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Title: The Light Horseman's Daughter

Author: David Crookes

Narrator: Val Horwood

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-08-13

Publisher: Big Indian

Ratings: 1 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

While resisting eviction from the Queensland family property during the Great Depression, Jack McKenna is shot dead. Left destitute with her crippled mother and young twin brothers to care for, Emma McKenna fights back. In her struggle to survive she must overcome ruthless wealthy relatives, racial bigotry, child abuse, corrupt financiers, and choose between the love of two very different men.

Critic Reviews:

"I couldn't put it down, entertaining and easy to read." (Brisbane Courier Mail)

"Crookes unveils areas of Australia's suspect and much-avoided past in a natural and engrossing style." (Melbourne Herald Sun)

Members Reviews:

The Light Horseman's Daughter

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

I would not recommend this book to a friend.

What did you like best about this story?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Plenty of true historical / political background was woven into the storyline, putting the fiction in its true context, and making it more enjoyable.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The reading was stilted and uncomfortable to listen to, as though the narrator was having difficulty seeing the words. The recording quality was the worst I have listened to from Audible, as though it was in a tin box with many variations in quality and frequent "noises off" which were most distracting. I was enjoying the story enough to persevere with the poor quality of the sound, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else.

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Title: Moon over Natal: Love Flies No Battle Flag

Subtitle: Moonlit Romances

Author: Beverly Enwall

Narrator: Beverly Enwall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-13

Publisher: Asgaard Viking Editions

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Hadley Vanderveer and her twin brother Harry, born and raised in Amsterdam, never expected to live in South Africa, but the sudden death of their father and their Dutch grandfather's reprisals for his son's having married an English woman force them, with their mother, to sail off to the British colony of Natal to live with their "mythical" English grandfather who, not approving of his daughter's choice of husband, had long since sailed off to seek his fortune in South Africa.

Expecting a lonely, isolated life in a strange land, to their surprise, their English grandfather, formerly a colonel in the British Army, has acquired a fortune, a large, comfortable house on the edge of the veldt, and a wide circle of friendships which include British and Boers (Dutch living in South Africa) as well as Zulu employees. But before a year has passed, the Second Anglo-Boer War breaks out, and as happens in a war, families are split, friendships are shattered, and love is put to the test.

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Title: His Dark Lady

Author: Victoria Lamb

Narrator: Carole Boyd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-13

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

London, 1583. When young, aspiring playwright William Shakespeare encounters Lucy Morgan, one of Queen Elizabeth Is ladies-in-waiting, the two fall passionately in love. He declares Lucy the inspiration for his work, but what secret is Will hiding from his muse?

Meanwhile, Lucy has her own secret - and one that could destroy her world if exposed. No longer the chaste maid so valued by the Virgin Queen, she also bore witness to the clandestine wedding of Lettice Knollys and Robert Dudley, a match forbidden by the monarch.

England is in peril. Queen Elizabeths health is deteriorating, her throne under siege from Catholic plotters and threats of war with Spain. Faced with deciding the fate of her long-term prisoner, Mary, Queen of Scots, she needs a trusted circle of advisors around her now more than ever. But who can she turn to when those closest to her have proved disloyal?

And how secure is Lucys position at court, now that she has learned the dangerous art of keeping secrets?

Members Reviews:

Will Shakespeare as a young man

I have now read all Victoria Lamb's books and loved them all. I particularly enjoyed meeting Will Shakespeare as a passionate young man and getting an insight of how he might have become a playwright. And since I love historical novels in the English courts, this was an easy sell to me.

Infused with intense passion and electrifying tension this suspenseful historical novel is a real page-turner!

Having already familiarized myself with author Victoria Lamb through reading her Young Adult historical story 'Witchstruck', my expectations were high as to what her novels for an adult audience would be like. Despite the credibility of this story and the detailed descriptions that paint a realistic picture of the Tudor court, unfortunately this story lacked in authentic factual details regarding some of those events concerning Shakespeare. Nevertheless the author deftly interwove an exquisite tale of terrible secrets and deception that was utterly compelling and a thoroughly engaging read. What this novel lacks in actual historical facts more than excels in readability, as to the fascinatingly complex characters and an undeniably absorbing story. Swept away by the majestic aura and evocative ambience, I was rather impressed by this well-crafted, scintillating story that made for an entertaining adventure into the past!

Set in London, 1583 `His Dark Lady' is about Lucy Morgan who inspires the famous William Shakespeare. Queen Elizabeth's throne is in jeopardy as her kingdom is currently in peril, and so she turns towards her most trusted advisors in the hopes for undivided loyalty and advice. Little does the Queen realize that underneath the mask lies a tangled web of deception, wherein Lucy herself is forced to keep dangerous secrets hidden.

This character-driven story explores the bitter rivalry and underhand events that ensued within this period of history, with the notable figure of Shakespeare thrown-in to the mix. Colourful and vibrant this starkly poignant tale is as far removed from a romance as you possibly could have; for it highlights the gritty harshness of the times with incredible boldness.

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Title: Charted Waters: A Short Story

Author: Nick Wisseman

Narrator: Kathleen Godwin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-25-13

Publisher: Nick Wisseman

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the middle of a nighttime battle during the latter stages of the French Revolution, a British ship smashes into a massive black cliff hundreds of miles from any known landmass. Just as bewildered as its now crippled adversary, the pursuing French ship holds its fire until morning, when the crews of both vessels are struck dumb by the impossible regularity of the cliff's perfectly vertical sides and endless surface.

Over the next week, Ryan, the English captain, and Martin, the French captain, form an uneasy alliance in their quest to unravel the mystery of the impossible cliff and keep its inescapable presence from causing their crews to mutiny.

Charted Waters first appeared in the Spring 2008 edition of Mysterical-E.

Members Reviews:

Not History but a Rehash of the Pathos of the Assassination

If you want to relive the pathos surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy, you may like this book. If you are interested in history look elsewhere. Mayo's first problem is that he seems to be infected with a now passé obsession with Jack and Jackie as combining the characteristics of rock stars and saints (and in JFK's case, political/diplomatic genius). We now know that the reality was somewhat different. Another irritating aspect, as alluded to in my first sentence, is that Mayo seems to be fascinated with people crying over JFK's death. It seems that everybody in the book (other than Oswald) is either always on the verge of tears or crying. Jack Ruby seems to be crying all the time. No doubt there were tears shed, even by grown men, but dwelling on it is maudlin. Finally, Mayo continually focuses on how many of the government/military people close to JFK seemed to have a very inappropriate inability to transfer loyalty to their new leader. "MY president is back there in the casket," and so forth. Some of this certainly happened in a moment of great stress and is quite understandable... for an hour or two. Focusing on it - almost as if it were, in Mayo's mind, laudable - is a disservice to the dedicated men (all men as I recall) whose job it was to protect and assist the President - the office, not the individual who holds it from time to time. In all, the excessive emotional content of the book masks the history. And by the way, Bob McNamara was Secretary of Defense (not Secretary of State for Defense, whatever that may be).

The Monsters Around Us

Charted Water by Nick Wisseman is a very short story that will take longer to read than a first look would indicate. This story is all about time as the reader will immediately see by segment hearings. To assign a category, segments in italics are more about ships and crew. It is about their attempts, to include the two captains, to deal with a monster which has a very real presence that physically blocks the movement of ships. Items in non-italic type refer to either the dialogue between two ship captains; Martin, a French sea captain, or a monologue from Ryan, an English sea captain.

Readers donât know the historical period. Actions take place in a time of sailing ships and at a time when there were probably hostilities between French and English navies. In this story, hostilities dissolve as crews try to work together to survive. The captains cooperate outwardly but never actually agree on anything. As far as the present incident time of the story, the tale is presented from the end to the beginning. We see Ryan in the present finishing the story.

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Title: Lizzie and the Colonel

Author: Beverly Enwall

Narrator: Beverly Enwall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 26 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-17-13

Publisher: Asgaard Viking Editions

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Lt. Col. John Laurens, son of one of South Carolina's wealthiest planters and aide-de-camp to General Washington as well as battlefield hero, had two passions. One, to free the colonies from England. The other, when the war was won, to free the slaves. He had a plan whereby slaves, having served during the war in a specially formed regiment, would have their freedom and 50 pounds sterling to start a free life. He had designed uniforms for that regiment and convinced his father, Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, to let him have, as a start, 40 able-bodied men of their own 250 slaves (that included women and children) and to put through Congress permission for John to recruit 3,000 slaves for this regiment. At Valley Forge he met up with his father's good friend from Georgia, General McIntosh, whose father had tried, alongside Ogelthorpe in 1740 to keep slavery out of Georgia. At Valley Forge John also met the two McIntosh girls who had come up from Georgia to keep house for their father during winter camp. This is a story of the Revolutionary war, from Valley Forge to Philadelphia to CharlesTown to Savannah and back, and it is also a story of the men who fought, the women who waited, a war many thought impossible for the colonies to win, and a love a man and a woman thought just as impossible. And yet

Members Reviews:

A credible historical romance set during the American revolution

The novelty of this story is that the principal characters are Southerners. The author adheres closely to history where the facts are known or established and her ventures into invented facts do no extreme damage to the established outline of history. Several prominent but unsung re

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Title: Disgrace and Favour

Author: Jeremy Potter

Narrator: Steven Cree

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Disgrace and Favour is a novel of life on the border in the dying years of Elizabeth I's reign and of intrigue and immorality at the court of King James. It is the story of the Queen's cousin, Sir Robert Carey, who was disgraced for marrying without her consent, of his struggle to restore his fortunes under her successor, and his realisation that favour among the hazards of a decadent court was even less appealing than a hard but untrammelled life in exile on the Border. It is the story, too, of the hanging of Geordie Bourne; of the life and death of Prince Henry, most gifted of the Stuarts; of Robert Carr, the royal favourite who became the only first minister of a British monarch to be convicted of murder; of Frances Howard, the beauty of the age and twice a countess, on the state of whose maidenhead depended the government of the country; of the mysterious poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury in the Tower of London, and the meteoric career of George Villiers. Many of the other rich and bizarre characters of the age make an appearance in these pages. They are headed by the awesome queen who terrorised her courtiers and the far-from-majestic king who united Scotland and England and proclaimed himself God's vice-regent on Earth but displayed a strange variety of human weaknesses.

Jeremy Potter served the Richard III Society as Chairman from 1971-1989. During his chairmanship, the Society launched several important initiatives, including the commissioning of a heroic statue of Richard III (on display in Castle Gardens, Leicester), the securing of royal patronage from H.R.H. Richard Duke of Gloucester, and the broadcast of a trial of Richard III, with Lord Elwyn-Jones, former Lord Chancellor, presiding. During his tenure, the Society also became active in sponsoring the publication of 15th-century source documents and works of current scholarship on the period. It also created the Richard III and Yorkist History Trust, which provides financial support for graduate study and publishing. Potter was elected President of the society at its Annual General Meeting in London, October 4, 1997.

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Title: Treason's Tide

Author: Robert Wilton

Narrator: Cameron Stewart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

July 1805: Napoleon's army masses across the Channel - Britain is within hours of invasion and defeat. Only one thing stands in the way - an obscure government bureau of murky origins and shadowy purpose: The Comptrollerate General for Scrutiny and Survey. And, rescued from a shipwreck, his past erased, Tom Roscarrock is their newest agent.In England, the man who recruited Roscarrock has disappeared, his agents are turning up dead, and reports of a secret French fleet are panicking the authorities. In France, a plan is underway to shatter the last of England's stability. Behind the clash of fleets and armies, there lies a secret world of intrigue, deception, treachery and violence - and Roscarrock is about to be thrown into it headfirst.

Robert Wilton has held a variety of posts in the British Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and Cabinet Office. He was advisor to the Prime Minister of Kosovo in the lead-up to the country's independence, and has now returned there as a senior international official. He divides his time between Kosovo and Cornwall.

Waht the narrator Says

"Robert Wilton does for cloak-and-dagger skulduggery in the Napoleonic Wars what George MacDonald Fraser does for later 19th century episodes such as the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny in his Flashman novels. Treasons Tide brought the era to life for me; the intervening couple of centuries just melted away. Human nature hasnt changed, and espionage is not an exclusively modern phenomenon. I loved narrating this book....more, please!" Cameron Stewart on narrating Treason's Tide.

Critic Reviews:

"A sparkling gem of a novel; not only a gripping espionage thriller that has the extra thrill of being grounded in genuine history, but a beautiful, lyrical novel alive with the sheer joy of language." (MC Scott)

Members Reviews:

Surprisingly enthralling

This was first published under the title "The Emperor's Gold".

I had borrowed the second book in the series from the Library, but on realising that there was an earlier title, ordered that from Audible. It was so brilliantly read by Cameron Stewart that I ordered the second as an audiobook as well.

The story, based around Napoleon's proposed invasion of England in 1805, is interesting in itself. That it is based on a secret archive from the Comptrollerate-General for Scrutiny & Survey ( a precursor of MI5 and MI6), leads to a fascinating book. It is a long and complicated one, with plots and counter-plots, but is well worth persevering with.

Land, sea and life

This has been a most interesting listen,to

A remarkable tale, well written and beautifully

Read, looking forward to next one

decent discount read

What did you like best about Treason's Tide? What did you like least?

it was an interesting take on the espionage genre, setting the book in the time of napoleon was a not something i would ever have thought of. the problem i had was that it was rather slow to get started, i was over hallway through the book before i become interested and really enjoyed it.

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Title: Thunder, Lightning, and Pillars of Smoke

Author: Michael Schnorr

Narrator: Kyle Brower

Format: Abridged

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-27-13

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"Eli isn't the settling down type; he's always got adventure on his mind," said Grandpa Elisha, looking forlornly at the fire. He took another swig of flip.

"Adventure is what killed my older brother at Port Royal." He let out a tired sigh as he looked Elisha in the eye.

"Eli...Elisha..." said Grandpa Blackman softly. He looked into Elisha's eyes. "I can see you have made up your mind already; you're going, aren't you, son?"

"That I am."

Elisha Blackman swore to his father that he would never again volunteer for a foolish battle, but with resources running out and war at their doorstep, he knows that some battles are worth fighting. He leaves behind the family he loves, including his pregnant wife, Lucy, and sets off with his brother to fight for the very land they live on.

Will Elisha and Joseph make it back to the family that they've sworn to protect? Will the powder keg of English, French, and Indian relations tear apart the lives they've carved out?

With careful attention to historical accuracy and deft, thrilling storytelling, Michael Schnorr begins the saga of the Blackman family. This vivid tale of love, faith, and courage is sure to inspire listeners. Join the Blackmans as they attempt to hold on to all they hold dear amidst the turbulence of war in a land filled with Thunder, Lightning, and Pillars of Smoke.

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Title: Duke of Egypt

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Margriet De Moor

Narrator: Kathleen Gati

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Young, flame-haired Lucie raises horses on her fathers farm. One summer day, she meets a dark, handsome stranger, Joseph, and it is love at first sight. But their union is as improbable as their love is deep. For Joseph is a wanderer, a full-blooded Gypsy, a man for whom all Europe is a stomping ground. Despite their cultural differences, they marry, have three children, and lead a normal life with one exception: each spring their life is suspended as Joseph returns to his other family, the Gypsies, scattered to the four corners of Europe.

©1996, 2011 Margriet de Moore, Em. Querido Uitgeverij, BVTranslation copyright 2000, 2011 by Paul Vincent (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Editorial Reviews:

Margriet De Moor's Duke of Egypt is an intricate love story between horse-farmer Lucie and nomadic Joseph. Although they marry and lead a traditional life, Joseph returns to his gypsy family for a few months every year. Moor brings to light struggles modern gypsies face. Kathleen Gati's performance of this story is intimate and lyrical. Her clear and sweet voice, languidly paced, lets this romantic story sing. Gati is an award-winning actress and Moor is an international best-selling author. Together, they have created a moving, romantic, and complex audiobook.

Members Reviews:

Five Stars

Love!

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Title: According to Queeney

Author: Beryl Bainbridge

Narrator: Lindsay Duncan

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-13

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A wonderful, immaculately researched novel that brings Dr Johnson, his friends, and his times to life. Beryl Bainbridges novel is a masterly evocation of the last years of Dr Johnson, arguably Britains greatest Man of Letters. The time is the 1770s and 1780s and Johnson, having completed his lifes major work (he compiled the first ever Dictionary of the English language) is running an increasingly chaotic life. Torn between his strict morality and his undeclared passion for Mrs Thrale, the wife of an old friend, According to Queeney reveals one of Britains most wonderful characters in all his wit and glory. Above all, though, this is a story of love and friendship and brilliantly narrated by Queeney, Mrs Thrales daughter, looking back over her life.

Critic Reviews:

"It is hard to think of anyone now writing who understands the human heart as Beryl Bainbridge does, or exposes its workings with more tenderness." (The Times)

"Duncan is memorable as the tetchy and spirited Mrs Thrale." (Sunday Times)

Members Reviews:

Still haven't finished it

I know this author is highly awarded and I felt very let down by this book. I am trying to finish it, trying, trying, trying.

Minor Bainbridge

Not one of the late author's better works. Try Dressmaker or Sweet William which are much better.

Three Stars

A bit overdone - could have been a short story

An easy read, and a depressing one.

In reviewing "According to Queeney"[review excerpted above],Publisher's Weekly wrote: "...few novelists now alive can match Bainbridge for the uncanny precision with which she enters into the ethos of a previous era."

Uncanny? Yes. Very weird. Precise? I absolutely don't think so-unless you'd believe that 18th century upper-class people lived in a constant state of misery due to(among other things)clinical depression, sexual repression, religious fanaticism and/or hypocrisy, disease, and the lack of indoor plumbing. My main problem with this book is its unremitting unpleasantness, both of tone and character, and its rather superficial assumption that there's some kind of need to dispel an imagined rosy picture of "ye olden days" by swinging wildly in the other direction: a modernist, disaffected, determinedly downbeat view of humanity.

There isn't a single likeable person in the book, nor does anyone seem to escape either madness, disease, bitterness, selfishness, hate, gluttony, stupidity, addiction-or a combination of the above. It's one thing to make one's central characters complex, another to divest them of anything positive, save, supposedly, intelligence. An author runs a great risk-and takes on a huge responsibility-when she chooses to write a fictional "novel" using real people, places, and events. Perhaps it's just me, but I believe that she owes these onetime living, breathing people something better-at least, something a little more considered than simply using them as objects on which to hang some imagined psychodramas. Yes, Johnson was a strange man...that's hardly news to anyone who's read anything about his personal life and habits. As for "Queeney's" mother, longtime Johnson friend Mrs. Thrale, well, gosh, she must have been something more than the histrionic shrew Bainbridge makes to bulge, faint, redden, pinch, hit and kick her daughter, her husband, and her friend Johnson by turns.