Get New Releases Audiobooks in Romance, Historical Best Sellers

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Title: Willow

Author: Linda Lael Miller

Narrator: Lori Gardner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-19-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Dear Listener: Willow is a novel from early in my career, and it was originally shorter than many of my other historical romances. Now, I'm delighted to be able to share this brand-new edition with you. I've taken the opportunity to expand Willow to include the subplots, love scenes, and deeper characterization that are possible with a longer book. I hope you enjoy listening to this retelling as much as I have enjoyed visiting these characters and this story once again.

In 1883, the railroad had only recently come to Montana Territory, and outlaws still lurked in the hills. Willow Gallagher, who spent her early childhood in an outlaw camp until her father finally found her, is torn by divided loyalties. Newly married to handsome railroad baron Gideon Marshall, she finds fiery passion in Gideon's embrace until she discovers he is on a mission...a mission to capture Willow's outlaw brother, Steven. Now Willow must choose - betray her brother, or risk the love she has found with Gideon, the love she has dreamed of all her life, to save Steven. It is a choice that could break her heart....

May you be blessed,

Linda Lael Miller

Members Reviews:

Willow

Looked forward to hearing a book I had read too many years ago. It was one that introduced me to Linda's novels. It did not disappoint! It's a Keeper!

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Title: A Jewel in the Vaults

Subtitle: Flights of Love, Book 1

Author: Lily Baldwin

Narrator: James McCreadie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-07-15

Publisher: Lily Baldwin

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

She has never met a man like him before. Then again, he has never met a lad like her.

In 1802, Edinburgh's poverty-ridden Old Town is rife with danger, but it is the only home Robbie MacKenzie has ever known. To safeguard herself against the worst villains of the street, Robbie conceals her femininity behind her shorn hair, dirt-smeared face, and tattered breeches. To all the world she is a lad, but beneath the ruse is a woman aching to break free.

Leaving his beloved Highlands behind in pursuit of his prodigal brother, Conall MacKay journeys to Edinburgh. There, he solicits the aid of a young street lad named Robbie. But Conall soon realizes that there is more to both Robbie and Edinburgh's Old Town than what meets the eye.

In a world where wickedness governs and darkness reigns, a savage struggle for dignity, survival, and love begins.

Members Reviews:

Loved it!

Robbie conceals herself from being a lass by cutting her hair, wearing dirt and bruises and raggedy clothes. She lived in the vaults to survive. Her mother sacrificed herself to save her. Conall came and she helped him save his brother. Love conquers all! This is one of my favorite stories. Don't miss this one.

Wonderful story with rich atmosphere and places many writers ignore when telling stories from this time.

Lily Baldwin weaves a wonderful tale set in the bowels of Edinburgh. Of a woman cast off before she was born by her father, loved by her mother and hidden from the world under the guise of a boy. During her struggles to survive a man from the highlands comes to find his wayward brother and she's forced to face what she's ignored her own needs and a world she left behind.

James McCreadie's narration brings the story to life. This was a wonderful way to discover this story and my first audio book. I'm thrilled with it.

Loved this audio version of A Jewel in the Vaults

Even though I had already read the book, I was lucky enough to win a copy of the audio for review. I love Lily Baldwin's book and this novella was no exception! James McCreadie was very impressive in his narration of the story as well. His accent/burr added much to the story as well as his innate ability to successfully distinguish between the character's voices so that the listener was able to concentrate on the flow of the story and not have to figure out who was actually speaking. I would easily recommend any of Lily Baldwin's books and this audio version to my friends who enjoy listening to the audio versions. They leave you hands free and make you feel like you are right there with the phenomenal characters Ms. Baldwin creates.

Captivating from start to finish!

I loved this story! It had elements of Les Miserables that pulled at my heartstrings, and similarly was a tale of sacrificing all for love. Combine that with braw highlanders and narration in a magnificent brogue. Well. What more can a lass want?

Quite An Unusual Love Story

What did you love best about A Jewel in the Vaults?

This is not the typical love story. I've read stories before where the heroine has to pretend to be male, for situational reasons, but I've not read or heard much about a young woman who was raised as a male to save her from the dangerous existence she was born into. I really appreciated the H/h characters, too. Robbie is a good person who has lived since birth in an underworld of the lowest of people.

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Title: The Widowed Countess

Subtitle: The Sons of the Aristocracy, Book 2

Author: Linda Rae Sande

Narrator: Scott Richard Ehredt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-15

Publisher: Linda Rae Sande

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

If two brothers love the same woman, is two times the romance worth double the trouble?

When Clarinda married the Earl of Norwick, she thought she was marrying the Fitzwilliam twin who courted her. Little does she know that it was David's identical twin brother Daniel, the spare heir, who captured her heart with pink roses and delectable kisses. So when the rakish David married her and made her his countess, an embittered Daniel left London to oversee the earl's estates in Sussex.

Four years later, David's sudden death forces a reunion of the star-crossed lovers and the appearance of Clarinda's randy mother-in-law. Clarinda thinks Daniel despises her for being a fortune hunter - and because she's pregnant with a possible heir to the earldom. Daniel knows Clarinda despises him, but he can't remember what caused their last tête-à-tête to end in a nasty argument. And David's ghost is paying nocturnal visits to Clarinda while annoying Daniel with instructions to pursue his widow and pleas to discover who - or what - caused his untimely death.

Who can be in mourning when twin brothers are causing so much trouble? Or is two times the romance worth a bit of sibling rivalry? Twins double the fun in The Widowed Countess.

Members Reviews:

The Countess and the Twins

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

Yes, any one who loves audio books and the Regency era will love this book. This author is a great writer with a fantastic imagination.

What did you like best about this story?

This is the first book of Linda's that I have read that added the woo woo factor. I am an avid paranormal reader and really enjoyed this book even more than I would have without it.

What about Scott Richard Ehredts performance did you like?

His voice is fantastic for the theatrical stage or in an audio book portraying middle age to older characters but I would appreciate a younger voice to go with the characters.

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

Yes, but I started it on a day where I was coming and going too much to get it read in one sitting. The story was paced well and kept me interested.

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Title: Pompous Schemes

Subtitle: Pemberley Book 2

Author: Ayr Bray

Narrator: Stevie Zimmerman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-05-15

Publisher: Ayr Bray, Author

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

From best-selling author Ayr Bray comes the latest in her entertaining and satisfying Pemberley collection.

Thrown from his horse, Colonel Richard Fitzwiliam is left to traverse the remaining 15 miles to Pemberley on foot. Richard never imagined the first carriage to cross his path would contain the one woman he thought he would never see again.

Lady Aimée de Bourbon the only child of Prince du Sang Geoffroy de Bourbon, Marquis of Agen had captured and nearly broke Richard's heart four years earlier. He had loved her and planned to give up his bachelor ways, but her father intended her to marry a royal, not an English Earl's second son. Now Lady Aimée is affianced to Señor Duarte de Cortázar, a lesser Portuguese royal.

While lost in his thoughts of his prior love, the carriage is robbed, Lady Aimée's dowry stolen, and Lord Agen is injured. Colonel Fitzwilliam directs the driver to take them to Pemberley where Mr. Darcy and his wife Elizabeth take them in and offer refuge and a place to heal.

Ancient customs of Dom Duarte's family forbids marriage without the dowry present at the wedding and now with the dowry stolen, Lady Aimée and her father fear the de Cortázar's will call off the marriage. But Lady Aimée intends to have love and will let nothing stand in her way, even if it means hurting the man she once professed to love.

In Pompous Schemes, Ayr Bray continues her masterfully created world around Pemberley. A world that will make you want to submerse yourself into the fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and romance and never leave.

Members Reviews:

Lady Aimée de Bourbon ruined this for me!

This story had such promise. At first, I thought that Darcy and Colonel Richard Fitzwiliam might take part in an adventure, but the story quickly took a turn for the worst introducing a set of self-obsessed set of characters--Lady Aimée de Bourbon and her father. I understand that a dowry was of the utmost importance then, but the mystery of its disappearance left me wanting. I'm not typically the sort that predicts the outcome of a mystery correctly, but in this case, it was really obvious. Overall, I found the story pretentious and hard to get into, both because of the plot line and because of the narration.

Stevie Zimmerman provides lovely voices to the Darcy's and most characters, but the damsels in distress are given especially obnoxious voices. They are nearly grating. In this story, Lady Aimée de Bourbon is that character. She's such a big part of the story, hence it was really hard to bear which made such a short book seem endless.

I'm glad I powered through it ,though. If only because Ayre Bray presented the Darcy's with such candor.

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Title: The French Passion

Author: Diane Du Pont

Narrator: Jan Cramer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Manon d'Epinay is on her way to Paris to wed one of the most powerful nobles in France, an adviser to King Louis. But en route, her coach is attacked by marauding revolutionaries. To save her family, Manon strikes a devil's bargain with a seductive highwayman that will seal her fate. For revolution is about to tear France apart - and transform her life forever.

The French Passion is the vibrant story of three ardent people at a momentous turning point in history: Manon, a daring, impoverished aristocrat caught between two charismatic men, who does what she must to survive; Andre, whose past is cloaked in mystery and who risks his life to protect the woman he loves as he fights to bring justice and equality to his countrymen; and the Comte de Crequi, bound by the age-old laws of nobility and class, whose passions for his country and for Manon run deeper than anyone could have imagined.

Members Reviews:

Raison d'etre (reason for existence)

The French Passion is an excellent example of a Historical Romance from the 70's. Which means it is not a PC read. You get an equal amount of history wrapped around a compelling story filled with complete degradation of the h. But most importantly what you get is wonderful prose sprinkled throughout a fast paced read. The words spoken by the characters made them interesting and multi-dimensional.

The Comte de Crequi - The seasoned nobleman, confidant and advisor to King Louis XV and XVI. He was a nonpareil on the battlefield and a shrewd tactician when it came to courtly matters.

"Whenever I'm hurt, a demon possesses me. Revenge is the only way to exorcise my demon."

Manon D`Epinay - a descendant from a once wealthy and powerful aristocratic family now fallen on hard times. She will do anything to protect the people she loves.

"My aversion to selling myself was gone. I would have to rely on my body and my wits to enable myself and those dependent on me to survive."

Andre - A poet, revolutionary and highwayman.

"Is there any greater depravity than to fatten game while humans starve."

The French Passion is Manon raison d'etre, she lives to protect her sickly brother and will do anything to help those in need to the point she constantly puts herself in dangerous situations during a time when a person could be sent to the Bastille at the whim of a powerful nobleman. Her beauty and youth will bring her much hardship and her honesty will be her destruction. Her guardian ,the Come de Crequi plans to marry the 16 yr old Manon, only to have his plans dashed when she is compromised by Andre a highwayman on the road to her wedding. Thus starts the tragic story of a love triangle (some might say it was definitely a triangle, but not love, more like lust) set amongst the dawn of the French Revolution.

Be warned there are several rapes in this story, and the h is able to forgive and actual come to love 2 of her rapist. I know, I know..... it was written in the 70's. On the back cover of the book in the description it actually states the h was passionately raped. And yes there are a lot of TSTL moments, but and this is a big but, the Comte de Crequi was the star of this book. He was the typical 70's anti-hero, he was ugly and 34 yrs older than the h. He was a man you did not want to cross and he lived up to his reputation. I get so tired of the so called evil characters in books today not living up to their reputations.

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Title: The Emerald Embrace

Author: Diane Du Pont

Narrator: Luci Christian

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-12-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Orphaned by her father, degraded by her guardian, young Liberty Moore sought refuge at sea in the arms of a handsome stranger, unaware that he was the naval hero Stephen Delaplane, unaware as she surrendered her innocence that she would be taken from him and forced to become the bride of the most powerful ruler in the East....

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Title: Rules for a Lady

Subtitle: A Lady's Lessons, Book 1

Author: Jade Lee

Narrator: Fiona Thraille

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-16-15

Publisher: ePublishing Works!

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

If a lady is to become a countess, there are rules....

Number one: A lady does not attempt to come out in London society disguised as her deceased half sister.

Number two: A lady does not become enamored of her guardian, even when his masterful kisses and whispered words of affection tempt her beyond all endurance.

Number three: A lady may not climb barefoot from her bedroom onto a rose trellis nor engage in fisticuffs with riffraff, even if it is to rescue street urchins.

Number four: No matter how impossible the odds, a lady always gives her hand and her heart - though not necessarily in that order - to the one man who sees her as she truly is and loves her despite her flagrant disobedience of the rules for a lady.

Newly revised.

A Lady's Lessons, in series order:

Rules for a Lady Major Wyclyff's Campaign Miss Woodley's Kissing Experiment A Lady's Lessons (Box Set)

Critic Reviews:

"...comparable to notable Regency author Marian Devon." (

Romantic Times BookClub Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Fiona Thraille does excellent work.

Would you listen to Rules for a Lady again? Why?

Yes cause Fiona Thraille is an excellent narrator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Lady.

What about Fiona Thrailles performance did you like?

Everything she did was professionally done.

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

No I workout to it.

Any additional comments?

More please

cousins in love...creepy

Would you try another book from Jade Lee and/or Fiona Thraille?

I would not try another JL book. This is the second one that I can't finish. She is trying to copy a Julie Garwood style, but just can't pull it off. The issue about first cousins falling in love may be suitable for those times, but I found it difficult. My cousins are like siblings, so I could not get past that hurdle.The writing is just not good. I can't understand how other reviews thought this was a great book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jade Lee again?

Most of this is just cliché. Guardian falling in love with difficult ward, love/hate because one is not proper, and of course there has to be the saving of a " street urchin".There is no character development. the second day, the hero knows so much about the heroine that he can tell " she wants to confess something to him". I know people for years and can't tell that. The heroine's character is not believable. If she was from a small village and an outcast as a bastard, how can she have so much arrogance. How can someone like that discuss Egyptian death/burial rituals. What are they teaching in country villages to poor bastard children....Egyptian history!?! Give me a break. Nothing rings true..

What aspect of Fiona Thrailles performance would you have changed?

The narrator was good, but the dialogue was not. This is the second book of JL that has some terrible dialogue. Doesn't she read through some of it to know how boring it is. The poor narrator had nothing to work with in this book.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story is just done to death. The only twist where the heroine takes on the identity of her dead half-sister did not enhance the book. I felt that such a big lie could not be overcome. The heroine just did not have qualities that made me like her.

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Title: A Texan's Choice

Subtitle: The Heart of a Hero, Book 3

Author: Shelley Gray

Narrator: Mia Gaskin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-15-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Texas, 1874. Long ago Scout Proffitt gave up on ever being a man of honor like his Civil War hero brother, Clayton. But when Scout steps foot on the rundown remnants of the Circle C ranch, he wonders if maybe - just maybe - the Lord has something different intended for him.

Rosemarie has lived most of her life doubting her worth and shouldering the blame for her brother's death. But when a stranger rides onto her ranch claiming he owns it, she suddenly is given a choice: either keep looking at the dark side of life...or dare to dream.

Members Reviews:

Pretty Decent

Scout is a fascinating character, but not nearly enough was done with him. Again, I appreciate the author's ability to make the world far more gritty than can be found in most Christian novels, without sacrificing that feeling of Hope that I, as a Christian reader, am looking for. That said, once again there was a great deal of build-up without much in the way of pay-off as far as the action side of the plot went. The whole big showdown just kinda fizzled out making everyone look like they were getting worked up over nothing. Additionally, while I appreciate that Scout's trying to take an active role in his redemption, he comes across as far too nice and peace-loving in the beginning of the book for this to have the intended weight, unless the author was to put a cruel twist at the end.

Additionally, the author had some particularly annoying inconsistencies in this book. Rio changed from a black to a white horse, from a stallion, to a gelding, to a mare. Scout's gun clicked twice before he cocked the hammer, and then he holstered it twice in a row without unholstering it. Proofreading.

Complaints aside, I'm pretty sure I read this in a sitting and a half, so it's definitely not a bad read.

Loved It!

This book had several stories going on. At first, I didn't think I liked that, but then the stories came together, and I saw the purpose in all of them. I thought this one was better than A TEXAN'S HONOR. Scout Proffitt had been a cold-blooded killer, but lately he wanted more. He wanted a normal life. When he won a Texas ranch in a poker game, he was hoping this would be his chance to start over. When he gets to the run-down ranch, he finds the man dead, his wife and one daughter packing to leave, and the other daughter left behind. Rosemarie was a pretty little thing, but her family had made her feel worthless all her life, and blamed her for her brother's death, when his drowning had been an accident. Can two misfits who are so different find the happiness they so long for?

This was a well-written novel with almost no grammatical errors. I found only one awkward sentence--"After he glancing her way, Scout rocked back on his heels." I wish there'd been more faith included, but it's still a good, clean novel. I have loved this series, and A TEXAN'S CHOICE is certainly a five-star for me. I wish there'd be another one about Russell. This series is too good to end yet.

A Texan's Choice

What a palatable tension builds in the last book of this series, it was terrific! All three novels are stories of hope and redemption when all seems lost, broken and the characters despair of life in dire situations.

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Title: Highland Sanctuary

Author: Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Narrator: Elle Newlands

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Gavin MacKenzie, a chieftain heir who is hired to restore the ancient Castle of Braigh, discovers a hidden village of outcasts who have created their own private sanctuary from the world. Among them is Serena Boyd, a mysterious and comely lass who captures Gavin's heart in spite of harboring a deadly past that could destroy her future. The villagers happen to be keeping an intriguing secret as well. When a fierce enemy launches an attack against them, greed leads to bitter betrayal. As Gavin prepares a defense, the villagers unite in a bold act of faith, showing how God's love is more powerful than any human force on Earth.

Members Reviews:

Intriguing!

My review today is on the book Highland Sanctuary, a historical novel. I had never read any of Jennifer''s books but I have enjoyed this one. The story starts in the year 1457. A girl child is born, a disappointment to her father but as he gazes upon her she has a seizure. The father is convinced the child is demon possessed and orders her destroyed.

Twenty years later Serena Boyd has fallen out of a cart and is injured. Gavin MacKenzie and his brother Leith come to the aid of a mother and daughter. Serena has struck her head and Gavin takes her home. They live in a village of outcasts, their home a hovel with dirt floors but Gavin is taken with this young girl.

Gavin is the eldest son of a chieftain, Leith the younger son, they have come to the Braigh Castle to do a repair job on the castle and to find out who killed the former laird of the castle. Leith needs to prove himself as the leader of his men since his brother will become the next chieftain.

Serena keeps the castle running smooth and is a woman her laird would marry if she would consent. She fears her secret will get out and that she will be burned at the stake. She can trust no one.

When her nursemaid becomes ill, Gavin takes her to the near by village to buy medicine for her. There she has a seizure, the woman selling herbs declares her demon possessed and the village comes after them. Gavin does everything in his power to protect her but things are taken out of his hands.

Serena's father is the man that the church call to remove the demon. It is an intriguing story and I'm sure you will enjoy it. You may find it on Amazon. God bless you all.Highland Sanctuary

Wonderful story of love and sacrifice...

Be sure you have tissues at the ready when reading this book. It will have you in tears in spots, but there are enough joyous situations as well. I love Scotland and I love historic novels. Most of all, I love Christian novels. This book hits all three points! Enjoy! A must read!

Highland Sanctuary

Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor was a very exciting read. The struggles of being different and outcast was very touching as they were able to bond into a loving family.

Love Story, on several levels

I liked the story although I did find that it seemed at times to drag some. I found the speech of the people was easy to follow and not distracting at all. Maybe because I have read a few books with language similar and was familiar with it from that. Serena's secret was something of a surprise but i thought was handled well, especially with the superstitions of the people of that time. The people of the "Village of Outcasts" were interesting and I liked how Serena and her mother, Evelina relied on their faith in God during many of their challenges.

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Title: Seasons of Change

Subtitle: Loring-Abbott Series Volume 2

Author: Elizabeth Johns

Narrator: Vanessa Johansson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-09-15

Publisher: Elizabeth Johns

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Lord Vernon and Lady Beatrice Chalcroft had been betrothed since childhood. However, unlike most arranged marriages, Vernon had loved Beatrice since the first time he saw her. The season they should have been married found the relationship severed by jealousy and pride.

Lady Beatrice was sent away from home to reform her spiteful behavior, and finds herself reduced from a duke's daughter to a life of service in Scotland trying to learn the ways of the less privileged. Lord Vernon, hurt and determined to forgo love, decides to move on with an unemotional marriage of convenience.

Will the two find their way back together again? Or will Vernon choose another bride first? Will Beatrice be able to humble herself and reform her hurtful, spoiled ways?

Members Reviews:

Beatrice gets her reward.

This book was sooooo good!! When I first started reading and realized the heroine of this story is actually the villain of the last book I almost stopped reading. I hate it when that happens since I have usually worked up quite a dislike for the person by then and can't accept the fact that they could have a nice side. Well, Beatrice has to face such awful situations it is easy to feel sorry for her and as she progresses in learning she is not the center of the world; and her changes are so valid you can't help but admire her.

Beatrice had the misfortune of being born to the worse parents in the world. Her father tends to pull away from people when he is upset and her mother is the most jealous, vindictive, and annoying woman in the Ton. So poor Beatrice is ignored by her father and overwhelmed by her mother who molds her to be exactly like herself. Then when Beatrice acts like her mother expects her to, her father goes off and decides she needs to be sent to a convent as punishment. Her lifelong friend and hopeful fiance doesn't want her sent away to a convent so he suggests her father send her to the fiance's hunting lodge in Scotland, which part of it is being turned into an orphanage. The fiance's Aunt Mary is there supervising the changes that need to be made and can supervise Beatrice until she is ready to return to London. It should only take a couple of weeks for Beatrice, traveling alone on public mail coaches and such, to see what life is like on the other side and appreciate what her family has given her. Her father agrees to this plan but arranges for someone to be secretly following her at all times so she won't get into danger. (Her father tries to control everything.)

When Beatrice finally arrives at the orphanage there is some miscommunication. Turns out Aunt Mary and Beatrice's mother were rivals when they were younger and both of them hate the other. Aunt Mary expects Beatrice to be just like her mother and is very cold toward her. All the staff think Beatrice is some rich family's spoiled daughter who got into trouble (sexually) and was sent to Scotland to hide it. So they have no reason to like her or help her.