Great story... except

This was a really good story. I laughed out loud so many times. The story was engaging, humerous, serious at times and generally really enjoyable. The story itself I would give 5 stars, except that the romantic episodes were too long and descriptive. It took away from the story. I fast forwarded them. I really hate it when the story is so good, but the romantic episodes are too much because i feel i can't in good conscience recommend it. The people who ask me for recommendations don't prefer that.

8 people found this helpful

A Great! Great! Read.

What did you love best about The Winter Bride?
The story was great. It was very funny, but also very sad in places. I came away very satisfied. Book 1, The Autumn Bride was funny, but since you got more Freddie in Winter Bride, "It was the bomb".

What did you like best about this story?
In the time between writing the first and second book, Anne Gracie learned how to write a proper love scene. I was unhappy with Autumn Bride's badly written only one love scene.But, she got it right in Winter Bride. "Well done!"

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?
It was a toss up between Lady Bea and Freddie. But, Freddie had the bigger role. They got the best lines, but Flynn wasn't far behind. I thinking his story will be next.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laughed throughout the story, but cried for both Demaris and Freddie, when their tragic pasts were revealed. I cheered when they came to each other defense. I was very happy to find an even happier ending in the Epilogue. I won't spoil it for you.

Any additional comments?
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I only hope it doesn't take as long as between Book 1 and Book 2. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes #Funny #Tearjerker #HappyEnding

6 people found this helpful

Dreadful Narration Pairing With Story

What would have made The Winter Bride better?

A narrator who could have brought a degree of gravitas to the story. This narrator's voice was light and childlike, very precious.

Would you ever listen to anything by Anne Gracie again?

No.

How could the performance have been better?

A different narrator, capable of a serious voice and able to perform male voices. This narrator made the story seem quite absurd and frivolous.

5 people found this helpful

Much better than book 1!

Any additional comments?

Story: much better than book 1. Great characters, good development of the relationship, romantic, good dialogues, humor, and cute story. Good Development of the series.

Narration: not the best, distracts from the story because the main male character, and other male really sound like old men.

Story: 3.5-4 stars
Relationship/heat: 3.5 stars , slow simmer and a few nicely written and loving hot scenes.
Performance: 2.5 stars, not the best, distracts from the story

Overall: 3 stars, worth the listening time.

3 people found this helpful

4 ½ stars. I enjoy the author’s choices & dialogue

Like the first book in the series, this is not great writing, but I felt good while reading it. The happiness flowed into my other life. And that makes it 5 stars for me.

I wish more regency romances were like this. Too many authors use inaccurate assumptions and secrets for excessive drama and suspense. Gracie does not. I’m not talking about Damaris keeping a secret about her past. That was reasonable. Here’s an example of something I liked. After sex, Damaris makes an assumption that is wrong. Another author would have Damaris leave the guy and not say why. But Gracie has the guy sense something wrong, ask her about it, and not give up until she tells him. So she tells him, and then he explains why the assumption is wrong. I was pleased because I am used to other authors who would draw that out for extended conflict. Sometimes I don’t mind drawing it out, but many times I do.

I loved the character Freddy. He was entertaining. He fears and avoids muffins (irritating females chasing him for marriage). Aunt Bea mistakenly thinks he likes to eat baked muffins. He does not correct her. So she frequently serves him muffins, and then he has to think of ways to avoid eating them, like throwing one in the fire, but then he worries there might be a smell.

HEROINE WAS RAPED IN THE PAST.
Some readers might want to know this. The rapes were not shown in detail, but they were mentioned. The f-word was used regarding this.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
I really enjoyed the narrator Alison Larkin. I frequently complain when a female narrator uses a weird voice for the hero, and Larkin used a weird voice for Freddy. He did not sound sexy at all. He almost sounded comical. But this narrator is so wonderful with emotional interpretations - I loved it, weird Freddy and all. I loved the way she interpreted Mrs. Jenkins (a very minor character) who was Damaris’ boss at the pottery shop. I plan to look for more books that she narrates. However, one of my friends was disappointed with the narrator, so it’s a personal preference.

Genre: regency romance

2 people found this helpful

Great continuation of series

Couldn't wait for this one to come out, as I loved the first one in this series. This did not disappoint. Freddy, what can you say, you have to love him, the class clown with much deeper aspects to his personality than he ever lets on. So much fun in this book, and the chinese experimental swimming pigs, they just add to the enjoyment. I only hope the third installment doesn't take as long.

1 person found this helpful

OK

The story was ok and had some fairly humorous moments in it. It was different in most other books with the female character's back story.

The main complaint I had about it was the male character's voice by the narrator. He sounded like the flamboyant peacock types who are subcharacters in most of the other regency type books I've listened to. His voice was too lilty or song like or something, even during the love scenes. I just couldn't get into him.

if you liked the first book in this series, I'd still recommend listening to this one, though..

Another good one

The writing is good. I enjoyed the upbeat tone. Two things I could have had less of were the lengthy internal thoughts and the overly frequent references to Freddie's physical responses. I feel it took away from the development of their actual relationship.

I love Anne Grace's Audible books, love quotations

I love Anne's stories, quotations and the fact that I search for more of her books are prof that I am captivated by her writing. Magnificent!

Loved this second book!!!

This was such a good story I couldn't stop listening to it. the narrator does a great job with the different characters. I'm starting the third book in this series.