Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One

By: Sandy Raven

Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman, Victoria J. Mayers

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers bring to life this unique audiobook version of the historical romance, Caversham's Bride. Together they seamlessly integrate an entire cast of characters and create the ambiance of Morocco, Italy and England, making this a wonderful and exciting listening experience.

Sold into slavery by the men who were supposed to kill her, Angelia Gualtiero must now convince the man who purchased her to help her. Lia would do anything to save her little brother from her murderous aunt - even marry a man she knows wants nothing more than to use of her body.

Marcus Renfield Halden, Ninth Duke of Caversham, needs an heir to secure his legacy and the futures of his young sisters from a desperate cousin whom he suspects of targeting him in pursuit of his title and fortune. When he sees a woman running from her guard in a market in Tangier, he is at first captivated by her beauty. After Ren learns her story, he's in awe of her bravery. He then makes Lia an offer she cannot refuse: Her brother for an heir.

What neither expected was to fall in love.

©2012 Sandy Raven (P)2013 Sandy Raven

AN UNUSUAL ACTION-PACKED REGENCY ADVENTURE

This was a sweeping tale that transports you from Italy to Morocco, back to Italy and then finally to England and it follows a relationship that slowly builds as distrust eventually leads to trust, then friendship and that happily leads to love.

Marcus (Ren) buys and saves Angelia (Lia) from the slave market but there are lots of hurdles to overcome before he can get his hands on her but when he does he just can't keep them off her. Plenty of passion, sex and romance as Lia involves Ren in her quest to get her brother and nursemaid back and he discovers some important secrets she failed to share. Likeable characters, good action packed storyline and some twists all this and with a few dislikable evil villains too.

This is actually a dual-narration by DK and Victoria Myers (the jury is still out as to whether I like or dislike a dual narrated listen) anyway...... WHY O WHY did VM give the heroine (who is Italian) an English accent??? everyone else in Italy had an accent - including her maid and brother, but Lia didn't - she had a posh English one which (sorry) but this annoyed the hell out of me.

Worth a credit? Absolutely YES and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book.

WOW WHAT A LOVE STORY!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One to be better than the print version?

YES!! The Narrators Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers were the best Narrators I have ever listen too and I have listen to many audio books. They really brought the story alive and they could perform so many different voice. I felt like I was listen to a movie!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Can I pick two characters Ren the Duke of Halden and Lia aka Angelia aka Kamilah. I loved the H/H becasue they were intelligent and communicated and resolved there problems with each other. the listener/reader can see their love grow and develop.The lovemaking sex are hot an a bit erotic, but written with class Not cheesy. They are extremely well written character. All of the supporting characters are written extremely well too. You want to know them all!!

Have you listened to any of Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I will probably buy any audible book in the HR or PR genre that they narrate!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh and cry. It mostly made me happy becasue of the love Ren and Lia have for one another. It comes through as you are reading/listening.

Any additional comments?

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CAVERSHAM'S BRIDE AUDIO ADDITION!!

Its the best narrated love story I have ever read so far. The story itself is very well written, fast paced romantic and adventurous. One of the best love stories for me this year. Sandy Raven the author is now on my must read list. I am already reading/listening to bk2 Already His!

Read like no other WOW

Would you listen to Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One again? Why?

might

Any additional comments?

What really set this book apart from the others was the way that it was read. I really enjoyed listening the women parts were read by the women and the man read the mans part. Not like other books where the women reads whole chapters and the man reads whole chapters. It really brought something special to the book. Would like to see other books read the same.

Interesting historical, romantic adventure

Where does Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I can say that my recent addiction to audiobooks has opened up new vistas of enjoyment of 'reading'. As anxious as I am to continue the series, for comparisons with other audiobooks, I pass. My reading selections are very varied as my choices are eclectic to say the least. Suffice it to say, this book was totally entertaining enough to encourage the foray into the rest of the series.

What did you like best about this story?

The story tripped along very nicely. Lots of descriptive prose and historical background. The romance between Ren and Lia was stormy at times but it added to the excitement of the storyline. The sex scenes were graphic with way too much information but, to each his own. I did enjoy Ria's feisty nature and strong reactions to her tormenting relatives.

What about Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers ’s performance did you like?

They spelled each other to tackle the male and female voices. That made great sense and enhanced the enjoyment of their performance. I also appreciated the the way they imitated the accents of the characters. Victoria was particularly adept at Lia's language and intonation of her various moods.

Any additional comments?

This first book in The Caversham Chronicles series by Sandy Raven is a marvelous beginning to this series. It is rife with strong feelings, lots of drama and thrilling moments. I was so captivated by the storyline that I had great difficulty in taking time off to do other necessary things, like sleep. However, I did skip some of the steamy sex, but I was still so engrossed in the tale. The main characters, Ren and Lia were well developed, genuine and pleasurable to relate to. The book held my attention to the very end.

Sandy, I like your writing style and listening to Victoria and Dennis make your main and supporting characters come alive was an absolute joy.

Great Listening!

What made the experience of listening to Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One the most enjoyable?

I've always had an extreme enjoyment of audio books and radio stories. This experience with the intriguing plot and perfectly vibrant voices was truly an enjoyable journey. I look forward to Book Two.

Excellent narration

What did you love best about Caversham's Bride: The Caversham Chronicles - Book One?

I loved this story for its uniqueness. The story had just enough intrigue and was not just another "fluff Regency".

What did you like best about this story?

The minor characters were just as strong as the main characters.

What about Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers ’s performance did you like?

I cannot say enough good things about this narration. It was as if I were listening to a stage performance of the story. Definitely not just someone reading a book to me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this book in one sitting. I had to run to the store, and just took it with me.

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait for further collaborations between this author and these two fantastic narrators. Thank you for taking me into the world of Ren and Lia!

Recommend to lovers of historical romance

What does Dennis Kleinman and Victoria J. Mayers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The two readers of this story bring a depth and richness to the story.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this audio book to any lover of historical romance it grabs your attention early and keeps it for the duration look forward to the next installment

Unique Historical Romance

This is not your usual Regency romance of the ton balls, debutantes, and titled gentlemen. Caversham's Bride is extremely well written in an epic adventurous fashion that is reminiscent of a Bertrice Small novel. The settings vary from Morocco to Italy to England.

The hero, Ren, is not your run-of-the-Regency-mill nobleman. He actually works for a living, owns his own shipping company. His father was a duke, but mom was a rich middle class woman who taught him the value of time. Plus he likes his family, with one exception the one family member who wants him dead. His solution to end the murder plots is to marry and produce an heir. When that doesn't work, he flees England to regroup and strategize and catch his killer.

After her parents' deaths, Lia, the heroine, and her baby brother are kidnapped from their family home in Naples by an aunt and uncle interested only in their inheritances. After the random is cashed, her abductors decide to sell her to make even more money. Lia's intelligent and a courageous heroine, only unselfishly thinking of saving her little brother from what is certain doom no matter the circumstance she finds herself in.

With a fantastic not technically first meeting, Ren and Lia reach a "deal" of she gives him an heir and he saves her brother. There are some sizzling sex scenes in their romantic journey. After a satisfactory dealing with each other's families, they must of course realize that they're in love.

I loved this book and the family involvement on all sides. This book had it all and I highly recommend. Can't wait for the next book!!!

Would have given it 5 stars but...

This story does not need so much porn to sell the story line. There is enough smutt out there as it is. Had to fast forward through much of it to get on with the story.

Great plot but not using the language of the time.

I liked the plot a lot but was consistently drawn out of the story by use of modern words and phrases not in keeping with the time period. There were scores of such, such as chic to mean a la mode, the word nice to mean kind, or the word issue to mean matter. In the case of the latter, I was unsure whether the plot referred to the mentioned character’s children or activities as a result. Also a lot of phrases that were invented by early 20th century psychologists were used when describing emotion, processing, adjustment, etc. they were used all throughout the book. References to pregnancy were made with modern phrases as well. Also the Italian MC F was not voiced with an Italian accent nor was the Scottish grandmother with her brogue except possibly once I believe.