How to Ravish a Rake

How to Series, Book 3

By: Vicky Dreiling

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can't, she'll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security-if little else. What she doesn't count on is the inappropriate-and irresistible-attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will "The Devil" Darcett…

When Will is caught in a tryst with the town's shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn't simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he's mended his wicked ways…

©2012 Vicky Dreiling (P)2014 Recorded Books

No no no

Setting: London 1818
Genre: Romance
Amy Hardwick, an heiress, is in Town for one last Season, a last chance to find love. If she is not successful, she is expected to return home and marry the vicar. Will is a second son. After spending years on the Continent he returns home to continue life as an irresponsible rake. His family decides that he needs to settle down, but he wants to return to Europe. Since his brother will no longer fund him he decides to gamble everything he has and ends up incurring massive debt. He ruins Amy to secure his future. The relationship develops after the betrothal.
I did not like these characters. Amy is supposedly too shy to speak to a man, but suddenly becomes bold and outspoken with Will. He is self-centered and feckless. Even the secondary characters aren’t likable.
I listened to this 5 years ago, but I did not remember it or I would not have started it again. I think I finished it then, but I could not this time. Why?
Chapter 1 - nothing happens
Chapter 2 - nothing happens
Chapter 3 - nothing happens
Chapter 4 - nothing happens
Chapter 5 - nothing happens
Chapter 6 - Will compromises Amy
Chapter 7 - Will and his friends celebrate his good fortune (£50,000)
I stopped at this point. I just couldn’t work up any sympathy for these people.
The audio production leaves much to be desired. The narration by Elizabeth Jasicki was so laconic I had to increase the speed to 1.25x for it to sound normal. Overall, I’d say this was a big waste of credit. I’d return it for nothing back if I could.

A good listen

What made the experience of listening to How to Ravish a Rake the most enjoyable?

The characters were interesting and the story was good. I kept feeling like I had read this before though. I think the plot line had been used by another author. Or I really had read this before.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Will's Aunt - Hester I think her name was. Quite a "character."

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I didn't care for the breathiness of the narrator. It was a bit distracting.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book as I have all books in this series. I hope there are more.