-
Before the Rains
- Narrated by: Naomi Frederick
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 02-23-17
- Language: English
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Regular price: $24.00
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Tea Planter's Daughter
- The India Tea Series, Book 1
- By: Janet MacLeod Trotter
- Narrated by: Sarah Coomes
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 209
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 185
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 185
Lush, green, fragrant: the Indian hills of Assam are full of promise. But eighteen-year-old Clarissa Belhaven is full of worry. The family tea plantation is suffering, and so is her father, still grieving over the untimely death of his wife, while Clarissa's fragile sister, Olive, needs love and resourceful care. Beautiful and headstrong, Clarissa soon attracts the attention of young, brash Wesley Robson, a rival tea planter.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Book 1 indeed!
- By David Bogosian on 09-30-16
-
The Love Letter
- By: Lucinda Riley
- Narrated by: Camilla Rockley
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 310
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 292
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 290
1995, London. When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of 95 he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family but also a secret so shocking, so devastating that it could rock the English establishment to its core. Joanna Haslam is an ambitious young journalist assigned to cover the legendary actor's funeral. The great and the good of the celebrity world are there. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter James Harrison has left behind, the contents of which others have been desperate to conceal for over 70 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic!
- By Martha on 09-09-18
-
The Tea Planter's Wife
- A Novel
- By: Dinah Jefferies
- Narrated by: Avita Jay
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 74
International best-selling novel set in 1920s Ceylon, about a young Englishwoman who marries a charming tea plantation owner and widower, only to discover he's keeping terrible secrets about his past, including what happened to his first wife, that lead to devastating consequences.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Continual lack of communication/honesty = heartbreak
- By Elizabeth C. on 02-04-18
-
The Silk Merchant's Daughter
- By: Dinah Jefferies
- Narrated by: Eliza Parkes
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 6
From the number-one best-selling author of The Tea Planter's Wife. Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Silk Merchant's Daughter by Dinah Jefferies, read by Eliza Parkes. Dinah Jefferies' stunning new novel is a gripping, unforgettable tale of a woman torn between two worlds.... French Indochina, 1952. Since her mother's death, 18-year-old half-French, half-Vietnamese Nicole has been living in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Sylvie.
-
The Lost Vintage
- A Novel
- By: Ann Mah
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 407
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 383
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 384
Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this pause-resisting novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II. To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Splendid
- By Rachel Maritz on 08-08-18
-
Stars Across the Ocean
- By: Kimberley Freeman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 373
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 355
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 349
An enthralling story about love, motherhood and choosing who you belong to in the world by best-selling author Kimberley Freeman. 1874: only days before she is to leave the foundling home where she grew up, Agnes Resolute discovers that, as a baby, she had been abandoned with a small token of her mother: a unicorn button. Agnes always believed her mother had been too poor to keep her, but after working as a laundress in the home she recognises the button as belonging the daughter of a local noble.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What an adventure!!
- By Jay B on 02-20-18
-
The Tea Planter's Daughter
- The India Tea Series, Book 1
- By: Janet MacLeod Trotter
- Narrated by: Sarah Coomes
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 209
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 185
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 185
Lush, green, fragrant: the Indian hills of Assam are full of promise. But eighteen-year-old Clarissa Belhaven is full of worry. The family tea plantation is suffering, and so is her father, still grieving over the untimely death of his wife, while Clarissa's fragile sister, Olive, needs love and resourceful care. Beautiful and headstrong, Clarissa soon attracts the attention of young, brash Wesley Robson, a rival tea planter.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Book 1 indeed!
- By David Bogosian on 09-30-16
-
The Love Letter
- By: Lucinda Riley
- Narrated by: Camilla Rockley
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 310
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 292
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 290
1995, London. When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of 95 he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family but also a secret so shocking, so devastating that it could rock the English establishment to its core. Joanna Haslam is an ambitious young journalist assigned to cover the legendary actor's funeral. The great and the good of the celebrity world are there. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter James Harrison has left behind, the contents of which others have been desperate to conceal for over 70 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic!
- By Martha on 09-09-18
-
The Tea Planter's Wife
- A Novel
- By: Dinah Jefferies
- Narrated by: Avita Jay
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 74
International best-selling novel set in 1920s Ceylon, about a young Englishwoman who marries a charming tea plantation owner and widower, only to discover he's keeping terrible secrets about his past, including what happened to his first wife, that lead to devastating consequences.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Continual lack of communication/honesty = heartbreak
- By Elizabeth C. on 02-04-18
-
The Silk Merchant's Daughter
- By: Dinah Jefferies
- Narrated by: Eliza Parkes
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 6
From the number-one best-selling author of The Tea Planter's Wife. Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Silk Merchant's Daughter by Dinah Jefferies, read by Eliza Parkes. Dinah Jefferies' stunning new novel is a gripping, unforgettable tale of a woman torn between two worlds.... French Indochina, 1952. Since her mother's death, 18-year-old half-French, half-Vietnamese Nicole has been living in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Sylvie.
-
The Lost Vintage
- A Novel
- By: Ann Mah
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 407
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 383
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 384
Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this pause-resisting novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II. To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Splendid
- By Rachel Maritz on 08-08-18
-
Stars Across the Ocean
- By: Kimberley Freeman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 373
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 355
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 349
An enthralling story about love, motherhood and choosing who you belong to in the world by best-selling author Kimberley Freeman. 1874: only days before she is to leave the foundling home where she grew up, Agnes Resolute discovers that, as a baby, she had been abandoned with a small token of her mother: a unicorn button. Agnes always believed her mother had been too poor to keep her, but after working as a laundress in the home she recognises the button as belonging the daughter of a local noble.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What an adventure!!
- By Jay B on 02-20-18
-
The Romanov Empress
- By: C. W. Gortner
- Narrated by: Katharine McEwan
- Length: 17 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 206
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 189
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 187
Narrated by the mother of Russia’s last tsar, this vivid, historically authentic novel brings to life the courageous story of Maria Feodorovna, one of Imperial Russia’s most compelling women, who witnessed the splendor and tragic downfall of the Romanovs as she fought to save her dynasty in its final years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
One of C.W. Gortner Best!!
- By Mark Regiec on 07-13-18
-
The Far Pavilions
- By: M. M. Kaye
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 48 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 966
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 892
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 890
When The Far Pavilions was first published 19 years ago, it moved the critic Edmund Fuller to write this: "Were Miss Kaye to produce no other book, The Far Pavilions might stand as a lasting accomplishment in a single work comparable to Margaret Mitchell's achievement in Gond With the Wind." From its beginning in the foothills of the towering Himalayas, M. M. Kaye's masterwork is a vast, rich, and vibrant tapestry of love and war that ranks with the greatest panoramic sagas of modern fiction.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Heroism, adventure, sadistic cruelty, and love.
- By Velan on 02-19-13
-
The Secret Wife
- By: Gill Paul
- Narrated by: Laura Kirman, Thomas Judd
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,621
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,471
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,464
The stories of two very different women, linked by the secrets and lies of history, merge together as past and present weave together in this stunning story of love, loss and resilience. 2016. Kitty, fleeing from a devastating revelation in her own life, finds herself at her great-grandfather's cabin in Lake Akanabee. There she discovers a gorgeous necklace, which leads her uncover to long-buried family secret. 1914. Tatiana, Grand Princess of Russia, falls in love with Dmitri, a Russian solider, as she nurses him back to health.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An unexpected jewel with refreshing perspectives
- By Amazon Customer on 12-17-16
-
Bellewether
- By: Susanna Kearsley
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Megan Tusing
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
It's late summer, war is raging, and families are torn apart by divided loyalties and deadly secrets. In this complex and dangerous time, a young French Canadian lieutenant is captured and billeted with a Long Island family, an unwilling and unwelcome guest. As he begins to pitch in with the never-ending household tasks and farm chores, Jean-Philippe de Sabran finds himself drawn to the daughter of the house. Slowly, Lydia Wilde comes to lean on Jean-Philippe, true soldier and gentleman, until their lives become inextricably intertwined.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Satisfying Sigh
- By JimKnott on 11-11-18
-
Lighthouse Bay
- By: Kimberley Freeman
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 679
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 637
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 634
This breathtaking novel travels more than a century between two love stories set in the Australian seaside town of Lighthouse Bay. In 1901, a ship sinks off the coast of Lighthouse Bay in Australia. The only survivor is Isabella Winterbourne - escaping her loveless marriage and the devastating loss of her son - who clutches a priceless gift meant for the Australian Parliament. Suddenly, this gift could be her ticket to a new life, free from the bonds of her husband and his overbearing family.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent story!
- By Kate B. on 11-30-17
-
In the Land of the Long White Cloud
- By: Sarah Lark
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 568
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 491
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 491
Hardworking London governess Helen Davenport longs for a family of her own but knows the prospect of finding a suitable husband grows dimmer each year. Then she spots an advertisement seeking wives for the churchgoing bachelors of colonial New Zealand and begins an affectionate correspondence with a gentleman farmer.Meanwhile, not far away in Wales, society life bores Gwyneira Silkham, beautiful, daring daughter of a wealthy sheep breeder.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Told Tale of Life in 19th Century New Zealand
- By Debbie on 05-15-15
-
The English Wife
- A Novel
- By: Lauren Willig
- Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 428
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 393
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 389
Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil live a charmed life in New York: He's the scion of an old Knickerbocker family, she grew up in a Tudor house in England, they had a fairy-tale romance in London, and he's recreated her family home on the banks of the Hudson. Yes, there are rumors that she's having an affair with the architect, but rumors are rumors. But then Bayard is found dead with a knife in his chest on the night of their Twelfth Night Ball; Annabelle goes missing, presumed drowned; and the papers go mad.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I'm recommending this book to my friends
- By A. on 01-30-18
-
The Clockmaker's Daughter
- By: Kate Morton
- Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 872
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 813
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 810
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor in rural Oxfordshire. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins. Over 150 years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Why the heck is the abridged version played first?!
- By Alicia Perrillo on 10-14-18
-
The Dutch Wife
- By: Ellen Keith
- Narrated by: Abby Craden, Eric Martin, Charlie Thurston
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 26
Amsterdam, May 1943. As the Nazis tighten their grip across the city, the last signs of Dutch resistance are being swept away. Marijke de Graaf and her husband are arrested and deported to different concentration camps in Germany. Marijke is given a terrible choice: to suffer a slow death in the labor camp or - for a chance at survival - join the camp brothel. On the other side of the barbed wire, SS Officer Karl Müller arrives at the camp hoping to meet his father’s expectations of wartime glory. When he encounters the newly arrived Marijke, their lives change forever.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not to be compared to Nightingale !
- By Dr.Kerrie on 11-01-18
-
Mustard Seed
- By: Laila Ibrahim
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 862
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 743
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 737
Oberlin, Ohio, 1868. Lisbeth Johnson was born into privilege in the antebellum South. Jordan Freedman was born a slave to Mattie, Lisbeth's beloved nurse. The women have an unlikely bond deeper than friendship. Three years after the Civil War, Lisbeth and Mattie are tending their homes and families while Jordan, an aspiring suffragette, teaches at an integrated school. When Lisbeth discovers that her father is dying, she's summoned back to the Virginia plantation where she grew up.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Part TWO
- By Dorothy on 04-16-18
-
Amy Snow
- A Novel
- By: Tracy Rees
- Narrated by: Melody Grove
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,253
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,000
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,002
It is 1831 when eight-year-old Aurelia Vennaway finds a naked baby girl abandoned in the snow on the grounds of her aristocratic family's magnificent mansion. Her parents are horrified that she has brought a bastard foundling into the house, but Aurelia convinces them to keep the baby, whom she names Amy Snow. Amy is brought up as a second-class citizen, but she and Aurelia are as close as sisters. When Aurelia dies at the age of 23, she leaves Amy 10 pounds. But Aurelia also left her much more.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Don't miss out on this one.
- By laurie eller on 01-24-17
-
The Sapphire Widow
- By: Dinah Jefferies
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Glaister
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4
Ceylon, 1935. Louisa Reeve, the daughter of a successful British gem trader, and her husband, Elliot, a charming, thrill-seeking businessman, seem like the couple who have it all. Except what they long for more than anything: a child. While Louisa struggles with miscarriages, Elliot is increasingly absent, spending much of his time at a nearby cinnamon plantation overlooking the Indian ocean. After his sudden death, Louisa is left alone to solve the mystery he left behind. Revisiting the plantation at Cinnamon Hills, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn toward the owner, Leo.
Publisher's Summary
Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Before the Rains by Dinah Jefferies, read by Naomi Frederick.
A gripping, heart-wrenching tale of love against the odds from number one Sunday Times best-selling author Dinah Jefferies.
Rajputana, India, 1930. Since her husband's death, 28-year-old photojournalist Eliza's only companion has been her camera. When the British government sends her to an Indian princely state to photograph the royal family, she's determined to make a name for herself. But when Eliza arrives at the palace, she meets Jay, the Prince's handsome, brooding younger brother. Brought together by their desire to improve conditions for local people, Jay and Eliza find they have more in common than they think. But their families - and society - think otherwise. Eventually they will have to make a choice between doing what's expected and following their hearts.
Critic Reviews
More from the same
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars21
-
4 Stars8
-
3 Stars4
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars21
-
4 Stars5
-
3 Stars3
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars19
-
4 Stars6
-
3 Stars2
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars0
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rachel Hendrickson
- 04-09-18
perfectly romantic
I absolutely loved this book. it painted such a beautiful scene. I highly recommend it!!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- veronica cochrane
- 08-01-18
Cochrane, Glasgow
I enjoyed this beautifully written book and the lovely description India towards the end of the Raj. This is the second book by this author I have listened to and the narrator has a good range of believable voices.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Anne maitland
- 12-09-17
Pleasant surprises
Kept me enchanted and wanting to learn more of India. Well written and read. Superb.
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-16-17
Before the rains
Not a patch on the tea planters wife by the same author.
It starts well but I thought the end spoilt it for me as it was a bit slushy and completely unrealistic
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- rezwana
- 07-30-17
reflects interesting indian cultral traditions
What did you like most about Before the Rains?
The cultral easten tradition that your elders know "Whats best for you" and how that often goes against what you feel in your heart , which is right ? your hearts voice or your elders voice.
What other book might you compare Before the Rains to, and why?
of marriagable age
Which scene did you most enjoy?
All the scences where the tradtions of india came into play, both good and bad !!
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The moments where women had no rights,had no voice.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Abbey
- 06-27-17
excellent read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite being a predictable love story the author wove in interesting insights into life in India from both the Indian and English perspective. Dinah Jefferies brings the country and characters to life, and the narration was excellent.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Malcolm Blackwood
- 04-17-17
Absolutely terrific story
Well written, well researched and well narrated. A wonderful way to spend listening hours. Recommended for all romantics everywhere
.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Joyce
- 03-25-17
Dinah Jefferies
I was so looking forward to this book but was disappointed when reading it. Perhaps I expected too much, but not her usual can't put down read.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Bookaholic
- 03-20-17
Romantic novel
If you like Mills & Boon style books then you will love this. Easy reading romantic novel. Nothing surprising, just pleasant escapism and all a bit obvious from the start. Well narrated by Naomi Frederick, I would listen to her again, but wouldn't read another Dinah Jefferies - not my cup of tea.