The Shadow and the Star – Victorian Hearts, Book 2 Audiobook By Laura Kinsale cover art

The Shadow and the Star – Victorian Hearts, Book 2

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The Shadow and the Star – Victorian Hearts, Book 2

By: Laura Kinsale
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
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In defense of her honor, innocent Leda Etoile has burned all her bridges and taken refuge in her tiny attic room in a shabby boarding house in London. But her last safe haven is invaded when she wakes to find a man hidden in the dark - a man with golden hair and the face of a fallen angel, who moves in the night like a shadow.

Will he be her savior, or her ruin? Samuel Gerard draws her inexorably into the richest circles of aristocratic England. But even as Leda falls in love with a man she can never have, she must keep his secrets. Though everything about him is shame and illusion, this shadow warrior desperately desires what only Leda can give him - absolute love, and the truth about himself.

The incredibly successful pairing of Laura Kinsale and Nicholas Boulton has been honored once again, winning a THIRD Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine, this time for The Shadow and the Star. Sweeping listeners from the jubilee parades of Park Lane to the flower-scented breezes of Hawaii, Boulton brings this beloved Kinsale classic to memorable life.

©1991, 2005 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog Inc Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Fiction England
Emotional Rollercoaster • Unique Storyline • Exceptional Narration • Rich Cultural Elements • Captivating Romance
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What a breath of fresh air. An author who does research and weaves an amazing tale. She does an amazing job of luring you in building anticipation. Sometimes the characters annoyed me but it ended up being for the best. I recommend!!! Worth credit!

Unlike anything else

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Love the main characters and Nicholas too! I have listened to all Laura's audiobooks and have become addicted to Nicholas' amazing voice, accents, and charisma! I can't wait for more!!

Another hit!

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This was a terrific story. I was thrilled to hear the conclusion of Samuel's story. The narration was spot on as usual.
I enjoyed both of these characters, especially Leda and her manners. But both characters were very human, in the fact that I found myself frustrated with some of their choices.

Amazing job!

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Everytime I 'open' a Kinsale book, I do so with great expectation. This is because the very first one I bought so blew me away that I was immediately pressured by expectation and wondering if she could maintain the same level. The Shadow and the Star was my fourth Kinsale book and so far I have had no disappointment. The only one I can forsee is the day I finish the last of her books and face the disappointment of not having another to look forward to.

Everytime

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Shadow and the Star to be better than the print version?

I read the book when it was first released and loved it so much then. I've reread parts of it several times since and loved it all over again each time. This is merely an alternate method of experiencing this totally wonderful story. Both reading and hearing it had an equal impact for me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shadow and the Star?

Very hard to narrow it down to one. There are so many. I guess it would be the scene at Christmas-time when Kai is presented with the diamond necklace and all she does is scold him for not realizing that it wasn't an appropriate gift for the situation, then passes it on to her mother. All while Leda knows Samuel's heart must be breaking, yet he shows nothing to let on.

What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?

The variety of voices that matched each of the characters so well.

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

When I read it initially, I did cry in quite a few instances. The audio performance made me laugh aloud at several passages that I don't remember laughing at when reading it. One of the many reasons this is my favorite book of all time is because the author has an unequalled talent for taking her readers through the entire range of emotions. Her characters make the reader care about them so deeply that one experiences each emotion right along with them: the hurt, joy, anguish, shame, heartbreak, anger, love, panic, and exhilaration.

My favorite book of all time!

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This is my third book by Laura Kinsale and narration by Nicholas Boulton. This is one of the best combinations of pure talent in audio books. Looking forward to another one of her books, don't even want to read the story summary because I know it's going to be fantastic.

What a fantastic and captivating story!!

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I think I could listen to Nicholas Boulton read the phone book and enjoy it. His voice is so pleasant his character voices are excellent.
Boulton was the perfect choice for this book. The book itself was very enjoyable.

Narration is amazing

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Would you try another book from Laura Kinsale and/or Nicholas Boulton?

Yes. Her books are very good usually. My absolute favorite book is Flowers From the Storm. That book is a phenomenal novel. This one, however is not. The heroine is the world's most annoying woman ever. Nicholas Boulton is good, but not at an American accent. He does the accent with zero feeling to the words. Samuel sounded robotic and blah throughout the entire book. I don't know how I finished this book the first time, nor why I chose to waste a credit on it Ten years later.

What could Laura Kinsale have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Made the heroine less wimpy, proper and naive. Also, all of the ninja crap annoyed me. Maybe I'm just pmsed or something, but this book got on my nerves.

Which character – as performed by Nicholas Boulton – was your favorite?

The HawaiiN guy

Was The Shadow and the Star worth the listening time?

Meh... it helped me get my house work done

meh

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Laura Kinsale creates such individual characters that every book is a genuine delight and surprise. There are always dark undercurrents, suspense, humor, and insight. Having recently discovered her writing, I have been on something of an immersion course in her books. The Shadow & the Star includes all of her standard characteristics yet it did not plunge me quite so deep as some of her other books. Leda Etoile made the difference. Despite the fact that her mother was French, she was every bit the intrepid English lady, providing a solid presence for her hero, Samuel. I highly recommend this book and bow down to the mastery of Laura Kinsale's authorship and Nicholas Boulton's interpretation.

Read the first book before this one *****

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Shadow and the Star to be better than the print version?

YES! Nicholas Boulton has nailed it, and brings the wonderful characters to life.

What did you like best about this story?

The odd issues and problems that her main protagonists have to deal with, which makes them so very human. I love the story line, and that despite the odds, they find redemption.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where she is thinking she is safely tucked away in her attic and shuts the window. Gets undressed and brushes her hair, and sees him in the ceiling struts above her in the mirror in her hand.

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

I just got more and more hooked.

Any additional comments?

PLEASE write more books, Laura. And please put them on audio with Nicholas Bolton reading.

Delicious writing and characters and a great read

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