The Haunting of a Duke

Dark Regency, Volume 1

By: Chasity Bowlin

Narrated by: Lillian Yves

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Communing with spirits has been both gift and curse to Emme Walters. Now it's made her a killer's target. Emme knows why the Dowager Duchess of Briarleigh invited her to a house party--to investigate whether the duke, Rhys Brammel, murdered his wife years ago. But Emme never imagined she would fall in love with the brooding duke. Branded by society as a possible killer, Rhys is suspicious of Emme and her alleged "gift." Then a late night encounter creates awareness of her other, more attractive, aspects. When Emme's life is threatened, Rhys becomes her protector. Emme and Rhys find passion and peril as they join forces to solve the mysteries at Briarleigh. She made him believe in spirits, but can she make him believe in love?

©2011 Chasity Bowlin (P)2017 Chasity Bowlin

Enjoyable Paranormal Romance with Mystery 😱

If you enjoy a good romance with a paranormal ghost twist then give this book a listen. The paranormal genre is not my usual choice but this story grabbed my attention and kept me guessing. I appreciate that the narration was very well done and didn't distract or hinder the likability of the story. I will be keeping a lookout to more from this author.

I received a copy of the audiobook at no cost and I'm voluntarily leaving this review . 😊

Terrible narrator!

The narrator pauses every fourth word. I got through half of the first chapter and just couldn’t listen to one more word. Really too bad I think I would have enjoyed the book otherwise.

Suspenseful paranormal romance

Any additional comments?

This story is suspenseful, entertaining and full of mystery. I like that the characters are practical and logical in tricky situations (that's always refreshing). The blooming attraction between Emme and Rhys is romantic. The paranormal aspect of the story adds an interesting dimension to what might otherwise be a predictable romance. The narration by Lillian Ives is good. She does a great job with distinguishing character voices and bringing out each distinct personality. This is an interesting and suspenseful romance.

Super good!

I really enjoyed this slightly paranormal historical romance. Unique, well-written, with fantastic characters and great narration. Highly recommend!!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it

Worst narrator ever!

Choppy, poor cadence, mass pronunciations. The story is good - just get the print version. I would like to get other stories in audible by this author (who is very good) but will never buy anything narrated by this narrator again!

Great Mystery and Romance!

I have listened to several books by the author, Chasity Bowlin, and enjoy her style. The narrator, Lillian Yves was new to me. This book has so many facets that pulled me from murder, medium, and romance. The "darkness" in the book is not near as dark as I thought it would be. The twists and turns in this story were outstanding. I had not figured out who the killer was until it was revealed, which is an aspect that I love! My review is not a synopsis of the book, but rather my opinion of it. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review.

Such an amazing book!

I was hooked on this book and I absolutely can’t wait to listen to the rest. The story was so good! I have become addicted to audio books and Lilian Yves is my favorite narrator. There is never a question of which character is speaking and her voice is so soothing and calming. I will definitely be looking for the second book in this series!!

A Very Worthy Story; an Unworthy Narrator

I listened all the way through in spite of the irritating narrator. The story was too compelling to miss. The H/h are written as intelligent, circumspect characters who are dealing with a forceful attraction they don't understand. About half of the story takes place after they marry, and that's where we see their bond grow as they nurture their new relationship. I find it very satisfying to spend time with the H/h as they build their trust in each other as opposed to hearing about it in an epilog. The villain is a sick, sick dude, the likes of which we know exists and hope never to encounter. A gripping character.

The H has a close friend that he's known since childhood and with whom he has shared deep losses. This friend, Michael, exists outside of himself, walking the line between dissipation and a bearable existence while remaining a very appealing character.

The story unfolds around an unsolved death/ murder, resolving amid a well-written paranormal background. I got more and more into the story with every development.

But then there were the constant distractions from a terribly unworthy reader. The narrator's voice quality is pleasant but she reads in staccato phrases, not in flowing sentences. The mispronunciations are so bad that sometimes it seems like she's not reading but making up words instead. For example, where the author mentioned "disparate fortunes," the narrator read it as "desperate fortunes." Words are so mangled so often, that with the staccato phrasing, the wrong words and mispronounced words ("vitriol" is pronounced like "vitterol"), the listening experience for me was ruined and I kept thinking of the many excellent female narrators I've heard that would make this story soar.

I can highly recommend this story but cannot abide the narrator.

Regency with a Twist

I really enjoyed the mix of historical romance, mystery, suspense and the paranormal in this book. I’ve been a romance reader since Nora was a fledgling Harlequin author and, I have to say, I’m a little jaded. So it’s really enjoyable to me when I can find a new author and well written story that entertains me throughout. Not once did I skip ahead before deciding to go thru the middle parts. Even though mediums and seances didn’t really gain popularity until the Victorian era, Bowlin still made it work in the context of the story.
Yves does a creditable job with the narration.
This one is a recommend for an enjoyable time out.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

a-freaking-mazing!

Would you listen to The Haunting of a Duke again? Why?

YES!! an amazing mix of romance, mystery, suspense, and paranormal

What other book might you compare The Haunting of a Duke to and why?

hmm- i guess maybe the house on tradd street by karen white- though that is modern day- this is not. both are a mix of romance, mystery, and paranormal

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

the accent. she just read it well and made it enjoyable to listen to.

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

i LOL, i cried a bit. a just really liked the characters, a lot and the plot.

Any additional comments?

this is a really unique story- it is not like anything i have read before. i really really would love to read the other books- get to know the secondary characters as main characters in their own books.

Deliciously dark & compelling!

This was just as captivatingly absorbing in the gothic atmosphere it created as it was in the depth of character and emotion it provoked.
Rhys and Emme's romance - seeded from their instant attraction, sensual intimacy, dazzling chemistry, thrumming sexual tension and the tender trust building, that they grasped from the ashes of a perceived deception and wariness - was all the more potent for the imminent threat ever present in the shadows. Where a bitter burning hatred cloaked around the pair, to make their joining of forces - to unravel the heartaching murder of one beloved sister and the rumoured murder/suicide of a twistedly heinous tortured wife - and all the dangers each exposed secret evoked along the way, made their journey all the more engaging. Making each of their insecurities, intolerances, misunderstandings, distractions, heated explorations, assumptions and budding friendships that much more relatable.
Overall producing a cleverly written plot, steeped in suspense, that grasped and held me by the throat and heart in equal measure. This delightfully dark tale, seeded a touching and tender romance brimming with a close charismatic comradery. Where the subcharacters added just as much colour, intrigue, scandalous banter, innocence and warmth as it's hero and heroine.
Having read the e-book originally a few years ago, I must say I much prefer the richness and life that Lillian Yves brings to the audio. Even if the Americanisms, in terms of pronunciation, have a tendency occasionally to distract from the English setting its interwoven within, the overall effect was most enjoyable and very well preformed.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen that I will be hunting out the remaining series with much expediency and a whole load of anticipation to boot!

Good

I was given this free review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Good story & narration.

I really enjoyed this book.

looking forward to listening to the book in this series.
thank you Lillian for this wonderful story you read it excellently.
amazing how you capture every single person is amazing performance.
I would recommend this series to anyone. xx

Superb story, narration hard at first

This genuinely is a fantastic story with Romance, mystery and intrigue! The narration was a little hard to take to begin with, but after a couple of chapters you adjust as the story keeps you intrigued. Great book, would highly recommend. :-)

Dark and Sensual Regency Romance at its Best!

Emme's gift of being able to commune with spirits has her invited to the Duke of Briarleigh's house party. The Duke's mother hoped to uncover the truth about his wife's demise. While Emme sleeps, the spirits force her body to wander the halls to uncover clues and she comes across the sceptical Duke on one such occasion. Of course he wouldn't believe in her gift and she doesn't want to share the truth with him because he unnerved her and sets her heart beating.

What starts as a rumoured suicide quickly turns into not one but two murders. Emma's encounters with the spirits become more frequent, divulging clues to solve the mysteries. The Duke and Emme's attraction grows and the plot thickens.

This audiobook is thoroughly gripping and enjoyable. It is dark and mysterious with a healthy dose of sensuality thrown in. Regency romance at its best!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.