Smuggler's Moon

Rakes & Rebels: The Raveneau Family, Book 2

By: Cynthia Wright

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

A marriage begun in deception...

Feisty Julia Faircloth is used to managing the lives of her eccentric relatives, so when darkly dangerous Lord Sebastian Trevarre arrives in Bath and proposes to her shy sister Sarah, she switches places with the bride to save her from a shockingly carnal wedding night.

Against his better judgment, Sebastian consummates a marriage to the most provoking, appealing woman he's ever known, and then is forced to live with her in his neglected yet enchanting estate on the coast of Cornwall. Life there is turbulent, not least because Sebastian keeps many secrets. Will his reckless pursuits succeed in restoring his fortune...or cost him the lady who holds his heart?

Step back in time to magical 1798 Cornwall, England, with Julia and Sebastian - and reunite with Andre and Devon Raveneau, as Andre discovers that his life and Sebastian's are inextricably linked.

©2014 Cynthia Challed (P)2014 Cynthia Challed

Superbly Written and Narrated Romantic Tale

Where does Smuggler's Moon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Smuggler's Moon is easily one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Rosalyn Landor's lively narration brings the book to life in a delightful way.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the tender and sensuous love story, coupled with the wonderfully detailed and descriptive setting and the exciting supporting story.

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

I loved her expressive characterizations of each person in the story. It really brought the book alive!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Even better than an extreme reaction, this book made me care deeply about the characters, and left me with an overall interest to explore more about this time period and setting.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend any of Cynthia Wright's fantastic novels, in any format. I look forward to exploring other books with Ms. Landor's narration.

A strong woman's sacrifice pays off.

Loved it ! Great characters, great performance and just enough creative plot twist and turns to keep me guessing. Excellent job bringing in past book characters into the story. I love a series that neatly relates to past books in the series with added benefit to the new story line. I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down.

So wonderfully entertaining and attention holding.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this to everyone, it is so different listening then reading, I had read the book, listening made it a totally different story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Julia, she was evolving, and falling in love and growing up all at the same time.

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

She brought each character to life, like watching a movie in your mind. Her narration is fantastic.

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

lots of them, it's so hard to name just one.

Any additional comments?

If you have never listened to an audio book you are really missing a wonderful way to experience a book, Cynthia Wright audible books are great books to listen to, she is a wonderful writer.

Just OK..

Any additional comments?

An decent story but I would have thought Sebastian would have been a LOT angrier about being tricked into marrying Julia instead of Sarah. He just seemed to kind of accept it. I can’t see a man accepting that so nonchalantly. It looks like he would have been livid.

And, good grief! If Julia was going to find a wounded animal did it have to be a vicious animal like a badger. It wasn’t like she could keep it. It seemed like it was just added to take up space in the book. It added nothing to the story. And then she went and found another one? Geeeez!

Anyway, it’s another really long book that repeats itself and is so wordy, 368 pages, and almost 11 hours on Audible. Think I’ll go back to 150 to 250 page books. They tell me a good story without all the claptrap of larger books.

By the time it got right down to the smuggling, about 75%, I just knew Julia was going to take the holier-than-thou attitude and tell Sebastian he had to quit immediately. I really got tired of her thinking she knew what was best for everyone around her, it became very irritating.

This book was really best in the last 25%. And the secondary characters, Sarah, Freddy, Polly, Keswick, Tristan and that creep, Adolphus, were all great. Even the creep you just loved to hate.

I can’t see myself reading another book by this author unless she starts writing smaller ones. She can tell a good story, and write good sex scenes, but it could have had a lot less pages, IMO.

As to the narrator: Ms. Landor did ok for me. I really didn't care for Sebastian's voice. Ms. Landor has her moments. Sometimes I like her and sometimes, not so much.

Another Rakes and Rebels story

I truly enjoyed this Raveneau installment. Sebastian and Julia's story is started in deception and woven through with Julia's sweet and Sebastian's swashbuckling adventures. Sebastian's relationship with the Raveneau family is an interesting and heartwarming development.
Rosalyn Landor's narration was wonderful, her male voices were excellent and I could tell the differences in the female roles. The different accents of English, French & American were splendid. I always enjoy Cynthia Wright's ability to weave current day historical figures in to the story. As usual with Cynthia Wright, you will not be disappointed in this audio book.

Really glad I listened to this book.

What did you love best about Smuggler's Moon?

I loved the characters and how they grew in the story. I enjoyed the different locations and the secondary characters as well. I've read other books by this author and look forward to more.

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

I really enjoyed listening to this. I liked the voices for the different characters. This is only the second audio book I've listened to and I'm looking forward to listening to more. I was worried that the performance might be over the top, but it wasn't. She was easy to listen to and had just enough inflection to keep it interesting.

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

It took me 3 days to listen to it all, but I could have listened to it in one setting if I would have had the time.

Engaging and entertaining

It's cliche, but I like stories where the couple can't stand each other in the beginning. I enjoy the banter and their futile attempts to check their passions.

The added danger of smuggling in this story made it more interesting. The historic background, travel and descriptions of the landscape were also a plus. Some of the characters seem hastily written but as they weren't central, that's easily overlooked.

The narration was good. The male characters came across masculine but could have used a little more distinction. The American accent for Devan was spot on!

Once started I couldn't stop listening. Completed in two sittings.

Roz Landor does it again!

Good story. Great hero and heroine. Perfect narration. What more do you need? Go for it.

Loved it.

This story made me feel like it was a growing up, growing together and growing into love. It’s really quite lovely and a beautiful story. I highly recommend this book. My note to the narrator: I’ve listened to several stories you’ve narrated and really must emphasize that we the listeners want our hero’s to sound sexy. Your hero’s voices lack that and the hero in this story was written quite sexy. This author knows how to write incredible stories.

Julia and Sebastian Outstanding Listen!!

Julia Faircloth is the oldest child and she likes it that way. Julia likes to take charge and care for her family. Her father has a gambling problem that only makes matters worse, and her mother adores her husband and thinks ladies should act in a certain way. When Lord Sebastian Trevarre arrives in Bath where the family has just moved to Turbans things are going to change. After one of Julia's fathers lost gambling endeavors, she finds a note in her father's jacket with Lord Sebastian's name on it. When she goes to speak with this despicable man about trying to understand her father needs help and to forget his debts things don't go as planned. Julia is in a situation she cannot control and she doesn't like it. Unexpectedly after one last bad game against Lord Sebastian Julia's father has put the entire family in jeopardy. What else is there to do but to find a way to rescue her family, but this is once again out of her control. Lord Sebastian thinks that Julia's sister is a much better match for a wife, but Sarah thinks otherwise. In an attempt to save her family Julia switches with Sarah to marry Lord Sebastian.
To say the least he is not pleased. After he finds no other reason to argue he consummates the marriage and oh boy that was way overdue. The sex is very lusty and sensual, something Julia has never experienced. They travel off to Cornwall where they will be living in the run down estate Trevarre Hall where they will begin their married life based on lies. What Julia doesn't know is all this ill will towards this man who caused her family distress will fade, and soon only time will tell what will happen. Along the way Sebastian will find out some life changing news about his own deceased parents and Andre and Devon Raveneau who were friends of his parents. Come to find out Andre has a past with his mother, but is it good or bad? It will definitely stir up some emotion in a seemingly emotionless man, Sebastian. Smuggling is a big part of Cornwall, and Sebastian wants to make the money back his own brother gambled away so he has no choice but to join the trade, but he is more pleased then you think. Adventures are to come, and the risks are high but if Sebastian can pull it off he will make the money he needs, but in time will his plans change? Julia is going to affect him more then he knows, and he has definitely changed her. Will they be happy? Safe? Listen to Smuggler's Moon to find out!!! This was a great book, just like every other book I have read by Cynthia Wright! It captures you, and keeps you entertained, and by the end you are in love with the characters. A must listen!
Rosalyn Landor one of my all time favourite narrators does an outstanding job with the delivery of this story.