Touch the Sun

By: Cynthia Wright

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

In 1789, on the eve of the first presidential inauguration, charismatic Lion Hampshire aspires to a seat in the first Congress. In an effort to improve his rakish reputation, he agrees to an arranged marriage with Virginia-bred Priscilla Wade. However, his fiancée's headstrong lady's maid, Meagan, is not who she seems to be and Lion's carefully crafted future may be undone by his passion for the wrong woman...

Filled with Cynthia Wright's hallmarks of warm intimacy, sensual romance, humor, adventure, and colorfully-drawn historical characters like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, Touch the Sun is a shining achievement by a beloved author!

The Beauvisage novels and The Raveneau novels intertwine, with some characters crossing over. Should you wish to listen to them in chronological order, this is the sequence:

1781 - Silver Storm

1783 - Caroline

1789 - Touch the Sun

1793 - Spring Fires (A Beauvisage/Raveneau Novel)

1798 - Smuggler's Moon (The Raveneaus in Cornwall, Book 1) - available for pre-order

1814 - Surrender the Stars

1814 - Natalya

1818 - Silver Sea (A Raveneau/Beauvisage Novel)

1903 - Tempest

©2011 Cynthia Challed (P)2017 Cynthia Challed

Real-life Secondary Characters Enhance Romance!

Touch the Sun is an engaging and intriguing post-revolutionary war romance that is interspersed with history and real-life secondary characters. Although this story is the 4th book in the Rakes & Rebels series by Cynthia Wright I did not feel lost or felt like I missed something not having listened to any of the previous stories in the series.

Set primarily in Philadelphia in 1789 on the eve of the first presidential inauguration, the story essentially begins when Benjamin Franklin advises Lion Hampshire -- one bastard son to another -- how to gain respectability and hopefully, a seat in the first Congress. He essentially recommends that Lion improve his rakish reputation by finding a rich wife from a well-respected family, which he does in haste. With little effort, Lion agrees to an arranged marriage with Virginia-bred Priscilla Wade.

It doesn't take long for Lion to realize he doesn't like his fiancée very much; instead, he is inextricably drawn to his fiancée's headstrong lady's maid, Meagan. In truth Meagan is the free-spirited daughter of Virginia high society, who is only posing as a lady’s maid to escape being sent to live with an elderly aunt. As Meagan and Lyon’s attraction grows combustible, he remains steadfast in his decision to marry someone of high society, which leaves Meagan feeling unworthy and disappointed. Thankfully Meagan won’t settle for anything but love and marriage with Lion, and she runs away so as not to jeopardize Lion’s aspiring career. Unfortunately, at the same time Lion’s fiancée, a former lover, and his estranged half-brother plot a scheme to make Lion’s life miserable.

While listening to this audiobook narrated by the exceptional Tim Campbell, I was pleasantly reminded of how I felt while reading several John Jakes novels about 30 years ago, where fictional characters are thrown into stories with famous people from history to help drive the story and make it more believable. Besides Ben Franklin influencing Lion, near the end of the book we learn that soon-to-be President George Washington knows Meagan personally and he helps rescue her after she is kidnapped. Simply put, I can’t wait to listen to the next audiobook in this amazing series!

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Historical Happenings Leaving Want of More

Inauguration of whom? Why George Washington, the first president of these United States! Mingle in the crowds, feel the fervor and vibrant beginnings of a new nation, ruled for the people, by the people. Lovely, thrilling moments recreated in a delightful and funny story filled with emotion.

The more you read from the Rakes and Rebels series, the more you want to read! Author Cynthia Wright gets right down to the things which matter in life, then and now, through her exquisite characterization of this period of history in building a nation of independence from those who are learning how to govern themselves.

Men, like Lion Hampshire, grew excited by the possibility of governing for the people and by the people. Wright brings the fervor of the times to the forefront. I can actually see the people in the streets rallying around George Washington as he humbly shows his presence.

The narrator, Tim Campbell has narrated for some of my favorite authors. He’s extremely versatile in depicting various personalities, accents, class of people, even able to do an admiral job with French. In this narration, his voice is to die for. I don’t often hear him narrate with an American accent. Gad, does he sound sexy! His pacing is perfect while wringing out every nuance and aspect of each character with dialogue. When a talented author combines her magic with par excellence of a narrator, it’s entertaining over the top! Now to the story.

I enjoyed meeting shakers of the birth of this new nation: Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, William and Anne Bingham, along with John and Sally Jay—all play a part in this fascinating, historically accurate story. Never have I felt so close to our forefathers as I read this book. It was thrilling to see them in action, how they thought the first leader of these United States should be addressed, where the place of residence for their supreme leader be, etc..

Lion Hampshire wants to make a difference, but his past exploits incline to be roguish. He must polish his character to be considered part of those who have the right to represent the people. Can he remedy the situation?

Firstly, he needs a bride from a respectable family, someone who is more than able to host dinners, grace his arm, and mingle easily with politically minded men and women. Certainly, his heart should not be allowed to make the choice for him. And so, he chooses a woman, also looking for an exciting time in a big city, perfectly formed, exquisitely mannered, one Virginian belle, Priscilla Wade. His wife would only be an adornment, pure and simple. (But watch out Lion, you haven’t met Meagan, yet!)

Meagan Sayers, a neighbor, and friend of Priscilla, recently lost her parents through an accident, also her home and everything in it to creditors. Her father had been overwhelmed with debt by their lavish lifestyle. Meagan is to be handed off to an old aunt in Boston, which she totally refuses to do. Therefore, she concocts with her friend Priscilla, to accompany her to Philadelphia as her lady’s maid. Priscilla is to stay in Philadelphia to spend the time to get to know her betrothed, Lion Hampshire, before their marriage. The narrator has a grand time of it with these two women!

The situation gets hilarious since Meagan is a woman who spends much of her time in breeches, riding horses, or saying whatever comes to mind. How to be a quiet lady’s maid? She didn’t have the skills, temperament (her zest for life literally shone from her eyes), nor manner to secret away who she is. And she had to because she knew these political giants personally through her family. She must keep a low profile.

But wouldn’t you know it? Lion is amused with her. (I was amused with her – what a character!) He enjoys the discussions they have, he becomes more and more attracted to her. She is NOT on his agenda. But, can one stop feelings when they begin to take hold?

This story spoke to me on so many levels. I thrilled with the times. I took some time to go to Wright’s Pinterest page of pictures depicting what the people wore at the time, what their streets might look like, etc. I even saw the false teeth made for George Washington. Apparently, the man consumed lots of sweets!

I loved the struggle Lion went through. He had to choose between moving in the political arena with respect or follow that organ beating in his breast.

Could Meagan, after pretending to be a maid, come out with it and tell Lion who she is? Would she want him if he didn’t love her, but just her place in society? Meagan’s internal conflict and decisions, just about tear Lion apart. If you like to feel great emotion in your reads, this one will suit.

Lastly, I admire the long-standing of this book, originally written in 1978. That’s almost 40 years ago. It has since been digitalized for a whole new set of readers. Those old books in print are hard to get. So, those who haven’t read this, do, you are in for a treat. The whole Beauvisage Family and Raveneau Family series are divine reading. You can even get both series in one complete set! Oh, don’t forget, Wright has a wonderful narrator to bring her stories even closer to the heart.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Terrific

Absolutely loved this book. It's long but held my attention all the way through. Great Charter back and forth just loved it.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved listening to every minute!

Where does Touch the Sun rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was wonderful! Enjoyed every minute of listening! I had previously red this wonderful book by Cynthia Wright and loved it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Touch the Sun?

I LOVED the scenes of banter between Lion and Megan! <3

Have you listened to any of Tim Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Tim has such a wonderful way of truly bringing Cynthia Wrights story to life with the way that he reads each character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes I wish.. darn life gets in the way of my listening time too much lol ... but yes I could listen to Tim read any of Cynthia's book all the way from beginning to end!