A Lady Without a Lord

The Penningtons: Regency Romance

By: Bliss Bennet

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A viscount convinced he’s a failure

For years, Theophilius Pennington has tried to forget his myriad shortcomings by indulging in wine, women, and witty bonhomie. But now that he’s inherited the title of Viscount Saybrook, it’s time to stop ignoring his responsibilities. Finding the perfect husband for his headstrong younger sister seems a good first step. Until, that is, his sister’s dowry goes missing...

A lady determined she’ll succeed

Harriot Atherton has a secret: it is she, not her steward father, who maintains the Saybrook account books. But Harry’s precarious balancing act begins to totter when the irresponsible new viscount unexpectedly returns to Lincolnshire, the painfully awkward boy of her childhood now a charming yet vulnerable man. Unfortunately, Theo is also claiming financial malfeasance. Can her father’s wandering wits be responsible for the lost funds? Or is she?

As unlikely attraction flairs between dutiful Harry and playful Theo, each learns there is far more to the other than devoted daughter and happy-go-lucky lord. But if Harry succeeds at protecting her father and discovering the missing money, will she be in danger of failing at something equally important — finding love?

©2017 Jackie C. Horne (P)2021 Jackie C. Horne

Critic reviews

“Another splendid historical from Bliss Bennet. It’s intelligent and inventive, poignant and gratifying and a radiant addition to a much-lauded series.” (USA Today Happy Ever After)

Best of the series

I couldn't finish the first 2 in this series. Sexual themes are too dark. (The scene that leads up to the first sex scene in volume 2 made me ill, which was a bummer bc I was really into it up to then.) Probably wouldn't have picked this one up if it weren't for Alex Wyndham narrating. The characters were more likeable, the romance more present and believable and the whodunnit was well executed.

I am wary of any romance novelist who postures as super sensitive to people with learning disabilities in an author's note after her novel, but is so tone deaf to the reality of sexual abuse that they follow a dramatic tale of rape with a sex scene... but I guess we all have our triggers. Rather the opposite in this book, I continued to gain respect for the hero, not lose it, and thankfully the sex mostly veered away from the nauseating. No excessive descriptions of tongues thrusting into mouths, for instance. Ick. I like a little more love in my love scenes maybe, but I appreciate that the author refrains from the sappy and saccharine and from overly angsty inner monologues repetitively rephrasing the same character insecurities over and over, making you wonder where the editor was - I mean there is some of that but well within enjoyable limits.

And as always, Alex Wyndham is ridiculously talented and makes anything worth a listen.

Not a repeat listen for me

Alex Wyndham is an awesome narrator, but even he could not make this book better than ok.