Once a Duchess Audiobook By Elizabeth Boyce cover art

Once a Duchess

Crimson Romance, Book 1

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Once a Duchess

By: Elizabeth Boyce
Narrated by: Rachael Beresford
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Isabelle Lockwood was a duchess, until her husband of only a few months wrongfully divorced her for adultery. Since then she's been a pariah, living in anonymous exile to escape the prying eyes and wagging tongues of the town. More than anything, Isabelle longs for a family of her own, and so has to marry again. But society is ruthlessly unforgiving.

To clear her name, Isabelle must face down her past - and the man who broke her heart and ruined her completely.

Marshall Lockwood, Duke of Monthwaite, was blindsided by his young bride's infidelity. After the divorce Marshall licked his wounds, throwing himself into his botanical studies to forget his disastrous marriage. Now his former wife is back in town, as beautiful and enticing as he remembers.

As the season throws them together again, Marshall can't shake the feeling that Isabelle might not be the adulteress he took her for. Contains mature themes.

©2014 Velva George (P)2018 Tantor Historical Historical Fiction Regency Heartfelt
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I didn’t hate this book, I didn’t absolutely love this book, but I will probably try the next one and hope it improves on the first.

I would’ve liked the book more if the author hasn’t tried to prolong the final happy ending with a detour away from the heroine’s good character into immature grudges and an illogical withholding of forgiveness.

On the narrator, she’s not a fantastic talent, but you can’t always expect the best narrators for books produced by new authors or less successful and prolific authors; and I have heard much worse narrators than this one. This narrator makes the mistake of creating high-pitched, breathy female voices. Here’s a trick, when you speed up the voice it minimizes that impression and improves the overall narration experience.

Speed up the Narrator — solves some problems

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I truly enjoyed everything about this audiobook. It had all the elements in the right amounts and they all came together perfectly with a satisfying ending. Great narration! Male and female voices were superbly done. This was a new author and narrator for me, but i will be looking for more from them now!
i highly recommend this one!

Great Listen, Wonderful Story

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If it’s included with audiobooks and you’re not paying separately not a complete waste. The heroine is weak. If I were divorced by a man who accused me of adultery that never happened while believing someone else over his own me my character being unblemished up to that point. I’d not so easily fall back into this man’s arms. I certainly wouldn’t do it before he apologized for being wrong when he finally understands he is. Then also doesn’t protect her from his mother when he knows at that point she lied. It would be a cold day in hell id sleep with him again. As for the narrator she’s getting better. Some day she’ll get there.

Id grade it an overall C

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I like this story pretty much for the most part. Without giving away the plot, I would just have to say there was a major character flaw that I had trouble accepting. But the writing was better than average, and I liked most of the main characters. I simply would never have forgiven the actions of one of the major characters.

Pretty good except for one major character flaw

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I enjoyed this storyline that followed the dismal life of a divorced duchess thrown from life of being married to a wealthy Duke into a life of despair as adulteress unfairly & how she fought back to clear her name. Narrator very good.

VERY GOOD

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I honestly couldn’t listen to narrators performance - it ruined the story. Won’t buy another story narrated by Ms. Beresford.

Nice story ruined by narrator

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The story was interesting and I liked the growth of the Duke. I agree with another reviewer who recommended increasing the speed of the narration. It does help

Enjoyable

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The story plot was excellent. Although the lady reading the book had a nice voice, she spoke entirely too slow!!! I listen to a ton of Audiobooks and have never had anyone speak as slow as she did. In addition, her voice was very monotone and did not animate at all!
I actually fell asleep at least five times. I suggest getting a new reader, or perhaps even two. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Great story

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This book infuriated me at times!! I honestly cannot believe she would be so kind to him even kissing him in the garden after what he did to her!?! I would have slapped him and left. It’s infuriating! She acted like an abused woman who doesn’t know her worth. I thought when he found her working at an inn he feel some shock, guilt and remorse, nope. And don’t even get me started on her brother! Yes it’s regency England but even back then a grown woman had agency over her own life. If she wanted to live in a cottage and be a cook there’s nothing her brother could do about it. Her constant bowing down to these men was exasperating! If I were her I would have left for another country. Screw them all.

Maddening at times.

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