The Viscount Who Lived down the Lane

Rhymes with Love, Book 4

By: Elizabeth Boyle

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

In New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Boyle's fourth novel in the Rhymes with Love series, a resolute young woman goes toe-to-toe with the Beast of Mayfair

She has no desire for love....

As she arrives in Mayfair, Louisa Tempest is horrified when her incorrigible cat bolts from the carriage and dashes into a neighbor's house, where she comes face-to-face with the reclusive Viscount Wakefield. But even more dismaying than his foul temper is the disarray in which she finds his home. Convinced his demeanor would improve if his household were in order, Louisa resolves to put everything to rights.

...until she meets the viscount who lives down the lane

Much to his chagrin, Wakefield finds it impossible to keep the meddling Louisa out of his home, invading his daily life with her "improvements", and his nights with the tempting desires she sparks inside him. Wounded in the war, he's scorned society ever since his return - until Louisa opens the door to his heart and convinces him to give love a second chance.

©2014 Elizabeth Boyle (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Love it!

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.75

Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: The Viscount Who Lived down the Lane by Elizabeth Boyle was an emotionally fun read!

Read It File It Thoughts (short review): This was my kind of historical romance: issues dealt with, spunky leading lady (with a bit of a meddlesome personality), damaged leading man (war damage), and a story that made me both laugh & tear up! Miss Tempest is going down as one of my favorite leading ladies!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Susan Duerden / Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins


I am a fan of Susan's narration skills. She has great pacing! She can make spunky characters shine and her male voices aren't bad either. Historical romance and her voice are a great match!

Familiar theme - average story

Twin girls come to London for their season. One, named Louisa, who has a ugly cat named Hannibal, meets the Viscount next door when the cat gets away and runs into his house. Louisa is a manager who likes order. The Viscount is a crippled ex soldier who has PSTD and is a recluse. Louisa keeps intruding on the Viscount to manage his home and he keeps ordering her out. Lots of problems for each of them lurks in their backgrounds. Buf of course they are extremely attracted to one another and perhaps she can cure his depression and PSTD. You know the story.

The narrator is very good performing this book, as she always is. She is very talented. The only thing I did not like was the loud scream she gave for the cat Hannibal. It jangled on my nerves.

A adorable ecape from every day life .

A adorable escape from every day life, I liked this story and the heroin was adorable the story was entertaining and I enjoyed it, and the ending was the way I like it.
I gave it 5 stars because it was enjoyable to listen to and the Narrated was very good which makes it even better.

Fall in love all over again!

The cat is worth the price of a credit, a great story just adds icing on a lovely cake! Listen, laugh and prepare to fall in Love!

Wonderful..

Any additional comments?

Love, love, loved Pierson and Louisa. Loved that he was so hard-hearted and she was so stubborn. Loved Lord Charlton, Amy, Tuck, Lavinia, Mrs. Perchell and Tiploft. And I really loved Bits and Bob. Great names for two sweet kids. I liked Hannibal, what a cat attitude.
Great story with not too much angst, I hate when there's too much angst. Not as much heat in it, no sexual tension to speak of, (mostly Louisa's inner thought of how his kisses made her feel) just two different scenes of gratuitous sex/sexual acts. If you're not going to have sexual tension why have sex? However, I enjoyed the story so much it didn't bother me too much.

As to the narrator: I never get tired of listening to Susan Duerden. She reads with emotion and the men sound like men. That's all I can ask for.

unspeakably dumb

Not even the spectacular Susan Duerden can save this asinine story. The plot is not terrible, but the writing absolutely is. There is a 20-minute conversation about jam. Need I say more? I have read hundred of romance novels, and this is probably top three worst. It's boring yet annoying.

the lady wins the beast's heart

Boyle shows her mastery in a charming tale, told with characters that are so finely described you will want to know them more. there were moments I was laughing about her cat's antics. Still, there were also deeper, sadder moments when it becomes clear that the hero's beastliness has a more serious reason as he deals with the aftermath of war. Joyfully. the hero realizes the worth of our heroine and ends with a satisfying HEA.
Duerden narrates unerringly with different voices and characters were clearly defined as she told the tale.

Great read to the end

This was one the most enjoyable story of the series so far. I t has loose ends that I cannot wait to begin. I highly recommend this story and others of the series

One of better Regencies

I have no idea why I love Regency stories so much. I’m obviously not alone but I find myself coming back to the genre and hunting for a good one. After reading so very many now, though, it gets harder and harder for me to find one that keeps my attention.
This one did. It has all the necessary parts I’ve decided make any new stories in this genre work. Because almost every conceivable arrangement of situations has pretty much been worked to death.
GOOD DIALOGUE. A must have. Whether among the staff or friends and sisters or friends or at the balls.
But especially something special and sweet and clever for that romantic twinge in the heart I think is what I’m looking for the most.
And the situation has to be somewhat possible and believable.
So, though the beginning with the cat almost put me off, I went on to really, really enjoy this story. It was surprisingly hilarious at times and thoroughly a situation I could believe. The romantic moments were sweet and the interchange between the two MCs entertaining and I got my little twinges of sweet moments. It had its serious moments which were also believable.
So thumbs up!! Gets my Georgette Heyer award and stamp of approval.

Wonderful series.

Laugh out loud series. with the right amount of romance. Really enjoying the series. Thank you Ms. Boyle

I loved it!

A very funny and cute story... Lovely historical Romantic comedy....
Susan Duerden is wonderful as always! It's really impressive the way she switches from one character to another changing her voice and intonation! It's really awesome!