Marcheta

When I started listening to this unabridged version, I thought I'd downloaded the wrong book. Then I realized that the abridged version didn't have the prologue, which is very dark. What a relief when the story went to Daisy. I enjoy all of Linda Howard's novels, and I'm glad to see that audible now has the unabridged versions of all her books that they carry. Thanks, audible!

The narrator annoyed me the first time I started to listen to this audio - she sounded a little over the top for some of the lower class voices.

But a few weeks later I started over because the story was interesting - and the author sounded fine once I got used to all the different voices. Actually, I thought she sounded great half-way through the story. I would definitely listen to another book read by Nicole Quinn.

Yes and I'm recommending it to my sister who loves historical romances. It held my attention, and I was really angry at the manipulative behaviour of the two brothers.

When Helene reads Linus' journal.

I thought she did well with all of them.

Yes even though I knew it was going to have a happily ever after romance ending - this is a romance after all and not serious fiction.

If I'd written this story, it would have had an ending closer to Gone with the Wind ("Frankly my dear I don't give a damn") or Washington Square in which all is NOT forgiven. Manipulating someone for whatever reason really irritates me. As a romance, however, I thought this story was definitely better than 80% of what's out there that passes for romance.

I thought this would be a story, but it's just a collection of epilogues. It's been so long since I read the books, that I don't remember the characters any more. I'll have to reread the entire series before this makes sense.

I thought I had listened to this audio, but I had this book mixed up with another. When I downloaded "Lord of Secrets" and realized I had not read "Ruined by Rumor," I began listening to "...Rumor." What a pleasant surprise! In some ways it reminds me a little of Georgette Heyer's "A Civil Contract" - misunderstandings between Roxana and Alex and what seems like a marriage of convenience to Roxana. Throw in a third party - the viper (aka the Major) and it's a page turner.

I can't wait to get to "Lord of Secrets."

Alyssa Everett has another book that I'd like to hear on audible: "A Tryst with Trouble." It's not currently available on amazon.com, and there's no "I'd like to hear this book on audio" button. There is a note that an audio CD will be available via amazon, and you can sign up to be notified when it's available - so maybe it will eventually be available on audible, too. Fingers crossed.

This is a personal pet peeve of mine, but as soon as I heard the narrator's American accent for a an English romance, I stopped listening. Since this was a pre-order and I was not familiar with this narrator, I took a chance. I won't make that mistake again. I also cancelled my pre-order of the second book in the audio series as it's read by the same narrator.

In this fifth book in the series, Crispin Guest is a little better off, Jack Tucker is his apprentice, and a baffling murder/suicide(?) open the story. Sir Thomas Saunfayl, a former friend from Crispin's days in the Duke of Lancaster's army, turns cowardly. He flees to England and seeks a religious relic, the Spear of Longinus, which was used to pierce Christ's side at his crucifixion. Saunfayl needs the spear to make him invincible when he undergoes trial by combat to avoid execution.

As usual there are twists and turns along the way, and the joust for the trial by combat is very effective. It reveals Crispin's integrity and Saunfayl's true character. The location of the spear is pretty ingenious.

The dangerous streets and neighborhoods, the palaces, and the cathedrals are as much characters as Crispin. There's a fun video of the series on the author's web page - check it out.

The historical notes at the end of each book reveal more information on the historical characters, the time, and the religious relics. There's an interesting comment on Saunfayl's cowardice as possible evidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The psychological side effects of war have been present throughout history. The disorder has just had different names in different wars.

I can't wait for the next book, Shadow of the Alchemist, which is currently scheduled for release 13 October.

In this fourth book in the series, Crispin Guest and his apprentice, Jack Tucker, travel to Canterbury at the request of the Archbishop. This time the bones of Thomas a Beckett go missing, people start dropping like flies, and The Tracker (aka Crispin Guest) is on the hunt. But who is friend and who is foe? Another entertaining mystery in this medieval noir series set in the 1380s.

This series just keeps getting better. I didn't realize that the Edict of Expulsion issued in 1290 banished Jews from England over usury. Jews could only stay if they converted to Christianity , but many still worshipped in private. Oliver Cromwell overturned the Edict in 1657.

This time the hunt is on for missing parchments written in Hebrew. Young boys are being murdered and mutilated, possibly by a monster who was created using the missing parchments.

I love this series. As usual, Michael Page does a fine job narrating.

The second book in the series is even better than the first one. Crispin is still struggling to make a living as someone who finds missing people, things, religious artifacts, etc. Jack Tucker is still his young side kick, and the banter between the two of them is very entertaining. In this story, a French courier is murdered, a religious relic (THE crown of thorns) goes missing, and all sorts of mayhem ensures with Crispin in the middle. I love this series!

Michael Page is excellent as the narrator.

I loved this book. It's like Sam Spade meets the Middle Ages. This first of the Crispin Guest series is set in London in 1384. Crispin is a disgraced knight who had had his lands, title, and money confiscated seven years earlier for participating in an attempt to crown John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, as King instead of the Duke's young and inexperienced nephew, Richard.

Lancaster is unaware of the attempted coup. The conspiracy fails, Richard is crowned King Richard II, and all of the conspirators except Crispin (thanks to the intercession of the Duke of Lancaster) are executed.

Crispin now lives in the Shambles in London - which is as poor a neighborhood as it sounds - along with a twelve year old purse cutter, Jack Tucker, whom he rescued from the streets of London. There are lots of twists and turns, and class consciousness-- by Crispin toward the dregs of society that he's now forced to live with and depend upon, and by Crispin's former friends who look down on Crispin because he's now a member of the lower class.

Parliament finally removed Richard as King and crowned Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, as King Henry IV, but not until 1399. Richard died in 1400 - possiblly murdered.

I liked this book so much I downloaded it to my Kindle so I can see how some of the words I didn't know are spelled.

The author skillfully weaves actual historical people and events with her story. As a history major, I loved it! Michael Page does a fine job narrating.

I've now listened to all five books in the series that are currently available on audible. The sixth book comes out 13 October 2013. I'll be waiting.