A Lady Awakened

Blackshear Family Series # 1

By: Cecilia Grant

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes... for a fee.

Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow's weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she'll get her money's worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh-only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can't resist him forever. But could a lady's sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all... love?

©2011 Cecilia Grant (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Tantalizingly sexy, heartwarming, and oh-so funny, this romance is unforgettable; a stunning debut." ( Library Journal)

Most excellent

What a wonderful story , funny, wrenching, tender and courageous. Where are you Cecilia Grant? We want more, more, more.

Delightful

If you could sum up A Lady Awakened in three words, what would they be?

Hard to put down.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved both characters and how they developed together throughout the book.

Susan Erickson is always a good listen

Love this narrator! She brings the story to life! It's refreshing to read a good romance that is not cramed full of villains. it was a beleavable story.

Boring

Would you try another book from Cecilia Grant and/or Susan Ericksen?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Cecilia Grant again?

Only the other one I have already purchased

How could the performance have been better?

Performance wasn't bad.

Any additional comments?

This book was so boring it was a challenge to finish it

Boring and dreadfully long...

I seem to be a minority here but I didn't like this book. The author wrote scene after scene of the most boring and bland sex scenes ever. Literally this couple spent a month trying to get pregnant and basically 28 of those days our heroine was looking at the ceiling and the hero gave her "his seed" in about thirty seconds. Those thirty seconds were followed by deep conversations about cows and country living...

The narration was very good and it's the only reason why I actually finished the book. The last hour or so of the story was very sweet and I liked the ending but I wish I could get those 12 hours of my life back...

not good

What was most disappointing about Cecilia Grant’s story?

I though that this book would be better but I really didn't like it. The story was lame and I could not really get into the story. I had hoped that it would be better then it was.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was historical that I liked.

A great disappointment

I took a risk to listen to this book as I just started getting entertained by Susan's narration...however... I did not read this book past the first 30 minutes.... It was slow.... I may try it later but I really doubt I will get to the end.

Awaken Me After This BORING Book Is Over-Bland

Would you try another book from Cecilia Grant and/or Susan Ericksen?

Cecilia Grant did not impress me with this first listen. I will probably pass on anything else she has written.

There are a lot of great historical authors out there that I would listen to first. Try Julie Garwood or Wendy Lindstrom - if you like Highland romances go for Hannah Howell or Jennifer Ashley.

Susan Ericksen's performance was appropriate for the material...blah.

Any additional comments?

Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes... for a fee.

Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow's weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she'll get her money's worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh-only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can't resist him forever. But could a lady's sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all... love?

This was a recount of 30 nights of a snooze fest of 'passion' as Mrs. Russell tries to get pregnant by Theo. The days are mundane and tedious. The author tries to provide a bit of dimension with Martha's interest in starting a school and getting to know her neighbors (after having lived in the town for several years).

Save your $ and credit for the many, many deserving titles out there...this is not even worth the under $5 sale price for which I got it.

I liked the narration

DNF this one. I couldn’t get past the infantilism, which was heavier than the usual historical “I don’t know anything about sex” trope. This made me uncomfortable as she forced herself to have sex… “trying” to enjoy it.
And all the sex (up to where I stopped) was from the male perspective. I’m not interested in that.

waste of credit- bad narration, slow story.

What would have made A Lady Awakened better?

a different narrator

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

no reaction- this book was not very good

How did the narrator detract from the book?

YES!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

hard to think of.

Any additional comments?

the story may have been bearable if the narrator was better. but she was slow, too 'harsh', didn't do voices well-she should read documentaries or biographies. This book may have been an o.k listen if Rosalyn Landor read it, she is much better with this type of book, maybe then it could have been a two or three stars, but this was truly agonizing.
I read the other reviews and thought I will find something different, so I ordered this book- Do not do it!!! it is a waste of the credit!