His Reckless Bargain: (The Raveneau Novels, Book 3)

By: Cynthia Wright

Narrated by: Emily Beresford

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

A Daring Masquerade...

Nathan Raveneau, son of Andre & Devon (Silver Storm), is known as "The Scapegrace" in Regency London for his rakish exploits and devastating good looks. He is also a sea captain with an estate on Barbados. To gain land near his enemy, Xavier Crowe, Raveneau agrees to act as protector to headstrong Adrienne Beauvisage - and keep her chaste until her 21st birthday.

Adrienne is both outraged and intrigued by the man who calls himself Nathan Essex. She knows little of the threats that lurk at the English castle of eccentric Lady Thomasina Harms... or of the daring that Raveneau, in his guise as Nathan Essex, must employ to keep her out of harm's way.

A Reckless Abduction...As the powerful attraction between them builds, Nathan is forced to abduct an unwilling Adrienne, boldly spiriting her away to his ship. In a rousing adventure that carries them from Regency England across the sea to magical Barbados, Nathan and Adrienne struggle against a compelling and passionate love while caught in a growing web of danger.

Don't miss this enchanting novel that unites the Raveneau and Beauvisage families!

©1995, 2012 Cynthia Challed (P)2014 Cynthia Challed

A very enjoyable sags continues...

Here we are in book 3: His Reckless Bargain (The Raveneau series). I am so happy to see this series continue in the audio book format! I love stories that run in series with familiar characters! In Book 3, Andre & Devon's son Nathan is also a sea captain. He is in England when he is offered a job to guard a man's daughter and insure her safety and virtue until her 21st birthday which is 4 months away. Nathan in return for doing this job will receive 40 acres of land in Barbados that He has been wanting to buy, but couldn't afford. Barbados, what a wonderful setting for a story!

Adrienne Beauvisage is the young woman he is to watch over and protect. It is hate at first site when they meet again. The first time they met was an argument in the street. Nathan pretends to be Nathan Essex instead of himself so Adrienne will accept him easier along with the rest of the public. Adrienne has accepted a job to help Lady Thomisina Harms. So off they all go to the Lady Thomisina home where Adrienne is in so much danger that Nathan whisks her off to his ship and explains who he is.

His Reckless Bargain is a wonderful love story that blooms in front of us. I really enjoyed this book along with the first 2 books I also read in this series. One thing I absolutely love is the same narrator for the series. When I read a series, I get used to one voice and find the series most believable by using same narrator! The author Cynthia Wright once again does a fantastic job writing this love story from way back when! The narrator, Emily Beresford delivers this tale to us in a quirky wonderful way with all her voices and accents that are so entertaining! Ms Beresford is one of my favorite narrators!

I can't wait to see what book 4 has in store for me to read! See you all then...

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The series gets better and better!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I really liked Adrienne. She was bold and stood her ground.

Which character – as performed by Emily Beresford – was your favorite?

I liked Lady Thomasina. She was an eccentric old lady that made you root for her. Ms. Beresford continues to impress me as a gifted narrator. She makes the story come to life. I will continue to search out her work.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Nathan and Adrienne realized that they are meant for each other. I loved their story.

Any additional comments?

His Reckless Bargain continues the saga of the Raveneau family. Nathan Raveneau, son of Andre and Devon, is a sea captain that is spending some time in London. After an chance meeting with a family friend, he agrees to watch over his independent minded daughter Adrienne. This starts an adventure that will eventually take Nathan and Adrienne to Barbados.

I love the adventure in this story and the continuing saga of the Raveneaus. I would recommend this book to my friends who enjoy historical romance and adventure.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another good one from Cynthia Wright

Would you listen to His Reckless Bargain: (The Raveneau Novels, Book 3) again? Why?

I highly recommend this book. I love the two main characters. They remind me very much of Andre and Devin's story. I liked that the story takes place in England, on the high seas and in Barbados. Adriane is a very strong character and this did not change throughout most of the book. I was engaged through out the story and I think it was a good listen.

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

Emily Beresford is a great narrator. Her voice is very clear and she gives the characters many voices. I liked them all. I probably wouldn't finish this book if I had to read it.

Any additional comments?

This book was gifted to me. The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another hit

Another enveloping romantic story filled with laughter, mystery, intrigue, love and plenty of delicious romance!

Cynthia is a wonderfully gifted writer of whom I never tire reading. While this story is filled with its own charm, its change in setting just a small piece, she also pays homage to previous loved characters. There is never a dull moment.

The narrator is charming in her portrayal breathing life into each character. Her voice is beautiful wrapping the auditor and pulling them into the constant adventure.
Thank you Ladies!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A romantic adventure

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I felt that the story could have concluded nicely before they headed to Barbados. The adventure in the second half of the story was too dragged out for me and I would have enjoyed it better if was shorter.

Penned with humor, suspense, and passion

Have you listened to any of Emily Beresford’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I listened to others and found in this one, her voices for the male characters lacked authenticity.

Any additional comments?

Adrienne is quite the handful – full of life, quick-tempered and believes she can take care of herself and direct her future. NOT! Her father, who wants her to feel independent, is quite concerned about her work as a governess (she is set upon by her employer) and now companion to an elder woman, Lady Thomasina Harms.

He has requested Nathan Raveneau, son of his old friends Andre and Devon, to be her protector, a guard, of sorts, to keep ill from her door. (Is that possible with this girl?) Her father reads a menacing missive from her last employer, which Adrienne had carelessly torn up and trashed. Her father pieced it together. How can he give his daughter her head and protect her at the same time?

Nathan would rather have nothing to do with the chit, but Adrienne’s father sweetens the pot by telling him if he could protect her and keep her chaste until she’s 21, he’ll give him some very vital land in Barbados. The land abuts next to his own and more importantly provides him a clever means to keep an eye on Xavier Crowe, a land pirate and dirty trickster, doing immeasurable harm, living on the east side of the island. Under guise, as Nathan Essex, he begins his employment attaching himself to Adrienne, and the fun begins! Not for him, not for her, but for us!

Adrienne is such a soft-hearted individual. She’s concerned about Lady Thomasina once she gets over her peculiar ways of organizing her library books. Books are not organized by author, nor title, but by color. Her son has his eye on Adrienne, thinking she might be a good catch for him – she certainly treats his mother well, and will keep her from brow-beating him with her eccentric ways. I’m not sure just how evil he is, but I know he’s weak-kneed and is hoping to enjoy his mother’s wealth, along with Adrienne's vibrant beauty.

Angus is a little dog belonging to Lady Thomasina, whom she dotes on and seemingly he, her. He plays an important role in this story by exposing Lady Thomasina’s eccentricity and her son’s mean spiritedness. It’s obvious there is more to Angus than meets the eye.

Narrator Emily Beresford does an admiral job in playing the voice of Adrienne. I can fairly see Adrienne darting here and there with her buoyant personality. Lady Thomasina is well-played, too, with her somewhat cantankerous and selfish spirit. The voice of Lord Harms, in my opinion, was too drawling—it made the voice not quite believable. But one thing it did do, was make me dislike him. Maybe that was the narrators ploy all along. Nathan’s voice also didn’t quite ring true. His inner good is well hidden, where I felt it should show itself more.

I’m glad I listened to the read. I enjoyed the character-driven plot with many a scene full of emotions. I loved Nathan’s secret identity and his efforts to keep it hidden and Adrienne’s silliness. She lost sight of her intelligence several times!

As always, Author Wright writes an impeccable, truly entertaining story.

Abducted to Protect Her Virtue...

Headstrong Adrienne Beauvisage insists on maintaining independence by taking employment as companion to Lady Thomasina Harms after her last position as governess ends abruptly when she has to lock her charges father in a closet at knifepoint to escape his advances. In light of continuous threats from her spurned former employer, her father hires notorious rake Nathan Raveneau to protect Adrienne and keep her chaste until her 21st birthday. In return, Nathan will receive a plot of land in Barbados he has always coveted that will be key in thwarting his greatest enemy. Will Nathan be able to protect Adrienne when she resents his very presence? Or is that resentment an attraction that will boil over an threaten all of Nathan's hopes and dreams for his Barbados plantation if they act on that attraction? Is land and stopping one's enemy worth sacrificing one's chance at love?

This book has plenty of action and lots of heat and passion. The opening chapters are a little slow, but they do set up the story well, and one it picks up speed, the plot is very compelling. I actually won this audiobook in a contest, so although I have read other books by Cynthia Wright that have been included in anthologies, this is my first Raveneau novel (I still had no trouble following the plot), but now I am looking forward to going back and reading the others.

His Reckless Bargain, Book 3

If you could sum up His Reckless Bargain: (The Raveneau Novels, Book 3) in three words, what would they be?

Not possible to pick just 3 words.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can't pick just one... I fell in love with this family with Caroline.

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

Most definitely - I hated to stop to go to bed.

Any additional comments?

Loved this book and it's as great as any of the others.

Protect The Innocent's Virtue, Can It Be Done?

⌂

I have enjoyed this series written by Cynthia Wright and narrated by Emily Beresford – the Raveneau Novels are great with the historic perspective as well as the romance. There is always a sinister plot that needs to be worked out by the hero and heroine.

My only complaint with His Reckless Bargain was is that it was too long. Listening to the first part of it this book was very intriguing, in my opinion. However, when it picked up, it was fast, action-packed and fantastic! I don't know anything about writing books or editing them, but perhaps removing an hour of this one would have made it an perfect listening experience instead of a great one.

Nathan Raveneau has been chosen to protect Adrienne Beauvisage's virtue until she turns 21 years old. In exchange for that Nathan will receive an abundant parcel of land in Barbados.

I enjoyed it, from the scenic descriptions to the passionate embraces – this book as it all!

Emily Beresford is excellent in her presentation and performance of all of the characters. It was a joy to listen to her make them come alive.

Notes: A few mature scenes, but that is it.

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2 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great Story!

Sweet and romantic! Full of adventure and passion! Loved the characters's chemistry and bantering . I Can't wait to read the next book in the series .

Perfection

Emily Beresford is the perfect narrator for Cynthia Wright's audio books, and this one is no exception. The story is full of excitement, passion, and intrigue, all of which are captured perfectly by Emily. Even the male voices she does are convincing, I really loved listening to this book and definitely recommend it.