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The Perfect Rake
- Merridew Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
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The Perfect Rake
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Summary
A phony engagement turns into real passion in this delightful Regency romance from award-winning author Anne Gracie.
Fate has lavished beauty on the Merridew sisters - that is, all save the eldest. But plain Prudence bears no grudge; she loves her four beautiful sisters infinitely. So when their abusive grandfather is laid up with an injury, she seizes the opportunity to concoct an ingenious plan that will allow all five of them to escape the clutches of their legal guardian. All it will take is a little matrimonial deception....
A renowned rake, Gideon, Lord Carradice, has a way of making ladies swoon. But when Prudence arrives at his doorstep and mistakes him for his cousin, the Duke, it is Gideon who's infatuated. The delightful spitfire claims she and the Duke are engaged - although a taller tale was never told. In spite of the lies, Gideon is so taken with charming Prudence that he's eager to join her game, especially if it will award him a stolen kiss or two. Now, Prudence's plot is about to go terribly, albeit deliciously, awry....
Contains mature themes.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Alison
- 13-07-21
Such a hoot!
This ridiculous novel is as frothy as a cream meringue and must not be taken seriously, of course, because every line, every character and every 'plot' device, is a great joke.
That is not to say I didn't like it, I did, rather. But I must be honest and I am sure the author would agree: this is a laugh, and not the sort of book that will improve your mind. It might improve your mood though.
If you buy it, you should prepare for 3 things. The narrator is the first of these. I have never heard such odd narration, with frankly bizarre emphases on words or parts of words. For example: 'You must PUT me down' Prudence SAID. There's a lot of this, too - please unhand me, etc. Or rather: please unhand ME! As if the hero was also fiddling with several other ladies.
Second, the narrator's style is also pure smut, if Kenneth Williams was to read a Regency romp. I think the narrator might speak like this to amuse herself. It was intensely irritating at first but I did slowly get used to it and in fact started to adopt the same style at home: would you LIKE a cup of tea, DEAR? You need to watch that if you're as susceptible as I am.
And third, the plot is flimsy, transparent and satisfyingly predictable.
I strongly suggest you listen to the sample - all of it, not just a minute or two. It could be a deal breaker! On the other hand, it whiled away 2 rainy days when I was stuck indoors, making curtains which I hate, so I did rather like the diversion. And I will never be able to look at the curtains without hearing: 'Oh, Prrrudence, MY dear Prrrudence' he SAID...and so on.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Annies
- 11-08-21
A good story spoiled
Such a pity that what was essentially a good story line was spoiled by the dreadful monotone of the reader. Her voice didn't change even in the romantic moments.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mooksmusic 124
- 19-06-21
A lovely story but very difficult to listen to.
This is a gripping story full of intrigue, interest and romance. However it was somewhat spoilt for me by the narrator who read every sentence with the same intonation, her voice rising at the end of every sentence. I found myself mentally repeating each line in the way I think the author intended.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Persephone
- 08-02-21
great read
loved it, very well written. loved the characters .
wasn't sure about the narrator at first, but quite enjoyed the reading in the end
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Terry
- 09-03-21
Great story
The story was very good but I was disappointed with the narrator, it spoiled the book the voice was too monotonous and just didn't ring true,great shame,I wont be listening to other books in the series till the narrator is changed
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-02-21
Good book nicely narrated.
This was my first Anne Gracie book and wouldn't be the last, I'm sure. Enjoyable story with oh so much appreciated humour. Admittedly there is an obligatory now days sex scene or two, but plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing right to the end.
Narration was perfection, done in good British English and no annoying mispronunciations. One star removed due to lengthy "declaration of love" part. It took far too long for the heroine to get the "he loves me" point.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Mo Bass
- 12-06-21
Awful
Ridiculous characters in an improbable story narrated in a patronising drawl. I didn't get past chapter 3.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Susan
- 14-01-21
Lovely Story
Really enjoyed this book .Took a bit of time to get used to the narrators voice .I did and so glad I persevered.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liz
- 02-04-23
Thoroughly Enjoyable Romance
Fast paced exciting satisfying romance. Warm and wondergul. Will be listening to this one again!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sue h
- 23-10-22
Joyous
I enjoyed this audio book so much it is difficult to find superlatives. Clever and amusing dialogue , superb narration bringing to life the humour and characters of the story. Good times and bad times it was all there.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amanda
- 20-05-21
Very disappointing performance.
Now, I thoroughly enjoy Anne Gracie’s books, and The Perfect Rake is my favorite romance and I’ve read it a dozen times, at least. I was super excited that an audiobook version has come out, especially since I’ve listened to her Marriage of Convenience and Chance Sisters series a few times and have enjoyed it immensely. As soon as this narrator read the title and author, I knew this was going to be horrible. It sounds like this woman was bored reading out loud the entire time, and while the in character parts were at least given an effort, the narration part had the same cadence each time, which made no sense at all. It was like she thought the whole book was a sex scene and had to describe it with that bored tone. HORRIBLE. Just because she has a refined British accent does NOT mean she’s qualified to narrate audiobooks. I fervently wish the publisher re-release these with a better narrator, because so does NOT do it justice, AT ALL. Just… PAINFUL. I’m not sure I can get through the whole audiobook. Cringeworthy.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- N. Berry
- 27-03-21
I want a Gideon!
This was my first book by this author and I loved it! I loved Gideon's sense of humor! The quips were fabulous and the narrarator did a great job with them. I loved how he and Gussie kept getting Otterbury's name wrong, the whole scene at the Duke's house when they first met, the love letters/tailor's bills, his shins with Grace, him having a "fever", the shooting, etc. I loved the "Imp" nickname. I won't go on about actual events. but I'll just say that I loved her strength and EVERYTHING about him, and I loved this story. ❤
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-03-21
Favorite Funny Romance; Robotically Read
This story has always made me smile and laugh! It's often been a go-to re-read when my spirits need a lift. I'm OVERJOYED that Audible added this romance novel! I did find Heather Wilds' reading a little distracting. She used a definitive, chopped style - stating each sentence separately - creating a cadence that sometimes overwhelmed the prose. I find this book, at times, hilarious but I'm glad the narrator didn't play to get laughs. Still, I wish she might have massaged her tone a bit, and paused more in the story's breaks.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- sfitting
- 04-04-21
Made me chuckle at times. Can't stand narrator
The story had some good moments. Author repeats herself, same phrases, throughout the story.
The person who ruins this audio is the narrator. She pauses After.Every.Sentence. It drags because of her. It doesn't flow well. She is too distracting.
I shudder because I still have 2 more books that are narrated by her. Sigh. I might just buy the books on kindle to avoid her all together.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Laura Lenti
- 01-05-21
Can't get a more boring story
I thought with chances of humor peeking it would get better. However author repeats and beats up the chapter so much you lose the moment. Even the best narrator can't save this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- I love to shop 💜
- 17-03-22
👎🏼 Bummer to have to return…
The story had promise, but the narrator had the same inflection for anything that wasn’t a voice! I mean, literally the same inflection!!
I have listened to HW 2 other times before. Once was an amazing performance, once was an ok one, and now this awful horrible one! Really gambling when getting a book narrated by her! I wish she would ee-do this one. I feel like maybe it was an early narration, before she got much experience. That or a later one and she’s tired of narrating. 🤷🏻♀️
I got this on sale for $3.16 and it was NOT worth it.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Christy
- 12-02-21
Super funny! Super sad.
This is a great book! The reader is annoying but her voices are great. She just narrates with strange inflection. Sort of like the sentences aren't connected...weird. hard to explain. But the story is full of great characters and finally a heroine who thinks the best of her guy rather than always jumping to the least likely scenario and getting herself into stupid stuff.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- reneest
- 03-08-21
Need new narrator
The story was great, I struggled with the odd and abrupt cadence of the narrator. I got the next book only because I wanted to know what happens with the rest of the girls.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robin
- 14-03-21
Great
Love Anne Gracie's books😀😀😀The Autumn Bride is my favorite.. Glad these are now on Audio...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- karen
- 20-12-20
Too Slow & Long
I was looking forward to this book, but was so disappointed. The first 5 chapters are a great start, but it drags and repeats too much for a good flow to the story.
The heroine has a secret about a past relationship that keeps her from coming together with the hero. When she tries to tell him her secret, it takes 3 chapters ...just too long. The situation makes the heroine sad and you feel sympathy, but she is not the most likeable character. This makes me conflicted about her. She is also strong, but keeps running out of rooms because she is too upset. It just doesn't make sense, and she gets less strong as the story goes on.
The hero is great. In the beginning he is funny and full of life, but even he gets depressing towards the end. With 3 hours left I just stopped caring!
This premise started out great, but went nowhere. It may be good for readers that like a slow meander to the HEA, but it's just too much to get through. I think it's trying to be a romp, but falls far short, as the humour is drained out of the story by the end.
The narration is very good and I bought it for that reason. This is an okay book, but not great.
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1 person found this helpful