Philip Battley has narrated 38 audiobooks on Listento.it by 16 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.6★ across 30 ratings. The most-rated is Ellie and the Harpmaker.
Hue Huxley and Magic the Hound
Summary
Hue's life is transformed from the mundane to the fantastic when his father, Howard, attracts the attention of Baba Yaga, the iron-teeth, Witch of Misfortune. Enraged by Howard's comments, she brings misfortune to him, and then turns on Hue for his insulting disbelief of witches. As Baba Yaga executes her misdeed, Ganesh, the elephant-headed, Deity of Good Fortune, spies upon her. Ganesh takes favor on the Hue and dispatches one of his familiars, a charmed Pharaoh hound called Magic, to protect the now fatherless boy. Baba Yaga, nonetheless, sends Hue and his friends to Tartarus, the underworld of Hades, where he meets Oceana, the daughter of Poseidon. Hue rescues the Sea Princess and they flee over the inverted Bridge of Doom. Baba Yaga finally has Hue imprisoned in the dungeons of Lowermost Castle. But with the help of a chatty Cherub and some rubberry ointment, Hue is able to squeeze from his cell. But will he be able to save himself and his friends from the menacing creatures of the castle, and return home to his own world?
©2014 Mike Jones (P)2020 Mike Jones
To Tame a Savage Heart
Summary
Lucretia ‘Crecy’ Holbrook has a secret, a secret she has kept for many years. Even her dearest confidant and sister, Belle, would not understand what Crecy is prepared to do, the risks she is prepared to take, to get her heart’s desire. For Crecy is not like the other smiling débutantes; she despises poetry, thinks dancing a chore, and is quite prepared to throw something at the next fool to compare her to Aphrodite. Far more likely to return from a country walk with a badger’s skull and some bloody, injured creature than a posy of wildflowers, Crecy is drawn to the dark, the damaged, and the unlovable. Her heart longs for one man alone, one with a wounded soul, one so dreadfully damaged that even her tender care might not be enough to save him. Viscount Demorte is everything she dreams of. With a reputation that covers blackmail, murder and madness, cruelly handsome Lord Gabriel Greyston, Viscount Demorte, is far more dangerous than any wounded dog, and his bite just might leave Crecy ruined beyond repair.
©2018 Emma V Leech (P)2018 Emma V Leech
Feet and Wheels to Chimborazo
Summary
His cheeks are as tender as raw meat on a butcher's block. And those are just the cheeks of his face. As he slumps in the saddle, watching the road disappear into the distance, he aches in parts of his body that he's only just discovering he has. When Mark travels to Ecuador to go hiking and climbing, he discovers a land of dramatic volcanoes rising through the clouds and wide-open horizons rich in history. But when his partner Edita suggests a return visit, she has a very different adventure in mind: to cycle across the Andes and complete a unique sea-to-summit challenge by climbing the highest mountain starting from sea level. It will be an intrepid world first (or so they think). But there's just one problem: Mark can barely cycle over a road bridge without getting off to push. With a month to train, they rent some bikes and head to Scotland to cycle the North Coast 500. Will this be enough to prepare them for an epic adventure to climb a mountain that in one respect is the highest in the world?
©2019 Mark Horrell (P)2020 Mark Horrell
Scandal's Daughter
Summary
Sebastian Grenville, the duke of Sindalton, known as Sin to the ton, has had his fair share of scandal. His father's involvement in what became referred to as "The Scandal of the Century" plunged him into the spotlight at the tender age of 12, and he's been there ever since. Egged on by his best friend, Beau - the marquis of Beaumont - his life is one of dissipation and ease. But every duke needs an heir, and everyone knows Sindalton is on the market for a wife. Both men, bored to death by balls and matchmaking mamas, go to a friend's hunting lodge in Cornwall. But caught in a storm, Sindalton heads for cover. Seeking shelter in a cave, the duke is delighted when he stumbles upon Miss Georgiana Bomford, the niece of the local doctor. But the feisty, redheaded beauty is unimpressed by his attempt to entice her. Sindalton, however, is captivated and intent on seduction and makes her the target of his all-too-tempting charms. But Georgiana is not who he thinks she is, and when they meet again in London, the scandalous past is in danger of repeating itself.
©2017 Emma V Leech (P)2019 Emma V Leech
Stanley Pargo in Suburbia: The Fantastico Portal
Summary
Book number two in the Stanley Pargo in Suburbia series Stanley Pargo has only just arrived in Suburbia, and already, he wants out. The principal of his new school is a monster of tyranny, and Stanley’s teacher is even worse. Every day, she conceives new and terrible ways to torment him - each one worse than the last and all with a single goal in mind: forcing Stanley to learn his place. But, Stanley isn’t like other children, and he soon suspects the idyllic community of Suburbia isn't at all what it appears to be. Instead, it seems to be changing the adults in odd and awful ways, but little does Stanley realize that as bad as Suburbia is, a far more dangerous foe still lingers outside its walls.
©2019 Charlie Clark (P)2019 Charlie Clark
Seven Steps from Snowdon to Everest
Summary
As he teetered on a narrow rock ledge, a yak's bellow short of the stratosphere, with a rubber mask strapped to his face, a pair of mittens the size of a sea lion's flippers, and a drop of two kilometres below him, it's fair to say Mark Horrell wasn't entirely happy with the situation he found himself in. He had been an ordinary hiker who had only read books about mountaineering. When he signed up for an organized trek in Nepal with a group of elderly ladies, little did he know that ten years later he would be attempting to climb the world's highest mountain. But as he traveled across the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, and East Africa, following in the footsteps of the pioneers, he dreamed up a seven-point plan to gain the skills and experience which could turn a wild idea into reality. Funny, incisive, and heartfelt, his journey provides a refreshingly honest portrait of the joys and torments of a modern-day Everest climber.
©2015, 2020 Mark Horrell (P)2020 Mark Horrell
This Rough Ocean
Summary
It is December, 1648, and England faces one of the greatest crises in its history. Bands of renegade soldiers and broken men roam the countryside, looting, burning, and raping. In Parliament, former allies are torn apart after six years of bloody conflict. Will there be peace instead of war, or a military takeover of the country?
John Swynfen, a rising young MP and one of the leaders of the moderate party, is working for peace, but only if safeguards can be established to protect Parliament and control the powers of the king. Ranged against him and his friends are Oliver Cromwell and his son-in-law Henry Ireton, intent on seizing power by the sword and destroying not only the monarchy but the elected government. Within a few weeks, London is occupied by Cromwell's army, parliamentary government is in ruins, the king is executed. And John Swynfen is a prisoner.
Anne Swynfen travels home from Westminster to Staffordshire with her young children through a desperate winter. There, uncertain whether she will ever see her husband again, she takes charge of the large estate, where starvation looms due to bad harvests, and violent danger threatens from outlaws and the armies of both sides. While she struggles against prejudice to do a man's job, John is shot, beaten, shackled, humiliated, and tortured. Tempted by golden promises if he recants, threatened with death if he does not, he tries to cling to his sanity and his beliefs. When he finally escapes, he begins a terrible journey home across war-torn England to find his wife.
This is a story about keeping faith - many kinds of faith - in the face of terror, anguish, and despair.
©2015 Ann Swinfen (P)2018 Ann Swinfen
To Dare a Duke
Summary
Girls Who Dare - The exciting new series from Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning, Amazon Top 10 romance writer behind the Rogues & Gentlemen series. Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen. Ten girls - Ten dares in a hat. Who will dare to risk it all? To Dare a Duke Dreams of true love and happy ever afters. Dreams of love are all well and good, but all Prunella Chuffington-Smythe wants is to publish her novel. Marriage at the price of her independence is something she will not consider. Having tasted success writing under a false name in The Lady’s Weekly Review, her alter ego is attaining notoriety and fame and Prue rather likes it. A Duty that must be endured. Robert Adolphus, The Duke of Bedwin, is in no hurry to marry, he’s done it once and repeating that disaster is the last thing he desires. Yet, an heir is a necessary evil for a duke and one he cannot shirk. A dark reputation precedes him though, his first wife may have died young, but the scandals the beautiful, vivacious, and spiteful creature supplied the ton have not. A wife must be found. A wife who is neither beautiful or vivacious but sweet and dull, and certain to stay out of trouble. Dared to do something drastic. The sudden interest of a certain dastardly duke is as bewildering as it is unwelcome. She’ll not throw her ambitions aside to marry a scoundrel just as her plans for self-sufficiency and freedom are coming to fruition. Surely showing the man she’s not actually the meek little wallflower he is looking for should be enough to put paid to his intentions? When Prue is dared by her friends to do something drastic, it seems the perfect opportunity to kill two birds. However, Prue cannot help being intrigued by the rogue who has inspired so many of her romances. Ordinarily, he plays the part of handsome rake, set on destroying her plucky heroine. But is he really the villain of the piece this time, or could he be the hero? Finding out will be dangerous, but it just might inspire her greatest story yet. Happy listening! Warning: This audiobook contains a careful selection of quiet determination, resolute tight-lipped-ness and (almost) insurmountable levels of tension. Although coupled with the presence of occasionally descriptive sexual encounters, we are very pleased to highlight that this audiobook - and series - is in no way verging on erotica.
©2019 Emma V Leech (P)2019 Emma V Leech
Grinded
Summary
When the odds are against them, they fight for each other. First loves torn apart.... With a Tuscan backdrop of romance and innocence, 16-year-olds Miles "Grinder" Stone and Pia Deltetto learn of love and loss. After a whirlwind romance, they return to their separate lives with a hope of reconnecting someday. Broken and battered.... Severely wounded in battle, Grinder refuses Pia's sympathy and pity. However, when he realizes the true danger Pia is in, Grinder will do anything to save the only woman he's ever loved. With everything on the line, she's forced to trust him with her estate, her life, and her heart. But has too much time passed to bring to shattered souls back together where they belong?
©2020 Heather Slade (P)2020 Heather Slade
The King of the Things
Summary
Warning! This story is an adult free zone. Why? Because it is simply too scary, or too horridly disgusting, for most adults. We know this is true. Kids can handle it. Usually. Adults can’t. Mostly. There are very few grown who can sit through the full telling of this tale. Not without scrunching up their noses, or scrinching up their eyes, or gasping “EEEwwwww” or just saying “Yuk that’s disgusting” before the tale reaches its end. Very brave grown-ups may be allowed to listen, if at least one child will vouch that they can handle it. So now you know that, we can carry on... This is a folk tale for children, set once upon a time, in a place not so far from you. Meet the schoolboy Hunch - the village hunchback. Hunch lives in a small village surrounded by a tall forest. All the parents always tell the children, "Don't go in the woods!" When the children ask why, the adults always say, "Because strange creatures called Things live in there! We don't know what they look like, but we do know that anyone who enters that forest, never comes back"! Would YOU enter the forest if you'd been told that? Nobody ever dares go in the woods, because of the strange Things that live there. But Hunch the village hunchback is different from everyone else. He knows it. Everyone knows it. And his arch-rival at school - a boy named Tax who is best at absolutely everything - never fails to use it against him. Tax is Hunch's very own bully - you could say that Tax is 'King Of The Thugs' and makes sure Hunch remains miserable. Then one full moon after being bullied by Tax, Hunch gets so upset he runs into the forest. He can't help himself. He's not thinking - he's just got one voice in his head. It is saying "Oh why was I born me?" and blinds out all thoughts about his own safety. In this story where goodness receives its own reward, nobody expects the surprise at hand when Hunch meets the Things. He will never be the same - if only he can survive, and remember to say thank you!
©2014 Mogzilla Books (P)2020 Adrian Beckingham
Deadwood Hall
Summary
A magical fantasy adventure. It’s midwinter's eve and everything is about to change for Dylan and his sister Emily. Being shrunk down to three inches is the easy part. They end up racing through underground tunnels - riding on the back of a very angry centipede - and trying to outsmart a whole army of slimy Whivicks. Deadwood Hall is about secrets, friendship, magic, weird creatures, and looking out for each other when things go very wrong. This adventure is just the beginning - that’s if Dylan and Emily can survive until midnight! Age Level: 7 - 10.
©2018 Linda Jones (P)2019 Linda Jones
A Dog in a Doublet
Summary
A man with a past Harry Browning was a motherless guttersnipe, and the morning he came across the elderly Alexander Preston, The Viscount Stamford, clinging to a sheer rock face, he didn't believe in fate. But the fates have plans for Harry whether he believes or not, and he's not entirely sure he likes them. As a reward for his bravery, and in an unusual moment of charity, miserly Lord Stamford takes him on. He is taught to read, to manage the vast and crumbling estate, and to behave like a gentleman, but Harry knows that is something he will never truly be. Already running from a dark past, his future is becoming increasingly complex as he finds himself caught in a tangled web of jealousy and revenge. A feisty young maiden Temptation, in the form of the lovely Lady Clarinda Bow, is a constant threat to his peace of mind, enticing him to be something he isn't. But when the old man dies, his will makes a surprising demand, and the fates might just give Harry the chance to have everything he ever desired, including Clara, if only he dares. And as those close to the Preston family begin to die, Harry may not have any choice. Warning: This book is liable to contain mild swearing and descriptive sex scenes! The Rogues & Gentlemen series can be enjoyed as stand-alone regency romance and historical romance novels, or as part of the wider series. If the full series appeals, the suggested – but by no means essential - listening order would be: Book 1: The Rogue Book 2: The Earl's Temptation Book 3: Scandal's Daughter Book 4: The Devil May Care Book 5: Nearly Ruining Mr Russell Book 6: One Wicked Winter Book 7: To Tame a Savage Heart Book 8: Persuading Patience Book 9: The Last Man in London Book 10: Flaming June Book 11: Charity and The Devil Book 12: A Slight Indiscretion Book 13: The Corinthian Duke Book 14: The Blackest of Hearts Book 15: Duke and Duplicity Book 16: The Scent of Scandal Book 17: Melting Miss Wynter Book 17.5: The Winter Bride Happy listening! And please do leave a review if you can – it would mean the world to hear what you enjoyed most about the book.
©2018 Emma V Leech (P)2020 Emma V Leech
The Rogue: Rogues & Gentlemen Book 1 (Rogues and Gentlemen)
Summary
1815 - Along the wild and untamed coast of Cornwall, smuggling is not only a way of life but a means of survival. Henrietta Morton knows well to look the other way when the free trading 'gentlemen' are at work. Yet when a notorious pirate, known as The Rogue, bursts in on her in the village shop, she takes things one step further. Bewitched by a pair of wicked blue eyes, in a moment of insanity she hides the handsome fugitive from the local Militia. Her reward is a kiss that she just cannot forget. But in his haste to escape with his life, her pirate drops a letter, inadvertently giving Henri incriminating information about the man she just helped free. When her father gives her hand in marriage to a wealthy and villainous nobleman in return for the payment of his debts, Henri becomes desperate. Blackmailing a pirate may be her only hope for freedom. Note: This audiobook (and series) contains mild swearing and some mildly graphic and descriptive sex scenes.
©2017 Emma V Leech (P)2018 Emma V Leech
To Break the Rules
Summary
Girls who dare Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen. Ten girls - 10 dares in a hat. Who will dare to risk it all? To Break the Rules An irresistible enigma... Senorita Lucia de Feria is possibly the most beautiful woman in the world and beyond a doubt the most beautiful that Viscount Cavendish has ever seen. Yet this mysterious beauty is up to something, something that has Cavendish convinced that her motives are less than pure. The viscount needs no further motivation to spend time in lovely Lucia’s company, but desire and intrigue make for unholy temptation. A dangerous lover... Lucia is not everything she seems to be. Lucia has secrets...secrets one man would kill her for. Now, with revenge in her heart and a fortune at stake, she’s close to having it all or losing her life. At every turn, Viscount Cavendish is there, with his pirate smile and those wicked blue eyes. A daring circle of friends... When an unusual book club brings the Peculiar Ladies into her life, Lucia is charmed and lured into feeling she belongs for the first time. Between her new friends and a man she is in danger of falling for, her plans are all going awry. This beautiful senorita has spent her entire life longing for vengeance, but she never expected to find something she cared for more along the way. Lucia cannot afford distractions, friends, or a suspicious nobleman. Yet suddenly, she has all three. It might be time to break her own rules. Warning: Contains both a feisty heroine and a classic alpha male, meaning you may encounter some mild swearing and mildly graphic, descriptive sex scenes.
©2019 Emma V. Leech (P)2019 Emma V. Leech
Persuading Patience
Summary
Lord Percy Nibley needs a wife, preferably before his mother’s nagging on the subject drives him to distraction. But being more comfortable with his rock collection than flirting, he’s not having a lot of luck. In desperation, the shy nobleman enlists the help of Baron Marchmain - Lord August Bright. August is nothing short of dazzling. Charming, witty and amusing, he’s the darling of the ton, and a notorious heart-breaker. August selects a suitable young lady for Lord Nibley; Miss Patience Pearson, a cool, level-headed woman, close to being on the shelf and with the reputation of a blue-stocking, meanwhile setting his own sights on capturing the heart of her vivacious younger sister, Caroline. But Patience is not easily charmed, guarding her sister with the tenacity of a lioness and August must be at his most devastatingly charming to get past her defences. Having finally done so, however...August isn’t at all sure he’s chosen the right sister.
©2018 Emma V Leech (P)2019 Emma V Leech
To Steal a Kiss
Summary
Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen. Ten girls. Ten dares in a hat. Who will dare to risk it all? The desire to take a chance and snatch at happiness. To steal a kiss. Being dared to kiss a man in the moonlight is all well and good, but men and moonlight do not fall from the skies at will. Until they do. Under instruction from a friend, drab Alice Dowding lingers alone on a moonlit balcony. Not the most sensible course of action for a usually sensible girl. Yet, being sensible has gained Alice a seat among the wallflowers, and her only likely chance of marriage to a man she finds nigh on repulsive. Something must be done. A guilty conscience and a bad man. When Nathaniel Hunt’s sister begs him for a favor, he can hardly refuse. Nathaniel, part owner of one of the most scandalous gambling dens in London, is responsible for Matilda’s tattered reputation, and she knows he is no position to deny her anything. When she begs him to kiss her mousy friend on a moonlit night, however, a chain of events is set in motion that none of them could have predicted. When a little favor ignites an inferno. Ignited by one soul-stealing kiss, mousy, sensible, dull Alice is setting off sparks wherever her feet touch the ground, and all Nathaniel can do is pray he doesn’t get burned. Warning: This book contains a careful selection of quiet determination, resolute tight-lippedness, and (almost) insurmountable levels of tension. Although coupled with the presence of occasionally descriptive sexual encounters, we are very pleased to highlight that this book - and series - is in no way verging on erotica.
©2019 Emma V. Leech (P)2019 Emma V. Leech
Stealing Kisses with a King
Summary
He makes my heart do the tango, and my head wants to explode. In other words, it’s just another day working for Prince Malcolm. Alice Give me a problem and I’ll fix it. That’s what I do. The trick is remaining calm and preparing oneself for any eventuality. But even I failed to anticipate my former boss Malcolm crossing an ocean to bribe me for my help. He insists I’m the only one who can fix his problem, but I had an excellent reason for leaving that job in the first place and putting an ocean between us. It’s hard to keep the big picture in mind when you’re secretly in love with your boss. And even harder when he’s about to be crowned a king. Malcolm Being a prince certainly has its perks: money, cars, women, and a license to do just about anything I please. But since my assistant Alice resigned out of the blue, I’ve been unable to find my footing and have admittedly been a bit cranky. When a problem arises calling for the utmost discretion, it’s clear Alice is the only woman for the job. But she’s less than thrilled at being coerced into returning, and she’s doing her best to make me pay for it. With the clock ticking down to my coronation, I’m putting all my trust in her to see me through. But the stakes are getting higher because Alice is beginning to look more like my future than even the throne I was born to take. Stealing Kisses with a King is book three in the Kings of Carolina series. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone but is swoonier (yeah, I made that word up) when listened to in order.
©2020 Sylvie Stewart (P)2020 Sylvie Stewart
Edged
Summary
This rebel has a cause... Former M15 agent Keon “Edge” Edgemon is counting the seconds until he can get back to the one woman who’s piqued his interest. After a perilous mission for the Invincibles, Edge spends months in recovery from a gunshot wound that almost ended his life. Finally back home in Texas, he discovers that Lucy “Rebel” Marks is in jail for murder. Edge won’t rest until she’s free - and back in his arms. Hellbent on proving her innocence, Rebel is determined to get to the bottom of who really killed the man who’d tried to rape her the same night he was murdered. She’s not about to spend the rest of her life in prison for a crime she didn’t commit when she can spend her life in Edge’s arms - and bed. When Edge starts digging into the murder, one thing is certain: Rebel’s life is in danger. Arranging for her to be released on bail, Edge brings Rebel to the King Alexander Ranch to keep her safe under his careful watch. For Rebel, “house arrest” can’t be too bad, especially when she has Edge’s constant attention. But can the youngest member of the Invincibles save Rebel from an enemy with a vendetta, or will they both be pushed over the edge?
©2020 Heather Slade (P)2020 Heather Slade