The Beloved One

The De Montforte Brothers, Book 2

By: Danelle Harmon

Narrated by: David Stifel

In this second installment of her breathtaking De Montforte Brothers series, critically acclaimed author Danelle Harmon introduces us to Englishman Lord Charles de Montforte, who awakens in the tender care of an American beauty after being wounded in battle. Amy Leighton has long wished for someone special to enter her life and take her away from a cruel, unloving step-family, but the handsome stranger is from an enemy land...and he's sworn to love another. A 1775-era Cinderella story sure to enthrall!

©2014 Danelle Harmon (P)2014 Danelle Harmon

The 2nd Brothers Story!

Enjoyed listening as he overcomes physical and emotional issues. Find his place in life and the love of his life with a little help from his older brother. You really feel like you’re part of the family and are anxious to see what happens next!

Historical Romance

Would you listen to The Beloved One again? Why?

Yes, I really enjoy this series and would read and listen to all of the books again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amy is great! She is sweet and devoted.

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

Lucien's awesome voice.

Enchanting Story- You Want To Cheer!

This was such a good story. It had such neat elements- a hero that wasn't perfect, a heroine that wasn't the type that everyone would have cast as perfect, an old dog, an evil step brother, and a very 'protective' matchmaker. Lord Andrew DeMontforte is flawed now as a result of the fire at the castle, and fears that he is going mad. He has visions- episodes that he does not understand. He doesn't want to be ridiculed by society and has withdrawn. He wants to be left alone, and shuns social gatherings. But his brother, the Duke, has other ideas. He believes that a wife is exactly what Andrew needs and sets the wheels in motion. Lady Celsiana Bkake is perfect for his brother.

David Stifel does his best job yet with this one. He has the right amount of energy, and his timing is impeccable in the delivery! I found myself laughing and crying over so many of the funniest scenes. And the scenes- the descriptions are incredibly written, so that the narrator's work - his delivery is that much easier. The listener feels more of a visual witness to the story.
Mr. Stifel's work with the character of Lucien is perfection.

The story is so entertaining- a worthy investment of time and money. You will not want to put it down or tear yourself away. This series is so GOOD!!

Fantastic! My favorite de Montforte Brother!!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Beloved One to be better than the print version?

Yes and no. Yes, because it is easier to pick up on details that are missed in the reading. No, because I might read certain passages differently than a narrator would. Both are enjoyable!

What did you like best about this story?

Hard question because the story is one of my favorites! There is just so much detail! A lot of action and a lot of description. The hero and heroine both suffer from a severe lack of confidence, yet they each manage to instill confidence in the other. Each becomes stronger within the relationship.

What about David Stifel’s performance did you like?

He shows good emotionality and does not always rely on the emotion of anger to convey a 'strong male,' though he certainly uses it when the text calls for it. He is also unusually good at reading female characters so that the listener knows they are female.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Oh, there were many in this book! One of the most moving scenes was when Charles , despondent upon believing his family no longer cared for him, blindly walks into the river. Although smaller and not as physically strong as Charles, Amy throws herself into the water, praying to God that she can save him. Another moving scene was when Charles first returned home after a year and a half away. He arrived home early, catching his family unprepared, and shocking them all. Later, when Lucien confronted Charles about why he allowed the family to think he was dead, I could almost see Lucien's calm demeanor, with the "barely perceptible tremble of his lip" when he asked his brother if he really did still have a heart.

Any additional comments?

One of my favorite stories! Heartbreaking, funny, and in the end, very satisfying!

Great story, problematic narration

First of all, I loved the story and the characters. By this, the second installment in the series, I have developed quite a tendre for Lucien.

Having said that, the narration detracted somewhat from the overall experience. I noticed a few issues in Book One, not enough to take me out of the story, but in this book it got a lot worse:

(a) The characters all sounded cartoonish. Amy came across as slow-witted and Charles as a 70-year old man with severe gout.
(b) The narrator had the unfortunate habit of becoming inaudible whenever he tried to soften Charles' tone. I feel as if I missed half the story.

I see that the same narrator is used for upcoming books in the series and will have to decide whether I'd rather read them than listen to them.