The Innocent Audiobook By Bertrice Small cover art

The Innocent

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The Innocent

By: Bertrice Small
Narrated by: Susan Duerden
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Deceptively fragile-looking, Eleanore of Ashlin had promised her life to God...until fate intervened. With her brother's untimely death, Eleanore - known as Elf to those who love her - becomes the heiress of an estate vital to England's defenses. She is ordered by royal command to wed one of the king's knights rather than take her final vows. With resistant heart, but ever obedient to King Stephen's will, she complies.

Ranulf de Glandeville is all too aware that his innocent bride wants no man; yet his patience, gentle hand, and growing love for his spirited young wife soon awaken Eleanore to passions she never knew, or desired...until now.

But their love is not secure from the wicked schemes of an evil woman who hates Eleanore with all her black heart - and she will seek to destroy the innocent in a depraved plot that will put Eleanore's life in jeopardy and her faith in love to its greatest test....

Contains mature themes.

©1999 Bertrice Small (P)2021 Tantor Action & Adventure Historical Historical Fiction Medieval Romance Middle Ages Royalty Heartfelt Marriage
Excellent Writing • Engaging Storyline • Loveable Characters • Credit Worthy • Spot-on Performance • Good Storytelling
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I really enjoyed this book. A little repetitive in parts but overall a good listen.

Worth the credit!

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What wonderful lovely story!
The author and narrator awesome talented!
The combination of love, betrayed and life challenges!also that more than likely.they didn’t get what they plan…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Loved this book. starting as a nun and turns out to be a marrived women is quite an experience for her life. She becomes surprised about many things.

Great

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always loved this authors stories... great performance... loved the story line ❤️. need more stories from ms. small.

satisfied reader!

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Historical setting inaccuracies. (ex: there were no copper pennies in the 1100's or the word 'dildo') 😂
Better writing than most insubstantial fluff many authors produce these days but
slightly leans towards needing a good edit. Often got the feeling there were situations introduced purely for shock/nasty value directed towards bringing in a younger demographic. I wasn't impressed as it didn't authentically add to the story.
The narrator is one of my favorites and as usual did a good job.
I'm getting picky in my old (54) age...there's some real crappy historical medieval romances being presented. This one is at least a little less crappy than most.😉

A Little Less Crappy than Many😆

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I would have given this book a 5 star rating except the heroine is a child. I was uncomfortable with that, yet realize that this was the way for the time in which the story was written. Teenage girls were married to older men....
That being said, the book is excellently written and the performance is spot on.
I enjoyed both the historical backdrop and the characters themselves.
Elenanore is intelligent and wise beyond her years and is no doormat. I appreciate that Ms. Small did not make her weak and subservient. I enjoyed Ranulf as well. He is the kind of hero one loves. He is honorable, loyal and kind. Yet more than able to care for those he loves. The villains are truly wicked and I enjoyed one of them receiving her just due.
The book is long but not at all boring or tedious. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well.
It is a good story and is certainly credit worthy.

Well written!

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I couldn’t finish. Not because the writing, story or narration were bad because all of those were actually very good. It’s more because the story ratcheted my anxiety up to a level I couldn’t take. I came to know good and loveable and wholesome characters, and then a evil black heart threatens their serenity and peace. The author doesn’t hold back in her descriptions of depravity. She goes all the way. I did not finish because I worried what would happen to my beloved. I’d rather stop before the bad stuff happens so as not to risk the trauma. I’d rather just leave them softly so they remain forever alive and happy in my mind.

Did Not Finish

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I enjoyed this one until the author makes the young lady kiss and question if she "may or can" have feelings for the "bad guy". The story had me on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what would happen next, then "BAM"! This lady goes through the whole story being morally pure and chaste and because he kisses her she "may be " falling for him. NO, just plain NO!

She started as a girl just about to become a full-fledged nun. She is given in marriage to one of the kings' knights in a political move to secure land on the Welsh border. She learns to love and care for this knight and because of her training as a nun, she is very pious and pure. Throughout most of the book, we are told how devout, dedicated, and dutiful she is to God and her training. Once she is married she carries this same type of behaviour over into her life with her husband. All this is acceptable behavior as we know she is young and learning to love her new husband. Then she is held captive by her ex-sister-in-law and her lover after her brother dies, and because the "lover" treats her with respect and does not let the sister-in-law cause her harm, she has "feelings". NO!

I couldn't understand why the author would even put this into the book. It was uncalled for because there was quite enough angst and trouble already happening within the story. This was So Not Needed! It made me want to stop my listening, but I pushed past this to see what would happen. Things go back to right and we do get our HEA payout. This was a good story but beware of that one spot that may push you over the edge.

Loved it until...

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The characters were likable and the story line starts out really well but along the way I just started to lose interest.

Historical decent read

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Once again enjoyed Bertrice Small”s story telling! Looking now for the next one to read!

Good story

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