Winter Garden

What a lovely surprise this book was - totally different from the usual 'handsome Rake meets beautiful virgin' type books. Yes, it was a little bit far fetched in places, but it was such a nice story you just have to overlook the flaws.

Thomas had been left disabled in the Opium wars but, despite this, he became an undercover English spy who asked for the help of beautiful Madeleine, his counterpart French spy, to help in the latest mission to capture an Opium Dealer in Winter Garden but this wasn't his true mission - it was to win Madeleine's heart forever.

They were instantly attracted to each other and began a journey of discovery, passion, sexual interludes, intense, but very touching, human desire and eventually love. This book was filled with great characters, a bit of a weak plot, however its such a heart warming love story that it can't help but move you.

Worth a credit? I loved it - so it's a definite yes.

The story is the same, but books, make boring everyday chores enjoyable.
Both versions of this story were Great

When Thomas reveals to Madeleine who he really is, and the reason for his lie.

She has a great voice, and superb accents

I was so weepy mid way through the book, realizing ( or so I thought) that both main characters were going to suffer for their choices.

Loved this book, apparently, it is a series with 2 additional stories... I'd love to read the other 2.

"Winter Garden" is a sensuous, erotic, and emotional tale that will leave you fanning yourself one minute and reaching for a tissue the next. The sensuality level of this book is very high and is expertly woven throughout, while its erotic atmosphere is achieved through both character dialogue and (explicit) love scenes. The emotional intensity between the hero and the heroine only heightens the effect.
Heather Wilds did an outstanding job with the delivery of the story. Audible needs more books by Adele Ashworth and read by Heather Wilds.

This is one purchase you simply won't regret making.

In the first few minutes this book seemed well written but slightly droning, however at the moment the two main characters met eyes, I was gripped. (Never did I think I would use the term "gripped" to describe my reaction to a book, but nothing else quite fits.) From that instance onward, for me the book was driven by the interaction of the two main characters, Madeleine DuMais and Thomas Blackwood, spies for the British Home Service. All the other characters and even the plot to uncover the smuggling ring became more than secondary. Madeleine and Thomas were interesting and evocative central characters. The main characters and their relationship unfolded slowly and their interactions became more poignant and sensual. This was a terrific love story. It was never cliché, and in addition, plot points and details were rarely foreseeable.

Regarding the 4-stars performance rating, I felt Heather Wilds did a very good job, but not remarkable. I would have preferred stronger male voices, but her intonation was well done. The 4-stars rating for story reflect my dissatisfaction at the very end which was due to Madeleine's thought process in the last chapters: something didn't ring true to, but I'm still baffled as to quite what I found discordant. Even with only 4-stars each for both performance and story, I still rated this book with 5- stars overall because I found it that haunting.

I realize this is a confusing and somewhat ambiguous review, but my ratings stand after two listens - and I still have not deleted it from my device as I'm sure I'll listen to it again in the short-term.