The Baron's Quest

The Barons of the Cinque Ports Series Book 1

By: Elizabeth Rose

Narrated by: Stan Chandler

Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Nicholas Vaughn is Lord of New Romney and also a Baron of the Cinque Ports. He directs a fleet of ships that service the king 15 days a year in exchange for special privileges.

When Muriel Draper causes havoc on his wharf, he realizes she is a spinster - a woman who spins wool for a living - from the town. Her late father has angered the Clothmaker's Guild and now Muriel and her brother have been excommunicated from the guild and also left with a debt to the baron that he insists Muriel repays.

She can either give the baron her deceased mother's wedding ring - the only memory of her parents she has left - or she can live with him at his manor house and be his personal clothier to pay back the debt.

Can a merchant's daughter and a Baron of the Cinque Ports find a safe harbor with the passion for each other that burns between them, or will title and status sink that ship before it's even sailed?

©2015 Elizabeth Rose Krejcik (P)2015 Elizabeth Rose Krejcik

DNF @48%..

I have no idea what this author was thinking but she made it almost impossible to like Nicholas or Muriel. They both had the attitude that they were better than everyone else, he even had her sleep on the floor at the foot of his bed. Yeah, that’s real romantic. She has nothing on and nothing to wear and she refuses to put on a servants dress on while hers dries and then wonders how anyone can wear something so coarse and scratchy? Really? And Nicholas was so full of himself you’d have thought he was the King himself, along with those pompous asses Conlin and John.

And the wording, “scoping out her body?” or “scoping out her whereabouts?” Do you really think that “scoping out” was used that far back in history? And her telling of how to use that spindle was just crazy. I read that part twice and still couldn’t figure it out. If I were watching it it might have been different but having it written was not telling me anything. All it did was take up pages in the book.

One reviewer mentioned this story was “erotic.” At 48% there were no thoughts of desire or wanting, just a couple of kisses. If that means erotic then I have no idea what erotic is. Or maybe the other reviewer doesn’t know. At any rate, at 48% I can’t finish this silly book. I can’t stand any character, except Isaac, Muriel’s younger brother. Their attitudes are just too much for my liking.

I have no idea if there was any sex, there wasn’t up to the point I quit reading. There was no swearing to speak of.

As to the narrator: Stan Chandler did an excellent job. The men all had great voices and the women sounded like women. I was really impressed when the book called for a laugh and he actually let out a belly-laugh, several times. The narrator was the best part of the book.

A Rollercoaster of a romantic romp!

Where does The Baron's Quest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This audiobook is one I truly enjoyed. At first the voice of the narrator, who was new to me seemed slow, but his enunciation was great and I really liked his interpretation of the voices of each individual character. I would gladly listen to more of Chandler's work.

What did you like best about this story?

This story had the audience battle with so many different emotions throughout the plot: anger, sadness, worry, laughter- I became engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down. It also had several moments that made me laugh out loud.

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

This is my first Stan Chandler story. I have several narrators that I listen to regularly, and his style is unique, as it should be. I found myself enjoying his performance greatly, especially his vocal characters. I will definitely listen to him again.

If you could take any character from The Baron's Quest out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would take Baron Nicholas's friend John, as he sounds like he would be a good time.

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook free in a contest, and have not met the author. I would give the audiobook 4.5 stars. It is the first book of this author's that I have read or listened to, but after this one, I definitely plan to read more of her work!

Loved it!

Any additional comments?

Muriel's mother and father had both died and she was taking care of her brother. She was on a mission to keep her father's business going as she spun wool and weaved it. The Clothmaker's Guild would not let her in to sell her products because she was a woman. She was left with a debt to pay and she did not want to give up her mother's ring to settle it.

Lord Nicholas and also Baron of the Clinque Ports gives Muriel a proposition. You will need to listen to this one! It is exciting and with the combination of the narrator and the author it is wonderful!

Modern story with a few medieval concepts thrown in

I don't know where to start. The amateurish level of writing is not so much in the pros but is rather in the lack of attention historical detail. Medieval term for a group of children is not"Kids". I don't believe that she did much in the way of actual research. The attitudes of the characters are those of modern sensibilities instead of the traditional gender roles. Whether we agree with them or notnow is irrelevant. At the time that was the norm.

Baron's Quest

What did you love best about The Baron's Quest?

I really enjoyed Elizabeth Rose’s book, Baron’s Quest, this is a book about two people from different stations in life. We have Nicholas Vaughn who is a second son and a Baron of the Cinque Ports. Muriel Draper is a merchant’s daughter, she isn’t a peasant nor is she a noble woman. After Muriel’s father dies she and her brother Isaac are struggling to keep the home they have known and to keep the family business going. Muriel isn’t afraid to combat the men in charge, but with mounting debt they have fallen behind in their rents to Baron Nicholas Vaugh. Muriel is courageous and smart woman and knows she must do something before it’s too late. Nicholas takes the one thing Muriel has of value, her mother’s ring. Nicholas offers to let her work for him and earn her ring back. Nicholas and Muriel can’t fight the attraction to each other as they grow closer, but will their stations in life keep them apart. They work together to solve the mystery of the docks and possible find out that Muriel’s father was murdered. Will they make sacrifices to remain together or go their separate ways? Their lives are filled humor and a little steamy romance along the way to finding their happily ever after.

Any additional comments?

There's nothing better than listening to someone reading you a great book. The story comes to life as you listen to the different voices from the narrator.

The Baron's Quest

Would you consider the audio edition of The Baron's Quest to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but it's always nice to hear a good narration. It really brings the story to life.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the baron's character growth and how much he learned about love. I also liked the author's sense of humor throughout the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when they got caught in the solar.

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

There were several places where I laughed and some where I really felt for the characters.

Any additional comments?

I usually prefer dual narration because I don't like hearing the high-pitched attempts at a woman's voice by male narrators, but I enjoyed listening to Chandler's reading. His accent is very pleasant to hear, and he did a good job of doing different voices, even the women's.

A captivating and fascinating romance.

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

I thought Stan Chandler narrated the book nicely.

Any additional comments?

The Baron's Quest: The Barons of the Cinque Ports Series - Book 1
By Elizabeth Rose
I found this book delightful and refreshing. I completely enjoyed learning the historical merchants trade in the eastern ports of the English Channel. Put in a beautiful love story, author Elizabeth Rose gives her readers pure delight. Nicholas Vaughn is Lord of New Romney and also Baron of Cinque Ports. He is an important man of nobility. His life suddenly becomes out of sorts and turned upside down by a beautiful merchant's daughter. Muriel Draper is a spinster, one who actually spins wool for a living. Another fun fact I did not know. She and her brother are grieving the death of their father as rumors cast suspicion on their father's reputation. Muriel and her brother become outcast from the Clothmaker's Guild. How is she suppose to sell her goods when no one will buy from her. The Baron of the port offers her employment at his manor home. Soon a romance begins and passions are stirred. How can a Baron even consider a future with the daughter of a merchant and can Nicholas trust Muriel, or is she a part of a bigger scheme. Only time will tell. Beautifully written with superb historical details. An absolute must read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great story

Another great story by Elizabeth Rose. I did not particularly care for the narrator. I felt he took away from the story and slowed down the pace.

phenomenal story by Elizabeth Rose

a very wonderful romantic adventure that starts out making me hate the hero and love him at the same time. The author manages to weave the love in and out of the story until the two of them realize that they do love each other. It's just such a journey that you need to take the trip with them. This is a permanent part of my library.

loved this entertaining story

I enjoyed reading this captivating story of Nocholas and Muriel love story of class difference. Their story has a loving HEA!

Nice story

Enjoyed this story very much. finished listening to it in a day. This is the first book of the series Barons of the Cinque Ports. The narrator was good. I think I prefer him to Brian Gill except sometimes he has a bit of an American accent. But definitely recommend it and definitely worth a credit. Now on to the next one of the series.

The Baron and the spinster

Well written as usual, with those tidbits that give a sense of the time it was based on and the society the characters would have lived in. The plot was well maintained. Not to mention the hero and heroine. I loved how the story developed. The history of the story was clear and concise.

Intriguing Romance

The Baron's Quest is the first book in the Barons of the Cinque Ports by Elizabeth Rose.

Muriel Draper finds herself desperate for money after her father is murdered leaving her with much debt. She is a spinster, she spins wool for a living. Her younger brother is a weaver. She goes against the rules of the Clothmaker's Guild that her father, and therefore she, is a part of by trying to sell her goods on the docks and on a Sunday. It is there that the Baron first meets her.

Nicholas Vaughn, the Baron rescues her from a tradesman who was trying to get more from her than what she had to offer. After helping her she disappears and it's only then that he is reminded by friends that she owes him two months rent on the land she rents off him for sheep to graze on.

I don't want to give you all the details or you won't need to read the book! Suffice to say that Nicholas helps Muriel and her brother out by giving them employment and a roof over their heads until her debt is paid off. That is how they get to spend a lot of time together. Time in which they are either lusting after each other or are angry with each other. Regardless of their feelings they can't have a future because of the difference in their classes, or can they?

At times both Muriel and Nicholas came across as not very likeable at all. Nicholas could seem too snobby and Muriel could be way too forthright considering her station and the time that the book is set in. But despite that, they definitely both grew on me and I saw more good in them than bad. Enough, indeed, to forgive them their unlikeable moments. I was more than willing a happy ending for them.

As well as the possible budding romance between the couple there was also the mystery of tax-evading at the docks and the mystery of who killed Muriel's father and why they did it. It made for an exciting story with some particularly emotional scenes.

I think the narrator of this audiobook made both Muriel and Nicholas sound too harsh in certain scenarios. If I had been reading the book myself I would have put a much different slant on some of the scenes. Also, his characterisation of Muriel's brother often had him sounding like a grown man rather than a 15-year-old boy. That said, for the most part, I enjoyed the narration. I particularly liked, no, I loved when he would chuckle or giggle depending on which character he was being when that person said something with a laugh. That was a real highlight for me and always made me smile. I also liked when he read gentle scenes between Muriel and Nicholas, I could really believe that that they had feelings for each other.

All in all I did enjoy this story and this audio version of it and am happy to recommend it