The Tale of Two Barons

The Sisters of the Aristocracy, Book 1

By: Linda Rae Sande

Narrated by: Michael Troughton

What will you discover when you read between the lines?

Jeffrey Althorpe is in need of more income for the struggling Sommers barony. As a peer of the realm, he's not allowed to work, but if he's able to earn money from a book he's written - anonymously, of course - no one will be wiser. A dowry would be easier, but then he would have to find a woman willing to marry a baron.

While her brother, the Earl of Everly, is away on one of his lengthy expeditions, Lady Evangeline is left behind in London to spend her days creating exquisite embroideries and reading books. She's about to buy The Story of a Baron at The Temple of Muses when Lord Sommers suddenly appears. He's intent on buying the very same book, but there's only the one copy.

Desperate to discover what changes his publisher might have made to his story - without letting on he's the author - Jeffrey suggests they read it together. Evangeline's sterling reputation could use a bit of scandal, she decides, and so she agrees to Lord Sommer's proposal.

As the two read The Story a Baron, Evangeline realizes some of the characters and settings are just a bit too familiar. And a bit too close to home. Was she the inspiration for the baron's secret love, a bold, brash woman whose reputation is in tatters?

With her own reputation suddenly in question, Evangeline finds her life imitating art. How can the book have a happy ending when she wishes she'd never purchased The Story of a Baron?

©2014 Linda Rae Sande (P)2015 Linda Rae Sande

This was an okay story.

I was given a code for one of the authors audiobooks for an honest review after my husband mentioned to her that I loved reading/listening to historical romances.

Narrator 4/5:

I'm not sure how I feel about this narrator. When I first heard him speak, I imagined him narrating for a National Geographic episode, that's just the kind of voice he has. One area I question in his narrating skills relates to his method of narrating the characters thoughts. I don't know what he does exactly, but his voice has a far away sound (if that makes sense). This was the first time I've heard a narrator do something like this. While it's different, for me, I think it pulls me out of the story. Edit: After listening to the entire story, I'm still on the fence with this narrator. Overall, he did a great job with the variety of character voices.

Story 2/5:

Oh, where to start. I love historical stories. With that being said, I had a hard time getting into the story. While I wouldn't say this was a bad story, per se, it didn't hold my attention very well. I get Jeffery wrote his book about Evangeline and her life basically, but with all the similarities between them and the characters in his story, it was just too much. It's like there was nothing surprising about the story at all. The fact the story starts off with Evangeline picking out Jeffery's book in the store, after he specifically went in search of said book, only to have the story in the book (once they start reading together) start off in the exact same way...yeah, not a fan because it screamed unoriginality! It's not like that had already happened in the past. It made me wonder why the author started Jeffery's book off like that.

What was with the constant mentioning of Evangeline's butler and his baritone voice. I'm sure after it was mentioned the first tens times the reader could easily imagine him talking without the author having to repeatedly mention it. The same with the reference to eating cake. I forgot the exact phrase, but it got annoying.

Similarly, the repetitiveness between the story the characters read together and that of their own lives--I don't think that helped the story overall.

A Book Within a Book

What did you love best about The Story of a Baron?

I liked the fact that the story line of the book characters were so similar the the real lives of Jeffrey and Evangeline. Pretty good for a first book from a Baron.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Jeffrey best, I usually love the main male hero. From the first I thought he was a good guy with a good heart, and he tried to be a gentleman, not much of a rake, as many are. Not that I don't love the rakes also.

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

He did a fantastic job. His voice seemed to match the age of the main characters. I liked the-deep-in-the-well voice when leading into the book characters.

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

A Book Within a Book

Excellent and Different

This has been a very interesting story, in fact, two stories running side by side. What a novel and clever idea.
Very well written and easy to read. Lots of good laughs and an intriguing plot. Held my attention throughout.
I've found another very talented author and narrator. Thanks for the entertainment!
I recommend this book/audio book.

I tried but just couldn't finish it- Don't do it!

Any additional comments?

This was so hard to listen to that I actually gave up. Never really done that before.( I listen to over 420 audiobooks)
I can't tell you if it is the story or the narration or the combination of both.
I can tell you the narration and production are bad!

Story:? Not sure, couldn't finish but it seemed to be a skeleton story as a frame for sexual thoughts and acts, basically boring.
Narration: bad.
Overall: don't do it!!! You have been warned

Nothing to see here...

The weird way they did they echo chamber for internal thoughts was annoying and took away from the story...which was sadly lacking and unoriginal. Characters were horribly shallow and poorly developed.