Masked Ball at Broxley Manor: A Royal Spyness Novella Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Rhys Bowen (Author), Katherine Kellgren (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)

740 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$2.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Audio CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$16.69

$15.52

—

Kindle
$2.99 Read with Our Free App
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial
Audio CD
$16.69

4 New from $15.52

A delectable prequel to the national best-selling Royal Spyness mysteries featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch - 34th in line to the throne, and England’s poorest heiress. At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man - until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad. When the prince, dressed as the devil, rescues her from an embarrassing situation at the ball, Georgie is surprised to find her unwanted suitor to be a dashing, charming man - especially when he pulls her aside and gives her the kiss of a lifetime. But as the time comes for the unmasking, Georgie’s rescuer vanishes and the party is thrown into chaos, making it clear that everything at Broxley Manor is not as it appears…

Listening Length

1 hour and 44 minutes
Author

Rhys Bowen
Narrator

Katherine Kellgren
Audible release date

October 31, 2014
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B00O7WUMQY
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
See all details

Limited-Time Offer

3 Months FREE of Audible Premium Plus. Get this deal

Your audiobook is waiting!

Click above for unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection — yours to keep (you'll use your first credit now).
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.

Learn more about membership

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

List Price: $6.04

You Save: $0.05 (1%)

By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

People who viewed this also viewed

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

People who bought this also bought

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Related to this topic

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

The Dreadful Debutante: The Royal Ambition Series, Vol. 1
M. C. Beaton
425
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt
Karen Harper
2,393
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Love in a Nutshell
Janet Evanovich
681
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Cross of Love: Barbara Cartland's Pink Collection 1
Barbara Cartland
42
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
An Arranged Marriage
Jo Beverley
855
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Product details

Listening Length	1 hour and 44 minutes
Author	Rhys Bowen
Narrator	Katherine Kellgren
Audible.com Release Date	October 31, 2014
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00O7WUMQY
Best Sellers Rank	#15,727 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #132 in Cozy Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals) #146 in Historical Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals) #371 in Women Sleuth Mysteries

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

740 global ratings

5 star		54%
4 star		27%
3 star		13%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

I liked it for what it was - a (very!) short story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 2, 2012

Verified Purchase

When her first debutante season ends without any suitable marriage proposals, nineteen year old Lady Georgiana faces the glum prospect of spending her days stranded in gloomy Rannock House with her penny-pinching sister-in-law, Fig. A surprise invitation to a masked ball at a palatial English manor house presents an interesting (if puzzling) diversion. But when Georgie arrives at Broxley Manor...well, we'll just say that she's in for a devil of a time.

I'll start with the obvious: this is a short (under 50 page) story that is a prequel to the first Lady Georgie mystery, Her Royal Spyness (A Royal Spyness Mystery) . It's cute and I think that fans of this series will probably enjoy it. I would not recommend it to anyone new to the series. The very short format does not allow for much character development and it wouldn't make a good introduction to the series (or characters). For those familiar with Lady Georgie you do get a first glimpse at someone who comes to play a big role in Georgie's life. There's also a preview of the latest installment in the series which is due out in November - The Twelve Clues of Christmas .

For those not familiar with the "Royal Spyness Mysteries", it is a "cozy" series involving a minor British royal, Lady Georgiana Rannock. The setting is pre-WWII London and Georgie is perpetually broke and always scrambling to make ends meet. It's a nicely written, light mystery series that captures the glamour and absurdity of the period and the British aristocracy. Georgie is a delightful protagonist and her first person narrative is charming. There is no strong language or sexual content.

Bottom Line: Cute, but consider the length before purchasing. Personally, I think the $2.99 pre-order price was too steep, but I knew it was short when I ordered it, and I did enjoy it so I really can't complain.

50 people found this helpful

Helpful

L. S. Hardy

Quick read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

If you ever wondered where Georgiana and Darcy met, here's your answer. She was invited to a house party to catch the eye of a prince, and she did, just not the royal one.

Helpful

Jaylia

Very short, but fun for readers who are already fans

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2012

Verified Purchase

If you've enjoyed the misadventures of impoverished royal (thirty fourth in-line to the throne) Lady Georgiana in the Her Royal Spyness series, you'll probably also enjoy this short story prequel. It provides background information that will be interesting to fans, including how Lady Georgiana met enigmatic love interest Darcy, but it's light on plot, characterization and suspense so if you haven't yet read anything else in the Her Royal Spyness series, this isn't the place to start. It's current price of almost three dollars is steep for not much more than twenty minutes of reading, but I needed something light and fun to distract me from Frankenstorm Sandy, and this was a perfect, if brief, solution.

As the story opens it's the end of Lady Georgiana's "season". At great expense to her broke though affable brother Binky and his resentful wife Fig, Georgiana has been presented at court (she nearly crashed into Their Majesties because her heel caught in the train of her gown), and she's attended numerous balls and society events, but so far she hasn't had any proposals. That may be about to change when two invitations arrive in the mail to set things in motion. As with the rest of the series, actual and fictional characters mingle on the page, and this story includes a fictional first meeting of Wallis Simpson and Georgiana's cousin David, the future if short reigning King Edward VIII.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michelle Boytim

A first encounter for Lady Georgiana

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 29, 2013

Verified Purchase

This was a short story prequel to the Her Royal Spyness series. Lady Georgiana has just completed an unsuccessful Season in London. While she is 34th in line to the throne, the queen believes that she may be an excellent match for an errrant German prince. She is invited to the palace where the introduction fails to take place when the prince does not show up, and then is invited to a Halloween party/masked ball in the countryside. She is relieved when costumes are provided by the American hostess, as her meager budget did not allow for fancy dress. She is specifically given a "fallen angel" costume, which she finds a bit risque, but not as bad as some of the other costumes. She is shocked by some of the behavior at the party, and meets the soon to be infamous Mrs. Simpson for the first time. One bright spot is the dashing devil with whom she dances and he is the one person that makes her feel at ease. Could he possibly be her prince, or are things about to go awry for Georgie? This is a charming "first-look" at Georgie and a few of the key characters for the series.

Helpful

Monie C

Clever introduction to a charming heroine

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

Short story mysteries are difficult to write and often frustrating for readers. We barely get to know the characters, the setting, the era, and poof! It's done. Worse, too few clues can usually be dropped to be subtle and yet reward those of us who enjoy detangling at least some of what's at stake. Rhys Brown has subverted most of those difficulties with "Masked Ball," especially for those of us reading it as a prequel to a series we've already devoured. Our clumsy, determined, and honorable Georgiana is quite familiar to us, though more a girl than a woman here, as is the post-WWI era London setting. But I suspect even new readers to the fun of Her Royal Spyness series will probably also feel attracted and even delighted with this princess practically in rags who is guileless yet keenly observant and quite funny too. I think she is able to pull that off by writing a mystery that is barely a mystery. This story is really a character piece and a chance to introduce us to a royal scandal that brews throughout the series at its very onset, with a surprise romantic suggestion that left me smiling. Die hard mystery buffs might be miffed, of course, but they can go grab a novel then. May I suggest Her Royal Spyness?

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Elaine

Fabulous

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

I would recommend this book to readers of cosy historical fiction.
This short story is superb and the perfect introduction to the Royal Spyness series.
The characters are wonderful make you want to read more.It

Kellie

Fine

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 20, 2020

Verified Purchase

This was fine but short. Nothing much happens in it. It's just a little aperitif for the series, I think.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Well the content is fine but the fact that you pay so much for ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

Well the content is fine but the fact that you pay so much for less than a novella is quite outrageous. It should be much clearer that it is only 43 pages! Was moderately amusing content & normally would have been happy to buy other books in the series, given my liking period crime but this is just a con. Sell it for 50p as an introduction then that would be ok but otherwise have it in extremely large font that it is a magazine article size.

3 people found this helpful

picky one

A short story with a delightful cast. I wait for the next instalment.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

The only l problem with this book is it is too short. I want more😃
Please write the next book Rhys

Sandra Christie

Liked the story line but should have read the small ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Liked the story line but should have read the small print as had not appreciated that it was such a short story and left me wanting to know more about the characters.

One person found this helpful

See all reviews

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor: A Royal Spyness Novella Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Enjoy a free trial on us $0.00$0.00

Buy with 1-Click $5.99$5.99

People who viewed this also viewed

People who bought this also bought

Related to this topic

Product details

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Enjoy a free trial on us

$0.00

Buy with 1-Click

$5.99