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.

Midsummer Magic

Catherine Coulter is a great story teller and novel is no different. Hawk has three weeks to marry one of the three daughters from his father's oldest friend before his father dies. He thinks he has çhosen a plain jane . Thinking to do his duty and run off to London afterwards works only for a while. Then Faye and his father has other plans for both Hawk and Francess. Horseracing and a mystery plays a part in getting these two together or tear them further apart? With a splash humor as always in Miss Coulter's books, this is a great listen/read.

Hang in there

First I had to adjust to the narrators voice some find her a tad annoying but I like AF just need to listen for a while to adjust. Then I had to hang on through the rather slow (boring) first half or so. But then the story line picks up and characters start fleshing out more fully and stopped being so aggravating.
So if you can wade sat the slow moving bit there is quite a good story .

Loved it!!

enjoyed the play between characters and the plot twists. Heroine was strong and believable. great story!

SlOOOOOOOOW start better finish

Any additional comments?

Overall good story but my my was the first half slow. Based on the other reviews I thought this story was funny but it really was not. I like the flawed characters, Frances’s steamy temper, and Phillip’s from a pushy, self serving, overbearing and judgmental person he was at the beginning to a good man at the end.

Although the sex scenes began as very disturbing and rape like it changed to very sensual later on in the story. It is hard to believe women had so few rights. Revolting actually but that is not what we can blame C Coulter for. She is merely expressing what actually could have easily happened those days. It was just really hard to read through those scenes.

The narrator’s performance was very poor indeed but again looking beyond that the story is well worth the credit.

Amazing!

It was great I almost wish she would have made it a series, the father in the story a true meddler is great and I loved the arguing ..

I so wanted to like this...

Setting: Scotland & England, 1810
Genre: Romance
Narration was average. I am beginning to be able to tolerate Anne Flosnik more. I was disappointed that the heroine didn't have a Scottish accent (the book described her speech as specifically English) because Ms Flosnik does an excellent performance of that accent.
This was the first Catherine Coulter book I have read/ listened to, and I was so disappointed! But my sister recommends her, especially in contemporary, so I'll give her a try in a different genre.
The plot sounded interesting, but execution not so much. The heroine, Frances was so recalcitrant, I wanted to sit her down and give her a firm talking to. Others mentioned that the sex was forced, almost rape-like, but I took a different view. It was 1810, when it wasn't unusual for a woman to enter into an arranged marriage, specially to continue the line. By law, a marriage wasn't legal until it had been consummated. Both her father and step-mother had told her to do her duty, to acquiesce in the production of an heir. Philip knew this was a necessary part of the marriage, and he actually apologized for what he had to do. His big sin was assuming that a lady could not/should not enjoy sex, so there was no way Frances was going to enjoy his method. Even he did not enjoy it. It wasn't until his mistress told him that he should approach his marriage bed as he would her bed that he changed his ways. The romance was the main impetus for the story. But Frances' hostility and Philip's neglect and almost willful ignorance were so irritating I barely made it through. I got Calypso Magic in the same BOGO sale and I am reluctant to listen to it, if the characters are as hostile to one another as is the case in Midsummer Magic.
No, don't waste the credit. If you haven't had experience with Catherine Coulter, this may put you off what I am told is a good author. If you already like her, this will likely disappoint you.

Absolutely a fantastic series!!! Must have!

I loved this series! It was funny, sexy, drama filled and just a fantastic read/listen. You will definitely stay enthralled with the stories! The characters were so well developed and fun! I highly recommend!

Enjoyed Narrator, Had a hard time liking male lead

I did listen to this all the way through in one day. I liked the female lead. I had a difficult time liking the male lead. The beginning of the book was slow. There was a twist towards the end of the book which seemed rushed to me. That being said, I will move onto the next in the series if its available in the Romance Package.

loved it.

read this 20 or so years ago, was wonderful to revisit on audible while traveling.

Not bad at all.

I rather liked this one, except a hearty dislike for the hero. I wanted her to leave the prick.