Brilliant!

Another roller coaster ride of adventure, danger and raw emotion. Nicholas Boulton's performance is superb as always.

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Spiced-up and entertaining historical romance

This is my second book by this author (Flowers from the Storm was the first). This book follows more or less the same formula but this doesn't stop it being a good story in its own right. The hero, Sheridan is a devilish scoundrel who betrays and lies to everybody around him. The heroine, Olympia is charmingly naive but after suffering trials and tribulations at the hand of Sheridan shows she has more mettle than she originally promises. The thing that sets this apart is that Sheridan is totally and uncompromisingly evil throughout most of this book and I really struggled to envisage how he is ever capable of redemption. This is an enjoyable romp involving booby trapped houses, financial ruin, trips on the high seas, pirates, shipwrecks and political turmoil. In other words, unmitigated escapism with some humour thrown in, and it just about manages to avoid being predictable. I thought the chemistry between the two main character in 'Flowers' was stronger than in this book, (hence the four stars), but this really was an enjoyable experience and I would certainly listen to more from Laura Kinsale.

Nicholas Boulton is a really outstanding narrator, unafraid to add a theatrical flourish to the material, which is entirely appropriate.

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3 people found this helpful

Great literature.Amazing author!

I have recently discovered the miracle that is Laura Kinsale.Every book is different, brilliant and heart warming.I wish she had written more..

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2 people found this helpful

Wonderful book!

I just loved this story and the author writes beautifully. If you haven’t tried a historical romance, this would be a good place to start, but it definitely isn’t for everyone!!

The reason I say this is that Sir Sheridan Drake is a cad when you first meet him, a very unlikeable and flawed anti-hero. In addition to this, you have to put up with all his skullduggery, betrayal and treachery. He is, however, delicious to look at and has a wonderful dry sense of humor.

Princess Olympia is very naive, has led a very simple life, is plump and severely lacking in self-esteem due to the presence of her horrid "housekeeper". She does, however, strongly believe that she can lead her people into democracy.

With the return of the naval hero Sir Sheridan, her neighbour, Olympia approaches him hoping that he will be her savoir and assist her in her plight to get her to Rome and extricate her from an arranged marriage being the most pressing order of the day.

Their wonderful adventure then commences travelling incognito from England under cloak of night across the seas where they meet pirates, villains and learn to live on a deserted island saving an injured a penguin called Napoleon.

This part was my all time favourite part of the book where Sheridan came into his own, he softened and became quite the hero.

Their travels then continue across the seas to Aden and the desert to Turkey. We eventually find out, after Sheridan has done his worst, and Olympia has witnessed how cruel the real world can be, why Sheridan has turned into the monster he is and finally how these two very lost souls find and save each other through love. ❤️

This book will live with me for a very long time. I just wish there was an epilogue. My hope is that they find their peace, on their own island, and live happily after. 😊

The narration was sublime, as ever, by Nicholas Boulton

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliant narration

Brilliant narration again from Nicholas Boulton, he has a such a range of tone and accents which make listening to his performance a real pleasure. Bonkers storyline, but entertaining and fun, while not avoiding serious subjects. People knock the romance genre but this is so well written, and researched, that I was happy to go along with it, and will be seeking out more by this author until I've heard them all and then I'll be miffed that I've binge heard them all.

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2 people found this helpful

always outstanding

Brilliant portrayal of PTSD, I did find Olympia quite trying at times. all characters deep and complex. War scenes and combat scenes brilliantly described - so much research must have gone into this book. Another outstanding book by the author.

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2 people found this helpful