de Piaget Family Series: six books – Lynn Kurland Free Audiobook

Written by Lynn Kurland
Read by Ilyana Kadushin , Chloe Campbell, Justine Eyre
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

1. Another Chance to Dream (1998)
De Piaget Family Series: Book 1
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date: September 7, 2010
Duration: 13:14:24

With neither title nor land, Rhys could not win the hand of Gwennelyn of Segrave. But he would always have her heart. The two are kindred souls…Rhys, a knight with far too many notions of chivalry for his own good. And Gwen, a lover of minstrel tales, waiting to be swept away. But Gwen is betrothed to another man, and Rhys fears he will lose her forever. Until a surprise offer comes his way — bringing Rhys and Gwen a second chance at love and Another Chance to Dream

Gwennelyn of Segrave entangles her childhood love, the knight Rhys de Piaget, in a desperate plot to escape her upcoming marriage to the brutal Alain of Ayre. But, in a surprising twist, the scheme fails and Rhys watches miserably as Gwen is forced to the altar. This intriguing medieval romance blends history, family relationships and humor into a love story that spans years and includes many colorful characters who become involved in Rhys’s quest for the land and money he needs to buy Gwen’s freedom. Against almost insurmountable odds, the lovers eventually manage to free Gwen and her children from their bondage, only to face a battle for Rhys’s land. In a medieval society of cruelty, pageantry and doomed chivalry, Kurland creates a special romance between a memorable knight and his lady.

2. If I Had You (2000)
De Piaget Family Series, Book 2
Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
Release date: 07-24-17
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

Lynn Kurland paints a magnificent portrait of 13th-century England—with the passionate tale of a woman crippled by the past and a man destined to future greatness….

Artane is a majestic keep on the edge of the sea, the foster home of Anne of Fenwyck and the legacy of Robin de Piaget. Warring had kept Robin far from home for so long, Anne had all but given up hope he would ever return. But now Robin has come home – to the enchanting young woman who leaves him breathless with longing … and to a treachery that places them both in terrible danger. Then as the past threatens their future, he realizes that he wants nothing more than to have her – forever…

6. One Enchanted Evening (2010)
de Piaget Family Series, Book 6
de Piaget/MacLeod, Book 16
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date: April 27, 2010
Duration: 13:41:44

Time-travel romances have made Lynn Kurland a bestseller in the here-and-now.

A duty-bound knight has taken on the task of rebuilding the most dilapidated castle in all of England.

A costume designer gets her chance to shine by showcasing her fairy- tale designs at an upscale party in an authentic medieval castle.

And the magic that whispers along the castle’s hallways is about to orchestrate an improbable happily-ever-after.

Reader’s Review: Having waited for years for Montgomery de Piaget’s story, I can say it was well worth the wait. Having read all of Lynn Kurland’s wonderful books, she has once again taken me to a place few authors have. For a trip to the delightful, amazing time-traveling world of the medieval de Piaget family is a treat. Re-acquainting myself with so many great characters from her previous books in the series is a trip I always look forward to taking. Ms. Kurland never fails to “enchant” me with her humor, quick and clever dialogue and feel good, old-fashioned romance. No bodice ripping, heated sex scenes here, but you don’t even notice the lack of them.

All of Ms. Kurland’s de Piaget family books are a tribute to her fans of the series. In each book, you will find characters that you have fallen in love with from her previous books on the family. This book was especially fulfilling as medieval family members that have found themselves permanently in the future meet Montgomery de Piaget, now an adult. Montgomery has been a prominent character, first showing up as a young, endearing, mischievous medieval lad. Montgomery is the youngest son of Rhys and Gwen de Piaget (“Another Chance to Dream”) who are the origins of an amazing English dynasty. His parents and siblings are legends in the family, as well as the still standing Arcane castle built by his father Rhys. How Montgomery finds himself in the future and what he is going to do about it is a terrific part of the story. His romance with his “future gel” is adorable. Montgomery’s reaction to meeting his immediate family members in the future is everything you want it to be.

10. To Kiss in the Shadows [short story] (2002) (in Tapestry)
de Piaget Family Series 10.5
Length: 2hrs 38min
Release date: 11-29-11
Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Lianna was once beautiful, but her face was marred by pox. Her family is dead but she is living as a ward of the king. She holds great lands that will one day go to her husband.

The women of the court are not kind to her; they merely tolerate her and sometimes taunt her about her appearance. They are all clucking about the arrival of eligible bachelor Kendrick of Artane. But it’s Lianne who catches his attention and they become fast friends. And when his brother, Jason de Piaget, arrives –there are definite sparks. The cruel women go so far as to poison Lianna in their jealousy. But they can’t stand in the way of her happily ever after.

This was a sweet story, but not an epic. The recording, Tapestry, Is OK but not great literature,

11. Stardust of Yesterday (1996)
de Piaget Family Series, Book 11
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date: April 1, 2001
Duration: 12:01:36

Stardust of Yesterday is a contemporary story about a woman, who inherits an old Scottish castle, only to find that the castle’s original owner is still very much in residence..er..that is..the ghost of the 13th century knight who once held deed to the residence. Betrayed by the woman he was to marry, Kendrick de Piaget was killed and his castle was stolen. Kendrick was left with a curse that he will not know eternal peace until he can rightfully regain ownership of Seakirk Castle.

It is now 700 years later and Genevieve Buchanan is the last heir to the castle and the only thing standing between Kendrick and his beloved relatives who wait for him in eternity. Naturally, Kendrick is impatient to finally be free of the curse and sets out to remove Genevieve from the equation. Unfortunately for him, Genevieve is somewhat of an eccentric and is amused rather than horrified by Kendrick’s “ghostly” actions. In turn, Kendrick is fascinated by this 5-foot-nothing slip of a girl who refuses to be terrorized out of her inheritance. The two reach an agreement to co-inhabit the castle and soon their unusual friendship gives way to mutual feelings of love.

The reader who wrote the review I am quoting became frustrated with this book …..” At this point in the story, I was very much invested in the hero and heroine. Kendrick was a knight of the Clan Stud, as most medieval heroes in romance novels hail from. Sexy, witty and totally arrogant…. Genevieve was even tolerable at this point in their relationship. She had no family or special memories from childhood; therefore, Kendrick and his endless stories of medieval family affairs captivated her. They spent months alone together at Seakirk Castle …..; and, although they couldn’t touch, they would “cuddle” together at night and whisper until the wee hours of the morning.

At this point in the story (plus about 50 more pages to tie up loose ends and bring the couple to a plausible HEA), the book could have ended. Of course, with a lusty warrior and feisty heroine, the sexual tension building throughout the story would have needed dissipation (taking up about 40 of those last pages). As a reader, I would have been totally satisfied, given the book a solid 4-star rating and moved on to see what else Kurland had written.

That didn’t happen. Instead, I was subjected to 100+ pages of….I don’t even know what it was. Filler? A story within a story? I’m not sure but at some point the touching, poignant, heartfelt story that had been the first half of the book gave way to something like “I guess you had to be there” comedy.”

14. All for You (2012)
de Piaget Family Series, Book 16
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc.
Release date: July 23, 2012
Duration: 11:00:17

FALLING THROUGH TIME IS DANGEROUS.

Peaches Alexander is thrilled to receive an unexpected invitation to a weekend party given by the handsome, eligible Duke of Kenneworth. The only problem: Stephen de Piaget, a stuffy medieval studies scholar who seems determined to get in the way. Peaches has absolutely no desire to get involved with Stephen, until a quirk of Fate sends her hurtling through time.

UNLESS THERE’S SOMEONE TO CATCH YOU.

Stephen de Piaget has been leading a double life: respectable professor by day, knight-in-training during holidays and summer terms. When Peaches goes missing, Stephen knows he’s the only one who can rescue her from medieval peril. Little do they know that the greatest danger they’ll face won’t be the business end of a sword, but their own unruly hearts…

Note…the numbering is chronological order, not publishing order, from the author’s site.