for centuries. Someone who believes that as the "wife" of Mr. Jones, Venetia is the key.

Now, as she introduces Gabriel about town as her miraculously back-from-the-dead "husband," Venetia must join him in a perilous quest to track down a dangerous opponent who manages to stay one step ahead. As they explore the darker, wilder underbelly of the modern, scientific Victorian world, they must see through society's illusions - or this time, Gabriel Jones may not be coming from the dead, and neither may Mrs. Jo...

Members Reviews:

Great storyline, too!!

Yes, Amanda Quick gives us a few really steamy scenes, but what impressed me most was the storyline. (You could almost cut out the steamy parts, but they are really fun!)

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that the characters are well-written, the heroine is a strong individual (not just waiting to be rescued), the period details are great, and there is a real puzzle/mystery to keep you guessing.

As for the narrator, Anne Flosnick has a delightful voice. She is able to do men's voices quite well, and her vocal variety for all the characters seems to me to be spot on.

Enjoy!!

Entertaining and intriguing

This story was fun. The story moves along at a nice pace, the characters are well developed, and the plot is interesting. I found the narrator did a very good job creating a voice that lent an "image" to each character. I was a little disappointed at the start, thinking she had erred with one character, but as the story unfolded I found she had used precisely the right voice. I'll be listening to the subsequent titles in this group, and if they are similar to this one, I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Enjoy!

An Arcane adventure!

I enjoyed this story. I listened to it on audio and it was highly entertaining. The romance between Venetia Milton and Gabriel Jones is charming and the story very original. I am a sucker for a Victorian Era spinster that is outspoken and strong willed. That is why I am a Amanda Quick fan. She never disappoints me and her heroines always end up with dreamy men.

Suspenseful; good romance; well-read

This series was recommended to me by a friend, based on my enjoyment of other supernatural romance series.

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Title: Love Only Once

Subtitle: A Malory Novel

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-05-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 692 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie's good name, the hot-tempered lady has vowed to wed him.

Her fiery beauty stirs Nicholas as no woman ever has - and the rake arouses Reggie's passion to an unendurable level. Such uncontrolled desires can lead only to dangerous misunderstandings...and, perhaps, to a love that can live only once in a lifetime.

Critic Reviews:

"[Johanna Lindsey] creates fairy tales that come true!" (

Romantic Times)

Members Reviews:

Disappointing narration

What disappointed you about Love Only Once?

The narration was bad. There are a lot of male roles in JL's Malory series and this narrator does not have the voice to play men. It ruined the books for me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Laural Merlingtons performances?

It depends on the book. If the main characters are female then yes I would. But she does not have the voice or range to play male characters.

Any additional comments?

When you have a series and the main characters are male, a male narrator or very versatile female should do the narration. It is hard for me to understand how the production staff can allow this quality to come to Audible

UGH! Read it rather than listen to it.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

i would recommend someone read this book. the narration detracted from the story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The hero of the book sounded like an old woman -- as did every other man. And every now and then I'd detect a bit of "less than proper aristocratic" accent on the hero as the narrator was affecting a British accent (it was not natural). I may have enjoyed the story more with the right narrator. As it is, this is the first Johanna Lindsey book I've listened to (I've read and enjoyed her stories) and I'm seriously doubting I can get through the series with this narrator. What a shame as the reviews indicate the series is a good one.

FANTASTIC

Loved it from start to finish, was actually sad to finish. Loved every character. It has a bit of everything, drama, love, secrets, interfering family members that make you laugh alot, misunderstandings, triumph. The main characters are great, actually all the characters are great. Some of the voices are shrill but there are so many different characters the poor narrator probably was unable to talk for a few days, lol. I loved it, hope you do.

I love her books!!!!!!!!!!

Where does Love Only Once rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

I have followed the Malory clan from book one, this one is as good as the others, as audiobooks goes this is number one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Reggie, because of her spunk.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlingtons other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Nicholas found out that the woman he thought was his aunt was really his mother.

Any additional comments?

The book was great.

not enough hero/heroine action

one of the worst romance novels I've ever read. Even though the hero/heroine interaction was quite good, there was sooooo little of it, and soooo much of other characters doing irrelevant things (e.g. men plotting revenge and violence).

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Title: Silent in the Sanctuary

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Narrator: Ellen Archer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-28-07

Publisher: Harlequin Books S.A.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 985 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Much to her surprise, the one man she had hoped to forget, the enigmatic and compelling Nicholas Brisbane, is among her father's houseguests...and he is not alone. Not to be outdone, Julia shows him that two can play at flirtation and promptly introduces him to her devoted, younger, titled Italian count.

But the homecoming celebrations quickly take a ghastly turn when one of the guests is found brutally murdered in the chapel, and a member of Lady Julia's own family confesses to the crime. Certain of her cousin's innocence, Lady Julia resumes her unlikely and deliciously intriguing partnership with Nicholas Brisbane, setting out to unravel a tangle of deceit before the killer can strike again. When a sudden snowstorm blankets the abbey like a shroud, it falls to Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane to answer the shriek of murder most foul.

Critic Reviews:

"A sassy heroine and a masterful, secretive hero. Fans of romantic mystery could ask no more." (Kirkus)

"Fans and new readers alike will welcome this sparkling sequel to Raybourn's debut Victorian mystery, Silent in the Grave....The complex mystery, a delightfully odd collection of characters, and deft period details produce a rich and funny read." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Wrong narrator listed

I downloaded this audiobook last week. The site states the narrator is Ellen Archer, who narrated the first book in the series. However, buyer beware, the narrator is Jennifer Van Dyke and it is quite a different listening experience. I have called and emailed Audible regarding the erroneous information but have rec'd no reply and I see the site has not yet been corrected. Love the book, dislike the narrator.

Brisbane and Lady Julia Are At It Again

Deanna Raybourn has created a rather unlikely but very successful duo in half-gypsy Nicholas Brisbane, a private inquiry agent [or as Sherlock Holmes preferred to call himself, a consulting detective] and the aristocratic Lady Julia Grey, one of a delightfully eccentric Victorian family. In a situation reminiscent of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries set in an isolated country house, two overlapping plots with a few red herrings occur at the March family seat of Belmont Abbey a few days before Christmas. And of course there is the recurring story of Nicholas and Lady Julia themselves. Raybourn writes with verve and a deft touch.

I simply cannot understand why the three books in the series are read by an American reader. Ellen Archer does all right with some accents, most notably Scottish ones, but since the books are in Lady Julia's voice, and it is obvious that Archer has occasional difficulty with a proper British accent (at times she sounds strangled; at others her vowels are wildly off) anyone who is either British, or who has lived in the UK, will find the reading at times irritating. For that reason, I'll only give it 4 stars, but I do recommend it.

I like the story, but...

I may have to read the rest in print. I have a sensitive ear to accents and I just can't enjoy Archer's reading. I know this must be very difficult work - having to speak for many people in different voices - so I try to be patient when I'm uncomfortable with a reader and eventually I will be immersed into the story - but it isn't working in this case. Her British accent just doesn't ring true.

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Title: Ravished

Author: Amanda Quick

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-09

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 532 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Now, caught up in the beast's clutches, Harriet must find a way to win his heart - and evade the deadly trap of a scheming villain who would see them parted for all time.

Editorial Reviews:

Narrator Anne Flosnik mines this little jewel of a romance novel for every smart, charming morsel and there's a feast here. She's especially good in the scenes where the heroine and hero go toe-to-toe negotiating and navigating their sudden marriage of convenience. Flosnik brings these two strong, passionate characters alive as they challenge themselves and are challenged by each other to get to the heart of what makes a great marriage. She catches all the fabulous nuance in these scenes; the hard-won self-knowledge and the confusing self-doubt, their strengths and blind spots, to make them one of the liveliest, most appealing pair of lovers in the genre.

And, with the smart and sexy romance at the core of this story, there's just the right amount of humor and mystery to keep things exhilarating. it's great fun to watch the heroine fight - literally throw a couple of punches in one scene - to defend the hero's honor. And Flosnik's hilarious readings of the voice-of-doom Scottish housekeeper and the heroine's growing entourage of geeky fossil hunters make this story a delight.

As their marriage pushes the hero and heroine to grow and change, the mystery plot brings them to their crisis moment. But now, with all their new insights and strengths, they work together to a resolution that will thrill listeners.

At it's very best, a romance novel should leave the listener feeling "this is exactly the best ending i would have picked for these two people - this is why they are perfect for each other!" Quick and Flosnik have done it here: the joy of listening to Ravished is seeing the passion, love, and friendship that develops between these two people. The fun is in the lively pace, clever mystery plot, and quirky humor, all of which will put this audiobook firmly on your keeper shelf to be listened to and re-listened to as years go by.

Critic Reviews:

"Although more romance than Regency - a few articles of clothing and a liberal sprinkling of the word ton suffice for atmosphere - genre aficionados will find this a spiffy read." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Anne Flosnik

I love Amanda Quick but she need to stop using Anne Flosnik as narrator

Characters voices a disappointment

This is one of my all time favorite books by Amanda Quick so I was very excited when I saw that an audible book had been done. But I was fairly disappointed in the narrator. She saw ok for reading the text but I felt that she missed the mark when it came to the characters voices - especially the hero's voice. She made him sound condescending and unpleasant. Not at all how you would want a hero to sound.

Ravished

I love Amanda Quick and this book is one of my favorites but I have a hard time listening due to narrater's voice. When she does Gidion's lines I usually end up going to something else. At this rate I will never get to the end

Book - 5 stars...Narration - 2 stars

I truly love Amanda Quick. And I am truly saddened by the fact that almost all of her books seem to be narrated by Anne Flosnik.

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Title: Make Me Love You

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Narrator: Beverley A. Crick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-05-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 551 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Johanna Lindsey delivers a sparkling, passionate tale of an earl's daughter who must convince a mysterious viscount to marry her and end his vendetta against her brother.

One duel could be considered a matter of honor, but three duels are attempted murder!

With enlightened society outraged at such reckless behavior among young noblemen, the prince regent orders Robert Whitworth, the earl of Tamdon's heir, and Lord Dominic Wolfe to end their dispute by allying their families through marriage. Whichever party refuses to comply will forfeit his lands and title.

Whitworth relishes the idea of sending his younger sister, Brooke, to his enemy's remote estate. He knows the Wolf will reject her as a bride, thereby losing his wealth and status. The Wolf, however, is determined to scare away the Whitworth chit. With dueling no longer an available means of destroying the man he abhors, he will be satisfied to see him lose his lands and title. But he doesn't expect his enemy's sister to be so resourceful or resilient.

Brooke Whitworth has been dreaming of her first Season in London, because she intends to win a husband who will take her far away from her unloving family. Instead she is being sent to the Yorkshire moors to wed a mysterious nobleman whose family is cursed and who has thrice tried to kill her brother. But there's no room in her heart for fear; this man is her means of escape. She will make him love her!

Members Reviews:

Another great JL story

The story was good, I liked the characters and the way they interacted. I liked the way they were able to work on their relationship and that the entire thing was about them building a relationship, not about how it's a "push and pull tear apart" kind of thing just to get there. I liked the extras in the story, like the dogs and horses. I'm pretty good at being able to tell what's going to happen in a book, but there was a bit of a surprise that took me quite some time to see.

I do have to say that the narrator was not my favorite. She wasn't horrible, and definitely didn't make it an unpalatable story, however she was a little drab and didn't really have very many voices between characters. I just think it's how her voice is, not really her lack of ability. Like I said, not horrid, not great. Just mundane. I'd not seek her out, but if she was the narrator for another book I wanted to read, I wouldn't turn it away.

Zero Chemistry

I listen to about one audiobook per week, many being romances. I am of the opinion that a book can be romantic, alluring and sexy without graphic sexual depictions or even actual physical contact for most of it if there is chemistry. There is no chemistry between these two whatsoever. Seriously, it was non-existent more than any other romance novel I have ever read. The story was more about a silly curse and what happened to the male lead character's sister. I honestly didn't care how it turned out and stopped listening with two hours left. If you want to be bored give it a shot.

Just Ok

The storyline was good, but I think the Narrated made it just ok for me. The voice was like nails on chalkboard. This was my first listen by this Johanna Lindsey. I would give her another chance but not by this narrator.

This book DID make me love it!

I actually finished this book within 24 hours.

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Title: Highland Fire

Subtitle: Guardians of the Stone, Book 1

Author: Tanya Anne Crosby

Narrator: James Gillies

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-17-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 430 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Scotland, 1125, the Legend Begins...

For two centuries, Aidan dún Scoti's kinsmen have guarded Scotland's greatest secret, the real Stone of Destiny. Now King David seeks an alliance with the mountain Scot. But only one woman will tempt him--the accursed beauty whose father once betrayed his clan...

Tempted by Revenge

Cursed by Aidan's people for the sins of her father, Lleas MacLaren is the one woman Aidan believes he is immune to... she is also the one woman who may bring the fierce chieftain to his knees.

Members Reviews:

Amazing!!

I love Scots and Highland books, and I must say that this book was no different. I enjoyed the way the story flowed, there was not much romance between Aidan and Lleas which suited me just fine. There was so much description to the landscape and the ancient ways that I really enjoyed. I will be reading the rest of this series.

A Lovely Highland Adventure

Lily and Aidan belonged together. I always love the strength and chivalry highlanders possess. It may make the story outcome a little predictable, but what an adventure along the way. And don't forget they are HOT HOT HOT!

Great Story!

What made the experience of listening to Highland Fire the most enjoyable?

I really loved James Gillies' Scottish brogue. He did a great job with all the characters. I especially liked his reading of the old woman's dialogue, but he also did very well with the children's voices.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Highland Fire?

One of the most memorable moments was at the end of the story, when Aiden battled Lilly's brother-in-law for his mistreatment of Lilly. Very exciting!!

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene, actually, was the birth of Aiden's and Lilly's daughter.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to listen to the book in one sitting, but that wasn't practical. I finished it in about three days.

Any additional comments?

Great story and entertaining performance! I can't wait for the next one in the series!

What a book! What a voice!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I definitely recommend this book! Why? The story is really good and listening to the amazing voice of James Gillies makes it even better. He brings it to life with passion.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Highland Fire?

I think the end is memorable. It is a twist I didn't expect. Loved it.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the book as a whole, my favourite is where Lileas and Aidan are in his chamber on their wedding night.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I can say I practically did with one or two breaks, I listened well into the night and next morning on the way to work.

Any additional comments?

I think it was a great choice by the author to have James Gillies tell her story. Wonderful story told by a passionate voice. I am looking forward to listen more.

Highland Fire

The story was very exciting. The narrator's voice was very pleasant and easy to understand.

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Title: Lair of the Lion

Author: Christine Feehan

Narrator: Abby Craden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 01-31-12

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 271 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The Beast....

Rumor said the powerful Nicolai DeMarco could command the heavens, that the beasts below did his bidding... and that he was doomed to destroy the woman he took as wife. It was whispered he was not wholly human - as untamed as his tawny mane and slashing amber eyes.

The Beauty....

Impoverished aristocrat Isabella Vernaducci would defy death itself to rescue her imprisoned brother. Shed even brave the haunted, accursed lair of the lion - the menacing palace of legendary, lethal Don Nicolai DeMarco.

The Bargain....

Then Isabella met a man whose growl was velvet, purring heat, whose eyes held dark, all-consuming desire. And when the don commanded her to become his bride, she went willingly into his muscled arms, praying shed save his tortured soul... not sacrifice her life.

Members Reviews:

Strong hero, no way a wimp is more like it.

What disappointed you about Lair of the Lion?

The "Lion" is a complete wimp, every scene he is either hiding or wimpering. Chritine Feehan had created an amazing read in the Lepard series, I was expecting that kind of male lead.

What was most disappointing about Christine Feehans story?

The discriptions are lengthy but vague, pages and pages of discription all lead up to no clear storyline. Just didn't care about the characters.

What didnt you like about Abby Cradens performance?

All her males seem like wimps. Everyone seemed confused.

Any additional comments?

Really disapointed, Feehan writes a good story, but this is not nearly her best. Maybe it would help if I had read it myself, It wouldn't have been so drawn out. If this was the first book had read of hers, I would never pick up another.

Great Book, Ridiculous Narration

What did you like best about Lair of the Lion? What did you like least?

I LOVED the story. I've read this book several times on my own. I DISLIKED the narration.

What did you like best about this story?

The story itself was fabulous.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I just cannot get into the story because whenever the female narrator tries to sound like a large, alpha male, it totally took me out of the story. It sounded so silly that I couldnt get into the scenes. The story would read, "His low voice spoke in a sensual whisper..." Well, it wasn't low and it sounded ridiculous NOT sensual. It lost me and I couldn't finish listening. I finished it by reading it on my own.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Only if the part of Nikolai isn't played by a woman trying to be a man.

Narration is annoying.

This book is a bodice ripper. I have every book Christine Feehan has written and forgive her her purple prose because she writes such a terrific story. Lair of the Lion is a perfect example, I loved it the first time I read it, which is why I bought it on Audible. But the narrator is so annoying it destroys the fun. Abby Cradens diction is impeccable but she has this very irritating habit of putting the emphasis on the last word in each SENTENCE. Does not matter if the final word is critical or NOT. She always raises her voice each time she hits the final word in every SENTENCE. After awhile this is grates like finger nails on a BLACKBOARD. It begins to drive you CRAZY. Chinese water torture has nothing on her Bloomsbury Valley Girl STYLE. Fortunately Abby Craden is not used for the Dark SERIES.

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Title: When He Was Wicked

Author: Julia Quinn

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-06

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 596 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

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.

Critic Reviews:

"[

When He Was Wicked contains] sprightly prose, feverish love scenes, and well-developed secondary characters." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

LOVED IT!!

I first read the book and absolutely loved it! I couldn't wait to hear it on audio and was not disappointed. The narration is amazing and perfectly brings the characters to life. I've since ordered It's in His Kiss and On The Way to A Wedding and can't wait to listen to them as well. I really hope the earlier volumes of the Bridgerton series will soon be made available on audio, since I think the first four volumes in the series are superior and would love to hear them as well.

Engrossing and beautifully written

Oh, well done! This is a fantastic audiobook and a spot on reading by Simon Prebble. I had never read a book by Julia Quinn, but I had listened to Simon Prebble read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - over and over again. So it was the reader whom attracted me to this book - and now I've listened to it many times over as it's a beautifully written story. The angst reminded me of Lymond in the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett when he couldn't have his beloved Phillipa. This story in turn led me to the other Quinn audiobook available at audible, It's In His Kiss, and I loved that one, too - same great reader. I look forward to more audiobooks from this author and I hope they use the same reader - fantastic combination.

LOVE this book... It made me cry...

This was a wonderful read. The story is wonderful with just enough spicy love scenes. The narrator helped me to really connect with the characters. I am not typically moved to tears over a book, but this story moved me to tears (both sad and happy) tears. You will not be disappointed.

When she was indecisive

I usually enjoy Julia Quinn's work but this installment in the series is painful to get through. The story revolves around the widowed heroine's reticence to be happy after her husband's death. Loving again feels like betrayal. And so she agonizes for 10 hours while the hero does his best to endure. He does a better job being patient than I did - I grew bored and frustrated with a plot based on frustration rather than tension - when it finally resolved I was too frazzled by the ordeal to care much. A pity.

Not What I Expected From Julia Quinn

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I don't think so. There is way too much sexual activity. It seemed like the long detailed sexual scenes took up 1/2 the book.

Would you be willing to try another book from Julia Quinn? Why or why not?

Yes, Julia Quinn is a very talented author, that is why "When He Was Wicked" was unexpected.