Beth Barnard

The Spectacle Arrives

Revisado: 02-07-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This book is a celebration of the nerve wracking, but gorgeous spectacle of Antonia’s Court Presentation before Louis, his Wife and his Mistress. We are introduced to many real figures and more period detail, both politcal and cultural, all of which is quite fascinating. The costumes and customs of the court are richly coloured in and we begin to understand how the least misstep can spell disaster. It is like Alice through the looking glass with rules and regulations, enemies and friends and many strange happenings and two queens.

At the townhouse life goes on, preparing for this big event. Estee joins, bringing her own brand of tension and tempers arise. The family dynamic continues to mature and lessons are learned. We get to know everyone quite a lot better and see how they adjust to all situations, but the main event is the presentation and at last it takes place in its colour and intrigue and drama.
It is all very satisfying.

Mary Jane Wells is wonderful and brings all her amazing talent to these stories. She is so agile in her voices and her flow is so seamless that she is a joy to listen to

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Wit and outwit, deceit and dark deeds

Revisado: 02-01-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

We are once again privileged to share more Antonia and Renard’s life and love in a cosy and intimate way. We learn of Estee and Renard’s childhood, a happy beginning abruptly ended by the early death of their father. Renard was kidnapped by his arrogant and evil grandfather at age 12 and learned to detach himself from his emotions and any softer feelings. Estee, a baby, lived with her mother and aunts, perpetually in mourning and sadness to become an emotional, spoiled woman, overly aware of her position and under the influence of her vengeful aunts. Antonia’s insight prompts Roxton to gain a closer bond with Estee.

Antonia, with her deep understanding and compassion, works her magic on her husband, bringing joy and an unexpected playfulness to Renard and learning more about being a wife and mother. We love to see her interaction with servants, family and enemies as she balances many balls in the air.

Renard while changed in many ways , is still ruthless in his defence of his immediate family. He learns more of the plots and schemes of the Salvan family and also of a former mistress. He also observes that A. will share and participate in the defence of the family, using her wit and humour and perspicacity. Roxton is no longer alone, they are a formidable team.

Valentine is Valentine but more adroit at handling his loving but difficult wife So much humour comes through V, he is truly a delight. Lucien and Martin become friends and allies. The relationship between A and Lucien flourishes and as usual he is the good natured but of much humour.

With Roxton gone, Antonia and Martin and Lucien attend an impromptu party given by the ancient aunts which turns into a devilish plot to embarass both A and R. Aided by servants, A manages to defeat the plot and discover an important secret.

Whispers continue and enemies are revealed in their infamy. Rich period details are seamlessly added to the narrative.

Lucinda Brant’s skill at forming fascinating, complex characters and weaving them them with real historic figures and culture is always formidable and enjoyable.

Mary Jane Wells brings all these characters and plots to life with that amazing voice and understanding of each of her charges. She never falters and her narration is so natural and fluent, that we just sit back and enjoy.
out his future.

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Intimate portrait of a marriage, Renard & Antonia

Revisado: 01-27-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I was delighted to find three new stories of Antonia and Renard’s love story and His Dutchess is the first of these portraits. Antonia and Renard and their baby son Julien (or JuJu) are in Versailles preparing for the court presentation of Antonia to Louis, the Queen and his mistress Madame La Pompadour. This is a year later than the first book, but they are still troubled by the interference of extended family including Antonia’s English grandmother, the Comte de Salvan and the scheming aunts who are not happy with their union. Valentine, married to a pregnant and touchy Estee, is sent to live with A and R in their home’ which we subsequently learn is Roxton and Estee’s childhood home. Martin Ellicott, Roxton’s valet, becomes a central character. Roxton sets him up as a gentleman of means and makes him a member of the family, no longer a servant. The other members of the family receive this addition with responses varying from cautious acceptance to outright indignation and rejection, after all, this is not a done thing.

Martin has served Roxton for many years, faithful and unflappable, almost as omniscient as Roxton in anticipating his needs. He is intelligent and kind, staunchly loyal and obedient, but we see the whole man emerge as he navigates a pathway strewn with obstacles and hurdles. Ellicott is overwhelmed at first but grows in confidence and his dignity is awe inspiring, as he takes on this new responsibility and honour. He still serves the family but it is his choice to do so and we love Roxton and Antonia for doing this.

It is truly a joy to spend time with this family on a day to day basis. As lovers they are unusual to the time of Louis XV where marriages are of convenience and extra-marital affairs are encouraged and normal. We see the maturing of their union, the delight they take in each other and also their lovemaking, romantic and humorous, passionate and fun. They too grow into each other and learn how to be parents as well, again in a totally unheard of way. The norm is for babies to be sent to a wet nurse in the country, visited only occasionally by the parents until they are older. R ad A of course will have none of this and A actually nurses Julien herself, which society considers scandalous. The couple are determined Julien will be apart of the family from the start and will experience his parents love and attention at all times. Supported in this resolve by Valentine and Martin, they continue to forge their own path.

Of course we know that the broader family cannot let things rest and plots to restore the Salvan family honour and their place at court are set in motion. Antonia is unwillingly drawn into this intrigue and Roxton along with her as they face things always as a team. Delicious schemes abound and we happily see them all thwarted and outwitted just in the nick of time.This is the first layer of icing on the cake, an invitation to the family and to be apart of another adventure.

Mary Jane Wells is outstanding as the narrator, easily separating male and female charcters and giving each their own unique voice.

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Sumptuous retelling of Noble Satyr

Revisado: 01-27-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I was very excited to listen to this newly revised version of Noble Satyr with a brand new narrator, Mary Jane Wells and I was definitely extremely pleased. MJW has a warm, rich, melodic voice which agilely handles both male and female roles with ease. Her voice draws you in to the story and brings to life all my favourite characters, most especially Antonia. A++

Antonia Moran at 17 is clever, determined, innocent, yet worldly-wise and in a precarious position in the reign of Louis XV 1745. Her grandfather is dying and she will be left under the guardianship of the Comte de Salvan who plans to marry her to his drug-addled and increasingly erratic son Etienne. In reality, she is to become Salvan’s mistress in this world of intrigue and unbridled sensuality. Antonia despises Salvan and forms a plan to escape his clutches by enlisting the Duke of Roxton, Renard to save her.

The Duke of Roxton is an arrogant, selfish, bored and unrepentant womanizer who is forced by
Antonia’s plot and his honour to carry her off to his home, where his sister Estee and his best friend Valentine, an English Lord are both staying. Roxton is half English and half French, a thoroughly debatched character, omniscient through his intellect and a network of spies both English and French. He is an intimate friend of the King and in his forties has become a formidable presence in Paris. Scarred by his ruthless upbringing at the hands of his grandfather, he is cynical and emotionally distant with a rapier wit and cool efficient manner with little interest in putting himself out for anyone else. Antonia engineers a plan where his honour demands that he aid her and so she joins the Roxton household as essentially his ward. Also there are his sister and for propriety’s sake and best friend Valentine.

Estee is a noted beauty, self-centred, vain and damaged by the early loss of her father and her mother’s inability to cope. She is highly strung and subject to wild emotional outbursts, totally, entitled yet she loves her brother intensely and his best friend Valentine. Family and reputation are all to her as is the custom of the times.

Enter Valentine, Roxton’s best friend since boyhood, a gregarious and endlessly cheerful English peer, another wild contrast to Roxton. He is outgoing, endearingly silly at times, loyal to a fault and in competitive in all things. He is a master swordsman and this is the only area he can actually best Roxton. The two carry on a banter of insults and challenges, which covers a devoted and enduring friendship. Valentine is naively funny, easy to fall prey to a joke and good natured in the extreme. He is in love with Estee and their relationship provides much humour to the narrative.

Add in some wicked and conniving aunts and you have the main protagonists to the story, in this homage to These Old Shades
by Georgette Heyer. This is a much more sensual story, which Brant handles expertly and delicately, a complicated story rife with plots and counterplots, thrusts and parries, like the moves of the swordplay so beloved of that time.

This is Antonia’s story, she shines as a pure beam of light in the Roxton family. Mischievous and piquant, she adores the Duke and sees the best and the worst in him and loves him no matter. She is as determined as he is in her own way, she makes mistakes with good intentions and charms everyone including us. She is a unique and enchanting character and in her presence the Duke is transformed by his love for her. There are many ups and downs but her optimism ultimately carries her through and makes them a a magical couple. Humour is woven throughout, but there is also sadness , betrayal and drama galore and we are always intrigued and captivated. Mary Jane Wells ‘s Antonia is pitch perfect and enchanting as well.

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Good book

Revisado: 02-08-19

My only criticism was that the narrator no longer has a British accent which I prefer
I also know that a new narrator with a Brit accent appears later in the series

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