• Damsel Under Stress

  • A Novel
  • By: Shanna Swendson
  • Narrated by: Eva Wilhelm
  • Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,174 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Damsel Under Stress  By  cover art

Damsel Under Stress

By: Shanna Swendson
Narrated by: Eva Wilhelm
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

To-do: Stop the bad guys. Rescue the wizard. Find the perfect outfit for New Year's Eve.

At last, Owen Palmer, the dreamboat wizard at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has conjured up the courage to get Katie Chandler under the mistletoe at the office holiday party. But just when it looks like Katie has found her prince, in pops her inept fairy godmother, Ethelinda, to throw a wand into the works. Ethelinda's timing couldn’t be worse. A plot hatched by MSI's rogue ex-employees, Idris and his evil fairy gal pal Ari, threatens to expose the company's secrets - and the very existence of magic itself. Even worse, it could also mean the end of Katie's happily-ever-after. Now Katie and Owen must work side by side (but alas, not cheek to cheek) to thwart the villains' plans. Braving black-magic-wielding sorceresses, subway-dwelling dragons, lovelorn frog princes, and even the dreaded trip to meet Owen's parents at Christmas, Katie and her beau are in a battle to beat Idris at his own sinister game. All mischief and matters of the heart will come to a head at a big New Year's Eve gala, when the crystal ball will drop, champagne will pour, and Katie will find herself truly spellbound.

©2007 Shannon Swendson (P)2014 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Damsel Under Stress

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    672
  • 4 Stars
    370
  • 3 Stars
    110
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    652
  • 4 Stars
    267
  • 3 Stars
    99
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    620
  • 4 Stars
    302
  • 3 Stars
    97
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun easy listen.

Audible has given us the first three books in this series and I have listened to them all. I find them light and quirky. If you like Molly Harpers books, you may like these. I hope Audible will give us the rest of this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Dissapointing

What would have made Damsel Under Stress better?

If the author had kept track of events, instead of trying to be humorous. The story had so much potential and I have kept listening hoping that it would get better, but there is more sarcastic wit than actual believable storyline. Here you have a powerful wizard, and a witty female character, and they fall into one death defying situation after another, only to come out of it and start making silly jokes, and completely forget the fact that they are in danger.

What was most disappointing about Shanna Swendson’s story?

The most disappointing thing about the story was the need to make the lead character's only focus be dating, falling in love, and clothes. Here you have a story of supposed good v evil, but It reads more like a cheerleaders battle of the sexes. The lead characters are constantly facing danger, but are oblivious to strange when it is in front of them. They walk into situation that would make anyone suspicious, let alone people that are supposed to be in a battle against a magician. It just became too junior high for me, this is a grown woman, she should sound like a grown woman.

Which scene was your favorite?

I am not sure, most of it would start with so much potential and end up sounding ridiculous. I can't say I have a favorite scene.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, and frustration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magic is for real again

Growing up in New York City I'd always known about the rumor of alligators in the sewer system, but now finding out that they are really dragons that live in the depths of the rail systems makes the possibilities of riding the Amtrak or subway even more exciting.
Once again Shanna Swendson has written a delightful tail about the magical craziness of NYC. As a New Yorker, now living in very rural USA, I can relate to both sides of her story. It is enchanting, light hearted and a great deal of fun, without all the darkness of today's most popular mystery fantasies. Ms. Swendson's writing style is engaging and Ms. Eva Wilhem's performance as first person narrator, heroine is spot-on. I recommend you start with book 1, Enchanted Inc., so as to become familiar with all the characters. Once you have finished book 1, you'll be hooked and on to book 2, Once Upon Stilettos, which will send you directly to book 3. Damsel in Distress; all three are equal fun and the plot remains the same but very, very different scenarios. You honestly Don't know where the stories are going until they get there.
So if what you are looking for is light reading, magic mixed with a touch reality and a touch of romance (glad to say no shades of gray here), I'd say at least the first 3 (I'm just now starting #4) of the Swendson Enchanted series are a delightful set of brain candy. It is written as "chick" stuff.
I'd recommend teens through adult for relaxation-fun, subway, lunch break, beach, Sunday reading.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

Although, somewhat predictable in parts it was quite imaginative. I'm personally not too thrilled with the ending, but I do see the point.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alice in Wonderland meets Harry Potter

Enchanted Inc. is the third in the series from author Shanna Swendson. This is a fun chick series that is a mystery, an adventure, and a romantic comedy which is lighthearted, magical, and fun.

There are characters you'll love and remember. The heroin, Katie, is “completely ordinary” in a universe of magic. This is a good thing.

For adults the series is “Alice in Wonderland” and “Harry Potter” all rolled into one. It is a mystical romp and a fun escape. Read and enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Major Bummer

There wasn't a lot of actual plot in this one, and what was there was rather depressing. I was particularly dismayed that once again the MC was stripped of her "power" and taken advantage of, but this time only for the convenience of the story and not for any actual good reason. I also was not keen on how it ended, which sets up the uncomfortable mood for the next book. sadly, I think I'm bailing out on this series at this point. What a waste of a good idea.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

ready for the next one.... need me some more Sam

fun fast funny..... easy listen. great series, cant say enough. I'm a Sam fan would love to see more of him.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story wrong narrator!

I really enjoy the series but I don't know if I can listen to another book!

These books are light-heated fun. Still fighting the bad guys: Idris, Aurie, etc. However the book takes a serious twist at the end. Katie is headed back home to Texas and leaving Owen to fight the bad guys. Even Marsha gets caught up in the world of magic.

Competition in the spell business is the theme of this book. Idris , etc.. are starting up a spell store, but exactly where do they plan to go with the store and the advertizing is bold. In the "shoot out" Owen makes a bad choice to save Katie instead of catch Idris. So Katie packs her bags, what will happen in Texas?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite series

To put it simply, I'm not really crazy about the main character. She comes off very naïve, a little bit simple and blames herself for things clearly not her fault. If it was done once or twice, okay but it was through out the book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Stupid choices

What disappointed you about Damsel Under Stress?

Which adults who aren't religious nuts date for weeks without having sex? What kind of woman in her right mind (spoiler alert) leaves her 'true love' because she thinks she might be getting in the way of his job? I was patient through the first two books, but seriously, no sex? Not at all believable.

Which character – as performed by Eva Wilhelm – was your favorite?

The boyfriend, Palmer. His voice conveys the various sides of his character.

What character would you cut from Damsel Under Stress?

The protagonist. What an idiot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful