Tempest

The Raveneau Novels, Book 4

By: Cynthia Wright

Narrated by: Emily Beresford

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

An all new full-length Raveneau Novel.

"Cynthia Wright is a gem among writers!" (Literary Times)

A marriage of convenience in the Gilded Age....

Newport heiress Catherine Beasley Parrish has been groomed all her life to marry an English duke. However, when she meets Adam Raveneau, the latest in a long line of Raveneau rakes and a newly created viscount, Cathy awakens to a destiny worth fighting for.

Although Raveneau insists that he is not marriage material, he is in desperate need of funds to restore Tempest Hall, his crumbling family estate on Barbados. And when Cathy begs him to save her from the toad-like duke her mother intends her to marry, Adam realizes that they may be able help each other.

Following a passionate honeymoon voyage on the high seas, Cathy and Adam arrive at their island home to find legends of pirate treasure and face the realities of their complicated marriage of convenience.

Can two people who wed for all the wrong reasons discover that a lasting love is the greatest treasure of all?

©2012 Cynthia Challed (P)2014 Cynthia Challed

Critic reviews

" Tempest is Cynthia Wright at her best, and I savored every delightful page! I was swept away by sinfully sexy Adam Raveneau, wondering how he and Cathy could ever untangle their problems, and thrilled to find myself in the midst of adventures with pirates, buried treasure, and a romantic abduction. I believe Cynthia Wright will make a lifelong fan out of every person who reads Tempest." (Lauren Royal, best-selling author of Amethyst)

An adventure

Cathy a sheltered heiress whose mother is forcing her to marry a boorish baron meets Adam a broke take with a Vicount title. She is smitten with him and they make a deal to get married. Though they have passionate night's their marriage is troubled by outside forces. When Adam realizes he love Cathy it may be too late and he will have to prove how much he loves her to get her back. I received a complimentary audio and I am voluntarily reviewing.

Contemporary with Historical times

Okay so after reading/listening to this entire series, this book had a lot of really questionable going ons for 1900. How common was divorce and separation and a mistress dropping off her illegitimate son at the door step of the father, who is wed to another woman? It’s a good story and I enjoyed it, but I’m not a big contemporary romance fan, which I felt this was more contemporary then historical. Please do read this series, because they are enjoyable, this one was just unexpected modern

Another fantastic hit!

Set back in the late 1800s, we get to know another generation of the Raveneau's. Remembering in the last book with Adrienne and Nathan & Adrienne was with child. In this book, we meet Adam the grand child of Adrienne and Nathan. Adam's parent's died young, so Adam is raised in Barbados by his grand parents.

A young Adam Raveneau ventures out to the United States while Barbados is swamped with Small Pox. It is there that Adam meets Catherine Parrish, who asks him to marry her. Catherine is paired with an old man because he has a title and he doesn't even like her. To get out of marrying him, Catherine proposes to Adam, a total stranger - but she does like him. Adam stirs something up in her every time she sees him and she loves how he calls her Cathy!

Catherine marries Adam, much against her mother's wishes and set sail for Barbados. Cathy has no idea of the lifestyle she will live when she gets there or what condition the home is on.

Cathy also meets Gemma, who turns out to be an old mistress to Adam. Adam learns Gemma gave birth to a son too. We also get to explore for treasure and have picnics and lots of out door fun! Barbados is a wonderful setting for a story! The ending is fantastic too!

I loved this story and this entire series. I love reading about characters I remember from past books and can relate to the story better! The author, Cynthia Wright has had my attention since book 1! What a great series!!! The narrator, Emily Beresford as always did another fine job delivering this story to us with all her voices and accents! Great job ladies!

The Struggle...

🤔 Where to begin... The story overall, good read(listen). 👏🏾 The hero was believable and very likeable. Flaws and all.
The heroin, as with her counterparts from the other stories in this series, was illogical and irrational. Like the hero told her, lacking in common sense.
She literally had nonsensical expectations and more than willing to jump to conclusions. Once she didn't get the fairy tale she'd concocted, she was ready to drop the hero for the least of anything.
Funnily, it was her hair-brained idea to propose to Adam. She did not deserve him. As well, Adam did not deserve to have to suffer the heroines mother or any callous treatment.
My word, that mother was vile and disgusting. Contemptible at best. It takes little to see why the father only wanted to find a little happiness for himself. I'd have divorced her too.
Ms. Wright roused these emotions within me and because of that I still gave this read 5⭐s.

Historical Romance in Barbados in the Gilded Age!

Tempest is a fascinating marriage of convenience romance set primarily in Barbados during the Gilded Age. Although this story is the 4th book in the Raveneau series by Cynthia Wright, I did not feel lost or felt like I missed something not knowing any of the Raveneau history.

The story begins with Newport, Rhode Island heiress Catherine Beasley Parrish bemoaning an upcoming marriage to a horrible duke that her mother picked out for her. Adam Raveneau is a newly created viscount who gambled away the family fortune, with all that remains is Tempest Hall, dilapidated plantation on Barbados. While at a ball, Catherine is introduced to Adam and she almost immediately suggests a marriage of convenience to escape a marriage to the duke (and her overbearing mother), which in turn will provide Adam with sufficient money to restore Tempest Hall.

Like most marriage of convenience books, this marriage in not very convenient as Catherine falls in love with Adam almost immediately on their honeymoon as they sail to Barbados. Adam on the other hand is stubborn and refuses to get too attached to her, treating her worse than anyone else in the household. Catherine eventually gets fed up with being ignored and she moves out of Tempest Hall and becomes a school teacher to the town’s young girls. Despite his valiant attempts to thwart off his feelings for Catherine, Adam eventually succumbs, acknowledging that he admires her independence and talents. Plus, he’s a better man when she is around.

There are several great secondary characters in this story, including all of those who help out around the house. Even a son who Adam didn’t know existed is adorable. I also appreciated the side story involving the pirate Stede Bonnet, who’s mentioned several times throughout the story. And my favorite scene was when Adam borrows the long-departed pirate’s sailing ship for a date with his wife as he tries to woo her back. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

excellent

I enjoy listening to this audio book. It's one of my favorite books. I love Adam

Tempest

Emily Beresford gave a wonderful 5 star performance in her narration of Tempest! Cynthia Wright never disappoints her readers with her romantic, yet flawed characters. Easy to listen to (or read) since it moves quickly and smoothly. Definitely a 5 star audiobook/book.

The Next Generation, Just as Wicked as the Last

Emily Beresford's narration of Cynthia Wright's TEMPEST gave this favorite book new life for me. Although I have read it four times, I felt like I was listening to it for the very first time. Details previously lost in my haste to gulp down the story came into vivid focus as I sat and really listened to the author's beautiful, descriptive language. It was nearly as real as if I were watching a movie instead of just listening to an audio recording.

Of course, the book itself is part of a wonderfully romantic, adventure-packed series marked by their unforgettable heroes. A Raveneau man always has been and always will be swoon-worthy beyond compare. From the beginning of Cynthia Wright's Raveneau Novels, Privateer Captain Andre Raveneau set the tone of these books spanning many generations-- they are men so unfailingly brave, so dashingly handsome, so wickedly bad that they are irresistible. Adam Raveneau, a newly named English Viscount, is the latest tempting morsel in this delicious family.

Set in the Gilded Age, Cynthia Wright's novel is as always a beautiful glimpse into the lifestyle and mindset of people living in that time. Opening with a lavish masquarade ball set at the newly-built seaside estate of an American millionaire intent on seeing his daughter married to a Duke, the book shows a glimpse of what life was like for those who had wealth, but lacked the noble connections they so desired.

Catherine Parrish's mother, although from a wealthy Southern family, had not been thought "good enough" to marry Catherine's prestegious father. As a result, she raised Catherine carefully, grooming her to someday be the wife of a wealth English Duke. Regardless of what Catherine may or may not want, Mrs. Parrish finally has the coveted fish, a toad-like (in Catherine's opinion) English Duke, on the line. She expects that he will propose that very night.

But two strikingly handsome young men come to the door and turn everything upside down. Bryon Matthews (who readers will recognize from the author's books set in the American West) walks in, bringing his friend who is none other than Adam Raveneau. Dressed as a Barbadian pirate, Adam looks so handsome and dangerous that Catherine's breath is taken away.

A chance meeting in a Chinese teahouse in the gardens brings the two together for a few moments alone and they realize they are both people in need -- she needs away to escape the destiny planned by her mother, he needs a wealthy wife to help restore his destitute estate. That night, Catherine begins a plan in her mind that will help them both: a marriage of convenience.

A quick wedding, a delightfully romantic sea voyage, stories of pirate treasure, and the awakening of two wounded hearts follows. As always, Cynthia Wright weaves characters in from her past novels and that adds such a wonderful depth to the story. The author has done quite a bit of research on both the era and the places mentioned in the book, which adds a depth to the story that you won't often find in this genre. The accuracy makes the story seem even more real, if that's possible.

As with all of Cynthia Wright's novels, there are twists and turns, the magic of first love, tragic heartbreak, and love scenes that are absolutely unforgettable--beautiful, never raunchy, but immensely satisfying and glorious to read. Once you start this story, you'll not want to put it down until you've finished. If you haven't read any of this author's other novels you should click right over to Amazon's author page and download Silver Storm (The Raveneau Novels, Book 1) and then make your way through the rest. Each and every one is one to remember and to revisit over and over again! I have read hundreds of historical romances and can truthfully say that I enjoy hers above all others. You won't find a better way to spend an evening than curled up in a comfy chair listening to a book by Cynthia Wright!

love and adventure in Barbados

Where does Tempest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Tempest is ranks in the top tier with my other Cynthia Wright audiobook, Silver Storm. There is depth and growth of characters with a vibrant Barbadian background.Definite must have for your audio library.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have a difficult time choosing a favorite character, with a loving, all knowing older cook who has been in the family for generations. Such s treasure. Adam and Cathy have so much growing and learning to do, so they can truly come together. Both characters endear themselves to the reader, that it is hard to choose between them. Normally I can say I have a definite favorite, but not this time, in a way, they were each others catalyst for growth and healing.

Which character – as performed by Emily Beresford – was your favorite?

Again, I was not able to clearly favor either Adam or Cathy over the other. I felt equal endearment to both and wanted to encourage both.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My heart melted completely. This story was so endearing, the characters had so much possible hope within and around them. I felt joy when their flawed, but loving world came together?.

Any additional comments?

At times I wondered , while listening to this book, if Andre and Devon from Silver Storm had not been reincarnated within Adam and Cathy to come together again. The similarities were calling to me. Cathy and Devon both had older brothers who died at sea, they were free spirits, lived in coastal New England towns and were sheltered. Adam was descended from Andre, had his looks, moodiness, was hurt by parental infidelity, knew sailing, how to use swords and had ties to tropical island homes. Such a beautiful story!
I recommend this and any story by Cynthia Wright.

Cynthia Wright has swept us away again!

Adam Raveneau met Heiress Catherine Parrish, he thinks
he's not marriage material, but Cathy falls for Adam.
Cathy wants Adam to rescue her from the life her
Mother has thrust upon her to marry the Duke
she has no love for. Adam needs to restore his
families Estate in Barbados, he needs funds.
Cathy and Adam marry, get ready for a
fantastic love story, with many surprises
along the way.