Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Only Enchanting is the fourth book in Ms. Balogh’s Survivors Club series. It stands very well on its own, but did make me more than a little curious about the characters featured in previous books. We meet them all here, and are given glimpses into the happiness they’ve found, but I definitely want more.
Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, came back from the Napoleonic wars a changed man. Not only does he stammer, but he’s prone to violent fits of temper. After spending time in Cornwall to learn to cope with these ailments, Flavian is much better than he was when he first returned home. His stammer is still present, but far less noticeable, and he is better able to control his temper.
Agnes Keeping is a twenty-six-year-old widow, living quietly with her much older sister. She is content with her lot in life. She and her late husband were fond of each other, if not truly in love. Agnes has no idea just how much her life will change when she agrees to waltz with the handsome, but mysterious Flavian.
The bulk of the story takes place six months after their first meeting. Flavian is visiting the other members of the Survivors Club for their annual three-week meeting. This puts him in close proximity to Agnes, who lives in a nearby village. The two meet a few times, share some passionate kisses, and engage in some verbal sparring. Each is drawn to the other in ways they don’t really understand. Then, very suddenly, Flavian proposes to Agnes.
The proposal was a stumbling block for me. It’s obvious Flavian has a reason for wanting Agnes to be his wife, but the listener is not privy to it. This causes the whole thing to feel incredibly contrived. Agnes’s response is equally confusing. The listener knows she has feelings for Flavian, but we don’t know their depth. So, when Agnes spends several sleepless nights wondering what to do, and Flavian rushes off to London to procure a special license when Agnes hasn’t even agreed to become his wife, I was quite flabbergasted. I did not understand their actions and reactions, and this portion of the story was not as satisfying as it might have been if more of the characters’ motivations had been revealed.
Eventually, Agnes consents to marry Flavian, and the story picks up here. I adored Agnes’s entry into society. I also found our hero and heroine quite lovable, once I got to know them.
As always, Rosalyn Landor’s performance was close to flawless. Her voice is so pleasant, and her character depiction is spot on. I was especially taken with her portrayal of our tortured hero. She nailed his stammer, never making him sound ridiculous. Instead, her depiction made me incredibly fond of him. His pain and uncertainty are brought to life by Ms. Landor’s skilled narration.
Ms. Landor’s depiction of Agnes was not quite as dramatic, but still quite compelling. Agnes is a woman who is afraid of passion. So, she clings to practicality as though it’s the only thing in the world that can keep her safe. She has quite a few insecurities that she works hard to hide, even from herself. Ms. Landor did a wonderful job of getting inside the head of our heroine, breathing life into a woman who, in the hands of a less talented narrator, could have come across as a lifeless prude.
Only Enchanting has a large and vibrant cast of supporting characters. Ms. Landor gave each a distinct voice, using a wide range of pitches, regional accents, and tones to ensure their unique sound. I was never pulled out of the story, and, at the end of the book, I was a little sad to say goodbye to characters I had become quite fond of.
On the whole, Only Enchanting is a charming story, full of rich historical detail and characters who are far from run-of-the-mill. I must admit to being surprised to see Flavian’s friend Vincent, blinded in the war, using a guide dog. Guide dogs were not used by blind people until much later. This was a minor detail that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Once I understood what drew Agnes and Flavian to one another, I wanted them to achieve their HEA. I definitely plan to read more of this series, especially since Rosalyn Landor narrates the previous entries.
Shannon
Narration: A
Book Content: B
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Minimal
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Recorded Books
Only Enchanting was provided to AudioGals by Recorded Books for review.
Lovely review! I enjoyed the story a little more than you did, but can’t disagree about the narration. For some reason, Rosalyn Landor didn’t narrate The Proposal (the first in the series), but I am given to understand she is likely to be doing the rest, which is good news. As you know, she can do little wrong in my ears and I’m enjoying listening to The Arrangement right now :)