A Lady Compromised

By: Darcie Wilde

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Fans of Jane Austen have fallen in love with Darcie Wilde's mystery series featuring Rosalind Thorne, a young woman adept at helping ladies of the ton navigate the darker corners of Regency England - while revealing Society's most shocking secrets....  

Rosalind is pleased when she's invited to Cassel House to help her friend Louisa prepare for her upcoming wedding. But that's not the only event on her agenda. The trip will also afford Rosalind the chance to see Devon Winterbourne, the newly minted duke of Casselmaine. Devon and Rosalind were on the verge of betrothal before the infamous Thorne family scandal derailed their courtship. Now Rosalind wonders if there's a chance their love might reignite.  

Devon is as handsome as Rosalind remembers and it's clear the attraction they once shared hasn't waned. But their time together is interrupted by one crisis after another - not the least of which is an awkwardly timed request for help from Louisa's friend, Helen Corbyn.  

Not long ago, the untimely death of Helen's brother, William, was ruled a suicide, but few people truly believe he took his own life. Helen needs to know what really happened - especially since she's engaged to the man some suspect of secretly killing William.  

While Rosalind desperately wants to help, she fears her efforts might cast a pall over Louisa's nuptials, not to mention her reunion with Devon. But when another untimely death rocks the ton, Rosalind has no choice but to uncover the truth before more people die...even if her actions threaten her future with Devon.

©2020 Darcie Wilde (P)2020 Recorded Books

Kind of a bummer.

I wanted to like this more. The story has too many characters that are so tertiary and I’ll-established. The romance is also less engaging than the past. Maybe the next book will be more redeeming but honestly this was kind of a downer.

Fourth Time's the Charm

I thoroughly enjoyed this series of books. I was a little apprehensive about getting this 4th book as there were many complaints about the narrator's age and voice, and some said that the story-indeed the entire priduction- was too different. I found the narrator's voice did take a few minutes to get used to, but almost immediately I was able to distinguish between the narrator's voice and age and her characterizations--the ladies still had lovely youthful voices. Old and young ladies seemed clearly distinguished to my ear. There were many more and varied male characters in this story than in the previous books and the narrator's richer, deeper vocal abilities lent themselves perfectly to bring them to life--altbough the female characters were a little more clearly distinguishable than the male characters.

As for the story itself, I find that it was my favorite. I enjoyed seeing Rosalind outside her normal milieu. I enjoyed how the various relationships worked out--some differently than might be expected-- and I enjoyed how all the characters are moving forward with their lives. As this series keeps getting better, I eagerly await a fifth book.

New narrator detracted

I’ve really enjoyed this series, but this switch in narrator was not great. I had a hard time following the story in parts due to the narration. Not the best installment, and I thought it rushed through the love triangle, given how slow and unsure things had moved previously. Nevertheless, I will look for the next installment.

Fourth in series

Disappointing. Although the mysteries remain interesting, this was my least favorite of all four books. I’ve greatly enjoyed Rosalyn Landor’s narration in the past, but for my taste, she was a most unfortunate choice for this book. I found her too mature, too strident for our main character. It changed her entire personality. The resolution of the love triangle thrown in at the end was unsatisfying.

Another wonderful adventure for Rosalind Thorn

This is a very believable mystery set in Regency England with an interesting cast of characters. Every member of the ensemble of Rosalind's special circle of friends contribute to solving the mystery. Roslind has her hands full on this visit to Lord Winterbourne's estate. She shows she is more than up to the challenge. Thoroughly enjoyable. And it looks like the next novel is in the works! My only quibble is that this reader is simply not that great and detracts from, rather than adds to, the pleasure of listening. I truly hope that the producers will try to bring Sarah Nicols back for this next novel in the series.

Why do you continue to change the narrators?

I had a hard time getting past this narrator. I agree with the other reviewers that said that her voice was too mature for Rosalind. I loved the story and wanted to know what happened so I stuck with it. Great series!!

Good story...narrator not so much

Well plotted story. Hard to listen to this narrator though. I really prefer Pearl Hewitt’s narration of other book in this series.

Love!

It took me a while to get used to the narrator, but I ended up thinking she did a much, much better job than the ladies who narrated all the previous books. Story is a bit complicated and convoluted at times. Overall, it is a great book and I am so excited for the next installment!

Another fun story - distracting narration

A Lady Compromised is another fun story in the Rosalind Thorne series, complete with mystery, intrigue, and societal issues. What wasn't fun was the narration - the narrator has the wrong voice for this youthful series. While she was better when speaking for the characters (changed her voice to give them life), the rest of the time--and bulk of the book--she sounded like she was narrating a documentary on English gardens for the 65+ crowd. Far too prim and old sounding! It was distracting and took away from the story itself.

Ties Up Loose Ends

This is a historical fiction novel that EARNS the “Austen” comparison. Rosalind is a refreshing breath of fresh air in a market glutted with “Austen-like” books. I could immediately tell this book was very well researched by the world-building, character development, realistic backstories, expectations, the prose and descriptions of the Victorian England society.

In this book we get to see the “Life that could have been” with Rosalind bred to wed. Visiting the estate of her Duke because that’s how I think of him of now…gives them the opportunity to revisit their relationship. I felt for Rosalind as she attempts to conform herself to stringent standards of the Ton. If only dead bodies didn’t basically fall at her feet! Will the winds of fortune look kindly on Rosalind or has she changed more than even she has realized?
I think I’ve fallen in love with Alice and applaud her storyline evolution!

Rosalind is a well educated woman who was raised to make her debut into society, marry and then run a household. The winds of fortune are subject to change and not all that inherit wealth are capable of managing it. Rosalind’s father abandons his family when he loses the family fortune.

Rosalind transforms herself into a “Useful Woman”—a personal confidential assistant to the more “respectable wealthy women”. In this role she has found herself protecting others from scandals as simple as blackmail to as complex as murder. There are fantastic supporting characters that include close friends also attempting to make their way in this society. In spite of the tragic losses there are some witticisms including a few winks and nods at the ridiculous rules.

I highly recommend this book (actually the entire series). The mystery is very well woven and layered.

Now onto the next book and preorder it.

For the love of all things Regency—STOP changing Narrators!!

Confusing in places

I got the gist of things but it was quite hard to follow as a story.

A little mixed listening.

This must be the first book read by Rosalyn Landor that I have not fully enjoyed. It had nothing to do with her performance, more with the storyline - confusing in places. It's amazing how Rosalyn Landor changes her voice between different characters. This is my first time listening to a book by this author - didn't enjoy this one much.