How to Romance a Rake

Ugly Duckling Trilogy Series, Book 2

By: Manda Collins

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

What's a nice girl like Miss Juliet Shelby doing at a place like Lord Deveril's ballroom? With her shy demeanor, she's a total stranger to the dance floor and a source of mockery for the ton. So imagine her surprise when Deveril gallantly comes to her defense - and offers to teach her to dance! Juliet can hardly believe the most handsome bachelor in London would notice her, until he takes her in his arms and sets her heart ablaze.

Lord Alec Deveril has never felt such a spark of attraction for an unmarried lady before. Unlike the "fashionable" ladies he's accustomed to, Juliet possesses a generous spirit, a fiery intelligence - and an explosive secret. Deep in the London underworld, a dear friend has vanished, and Juliet fears the worst. Deveril insists on helping, escorting her through the darkest alleys in town. But he too is hiding a shocking secret - and the only way he can defeat the devil in his past is to seduce the angel in his arms.

©2012 Manda Collins (P)2012 Tantor

Entertaining romance featuring strong women

Interesting aspect is that heroine suffers from a disability. Hero and heroine also share traumatic childhoods with one reprehensible parent. This makes for a good story as they work through their trauma together.

Second Book Delivers

I loved the twists and turns in this second book. The author really knows how to intertwine romance and mystery to keep it interesting. If you like romances with mystery you will love this series.

enjoyable listen

This is really a sequel to 'How To Marry A Duke", although you can enjoy this one without having listened to the first. I like the first one a little better, liked the female lead better in that one. But, I did like this story more and more as it went along. This narrator has long pauses, had to get used to that again. The female characters were a little annoying, especially the friends of Julianne. But, the story line improved and the last half was the best part. If you like historical romances you would enjoy this.

No fluff!

family-dynamics, relationships, friendship, romance, historical-novel, historical-research, suspense

Not fluff! Sure, it's a romance and all that but it delves into some pretty ugly family stuff and more. Juliet is beleaguered by her mother and a nasty debutante and made to feel ashamed of the "leg injury" that happened to her which resulted in treatment all too familiar to war victims. The characters are all too clearly depicted and can be easily recognized as some people today. Juliet is a strong woman and overcomes a lot, Alec carries a lot of emotional baggage and guilt courtesy of other people, but they overcome. An excellent read!
Unfortunately it's narrated by the over dramatic Anne Flosnik, but don't let that spoil it for you as she is absolutely terrific doing the nasty characters.

Great Read!

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Romance a Rake to be better than the print version?

I did not read the printed version but the audio version is wonderful. Enough humor and intrigue to keep me hooked even though I should have been do something other than listening to a book. I just couldn't stop listening to it. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

What other book might you compare How to Romance a Rake to and why?

Maybe the historical romances by Eloisa James or Julie Garwood because it has steamy romance, humor, and intrigue.

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was perfect - all of the different voices and emotions were obvious and it was easy to really "feel" the different characters.

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

YES

Any additional comments?

It was so nice to read a romance where the heroine isn't too stubborn and with a "prim and way too proper" attitude. Well worth the money and credit - I want to listen to it all over again!

Great Second

I didn't love the first book. It seemed average. This one was way better, and I'm excited to start the next. Nice love scenes in this one as well.

Reads like any other Regency story

I feel like the author followed the outline of how to write a regency novel that every other noblvelist follows step by step. There was no originality... the pschycopath that everyone but the characters say coming, the vein mother, the weak heroine full of insecurities, the hero with a chip on shoulder that always fails to protect heroine even though he swears he will. Originality people did we forget about that. Ann flossing is a great narrator but even she did not stop me from skipping through some parts.

Just not as interesting

The story was forced and the main characters were all made out to be so good and the villain so bad. Storyline was simple and not that interesting.

Historical Romance with Mystery

I really enjoyed this series! I was glad that the whispersync was available and ate it up! The characters are wonderful and very believable. Juliet is forced to go unnoticed on the fringes of the ballroom by her tyrannical mother. When her mother is suddenly pushing her to marry a creeper, she decides she must change her situation and break out of her shell. She reaches this decision just when her dear friend goes missing, which she feels obligated to investigate (and rescue her friends abandoned daughter). There are many twists and turns in the plot. Excellent story and of course, I have never regretted Flosnik as a narrator. Well worth the credit (or whispersync buy)

Cute story

Would you listen to How to Romance a Rake again? Why?

No, it wasn't that exciting but it was a nice listen.

Any additional comments?

Overall, it was worth the listen.