Rowan's Lady

Clan Graham, Book 1

By: Suzan Tisdale

Narrated by: Brad Wills

He built impenetrable walls around his heart…

The Black Death showed no mercy when it took Rowan Graham's beautiful, young wife. With his clan nearly decimated, his heart torn to shreds, he is left to raise his newborn daughter alone. Rowan tries to keep the promises he made to Kate on her deathbed, save for one: He is unable to give his heart to another.

She has built walls around her own…

Lady Arline is forced into yet another arranged marriage - loveless and lonely. Behind Garrick Blackthorn's good looks lies a cruel, vindictive man. She wants nothing more than her marriage to end so that she might gain the freedom she has longed for.

Fate will bring those walls tumbling down…

Just before her marriage comes to a bitter and ugly end, her cruel husband kidnaps a sweet, innocent child. Arline does not realize the child belongs to a man from her past, a man who has haunted her dreams for more than seven years, until the night he comes to rescue his daughter.

Rowan Graham is surprised to learn that his enemy's wife is a woman he met but for a few short moments seven years earlier when dark times had fallen across Scotland. The same woman who had helped insure the freedom of his foster father and brother has been risking her life to care for his daughter.

Fate brings them together…but others are determined to pull them apart.

©2014 Suzan Tisdale (P)2014 Suzan Tisdale

Great narrator, very good book

I am always amazed by authors who do not choose a good narrator for their book. There is nothing worse than to read a review that makes the book sound very interesting only to have it ruined by a terrible narrator. Brad Wills is a very good narrator and he does not disappoint in Rowan's Lady. He has a wonderful narrating voice. Combined with a good book you can't go wrong. I enjoyed Rowan's Lady.

The Muti Twisted Travails of the Irish Lady

What made the experience of listening to Rowan's Lady the most enjoyable?

The excellent narration by Brad Wills with his many character voices.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Fav. character: Rowan, of course. Demonstrated great character traits. Lady Arline, next fav. then Lilly. Most despised: Lady Beatrice and one other which would possibly be a spoiler so I won't name him.

What does Brad Wills bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh, those delightful accents, especially Scottish accents. I did read along some of the time and I loved his interpretation of a word, here, a phrase, there, which would not have occurred to me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was so angered at Beatrice! If she had been real, I would have decked her for her lies! Chuckle.

Any additional comments?

I've read several of Suzan Tisdale's books. I enjoy all of them, especially Wee William's Woman. However, this one is my favorite of her books now. I have to say that this book had many twists and turns. Very nice!

Falls apart around the middle.

Would you try another book from Suzan Tisdale and/or Brad Wills?

Not by the author. Initially, I was very pleased with it but then it spiraled down into the mire of repetition. The narrator was excellent except for the voice he came up with for the four year old. Most of the time I couldn't understand a word of her dialogue. If I'd been reading the book, that would be different.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The author kept reminding us of things she'd already told us. After the third or fourth time I became frustrated. The middle needed to be ramped up. It was full...full of angst and 'oh me, oh my, what should I do' moments. I do not like there to be misunderstandings between the Hero and the Heroine that could easily be put aside if they'd just talk to each other. This happens several times in this book.

What does Brad Wills bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His Scots accent is wonderful.

Did Rowan's Lady inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

I said I wouldn't read another one of her books and that is because of the repetition thing. This is my buggaboo and should not stop others from enjoying this book if repetition in a story doesn't bother them. The characterization is good. The settings are good.

Please Stop the Baby Talk!

Would you try another book from Suzan Tisdale and/or Brad Wills?

This is the first audio book I have wanted to return. The lispy baby talk in the bad Scottish accent made my skin crawl. Fortunately most of it was just too soft to hear but what I could hear was terrible. If the reader must talk in a baby voice, please do not add a lisp and an accent, the two just do not work.

I like books that are in a series and I am very disappointed this series cannot work unless this child grows up in a hurry.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Lispy Baby Voice

love love love

I love these books..I want them all. I love the narrators voice too. He brings it all to life

I laughed & cried! 💜

I laughed & cried listening to this story. I loved the voice for little Lilly & I'm very critical of the narrirators. I strongly recommend this story.

Great!

I really enjoy this author, most of this narrator, he bring these stories to life!

Needs an editor for plot flow

Although Brad Wills could read a telephone book and make it a masterpiece, he must have had a challenge with the tedium of this plot. Although most of the elements of the story are very worthwhile, the flow of the plot had me screaming " OH COME ON..." at the characters lack of simple thought process. Rowan and Lady Arlene specifically were so convoluted in their thought processes that I became quite agitated with how "DENSE" they were being. Lady Arlene sensed that Beatrice was treacherous but then believed her to be her best friend so far in the keep? REALLY??? And she wouldn't open the door for 4 days??? She could have walked out. Prisoner mind set? Well the author could have set that up better.
Anyway, although the book has very good elements, the author needs an editor to sense when to speed things along. With a more precise story line tempo, the book could have been cut by two hours. Although again, listening to Brad Wills read is ALWAYS worth the extra time.

Love this story and the author!

I love this time.Period the word. And the author expresses it in such a good way I feel like I’m right there with them. But what would I do without my cell phone?

The narration…

Overall the book was good, my main issue came from the narrator trying to sound like a 4 year old girl. Yikes