We enjoy our behind-the-scenes chats each week when we get to discuss our latest listens, stories and narrators, new discoveries and old favourites. We’ve got a mix of old and new titles on the go this week; sometimes only a tried-and-trusted comfort listen will cut it, and sometimes, we’ve been eagerly waiting to get stuck into something new. What’s delighting (or not) your ears this week?
BJ
Narrated by Nicholas Rowe
Caz
Narrated by Greg Boudreaux
Em
Narrated by Cooper North
Kaetrin
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Melinda
Narrated by Susan Bennett
Shannon
Narrated by January LaVoy
I love Sylvester, and Nicholas Rowe does a great job with the narration. Sylvester and Phoebe have flaws that don’t magically disappear. Sylvester has to work for what he wants in the end and it’s quite moving. They aren’t perhaps Heyer’s most lovable characters, but are two of the most realistic, imo.
I just finished A Splendid Defiance!! Caz, thank you so much for the recommendation. I made a point to listen before AE was over and I’m so glad I did. It’s such an amazing book. Justin isn’t always the most likable hero, but he is consistent and understandable. It wasn’t an easy book to listen to with the religious fanaticism, but I soldiered through those parts. I wasn’t paying attention to how long I had left in the book and when it ended, I was like, “WHAT?” I realized I was hoping the story would just keep going to see how everything worked out with the land, it was that engrossing.
I started Midnight Marriage by Lucinda Brant today. I enjoyed Noble Satyr, and gave it 4 stars on goodreads. I’m hoping this one doesn’t have quite as much push me/pull you angst.
Sylvester has always been one of my favourite Heyers for precisely those reasons.
I’m glad you liked ASD – Justin Ambrose was one of my earliest (if not THE earliest!) book boyfriends and he’s still one of my all time favourite heroes. He’s not always likeable and he’s not always ‘good’ but he’s compelling nonetheless. I honestly didn’t even think about the religious fanaticism as problematic in terms of the story (of course it’s problematic IRL!) – it’s part of our history, so it was what it was. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to the Roxton books, but I remember enjoying most of them!
I have some unfortunate experience with toxic religion in my adult life, so I’m a little sensitive to it, is all. I think its inclusion in ASD was definitely in keeping with the story and time period.
I can understand that. We’re fortunate here in the UK because that sort of fanaticism pretty much went out with the Puritans.
I’ve listened to ‘Common Goal’ by Rachel Reid this week, which I greatly enjoyed.
It’s a lovely story and a very good narration – superior to the narration of the previous books in all respects but one. I liked Tor Thom’s voice for Ilya much better. This isn’t a problem in this book, (or probably the next one?), as Ilya just ‘pops in’ for a cameo. However, it might be for Shane and Ilya’s sequel, due as Book 6……..
I always considered ‘Sylvester’ as a ‘middling’ Georgette Heyer book – not one of my favourites but I liked it well enough. But it is one of her audios that I listen to most often, due to Nicholas Rowe’s superb narration.
See, I really didn’t like TT’s Ilya at ALL, so I’ll probably be happy with whatever Cooper North comes up with! (Assuming he narrates the rest of the books).