A Lady Awakened

Blackshear Family Series # 1

By: Cecilia Grant

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes... for a fee.

Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow's weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she'll get her money's worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh-only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can't resist him forever. But could a lady's sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all... love?

©2011 Cecilia Grant (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Tantalizingly sexy, heartwarming, and oh-so funny, this romance is unforgettable; a stunning debut." ( Library Journal)

80% estate business 20% romance

I was disappointed by this book. Considering it's a romance novel and titled a lady awakened, you'd think the romance, physically and emotionally, would get more heated. The "awakening" happens pretty much at the end of the book and it's more an awakening to love than to passionate sex. I actually felt kinda sad for the main character. She's so emotionally stunted. It kinda sucked seeing the world through her eyes.

More of the book was about running an estate than about romance.

So Different than Most!

This was not the typical bodice ripper I thought it might be. I listened expecting that but was pleasantly surprised. Great free listen

Really Good Listen

This is such a funny, meaningful, passionate, and unique story. I think it's much better as an audiobook, as Susan Ericksen is flawless in her performance. I stongly recommend this book. I have already purchased the next one and will keep my eye out for Cecilia Grant. She is an amazing new author with a new perspective. I listened to this in one sitting, stayed up till 5am.

This is a fantastic book, so different than most

Where does A Lady Awakened rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

this rates at at least a 10

What did you like best about this story?

the strong female character "in charge" of her life and knows what she wants, but equally strong male character, don't get me wrong, but he falls first. Most of these regency romances are always the other way. This one is so unique, at least that I have read.

Have you listened to any of Susan Ericksen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, she is Eve Dallas in JD Robbs In Death Series. She is super, I have heard her in others besides the In Death, by far the BEST out there. I have about 5 that I look for when I listen and Susan is one of the best.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

nothing extreme, nothing any other typical regency book gets from me, anyway.

Any additional comments?

super book, worth the money or credit, and super narration. Im already getting book 2, with the same narrator, so I know it will be good. LOL

wicked

Very wicked story for the setting of the book.
Lots of witty dialog as well. Always awesome to listen to narrative artist Susan Erickson

Unpredictable and wonderful!!

I am a longtime enjoyer of romance novels in every possible genre. I like historical romance, steamy romance, 'clean' romance, classic romance - I've read it all, and my only real criteria is that a story be well-written. I've read all the tropes and don't mind reading something "old" that's been done a thousand times before if the characters are believable.

This is NOT one of those stories! Truly, literally, I had no idea 'where are we going with this' until the very, very end. And I mean that in the best possible way. The herione is strong and fiercely independent - REALLY, not just 'claimed' to be that way by the author but really a shrinking violet. She is incredible. The hero is a fun-loving guy who wants to do the right thing - but only if it doesn't require too much work. Somehow, she teaches him to love to work - and he teaches her to love some fun - and together they make each other better and stronger without ever diminishing the other.

This is so, so, so well written that I was blown away. The narrator is one of my favorites - she narrates my favorite version of "Jane Eyre" - and so I will often buy an audiobook just if she's reading it. The combination of highly recommended and favorite narrator made this an automatic purchase for me. Excellent book, fun story, and again, I cannot emphasize the unpredictability enough. It kept me on my toes the entire time I read - and was wonderful.

Loootttsss of sex

I gave this book a shot because of Susan Ericksen and because it was on a great sale. The plot was great and it definitely was a unique storyline. The secondary characters are an enjoyable part of the story. The ending kind of resolved with too much rapidity for my liking, especially after having sat through the entire book.
There was a lot of sex, which because of the plot, isn't a surprise. It was, however, about as unpleasant to read about as it was for Martha to engage in it! But, it did eventually progress to 'not so bad' and for Martha at least, even more. ha

All in all, I paid $4.20 for this and enjoyed it enough to not return it. In fact I do want to read the next two in the series. I don't know that it warrants all the extremely high accolades that I've read. Susan Erickson, as usual, did fabulous. She could read the label off a vitamin container and it would sound magnificent!!

Good story but bad narration..

Any additional comments?

This really was a terrific story. Loved Martha and Mirkwood but I didn't see it as a romance novel until about 67%. It was a screwing book. They screwed like minks trying to get her pregnant because of an inheritance and that was ok except it took her waaaaay to long to come around and even kiss him.
As to the narrator? I kept losing track of who was saying what because all the males and females sounded alike. All she did was read the book. No deepening the voices of males, no emotions. Read the book, don't listen.

Beautiful

What did you love best about A Lady Awakened?

The language was so beautiful, English as it should be spoken. Though the language was old fashioned and quaint, it did not at all detract from the sizzle in the sex scenes

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene when she finally enjoys the sexual encounter was stunning, I loved it. I would recommend this book to my friends without any hesitation.

I was a nice story BUT

Would you consider the audio edition of A Lady Awakened to be better than the print version?

The whole story dragged out. It would have been a nice easy read/listen if it was not 12.5hrs long

What did you like best about this story?

The hero and the maid

What about Susan Ericksen’s performance did you like?

Yes I thought she fitted the era very well

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I feel to sleep so many times, I had to keep going back

Any additional comments?

As I said I think the story was different and nice. Martha was very hard to like and it was all too long