The Neverhartts: Volume One

By: Dawn Brower

Narrated by: Penny Scott-Andrews

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Never defy a vixen: What's a lady to do when her parents' death leaves her family destitute? For Lady Wilhelmina Neverhartt, that means marriage to a much older man. One that also agrees to support her four younger siblings. Unfortunately, her new husband dies on their wedding night, leaving her fate in charge of his heir, Zachary Ward, the new Duke of Graystone.

Zachary finds Lady Wilhelmina vexing and enchanting at the same time. At first, he believes she married his uncle for his money and title, but that doesn't stop his growing desire for her. He wants her, but cannot trust her, and along the way, his original beliefs no longer matter. He changes tactics and uses their battle of wills to win the lady's heart. Only a compromise will bring these two together, but their differences might be too impossible to overcome.

Never disregard a wallflower: Lady Theodora Neverhartt has no desire to find love, and ensures no one ever really notices her. She is never asked to dance, which she considers a blessing. Being a wallflower is a goal she actively tries to achieve, giving her many opportunities to watch the members of the ton without interruption. So of course, that would lead her to trouble, and his name is Ezra Halsey, the Viscount of Carrolton.

Attempting to escape a marriage minded mother and her scheming daughter, Ezra ducks into a dark corner and finds Theodora there. He finds her fascinating, and cannot help wondering why he’s never noticed her before. He quickly decides to do her a good turn and asks her to dance the waltz. Not once did he consider that she was doing him the favor, and disregarding her worth would come to haunt him. Once the gentlemen of the ton realize what a true beauty has escaped their notice, Ezra has to fight for Theodora, and he fully intends to become the victor. The problem is convincing her that she is his everything.

Never dare a hellion: Lady Christiana Neverhartt is accustomed to getting her own way. Some days, she fully believes she should have been born a princess. When her spoiled behavior lands her in trouble, she has to rely on the one man she cannot abide to save her…Sutton Brooks, the Marquess of Foxworth.

The last thing Sutton wants is to rescue a strong-willed lady from her own mistakes, but he steps in to protect her. Unfortunately, the only way to properly do so is to marry her, something the lady is adamantly against, so he does the one thing sure to gain her acquiesce—he dares her.

The marriage starts out with them each battling for control, and one dare leads to another until they’re both begging for mercy. Their stubbornness might be their undoing, but their love might be their salvation if they’re willing to accept it and find their way toward each other instead of a permanent separation.

©2023 Dawn Brower (P)2023 Dawn Brower

Don't, just don't.

This was money and time wasted. While the stories couldn't be saved by better narration, they might not have been not so fingernails on a blackboard with it.

There's not a redeeming male character in any of the books. The best of them are rude bullies and digress from an uncaring, dissolute father to kidnappers and rapist.

The female leads are the standard can't or won't stand up for themselves or mistake being a total selfish brat for being strong. Even that one caves like cardboard box in a hard rain.

The narration makes every female character sound like either a nasally, whiny emo teenager or a scared whiny rabbit that is afraid to speak above a whisper. It's hard to take a character seriously when every word sounds like a drawn out whine. And, the male characters are worse. Every one of these supposedly manly males sound more like wheezing 80 year old perverts than heros.

Don't, just don't.