Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance

By: Lucinda Brant

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two noble teenagers are married against their will. Drugged, Deb has no recollection of events. Disgraced, Julian is banished to the continent. Years later, Deb falls in love with a wounded duelist, only to discover it is her husband, returned incognito! Can Deb forgive his calculated deception? Will their marriage survive beyond seduction?

Set in the opulent world of the aristocracy and inspired by real events, Lucinda Brant delivers another lavish 18th century experience in her trademark style - heart-wrenching drama with a happily ever after.

2013 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Medalist.

©2014 Lucinda Brant (P)2015 Lucinda Brant

Critic Reviews

"Lucinda Brant's sweeping family sagas are a perfect reminder of why I fell in love with historical romance." (Cheryl Bolen, New York Times best-selling author)

"Nice twists and turns, dramatic revelations, and some enjoyable chaos make this a book that keeps the reader turning the pages. Highly recommended!" (Fiona Ingram: five stars, Readers' Favorite)

Brant & Wyndham: A Winning Combination

A twelve-year-old girl is awakened in the middle of the night and escorted to her brother’s library where a bishop in full regalia marries her to a drunk, distraught teenaged boy. The groom and the two elderly men who accompanied him disappear, and the bride returns to the nursery. I had a hard time buying into this situation until I learned that this book was inspired by the real-life story of the second Duke and Duchess of Richmond.

Fast forward nine years to 1769 and Deb Cavendish is living in Bath – alone, which is somewhat scandalous – except for her nine-year old nephew Jack, the orphaned son of her late half-brother – which also is somewhat scandalous, as his mother was a Gypsy. One day Jack and Deb stumble across a wounded young man, apparently a participant in a duel, in the woods near Bath. Deb tends to his wounds and falls in love at the same time, but the man is carried off by a stranger to recuperate, and Deb is left to dream about what might have been.

Julian Hesham, Marquess of Alston, cannot get the image of his beautiful savior out of his mind, but he doesn’t even know her name. Later, when Deb visits the home of Martin Ellicott, her French tutor, she comes face to face with Julian, who is Ellicott’s godson. Thus begins Julian’s courtship of his own wife.

After their forced marriage, Julian’s father, the powerful father the Duke of Roxton, had banished him to the Continent on account of Julian’s outrageous behavior toward his mother, with Martin Ellicott as his chaperon and teacher. Knowing that his son was headstrong and rebelious and fearing that he would marry some unsuitable foreign lady, the duke had decided that Deb Cavendish would make a proper wife for Julian, and Deb’s brother and guardian Gerald agreed.

After the wedding, Deb was convinced by her nurse that the strange ceremony had been merely a dream. At the age of eighteen, she had defied her brother Gerald and traveled alone to Paris to nurse her brother Otto through a fatal illness. When he and his wife both died, she returned with Jack to live in a respectable but not fashionable part of Bath. Her reputation had suffered among the high sticklers, but being a cousin to the Duke of Devonshire and a considerable heiress ensured that she was accepted among certain segments of Bath society.

Julian is smitten with his wife, but he fears that she will reject him because of his tarnished reputation. He is thought by all to be a rake and he has been accused by a influential Parisien, M. Lefevbre, of seducing his daughter and refusing to marry her. Deb is Julian’s wife in law, but he does not want her to feel compelled into becoming his wife in fact. Thus, he decides to court her as plain Mr. Julian Hesham and hopes to secure her affection before it becomes necessary to tell her the truth.

This aspect of the plot is a bit too far-fetched for me. I understood what the old duke was trying to do by selecting Julian’s bride, but why the secret wedding in the middle of the night? Why did Deb’s brother never tell her the truth? Here she is larking around Bath with suitors galore and she’s utterly unaware that she’s already married! Indeed, during her stay in Paris she came close to eloping with the artist Evelyn Ffolkes (who happens to be Julian’s cousin), and now she is being pursued by Mr. Robert Thesiger (heir to a baron but rumored to be the natural son of the Duke of Roxton). My goodness, this is an awfully small world. And when Deb does fall in love with Julian and they “marry” again, why does he still not tell her the truth? And why does this otherwise kind and loving man eventually reveal everything in the cruelest manner possible? And why does Deb go completely around the bend upon learning that she is married to a man she loves and who loves her back?

These are among the issues that really irked me as I was reading this book, but when I listened to the audio, they pretty much dissolved into the ether. I decided to quit asking questions and just listen to the beautiful voice of Alex Wyndham and his marvelous narration of this book. This was the first time that I have read a book and then immediately listened to the audio, and it really doesn’t surprise me that while I might have rated the book at 3.5 stars or so, Mr. Wyndham’s ten-star performance compels me to award the audio book a full five stars.

Don’t get me wrong; the writing is excellent. In fact, everything that I have read by Lucinda Brant is first-class and fully immerses the reader in the world of Georgian England. But in the reading, I kept second-guessing the characters’ decisions, while in the listening I was swept up by dialogue and events. And there are plenty of events: marriage, separation, meeting the in-laws, dodging a murderous villain, and all sorts of intrigue. One of the things I enjoy about Ms. Brant’s style is that she doesn’t keep the reader dangling for too long. Instead, she reveals pieces of the story as the book progresses, which has the effect of keeping me turning the pages, or listening late into the night as the case may be.

For those historical romance fans who have been gobsmacked by Nicholas Boulton’s presentation of Laura Kinsale’s books, I am thrilled to report that Alex Wyndham is every bit as good. His narrative voice is deep and lovely, but he skillfully segues from the aging, imperious Roxton to the French duchess to the young boys, Jack and his best friend Harry. He is very good with the various female voices – avoiding the falsetto that some male narrators adopt – but the star of this audio book has to be Julian. He is young and cocky but also tremendously warm and quite funny, all of which comes through beautifully in his voice.

Alex Wyndham already has narrated Ms. Brant’s Alec Halsey mystery/romance series and is set to do the remainder of the Roxton series. For reasons not clear to me, the first Roxton book, Noble Satyr, will be the last one brought out in audio, but I don’t think that it’s necessary to have read it in order to enjoy the remainder of the books.

Despite my quibbles about parts of the plot, I unreservedly recommend that you listen to Midnight Marriage.

Bit of a letdown

Narrator excellent. Premise and start were great, but it went downhill quickly. Bullying, inconsistent, and pushy hero with an unattractive personality. Unjustifiably rude and uncommunicative. Heroine’s personality and actions also inconsistent. The unique start quickly descended into a lot of typical filler. It also had many characters to keep track of.

Beautiful, Exciting Story and Excellent Narration!

Would you listen to Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to Midnight Marriage again. Lucinda Brant is an excellent writer, who keeps the story constantly moving while making you fall in love with the characters. I caught myself rewinding and listening to certain parts of the story to replay the scenes in my head!

What other book might you compare Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance to and why?

This is the first time I've read (heard) Lucinda Brant's writing. Two of my favorite authors are Eloisa James and Jennifer Ashley, and Lucinda's now on my immediate-buy list with these two authors!

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

I would not have chosen a better narrator than Alex Wyndham. He does excellent voices for each of the characters. I believe he made the characters truly seem real, as if I was watching a movie. I would definitely listen to another book knowing he narrated it.

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

I actually laughed out loud at several parts of the book and became emotional towards the end. Although I did not cry, I believe it takes an extremely talented author to bring such an emotional reaction to written word. Lucinda Brant is an excellent story teller.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait to read and listen to the rest of the series!

A Wonderful Love Story

Any additional comments?

I loved this book & couldn't turn it off! Julian & Deb will make you laugh & cry...Alex Wyndham makes you feel like you are in the room listening to each conversation...he has such a smooth & sexy voice you want him to continue long after the book was over...Lucinda's detail for the Georgian period was very vivid...I'm reminded of the passage in the book when she describes Lady Mary's hair with the ship! I felt like I was there in person. The book is about Julian & Deb with several sub plots going on...you will laugh & cry & hold your breath in several places. I am looking forward to the next Roxton book on audio!

A performance that will blow your mind!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. The writer's style is definitely engaging coupled with this narrator made it magnificent!

What did you like best about this story?

The intrigue and complex storyline with an ironic twist...

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

I have not. But I must tell you, I think his performance brilliant. I was watching a film, not listening to a book -- yep, that good!

Any additional comments?

An intense, at times humorous, thrilling saga of the union of nobility with all its agony and sacrifices where the individual’s freedom of choice is thwarted at every turn. Yet, from all the cacophony, comes a love so wonderfully deep and poignant, so emotionally fulfilling you wish it were your own. This is the second of Ms. Brant’s books I’ve listened to. It won’t be my last. This series is highly recommended to those who wish to find love the hard way…

I love the way the story starts. A young girl of 12, slightly drugged, is married to a boy of 15, half-crazed with drink, in the middle of the night. It seemed sinister. I asked myself who was the bad guy and kept asking. Who were these children who were coerced into marriage? As chapter 1 begins, I was totally compelled to get the answers to my questions. If Sir Gerald is her brother, her guardian, why was he trying to marry her off? What made the marriage so necessary? Great drama.

Cleverly, the author holds the reins in her hands, taunt, only dispensing pieces of the puzzle and creating greater suspense, propelling us to the moment where all falls apart. The heroine, Deborah did not put all the pieces together until much too late for she had no remembrance of that momentous night.

The story shows us how evil and greedy man can be no matter his station in life. Martin and the Duke of Roxton were hard characters to read, however, hints were dropped, but without a clear picture they could have meant several things. Deborah Cavendish was everything nobility should be, strong of spirit and passionate of heart.

The narrator, Alex Wyndham shows wonderful professionalism and a delight to listen to. He is endowed with a rich baritone which could be listened to forever. His superb voice inflection, interpretation of the author’s words wove a listen extremely hard to put down. Characterization of each player was truly spot on. Elder voices were over the top. I heard each character’s state of mind distinctly. His timing, enunciation, and presentation made an enchanting listen and I’m thrilled to know he continues the narration of the rest of the series.

First time Audio Book

For my first ever Audio book I enjoyed this experience. It is amazing how the conversations come alive and you feel like you are there listening to these conversations.
The story of Deb and Julian is a beautiful one full of love and suspense and the drama of misunderstandings. Letting rumors fly without correction almost brings this couple down but thankfully love wins ❤️

BORING BEYOND BELIEF

The neverending conversation in this book along with the detailed description of everyone's clothes made this whole series a waste of time. Great if you want to fall asleep.

I enjoyed the book however the heroine was a fool

I enjoyed the book, but the heroine character was a fool. She was always impetuous, petulant at times and did not use her head when she should have. She had a dance with an enemy of the hero who told her a very negative story about the male character. The Villian was at times obviously a villain, and despite the fact he kept asking Deb to marry him, and she kept telling him no she seemed to trust him. There were even times she tried to avoid him in the ballroom yet she believed his words. For the rest of the book, Deb believed the lie and made herself and other's lives difficult being a brat about the Lord in question. She had nothing but the story to decide a person's character. Still, Deb kept mentioning this character flaw, over and over even after she was told of the villain's acrimonious past with the hero. An untrue claim against the Lord further cemented her opinion, and she kept declaring things as fact despite the fact the Lord never requested things to which she accused him.

The hero also was an idiot. He was keeping secrets when he did not need to. This too caused problems with their relationship. He put off telling the heroine something very important and kept reacting in pride which made things worse. The rest of her family also kept stupid secrets. For goodness sake for some foolish reason, they married her off to the hero when they were both children making sure she was awake but drugged through the event (yikes) yet when she was older was allowed to go about her life none the wiser. She disappeared to France to look after her brother and almost "eloped" with someone else and even after those events no one told her she already married.

Absolutely lovely story!!!

As much as I enjoyed this story, and I did, very much, The Nobel Satyr was a particular favorite leading character of mine. This tale is about his son and heir, and his life and trials with his wife. The characters are all very well written and seemed to come alive with Alex Wyndham's tell of the story in the audio book. He did a masterful job with the variety of characters and their speech/mother tongue. Lucinda Brant is a wonderful writer whose skill pulls you into the story to the point of intoxication. Book two is also much tamer in the sexual descriptions if a young person wants to read. The son was not quite the Rake his father was, before his marriage. The ending and clip from book three was also handled well. I was unsure about reading book three at first, but now, feel I can confront the loss of one of my favorite characters. Excellent series in both book form and audible presentation. I would recommend it to my friends who are intrigued by the lifestyle in France and England before the French revolution.

Such an unexpected pleasure

This book was my first Lucinda Brant and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Storyline was gripping with superb writing and narration (truly one of the best). It also added so much more to the story to find out that this book and the marriage scene was inspired by the second Duke and Duchess of Richmond. An overall lovely and light book to kick your heals up to and enjoy.

Outstanding Narration - more please!

Incredibly, the premise of Midnight Marriage is drawn from real life. In the story, a young couple (she's 12, he's 15 or 16) are married off in secret and then allowed to go their separate ways, with the girl left to believe that the whole thing had been a dream.

Almost a decade later, the girl - Deborah Cavendish - and her nephew stumble across a wounded man in the woods, and she pretty much saves his life by competently binding his wounds and summoning help. The man is taken away and as neither of them have exchanged their names, have little hope of seeing each other again.

The story may be a predictable one, but Lucinda Brant's grasp of and love for this particular period of history shine through in every word and description. The central characters are both thoroughly likeable, and the developing romance between them is very well done. There is an evil would-be suitor and a plot to do away with the hero, but it's all handled with such a sureness of touch that any minor niggles I might have had (and I had a couple) were easy to set aside.

The other factor key to my enjoyment of this audiobook is the narration by Alex Wyndham, which is, quite simply, outstanding. He has a gorgeous voice which he uses to excellent effect in every aspect of the production - characterisation, narrative and dialogue. Every single character is clearly delineated and there is never any doubt as to who is speaking. He performs the female characters extremely well, especially Antonia, Duchess of Roxton, a softly spoken Frenchwoman who sounds exactly like a French person speaking English, with a light, but obvious accent and specific inflection. Our hero, the Marquess of Alston, is brought to life with intelligence and humour - and while the book's love scenes are far from explicit, there are one or two moments which may produce weakened knees!

I haven't been as completely bowled over by a new - to- me narrator since I heard Nicholas Boulton narrating Laura Kinsale. Alex Wyndham is every bit as good and I really can't praise his work here highly enough.

Very highly recommended.

Great narrator

Story was flat. Brilliant narration. Too many facts repeated. Story had a good plot. Thanks AlexW

Gripping

This series is my all time favourite and listening to Alex Wyndham making the story come even more alive is an absolute pleasure.

Thanks now I’m addicted!

Love a series and since smashing the salt series by the author, I’m now addicted to the roxin family saga! Narrator has grown on me over the books I’ve listened to and story is great though I wish books were longer.

Interesting, Exciting, Enjoyable...

Interesting, Exciting, Enjoyable... but probably for all of the wrong reasons.

It took me a while to get into this novel. The beginning of it (prologue), was disconcerting and the first few chapters were confusing - I guess deliberately so - I had to read and reread them, before pressing on.

Then, the more I read the relationship and interchanges between the Duke and Duchess, the more I felt that I was getting some of the backstory (or maybe the‘Happy Ever After’ story), to Georgette Heyer’s Duke and Duchess of Avon from These Old Shades. Although Julian is no Devil’s Cub! LOL. It’s the same era and VERY SIMILAR characters (even Valentine has echoes of Rupert), so it was a strange experience for me.

Julian and Debra’s story is far from straightforward, smooth or uncomplicated. It takes a long (unnecessary) time for them to have a full and frank conversation, but it doesn’t detract from the overall story, which was very enjoyable - eventually.

You had me at Lucinda Grant narrator Alex Wyndham

As above Lucinda Brant's creation of real characters who are NOT anachronistic, her detailing of period detail, combined with Alex Wyndham's ability to give voice to these character which all have distinct and realistic tones of accent, pitch throughout. In particular his children's and.female voices are true, and of course all his male voices are different from each other.

I am currently bingeing on the Roxton family, having discovered Lucinda's books through her Alex Halsey series, then seeing the seeing the description of Noble Satyr as her homage to Bridgette Heyer's 'These Old Shades'. So dipped into that and the Salt Hendon series and now I am hooked and cannot be happier about it. 😃

Highly recommended

Really enjoyed listening to this book. Alex Wyndham does a phenomenal job narrating the book and really brings characters to life. The story keeps you engaged and some details are only revealed at the end. If you enjoy historical romances, this book will not disappoint.

Wonderful book

If you love historical romance, then this is a must! its full of innocent romance, intrigue and an excellent plot! I loved all the characters and I don't know why it has taken so long to find this author or this series, but I am now going to score the library for the rest of the series.


My only concern is that this is noted in Amazon as Book 1 whereas the story begins at Book 8, so perhaps this could be remedied.

The narration by Alex Wyndham is as perfect as ever and I hope he does them all.

Enjoy!

A great listen!

I read the book last year and enjoyed it so I thought I would listen to the audiobook. Well...... the narrator was so good that I just couldn't put it down. An enjoyable story, a little different to most books of this genre.... I shall be looking for more by this author and definitely more by this narrator!

No contest, best in the Roxton series

I always read series out of order because I’m silly, and boy am I glad I left this to last!! I was a little disappointed with the end of the series, and reluctant to listen to Deb and Julian’s story because in subsequent books Julian does some questionable things—he really is such a stickler for convention and prudishness. But this is genuinely the most honest of all the stories where from the very start you can feel that the couple are perfect for one another. That said, we get to see their relationship develop and be challenged. So can’t believe I’m saying this, but Antonia has been beat and I love Deb the most. And I love Julian too. Okay maybe Antonia and Deb are tied. Brant really developed this story nicely and carefully and it genuinely showed, similar to Proud Mary. Narration is perfection as always! Highly recommend this series and Midnight Marriage.

More Alex Wyndham historical fiction please!!