Laura
- 25
- reviews
- 27
- helpful votes
- 52
- ratings
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The London Restoration
- By: Rachel McMillan
- Narrated by: Hannah Curtis
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 17
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 14
Madly in love, Diana Foyle and Brent Somerville married in London as the bombs of World War II dropped on their beloved city. Without time for a honeymoon, the couple spent the next four years apart. Diana, an architectural historian, took a top-secret intelligence post at Bletchley Park. Brent, a professor of theology at King's College, believed his wife was working for the Foreign Office as a translator when he was injured in an attack on the European front.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A stunning novel of a couple and a city altered by WWII
- By Morgan Tarpley Smith on 12-06-20
- The London Restoration
- By: Rachel McMillan
- Narrated by: Hannah Curtis
Dry
Reviewed: 08-03-23
I was taken aback by the looooong historical note at the beginning. I felt it would’ve been better served as an afterword. I was taken aback that churches were such a feature/ main theme. This was not mentioned in the book’s description or the 11 reviews thus far. I found it dry and very slow going. Maybe it would’ve picked up, but I gave it a solid 2+ hours and reached my limit.
Hopefully this review will be helpful. If you are interested in church design/ historical significance this may be just the book for you.
I was looking for character development/chemistry and I found it lacking. Thankfully I was able to return it. Thank you Audible!!
Thankfully
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The Paris Agent
- By: Kelly Rimmer
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden, Fiona Hardingham, Emma Fenney
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 752
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 704
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 704
Twenty-five years after the end of the war, Noah Ainsworth is still preoccupied with those perilous, exhilarating years as a British SOE operative in France. A head injury sustained on his final operation has caused frustrating gaps in his memory—in particular about the agent who saved his life during that mission gone wrong, whose real name he never knew, nor whether she even survived the war.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Powerfully moving story
- By Jennifer Greenfield on 07-28-23
- The Paris Agent
- By: Kelly Rimmer
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden, Fiona Hardingham, Emma Fenney
The Paris Agent
Reviewed: 07-31-23
Excellent story. I so enjoy Kelly Rimmer’s novels.
One negative - the narrator for Josie mispronounced Avenue Foch as Avenue FASH. Otherwise the narration was excellent so I won’t deduct a star.
I loved Eloise’s narrator, but I don’t know who’s who. 😂
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12 people found this helpful
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The Lost Vintage
- A Novel
- By: Ann Mah
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,058
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,800
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,796
Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this pause-resisting novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II. To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Returned due to narration
- By Yvonne on 12-16-18
- The Lost Vintage
- A Novel
- By: Ann Mah
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
The Lost Vintage
Reviewed: 07-31-23
I read this upon the recommendation mentioned in the afterword of “The Winemakers Wife” which is also excellent. Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators.
I loved this story, I finished in in 1 weekend. I loved both protagonists in the past and present day storylines. Both relatable and likable. For those wondering, I appreciated the lack of repeated swearing and the off-page love scenes.
Read it! 😉
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1 person found this helpful
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Summer Island
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Joyce Bean
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,431
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,116
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Story4 out of 5 stars 2,119
Thirty-four-year-old Ruby Bridge is a not-too-successful comedienne who uses her mother, a nationally-syndicated "moral and spiritual counselor" as the main fodder for her cynical, rather bitter humor. Her mother Nora, long divorced from Ruby's father, is a woman whose past is just about to catch up with her - in the form of blackmail by a former lover.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointed
- By Lisa on 04-10-20
- Summer Island
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Joyce Bean
Not my favorite Hannah novel
Reviewed: 05-03-23
This book is good, but not great. You can tell this is one of her older novels. Would’ve preferred less details in sex scene and leaving out F bombs.
The narrator is excellent!
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Spare
- By: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
- Narrated by: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
- Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 72,342
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 66,724
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Story5 out of 5 stars 66,516
It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Gutterball!
- By Jimmyjoejangles on 01-10-23
- Spare
- By: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
- Narrated by: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
Great Narration
Reviewed: 02-14-23
I enjoyed having Prince Harry narrate this book. While I don’t agree with all of his life choices, I respect his frank viewpoint. People shouldn’t sling mud if they haven’t heard both sides - from the sources.
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Morning Glory
- By: LaVyrle Spencer
- Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 430
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 400
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Story5 out of 5 stars 397
In town, they called her "Crazy Widow Dinsmore". But Elly was no stranger to their ridicule - she had been an outsider all her life, growing up in a boarded-up old house under the strict eye of her eccentric grandparents. Now she was all alone, with two little boys to raise, and a third child on the way. Will Parker drifted into Whitney, Georgia, one lazy afternoon in the summer, hoping to put his lonely past behind him. He yearned for the tenderness he had never known, the home he'd never had. All he needed was for someone to give him a chance.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Heartwarming
- By Lia on 08-26-21
- Morning Glory
- By: LaVyrle Spencer
- Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith
Sweet
Reviewed: 02-14-23
This is a heartwarming story set in 1940s Georgia USA with a short stint in the South Pacific during WW2. The narrator is excellent.
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The Lost Girl in Paris
- By: Jina Bacarr
- Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 170
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 157
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 155
1940, Nazi-occupied Paris. A powerful story of love, tragedy and incredible courage, about one woman whose life is ripped apart by war and risks everything to seek justice. Paris, 2003. When the opportunity arises for aspiring journalist Emma Keane to interview world-renowned perfumer Madame De Cadieux about her life during World War Two, she is determined to take it. There are secrets from her own family history that she hopes Angéline may be able to help unlock. But nothing can prepare Emma for Angéline's story and one thing is for certain - it will change her own life forever.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Please stay with it. It’s fascinating
- By paula wright on 05-10-22
- The Lost Girl in Paris
- By: Jina Bacarr
- Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
So So
Reviewed: 09-09-22
I did enjoy Angeline's storyline, but I found both romances underwhelming. There were hardly any conversations where the relationships developed. I was not engaged/routing for them. Not that I wanted tons of romance, but a little realism of falling in love. Especially for Angeline/ Lance - they had maybe 3 conversations and poof! Love. (I know it's fiction, but really?!)
The romances aside - it was a very interesting story. Told from a Roma perspective.
The narrator - had NO voice changes between Angeline and Emma's narrations. She didn't seem to attempt to make Angeline sound old. I could only tell who was speaking based on the context, not the voices. (If you were only reading this would be a non-issue).
Overall, I'm glad I didn't purchase it, but borrowed from Kindle Unlimited / Audible Plus. I wouldn't re-read it. But to each his own.
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The Secret Orphan
- A historical novel full of secrets
- By: Glynis Peters
- Narrated by: Anna Cordell
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 618
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 535
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Story4 out of 5 stars 534
As the Nazis’ relentless bombs fall during the Blitz of Coventry, six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned and under the guardianship of a Cornish farmer's daughter, Elenor Cardew. Elenor knows that the only way to protect spirited Rose is to leave the city and make a new life for themselves away from harm. But soon Elenor discovers that Hitler’s firestorm is not the only thing she must fear when she learns a devastating secret about Rose....
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2 out of 5 stars
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Am I missing something?
- By Linda Suzuki on 12-05-19
- The Secret Orphan
- A historical novel full of secrets
- By: Glynis Peters
- Narrated by: Anna Cordell
Abrupt ending
Reviewed: 12-31-21
I found it started off slowly, but got better. I really enjoyed it, but the ending was disappointing. The beginning was from Rose’s viewpoint and then switched to Elenor.
The ending was abrupt, almost like the author didn’t want to finish it. A brief epilogue (from Rose’s perspective) would’ve made all the difference.
I would give the author another try, because I did like the story.
I appreciated that there were no detailed love scenes and minimal cursing.
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Georgana’s Secret
- By: Arlem Hawks
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,004
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 947
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 943
As a young girl, Georgana Woodall dreamed of beautiful dresses, fancy balls, and falling in love. However, when her mother dies, she cannot face a future under the guardianship of her abusive grandmother and instead chooses to join her father on his ship disguised as his cabin boy, “George”. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton has no time in his life for love, not with his dedication to His Majesty’s Royal Navy claiming his full attention. When he sees the captain’s cabin boy being harassed by the crew, he immediately puts a stop to it and takes the “boy” under his wing.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Good story
- By Its.vron on 03-06-21
- Georgana’s Secret
- By: Arlem Hawks
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds
Wow!
Reviewed: 12-27-21
LOVED IT! I listened to it in 1 day. The best story in a long time!! I wish this author had more books.
The narrator was excellent! Just wow!
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When We Were Brave
- A Completely Gripping and Emotional WW2 Historical Novel
- By: Suzanne Kelman
- Narrated by: Alison Campbell
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,034
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 907
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 900
Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War II, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realizes that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London - a place she had no reason to be - and it is dated right before she disappeared.
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5 out of 5 stars
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One of THE best ww11 spy novels with 4 main characters
- By paula wright on 04-06-20
- When We Were Brave
- A Completely Gripping and Emotional WW2 Historical Novel
- By: Suzanne Kelman
- Narrated by: Alison Campbell
I liked it
Reviewed: 12-03-21
I cried quite a bit. Not a light read. The narrator was very good. My favorite voice was “Gran .”
My negatives:
1. Took me a while to warmup to Vivi. She was immature IMO.
2. Without giving too much away - I found it annoying that Vivi call d herself foolish. What she did was irresponsible and stupid. Foolish is too “soft” a word.
Some parts were far fetched, but it’s FICTION. All in all, I enjoyed it and would definitely read more from this author.
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