Good Book. Narration Just OK!

I`m usually not too fond of stories where the heroine is forced into relationships through blackmail by the hero. The premise of this book sounded as if this was what it was about. Luckily the hero wanted to ruin the heroines reputation (which is bad enough and would be a disaster back then) - he didn`t want to force her into any sexual relations apart from a kiss a day.

Nicholas, the hero, doesn`t trust women and for good reason. He doesn`t believe Clare and her good and honest motives because he doesn`t think women can have good and honest motives. After a while he starts trusting her motives but that makes him want her even more and he finds it hard to let her go. Luckily Clare doesn`t want to go either.

Nicholas is half Rom, which was an intriguing part of the story, but I felt there was made too much out of him being half "gypsy" - as if it makes him an entirely different person.

Clare was a perfect heroine. She wanted to do good and she wanted to be devout but struggled in silence with her faith. She still sacrificed herself for the safety of her fellow villagers and that endeared me so much to her. It was hard not to love her and wish her happiness.

The narrator Peter Bishop was just OK. At times it difficult to tell which character was speaking in the book because both lead characters sounded exactly the same
The book was bit confusing to listen to for this reason.

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Awesome - A Reread and still Great!

Clare Morgan, a Welsh Methodist minister’s daughter, had always admired Nicolas Davies, more commonly referred to as the Gypsy Earl. It’s been four years since Nicolas had left for the continent after a notorious scandal. The gossips talked said that after catching Nicolas in bed with his young bride his grandfather dropped dead of a heart attack, and Nicolas’ own wife was so distressed that she raced away from Nicolas and died in a carriage accident. Whether or not it was true, Clare wouldn’t judge. What Clare wanted was to beard the earl in his den to beg for his help.

Nicolas had no intention of staying at Aberdale and only returned to break the entail and never return to the place that had caused him so much pain ever again. Refusing all of Clare’s stubborn entreaties to help the villagers and after Clare said she would ‘do anything’ to convince him to help out – Nicolas just wanted to get rid of her. Knowing Clare was a ‘good Methodist daughter’ Nicolas tossed out an offer he never thought she’d accept. The bargain – Clare would move into his castle and stay there for a period of three months. He would not do anything she didn’t want – but she would have to kiss him at least once per day! Knowing that just by moving in with him would totally ruin her pristine reputation - Nicolas thought she’d run screaming away! To his great surprise, Clare agreed feeling the ruination of her reputation would be a small price to pay if it meant that her friends and neighbors would benefit by the help they sorely needed.

*** It’s been quite a while since I first read THUNDER AND ROSES, Book #1 of the Fallen Angel series, and it was just as wonderful an experience as the very first time I read it. Only this time I let someone else read it to me as I listened on my iPod. As you can guess, Mary Jo Putney has been one of my all-time favorite authors and having the opportunity to listen to this much loved book by Putney and performed so well by Peter Bishop was truly enjoyable.

Nicolas was a great leading man - so angry and bitter over the hand dealt him when his gypsy mother sold him for a bag of gold guineas to his stern and hard-nosed grandfather. At 8 years old all he really needed was someone to love him after the betrayal of his very own mother. Unfortunately, it was not to be but what he did find were school chums who later became known throughout London as the brash and wild Fallen Angels. After the scandal that forced him from the Earl’s seat four years, he truly wanted to sell the pile of stones and break the entail. However, Ms Putney in her wisdom, gave him Clare - not the most beautiful woman, but perhaps one of the most stubborn who was out to make him take charge of his destiny and do right by the villagers who were in need of his influence and largesse.

Putney not only put Clare on to Nicolas’ path of redemption, but clever wordsmith that she is, she also put a few bumps in the road to make this more than just a romance between a rogue and an innocent. No she added in several obstacles to overcome, including accidents, attempted murders and some very humorous and enjoyable moments of Nicolas’ attempted seductions of Clare.

Bottom line: There is so much more to describe, but that would take all the fun out you reading it for yourself to fully enjoy and understand the magic that comes from such a talented wordsmith as Mary Jo Putney. THUNDER AND ROSES is a book to savor, save and reread many more times.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

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Can't wait for book 2

A sweet feel good story about love and forgiveness. I believe that people are often quick to judge and believe what they want to, even if the facts are not there to support it and this book gives good examples of this. Aside from that, I truly like the characters built in this story and the book kept me interested throughout. I did, however, find the last scenes, before the epilogue, truly touching since the characters' agony and emotions can be so clearly felt.
The only part I did not like about the book was the scene after their love making where the heroine lost one of her closer friends and supporters but instead of truly grieving for him, she was more concerned about her relationship with the earl. Truly disappointing. It made the hero look weak and self-serving in the wake of a huge tragedy. That is perhaps why I gave this book a 4 instead of 5 stars. Well worth a credit though so enjoy!

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Great start to a series!

If you could sum up Thunder and Roses in three words, what would they be?

Well-told
Poignant
Entertaining

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the characterization of every character in the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in which the heroine meets the hero for the first time is very memorable. I loved the way they conversed in that scene and how they went after one another.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely, but as always what we want and what we can do is sometimes not one and the same. I managed to listen to it within three days.

Any additional comments?

I liked the narration a lot. I was actually glad that the narrator had only slight nuances between male and female voices. I hate when a male/female narrators butcher the dialogue by sounding 'cartoonish' as they try to sound male/female.

Job well done by Peter Bishop!

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Perplexing!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe, but with a warning that it could get frustrating.

Would you be willing to try another book from Mary Jo Putney? Why or why not?

Yes. I have several Putney novels in my library. However, I probably won't try another from this series, especially with this narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of Peter Bishop’s performances?

Not likely.

Could you see Thunder and Roses being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

It seems that the author could not decide if this book should be a Christian romance (lots of references to Methodist church) or if it should be a typical historical/Regency romance. The heroine goes from removing herself from the congregation in order to keep peace to playing "strip billiards". The narrator's soft, monotonous voice ruined the hero's image as a hardened rake.

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Poor narrator and too long

The story wasn’t bad, it had some very interesting elements such as the issues with Welsh mining, however, it was drawn out far beyond what it should have been. The dialogue sounded amateurish and frankly silly. It sounded unnatural, people don’t actually speak that way.

There were issues with anachronism for the period throughout the book. The premise of the story is completely unrealistic but it didn’t bother me most romance novels have unrealistic premises but other anachronistic elements such as language bothered me more.

The worst part was the narration. The narrators has a good voice but he was a terrible narrator his performance highlighted the worst aspects of the books.

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Sweet Welsh fantasy with Romany lore

Can unbelievable characters be engaging? If you suspend all disbelief, this is a fairly sweet romantic fantasy between two characters placed well out of time and drawn with a broad brush. Saved by Romany lore and the details of Welsh mining, the story pulled me along despite itself. Peter Bishop's reading tended to make all the characters sound juvenile, but then this isn't historical fiction, but pure romantic fiction, so it was just ok. Buy it on sale as I did.

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Intruiging Story, Poor Narrator Choice

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator, while well spoken, nearly ruined this story for me. He failed to convey more than a modicum of emotion throughout the majority of the novel and made well written characters seem almost flat.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Peter Bishop?

Amanda Ronconi would be a hoot but I doubt this is her cup of tea. At least the story would have life and verve!

Could you see Thunder and Roses being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, but I enjoy reading steamy romances more than watching them.

Any additional comments?

Don't let the narrator put you off! Can't stand him? Read the Kindle version. Claire & Nicolas' story is worth the time.

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I loved the intrgue

Would you listen to Thunder and Roses again? Why?

Yes, because a good romance novelist now-a-days is hard to find. I look forward to listening to Book 2.

Any additional comments?

.

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Excellent love story with great characters

I really enjoyed this listen and am currently desperately searching for the rest of the "Fallen Angels" Series. I so appreciate an author who is able to provide the expected thrill of sexual romance within a plot structure that remains interesting beginning to end. Putney's characters are also interesting individual creations and not stock characters from the Romance genre's dusty closets. This story of the half-gypsy lord, Nicholas the "Demon Earl," who is embittered by a terrible betrayal and who lures schoolteacher Clare into his romantic trap in return for helping her village does not disappoint. I enjoyed the story's sexual thrills while watching the dynamic duo conspire together to overcome the evil mine overlord and change the village according to the vision that first led Clare to accept the Nicholas's odd proposal. Clare is such a flexible character that she fully participates in the rituals of Nicholas's romantic gypsy heritage and at the same time oversees his large house with the easy grace of one born to the task. One of the best!

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