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    Seven Minutes in Heaven
    Seven Minutes in Heaven
    Seven Minutes in Heaven
    Audiobook9 hours

    Seven Minutes in Heaven

    Written by Eloisa James

    Narrated by Susan Duerden

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Witty and elusive Eugenia Snowe has all society begging for one of her premiere governesses-except the powerful Edward Reeve, who bursts into her office with his arrogant demands.

    No question that Eugenia enjoys crossing wits with the brilliant inventor, but Ward wants far more than a governess. He wants Eugenia, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her-including kidnapping.

    Will Eugenia lose her heart in the most reckless gamble of her life, or will she discover the sweetest pleasure she’s ever known?

    All it will take is seven minutes...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 31, 2017
    ISBN9780062663917
    Seven Minutes in Heaven
    Author

    Eloisa James

    Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

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    Reviews for Seven Minutes in Heaven

    4/5

    99 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      If you are looking for a historical love story that doesn't feature a virginal miss that needs extreme coaxing, wooing and gentle kisses to drop her proverbial drawers -then you will love this book.I loved the story line -it reminded a bit of one of Amanda Quick's books - A widow (who is actually a peeress) owns a Governess agency -a wrong side of the blanket gentleman with a step-brother and sister to raise, needs a governess - hilarity (well at least amusement) ensues, several governesses take to the road, heat builds between Ms Snowe (owner) and Mr. Reeve (Gentleman of dubious lineage) and let me tell you the heat is intense when you hit the 50% mark and I loved the allusion's to Fifty Shades of Grey.Mistakes are made, feeling hurt but of course, all will be well in the end.I forgot how much I loved most of Ms James writing and after reading this I think I will be re-reading her earlier works and buying some of later books to add to my library!*ARC supplied by publisher.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thanks Eloisa for writing this book. And the reader Susan, what lovely voice. Almost made the whole book sound erotic. I enjoyed this book very much.
    • 1/5
      Oh the narrator? save me. I added her the list.
    • 5/5
      Eugenia Snowe has the best registry for governesses in England and Ward Reeve desperately needs a governess for his newly discovered half-brother and sister. This leads to all sorts of charming complications and romance for the widowed Eugenia and illegitimate Ward. The children are wonderful, eccentric, but not over the top and add a lot to the story.I read a lot of Regency romance, but for some reason, I have not read much Eloisa James which is something I must correct. This is an endearing story, and I like both lead characters very much. The author developed their characters slowly but deeply so that the reader had a good understanding of what they were like by the time their romance reached its culmination. I will definitely get some more of her books to read.
    • 5/5
      Very good book. Eugenia is the daughter of a marquis, a widow who lost her husband, the son of a viscount, in a boating accident seven years earlier. They had been very much in love, and in her grief, Eugenia needed something to give her life purpose. She started an agency which provides governesses to society members, though some look down on her for going into "trade". She has a reputation for providing the best, until she runs into Edward "Ward" Reeve.Ward is the illegitimate son of an earl who has recently been given guardianship of two younger half-siblings. The children have had an unusual upbringing so far and he needs to prepare them for their new life in society. When a Snowe governess quits without notice, he confronts Eugenia with his demands.There are sparks between Ward and Eugenia from the beginning. Their relationship starts via some rather amusing letters as she attempts to help him with his siblings. Their correspondence makes Eugenia feel alive in a way she hasn't for a long time. Ward is intrigued by the woman he believes is a former governess, by her wit and intelligence, and by her beauty. Besides wanting the very best in care for his siblings, he wants Eugenia.I mostly liked Ward. He was smart, had a great sense of humor, and obviously loved his younger brother and sister. As soon as he found out about them, he upended his entire life to make a home for them. I loved his patience and understanding about their grief. There are some terrific scenes with him and the children that are really sweet and heartwarming. However, I was a bit frustrated with Ward throughout the book because of his attitude about Eugenia. For a man who spent his life being looked down on because of his illegitimacy, he turns around and does the same thing to her. Because he thinks she is not a "lady", he can only sleep with her, not consider marrying her. He is rather oblivious to all the indications that he is wrong. I kept waiting for him to discover his mistake and feel like the idiot he was.I loved Eugenia. She is smart and warmhearted and has an amazing inner strength. In spite of some of the attitudes of the society women, she continues living her life the way that makes her happy. She has mourned her husband for seven years and is finally beginning to come out of her self-imposed seclusion. Her attraction to Ward Is a further wake-up call for her, as she realizes that she is finally ready to move on a little bit. I liked the way that she makes her decision to indulge in an affair with him, doing what feels right for her.I enjoyed the development of their relationship. There was friendship, coming from their mutual desire to do what was best for the children. There was also the burning attraction between them, which occasionally overpowered their common sense. Ward's desperation for both help with the children and for Eugenia herself, led him to practically kidnap her and take her to Oxford with him. Once they were there, I loved seeing them work together with the children. There are some great scenes showing how the kids bring them closer together. At the same time, the heat between them is explosive, and their alone time is incredible. It doesn't take long for Eugenia to realize that what she feels for Ward is more than physical. She can't help dreaming of making a life with him and the children. Ward's feelings are also changing, but he resists with all his ability. After all, if he is going to give the children the entry into society they need, he is going to have to marry "up", and a former governess just won't do. Things come to a head after a misunderstanding, and Ward says some really hurtful things out of ignorance and pride. I ached for Eugenia and the devastation she felt. I was truly impressed with the way she handled it. Ward's realization of his idiocy is compounded when he discovers the truth about her background. His reception when he goes after her is everything he deserves, and I liked that things don't go the way he wanted. I loved that he actually had to work to gain her forgiveness, and his "grand gesture" at the end was excellent.The children in this story are truly unique. From Lizzie's veil and dramatic recitations to Otis's pet rat, they are a real challenge to Ward and Eugenia. They are an interesting combination of innocence and experience, and they quickly work their ways into Ward's and Eugenia's hearts. Running through the story is the reason behind Ward's desperation to "tame" the children. Their grandmother is suing for custody and he has to do everything he can to make it clear that he is the best person to raise them. The grandmother is a really unpleasant person through most of the book. I loved seeing how both Ward's and Eugenia's families use their influence to help him, but it is Ward's own words that are the most effective. I loved seeing so many characters from previous books come together in this one to bring it to a happy conclusion.
    • 5/5
      Eloisa James's fans cannot miss out on this book!Just finished the book! Every time I thought I have my favourite book all picked out, EJ would go and write a new one!! Worth my sleepless in Seattle stayed up reading. Say no more.... not to be a spoiler here.This is an "All-Stars cast" story!! (towards the end anyway) What a way to end the beloved "Desperate Duchesses" series I & II together, IMO. And no, you don't need to worry about having to go and read the first 6 books in order to read "Seven Minutes," you can do that later. No spoiler to upset the original DD, nor this new one either. And if you, like me, read the orig DD looooong time ago, ages ago..... the names and characters will come back to you, just enough to give you that warm reminiscence of your beloved 'ol stories, enough to remind you why you love them then, and want to go back and revisit them all again. It's all one big HEA family.Would've given it more than 5 STARS and 2 Thumbs Up!
    • 5/5
      I have to admit that I've not read many books from this author. I liked her Pleasures series and I also read couple of books from her Fairy Tales series, and loved one more than the other. So, after reading this story and loving every minute of it, I've decided to plow through EJ's backlist, working my way down from this book. My local used bookstore was very happy with my purchase this past weekend :)

      In the first book of the Desperate Duchesses series we meet a bastard son of the hero of that book, Teddy. He was given to the hero to raise and his father actually does something unthinkable for that time. He choses to acknowledge him and raise him in his own household, under the same roof he'd be bringing his own legitimate children. Fast forward two or so decades, and we now meet once more Little Teddy, known to all now as "Ward" and who's inherited two half siblings that are in a dire need of a governess, and Ward himself is in a dire need of making a good match because keeping those children depends on it.

      There's so much to love about this story, from our hero who is as unconventional as our heroine, but for some reason, the two kids in this story have stolen my heart. They were precautious, smart and utterly adorable.

      As for the heroine, Eugenia, I was very impressed with her strength and wit. As Regency heroines go, she was one of the best I've read in a long time. I loved the fact that her feelings for her dead husband were complex even though he's been dead for seven years. I literally had tears in my eyes as she finally lets go of Andrew.

      And then there was Ward. This man was such an intriguing and interesting character. He had inner strength and exuded confidence from the moment he showed up on the page. I fell in love with him immediately! The love he had for his brother and sister was palpable. Yes, he had some faults. But he wasn't stubborn and that was the key, because as soon as he figured out his mistakes, he was ready to admit to them and ask for forgiveness.

      Seriously, this book rocks! You can't miss it.

      Melanie for b2b

      Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
    • 5/5
      Wow! I have to say that I love Eloisa James and have yet to be disappointed by a book. This one is no different. Seven Minutes in Heaven is Ward and Eugenia's romance and what a romance it is. Fans of historical romance that will make you laugh, sigh, cry, rant at the hero and cheer them on need to read this one. If you are new to Eloisa James you won't be lost but will be eager to read more. Another great story from a master storyteller.
    • 4/5
      If you want me to swoon, include witty banter in your book. It doesn't matter what kind of book it is, just include the banter. Of course, it certainly helps romances in particular when there's an intelligent, strong heroine but sometimes creating such a woman can be hard while still staying true to historical realities. But Eloisa James always manages to create worthwhile heroines in her Regency set historical romances like Seven Minutes in Heaven, the latest in the Desperate Duchesses series.Eugenia Snowe is a widow. Although she is the daughter of a marquis, after the death of her beloved young husband Andrew 7 years prior, she turned to work to keep herself busy. Eugenia runs the exclusive and discreet Snowe's Registry Office for Select Governesses and her governesses are highly sought after in all the best homes. She herself is businesslike and circumspect and she has a real knack for business, pairing each family on her books with the perfect governess. Somehow she has not managed to land on the right governess for Edward Reeve's half sister and brother though. Ward is trying to keep guardianship of his young half siblings away from his tyrannical, unpleasant grandmother and having the proper governess working with the children would certainly go some way to taking one of her arguments away from her. When the latest Snowe-provided governess quits, Ward determines that Eugenia herself would be the perfect governess and "kidnaps" her (she goes most willingly so it's hardly a kidnapping). Ward, a rich inventor, is the illegitimate son of an earl and is cognizant of what society will expect of his half-siblings so although he is incredibly attracted to Eugenia, he guards against a real attachment, believing her to not be a member of the nobility. Meanwhile, Eugenia is falling in love with Lizzie and Otis, the children in question, and she is feeling a sexual attraction for the first time in 7 years even as she finds it hard to accept this sign that she is moving on from the grief and loneliness that has colored her world for so long.Eugenia and Ward sizzle when they are together. They flirt and spar almost from the first moment they meet and their quick intelligence is great fun. The misunderstanding that keeps them apart, ie Ward's belief that Eugenia is not noble, is a bit far fetched given that everyone else and their grandmother knows her whole history but without the misunderstanding, there's no reason for them to ever be apart. While Ward was illegitimate, both of his parents were noble themselves so he would have had a similar understanding of who was noble as his contemporaries do and would surely have known of Eugenia's family. If he didn't hear of her husband's drowning at the time, he would have heard of it once he looked to Snowe's Registry for the children. The children, with their odd quirks and strange interests, Lizzie wearing mourning and dissecting rabbits and Otis with his quick mathematical mind and his pet rat Jarvis, are delightful and much more entertaining than children in novels generally are and it is easy to see how Eugenia warms to them and wants them to have love and stability in their lives. Although Ward, with his occasional bouts of condescension and priggishness, is not nearly as likable as Eugenia, they are still a well-matched couple and James once again delivers for her readers.
    • 4/5
      While Eugenia Snowe is a widow and born to the higher echelon of society and now she runs a Governess placement agency that is quite popular with society, she is somewhat restless. So when Edward "Ward" Reeve presses her into service to help him with his siblings who have had an eccentric upbringing and whose strict grandmother wants to bring them up.He really needed to listen to people.
    • 3/5
      A satisfying conclusion to the series.
    • 5/5
      I didn't like the confusion between Emma and Sutton! It's mean! One doesn't have a life!
    • 5/5
      "We Mercer girls are all alike. We're bitches you don't want to mess with."
      - Laurel Mercer, in all of her bad ass-ness

      I knew it!
      I knew it!
      I freaking knew It!

      WARNING: This review will be chock full of spoilers. So please do not read if you haven't it yet.

      Seven Minutes in Heaven is the final book in The Lying Game Series. Boy, is it final. There is no room left for interpretation. While dealing with the "accidental" death of Nisha, Sutton's body is discovered at the bottom of Sabino Canyon. Of course, everyone thinks it's Emma Paxton but the truth comes out and Emma is public enemy number one. With everyone but Ethan against her, Emma tries to find out the truth behind Sutton's murder once and for all.

      Seven Minutes in Heaven was good. Damn good. Shepard answered every question that the series has brought up. Everything came to a head and it was exciting and sad. I knew that Ethan was a killer and my theory wasn't that far off. I didn't expect that Ethan was a psychopath. The way that everything was laid out: why he killed Sutton, how he killed her was excellent.

      When both he and Sutton were struggling on top of the canyon and she fell. He looked horrified. I thought to myself: they better not make it an accident as if he didn't mean to kill her. Then you see that Sutton's still alive, she's just badly injured. I really thought that Shepard was just going to have Ethan leave her there. That would have been cold but not the most logical and murderous thing to do. Shepard has shown Ethan Landry as calculating; always one step ahead.

      However, when Ethan met Sutton at the bottom, they exchanged angry words, and he bought that rock crashing on her head, I was like whoa. Poor Sutton. Poor Emma! It's after that scene that Emma finds out what Nisha wanted to tell her so badly about Ethan: he's a psychopath and a murderer and Sutton wasn't the first person he had killed.

      Ahhh! This is how I feel about this book! It was that good. I'll have to commend Sara Shepard. She gave me the most satisfying ending and it made sense! The best part: it didn't come out of nowhere! I had suspected Ethan since book three. That's what a good mystery does: throws up a bunch of red herrings but they don't really derail you from whom you know is guilty: Ethan. Man, I really enjoyed Ethan too.

      Although, the Who Killed Sutton was the bulk of the mystery, family seemed to be the heart. After everything she's been through, Emma will finally get the family she desperately wanted as herself. The Mercers are willing to try and work their way to forgiveness but it'll take time. One thing I really loved and will love Shepard forever for is that Thayer and Emma did NOT get together in the end. Thank God! It wouldn't make any sense and it would be weird and icky. Thayer's heart belongs to Sutton and eventually he will move on...just not with Emma.

      The ending of Seven Minutes in Heaven is with the Mercers quietly celebrating Christmas with Emma as Sutton moves on. It is when she sees that happiness that she moves on herself, dissolving into energy, and disappearing. Seven Minutes in Heaven was great. If fans of the series are looking for a resolution, they don't have to be happy with it, they got one. A damn good one.

      SIDE NOTE: For fans of The Lying Game, I suggest you read the novellas only available as ebooks: The First Lie and True Lies. They do help when you're reading the series.
    • 5/5
      “This book was the best one of the series, we finally get to find out who killed Sutton and Nisha. I was definitely surprised! The Mercer's finally get to know Emma as herself and give Sutton the proper burial she deserves. I felt so much for them, it was definitely a tragedy but at the same time, they get to meet Emma. The ending was just so beautiful, I almost shed a tear. I really, really loved this whole series, I looked forward to every new book that was released. I'm glad that we finally get to know who did it, but I'm sad to end the series too!”
    • 4/5
      A fitting conclusion to the series, even if the murderer was predictable. Emma's almost run out of suspects, but when Sutton's body is discovered she becomes suspect number one. Shunned by her family, Emma races to figure out who the killer is before the killer gets her.