Lessons in Love

The Regency Intrigue Series, Book 3

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Vanessa Benjamin

Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

Lady Lucinda Esmond's swine of a father, the Earl of Sotheran, was forever fleecing young bucks in London's gaming halls with impunity - until he cheats Captain Mark Chamfrey, who kidnaps 10-year-old Lucinda for ransom.

But when Chamfrey has a change of heart and returns the girl, Earl Esmond nonetheless exacts his own price: Chamfrey can only redeem himself and save his skin by marrying his little victim nine years hence.

Lucinda's father could not have foreseen what a beauty Lucinda would become, nor that Chamfrey, a newly made Marquess, would find that what was supposed to be his punishment turns out be exactly what he desires!

©1987 Marion Chesney (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

One of the better of M. C. Beaton’s stories

Narration was definitely a plus for this recording. The voices of the main characters especially can affect the story, and the male lead in particular, so few can make them sound appealing. But Vanessa Benjamin did a great job.
To the story: As I tend to get on a “roll” of reading/listening to certain authors, I have worked through quite a few of Beaton’s works. I’m still a little iffy, since some of the stories are a little too dark for me with not enough entertainment to make it worth it.
But this story was unusual from the beginning in its premise. We didn’t have to suffer through the MCs hating each other off and on for whatever reason, acting rude or stupid or whatever; the plot provided very good, original reasons for their separations and the leading lady’s reticence. The ominous cloud usually present in Beaton’s stories was original here as well and well played out. In fact, it was done well enough to cause natural alarm about what might happen.
So I was able to enjoy seeing the lovers slowly develop their relationship despite the many obstacles necessary for fiction, and it made nice sense as well as letting me like both characters throughout. So many times either the lady acts like such an idiot or the man like such a jerk, it’s a little hard to completely like them by the end.
So far, I like this M. C. Beaton story best. (I also liked “The Highland Countess” and the first of the “Poor Relations” series, “Lady Fortesque Steps Out” as well, btw.)

Inventive, frightening, neurotic and naive!

I’ve happily read so many Chesney/Beaton books at this point that I quickly know when I’ve struck gold. (They’re all at least silver.)
Lessons in Love is different from C/B’s others in its characters’ depths and shallows, its plot’s dips and rises, its very tone…and I’ve discovered a new favorite narrator in Vanessa Benjamin, who practically rivals Davina Porter in her ability to bring alive all the story has to offer. Thank you, Audible!

One of my favorites

Both story and narration were pitch perfect. What a lovely and somewhat different story. And the narrator beautifully brought it to life. Just great.

Great Frolicking Romp

This is a good one. Enjoyed it a lot even with some pretty difficult characters. Beware though this is not terribly clean regency romance.

Beaton at his best Don’t miss this one

Shades of arsenic and old lace where the deaths seem well deserved and at least one well intentioned old lady delights. Beaton like PG Wodehouse portrays English upper crust with a light and humorous hand. A definite must read

One of Beaton's Best!

Fun, suspense, surprises, & of course, romance. I listened to it in one sitting while I did my crafts.

Not worth the time

I tried this for free, but it was so bad, I couldn’t finish it. The main character Lucinda is as grating a character as I’ve ever read. She’s remarkably stupid and doesn’t appear to change or become more intelligent at 19 than she was at 10, which is her age when the book opens. But she’s far from the only problem.

Her father is a despicable lecher and brute. Her grandmother is a psychopathic murderer. Her love interest is a kidnapper with a conscience who later tries to rush her into love. And she’s unrealistically prudish and nonsensical. She seems to think she can make facts go away by ignoring them. And her family encourages this. Basically, there was not one likeable character, and the plot line was ridiculously far-fetched.

The narrator did a decent job, but the book was just too awful to stand. After getting three-fourths of the way through, I decided I’d rather not know how it ends than waste another hour on this. I’d read another book by this author that I enjoyed many years ago, so I thought I would try this one, but it was a sad disappointment.

Best of the series!

A plot twist. More backstory, and further details. Not just a simpering miss. Very enjoyable!