Secret Bride

By: Sharol Louise

Narrated by: Doro Jillings

Who would make a better fiancée in a pinch - An actress? A shopkeeper? Or a school teacher?

Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, has 14 days to find a fiancée. It's the least he can do to make his dying grandmother happy. Of course, she doesn't need to know it's a temporary ruse. An actress should do nicely.

Miss Alix Adams falls off the wall of the local school while rescuing her young student from a tree. Damion rides by, and the curtain of fate rises on a new stage plan.

Secret Bride is the story of a young lady who makes a deal with a stranger. Because when you're penniless and an orphan, money can be so tempting.

©2009 Sharol Louise Schell (P)2017 Sharol Louise Schell

Good intentions gone... right!

"I must make my granny happy before she goes" - such a lovely sentiment on Damien's side, isn't it? He engages a lady he met on the road to act as his betrothed to please his Grandmama. But dear Grandmama somehow isn't kicking the bucket in the expected time frame. Also, not being a half-wit, she realizes what is going on... and enters the plotting with a scheme of her own. It's all for Damien's benefit, of course...

This is a romance, so you can well guess the outcome, but it's definitely worth listening to because of the lovely characters Sharol Louise had populated her story with. Some have pure hearts, some have not - and in the midst of that is one thoroughly confused Viscount. He kind of had it coming :)

Doro Jillings's narration is very pleasant. In short, Secret Bride is a joy to listen to. Give it a go!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Fun Regency Romance

I really enjoyed this one, it's just a great clean and classic style regency romance. Damion is a Viscount, and he receives a letter from his beloved Grandmother stating that she is dying. She has been on him for years to get married and he has decided to make her happy before she dies and get engaged -- but only as a hoax since he has no desire to really marry. He has a couple of weeks to track down a woman who will help him out with the ruse and not hold him to it in the end.... what could possibly go wrong? It's a fun, witty, and overall light-hearted romance. The narrator does a great job and I really enjoyed listening to her. Definitely, a fun read for those fans of regency romance novels.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

It was okay

I liked this listen but I did take issue with a few things. Damien, the viscount, is furious at Alex, the secret bride, when Alex tries to bring Elizabeth, an orphan, with her on Damien's mission to fool his grandmother. Damien is furious in one paragraph then acts like it never happened in the next. Damien and Alex have a talk while walking and Damien asks Alex to be honest, saying that he hates lying. Alex promises to be honest but the paragraph ends and the next chapter begins without that conversation taking place. Disjointed things like that kept happening.

The narration was good though and depicted the era very well.

A wonderful romantic adventure!

Any additional comments?

Secret Bride written by Sharol Louise is a witty, light hearted romance story. It follows Damion who suddenly needs to find a fiancé after receiving a letter from his Grandmother that she will has fallen ill and will be stopping by to see him in the next couple weeks. Damien wishes to please his dying Grandmother and sets out to find, and possibly hire, a fake fiancé.

This story was narrated by the talented Doro Jillings. As a narrator she has great delivery and charisma in her storytelling which brings out rich and vibrant characters. The audio quality itself is about average with some occasional background inconsistencies. it should be noted the inconsistencies did not detract from the listening experience whatsoever. Overall Doro handles male to female dialogue smoothly and discernibly leading to a fun and noteworthy performance.

Alix agrees to play the part after after Damion compromises and allows Alix to bring Elizabeth along, an orphan who eventually falls into line as her alleged sister. Alix and Elizabeth are off on their new adventure before they know it!. Alix is immediately accepted by some and rejected by others. She is filled with compassion and personality! She is a loving and intelligent character who has one of the biggest hearts imaginable.

I would like to note that the author does a fantastic job dealing with some scummy unlikely characters in a tasteful and just way... and of course.. love always finds a way! This audiobook comes in at Just under 8 hours and could easily turn a dull weekend into an exciting romantic adventure. Romance lovers don’t let this slip by.

Sweet Clean Romance

Secret Bride is a sweet, clean, romance, and the leads are both likable characters which is always a plus. Instead of the usual marriage of convenience plot, we have a twist on the theme as Damien searches for a fiance willing to be a part of a temporary "engagement of convenience" after he misreads his grandmother's letter about a recently deceased friend, thinking she herself is also on death's door. There are plenty of other times when miscommunication plagues poor Damien and Alix, as both have trouble conveying what they mean and perhaps listening, but love grows and eventually flourishes.

wonderful read

This was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed this story. I totally fell in love with the characters. The narration was great and the story engrossing. I will definitely look for other audio books by this author. Would highly recommend.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Pretending Becomes Reality

This is the second book by Sharol Louise that I have listened to with the great narrator of Doro Jillings. She is marvelous and truly makes the characters come alive. When Damion must find a fiance in two weeks, he chooses a school teacher, Alix Adams. Damion believes his Grandmother is dying and wants her last days to be happy ones. Alix agrees to the charade and also brings one of her students, Elizabeth along as her sister. Of course, things get out of hand and jealousy by her companion, Chloe abound. Great story.
I was given a copy of the book by the author for an honest review.

Secret Bride

Love causes people to do strange things. Damion loves his Grandmother very much and wants to make her happy. When he finds out she won’t be around much longer and is coming to visit him “before she goes” he knows that telling her that he is to marry will make her very happy. Unfortunately he has no fiancé. Damion sets out to hire the perfect woman to play the role, and he gets more than he could have ever expected.

Sharol Louise has written a lovely story with fantastic characters. I found myself rooting for the characters to get what they deserve and feeling quite satisfied with how things turned out.

Doro Jillings’ performance was well done. I especially loved the portrayal of Lady Charlotte.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Love happens...:)

When Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, decides to employ a woman to pose as his fiancee to fulfill his dying grandmother's final wish he doesn't know that love waits just round the corner... When Alix Adams, a poor school teacher orphaned as a child, agrees to the employment she doesn't know that Fate laughs at her plans... What they both find is unexpected - and what they both need, not knowing that they do:)

This is a charming book - that's the best word I can use to describe it. Both Alix and Damion are likeable characters that you'll keep your fingers crossed for - though I must admit I did not expect to like them so much at first. He seemed too arrogant in his aristocratic haughtiness and she seemed too stubborn and independent... But they grow on you when you get to know them - and when they get to know each other:) I like the way we discover different layers of their personalities as their relationship deepens and develops throughout the book. The secondary characters are also great - Elizabeth and the Grandmama are two of the sweetest and loveable characters I've come across in romances, and Lady Chloe is a fantastically intriguing, manipulative and spiteful viper:)

The narration of the book is very good, with Ms Jillings nicely doing different voices and conveying the emotions well. The speed of her reading is also good, and she just makes the story really come to life in her interpretation.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Sweet Regency Romantic Comedy

I loved it! With a plucky heroine, a decided bachelor, a spunky grandmother, a sweet little girl, jealousy, misunderstandings, blackmail, and a fake engagement there was plenty to keep the story engaging. It was very sweet and had me laughing and smiling throughout. I look forward to reading more of the author's works!