Not even Anne Flosnik's splendid narration...

What disappointed you about The Dangerous Gentleman?

The contrived angst between the heroine and hero. Every time he comes home to try to win her love again, she does something stupid to thwart it. The brother in law that they let hang around is like Iago. How on earth can you purport to love someone if you think they are cheating on you?

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nalini Singh's newest book

Which scene was your favorite?

The last one since the book was over

What character would you cut from The Dangerous Gentleman?

The hero's brother should be cut. I am sure the hero and heroine can get into trouble without him

Any additional comments?

It was a reasonable read right up to the last 4 chapters, until the heroine does something contrived to definitely get herself into hot water again!

6 people found this helpful

Good story, regrettable performance

Setting: England, 1834
Genre: Romance

Why, why, why? Why do I purchase books narrated by Anne Flosnik? This performance was so irritating that I was hearing her overly dramatic performance rather than what she was reading. Seriously. I had to back up several times because the narration was so irritating it was distracting. When the character was supposed to be intense, it came across as so much cringe-worthy over-acting. Ugh! I must remember this and just cave to Kindle when I see her as the narrator.

The story itself (insofar as I could really hear it beyond the narration) was okay, but well-written. The hero marries the woman his brother is about to offer for, out of revenge. She marries him because she feels she'll have a greater chance to experience life in more interesting places with him rather than his brother. He ends up taking her to his country estate, where the relationship is pretty cold except for in bed, until tragedy strikes. The author used miscommunication and tragedy as plot devices, so some will find it a bit hackneyed. However, I believe it was well done enough to hold the listener's interest - if the irritations of the narrator can be overcome.

The characters were pretty standard. Tortured hero, naive heroine. You know what I don't like (and it's true in many historicals)? The H/h seem to have nothing in common except for physical attraction. Yes, in this particular book, the heroine rises to the challenge when tragedy strikes but still, except for that the two seem to have no meeting ground. There are also accusations of betrayal as part of the miscommunication on which the plot depends. I hate those snits.

Was this a credit-worthy listen? Well, not for me, but you may be okay with the narration. It just leeched all the enjoyment out of the experience.

6 people found this helpful

Not my favorite

This book started off good . I didn’t like how she dragged out the back and forth with them. Like the whole book makes you cringe I didn’t get really enough love , emotion from this book to much hate and misunderstanding very frustrating to get through

3 people found this helpful

Worse book ever

Possibly the angstiest book I ever had a displeasure to listen to, there is so much of it it’s unbearable.

2 people found this helpful

Dreadful narration and weak story

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Dreadful narration again by Anne Flosnik. So melodramatic that it was distracting and irritating. The characters didn't have much substance and the entire plot twist turned on poor communication and incorrect assumptions. It was just frustrating and boring. I've read better books by the author.

How could the performance have been better?

Less melodramatic and pathetic

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Irritation.

2 people found this helpful

Entertaining

This is the 4th Rogues of Regent Street book I have listened to. I heard them out of order, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoyed this book but more for the story than for the characters. The lovers definitely make a perfect pair. They best each other all the time for stupidity, arrogance and self-pity. He’s a weak man and she is a strong woman so, for the era, that makes them equal. There is a mystery of sorts woven throughout that kept me interested when it got slow. Julia London is a fantastic writer and her talent isn’t wasted here. Anne Flosnik is in her element and turns in a purely delightful performance. She is convincingly confident and forceful one moment, broken and weak the next. She is masterful in bringing out the nuanced emotions. When she cries it’s credible. The only thing I’ve always found unsettling about her is the fact the love scenes always sound like she is barking a horse race. This was free and definitely worth it.

1 person found this helpful

Speech impediment

I really like Julia London’s writing and have listened to several of her novels. I have a very hard time listening when Ms. Flosik narrates and have to return several read by her as she seems to have problems with words that end in Vs or Fs using Bs instead like she has a cold but I’ve heard it in more than this reading. How can she be an acclaimed narrator when she has a speech impediment. I would prefer Julia London using a different narrator.

1 person found this helpful

Very good

This was great! I love when characters bring out different emotions. I loved them and I was annoyed by them and I hated them and I sympathized with them. What a wonderful romance!

Misunderstandings, secrets, and stubbornness. The makings of a delicious story. I can't wait to listen to the rest of this series.

1 person found this helpful

I liked it but…

The back and forth about I love him, I hate him, I should have married your brother by the heroine, Lilliana, got tiresome pretty quickly. The other things I found lacking were:
1. Adrian’s brother Benjamin wasn’t confronted for the lies he told Lilliana.
2. Adrian’s very close friends didn’t come right away after his accident.
3. Ben finding out (SPOILER ALERT) that he is a bastard should have been included.
Overall, I liked the story. It’s well paced and well written. The intimate scenes are well done. I will read the entire series.

The Dangerous Gentleman

I love how much the drama in this story made my guts ache. Literally, every time something good happened —poof— more drama. I love when the main female character decides to grow a backbone and becomes a hellion. The narrator has such a cool range of accents, though I must admit I found the main female characters more annoying and breathy than the others. Hot and steamy scenes!