What do you think?
Rate this book
The Penwarrens #2
Listening to Abby
Fortunately for William Penwarren, renowned explorer and botanist, Abby Waterston and her two cousins are traveling with him from Africa to England because when the usually stalwart young man collapses from fever, Abby is there to take charge and save his life. Thus begins an adventure that includes a stern duke and an abandoned marquis, false pretenses and serious misunderstandings, an unwelcome proposal, a runaway boy, and the adoring attentions of one mind-reading dog named Jack. In some respects, William and Abby are different as night and day but both are explorers in their own way and eager to see the world. William is quiet and intense, Abby anything but. Two parts that fit together perfectly, those two — once they realize that the journey is more important than the final destination. Enter the Victorian world of The Penwarrens and plan to stay a while. Three light-hearted romances ~ Claire, After All * Listening to Abby * Jubilee Rose www.karenhasley.com
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2014
61 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 15, 2020
1855: Abby Waterston is traveling from India back home to England with her two young cousins, sixteen-year-old Chole and eight-year-old Augustus "Gus" Aloysius Merton when she encounters her old neighbor and childhood playmate, William Penwarren arriving on board the ship at the Horn of Africa. Not having seen William in ten years, Abby is curious what on earth he's doing so far from Sussex. William is a renowned naturalist, studying tropical plants all around the world. Abby is envious. The last eight years in India caring for her cousins were an adventure and while returning to her family in Sussex will be nice, Abby will miss the excitement of travel and adventure. When William falls ill with a tropical fever, it's up to Abby to nurse him. Her calm good sense and soothing voice soon have him on the mend. A groggy William realizes all he wants to do for the rest of his life is listen to Abby. Naturally he forgets and his rational mind takes over. He has no conception of love and even if he did, he's in no position to take a wife. Abby and the children settle into life in Sussex but when the children next hear from their father, the Colonel, he sends some shocking news that threatens to upend their world. Abby won't stand for it. She packs her bags and follows her young cousins to London where she must battle her true nature in order to protect her cousins. Only visits with William brighten her day and remind her of their shipboard adventure.
This is a nice homage to Georgette Heyer without being a copycat. I didn't remember the plot of Claire, After All and didn't feel like a reread but my review helped clue me in. It isn't really necessary to read that one first. I feel this book would have made a cute short story. It REALLY dragged in the middle. I considered skipping to the end because I was totally uninterested in The Secret Garden/Sound of Music plot. It is massively boring but if you like that sort of mild gothic plot, you will enjoy it. The romance is very mild and hardly even a romance. I do like Abby and William together though, especially in the epilogue. The epilogue is more interesting than the main plot of the novel.
Abby is my kind of heroine. She's intelligent, sensible, loving and adventurous. She may be a Victorian spinster but she's not prim and proper. She CAN be if she has to be but her natural personality is more forceful. She's a managing female but not a nagging one. Abby is wholeheartedly devoted to her cousins and helping them with the confusing, unsettling changes in their lives. William is a bit absent-minded and clueless about real life but everyone else around him sees what he's feeling! He's sweet, charming and intelligent. I like his good humor and how he isn't jealous that his twin is the heir by only 5 minutes. William could care less. He'd be unhappy burdened with the cares of the estate. He loves his life and his studies yet he'd do anything for his family and close friends. I adore how he helps Gus out of a predicament and how shrewd he is at understanding the mind of small boys. He thinks he's only trying to make Abby happy but I think he's generally an all around nice guy.
The cousins add some charm and humor to the story. Chloe is a lovely young lady. I kept forgetting this was Victorian and not Regency and every time she was described as a child (at 16) I was confused. 18 is the age of adulthood in 1855 so she is not yet out. Chloe has a lively mind and a firm character. She knows what she DOESN'T want out of life. I'd like to read more about her when she's older. Gus is one of those precocious little boy types. I love his relationship with Jack, the mind-reading dog. It gives Gus a little more depth than slightly annoying, precocious little boy. My heart went out to him. I didn't like how some parts of the story are from Jack's pint-of-view but their relationship is very sweet. I was surprised by John, the Marquis of Quill. He represents a different type of gentleman in the Victorian era. He doesn't fit the Regency stock character mold at all. If he were older, and Abby hadn't met William again, I'd say he would be a good match for her. Maybe for Chloe when she's a bit older?
Abby and William's families are delightful and charming. I like how warm and loving the Penwarrens are even though they're of a higher station. It seems like they're always like that and it's not gratitude that makes them want to be kind to Abby's cousins. The Duke of Quill is obviously the villain of the story. I really don't like his arrogance, pompousness and his inability to understand the concept of basic human rights. Why yes, you should give your workers a shorter work day and now allow children to do dangerous mining or textile mill work. UGHHH Some things never ever change! I admire how well Abby is able to deal with him. I'm not sure I could tramp down my natural personality the way she does. Even though no one likes the Duke, he's not really a villain. He has hidden depths no one but his son can see. The resolution to his plot is a bit silly but I think he'll continue blustering and throwing his weight around publicly.
If you like gentle Regency romances of the Austen/Heyeresque variety, you will enjoy this one.
This is a nice homage to Georgette Heyer without being a copycat. I didn't remember the plot of Claire, After All and didn't feel like a reread but my review helped clue me in. It isn't really necessary to read that one first. I feel this book would have made a cute short story. It REALLY dragged in the middle. I considered skipping to the end because I was totally uninterested in The Secret Garden/Sound of Music plot. It is massively boring but if you like that sort of mild gothic plot, you will enjoy it. The romance is very mild and hardly even a romance. I do like Abby and William together though, especially in the epilogue. The epilogue is more interesting than the main plot of the novel.
Abby is my kind of heroine. She's intelligent, sensible, loving and adventurous. She may be a Victorian spinster but she's not prim and proper. She CAN be if she has to be but her natural personality is more forceful. She's a managing female but not a nagging one. Abby is wholeheartedly devoted to her cousins and helping them with the confusing, unsettling changes in their lives. William is a bit absent-minded and clueless about real life but everyone else around him sees what he's feeling! He's sweet, charming and intelligent. I like his good humor and how he isn't jealous that his twin is the heir by only 5 minutes. William could care less. He'd be unhappy burdened with the cares of the estate. He loves his life and his studies yet he'd do anything for his family and close friends. I adore how he helps Gus out of a predicament and how shrewd he is at understanding the mind of small boys. He thinks he's only trying to make Abby happy but I think he's generally an all around nice guy.
The cousins add some charm and humor to the story. Chloe is a lovely young lady. I kept forgetting this was Victorian and not Regency and every time she was described as a child (at 16) I was confused. 18 is the age of adulthood in 1855 so she is not yet out. Chloe has a lively mind and a firm character. She knows what she DOESN'T want out of life. I'd like to read more about her when she's older. Gus is one of those precocious little boy types. I love his relationship with Jack, the mind-reading dog. It gives Gus a little more depth than slightly annoying, precocious little boy. My heart went out to him. I didn't like how some parts of the story are from Jack's pint-of-view but their relationship is very sweet. I was surprised by John, the Marquis of Quill. He represents a different type of gentleman in the Victorian era. He doesn't fit the Regency stock character mold at all. If he were older, and Abby hadn't met William again, I'd say he would be a good match for her. Maybe for Chloe when she's a bit older?
Abby and William's families are delightful and charming. I like how warm and loving the Penwarrens are even though they're of a higher station. It seems like they're always like that and it's not gratitude that makes them want to be kind to Abby's cousins. The Duke of Quill is obviously the villain of the story. I really don't like his arrogance, pompousness and his inability to understand the concept of basic human rights. Why yes, you should give your workers a shorter work day and now allow children to do dangerous mining or textile mill work. UGHHH Some things never ever change! I admire how well Abby is able to deal with him. I'm not sure I could tramp down my natural personality the way she does. Even though no one likes the Duke, he's not really a villain. He has hidden depths no one but his son can see. The resolution to his plot is a bit silly but I think he'll continue blustering and throwing his weight around publicly.
If you like gentle Regency romances of the Austen/Heyeresque variety, you will enjoy this one.
August 15, 2023
The romance moves pretty slow in this one, there's definitely an attraction, but it takes until the last chapter for them to recognize it and do something about it. But the book is full of charm, and I especially warmed to Abby.
Abby left England for India at 18 to be the caretaker for her late aunt's children, and when they return eight years later, Abby has pretty much decided the spinster life is for her, but she longs for adventure. Enter William, a botanist fresh from Africa and a childhood acquaintance of Abby's. They sort of orbit around each other, becoming good friends before anything becomes romantic.
There are adventures/shenanigans/problems with a mind-reading dog, and impish 8-year-old boy, a crusty duke...but Abby handles most of it with good humor and grace. I enjoyed this sweet story.
Abby left England for India at 18 to be the caretaker for her late aunt's children, and when they return eight years later, Abby has pretty much decided the spinster life is for her, but she longs for adventure. Enter William, a botanist fresh from Africa and a childhood acquaintance of Abby's. They sort of orbit around each other, becoming good friends before anything becomes romantic.
There are adventures/shenanigans/problems with a mind-reading dog, and impish 8-year-old boy, a crusty duke...but Abby handles most of it with good humor and grace. I enjoyed this sweet story.
January 2, 2024
quite delightful
One of the best historical romances I’ve read. The heroine is robustly modern in her outlook without being outside of her own time. The “villain” is dreadful enough but not unabashedly so. The hero worthy.
Jack is a fantastic foil, and moves the story along at just the right moment.
One of the best historical romances I’ve read. The heroine is robustly modern in her outlook without being outside of her own time. The “villain” is dreadful enough but not unabashedly so. The hero worthy.
Jack is a fantastic foil, and moves the story along at just the right moment.
March 15, 2019
Lovely book
A book that took me on their journey, which as it should be. Main couple superb,this series is a delight.
A book that took me on their journey, which as it should be. Main couple superb,this series is a delight.
August 3, 2024
3.5 stars. Didn't love it as much as the first story.
January 19, 2017
Too many typos and grammar issues to enjoy.
October 25, 2015
This author has such a great voice, I was pulled into the story right from the first page. I honestly don't know why this series doesn't have more reviews/readers because they are so well written with engaging characters and interesting story lines. No hot, sexy times but lots of plenty of passion. Onto book 3!!!
August 7, 2016
3.5* rounded up. Not quite as enjoyable as the first in the series as I didn't warm to William quite as much. I didn't like the epilogue either.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews