A Proper Scoundrel

 A Proper Scoundrel
By Esther Hatch

I loved this book from the very beginning. Lucky for me I have an hour commute time right for doctors until we move into our house. Six hours in the car each weeks gives me some good time to listen to audio books.

I love how independent Diana is and that she works hard to solve the problems that she is encountering by herself. It's not very often in regency novels that you read of women who have jobs and are working. But I love it. 

Lord Bryant. I came to love him from the very beginning. He maybe a rake but he has been hurt. So he has his walls up trying to keep himself protected from future hurt. 

Lord Bryant and Diana together. Diana truly seems to help bring the best of Lord Bryant out. He helps her get rid of those trying to buy her business. Win win for both. 

Highly Recommend this. I loved listening to it!

The Warsaw Orphan

 The Warsaw Orphan
by Kelly Rimmer

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson & Charlie Thurston

I have always felt such a strong connection to the Polish people. It in part probably has to do with the fact that I too am Polish. I remember my Polish great grandparents. I remember spending time with my great grandma as an adult as I lived near her while going to school. 

My ancestors had left Poland before Word War II broke out. But as I read and listen to these stories I still feel such a connection to those who did experience it. It so easily could have been that my family was still there. They may have had friends that were still there. 

My Great Grandma and Grandpa I got to know. I had the opportunity of knowing them. They lived until I was an adult and loved them. I have so many fond memories of my grandma. They are my polish grandparents.

The Warsaw Orphan follows two youth and the experiences of their families. I really enjoyed hearing the different perspectives and experiences. Some of them just went along with what was happening and tried to help those in the situations they were in. While some of them fought to make a difference and try to get their independence and to make changes that way. 

It was interesting to learn new things that I didn't know before. I didn't know that they worked so hard to try and find adoptive families for the younger children in families to give them the chance of survival. That had to truly be such a hard decision for families to make. To give up their children knowing there was a high chance that they may not survive and may never see them again. 

To those brave people who were willing to sacrifice their lives and chance of being caught for taking  in those children. That had to be the scariest thing for them as well. To think at any moment they may be caught and they could be imprisoned or put to death.

They had two different narrators for this book which I really enjoyed. A male narrator for Roman and a female for Emila. I felt like it truly helped to build a better connection with the characters. I find that when I read a book or listen to it that I tend to be drawn more to one character then another. I really loved hearing Emila's story. 

  

His Disinclined Bride

 His Disinclined Bride
by Jennie Goutet

Lately I have really been struggling with wanting to pick up a book. I would start reading the first couple of words and end up putting the book down. I don't know if it was because of all the books I read in October and also listened to on our road trip across country to our new house. But I actually started reading this one and was able to keep going. Hoping to be out of my rut.

This story was very fun and really was full of very many unexpected events. I really enjoy the arranged marriage stories. Because it really takes them time to come to know each other and really start courting each other after they are married. Finding out what each others likes and dislikes are. 

This one did not disappoint. It was a very delightful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

"But when she removed her cloak and faced him arrayed in an ivory and green dress, her skin radiant, her brown eyes warm, and her hair a mix of red and gold, Phineas’s breath left him. He had expected to make do with whatever wife this agreement brought him. He had not expected to contract an alliance with a woman who would be the envy of every man in the ton. She was incomparable."

This was the first book that I have read by Jennie and I am very excited to read more of her stories.