The Reluctant Bride Collection - The Complete Box Set

By: Megan Bryce

Narrated by: Maureen Cavanaugh

Length: 21 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Come back to a time when manners are everything and rules are made to never be broken. Come back to a time when men are in charge and women do what they are told.

Yeah, that never happened.

Welcome to Megan Bryce's Regencyland, where ladies with backbone get what they want. Where a woman can thumb her nose at rules and care little for convention, and yet somehow, unexpectedly and most reluctantly, find love.

To Catch a Spinster

Olivia Blakesley, self-proclaimed spinster extraordinaire, is quite happy with her life. She has her studies and her duties, what need does she have of a husband? With five sisters married she knows the reality does not live up to the promise. However, she finds herself envious of at least one aspect of marriage, but to experience the physical side of marriage one doesn't need a husband, all one needs is the right man.

To Tame a Lady

Lady Amelia Delaney is known for her sharp tongue, no-nonsense attitude, and sizable fortune. Numerous suitors have tried to win her hand - for the money, for the challenge, and for a rather unfortunate bet. She knows the unflattering reasons behind her numerous proposals; can she ever accept that a man would want to marry her just for herself?

To Wed the Widow

A woman with a past, Lady Haywood is a scandalous distraction that no honorable gentleman can ignore. Especially one who's just been told that his very happy life is changing irrevocably for the boring. But even if a scandalous distraction is what George Sinclair wants, what he needs is a wife. A virgin wife. A scandal-less wife.

To Tempt the Saint

Many years ago, George St. Clair loved and lost - his heart, his faith, his future. Now, he is content to watch not-so-silently as life happens to his friends, secure in the knowledge that no woman could tempt him again. Absolutely certain that no woman is worth the risk. Confident that he is protected from the pain.

©2014 Megan Bryce (P)2016 Megan Bryce

Well written stories and nothing too over the top.

I like how one story finds its way leading into the next. Especially the last two books! The speaker spoke very clearly and was easy to understand. I will be sure to listen to these books again and can’t wait to pick up what I missed out on the first time around.

To Catch A Spinster

I can’t remember when I laughed and smiled so much while listening to a story but seeing that I have been listening constantly to romance novels for the last three or four months, it’s been a goodly long time. There is only one other that I remember. Ms. Bryce is a delightful writer. Her dialogue is witty and her characters are nicely developed. I saw in another review that someone didn’t finish the book because the opening chapters talked about seduction so much. I find that too bad because they missed a delightful book. (And truthfully, even today, if I were 27 years old and “never been kissed” I might go looking to get seduced too.) Maureen Cavanaugh’s performance was excellent with superb use of voices for each character. I hope you enjoy this first book as much as I did.

Pleasantly surprised

I downloaded the audio of the box set. First the reader did a good job with each story. Secondly The stories themselves I wasn’t sure I was going to like but I finished the series and enjoyed them. I liked most of the characters and they ended well. I would recommend the box set, especially on audio.

Poor Narration

The narrator was out of her wheel house. Poor accents making this a wasted credit for me. The narrators lack of establishing creditable variations of accents made this nearly unbearable to listen to.

Engaging Story

I loved the flawed but relatable characters and the thoughtful handling of Regency mores and customs. I thought the narrator had a little too much stilted elocution and not enough emotion. This reduced the wry humor and made the books a bit harder to listen to than to read.

Don’t waste your money

If I hadn’t already paid for it I would not have finished it.
Maureen Cavanaugh’s sometimes English accent sounds like Professor Henry Higgins taught her the Kings English, she sometimes stepped out of the accent. Add that to the falsetto of John Cleese and Eric Idle in the Spam and Eggs, Eggs and Spam skit and you get this narrator.
In other words she was awful. Maybe she is good at narrating in American English without character voices.
The stories lines were okay, but the writing left a lot to be desired.

wanted a proper romance story

Only listened to the first 15-20 minutes. But there were SO MANY references to seducing and being seduced, that I decided it wasn't worth it.

Not my favorite series, but enjoyable enough

The narration is best at 1.2 speed. The stories themselves are fine, but drawn out. The pacing is off somehow.

I liked the last one the best. It was the most unique.

Fantastic

I highly recommend this series. I am a fan of Mary Balogh, Jo Beverly, and Marion Chesny to name a few. I was very happily surprised by the unique characters of Mega Bryce. Complex, compelling, and romantic.

first book was great then went down hill...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The stories are to similar to keep you interested in them for long. If you get this series space them out in between other stories.