A Fallen Lady

Ladies of Scandal, Book 1

By: Elizabeth Kingston

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Laura Kinsale presents...

He came looking for the disgraced object of scandal, and found a delightful woman too proud to reveal her heart. A memorable Regency heroine highlights Elizabeth Kingston's special talent to create characters who steal your heart, with Nicholas Boulton to bring them to life.

For reasons of his own, Stephen Hampton, Lord Summerdale, is determined to learn the truth behind the tangled tale of Helen's ruin. There is nothing he abhors so much as scandal - nothing he prizes so well as discretion - and so he is shocked to find that he cannot help but admire her.

But how can she trust a man so steeped in the culture of high society, who conceals so much? And how can he, so devoted to the appearance of propriety, ever love a fallen lady?

©2015 Elizabeth Kingston (P)2017 Hedgehog, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Sometimes you want to sink into a comfy chair and read about scandal, arrogant gentlemen and fallen ladies in a country village, with all that conjures of Austen and England and taking tea. I love Kingston's venture into the Regency, and Nick's perfect sexy, aristocratic voice!" – (Laura Kinsale, author of Flowers from the Storm)

"Narrator Nicholas Boulton has a voice made for audiobooks, a smooth baritone that conveys every nuance of a story. The writing in this historical romance is superb, and his narration elevates it even further. Stephen Hampton is dispatched to investigate what has become of the sister of a peer, who fled society in a scandal years before. He's surprised to find himself admiring the disgraced Lady Helen, and tries to befriend her. But Helen doesn't want or need a champion; she wants no part of the society that spurned her and would rather live on her own terms. The story takes its time letting their complex relationship unfold, allowing the listener to get to know the characters and become immersed in this wonderful story." - ( AudioFile)

"Strong writing, rich characterisation and a tender and (sometimes) angsty central relationship combine to make this an engrossing listen; and with Nicholas Boulton proving, once again, exactly why his name on the front of an audiobook makes us jump for joy, it’s highly recommended." - ( AudioGals)

Intelligent writing and perfect narration

This book was such a refreshing change from some of the romance books I've tried to listen to and had to return lately because the stories just didn't hold my interest. Nicholas Boulton has narrated many of the audible releases by Laura Kinsale (e.g., Flowers from the Storm), and these are among my favorites. I'll be checking for more audible releases of Elizabeth Kingston and Nicholas Boulton.

Unfolding at a the perfect pace

Where does A Fallen Lady rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best historical romantic books I have experienced.However, this book is so much more than a romance; it is an experience of friendships, hope, and learning to be emotionally strong.

Good Read

Any additional comments?

For the most part, this was a great story. The heroine and hero were both really likable with amazing secondary characters, Marie-Anne and Maggie were my favs. I thought that the plot was really interesting, what brought these two together was one I've not read before. There were also a few curve balls I didn't expect. This is a new author, highly recommended by Laura Kinsale. I do have two gripes:

1) While the plot was great, the buildup to understanding the heroine's fall from grace took entirely too long.
2) I said "For the most part this was a great story" Well it was, up until the last hour where the heroine took a turn onto misunderstanding stubborn lane and you know the rest of the story.

Why can't authors get creative instead of having a long, drawn our angst fest when we KNOW how it ends? Luckily this one was just an hour or so.

As a result, I'm giving the author 4/5 stars for this story, she has promise and I'll keep an eye out to the followup of this book. I actually bought the first book in her "Welsh Blades" series" before purchasing this one.

The narrator 5/5 stars, hands down. Nicholas is always so clutch.

"Keep your brain between your legs and keep it there throughout"

This book was SO full of love. Storyline drips with such amazing sentences I will never want to forget. Marianne was perhaps my favorite character. Her lines were so hilarious and well thought out that I found myself laughing out loud to some of her comments. (The scene where she fell off her chair from laughter and then asked for help to get back on but changing her mind is priceless).
I find myself still sitting here after 20 minutes of finishing the book in awe of EK's talent. She makes it seem a life actually lived with characters so well developed it makes your heart ache with sadness and swell with happiness at every turn. She has quickly become one of my all time favorite writers. Laura Kinsale books have always been a favorite of mine but I do have to congratulate her at presenting this amazing and wonderful writer whom in my view surpasses almost all others in quality, details, writing and emotions evoked in her readers. Job well done ELizabeth. You truly have talent.
To conclude I have to say Nicholas Boulton will never have an equal. This writer/narrator combo is one of the best you will ever be exposed to. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Character driven & heartwarming story.

Would you consider the audio edition of A Fallen Lady to be better than the print version?

I don't thinks so. I believe they're equally good.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Fallen Lady?

The moment in which Helen embraces her brother is very moving.

What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is memorable and it is what he brings to the story, making the story memorable as well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It takes love to break the barriers and bring two vastly complex characters to accept each other.

Any additional comments?

I’ve only recently discovered this author and the two medieval books she wrote, I just loved. This one is set in Regency period and while the plot was slow moving, I thought the story revolved mostly around the developing characters and their growing relationship. I believe the complexity of the characters (and trust me, both characters had a lot of issues that only with time would be resolved) and their growing romance are as much of a plot as the real reason behind their meeting and the heroine’s past.

Our hero Stephen is sharp, intuitive and funny while the heroine Helen, is strong, witty and vulnerable. No wonder Stephen was taken with her, despite her reputation.

The story not just starts slow, but it moves at a sedate pace throughout and to some this might be an obstacle. To me, I rather thought it was a conscious decision on the part of the author. I believe that if this story was given a fast pace, we would have lost the point of what it really takes for two vastly different, extremely complex individuals to not just fall in love with one another, but to accept each others flaws and circumstances that brought them together.

Some stories are written to entertain and titillate, some to make us laugh and some to make us cry. This story actually has all of those elements but it also makes us think. We are forced to see the society and its people of Regency Era as they truly were. A society that treated women as property and put very little value on them.

Elizabeth Kingston and Nicholas Boulton are a force to be reckoned 🙂 I love them both.

Melanie for b2b

extraordinary

enjoyed this much, two people, each afraid, each lonely, each stubborn, each having suffered cruelty, each with a great desire to love and be loved, only to trust and let go...
the narrator, Nicholas Boulton.....I love his narration, his voice, am willing to listen to every book he's done, again and again...

It started off so well...

I really enjoyed this book until, like another reader mentioned, the last hour or so. Helen began to act so out of character-so silly! It really annoyed be because I enjoyed the rest of the book so well. I've read a few reviews of her other books and some people believe this is Laura Kinsale writing under a different name. Nope. This isn't anything as entertaining and well written as one of her books-

amazing story and best narrator ever

First, Nicholas Boulton is my favorite narrator of all time! He is amazing with any book. That said, this story is fabulous. The dialogue is amazing, love Marianne and her great lines! I want to listen to it again just to catch everything. Just love this author, one of my new favorites. Really look forward to finding more books by her.

Disappointing Boring, overly dramatic

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

I found this book overly dramatic. The main hero and heroine take turns narrating their sides of the story which is about the most interesting part of this book. She is a fallen woman he is a respectable nobleman. But it turns out pretty trashy and by the end I wanted to erase this story from my mind. All the intrigue and questioning of what happened to her was what kept me listening. When the book FINALLY starts to put the pieces together, I was so sick of both characters mainly our fallen lady that I couldn't finish it.

The heroine treats the Hero like trash the entire book, but he is completely drawn to her. I felt he deserved better regardless of what she'd endured by society.
If you love period dramas but like them to be a bit more sophisticated with a solid mystery, this book is NOT for you.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The Narrator Nicholas Boulton does an amazing job as usual. His voice is intoxicating and I would definitely listen to anything he Narrates.

Fantastic!!!! From start to finish!!!

Five Stars!!! All Around!!

This was a funny and engrossing story brought to life by Nicholas Boulton. His narration made me laugh out loud and cry at times, bringing each of Elizabeth Kingston’s characters to life. I LOVED his voice of Helen’s French friend - Maryanne. It was like listening to a female version of Hercule Poirot. His characterization of Maryanne was superb and her dialogue leapt off the page. I laughed out loud many times when Maryanne had her words of wisdom for Helen or Steven and in the same breath Mr Boulton could deliver an intense scene volleying back and forth between characters as if listening to a tennis match that you need to stop what your doing and completely listen to the narration so as not to miss a biting word. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Undecided

The Hero in an effort to find his niche in lifes hunts out other people's secrets. He believes he is entitled to those secrets, also giving him a right to look down on them.
The Heroine beheld a traumatic experience and was also assulted. Since she can't tell her tale coherently, her brother turns his back on her and society ejects her.
As an insurance for a business deal, the Hero needs to know all the Heroine's secrets. She is scared of men, is nervous of any sexual act, yet tumbles happily into bed. Naturally all the anxiety continue to plague her, but it doesn't stop her.
The Hero ignores all hints of what might of occurred "as the means justifies the end". He also justifies his need to keep his "first true love" on a string, as she opened his eyes to "true love". Though "in love" she married a richer titled old man, not the second son. Only regreting it when he gains a titled, seems irrelevant, he must be needy.
Naturally it all blows up, everyone has a tantrum and then it is fixed.
I perfered, the Heroine friends to the rest of the characters.

Worth a listen

A very gentle love story made so much more by an amazing narrator. Definitely worth a try.

Beautiful story

Romantic story enjoyed it very much.
loved the epilogue very sweet and funny.
Excellent narration

Original love story

Original storyline made even better by excellent narration. The characters and their motives were believable and engaged ones sympathies.

Predictable but easy listening

In the vein of Barbara Cartland books but maybe a bit more raunchy in parts. Predictable but nice and easy to listen to. Nicolas Boulton's voice is at a nice pitch for an audio book.

Fab story

Really enjoyed this book and first of this particular author. NB is an amazing narrator and would listen to him reading off my shopping list with glee! Lol
Well done EK - on to the next book!

Beautiful love story !

I enjoy this book very much ! Wonderful reader !
A really sweet and absorbing love story with good characters and a happy ending.
I highly recommend it.