A Beginner's Guide to Rakes Audiobook By Suzanne Enoch cover art

A Beginner's Guide to Rakes

Scandalous Brides, Book 1

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A Beginner's Guide to Rakes

By: Suzanne Enoch
Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
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All of London is abuzz with the return of the utterly alluring, recently widowed Diane Benchley. Will she remarry? What will she do with her late husband's fortune? Society is shocked by her announcement - at the Grand Ball, of all places! - that she plans to open an exclusive gentleman's gaming club in the family mansion. But no one is more stunned than the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren.

Years ago, Oliver and Diane shared a private indiscretion. Now Diane threatens to reveal Oliver's most ungentlemanly secrets…unless he agrees to help her. A notorious gambler - and rake - Oliver is overqualified to educate Diane in the ways and means of running her establishment. But striking a deal with Diane might just be the biggest risk Oliver has ever taken. This time, the only thing he has to lose is his heart....

©2011 Suzanne Enoch (P)2012 Tantor Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"Enoch will have [fans] tittering behind their fans at this hilarious Regency." ( Publishers Weekly)
Strong Heroine • Engaging Storyline • Wonderful Job • Original Concept • Entertaining Banter • Interesting Characters
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What have historical romance come to? Females shooting men and opening gaming hells??? I saw a really delicious twist to the everyday romance and mayhem. He won't behave, shoot him that will keep him in check and yes you do what you have to do to survive so if that means a gaming hell (all be it) a tasteful one, I say go ahead. Suzanne you have outdone yourself with this series, now just keep them coming. We have enough scandalous ladies in this club behind nice titles to make interesting stories-bring them all to life! I can't wait for the next book!

Great!

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Suzanne Enoch is a talented writer. This is the first book in the Scandalous Brides series. It makes you want to read the next one in line. Finding out what happens next is exciting. The next book in line is Taming The notorious Rake.

A truly wonderful read.

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Any additional comments?

It was a little too wordy for me. You could have taken about 75 pages of Diane's being a biotch to Haybury and it would have been better but it was still a great story because she was such a strong woman and I liked that about her. And I loved the mysterious Jenny too.

This is my first listen to Ms. Flosnik and she did a wonderful job.

Loved this book..but

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I will definitely be looking for more books by this author funny banter made it entertaining. The reader use inflection and tones to help with making the banter lively

Funny banter made it very entertaining The reader did a great job with neglecting sarcasm in the tones etc. s

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Enjoyed the story, dragged in the middle. Antagonist didn't really develop until 2/3 through the book. I finished it wanting to know what character the next book would focus on. So, since it's a continuing Series in the same setting with characters who will reappear in the next books, some of the dragging in the middle may have just been world-building. The narrator was okay. I struggled with wanting to go back to this one to finish listening. I'm not sure if it was the narrator or just that it dragged for me. There we're interesting interactions which didn't go anywhere in this book and I'm hoping they will appear in the next book. The ending for this wrapped up really quickly with no epilogue.

Enjoyable story, liked women running gaming club

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I love historical romances with strong characters and especially strong heroine, unfortunately many authors mistake strength with stubbornness and stupidity as a result they create heroines who are highborn ladies but can swear, fight and do everything better than any man in the kingdom.
In this book, Heroine, truly is a strong woman. She created a new life for herself after she was left penniless by her husband and seduced and abandoned by her lover. Diane had many admirable qualities but her relentless bitterness and harshness spoiled it for me a little bit, hence four stars rating...
Suzanne Enoch is a fantastic writer, the story was engaging and hard to put down, I will be definitely listening the next book in the series.

Great ....almost five stars

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Not bad. I like a strong independent smart beave heroine. I didn't care for the hero too much. He was too arrogant, and self-assured for me. I liked that the heroine warned him that she would shoot him and actually did. Served him right for taking liberties.

Good

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This book had no substance to it. It was one of the most difficult book for me to get through. But, then we do, since we pay for the listen. I wouldn't waste my money.

Oh so, so, boring

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

An interesting plot would have been great. Also, it would have helped to find some redeeming value in the characters. Two jerks grudgingly decide to get together. Who cares??

Would you ever listen to anything by Suzanne Enoch again?

I'm not sure. I really hate to feel that I've wasted a credit. My audible membership is quite an indulgence. When it turns out to be a waste, it really bothers me.

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

Anne Flosnik is consistently excellent. She was not to blame for this book's failure.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Beginner's Guide to Rakes?

It's not a scene problem, it's a character and plot problem, pervasive and unrelenting. The whole concept should have been scrapped. Where was the agent/publisher on this one????

Any additional comments?

I want a refund!!! I spent extra money on this credit!!

unsympathetic characters and UNEVENTFUL PLOT!!

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If the lead female had not been so bitter and transparent. I found nothing to help me understand why the hero found her so compelling. I can understand a woman being strong and no nonsense, and even their shared history would make her caution understandable. But in the end, she only came off as bitter and unpleasant. She wasn't someone I wanted to root for. She was mostly a bitch pretending to be strong.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would've liked more chemistry between the main characters, more heat. I didn't make it to the sex so I have no idea how that turned out for them.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration seemed to only frustrate me more. I normally enjoy Anne Flosnik, but I just hated it. I'm not sure the story was meant to be read imbued with so much angst. Maybe if it sounded lighter I would've found her shooting him funny rather than stupid?

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I liked the concept. It was a great idea and original as far as historical romances go.

Any additional comments?

Ugh. I'll try and get through the rest, but honestly it's not looking good.

Loved the concept. Hated the finished product.

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