Lady Dearing's Masquerade

By: Elena Greene

Narrated by: Robin Rowan

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Finally free after a desperately unhappy marriage, widowed Lady Dearing goes to a masquerade. She thinks it's just a lark, but matters turn serious when she kisses a costumed stranger who protected her from a drunken lout. Word leaks out, scandal escalates and she becomes the town's most infamous widow.

Shunned by society, she retreats to her country estate. Having no children of her own, she finds joy in caring for children she's taken in from London's Foundling Hospital. But every night, she is haunted by the memory of the gallant stranger, whose seductive voice and gentle touch awakened desires she'd thought long dead.

Two years later, Sir Jeremy Fairhill still hungers for the lady from the masquerade. She felt like his match, more than his saintly deceased wife, more than any of the respectable ladies his friends urge him to marry. Failing to find her, he throws his energies into the cause of the Foundling Hospital, where he serves on the Board of Governors. Hearing that a notorious woman has some of the foundlings in her charge, he is impelled to investigate. He has no idea that she is the lady he seeks, but soon his sense of honor is at odds with his dangerous passion for the elusive, alluring Lady Dearing.

©2005 Elena Greene (P)2013 Elena Greene

Good Romance

Where does Lady Dearing's Masquerade rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed this book more than some of the romances from that time period.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was very satisfactory and left a feeling of happily ever after.

What about Robin Rowan’s performance did you like?

The performance of Ms. Rowan was excellent and I will look for more books performed by her.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

This book would make a very good film and would be a perfect chick flick due to its Victorian nature. I have no idea what would be a good tag line.

Any additional comments?

I will be looking for more books written by Elena Greene. Romance readers, don't miss this one! It is not your run of the miss romance.

Great Love Story

"Lady Dearing's Masquerade" is a story about a long suffering love affair between two unlikely individuals; a lady shunned by the ton, with a tarnished reputation, and a man with the reputation of a saint. How the Lady fights to keep the troubled children from a Founding Home in her care, against those that would take them from her.

A good story, performed well by Elena Greene who does both men and women's voices equally well.

Highly recommended.

Engaging listen

Setting: England, 1809 & 1811
Genre: Romance

This is the first time I have listened to Robin Rowan's work, and I was quite pleased. She did male voices especially well.

The plot is quite interesting, though it's a trope that's been done before. However, Elena Greene keeps it interesting with well-developed characters and plot devices. Both protagonists are likable, and three dimensional, with interesting back stories. The author uses activity to move the story along, not just telling what people thought or said. The central conflict centers on Lady Dearing and Sir Jeremy. But revolving around this is a host of problems, including distrust, prejudice, mistaken beliefs on both sides, and communication issues. The antagonists are appropriately creepy, icky, selfish, snotty, and other adjectives of people you just enjoy disliking.

This was definitely worth the credit.

Yummy Historical!

What did you love best about Lady Dearing's Masquerade?

This is a fun easy historical romance. The story is nothing major, but delightful none the less. I can appreciate a sweet read that doesn't tax my brain. This book was an enjoyable journey from beginning to end!

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Wonderful narration by Robin Rowan. She has a terrific pace that moves with the story. As with many of this genre the author has a British Accent. It is a smooth tone that never felt overdone. I adore the easy energy of this read.

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

It can easily be done in one listen. I took my time with it and separated it over a few trips to work and back. It made the travels fly by!

Not that great

Lady Dearing's Masquerade was slow moving from the start. While there was a very brief history - VERY BRIEF- the relationship between Jeremy & Livy is not well developed. It's a slow moving book with a quick...unrealistic start to a relationship.

I hate to say...I won't keep it downloaded on my device.....it just wasn't that good. It wasn't bad or terrible....just didn't do anything for me.

The narrator was not the greatest either...not the worst ever....but just didn't make the story come to life.

This is a penny dreadful

The story, although representative of a time when women were chattel and had few to no legal rights, was just schlock.

Narrated like a simpering melodrama

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The story is typical enough for the romance genre, and I have no issues about the writing. The story, however, is totally destroyed by the narrator's breathy, staccato delivery.

Would you recommend Lady Dearing's Masquerade to your friends? Why or why not?

To read, but not to hear.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Robin Rowan?

I'd listen to Davina Porter narrate the phone book, so I'm sure she could have elevated the quality significantly.