Audio: Claiming of the Shrew by Shana Galen

Narrated by: Victoria Aston

Series: Survivors (Shana Galen), Book 5

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 12-17-19

Language: English

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Historical romance

In exchange for an honest review

I have read the other Survivors books, and this time it is about their Colonel, he was the one sending them to their death, while he had to stay behind.

But this is the book about how he met his wife. She needed a husband and picked him. Later she says that she waited for him to come back, though why? This was for show only, and their marriage was not even valid in Britain.

So Catarina comes back and wants an annulment. Trouble is on her heels as she now is a famous lacemaker and someone wants those skills.

Benedict is calm and omg woman trust him! He obviously wants the best for you! Sure, those things he said right there might not have been right, but omg woman someone is after you! He wants to keep you safe. Benedict, you are a hero, Catarina, you need to listen to him and trust him!

Yes there is these two falling slowly in love, and that trouble that she brings.

We also see two side characters that are in the coming books. And some old favorites too.

I enjoyed it 

Narration

I like Victoria Aston's narration, she fits historical romance very well. Some are sure a good fit for a genre. She does male and female voices well and accents

Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has retired from the army and spends most of his days either consulting for the Foreign Office or whiling away the hours at his club with his former comrades-in-arms. He rarely thinks about the fiery Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. It was supposed to be a marriage in name only, but even five years later and a world away, he can't seem to forget her.

Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she's become an independent and wealthy woman. But when she's once again thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn't seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment, but when he argues against it, can she trust him enough to ask for what she really needs? 

Audio: The Clergyman's wife by Molly Greeley

A Pride & Prejudice Novel

By: Molly Greeley

Narrated by: Susie Riddell

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 12-03-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical fiction

In exchange for an honest review

Oh you all know I love PP variations! So I went for this one at once. This is not a romance. I do confess at times I wanted more for Charlotte, oh how I wished.

Charlotte made a choice. Probably remain a spinster and lie under her father's and then brother's roof and be a burden, or marry a man with a good standing and prospects. Even if he is not handsome, but neither is she. Even if her best friend wonders if she lost her mind, because he can sure be tiresome.

But she married, she moved away, she found she could do it.

There is their first time, and it really describes their lives. A bit sad, but normal life you know. A sensible life. A bit boring.

And then Lady Catherine orders a farmer to plant roses for them and, no, there is great love story. There is yearning and looks, and words. And I hoped, but how could one hope. It was not a sensible choice, and it was not possible either.

I liked this book. Charlotte sacrificed so she could have other things. A home of her own, children, a good life.

Narration by Susie Riddell

The narrator was good and she nailed Lady Catherine, oh how tiresome that woman is! This was easy listening too and when it ended I wanted more.

It might have been the first time listening to her, and I would listen to her again.

Charlotte Collins, nee Lucas, is the respectable wife of Hunsford’s vicar and sees to her duties by rote: keeping house, caring for their adorable daughter, visiting parishioners, and patiently tolerating the lectures of her awkward husband and his condescending patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Intelligent, pragmatic, and anxious to escape the shame of spinsterhood, Charlotte chose this life, an inevitable one so socially acceptable that its quietness threatens to overwhelm her. Then she makes the acquaintance of Mr. Travis, a local farmer and tenant of Lady Catherine.

In Mr. Travis’ company, Charlotte feels appreciated, heard, and seen. For the first time in her life, Charlotte begins to understand emotional intimacy and its effect on the heart - and how breakable that heart can be. With her sensible nature confronted, and her own future about to take a turn, Charlotte must now question the role of love and passion in a woman’s life and whether they truly matter for a clergyman’s wife.

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

Tell me about the city/ town you live in.

I live in a village, there is nothing in this village anymore, except for suburbia spreading out from the two towns nearby.  It is close to "town", the center of the municipality I live in. But it is also close to a actual town (that is famous for being an energy innovative town).

Here you can can see our row house

photos by Forth Photography

It is close  to big far stretching forests, but I doubt most get it since people do go all wow over seeing a Moose, and no we did not tell them about the time we found wolf prints in the woods. BF said someone had seen bear prints too.

I loved taking walks here! We always found new pathways, find some were clearly only used by deer, but it was fun!

But by this summer we will have moved. Cos sometimes a woman needs to be able to walk naked through her house without fearing a neighbor will spot her. So we bought a lot of land, and sadly we can see a house from our living room, and one behind ur garage, but building the road longer was so expensive so I can live with that ;)

I could not find an aerial map so here is what our new village looked like in the 12th century ;)

It is the green land in the left corner. All water then, wait I think where we live now is on that map to, on the bottom in the middle, in the sea.

And about our new village. Well nothing special about that place either. Woods, the sea close. All good :)

Carole's Monday: Perfect Fit by Sophia Sinclair

Author: Sophia Sinclair 

Title: Perfect Fit (Small-Town Secrets #4)

Genre: Romance, Chick Lit

Pages: ebook

Published: November 4th 2019

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Julie Simmons is exhausted. Between studying to become a certified midwife and attending births, she's constantly on the go. Add to that, she's helping her jilted sister care for four children.

Nick Hoffman is the brother of one of Julie's clients. She writes him off as a jerk after he questions her professionalism during his sister's delivery. But a few days later, he calls her in a panic. His sister has been rushed back to the hospital, and he's left caring for her newborn and toddler, when he doesn't have a clue how to do so. Julie comes to help and they bond over a night of caring for two sleepless little ones.

Nick loves kids and can’t wait to settle down and have some of his own. Julie has decided she’d rather stick to helping other women have babies than have any of her own. What happens when you want each other, but you don’t want the same future?

Book 4! Read book 1 and then this. It worked well as a standalone. 

The story follows Julie Simmons who is simply just tired. She is studying to becomes a certified midwife, attending births, and helping her sister out with the kids while the hubbie is gone. Nick Hoffman is the brother of one of Julie's clients. He is a total jerk at first during his sister's delivery. However, days after the safe delivery, Nick calls her to apologize and in a panic. His sister has been rushed to the hospital and he is left caring for the newborn and the toddler. He is lost and has little experience with babies. Julie comes and helps and she is shocked at how much of a good guy he really is. 

This was very, very sweet. I liked Julie and Nick (of course after we realize he was just a worried brother and not a jerk...just acted jerky). Bless Julie's heart for going to help him. She has a heart of gold that one! Nick does too. They deserve each other. 

It was nice seeing this naturally happen. They quickly get over their beef. Go on dates and get to know each other. I love simple romances. Sure there is some drama especially with Julie brother-in-law. But the drama was pretty low. It worked well. They both have a lot on their plates and didn't need crazy, insane drama. But there are some things to go over, but you know they will figure it out. They are the perfect fit. HA there is the title. 

OOOOOO that neighbor lady. I wanted to smack her. SO RUDE!!!! Eat a cookie once in a while!

I'm also really glad this did well as a standalone. There are brief mentions of past characters like from the first book. She is tied through all of them since she acted a doula to them. Which is very sweet. I should go back to read the other 2. 

In the end, this was a very sweet read and I highly recommend it. I liked Nick and I liked Julie. I think this is my favorite of the two I have read. I'll give this 5 stars.