Along Came a Duke

Rhymes with Love

By: Elizabeth Boyle

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Her Aunt Allegra said, "A young lady with a fortune is subject to all sorts of untoward attentions by the worst sort of vagrants."

It is a lesson Tabitha Timmons, a penniless spinster, has never needed to heed. That is, until she is left a vast fortune payable only upon her marriage to the very respectable Mr. Barkworth - a match that offers little chance of discovering exactly what her aunt means by "untoward attentions."

But the same can't be said when the Duke of Preston happens along Tabitha's path. He spies a rebellious streak in her that matches his own, and he makes it his mission to save her from such a passionless match, interfering in her life at every turn. All too soon, Preston - whose very name spells ruin - has Tabitha caught between the good fortune that guarantees her security, and his kiss, which promises an entirely different kind of happily-ever-after.

©2012 Elizabeth Boyle (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Heartwarming

Would you consider the audio edition of Along Came a Duke to be better than the print version?

Both are fantastic

What was one of the most memorable moments of Along Came a Duke?

When Preston and Tabitha dine together.

What about Susan Duerden’s performance did you like?

Perfect for that role

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

It made me smile, I really like it

loved it

Elizabeth Boyle and Susan Duarden are an awesome combination. loved this book. It s funny and sensual. worth the credit

Good Entertainment

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

This book is amusing as well as a good story. There are some very funny dialogues and the story is absorbing enough to be quite diverting, which is the reason someone would choose a book of this sort.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The hero is well written: he is complex enough to be interesting and described enough to be sympathetic. The author allows the reader to understand the hero's motivations and reactions, not always the case with romance heroes. The hero develops a stronger sense of his identity during the course of the novel in a believable way. The heroine's development was also interesting to follow and unfolded at a creditable pace, complementing the hero's evolution. Neither seemed too stupid to live, a common failing in romances.

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

No, this was my first listen to her. She performs the voice of the hero superbly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were some truly delightful scenes between the hero, heroine and the antagonist.

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent pick if you are looking for 11+ hours of enjoyable diversion. It is not terribly memorable, but is a very entertaining way to pass the hours.

my new favourite narrator!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Preston - such cheeky guy. He just whispered a few words and totally throw Tabitha (Tabby) into tailspin.

What about Susan Duerden’s performance did you like?

Susan Duerden did a fantastic job with this book! By her tone etc she was really creating the scenes e.g. whispering when the characters were hiding. Even the urgency in the dog's barking was made clear. All characters had unique sound, it was easy to follow the story. Overall pace & tone was easy to follow too (some narrators are so fast it takes a while to adjust to it)

Any additional comments?

A happy romantic story. The Earth did not move but I smiled/laughed a lot. Just what the Doctor ordered after a stressful year !If you feel the need for uncomplicated entertainment with a romantic twist (and a happily-ever-after-ending) - this book is well worth the credit

Cinderella a la Regency

it's a sweet, wonderful love story. There are no misunderstandings, or people keeping them from one another. I don't count Barkworth, Barton, Barkwell, etc.. lol
While she has a sad backstory...Cinderella...Preston's is heartbreaking. It's obvious they belong together.

Just what I needed!

Would you listen to Along Came a Duke again? Why?

This is a romance that was fun to listen to. I needed my sexy escapist audio and this worked. It was a little light on the sex scenes, what can i say?...I would have preferred more. The characters are interesting which I liked very much. The male character was pretty complex and the female lead was strong and fiesty. I liked both characters very much. Overall this is a very enjoyable listen and if you like Regency Romance novels then this is a very good pick. If you are looking for some hot bodice ripping, you won't get that, but there is a story here, which is very important. And this story does keep the sexual tread, even if light, on traction.

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

The performance was great. It was funny. I love how the male lead Preston was always growling and whispering. It was so over the top that I llooovvveeddd it! Great performance!

Excellent Narration, Typical Story

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

I would recommend this book if you continue to enjoy the usual formula: girl in trouble, rake finds girl, rake causes girl more trouble, rake breaks her heart, then he saves her and they live happily ever after. I do enjoy these stories a great deal!Susan Duerden never fails to give the right tone to an historical, English romance. Love her.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There was good depth and build within each character, plus some surprises.

Very funny...unexpectedly so

This is a very witty book. Many times I found myself laughing outloud. A surprisingly funny character will appeal to those of us who love dogs. It is well worth the read. This was my first Elizabeth Boyle novel. At first I was taken aback by the narrator's voice but soon realized that it actually added to the wit of the story.

Ok story, not a fan of narration. 👋

I enjoyed the story for the most part, but would have enjoyed it SO much more with a different narrator. I have listened to SD and for me shes hit or miss, and this was definitely a miss. I’m actually quite surprised at all the rave reviews for her narration! The whispers, and “seductive” voices made me cringe! Ugh! I did speed it up to get through it.

Worth a credit? Not so sure. I wouldn't buy it again, but neither would I return it. Maybe worth a half credit in a 2 for 1 sale. (Which probably won’t happen because Audible rarely offers romance in them anymore, probably in an attempt to force us to subscribe to the ‘Romance Package.’). It will definitely be a while before I listen to SD again.

Amusing and fun

A new author for me and one I enjoyed as Tabitha and Preston took the 'ton' and Tabitha's greedy, unworthy relatives for a dizzying ride. Witty dialogue, strong characters and good narration by Susan Dureden provided ample pleasure to my listen.