David Pickering has narrated 21 audiobooks on Listento.it by 15 authors, with an average listener rating of 5★ across 12 ratings. The most-rated is Bluebells in the Mourning.
Bluebells in the Mourning
Summary
Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice is readapted in this regency tale of love in the face of tragedy. Mr. Darcy is thwarted in his attempt to propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford when he encounters her minutes after she receives the sad news from Longbourn of her sister’s death. His gallantry and compassion as he escorts her back to Hertfordshire begins to unravel the many threads of her discontent with him. While her family heals from their loss, Darcy must search London for answers - answers that might bring justice, but might also just mark the end of his own hopes with Elizabeth. Is it true that nothing can be lost that love cannot find?
©2020 KaraLynne Mackrory (P)2020 Quills & Quartos Publishing
Lover's Knot
Summary
A great love. A perplexing murder. Netherfield Park - a house of secrets. Fitzwilliam Darcy is in a tangle. Captivated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a girl of no fortune and few connections. Embroiled in an infamous murder in the home of his friend, Charles Bingley. He is being tested in every way. Fearing for Elizabeth’s safety, Darcy moves to protect her in the only way he knows but is thwarted. Thus, he is forced to turn detective. Can he overcome his pride for the sake of Elizabeth? Can he, with a broken heart, fathom the villainy that has invaded their lives? Is there even a chance for romance born of such strife? Lover’s Knot is a romantic Pride and Prejudice variation story, with a bit of mystery thrown in.
©2020 Jenetta James (P)2020 Quills & Quartos Publishing
Letters from the Heart
Summary
The death of one’s spirit should come with a great deal of noise: weeping and wailing, if not thunder or the roar of a fire. Elizabeth could not have imagined a spirit forced into darkness by something so mundane as the scratch of pen on paper. Elizabeth Bennet has been certain of many things in her life: her place in society, the love of her family, her ability to choose her own future, and her ability to accurately judge the character of those she meets. Three days after the Netherfield Ball, a near tragedy shakes that foundation and in the weeks that follow, Elizabeth learns that nothing is certain. Compelled by circumstance and her mother’s will, Elizabeth is condemned to marry her father’s heir, Mr William Collins. Isolated from everyone she knows and loves, Elizabeth is faced with a dark and difficult future. Unaware of the changes that have occurred in his absence, Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to Hertfordshire determined to right his wrongs and prove himself worthy of Elizabeth’s love. When he learns he is too late to secure his happiness, Darcy determines he will express his love for Elizabeth the only way he can - by protecting her younger sisters as well as he would his own. Old bonds are strengthened, family ties are severed, and unlikely allies emerge as each of them struggles to make sense of the changes they face. Can happiness be found when it seems all hope is lost? This novella is a variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and as such contains her characters as well as those of the author's creation.
©2019 Kay Bea (P)2019 Kay Bea
Falling for Mr Darcy
Summary
The simple truth is proven that sometimes a gentleman never knows his heart until a lady comes along to introduce it to him. When Mr. Darcy encounters Elizabeth Bennet injured after a fall, his concern for her welfare cracks the shell of his carefully guarded heart, and a charming man emerges. Elizabeth sees an appealing side of him she never believed possible from the stoic, proud master of Pemberley. They find the simple gentlemanly act of assisting her home will test both Mr. Darcy’s resolve to keep his heart safe and Elizabeth’s conviction that this is the last man on earth she might have ever been prevailed upon to marry. Soon, falling for Mr. Darcy becomes a real possibility.
©2020 KaraLynne Mackrory (P)2020 Quills & Quartos Publishing
Mendacity & Mourning
Summary
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a gossip in possession of misheard tales and desirous of both a good wife and an eager audience need only descend upon the sitting rooms of a small country town in order to find satisfaction. And with a push from Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins sets alight a series of misunderstandings, rumors, and lies that create obstacles to a romance between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. This slightly unhinged romantic comedy follows Darcy as he sets off to find himself a wife and instead finds himself pulled into the mire of his aunt’s machinations and his own fascination with Elizabeth, whom he believes betrothed to another. As Meryton judges him the grieving groom of Anne de Bourgh and a caddish dallier with the hearts of others, Darcy must ferret out the truth behind his cousin’s disappearance, protect his sister from the fretful fate of all Fitzwilliam females, and most importantly, win Elizabeth’s heart.
©2020 Jan Ashton (P)2020 Jan Ashton
Lovers' Meeting
Summary
"Journeys end in lovers’ meetings, every wise man’s son doth know." (William Shakespeare) It is a truth universally acknowledged that the disastrous first meeting of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton Assembly provided each with a ready-made set of prejudices to apply to the other. But when a horrific rural accident reveals Darcy to be a man of active, intelligent benevolence, and Elizabeth, in the absence of her appalling family, to be an extraordinary lady of courage and decision - then, surely, the course of true love will run smoothly. But alas, the lovers' meeting is not the end, but a new beginning. For though they have found each other, a seeming multitude of complications - a catastrophic flood, the last wishes of a dying friend, Lydia’s misfortunes, a dastardly member of parliament, and even their own fears - contrives to come between them and their journey’s end.
©2021 Catherine Lodge (P)2021 Quills & Quartos Publishing
The Huguenot Chronicles, Books 1 - 3
Summary
A family torn apart. A king with an iron fist. Will their faith be strong enough to survive persecution and reunite? Three books full of harrowing, historical adventure! Jeanne is the wife of a wealthy merchant, but now she risks losing everything. Louis XIV's soldiers will stop at nothing to forcibly convert the country's Protestants to the "true" faith. The men ransack Jeanne's belongings and threaten her children. If Jeanne and Jacob can't find a way to evade the soldiers' clutches, their family will face a fate far worse than poverty and imprisonment. They may never see each other again.... The Huguenot Chronicles is a gripping historical drama that spans continents, from King Louis’ France to the Caribbean, and from London to colonial New York. If you like fast-paced adventure, vivid depictions of the past, and heartfelt tales of love and loyalty, then you'll love Paul C.R. Monk's emotional epic. Buy The Huguenot Chronicles trilogy to start a compelling, cross-continental journey through the 17th century today!
©2018 Paul C.R. Monk (P)2019 Paul C.R. Monk
Let the Ghosts Speak
Summary
Let the ghosts speak, but will the sane heed their counsel? In 19th-century Paris, Justin Trotter, an immigrant from England, is making his way as a book translator while paying for his blind twin sister’s care. One evening, Marc Noël, Justin’s well-to-do friend and fellow thespian, invites him to a masquerade party at an abandoned schoolhouse. Justin hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know Marc’s lovely though sharp-tongued sister Francine. At the event, Justin meets four ghostly strangers - two adults and two children - who warn him that the party guests are in danger, and they must leave at once. True to their prediction, a murder takes place, and Justin is the prime suspect. He escapes and becomes a fugitive, hiding in the Paris catacombs. Mystery and intrigue swirl as the ghost of Joan of Arc and other martyrs guide Justin on a lonely journey to prove his innocence and protect his sister from an abusive caretaker. Who really committed the crime? Marc? Francine? A ghost? And does seeing these ghosts mean he is going insane? Maybe, he really is the murderer, after all. There is only one way to find out: to let the ghosts speak as they reveal the mysteries within Justin’s mind.
©2020 Bryan Davis (P)2020 Mountain Brook Ink
The Most Interesting Man in the World
Summary
Charles Bingley is a man who relies on Darcy’s judgment in all things yet understands very little of it, at least when Darcy is speaking Greek to a horse who only understands Latin or staring at the quick-witted sister of his own angelic Jane Bennet. What was happening behind the scenes at Netherfield, Pemberley, and Darcy House, and just what did those men talk about over billiards and brandy? A generous, kind, and always hungry Bingley sheds a little light on keeping company with the most interesting man in the world and shares his thoughts on puppies, his dreadful sisters, and the meaning of happiness.
©2020 Jan Ashton, Justine Rivard (P)2020 Quills & Quartos Publishing
The Kingdom of Mitanni
Summary
Includes excerpts of ancient accounts Includes a bibliography for further listening Includes a table of contents The Late Bronze Age Near East (c. 1500-1200 BCE) was a time and place where great kingdoms and empires vied for land and influence, playing high stakes diplomatic games, trading, and occasionally going to war with each other in the process. The Egyptians, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, and several smaller Canaanite kingdoms were all part of this system, which was one of the first true “global” systems in world history and also one of the most materially prosperous eras in antiquity. The major kingdoms are well-known to most people, but among them, for about 150 years, was another great kingdom that is often overlooked or forgotten. When scholars study the history of the ancient Near East, several wars that had extremely brutal consequences (at least by modern standards) often stand out. Forced removal of entire populations, sieges that decimated entire cities, and wanton destruction of property were all tactics used by the various peoples of the ancient Near East against each other, but the Assyrians were the first people to make war a science. When the Assyrians are mentioned, images of war and brutality are among the first that come to mind, despite the fact that their culture prospered for nearly 2,000 years. The Assyrians, like their other neighbors in Mesopotamia, were literate and developed their own dialect of the Akkadian language that they used to write tens of thousands of documents in the cuneiform script (Kuhrt 2010, 1:84). Furthermore, the Assyrians prospered for so long that their culture is often broken down by historians into the “Old,” “Middle,” and “Neo” Assyrian periods, even though the Assyrians themselves viewed their history as a long succession of rulers from an archaic period until the collapse of the neo-Assyrian Empire in the 7th century BCE. In fact, the current divisions have been made by modern scholars based on linguistic changes, not on political dynasties (van de Mieroop 2007, 179). One of the successor states that bridged the gap between the Old Assyrian Empire and Middle Assyrian Empire was the Kingdom of Mitanni, which remains somewhat of an enigma to modern scholars and has therefore so far failed to gain the attention of wider, popular audiences. However, while it existed, Mitanni affected the course of history in the Near East just as much as any of the other major kingdoms, and there is little doubt that the kingdom was just as powerful and technologically advanced as its peers during its apex. The kingdom had a number of unique features in the region. The ethnic composition of Mitanni is relatively well-known, but the background of the rulers remains a source of debate. The physical extent of the empire is also another problem historians face because the capital has never been positively identified and details of the nature of the Mitanni government remain in question. Furthermore, since few monumental structures have been uncovered, details about Mitanni religion and court life are mostly unknown. Thankfully, many of the Mitanni’s contemporaries kept detailed records, and thanks to Egyptian, Hittite, and Assyrian historical annals, along with Hurrian and Akkadian-Mitanni administrative and legal texts, a picture of this brief Bronze Age empire can be painted. The Mitanni kingdom sprung from the Hurrian people to rule over the disparate Canaanites of the northern Levant, but within a few short generations its powerful neighbors to the west and east had obliterated it and all but erased its memory from history.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Memoir by Prince Konoe
Summary
On December 16, 1945, Prince Konoe committed suicide after refusing to collaborate with US Army officer Bonner Fellers in Operation Blacklist. His refusal to exonerate Emperor Hirohito and the imperial family of war crimes responsibilities. A week before he took the cyanide, he wrote a memoir regarding his experience governing Imperial Japan during World War 2. Although Prince Fumimaro Konoe was born into one of the most ancient and noble families of Japan and was a descendant of the Gosekke (fiver regent families), he faced poverty at 14 after his father passed away. He was then groomed by his uncle Prince Saionji Kinmochi, who was a prime minister at the time, for an essential role in government. By 1937, Prince Konoe became the prime minister of Imperial Japan, during a time when Japan had occupied Manchuria. At the age of 46, Prince Konoe was the second youngest prime minister in Japan's history. During his first year of being a prime minister, the China Incident happened, and the Sino-Japanese War raged on. The memoir shows many efforts of Prince Konoe's efforts for negotiations with Chinese and US government officials to try to end the war early as well as his governing during a time of crisis during the Pacific Asia War. This audiobook includes: An introduction of the Imperial Japanese government A family tree of the Japanese royal families A biographical report of Prince Fumimaro Konoe by the Interim Research and Intelligence Service of the Research and Analysis Branch of the Department of State His translated memoir
©2020 Pacific Atrocities Education (P)2020 Pacific Atrocities Education
Land of Hope: A Historical Fiction Novel
Summary
A family torn apart by persecution. A country's global power play. Will England's ruler turn their reunion attempt into a desperate bid for survival? New York, 1689. Jacob Delpech thinks day and night about his wife and child. He's determined to reunite with his family in London, but New York’s brutal winter deep-freeze has ruined his carefully laid plans. With transport across the Atlantic at a standstill and European politics on the verge of upheaval, his chances of ever making it home grow slimmer by the day.... Snowbound in Switzerland, Jeanne Delpech’s heart aches for a loving reunion with her husband. To make it back to London, she and her son must travel across extremely treacherous terrain. But the biggest obstacle between her and Jacob's embrace may be the journey through dangerous enemy territory.... When England’s new king triggers fresh battles with France and her allies, the family’s plan to reunite falls into ruin. As both husband and wife begin their hazardous trek to London, war creates an impossible chasm between them. Will Jacob and Jeanne reunite, or will religious persecution tear their family asunder forever? Land of Hope is the conclusion to the riveting Huguenot Chronicles historical fiction trilogy. If you like rich, bustling history, fast-paced action, and characters facing brutal hardships, then you'll love Paul C. R. Monk's compelling novel. Buy Land of Hope to forge a 17th-century path to freedom today!
©2018, 2019 Paul C.R. Monk (P)2019 Paul C.R. Monk
Greek Mythology
Summary
This bundle of books takes you to every corner of Greek mythology. It ranges from gods to drama. It covers legendary heroes like Heracles and Oedipus, and it sheds light on the dark side of the epic saga of these made-up creatures, gods, and historical men and women. Book one: Do you know a lot about the Greek or Roman gods and goddesses? Yes, then a lot of this will sound familiar. No? Then this is a perfect guide for you. In this book, many of the creatures and deities from Greek myths will be laid out, including their roles, powers, responsibilities, relationships, and background. You will have a perfect image of the basics of Greek mythology, and you will understand the interaction between the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Deities such as Uranus, Chronus, Zeus, Hephaestus, Poseidon, Helios, Apollo, Mars, and Aphrodite will be discussed in this extensive guide. Book two: As we explore the ancient deities from Greece (also copied and somewhat altered by the Romans), we can find many fascinating stories and dramatic characteristics in them. Aside from looking at gods like Mercury and Hades, we will also look at stories that involve Eros (or Cupid), Psyche (the origin of a lot of our words in the dictionary), and the infamous and seductive nymphs and satyrs. At the end of the book, more background information will be given about how the Greeks and Romans worshipped these gods and goddesses, as well as how they celebrated certain events and traditions. Book three: This collection of legendary stories and heroes contains mythological creatures, monsters, and gods. It has all the details of Perseus, Ion, Heracles, Achilles, and other brave figures who faced seductions, treason, danger, and mortal threats. Wars and battles have been laid out in this extensive guide. If you are into epic heroes from the Greek mythology era, then this book is for you. You will learn all about those figures you may have seen on TV or read about in literature. It is a comprehensive overview with the most important elements of each of these protagonists.
©2020 Xena Ronin (P)2020 Xena Ronin
The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Photography
Summary
Are you thinking of becoming a wedding photographer? There’s a lot to learn! From starting the day in the right mind-set, to getting to know the wedding guests, to taking photos of the first dance and the disco shots of the end, this is my tried-and-tested formula for getting better wedding shots. In this book, I’m going to take you through shooting a wedding like never before. I use a mix of psychology, specific camera work, and positive self-talk to create my wedding images, which I have been doing for the last 10 years. I start with some information about the best gear to use for weddings, including which lens and camera I personally use. I give you some top tips about getting your first clients and tell you exactly what to do in the days and weeks leading up to your first wedding shoot. Whether you are a novice photographer who is about to pick up a camera for their first shoot, or a professional who is making the shift to wedding photography, or even if you have been shooting weddings for a while but want to hear some new ideas, this book is perfect for a thorough grounding of wedding photography, told from the perspective of someone who’s been doing it for 10 years. I don’t leave any stone unturned in the discussion of how I shoot weddings. I talk about every aspect of the day, what is running through my mind at different stages, things I definitely need to remember, and unique little tips that I’ve come up with over the last few years of shooting weddings. I even venture into some little ideas that I’ve come up with on how to get into the right mind-set for shooting weddings - involving positive self-talk and becoming at one with the wedding - and tips on how to be a brave shooter and get that little bit closer to capture more and more amazing shots.
©2020 John Latham (P)2020 John Latham
Before the Storm 1685: A Prequel Introducing the Huguenot Chronicles Trilogy
Summary
In a state where civil rights are gradually being eroded, one family must come to terms with the disruptive cataclysm that looms on the horizon. France, 1685. Amid the turmoil of persecutions under Louis XIV, a wealthy Huguenot merchant wonders whether to uproot his family and migrate before the storm of conflict breaks. His wife, who has never left the province let alone the kingdom, calmly insists that the winds of folly will blow over - but will they? Could the tragic events of the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacres be repeated? This prequel introduces Jeanne and Jacob Delpech before the devastating events that will change their lives and send shock waves around the world. If you like sweeping, emotional dramas and inspirational stories where personal beliefs are tested, then you will love this prelude to The Huguenot Chronicles - a best-selling trilogy set in the times of Old World intolerance and New World discoveries. Listen to Before the Storm, 1685 and enter a world where harrowing change is but a heartbeat away!
©2019 Paul C.R. Monk (P)2019 Paul C.R. Monk
Voyage of Malice: A Historical Fiction Novel
Summary
Persecuted for their beliefs, one family must travel the globe for a place to call home.... Geneva, 1688. Jeanne is barely scraping by on meager earnings from weaving. She dreams of her previous life as a wealthy merchant’s wife before Louis XIV’s soldiers ran her family out of France for refusing to renounce their faith. But even in Geneva, Jeanne and her son aren’t anywhere close to free from persecution.... Jacob hopes his letters make it to Jeanne from the other side of the ocean. As he bides his time as an indentured servant on a Caribbean plantation, tragedy strikes in the form of shipwreck and pirates. The former merchant desperately searches for a way back to his wife.... If Jeanne and Jacob can’t rise above a world that’s closing all its doors, then they may never be reunited again.... Voyage of Malice is the second book in the Huguenot Chronicles, a series of historical fiction novels set during a time of religious persecution. If you like vividly accurate historical details, seafaring adventures, and heartwarming tales of family loyalty, then you’ll love Paul C.R. Monk’s rousing novel. Buy Voyage of Malice to find a way home today!
©2017, 2018, 2019 Paul C.R. Monk (P)2019 Paul C.R. Monk
Medieval Ukraine
Summary
The history of Ukraine is a fascinating story of how cultures, political systems, religions, and power have met, intersected, morphed, and expanded. The region was relatively sparsely populated for much of ancient history, a wilderness of rivers, forests, and steppes, but that does not detract from the rich historical development of the region. A huge area, Ukraine is wedged between the continents of Asia and Europe, and its position as a crossroads ensured there was fierce competition for influence there. Historians have called the formation of Ukraine the “establishment of a unity among three zones...the ports of Crimea and the coast, the rich steppe heartland, and the forests”, based around the themes of “geography, ecology and culture”. Today’s Ukraine is a huge country, incorporating an area over 600,000 square kilometers and home to 42 million people. It stretches from the Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea in the South to Belarus in the North, Russia to the east, and Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west. The Dnieper River is the region’s key waterway, running into the Black Sea, while the Danube Delta also forms its border with modern-day Romania to the southwest. A steppe exists in the middle of the country while the Carpathian Mountains feature in the West. This geographical formation has influenced some of the country’s key historical developments, as well as the location of its major settlements. Kiev (known today as Kyiv) is, of course, the longstanding capital of the country, located on the Dnieper River in the Central Northern part of modern Ukraine. Lviv is another large city, located in the Northwest near the border with Poland. Odessa is a seaside city on the Black Sea in Ukraine’s Southwest, while Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk are major cities in the country’s East, close to the Russian border. Some historians believe that Kiev, Ukraine’s capital city, was founded by Khazars, as the word is a Turkic language composite of “riverbank” and “settlement”, and the city contained a significant population of Jewish Khazars. Others believe the city predates the Khazars and actually emerged as a trading route in the sixth century CE, mainly populated by Slavs. One legend outlines how Kiev was named after Kyi, the eldest of four siblings (Shchek, Khoryv, and Lybid were the others) who hold a legendary place in Ukrainian folklore, either as travelers, emissaries, or warriors. This is documented in the Rus’ Primary Chronicle, written in the 12th century CE. As with so many other parts of medieval history, the facts remain often contested. Nevertheless, what is known is that one of the first great catalysts of Ukrainian history occurred when the Khazars came into conflict with the Rus, conquering tribes from the northwest.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Unofficial Harry Potter Spell Book
Summary
The only complete list of spells and magic from all the Harry Potter books and movies. Learn how to do real magic and real spells at home! Make fun meals and snacks from the recipes in the magical cookbook section, magic tricks, trivia, and more! Want to learn real magic and real spells? Bring the magic home from Hogwarts! The one and only real wizard training for Harry Potter fans! Learn real magic with the law of attraction including the complete Harry Potter spell book with real spells, magic, and cookbook. How to perform real magic when you aren't at Hogwarts. Wizard training for witches and wizards from ages 10-100! It's never too early to learn how to stay happy and empowered in the muggle world! Do you wish you could perform magic like Harry, Ron ,and Hermione? Did you ever wonder how Dumbledore could make magic happen without a wand? This is the complete guide to doing real magic in the muggle world with no wands needed! You'll learn how to do real spells and magic, plus: Fun ways to do real magic outside of Hogwarts All the spells from all of the books and movies How to deal with bullies and dark lords in the real world and win How to put magic in your food with recipes from Molly Weasley's breakfast to the Hogwarts' feast How to use the Deathly Hallows in your own life for good use How to pronounce each spell and how to use it! Professor Spellbound's special secret class for wizards and witches to perform real magic in the real world. Get your full wizard and witch training here. Great trivia, food from the Harry Potter world, and real law of attraction basics for beginners.
©2019 Linda West (P)2019 Linda West
Greek Mythology
Summary
Do you know a lot about the Greek or Roman gods and goddesses? Yes? Then, a lot of this will sound familiar. No? Then, this is a perfect guide for you. In this audiobook, many of the creatures and deities from Greek myths will be laid out, including their roles, powers, responsibilities, relationships, and background. You will have a perfect image of the basics of Greek mythology, and you will understand the interaction between the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Deities such as Uranus, Chronus, Zeus, Hephaestus, Poseidon, Helios, Apollo, Mars, and Aphrodite will be discussed in this extensive guidebook.
©2020 Xena Ronin (P)2020 Xena Ronin
Merchants of Virtue: A Historical Fiction Novel
Summary
France, 1685. Jeanne is the wife of a wealthy merchant, but now she risks losing everything. Louis XIV’s soldiers will stop at nothing to forcibly convert the country’s Huguenot "heretics" to the "true" faith. The men ransack Jeanne’s belongings and threaten to take her children. One by one, Jeanne watches her neighbors cave under the constant harassment. She and her husband resolve to keep their faith, but Jeanne wonders if the punishment for their defiance is more than she can bear.... If Jeanne can’t find a way to evade the soldiers’ clutches, her family will face a fate worse than poverty and imprisonment. They may never see each other again.... Merchants of Virtue is the first book in the Huguenot Chronicles, a trilogy of historical fiction novels. If you like fast-paced adventure, rich layers of historical detail, and inspirational stories based on true events, then you’ll love Paul C.R. Monk’s stirring novel. Get Merchants of Virtue to immerse yourself in a dangerous world today!
©2017, 2018, 2019 Paul C.R. Monk (P)2019 Paul C.R. Monk