A Scandalous Wife

Scandalous Series, Book 1 - Volume 1

De: Ava Stone

Narrado por: Stevie Zimmerman

As the head of his family, Robert Beckford, the Earl of Masten, was accustomed to dealing with various problems his siblings had caused of one sort or another. However, he wasn't prepared when his cad of brother ruined and then abandoned a young lady. To right the wrong, Robert married the girl himself; but his chivalry only went so far. He didn't want a wife, and most certainly not a scandalous one. So, after repeating his vows, he sent her packing, off to a secluded estate and expected her to stay put.

After years of mistreatment at the hands of her family, Lydia was prepared to be an accommodating wife; but her rigid and unforgiving husband asked too much of her. After languishing for years in her opulent prison, Lydia leaves her country estate for the glamour and excitement of London - and unfortunately her husband's path.

©2011 - 2016 Second Wind Publishing (P)2013 Jodie Pearson

Just average

Predictable story line. I have heard this story plot before. Won't revisit this series - Volume 1 is enough if the preview at the end is an accurate indicator.

Good Story

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

yes

What about Stevie Zimmerman’s performance did you like?

She does a great job expressing the characters emotions

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

yes

Any additional comments?

Lots of stuff going on in this book. The premise was interesting. You need to read the books in the series in order because otherwise you'll be overwhelmed by characters and plots that were detailed in the previous books. This is the first in the series. There were wonderful love scenes, which, in my opinion, are so important in a romance. They have to be written in a believable way with heart and lots of hot seduction.

This was VERY good

I love Stevie Zimmerman’s performances, so trying a new Author, for me anyway, is rarely a mistake. It does happen, but Ms. Zimmerman can usually make them endurable.

That being said, this story has a troubled but strong leading lady. She is often disparaged by all and sundry, including her husband who left her at the altar immediately following the ceremony. Our leading man is taken by surprise when he notices a beautiful woman across the ballroom, and mentions her to a friend as someone he’d like to met, only to have his friend laugh and tell him he is admiring the wife he left years ago.

From there, the story gets very, very, interesting. It is well written and well paced with the usual misunderstandings to unravel, but these misunderstandings are not the usual ones.

This story does deal with some difficult abuse issues, but only as a motive, not in stark detail. Still, be aware.

Scandalous indeed.

I did not want it to end. Narration was excellent. Story was excellent.

Emotional & Triumphant!

This book was quite an emotional experience for me because at the heart, it's about how a woman conquered very traumatic personal experiences through grace, endurance, and yes, through love.

Lydia, the heroine, is a woman of strength because of her resilience to the suffering inflicted by all the men in her life. My goodness, I wish it were not so, but this woman was let down by every male with a major role in her life: her father, her only brother and then her husband (& his scoundrel of a brother). She should have been a psychological basket case, but instead we are presented with a mature, independent and loving woman. Lydia has a heart of gold and is absolutely enchanting & sweet!

The hero in this story is no Prince Charming...well, at least, not at first. Robert Beckford, the Earl of Masten marries Lydia at the tender age of 16-years old in order to protect the good name of his family and avoid a scandal. His good-for-nothing, brother Lucas Beckford was found in bed with Lydia and of course, in this society, the woman is always to blame & the male comes out of the scandal unscathed. Lucas abandons Lydia which leaves big-brother Robert the role of sweeping in to fix the problem which is his normal relationship-pattern with his little brother who is irresponsible & a complete rake.

I was angry with the way Robert treated Lydia. For 5 years, he made her stay in a country estate as a bird in a gilded cage, away from society. After his vows and before he sent her off into her exile, he said some very harsh words. During this time, Lydia grows up and develops a strong character. She encounters Robert for the first time since their wedding, at her sister-in law's ball. At first sight Robert becomes enamored with Lydia, but he didn't know she was his wife until it was pointed out to him by a friend. He did not recognize her as she grew up and was now a stunning, beautiful woman he was drawn to. Well, needless to say, Robert seeks her out and the two fall in love.

Robert is a harsh man and he says very harsh things to Lydia that made me cringe. Robert has quite a temper. He's one of those men who are rough around the edges & is definitely an alpha male.

THANKFULLY, Robert does transform and becomes a wonderful, loving husband who gets to know Lydia and realizes how wrong he was in judging her. He becomes her fiercest defender, both of her honor and of her person, when she is in real danger.

There are yet some very emotional twists in this story that emerge and kind of take the air out of you. But, overall, it's a triumphant read.

I was very upset with Robert's brother, Lucas. He was such a jerk to Lydia....and unrepentant jerk. But, at the very end he did transform as a character as well, which I was grateful for. I was so elated that he sacrificed his reputation in the grand scheme that he, Caroline (who is Robert & Lucas's sister), Clayworth (family friend), and Chet (family Friend) as well as Chet's mother engaged in to save Lydia from a new scandal brought about by Robert's vindictive ex-mistress.

This will be one of my favorite books to go back and read over because I love a story with such a huge transformation as the hero, Robert, encountered. You will hardly recognize him from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. Oh, he's still tough & quite the fierce protector, but his energy & love is directed toward his wife. This is a story with a very redemptive ending.

Narrator:
WOW! I hesitated to listen to this book because I just don't care for male narrators for Regency novels. However, Stevie is a female! And, she is quite talented in her ability to create male and female voices and characters. SHe was just superb! Loved her narration!