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.

©1992 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog Inc

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.

Loved it!!!!

This is just a really good story! Currently trying to recover from my “good book” hangover.
Christian is flawed and Maddy is stalwart. The story is about how they meet and make it through life's trials.
Nicholas Boulton's narration was wonderful!
If you like Georgette Heyer novels then I think you will love this one by Laura Kinsale.
Definitely a 5 star listen and of course worth a credit.

Finally! An audio book at last!

If you could sum up Flowers from the Storm in three words, what would they be?

Flawed hero redeemed!

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

There are so MANY with this book that it is hard to pick just one.

What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Incredible job--he makes it so easy to lose yourself in the story.

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

I have this book in print form and read it all in one sitting. The audio book I savored over several days--listening to in while traveling to and from work.

Any additional comments?

I have been waiting for Kinsale's book to come out in audio for years! I have everything she's written in print-form and intend on getting them all in audio as well.

Brilliant Narration, unlikable heroine.

After reading and listening to a few Laura Kinsale books, I've come to the conclusion that though the storylines are brilliantly done, her characters especially her heroines are sometimes awful , annoying, frustrating and ruin the book for me. This isn't a case of the heroine being flawed or confused, they are just unlikable. This book isn't any different.

I really wanted to like this heroine Maddie, but couldnt...Nearly all her help towards our hero was instigated by him or someone else, and then she whined about how wrong it was , and how she was forced to help, etc. Even towards the end of the book, the HEA was because of Christian's determination and love. She would have thrown it all away .

The narration was brilliant. Nicholas Boulton is fantastic. I finish this book remembering the different but great storyline, the tortured hero and the narration. I have many " favourite couples" from books but not from Laura Kinsale books, the heroines are too ugh.

Refreshingly different, impeccably delivered.

Great combination of imaginative story-telling accompanied by outstanding narration. I liked this book so much that I sought out more titles by the same writer.

Speechless....this was an amazing experience!

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

This is most definitely an audio I will recommend. The author created a story so rich with detail that was not boring (as some authors are) but enriching to the story. I was a bit wary of the 18 hour time but it was so worth it! I've listened to this two times! I'm sure it won't be the last!!

What did you like best about this story?

Where do I start?
The portrayal of the Dukes utter frustration and desperation at his lack of ability to communicate during this story. It was heartbreaking. Her willingness to help him... So many things!

What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You could not have chosen a better narrator for this story. His acting abilities brought these characters to life. He had me laughing out loud (kill him when you need him) and crying at parts of this story. Mr. Boulton is a tremendous actor. There aren't words clever enough to describe his abilities. He's miraculous! I just wish there were more books available that he's narrated! He's in a class all by himself.

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

Believe me, I tried! There is something about the right combination of story and narrator that just creates magic. Laura Kinsale and Nicholas Boulton are just that....Magic!

Any additional comments?

What a story! It digs down deep inside of you and pulls out so much emotion. A treat I feel privileged to have enjoyed! I've "read" all the other books by Laura Kinsale with Nicholas Boulton. A true pleasure.

Laughter and butterflies

Could not put down! This surprised me because it's not my typical type of read. Reader is superb. You wil laugh through out the book, and you may even get a few butterflies!

Absolutely repugnant heroine

Would you try another book from Laura Kinsale and/or Nicholas Boulton?

I would read another book read by Boulton in a heartbeat. I thought he did a very good job with the voices in the story. However, I would have to really think about reading anything by Kinsale. I was incredibly disgusted with her portrayal of the heroine in this story. It took a five star story and reduced it to two and a half, but I gave it three because I really did love the character of Christian so much.

Would you ever listen to anything by Laura Kinsale again?

Doubtful.

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

I do not think I have listened to Boulton before, but I think he does a credible job with all of the voices.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

Had the character of Maddie been warmer, less self righteous and more like someone a hero would not just depend on but love, then the story could have been very romantic. Maddie comes across as self absorbed, unkind, and cold through most of the book. While it is to be expected that she would be angry about being manipulated, there were times when she was just plain mean for no apparent reason. Maddie was a caricature of "the bad Christian".

Any additional comments?

This story has a fabulous story line with a fabulous, complex and fallible, but empathetic, hero. The author went out of her way to just mess it up by creating the most unappealing character I have had the misfortune of listening to, yet. What a shame. I loved Christian's story. Too bad Maddie was in it. He'd have been better off with the Ape.

Might just be my favorite Audible book of all time

I absolutely loved this book and was so sad to have it end. Nicholas Boulton was a pure privilege to listen to. He brought to life the main character and made you truly feel the characters frustration and inner struggle with his affliction.

The author created wonderfully complex characters and a story line that drew you in from the first words and kept you riveted until the end. I loved this book.

wonderful!!

i enjoyed every word. reader is excellent, story great from beginning to end. highly recommend!