The Mrs MacKinnons

By: Jayne Davis

Narrated by: Esther Wane

Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

England, 1799: A traumatized soldier returning to a derelict inheritance. A widow with a small son and a manipulative father.

Major Matthew Southam returns from India, hoping to put the trauma of war behind him and forget his past. Instead, he finds a derelict estate and a family who wish he'd died abroad.

Charlotte MacKinnon married without love to avoid her father's unpleasant choice of husband. Now a widow with a young son, she lives in a small Cotswold village with only the money she earns by her writing.

Matthew is haunted by his past, and Charlotte is fearful of her father's renewed meddling in her future. After a disastrous first meeting, can they help each other find happiness?

©2018 Jayne Davis (P)2019 Tantor

Epic

I truly mean epic. This is mostly Major Matthew Southam story of growth and healing The Major is dealing with PTSD from war, he drinks far to much and suffers nightmares. He is returning to an inheritance he knew nothing about and one he did. He was expecting a cool welcome but not the hostility he receives. He and his Sargent who has attached himself go to his estate he inherited. He finds the place in shambles, He meets Charlotte who is his very slow burn love interest and the rest of the town. We meet Charlotte at the beginning of the book before the Major meets her. She's a single mother raising her son in a home she shares with a another widow with the same sir name. She is a strong capable women who has been supporting herself by wring children's stores. Along with that she spends her time dodging the controlling men in her life.
Both She and the Major lean to trust others not just their love interest like other books but to truly trust others. The each have to lean how to trust and who to trust. How not to make snap judgment of others or just trust who is closest because it's easy.
For the author to accomplish every villager is completely fleshed out with a full back history that we get to meet. Not one of the characters are flat or a repeated personalities.
Like a good epic The story moves along on a series of crisis that that get resolved sometimes by the mains sometimes for the mains. Surprisingly for something this long nothing is repeated. When something needs to be repeated the magic words "she explanted it" are used. You would also think for something this long you see a lot of filler but nothing feels like filler everything moves the story along everything has a point. I couldn't stop myself from listing and was sad when it was over. It's not a steamy romance or a faith based squeaky clean slice of life. It's an Epic story of healing, growth, love and trust with a side of very slow burn.
The narrator is lovely this book will be staying with for a long time.

Loved it.

This is the first period romance in a long time I’ve listened to all the way through without skipping, though I did speed up a few spots. The style is step-by-step in many places (he did this; then he did that), but for some reason, it’s such an interesting story that I didn’t mind that. It’s a relaxing, slower listen, but well worth it.

A new favorite author

Loved the story as an ebook. Having an audio version only enhances the story. Great narrator.

Great story and narrator

An unusually Smart Romance. Very much enjoyed the Intelligent heroine. A lovely story read by a talented reader. Hoping this writer continues to provide such stories.

A wonderful story!

I love this story. It is my favorite book by Ms. Davis. I had read it previously, and just “re-read” it through Audible narration. The character development of the Major is especially enjoyable to read/listen to. Ms. Wane’s narration is very good, though not great. It took me a little time to become used to it. I also recommend the Marstone series. Some of the characters from the series are in this book as supporting characters. Enjoy!

Best romance novel so far this year

The characters are believable and intriguing. The story line is fast and strong. Jayne Davis is an author I will watch for and enjoy.

Beautiful Story

Did not want this book to end. Although the main characters provided the central story, supporting characters were so interesting as well. Just the right amount of romance and suspense. Looking forward to other books by this author.

Characters were well drawn.

The storyline was realistic but hopeful. Enough of the harshness of life at the time was woven into the storyline but left me enjoying the peaceful outcome for the two many characters, Matthew and Charlotte. It's a long story but worthwhile to read.