Midsummer Magic

Magic Trilogy, Book 1

By: Catherine Coulter

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Dear Listener: Midsummer Magic, the first novel in the Magic Trilogy, was published at the end of 1987.

Philip Hawksbury, the Earl of Rothermere, obeying his father's dying wish, hies himself to Scotland to offer for one of the daughters of Alexander Kilbracken, the Earl of Ruthven. Frances Kilbracken, informed of the earl's arrival and his mission, disguises herself as a bespectacled dowd so she won't be the one selected by the young earl. But choose her he does, and for all the wrong reasons. The newly married couple return to England, together but not at all happy. Philip dumps Frances at Desborough Hall, his ancestral estate, and heads back to his old life in London. Ah, but Desborough has a stud farm and racing stable, and Frances is magic with horses. When the earl returns to his home, driven by guilt, he discovers the woman he married has grossly deceived him. What follows is a battle of the sexes that will have you chuckling, maybe even howling with laughter. Let me know what you think of this first of the Magic novels - it's one of my own favorites. - Catherine Coulter

©2003 Catherine Coulter (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Good book!

This book is a nice quirky pick me upper. Feeling down and need something to read to make you feel better but still keep you guessing, this is it! I laughed, was amazed, and excited when everything started coming alight and making sense. Another one of Catherine's best and absolutely love Anne's narration and her character voices. The singing part had me in stitches!

Awesome Series

I would highly recommend this series!! Anne Flosnik is the best narrator. I wish there were more in the series.

Not romantic - too much force

Possible spoilers ahead. I couldn’t finish this one. I tried giving it the benefit of the doubt but the “hero” keeps raping his wife, in spite of him repeatedly being dubbed a “great lover” by various other women. At first he thinks she’s too ugly for him and so he doesn’t even kiss her before forcing her to copulate with him and then he just keeps doing it again and again. Even after he realizes she is beautiful, after he discusses this with his mistress and she tells him to back to the wife and try seducing her, he still just rapes her. I’m feeling very uncomfortable and getting angry on her behalf so I will not be finishing this one.

Not good

What disappointed you about Midsummer Magic?

the narrator and the story was disappointing

What was most disappointing about Catherine Coulter’s story?

the story, boring and no connection between the charactors. No fire.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

to precise in her accent, became annoying

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

None

Worst Romance Ever!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Anyone who wants a story about a husband raping his wife every night. No steamy love scenes, just droning on of stupidity.

Very disappointed

Worst Catherine Coulter book I've ever listened to. Worst narrator I've ever encountered - a true waste of time & money!

Terrible!

Can’t stand brutality and using sex as a weapon! It wasn’t necessary to ruminate on the horrific way Hawk treated his wife in the first half of the book. I had to skip sections and wondered why I bothered!

I couldn't finish this one

I have been a fan of Catherine Coulter for many years, but this book...this book just totally horrific. The lead characters are so immature and horrible that it is hard to root for them at all. I get that the most awful parts of the story (the husband's attitude towards his Lady wife and procreation, the woman being given in marriage against her will by her father, even the marital rape) are probably true to the time the story is set. That does NOT mean I want to read this stuff. I know the world can be horrible to people, but that is why I read romances...to forget the truly horrible for a little bit. I couldn't finish it. Forced myself through the a couple of hours but in the end, I could not not stand the negativity.

I gave it an honest try

I got about halfway through the book. Although not quite BDSM, it was highly offensive and reminded me of what it was like to be in an abusive relationship and can only serve as a reminder of the all too common misogynistic attitude many still hold. I kept hoping the author would resolve the negative atmosphere more quickly, but continued scenes of undeniable rape of a wife just can't always be resolve by character development. the back cover description was not an accurate reflection of the actual story.

I couldn't finish the book.

It would have been a great book if it did not contain so much rape.