The Dickens with Love

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

A quirky holiday romance about Faith, Hope, and...glow-in-the-dark condoms!

Three years ago, a scandal cost antiquarian "book hunter" James Winter everything that mattered to him: his job, his lover and his self-respect. But now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition.

A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants that book at any price, and he needs James to get it for him. There's just one catch. James can't tell the nutty professor who the buyer is.

Actually, two catches. The nutty Professor Crisparkle turns out to be totally gorgeous-and on the prowl. Faster than you can say, "Old Saint Nick," James is mixing business with pleasure...and in real danger of forgetting that this is just a holiday romance.

Just as they're well on the way to having their peppermint sticks and eating them too, Sedgwick discovers the truth. James has been a very bad boy. And any chance Santa will bring him what he wants most is disappearing quicker than the Jolly Old Elf's sleigh.

©2009 Samhain Publishing (P)2013 Josh Lanyon

Awesome Holiday Listening Gem

Audiobook Review December 2019:
I can't believe it's been 5 years since I originally read this holiday story and yet I remembered practically everything. I found James and Sedgwick just as intriguing and fun to read(or listen to in this case😉). Sure I wanted to knock their heads together at times but where's the fun if everything is copacetic from the get-go? Now that I discovered the audiobook of The Dickens with Love I doubt it'll be 5 years before I re-visit this tale again. As for the narration? Well, it's Sean Crisden and he has an amazing talent to bring the characters to life and the story to your front door. Not only does he make the telling fun to listen to but it always seems to be unfolding right before your eyes instead of the "airwaves". Definitely a holiday gem.

Original Review December 2014:
James is trying to scrape by and keep his foot in the door of an occupation he loves when he's asked to verify the authenticity of a supposed lost Dickens Christmas story. Enter Sedgwick, the owner of said story and there are immediate fireworks, both bad and good, but fireworks nontheless. Despite the kind of man the potential buyer that James is working for, James is a decent guy with a bunch of bad luck or bad timing in the past. Watching Sedgewick and James banter their way through "negotiations" is a perfect Christmas treat.

Excellent!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Dickens with Love to be better than the print version?

They're both excellent. I enjoy Sean Crisden's narration style very much. It's the story i know and love but with a slightly different spin on it.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite - two - scenes are the one with the ocelot and the final scene, especially what Sedgwick tells James.

Any additional comments?

This is such a lovely story. It's sweet and funny and romantic, and i love the mysteriousness surrounding the book and all it stands for in the story. It's perfect for the holidays, but really, for any time one wants a boost of happy feeling.

I Could Keep Reading For Days!

What a fun, sweet, and unique Christmas love story! I'd love to read more, but as is this is a perfectly entertaining tale with a satisfying ending and a lot of surprises along the way!

Awwwww....

Sweet Christmas story by a renowned author and the ultimate voice actor.
I love everything that Josh writes and Sean performs.
Always leaves me wanting more.

❤ one of my favorites and an annual listen ❤

Would I listen to it again: absolutely ✔
Did the story keep me engaged: yes ✔
Was I invested in the characters: yes ✔

📖 Story comment: This story is one of my favorites and has been starting my Christmas listens since it was released in 2013. It's "not too Christmassy", quirky and I love the concept of a missing Dickens Christmas story.

🎧 Narrator comment: Sean Crisden is a master performer and there hasn't been a narration I haven't thoroughly enjoyed and a story he hasn't bought to life. He suits the characters, has great pacing, good cadence, inflections and intonations and pulls all the emotions from the story. 👍👍 ❤

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 9
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again for the narrator • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list • 8 kept me up past bed-time • 9 recommended to family/friends • 10 own it in multiple formats • 11 keep a copy with me at all times
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