Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride

Scandalous Seasons, Book 1

By: Christi Caldwell

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh, a hopeless romantic, is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands.

War-torn veteran Lord Drake devotes himself to forgetting his days on the Peninsula through an endless round of meaningless associations. He no longer wants to feel anything, but Lady Emmaline is making it hard to maintain a state of numbness. With her zest for life, she awakens his passion and desire for love.

The one woman Drake has spent the better part of his life avoiding is now the only woman he needs, but he is no longer a man worthy of his Emmaline. It is up to her to show him the healing power of love.

©2015 Christi Caldwell (P)2015 Christi Caldwell

Great read and fantastic narration..

This was a really good story. Loved Emmaline and Drake. He loved her so much he was willing to let her go and she loved him so much she wouldn’t give up on him and his nightmares from the war.

It had some good characters, too.

There was some explicit sex in this book.

As to the narration: After listening to the many voices Tim Campbell does on his website he’s even more talented than I’d ever thought. For all of you who like TC you should go listen to him. He’s really quite phenomenal.

one of my favorite Calwell books

This story simply flowed so beautifully. There was sexual tension, a plot that made sense and wasn't to repetitive, great characters, and a HEA . The story wasn't cookie cutter, like so many regency romances are. Great narration.

GREAT STORY

Loved this story. Funny, sad, and fun.

Tim Campbell...what can I say, one of my favorites.

I recommend this to anyone and everyone.

PTSD love story

a young man suffering from the aftermath of war. a young woman whose love is neverending. this story is poignant, it will touch you to your very soul.

Forever a 5 star listen

This is a moving story as we see Drake struggling with PTSD and his attempts to find normalcy in his life. On the outside, he's handsome, strong and confident so nobody would ever guess the battle within himself. The author seems to handle this with great sensitivity, but always with a great level of optimism too. My eyes might tear up on one page, and the very next page I was laughing at one of Emmaline's escapades or a witty repartee with her brother or Drake. After she reads about Drake in the scandal sheets telling how he took up with an Opera Singer she decides to really pay him back. She tells her best friend Sophie that they should go to the Opera and sit at her parents box. While there she purposely barges into Drakes box but makes it seem like it is a mistake. She has a funny line for Drake , saying since he wants the Opera Singer she will get for him a signed picture ( autographed ) for him. so the next day sure enough she has it delivered . It was a great read. I liked the way each chapter started with a short letter from the h to the H. The letters, while only a couple of sentences each, showed the h's fun personality and made me feel very engaged with the story. She has guts and she will not stand back from doing the right thing. This young lady is a force of nature and when she wants something she makes a plan and goes for it. I would say she has gumption! Emmaline is the daughter of a duke, now sister to a duke and engaged to marquess who will one day be a duke. Drake and Emmaline have been Betroth for 15 yrs and he went to war to avoid the marriage that the fathers set up. Lord Drake is a hero, well, everyone in England sees him as one but he cannot even make it through a 24 hour period without the scary memories of war. He is everything a dark man harboring painful secrets would be. Of course, to the outside world he is mysterious rogue that no one can tame but not a solider emotionally wounded from the scenes of the battlefield. Talk about breaking your heart! When Emmaline starts to put herself in the same place’s as Drake he will learn that maybe this fierce, intelligent, kind-hearted woman will be his salvation but will his realization be too late? Get the story to see do they end the relationship . does Drake finnaly fall in love with her. Does Emmaline heal him

A good start to a series

3.5- 4. I liked it. It wasn't perfect but it was totally enjoyable. Emmaline is much more patient than I would ever be. Drake was a war hero with PTSD issues. And they had been betrothed for 15 years.

I loved Em's notes. Too bad she never sent them.

I think the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked a longer courtship. There was a bit too much repetition. But, overall, it was delightful.

educate your narrator

story good, tho there are recurring themes. please teach narrator how to pronounce words and names eg Emmeline.

wasted credit

I can't believe I wasted my monthly credit on this one. Same thing happening over and over in the plot. I didn't need to hear enery detail of his BJ fantasy over and over! I couldn't even finish it! That never happens.

Forever Bethrothed, Never the Bride

Emmeline was going to need someone who could understand her and love her for herself. I love that she didn't hesitate to put one in their place when necessary. This one will make you laugh, smile, and cry a little. It's a wonderful 5 Star book and paired with the very talented Tim Campbell for a 5 Star narration. You must not miss this one.💗

Worth a 1st listen but probably not a second...

There was a lot of humor in this book and I enjoyed that. There were times it made me laugh out loud. I liked the characters overall.

My issue is that there was a lot of concentration on the first part of her getting him to notice her, but when she finally broke it off and he was working to get her back, he didn’t have to work very hard. I would’ve preferred that she worked a little less and he worked a little more. 2 gestures of “Courting “ on his part was simply not enough.

I have not decided if I’m going to listen to more of this series. I probably will when I get bored with another one, but it isn’t something I’m going to listen through in a row, which I usually do.

I listed to it on Audible Escape so it’s ok to me that it was so-so, I do not think I would be happy if I had spent money on it.