Unrealistic!

"Desired" has an interesting beginning as Taresa (Tess) Darent, the Dowager Marchioness of Darent, attempts to elude raiding redcoats searching for radical reformers, by tying a sheet around her waist and slipping out the window of The Temple of Venus Brothel-- into the waiting hands of Owen Purchase, the Viscount Rothbury, who has been sent by the Home Secretary to arrest the reformers.

I began losing interest when Lady Tess's personality did not stay consistent with the bravado of the woman who eluded the Redcoats and tricked Vicount Rothbury to escape. Having the intellect to be the brains behind the reformers, she "didn't think" too many times, when making foolish decisions. Tess acts in ways that don’t make sense. She endangers herself and Owen.

The story does not flow smoothly--sometimes too many unneeded details, other times events seem to be thrown in with no foundation. Although alluded to, I thought more details about Tess’s and Tom Bradshaw’s past would have made the story more interesting.

Polly Lee has a nice voice, but she does not do male voices well. She's a good reader, but not a performer. The narrator did not have the ability to draw me into the story.

Although there were parts of "Desired" I found interesting, the story is not cohesive, so could not hold my interest.

I do not consider it credit worthy.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

On par with Lisa Kleypas

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite historical romance authors, but having read all of her books, I have been looking for someone with similar stories/style for years--well here she is! And--manna from heaven--she has a trove of books already written, although only two available on Audible. Would love to see more by Nicola Cornick on Audible.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

I've "Desired" better

Would you listen to Desired again? Why?

I don't think I would. The narrator wasn't the best. I like animation in my readers, but this one was less so than others.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I LOVED Tess. I love that she was strong, stubborn, and willful. She didn't allow society to dictate her actions. She did what she needed to in order to survive. However, I love that she softened and let Owen into her life and into her past to help her out!

Would you listen to another book narrated by Polly Lee?

I might give her another chance. The book wasn't totally ruined by Lee. I just feel she needs to up her enthusiasm. Especially for her male characters

Any additional comments?

The storyline and plot were pretty good. I imagine if this book had been read by some of audio's best, this book would have had better reviews from me!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Entertaining and educational

What did you like best about this story?

Really liked the H and H. Good character development.

Have you listened to any of Polly Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Thought the narrator was excellent. She sounded like Ashford MacNab who is one of my favorite narrators.

Any additional comments?

Freedom of speech. We have always had it, so it was shocking to really realize how one could actually be hanged for having the audicicasity to draw political cartoons.
Very good story and well done.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Kept me listening but needs a rewrite.

This one was a mixed bag for me. I liked the sweet interplay between the characters, and the romance. But the plot was unnecessarily complicated. The h's back story was compelling and deserved a better plot that didn't include her involvement in politics, and a weird side story of a disgraced friend, etc. There was too much attention taken away from the romance that didn't need to be there, or was just badly handled.

It didn't help that the H's voice, as portrayed by Polly Lee, made him sound a too feminine and sweet, but the dialogue between the H and h was well written. There is a better book in here, but only with some rewritting.

Other than that, I enjoyed it, and I'd give Nicola Cornick another read.

It deserves 3-1/2 stars, but not 4.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good Story!

This is my second book by Nicola Cornick and I will definitely be reading and listening to more. I like that she has a sub-story playing out in addition to the main story line and this book definitely leaves the sub-story hanging. I can't wait to see how it plays out in the next book --- I sure hope it plays out in the next book.

I like Nicola's characters and the plot. I think she is a very talented story-teller and I wish that more of her books were available through Audible.

Polly Lee did not bring the male voices to life in this particular book. I've listened to her narrate other books and she has done a much better job male voices. I think that since the main male character had an American accent instead of a British accent it through her off a bit. I'll definitely continue to listen to other books narrated by Polly Lee.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Pure romance

What did you love best about Desired?

I haven't read a historical romance in quite some time. This one was a perfect change from my usual fare. Light and romantic with humorous quirks sprinkled in. I really enjoyed it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Loved loved loved....why did it have to end!

One of my favorite books ever. I couldn't get enough of the dialogue and relationship between Owen & Tess. So dang good I couldn't press pause. I just wish there had been much more after they finally really got together!

Credit worthy for sure. A real sweet and sensual romance....with an American "knight in shining armor"

I laughed....held my breath....got misty eyed...and cursed the characters.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

wrong narrator for the "Yankee" what a shame

I can't understand why on earth the publisher didn't either train or get another narrator for the American male voice of Owen. Very distracting ... lovely voice for the women who speak British English, and fun voices for secondary characters , but an awful un-masculine and flat voice for Owen, the Yankee. It truly distracted from the enjoyment of a fun story, which was really very entertaining with its twists and turns. Well written. I'm just sorry about the voice for Owen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Too many side plots!

Desired was one of those books that would have been way better if it hadn't been chock full of unnecessary side plots. Both main characters needed at least 80 years to live everything that supposedly happened to them.

Owen is an American who had been in the Navy, fought against the British in some war, became a privateer, then an explorer, then fought FOR the British in the Napoleonic Wars once he inherited an impoverished Viscountcy. While all this was going on, he also found time to defend the heroine's sister against an evil husband.(!)

Tess is a "scandalous" widow, thrice married, who also fights for political causes with her pen. She has proposed to all her husbands (no explanation as to why) and her past involves drug abuse and gambling. She's also being blackmailed by a guy in one end and suspected of radicalism in the other while an exhibit of her naked paintings are the talk of town. She also has problems with intimacy. (!)

In addition to all this unnecessary non-sense, there were explanations as to what happened in previous books in the series (which I haven't read.) No wonder this book was so convoluted.

With that series name, I was expecting a raunchy listen but nothing of the sort. Encounters between Owen and Tess were on the sweet side and her problem with intimacy was resolved overnight. I really liked that that they got to know each other while they were courting so you could believe they had fallen in love. But I really disliked how Tess behaved so stupidly at times, with absolutely no thought for the consequences.

The narration was very well done and probably the reason why I finished the book. Not sure I recommend it though.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!