Flowers from the Storm

By: Laura Kinsale

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

He's a duke. He's a mathematical genius. He can't talk and he's locked in a lunatic asylum. Only a modest Quaker girl can reach him, but when she helps him to escape, she's swept into his glittering aristocratic world, her life torn apart by his desperate attempt to save himself.

Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to narrate her classic romance Flowers from the Storm - cited by readers of The Washington Post and Glamour magazine as "one of the greatest love stories of all time" - creating a fresh and unique work that brings all the power and intensity of the original to audio.

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Perfection!

I had no idea this type of book could be this good. This is the first book I've read by the author. Truly she is a master writer.
No doubt, the pitch perfect narrator contributed to my love of this book. It's definitely a keeper!
I so appreciate a long, developed journey of and for the characters. I'm also a matjh geek and had no idea what would be in this book so I was surprised. Let's be honest; you don't get this type of storyline in most romance books.

I tried it based on reviews and am so thankful that I did.

If you like the following in a story, you will LOVE this book: historical, perfect narration, proper grammar!, smiles, tears, reflection, insightful, steamy in just the right way, intelligent, tension, and... again masterful storytelling.

Lovely story!! Great Narrator!

This is the first time I have listened to one of Laura Kinsale's books. What a delight!! Great character building and great plot. Narrator was AWESOME!! When you listen to this story you will see why. With audiobooks you need skilled narrators to deliver and Nicholas Boulton DELIVERED!! Looking for more of LK books with NB as narrator to read.

Yikes

I enjoyed the book but I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a leading lady so much. The entire book her over the top righteous Quaker talk got annoying.. it was never ending.

Indulgence, Plainess & Vulnerability of Strong Man

What made the experience of listening to Flowers from the Storm the most enjoyable?

Loved the Story of the Quakers, the Friends and their code of truth telling and lack of vanity and frivolity against the life of a previously spoiled Duke and family. It is not a story conceit - the female character is imperfectly consistent throughout.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flowers from the Storm?

Maddie meeting the King and the wet-nurse, on the night of the Ball. The entire story of the unwilling admission to the psychiatric facility and the discussion of the treatment and syndrome of almost being ''locked in".

What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?

He is superb.

Any additional comments?

I left this story for last despite the strong reviews because I did not want to read a story about a Mad Man in an Asylum. I thought that the female character would be a weak loving nurse of some sort. Instead this has been my favorite book and I almost didn't purchase it. Maddie is a wonderful character and the religious story, the mental illness and recovery story are both very strong and relevant for today. I found that I could associate myself with both stories, and the financial burden caused by illness. This is the most approachable story - compared to assassins and Hidden Princesses, that LK has written, and of course it's well written.

Heart warming! Couldn't stop listening.

After reading Diana Gablaldons "Outlander" series I despaired that I'd never find an author in this genre that had a complex story line with three dimensional characters. Thank you Ms Kinsale for your unusual characters, story and unique writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. Excellent! Can't say enough...
Nicholas Boulton is a master at bringing to life these flawed lovable characters.

Surprise

I typically focus on long books but with slight hesitation because sometimes they're boring. This one didn't really get good until Part 2. Part 1 was slow. I did finish it and it was tolerable.

Memorable

It's a memorable story, with an unusual plot of a supremely arrogant nobleman brought low by a stroke and subsequent aphasia. When in the medical ignorance of the day, he is branded a lunatic and imprisoned in an asylum, only a lone Quaker nurse can get through to him. It's extremely well written, but the sensual scenes get a bit tedious, and it takes a very long time for the Duke to morph into a vaguely likeable character. Still, a remarkable story, on the whole.

Simply WOW

Any additional comments?

This is my first time reading this author and I must day,I'm pleasantly pleased. The narrator is wonderful! His portrayal of Christians voice before the stroke and after the stroke is amazing. You can feel his frustration with not being able to communicate with those around him. I'm so thankful that medicine had reached the heights that it has because some of the treatment for patients is simply disgusting.

When Maddy learns that Christian had passed away she's struck with sadness, but when she sees that he's alive and sees the treatment he's been receiving it angers her.But when she notices that He's still in there,she makes him her central focus.

I'm only on chapter 10 but I'm in love with this book. It doesn't even bother me about the not being any sex scenes in the book because it doesn't need any. This is truly a book of Love conquering ALL. Even at this point in the book you can see and feel the love forming between Christian and Maddy.

New Favorite Author! Oscar Worthy Narration!

Would you consider the audio edition of Flowers from the Storm to be better than the print version?

Definitely. But only because the narrator, NIcholas Boulton, did such an incredible job that I'd have to say it's oscar worthy. I can't imagine this book being at all easy to interpret and perform. But he was superb. It seemed so natural and so real that I was completely engulfed in the story as if I was a part of it.

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

Beautiful, captivating and emotional. This is one of those books that is incredibly hard to put down. Be prepared to lose sleep.

so exciting, i wish there was a sequel.

normally i don't like waiting on a sequel because lately, it seems that's all we're doing -- waiting on the second or third book to arrive and in the meantime we often forget the important details. thus, having to listen to the first book again so it's fresh in our minds and we're ready for the new installment.

well. this book is a stand-alone, and as the minutes were coming to a close, i knew i would be listening to it again. back-to-back. and i did.

and what a joy it was, too.

from beginning to end i was captured, swept away into this story, and i honestly could not get enough. we were traveling on vacation and the entire way i listened to it, and some places was so upset that my family asked if i was okay. this is one of those rare books that stays with you, and my vacation ended over a week ago and i am still thinking about it. so even though there's no sequel to Flowers from the Storm, you can still go back and listen again and find yourself feeling the same emotions. if you're like me, you'll find something you missed the first or second time around.

from early on we find out that christian suffers a stroke, and is sent away to recover. in the hospital maddy comes, because her cousin is the doctor at this hospital and unbeknownst to maddy, christian is there. it's an amazing journey these two are put on and laura kinsale delivers. she gives you whit, joy, laughter, heartache, cunning, pain, comfort but most of all, she gives you the HEA you're needing for these two lost souls.

the narration from nicholas is so unbelievably outstanding, that i rushed to get laura's next book. he's fantastic!

Flower from the Storm is definitely worth a credit, and really? it's worth two.