Midsummer Moon

By: Laura Kinsale

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

When a powerful, decisive aristocrat undertakes to protect an absent-minded young inventress from England's enemies, he finds his orderly world turned into chaos. Merlin Lambourne's stubborn dream of flight puts her at risk, not to mention driving Ransom crazy. In spite of himself, he's oddly enchanted by this muddled miss and her eccentric ways... but can he overcome his own fears and realize her invention may be the answer to saving both their lives?

A whimsical Regency-era tale of flying machines, fancy, and love among the hedgehogs.

Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to narrate Midsummer Moon as a fully voiced audiobook, creating a unique work that brings all the life and color of the original to audio.

©1987, 2010 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog Inc

Critic reviews

Earphones Award Winner and Editor’s Choice

“…personalities and wit expertly delivered, further adding to the charm of this delightful performance.” ( Audiofile Magazine)

She has brains. He has passion. Words and Voice.

If you could sum up Midsummer Moon in three words, what would they be?

Brains. Velvet. Strength. (actually I WANTED to say "Smithsonian" but who would get that?

What did you like best about this story?

She is so smart and clueless that you can't help but love her. He has controlled and protected so much of his life that he needs someone brilliant and clueless to shake up his color-inside-the-lines life.

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

Well, if this is your first, you fell in love a little. Listen to Flowers In the Storm and fall in love A LOT. I am tempted to buy a ticket to see him in Wolf Hall in 2014 in London. So I guess that is an answer of sorts.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

If you can fly, I can love.

Beautiful love story but needlessly long

I really loved Merlin and ransom and saw the attraction. Unlike some other reviewers, I did buy that he fell in love so completely so soon. Sometimes the oddities and quirks in another person are exactly what makes them so perfect and lovable - Merlin is just amazing and adorable and Ransom clearly adores her right from the start. I thought the plot was a little dragged out with not one but three kidnap attempts - needlessly long. I would’ve given it 5 stars if not for that. Narrator did a great job with this too.

Frustrating hero

Struggled to finish this book. So mad at the hero. Will not listen to the rest of the series.

Nice little oddball story... Great narrator

Laura Kinsale writes very well, but most of her books are hard angsty, dark sloughs with irritating characters. (Which is a shame because I read one she wrote that was a comedy and it was lovely.) This one is a little lighter, with a heroine who's an absent minded inventor and a hero benevolently controlling. It's a mystery... [Possible spoiler] A mystery I had figured out pretty early on because I'm familiar with the author. I don't know if she's anti-Christian or just anti-religion, but her thinly veiled bias shows. I don't care for it.

One of Kinsale's Best!

For anybody who has grown up in a large family where one person acts as mother/father/mentor/teacher/saint-in-residence, this book will resonate. The "saint" In Midsummer Moon is the master of the castle, His Grace the Duke of Damerell; and Ms. Kinsale has surrounded him with a cadre of deeply-flawed and delightful characters, who thwart and frustrate him at every turn.

This character-rich book offers the great narrator, Nicholas Boulton, a perfect opportunity to show off his extraordinary range. Of particular note are Boulton’s reading of Brother Shelby’s entrance into the story and the voice he gave to the duke’s nurse, “Pruneface.” I went back and listened again and again, just for the pure fun of it!

There is a romance in this book, but it is only one of many relationships that swirl around His Grace as he desperately tries to get the lives of the people he loves under control. His sweetheart, Merlin, says it best (and often): “Poor Mr. Duke…” I give this story a “5” as one of my all-time favorites from this author. Mr. Boulton gets a “4” because, well, Ms. Kinsale is the star.

Delightful, simply delightful

What made the experience of listening to Midsummer Moon the most enjoyable?

It's a Laura Kinsale book narrated by Nicholas Boulton. What is there more to say? :) For newcomers, who do not know what to expect, I'd simply say that it's a marriage made in heaven.

What did you like best about this story?

Merlin is wonderful! I love her dedication to her dream and how unprepared she is to meet the real world. I personally really love a heroine who is ahead of her time. Moreover it's a funny story and the first chapter always cracks me up. The cast of character is colorful and alive. And Mr. Duke is so much fun to follow. He's a wonderful hero.

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

I listened to the audiobook version first so I don't know what it's like to read the book without hearing Nicholas Boulton reading it. I am sure the book stands on its own, but I am in love with that combination Laura Kinsale/Nicholas Boulton. Together it's so powerful.Nicholas Boulton brings unique voices to all the characters and infuse them with so much life. For a male narrators he does amazing women voices (which is rare). It's really like hearing a play. It's an interpretation and there could be a different one. I'm happy though that this one exists. I don't read a lot of romances but his interpretation makes me come back time and time again wanting to relisten because it was so much fun to be in the universe Laura and Nicholas brought to life together.

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

Oh yes, makes me laugh a lot. So many unpredictable bits and reaction coming from the heroine.

Any additional comments?

This is probably the most funny and light novel Laura Kinsale wrote. Even though the general tone is funny there is still character development and a general arc for the characters. I love everytbook Laura Kinsale ever wrote and don't feel the need to rank each book against the other. Just enjoy each of them for what they have to offer.

A favorite

Bolton does a great job performing overbearing male characters, distracted females, blustery "Hale Fellow, Well Met" characters, and stuttering children in his narration of a favorite Kinsale book.

Written in the late 1980's, the book has many standard characters from Regency Romances, but Kinsale shifts them ever so slightly to make them more relatable. The blustering Duke carries out a delightful conversation with an errant hedgehog who has taken up residence in his stationary box when he thinks he is alone in his study, and then returns to his commanding personal when he realizes his secretary is standing in the door. It's little touches like these that make the novel so charming.

Although I've read this book many times, I think I actually enjoyed listening to it more.

Love her and love narrator but .........

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I only listened to this one completely through because of narrator. Nicholas Boulton is an incredible reader BUT this story was just so-so.....a little unbelieveable ....a little far-fetched..... A little lackluster.... A little 'hurry up and get to next chapter' kinda book.

What could Laura Kinsale have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Some reviews noted positive comments about the hedgehog but REALLY? Why? The 'heroine' was an eccentric dimwit totally unmatched with the 'hero'. So sorry Nicholas Boulton wasted his time on this one......totally not a match between story and reader.

Kinsale falls flat this time

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I don't pretend to know how to write so I don't know what would fix this, except a pretty complete re-write of the main characters who I found annoying. To me, Merlin isn't charmingly innocent, she's a dimbulb (mistaking a title of Duke for a surname Mr. Duke is understandable for an absentminded genius the first time--after that it's just stupid; the Duke isn't a sexy alpha, he's a domineering man without respect for the talents and wishes of the woman he (inexplicably) falls in love with--if it weren't for the aphrodisiac I don't know what would bring them together.) I see others have raved about this book, and some have found Merlin grating as I did. I honestly think a semi-discerning reader is bound to find this plot, these characters lacking. I've really liked Kinsale's other books--despite some plot holes and abrupt endings that leave some dangling threads and unexplained elements--but this one really didn't work. Could barely make myself listen to the end. The reader is as good as ever with different voices and makes it as good as a mediocre book can get.

Sweet but a little repetitive

I had a hard time making it through this one. It's a sweet enough story and I enjoyed the narration but the plot felt a little repetitive. Without plot spoilers, at one point the heroine says "not again" and I had to heartily echo her sentiments.