The Fairest of Them All audiobook

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance Summary Lady Charlene Blanchard, is a poor orphan from a respectable family. Her uncle abandoned her and she and her aunt are left to their own devices. Her aunt is a actress, but the funds just aren't quite enough. So Charlene has to resort to picking pockets---which she is quite good at especially with her disguise in breeches. But one day, she picks the wrong pocket and has a run in with American Jack Whitridge. Who is the twin brother of the man that is courtin her, the Duke of Baynton. Jack, left home when he was just a lad because he couldn't live under his fathers roof and just be the "spare". He wanted more out of his life, so he leaves his home and family letting them assume he was dead, and lived some adventure before finding a home in America. Jack made a good solid life for himself, but is tasked to do something for both of his countries. His orders are: Go to England and find a truce before war erupts. Jack arrives home, and has to deal with the fall out from his father, most especially his twin, Duke of Baynton. He realizes that the woman Baynton trusts him with, is the woman he is slowly falling in love with. He doesn't want to ruin the slow bond he and his brother have slowly begun rebuilding again, but he doesn't know if he can give up the woman he loves... Plot And Story Line I will be honest, I was pretty excited to pick this one up and was able to find it through my library on audio *clapping hands* ...yes!!! I have really loved what Maxwell has done with this series so far. It deals with a "love triangle" trope of sorts. Not a true love triangle, as most believe them to be. Its more you know which characters are going to end up together. I felt so bad for the Duke though....he is my favorite character out of the brothers---I just love him and he always tends to get the short end of the stick when it comes to woman and his brothers win. This story starts out with the Duke of Baynton, having a ball for all the eligible ladies. He wants to marry and find a woman to love just like his brother Ben has found. He is not like most men he knows...he is responsible, loyal and true. I truly loved him and all his outrageousness he portrays in this story. But then we see a new character, a character we thought was dead...his long lost twin brother Jack. Now Jack left England, and is happy with his new life. Although I did feel it was unfair for him to let his family believe he was dead all of these years. Now comes the heroine----who is so lively and fun and I loved her so much. She has spunk and she does what she needs to. But she is in a tough spot. And she needs a special "knight" to save her from the dragon--a den of thieves who want to blackmail her for many years to keep her secret of being a pickpocket. Even though she respects Baynton he is not the man her heart truly desires. Jack makes her feel alive and free. I adored seeing these two together, and at first they have some great chemistry and friendship that slowly builds into something more. The romance is subtle, and not super obvious until the end here. Which I liked quite a bit, because we see that they build a solid foundation before their relationship turns into something more. I think what I adored most was seeing the development of their relationship which seemed so different than anything I have read in HR before. We also get some teasers for Baynton's book and boy I can't wait...That one is going to be a blast to read. Narration Our narrator for this story is Mary Jane Wells...and boy she is so fantastic. I just love her voice and does the british accent so well. Her voice reminds me of a character in the movie "Christmas Carol" with Patrick Stewart and I just love how she opens this story up to the reader and draws you into this world of balls, thievery, excitement and some fun bantering. She did the level of emotion so well that I think the author was trying to convey and I got so caught up in this story I didn't want to put my headphones aside. The Cover So gorgeous!! My favorite cover of the series. I just love her dress, the elegance and classy feel to it, with the blue and white colors. Overall View The Fairest Of Them All is a sensational romance that sweeps you off your feet in desire...adventure...and teaching the importance of fighting to stand by the one you love!!! BRILLIANT!! Click On Cover For Buy Link [foogallery id="23089"]

Good book. Lady Charlene is the daughter of an earl but is a penniless one, living with her mother's illegitimate half-sister and trying to make ends meet. She has discovered a talent for picking pockets and uses that talent to augment her aunt's theater income. Her career nearly comes to an end when she is caught by the companion of her latest victim. She manages to get away, but her relief is short-lived. A family friend has managed to get her an introduction to Gavin Whitridge, Duke of Bayton, who is looking for a wife. But he also happens to be the twin brother of the man who had caught her stealing.Jack Whitridge had disappeared without a trace more than ten years ago. He has unexpectedly returned to England as a member of an American delegation trying to prevent war between England and America. He'd like to reconcile with his family, especially Gavin, but the gulf between them may be too wide to do so. It doesn't help things that he's also attracted to the woman Gavin wants for his wife.Gavin Whitridge, Duke of Baynton, just can't win. He had been engaged to Elin Morris all his life, until she fell in love with his brother Ben (The Match of the Century). Now he is on the hunt for a wife and settles on Lady Charlene. He is smitten with her from the moment he meets her, and courts her in a sweet, yet awkward way. The reappearance of his brother Jack throws a kink in his plans, as he must deal with his feelings about his twin's arrival.There was an immediate spark between Charlene and Jack when they met. I loved that first meeting, as Char robs his friend and Jack gives chase. Her escape from him is pretty funny, though not for Jack. Both are stunned to discover that they are linked to the Duke. Char knows that she should pursue the proposed match between herself and Gavin, whom she likes but feels no spark with. Her aunt and godmother are both pushing her toward him, wanting Char to have the life they feel she deserves. But she can't keep Jack out of her mind. Their connection gets even closer when he saves her from the nefarious plans of a local group of criminals. Jack also can't stop thinking about Char. He is there on a diplomatic mission, which isn't going all that well. He needs Gavin's help to make the connections he needs. Jack and Char are frequently thrown together, thanks to those efforts, and their attraction grows.Things come to a head when Gavin realizes what is happening right beneath his nose. His jealousy causes him to take action against Jack. A rescue by Char, followed by a run for Gretna Green and a chase by Gavin and Char's aunt Sarah, make an exciting ending to the story. I loved the journey made by Jack and Char as they discover just how right for each other they are. The pursuers, Gavin and Sarah, don't have as amiable a trip, as they constantly rub each other the wrong way. The confrontation at Gretna Green finally has Jack and Gavin talking honestly with each other, leading to hope for a true reconciliation. I liked the epilogue and the update on Char and Jack's life together.I liked Charlene and her determination to help her aunt Sarah. Her internal conflict as she was torn between duty and love was very real. I ached for her as she tried to find her way. I liked Jack and his loyalty to his new country. He really wanted to help stop the war that he saw coming. However, I thought he was a bit selfish for not contacting his family once he was settled in America and letting them know he was alive and well. I was rather glad that he had to work at reconciling with them. I did like his protectiveness toward Char. The one I felt the most for was Gavin. He had lost his twin, leaving him feeling very alone as he was growing up and dealing with a demanding father. Then as an adult, to lose not one, but two potential brides to his brothers, was especially frustrating for him. He was also pretty complex, sometimes being really nice, understanding and supportive, and at others he was arrogant, cold and devious. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing him finally find someone to love. If the hint during this book is true, he's in for a wild ride.

Now anyone who knows me realizes that Historical romances are at the top of my favorite genre, and I have a whole slew of go-to authors to get my “fix” - let it be known then that Cathy Maxwell is on that go-to list!Not every heroine in the Regency world is an innocent heiress and I admire the gals who are strong enough to do what must be done to survive. Lady Charlene Blanchard, orphaned daughter of a disreputable earl is just such a woman! Charlene is extraordinarily beautiful with impeccable bloodlines, however, Lady Charlene has been the one person that is keeping her aunt and herself from complete poverty. Unfortunately, her only way of keeping a roof over their heads is to do a bit of pick-pocketing. The very handsome Duke of Baynton is looking for that special woman to be his duchess and Lady Charlene has been chosen to be that suitable wife to provide heirs and become the next Duchess. All Charlene has to do is charm a duke she’s never laid eyes on before. Check! The duke seems gob-smacked the moment he lays this eyes on the incredible beauty! Unfortunately, his missing twin shows up and had already run into Lady Charlene (after she picked the pocket of his friend). *** Ah Cathy Maxwell you do know how to craft a fun, sensual and highly exciting romance. I loved the dialogs between Lady Charlene and aunt and members of their small household. It was a true fairytale where the handsome, wealthy duke spots Lady Charlene and time stood still, so to speak. But before he could have his first dance with her - in walked his long-lost twin, Jack Whitridge who was on a special mission from his newly adopted country - America. Such a wonderful scenario was woven as Jack had to beg his brother the Duke to help him reach out and try to negotiate peace with the British Government before another war breaks out. But more than that was the fact that every though he wanted to build a new relationship with his brother, Jack was quickly falling in love with Lady Char. Bottom line: This was a very quick read, fast paced with superb dialogs and a great chase to Gretna Green… Can’t wait for the next volume in this Marrying the Duke series. Marilyn Rondeau

I really liked this book!! Worth reading! I wish I had read book 1 first! But if you don't read book one first, you'll still understand everything! A few surprising parts-what people do when jealous! I can't wait to read the Duke & Sarah's story!!

Enjoyable - but not as strong as A Date at the Altar (Marrying the Duke #3). If only they had left poor Gavin out of this book, I think we would have gotten a much better book & had the time to actually see Lady Charlene and Jack fall in love. By the end of the book when Char declares that they are in love, my reaction was a surprised "huh, really?". I mean sure, you can tell they're "in like", but have they really spent enough time together over the course of this short story (side note: why are Cathy Maxwell's audio-books like 1/2 the length of other Romance books??) to fall in love?The Fairest of Them All still gets 4 stars because I love Cathy Maxwell's writing & characters. Char was super plucky & I actually really liked Jack's nonjudgmental assistance. She did what she had to do for her family and Jack accepted her and her mistakes fully. That's a pretty great basis for a relationship.

** spoiler alert ** This was a light read. I could have loved it since it had elements I enjoy reading. As it is, I liked it just enough. One thing that stuck out to me, which wasn't really all that important to the whole story was the gang. They were threatening her and her reflection that they themselves were bullied was really poignant. Her observance of their ratty clothing and thin body despite all their loot really struck a chord to me. The story revolves around Charlene and Jack. Charlene is a pickpocket. She is an orphan. She lives with her aunt and they barely make ends meet. They used to be supported by their relative but payments stopped so she supplements their income with her pickpocketing. Fortunately for her, she is of noble blood and was being considered for marriage by the duke. The duke was quite taken with her. Unfortunately for her, she prefers the duke's brother, Jack. Jack met her when she stole his friend's purse. He caught her but she escaped. They had a memorable meeting and future dealings with each other only cemented a bond. He helped her deal with being blackmailed by the gangs. They fell for each other.The aunt gave the duke a tip about a blooming attraction between Char and Jack. He confronted Jack and it ended with Jack captured and kicked out. Char saved him and they eloped to Scotland. The duke followed and the aunt tagged along. He discovered more and more about her that made her less than ideal as a wife. He didn't really know her. Nevertheless, he had a momentum going and still went after Jack and Char. After a heated confrontation and reconciliation, they went ahead with the wedding. Oh, Jack was there to negotiate with England in hopes of preventing a war with America. He ran away with an acting troupe when he was fifteen and had been living an adventurous life. He found his purpose in America and championed their causes, despite being a British aristocrat.

Sent on a peace mission that was never meant to succeed, Jack Whitford returns to his native England and the family--and twin brother, a Duke--he long ago abandoned without a word. Imagine his surprise when the woman his twin is courting is the beautiful pickpocket Jack caught just the other day.Charlene and her aunt have fallen on hard times, and the only way to keep food on the table is to do things she never thought she'd do. When the chance to align herself with a wealthy Duke arises, she can't resist. But neither can she resist the brother who could ruin everything. So far, I like this story best of the series. Can't wait to finally see Gavin have his day. I just hope there's a bit of action as well as romantic angst to keep it interesting, as there was here.

I loved this book. I loved the characters. Gavin, Duke of Brayton is still looking for a wife. He thinks he found her in Charlene Blanchard. But fate brings back Gavin's twin brother, Jack. Jack is back to talk about the troubles between the two countries. Thrown together, Jack and Charlene develop feelings for each other. Gavin once again gives way for the two to marry. The question is will Gavin ever find the woman that is meant for him? Will he find that love that is meant of him and him alone. We can hope that in the next book in the series, that Gavin will find that woman.

This is one of those books that I picked up randomly, with no idea what it was about. I'm very glad I did.Char is a pickpocket, a liar, and a girl bent on marrying the right man. Only the right man has a twin brother who couldn't be more wrong for her.Overall, I liked the book. There was a nice dash of history offered up in a believable format. The characters were very real, and very entertaining. I definitely was able to keep up even though I hadn't read the first book (though I'll have to now, as I enjoyed this one so much.)

*I received this book for the purpose of an honest review.*What to say...first off you don't have to read the first book o enjoy this one. I fell in love,with the Duke and his twin Jack. Their story is almost as good as the romance. Fans of Cathy Maxwell will find this one a keeper. If you are new to Ms. Maxwell you're in for a treat and a lot of happy reading. This is one of those unforgettable up all night type of reads. So you've been warned!

The duke losses out again. This time to an American. Lady Charlene (Char) Blanchard was not your typical lady. She was a pick-pockets. She what needed to be done to get by. She had more than her beauty going for her she was one of the few bloodlines in England that was valued much. She becomes chose as a potential bride for the Duke of Baynton, but life happens to her and she meets a man that truly does intrigue her, Jack Whitridge. She never expect to see this man again. That was until he showed up at the duke's ball and it turns out he was the duke’s missing twin. This was one adventure Lady Char did not expect. Runs down alley, run on horses, locked in, shut out, boy, girl. So much going on . This was an adventure for the heart and the mind. I had fun.

Poor Gavin, foiled again. I liked how much more down to earth this book was. There was still a bit of the high society norms, but the familiar cast is starting to loosen up and the new characters are helping them do it. There was still the same clever twist of phrase that allowed for some fun and humor during the time period. And the storyline went in ways I did not expect, allowing me to just go along for the ride instead of trying to anticipate. Jack and Charlene really were the better match anyway, same as Elin and Ben before them. Now .... Gavin is the last single brother and I think he's finally met his match. I look forward to seeing how all that plays out.

I genuinely didn't know who she would end up with for the first few chapters, generally the looser doesn't get a POV in books. But the second the duke met her aunt I knew that was the direction he would ultimately go. My prediction for the next book is that not only does the duke marry the aunt but also the prediction from book 1 becomes true, because she's infertile.

Met Cathy Maxwell last month and picked up this book from her. Glad I did. I really enjoyed it. Don't usually read a lot of Historical romance any more but you can't go wrong on a Cathy Maxwell book if HR if your genre.