'Twas the Night After Christmas

By: Sabrina Jeffries

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dear Sir,... I feel I should inform you that your mother is very ill. If you wish to see her before it is too late, you should come at once. Sincerely, Mrs. Camilla Stuart

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has led an unabashed rogue’s life, letting no woman near his heart. Inexplicably abandoned as a child to be raised by distant relatives, he never forgave his parents, refusing to read any of his mother’s letters after his father’s death. Then came a letter that shook his resolve. A Christmas visit to Montcliff might prove his last chance to discover the truth of his past, and come to terms with the stranger he calls "Mother".

But two surprises await him at Montcliff. His mother is perfectly healthy, nowhere near a deathbed, as her meddling lady’s companion led him to believe. The second is Camilla Stuart herself, a lively vicar’s widow, too bright and beautiful not to arouse the scoundrel in Pierce. Though she alone is reason enough to prolong his stay, he is soon faced with other tantalizing riddles: What secrets lie in his mother’s past to explain his childhood abandonment? Why is the captivating Mrs. Stuart so determined to mend the breach between mother and son? Meanwhile, Camilla herself is caught up in love’s complications since the arrival of the irresistible earl.

As his bold flirtation and suggestive whispers draw her dangerously close, can anything protect her vulnerable heart? If they are destined to share real happiness, there must be honesty between them - yet telling him the truth about her own life may shatter that chance. None of them can predict the startling revelations to come. Or the secrets, both heartening and shocking, divulged between a mother and son, and between two lovers haunted by their respective pasts, that will make Christmas night at Montcliff one to remember - and the glorious night after, one to treasure for a lifetime.

©2012 Sabrina Jeffries (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Nursing home narrator

Sabrina's books are always fun and enjoyable but I had a hard time enjoying this one because the narrator chose to use a voice for the hero that made him sound about 90 years old. He sounded like Shriveled Old Scrooge instead of Sexy Young Hot Guy! I suppose this sounds picky but to me, the narrator makes or breaks the book. A good narrator can make a so-so book a keeper I want to listen to again. A bad narrator makes it difficult to get through even a terrific book. So I'm afraid I can't recommend this book to you for that reason. Unless you find Scrooge sexy.......

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great story, really annoying narrator

Since I did read the other reviews about the narrator, I only have myself to blame. But I like this author so wanted to hear it. The only voice that was really bad was the lead male, but since that is a prominent character, it really affected my enjoyment of the book. The narrator made Pierce sound like a villain in a bad radio show. I have rarely heard such a poor voice in any audible book. He did a good job with most of the others, including the females. I did like this story, but I know I'll never listen to it again, and will avoid any others narrated by this reader. Still like this author though. The story is a good one.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good but not my favorite.

What aspect of Michael Page’s performance would you have changed?

Overall, he was not bad but I felt like the way his voice was extra scratchy made the charater seem much older and made it difficult for me to really get into it.

Any additional comments?

This wasn't my favorite Sabrina Jeffries, it was a little slow to start but she is amazing and I love her books!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

'TWAS A LOVELY STORY BUT 'TWIS BADLY NARRATED

You don't have to be a fan of Christmas - but a romance set around Christmas time well that's just gives you that ahhhh feeling.

Loved all the characters - especially misunderstood bad boy Pierce who is a tormented neglected little boy in a man's body and it's up to Camilla to thaw his heart with a little bit of help from her 6 year old son. It was both sad, funny, romantic, touching and tells of forgiveness and through that act Pierce gets all he wishes for.

Terrible harsh voiced narrator which almost made Pierce unlikeable but try to stick with it despite him - listen to a sample first to hear him to decide for yourself.

Worth a credit? For all us historical romance lovers it's a Yes and if you're a S.J. fan then you know it's got to be a Yes.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Sweet listen

Setting: 1826, England
Genre: Romance
Narration: You know how, with some books, the narrator helps draw you in? You don't really notice the narration because it's so good? Yeah, well that isn't the case here. I kept getting pulled out of the story by the narrator's voice.
While this book has Christmas in the title, it isn't necessary for it to be in that season to enjoy it. It was good anyway.
Camilla Stuart is the 28 year old widowed companion to Lady Devonmont, who is estranged from her son, Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont. Because he never writes, never visits, the Lady is quite distressed. So Camilla sends him a message telling him that his mother is ill and he should come. When he gets there, he finds his mother in good health.
Except for a short interview with his parents when he was 21, then at his father's funeral, Pierce has not been home for 23 years. He was sent off to school when he was 8 and his parents never wrote or visited. He spent all his holidays with his father's cousin, where he was welcomed into the household. Needless to say, he is quite embittered at his mother for being sent away without communication or explanation, so he has ignored every letter she has written since his father's death, throwing them into a box, unread.
When Pierce meets Camilla, he his fascinated. While she is not his usual type, she is forthright, and she sees beneath his rogue's mask. He said he would stay only the first night, but he ends up staying and blackmailing Camilla into entertaining him every night in his bedroom. She reads to him, plays cards, or just talks with him. They do not hop into bed first thing, though he does flirt outrageously.
Character and plot development are good. I laughed at some of the dialog, and I shed a few tears as well. It's sweet.
This is a credit-worthy listen. I think it is an offshoot of another book, but it's a good stand-alone.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed the story and the narrator!

This is a good story with multiple plots. Lots going on. The narrator did the many voices well and held them throughout the story. Warm and fuzzy ending. Just what I needed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Story is good

I really don't like the reader. He sounds too gruff. He over does it a lot.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Poor narration.

I usually love Sabrina Jeffries' books. This one was not exactly and exception. The story was good and I liked the characters, the flow of the book was also very good. However, I wanted to strangle the performer. He took a young and and made him sound as if he were halfway to his deathbed. While this was bad it also made it seem kind of off putting to have him involved with such a young woman. (His voice for her was pretty bad also). I made it about halfway through the book and finally gave up and finished it myself on my kindle. Will not be listening to any more books narrated by Mr. Page.

Overall a good book

Would you consider the audio edition of 'Twas the Night After Christmas to be better than the print version?

I never read the print version

Who was your favorite character and why?

Camilla

Which character – as performed by Michael Page – was your favorite?

Camilla

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

H-m-mmm...hard to say, but I'd have something to be similar to the Hellions series...too bad Hellion in Her Bed is already taken! :)

Any additional comments?

Many folks didn't care for the narrator, but I considered him to be like the main male character in Jane Eyre - he'd had family difficulties as a child and some childhood problems are difficult to overcome. And I liked the tie to the Hellions series - I re-visited How to Wed a Wild Lord. Pierce's role is consistent.

Predictable but fun

For those who enjoy Regency fiction, this is very well read by Michael Page. The story isn't particularly original but that's not usually what we want in a romance. Light entertainment, and like many of its type, characters have a modern sense of justice and tolerance that probably didn't exist. But sometimes we just want to know there will be a happy ending!