Moonstruck Madness

De: Laurie McBain

Narrado por: Marian Hussey

She's one thing by day, something else altogether by night....

After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened....

He's so disillusioned, he's completely vulnerable....

With his inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung.... As their lives become irreversibly entangled, Lucien and Sabrina become each other's biggest threat, as well as their only salvation....

©1979, 2011 Laurie McBain (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The plot has imaginative twists and turns, and the backgrounds are lush and evocative. It's good, satisfying fun." ( Publishers Weekly)

Highwaywoman historical romance!

Moonstruck Madness is an old school historical romance (published in 1977) that had been on my TBR for a few years.

The story grabbed my attention right from the start! It opens in 1746 at Culloden Moor. Sabrina is watching her clan entering the battlefield of Culloden, her grandfather proudly leading his clan through the call of arms and then the whole clan being shot down immediately. Sabrina ends up fleeing to escape Scotland with her Aunt Margaret and siblings (her older sister Mary, brother Richard). The story then cuts to 5 years later, it’s 1751 in England and we catch up to Sabrina where she’s now a highwaywoman!

This is a shorter read (less than 400 pages) for how much is actually packed into this read! I love how much adventure, high stakes, and drama is packed into old school historical romances. I loved Sabrina, a Scottish noblewoman turned highwaywoman who is determined to try and provide for her family. Her relationship with her family was sweet to see, her sister Mary actually has visions of the future (her loved one’s futures specifically) and their brother Richard has vision problems so they take him to get glasses. The hero is Lucien, Duke of Camareigh. He has a scarred face, his grandmother is trying to arrange a betrothal for him, so when his inheritance is at stake, he sets up a trap for the highwaywoman (who he assumes is a man at first).

Lucien and Sabrina have an immediate connection. He is very taken with her and I loved their banter and her sass. This book was a huge deal at the time it was originally pub’d (1977) because of how very consensual their relationship is on page. They do spend the night together and we get some on-page encounters that are briefly described/hinted at. While I really loved the first half of the book, the second half did start to get a little too congested with plot (it needed a little bit more space/time to breathe). I liked Lucien’s relationship with his duchess grandmother, she pushes him in a sassy, lovingly way and has some fun interactions towards the end with Sabrina too. All in all, I’m so glad I finally got to this one! I’d definitely check out more from this author.

Classic Romance with a successful storyline

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

I will recommend to all my hopelessly romantic friends to listen to this audiobook. This is the first romance novel i have purchased as an audiobook, certain that I would not enjoy it as much as reading off the page, I intrigued by the experience and will encourage my friends to try it.

What other book might you compare Moonstruck Madness to and why?

Moonstruck Madness brought to mind a novel by Virginia Henley titled 'The Pirate and the Pagan'. Each novel is similarly intricate in building momentum in both adventure, suspense and romance. Both have strong headed females who have had to put away their childhood and disguise themselves as highway men. Although Virginia Henley does a better job as a writer to make a reader feel like they are en wrapped in the world and characters she has created, Laurie McBain has done an excellent job herself.

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

Marian Hussey has an amazingly well pronounced and clear voice that is almost angelic. I would happily listen to another narration by her, even though I did not feel she did a good job with the character of Lucien..
I can also pronounce certain words better than i could before (or I was unknowingly pronouncing them wrong all these years).

Who was the most memorable character of Moonstruck Madness and why?

Sabrina of course being the main character and so dominating throughout the book. However, by the last chapter and in finishing the novel Richard was the Character that remained with me the most. I think it's because he was the cause of the events in the end that eventually brought our two main characters back together. Also, Richard was at that very awkward stage, there's definitely another story to be told there (as the awkward child becomes a man etc.).

Love is always in the air in a Laurie McBain story

I have loved Laurie McBain stories for decades. They are delightful no matter how many times I read or hear the story. Moonstruck Madness is the start of a spellbinding trilogy. Well worth the time to read or listen. Please put all of McBain’s stories on Audible.

Started out good, but went a bit downhill.

This is an old book, first published in 1979. The story started out real good for a while. But eventually went a bit down hill. I really liked the hero and the heroine in the beginning. Then heroine became too annoying, and stupid. Making stupid decisions, always had to be her way. I was glad it finally ended. The author drug it out adding things that didn't necessarily need to be included. Needless to say I have read two very old books back to back and have had my fill of older HR books.

There was a lot of dialogue throughout the book which I did like, (I do like lots of dialogue in my books) There was sex in this story, of course not graphic but there was fondling and "lovemaking" that is how it is referred to in the book.

The narration was very good. Marian Hussey did a great job, everybody had their own distinct voice.

Awful Love Interest

I really disliked the love interest. He's just an asshole, period. The writing was good, but the love interest ruined the story for me.

What the hell is wrong with people?

So as a dude this book had a part of the battle of Culloden.. so I thought it might be pretty interesting. Girls like this stuff? A complete asshole and a douch... Using people and complete dick moves and people just forget and forgive? If this is how girls dream then goddamn I'm glad I'm a man... Holy hell I just cant.

Couldn't finish

Not sure what the problem is I bet I could not count 10 books in my 50 years of reading I didn't finish.....seemed it woukd never end!