Rake's Progress: A Novel of Regency England

A House for the Season, Book 4

By: Marion Chesney

Narrated by: Lindy Nettleton

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Lord Guy Carlton, late of His Majesty’s regiment and weary from the war in France, has only wine, women, and song in mind when he rents Number 67 Clarges Street for the season. He certainly has no desire for a serious attachment - and marriage, never! Then his merry eyes spot the lovely but very proper Miss Esther Jones.

But what will be her fate if she falls in love with the notorious Lord Guy? Though Esther’s business acumen has made her one of the richest women in England, her innocence could make her a victim of the wild ways of the ton - unless the downstairs staff at Clarges Street devise a campaign to reform the rake who is laying siege to her heart.

©2001 Marion Chesney (P)2013 AudioGO

Critic reviews

"Chesney once again adroitly manipulates the floating upstairs populations that keeps the downstairs on its toes." ( Publishers Weekly)

"A witty, charming, touching bit of Regency froth. Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

Delightful!

I love Ms Chesney’s books and Ms Nettketon did an absolutely fantastic performance.

I’ve been following the series and I’m glad I didn’t pay attention to a negative review on this title, I would have missed a totally funny & delightful story.

Great entertainment, I look forward to next in the series.

Endearing Characters and Mediocre Plot

I really enjoyed the set up and the personalities of the new characters, but their romance was rather lackluster. I kept waiting for Esther to either suffer from her prejudice or realize she was wrong, but everything just sort of happens at the end without a satisfying conclusion. The romance and resolution never really feels earned, which usually isn’t a problem for Beaton. But honestly it was worth muddling through the main plot line to get the glimpses of Lizzie’s and Joseph’s and McGregor’s character development.

Entertaining Humor, Mischief, and Romance

This series has been a delight...marvelous characters. Lindy Nettleton was a superb narrator. Enjoy!

Enjoying the series

Reading a House for the season series in order. Enjoying the continuation of the 67 Clager Street household and the new tenants the get and seeing the main characters develop. Glad it’s being read by the same person each book.

Not my favorite but good.

It was okay-didn’t seem to be as polished as the others but still good. Going on to the next one!

A gun? What?!

Great story until that point! A gun? What?! And that was OK with her?! What?! So random! So unexplained! I do not understand that choice at all!

weird and not good

I love this author, the other books in this series, and her Poor Relation regency series. This book was not up to that standard. The characters were flat and the story was clunky. At one point one of the characters is held at gun point and it's really weird and uncomfortable. This volume sticks out as a cheap almost romance rather than the usual almost Georgette Heyer level story and characters.

Heroine not believable.

Esther is bright enough to have made millions on her own, but is dim-witted. Implausible.

Not my favorite.

Sorry... didn’t love this one. Good ideas, like the story, like the narrator, but it was sort of cold. Lots of good stuff without the mysterious thing that brings it to life for me.

I would say it’s creditworthy but......

Not worth it

An hour in and I almost gave up- it’s pretty clear the author was having some sort of body issues because she repeatedly describes how people are disgusting and not attractive because of being fat. Now, none of this series so far is particularly good, very moralistic beyond the standards of that time, constantly talking about how unattractive women are for not being waifs, and lots of religious feelings. It’s quite put me off reading any more if her work.