Tag: Nicholas Boulton (Page 2 of 3)

Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale, narrated by Nicholas Boulton

September 9, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: This book has my favourite section in it from any Kinsale book ever and I have been waiting with bated breath for its release on audio. Nicholas Boulton’s narrations are superb. So as soon as I knew it was available, I bought it.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Olympia St. Leger is a princess in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. Sheridan Drake, amused by Olympia’s innocence and magnificent beauty, but also intrigued by her considerable wealth, accepts the position of white knight. Unaware that Sheridan is a notorious scoundrel, Olympia willingly allows herself to submit to his protection and his potent embrace. Theirs is a love born in deception. But as they weather storms on the high seas and flee from nefarious villains, the love sparked by lies begins to burn uncontrollably. Taking shelter on a desert island paradise*, the princess and the dark knight battle overwhelming odds to keep their adoration burning bright.

(*honey, that aint no paradise)

What worked for me (and what didn’t): It’s been years since I read Seize the Fire in print. My recollection was that Sheridan was not always heroic, the scenes on the Falkland Islands were AWESOME and I thought the ending was underwhelming. I don’t really remember why I thought it was underwhelming but I remember being dissatisfied with it. On revisiting it, this time on audio, my reaction was different (in some ways).

Oh, Spoilers ahoy. You have been warned. Continue reading

I’m Over at AudioGals…

October 18, 2013 / Kaetrin

with a review of My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale, narrated by the amazing Nick Boulton. It really is a match made in heaven. See my full thoughts here.

Midsummer Moon by Laura Kinsale, narrated by Nicholas Boulton

August 22, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I listened to it: I downloaded this audiobook as soon as it became available and snuck it in between review books for fun.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When a powerful, decisive aristocrat undertakes to protect an absent-minded young inventress from England’s enemies, he finds his orderly world turned into chaos. Merlin Lambourne’s stubborn dream of flight puts her at risk, not to mention driving Ransom crazy. In spite of himself, he’s oddly enchanted by this muddled miss and her eccentric ways… but can he overcome his own fears and realize her invention may be the answer to saving both their lives?

A whimsical Regency-era tale of flying machines, fancy, and love among the hedgehogs.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This is actually a book I own in digital and print format as well but hadn’t previously read. It is the only Kinsale I hadn’t read. I’m not entirely sure why. But it meant that I could experience the book completely without any prior expectations. This is my only opportunity until the author released a new book as I have and have read (and enjoyed) all the others.

Merlin Lambourne is a kind of absent-minded professor type, albeit a prettier one than usual. Ransom Falconer, Duke of Damerell, is on assignment from Prime Minister Castlereagh to obtain from Merlin an invention which will aid in the war effort. Merlin hasn’t been raised to be a member of the haut ton even though she is, by birth, entitled to a place in it. She doesn’t know the social niceties or anything about propriety, having been raised by her (now deceased) scientifically minded Uncle Dorian and two retainers (twins, Theo and Thaddeus). She is very focused on her main goal – to invent a flying machine – to the point of being unable to really take in much else. The way Merlin gets his title wrong all the time, insisting on calling him “Mr. Duke” is funny and when later in the book she gets huffy with him she says:

“If I ever get to be a duke, I won’t be as big a bully as you are, I can tell you that!”

“Since you are exceedingly unlikely ever to get to be a duke, I don’t think we need concern ourselves with the prospect.”

“One just never knows, does one?”

I admit to a fond chuckle. Continue reading

July Round Up

August 2, 2013 / Kaetrin

On Paper/eBook

Mad About the Boys by JL Merrow and Jo Myles – B This anthology is a collection of 1 new and 4 previously published short stories featuring m/m/f romance (which is my favourite kind of menage story). Dinner for Three (Merrow) is a wonderful start to the anthology, a contemporary about two happily coupled guys who are interested in expanding their relationship to include their oblivious housemate Claire – I could happily have read a full length novel about this trio. Because of the very short word count, the characterisations are necessarily very thin and the story doesn’t take us beyond one day of encounters. What there was however was so very engaging, I was sad when the story ended – I really wanted more.

In the Greenwood (Myles) is a paranormal fairy tale of a wood sprite who brings two men together and then manages to become real – again, this story suffered a bit from the short length but it’s fairy tale quality meant that a certain air of unreality was to be expected and made the story work better than it would have otherwise.The Antithesis of Magic (Merrow) is about a man with no magic in a world full of magic users, who finds he is the perfect third for a fairy and a werewolf who need him. I wasn’t clear exactly on why Gus was needed and there wasn’t really any relationship between the three so it was the least satisfying in terms of romance. If it had been expanded to a longer story so I could see a courtship/developing relationship, I would have enjoyed this much more because the set up and the tone of the story was great. Continue reading

I’m Over at AudioGals…

July 31, 2013 / Kaetrin

with an audiobook review of Laura Kinsale‘s The Dream Hunter narrated superbly by Nicholas Boulton.

Go here to check it out.

June Round Up

July 1, 2013 / Kaetrin

on Paper/eBook

Like the Taste of Summer by Kaje Harper – B+ This free online short is a little gem. Jack thinks back to the summer he met Sean, some 28 years earlier and recounts how they got together. I actually enjoyed it all the more knowing that they’d made it and were still in love.

Taken by Him (Billionaire’s Club #2) by Red Garnier – C This erotic romance is very short (just over 80 pages) and at page 1 the couple have never before met, so it was always going to be a big ask for me to buy into the HEA. I had the impression that the book doesn’t take itself to seriously and the tone of the hero’s OTT arrogance was, I thought, intended to be funny rather than insulting (as it may have been in a serious book or if a reader is in a serious mood perhaps). The sex was very hot and Luke certainly had a massive turnaround from being a total manwhore to being a “you’re-the-only-one-for-me-for-the-rest-of-my-life” guy. I liked it, but there was something lacking in it for me. And I can even tell you where it was. It was in Chapter 1, here:

Two hours later they were both a little too…merry.

Luke had seemed hesitant to drink first, but then he’d downed a whole beer within minutes and soon ordered more. They’d flowed into conversation like they’d met years ago, teasing back and forth.

Almost their entire getting to know each other is contained in that two hour period which occurs off page. For me to really root for them, I needed to see their connection rather than just be told it existed.

As a fun, sexy, erotic short, it works well, as a romance, I could have used a bit more.