Amanda Hupe's Reviews > Carols and Chaos

Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey is a YA holiday audiobook narrated by Fiona Hardingham. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book– holiday festivities and a counterfeit scheme? Sounds like fun! It is 1817, A lady’s maid, Kate, and valet, Matt are devoted servants working hard during the holiday preparations at Shackleford Park estate. They are both so busy but romance doesn’t care about busy. However, when a footman goes missing, they are both drawn into a dangerous counterfeiting scheme!

Sigh… I loved the synopsis. But I didn’t care for the characters. This book tried to be a Jane Austen novel meets Downton Abbey. For young teens, I see this being a fun read. But the flirting. SO. MUCH. FLIRTING. I can’t tell you how many times it is mentioned!! And here is the kicker…THEY WEREN’T GOOD AT IT! Most flirtatious moments were cringeworthy. However, there were some moments that were awkward but they definitely made me laugh. Yes, I was laughing at the characters. I am horrible.

The pace is staggering. Despite it being a short book, the beginning moved pretty slow. The “suspenseful” parts weren’t all that suspenseful for me. But like I said, I just don’t think it was a good fit for me…maybe if I were fifteen, it would be perfect! I would also suggest listening to the audiobook version because Fiona Hardingham does a splendid job at all the different accents! I rate this audiobook 3 out of 5 stars!