What the Stubborn Viscount Desires

Lords of Happenstance, Book 1

By: Sandra Sookoo

Narrated by: Anneliese Rennie, Logan McAllister

Stubborn hearts might be the last to fall, but when the hard tumble comes, it'll last forever.

Jonathan Banshire, Viscount Trewellain, has become a bitter, sarcastic lord and against anything remotely smacking of romance. Though engaged to a woman whose hand he'd won in a game of cards years ago, he hasn't thought of her in years. But he's also a king's agent, and as his duty to the Crown, he's being sent to Spain to track down a missing peer. He goes to escape his personal life.

Miss Sophia Wickham is tired of men deciding her future. She's on a mission to live her life on her terms, but can't due to an ambiguous engagement to the Viscount Trewellain. Determined to gain her freedom, she sneaks on board the ship intent to have Jonathan release her from that old promise. When he refuses in a fit of pique, she's stuck as stowaway, bound to the one man she can't stand.

In Madrid, they search for not only the missing lord, but also stolen Spanish crown jewels and an ancient relic. Through crashing a glittering ball to hunting down clues to exploring the hidden catacombs and caves beneath Barcelona, the unlikely pair comes to an understanding. Vulnerable and trapped, truths are revealed as well as the fragile state of their hearts. But machinations of a madman bent on revenge could destroy a budding romance, and when the specter of death makes an appearance, Jonathan must finally decide what it is he desires the most.

©2018 Sandra Sookoo (P)2019 Sandra Sookoo

A Wonderfully Entertaining Adventure

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.

This is the first book in the Lords of Happenstance series. It strongly reminds me of the Romancing the Stone moves with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. It is a mystery, adventure and romance.

Here, Jonathan Banshire is a Viscount but also a King's Agent, whose duty is to the crown. He is assigned to find a missing peer and some missing jewels. When he boards the ship to start his assignment, he is confronted by his fiance - a woman he won in a card game against her father and whom he has not laid eyes on in 3 years. She demands that he either marry her or set her free. Now she is along for the adventure and very quickly proving to be an asset in his investigation.

I like this historical romance adventure - loved the globe trotting and the banter between the MC. It's a completely engaging fun story. Although, Sophia Wickham [the fiance] may be a bit modern in her thinking and quick to abandon the social mores of that time -but she was enjoyable and a good match to Jonathan.

This book has two narrators - male and female - who alternate reading chapters. I think having two narrators was unnecessary and a bit jarring when they switched. Either narrator would have done a good job but my preference would have been Logan McCalister with his deep brooding voice which seemed to encompass Jonathan's character.

An entertaining Regency romance and spy romp

What the Stubborn Viscount Desires is an entertaining Regency romance and spy romp that reminds me of movies like Romancing the Stone. I enjoyed the book, though I do have to wonder about the plausibility of some of the action, particularly considering the Viscount’s handicap. Contains graphic sex scenes.

Having a male and female narrator is an effective way to bring the book to life, and both narrators did a good job.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

EXCELLENT READ!

I absolutely loved it! This book is full of suspense, adventure and romance.The narration is superb and gives the story that extra flair. It and will keep you entertained. This author does a great job with the character builds and plot. This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. I look forward to reading more books in this series (can't wait)! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Ancient Library

This was a delightful book!

After a three year engagement where the two main characters don't talk to each other, Sophia Wickham takes it upon herself to talk with her fiance, Jonathan Banshire, Viscount Trewellain. He refuses to address her concern, which leads them to working together on his missing persons case, as a King's Agent to the Crown. Through ancient libraries, dark confined spaces, and near death escapes, they both come to realize they have feelings for the other. Though, Jonathan was stubborn, he learns, with Sophia's assistance, to feel and live life, instead of shunning the world away.

This book had a couple of firsts: first time I read a Sookoo book, and my first audiobook listening to Anneliese Rennie narrating; I had met her in person at a writing conference. It was neat knowing who was behind the voice.

Missed the mark

This novel of Sandro Sookoo’s has all the elements needed to tell a good story: romance, mystery, driven characters and historical intrigue, but it turned out rather choppy and lack luster. I’m always willing to extended believability in romance novels, but this one just didn’t make sense in regards to the character’s motives vs. their actions. There were also a lot of backstory that was told to us to help develop a character’s persona but it was choppy and used too often.

It ended as expected but I wasn’t satisfied.

Narrator Anneliese Rennie‘s narration was too breathy for me liking but delivered at a fine pace and not overly dramatic.

Narrator Logan McAllister’s narration was truly fitting his role: Robust and Arrogant sounding. I think I would have enjoyed it more had he narrated the entire book.

Overall, I’m disappointed it didn’t reach the mark.

This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.