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Beyond Seduction  By  cover art

Beyond Seduction

By: Stephanie Laurens
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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Publisher's summary

A little bit wild and undeniably brave, the gentlemen of the Bastion Club have pursued adventures far and wide. But their exploits at home could prove to be the riskiest of all as they hunt an elusive target: the perfect bride.

In a moment of recklessness, Gervase Tregarth, sixth Earl of Crowhurst, swears he’ll marry the next eligible lady to cross his path. Cloistered at his ancestral castle in Cornwall, with nary a suitable woman for miles, he never expects he’ll have to fulfill his pledge, at least not until the London season begins. But then he meets his neighbor, the very appealing Madeline Gascoigne.

Years of secret service to the Crown have taught Gervase the value of always having a loophole - there will be no wedding if he and Madeline are not compatible in every way. So he sets out to prove that they would make a most dreadful match by luring her into his arms and, ultimately, his bed. From their very first kiss, Gervase discovers that the headstrong and independent Madeline is no meek country miss - and that the fire between them will burn long beyond that first seduction.

Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career when her novels captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world’s most beloved and popular authors. She has been writing for more than twenty years and is a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling author.

©2007 Savdek Management Proprietory, Ltd. (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A reliable serving of rogues and romance.” ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Beyond Seduction

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Cloying NarrationI

What did you like best about Beyond Seduction? What did you like least?

It's difficult to get past the narrator's amazingly bad female voices. I enjoyed reading the book, but listening to it has proved to be impossible.

If you???ve listened to books by Stephanie Laurens before, how does this one compare?

This compares poorly to every other narration I've heard. All of Crossley's females sound like Monty Pythonish interpretations of women, and he has an irritating habit of raising his voice near the end of a sentence. His characters come across as priggish.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Steven Crossley?

Anyone who can read female voice without making them sound whiny would be a big improvement.

Was Beyond Seduction worth the listening time?

I was not able to get through all of Part 1. It was too painful.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • AJ
  • 01-16-12

Great story...Horrible Narrator

This was one of my favorite Bastion Club stories, it has more interaction with DL and their past as spies.

I waited years for an audio version and I can't believe the publishers settled on this narrator for the last of the Bastion Club stories. He can't act so he just gives a very boring reading of a great story. The female voices are screeches that are almost too painful to listen to.

My advice to male narrators, their is nothing you can do to sound like a woman, just soften your voice for the female roles. Trying to raise your voice just makes for a bad comedy and is painful on the ears.

What a waste.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great addition to the Bastion Club series

What a great addition to the tales of the Bastion Club members! Gervais will absolutely tear your heart out with his patience, determination, and understanding.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining story enhanced by narrator Crossley

I really enjoy the Bastion series, and Steven Crossley's narration is a real plus. I hope he narrates more romances to come!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • KJ
  • 11-28-12

Why switch narrators?

I love the Bastion Club series -- perhaps my favourite of Stephanie Laurens' novels! I highly recommend the books! But why the switch in narrators? After listening to Jill Tanner through the first 6 audiobooks, I had gotten used to her narration, so the switch to Steven Crossley is jarring! I do not mind the switch from female to male voice in general, but it is hard to differentiate Crossley's 'voice' for different characters. It's sometimes a little confusing when the 'voice' switches between hero and heroine. Also, Crossley pronounces some of the names differently than Tanner did. So while I highly recommend Laurens' novels, it's difficult to recommend this particular audiobook based on the narrator. Sorry to see that the remaining books are also done by Crossley. I will buy them because I'm one of those that wants a complete series, but hope the narration improves.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great series! Great plot!

I first read and loved this book in paperback, and have now (finally) gotten it on audiobook! Especially since the paperback is in shreds!
Each of the Bastion Club series can stand alone, but they call and coerce you to read all of them!
Set in time just after Waterloo, this collection of retired spies are all titled and must find wives. But on their own terms! In this one, the earl has been sabotaged in his hunting in London by his loving half-sisters. At their insistence, he looks closer to home and nearly falls on his face when he sees who he has overlooked. And then the fun and romance begins, complete with villains, smugglers, murder, and more. The plot is complex and has many twists.
Steven Crossley does a great job of differentiating the characters and adding to their depth.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Kd
  • 05-26-13

First Boring Novel of Ms. Laurens'

I've listened to several Stephanie Laurens books, and I've never been bored or anxiously awaiting the end to a story. But nothing last forever. This story just didn't hold the heat or an interesting tale. However, I liked that she didn't try to wrap everything all neatly in the end. That's more true to life and may continue in another book. I don't know and don't care. I certainly will listen to other books by this author, but I forwarded through parts of this one and was just relieved that I could count this one done when it was over. I think the narrator did well with what he had. It may have been that the small town atmosphere contributed to my degree of boredom; I don't know. I can't quite put my finger on the problem. It still had some heat, which I like, but it seemed less somehow. I liked the adult relationship and the heroine's familial relationships. But neither the H nor the h were especially interesting characters. It was just all average. And there's a place for that, just not when I have to pay for it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stephanie Laurens always delivers

Would you listen to Beyond Seduction again? Why?

Yes I always listen to Stephanie Laurens book more than once. I love her style and her stories

What other book might you compare Beyond Seduction to and why?

Any of the Bastion Club books but the hero in this book is very special and reasons problems out before acting unlike most of the other members when it comes to the ladies they are in love with.

What three words best describe Steven Crossley???s voice?

To formal, dry

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No because of the narrator I needed to break it up.

Any additional comments?

Stephanie Laurens never lets me down!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The narrator sounded like Dame Edna. Jesus what a horrible choice for female voices.

I’ve read the book. The narration is unlistenable if that’s a word. Unlike Simon Prebble who seems to catch female cadence, lilt, and tone very well, this man sounds like a female impersonator. Very bad.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very enjoyable

as always characters are well rounded with human frailties and strengthstoo.
I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and sub plots. looking forward to the next book

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