Audiobook review: 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee
Mellie (Melinda) Smithson lives and works with her father in the country. Her only prospect is her half-cousin Ronnie, whose romantic notions miss their mark and leave Mellie exhausted and annoyed. She wants to be her own business woman, but her uncle and father won’t support it because it’s not a “proper woman’s” place.
Trevor is the grandson of a duke and second in line for the dukedom. He is Mellie’s father’s student and loves her father as his own. Trevor never had time for Mellie until he realizes she may be the answer to all his problems. His grandfather has cut him off until Trevor gets engaged. Knowing Mellie needs a way out from her uncle and cousin and to find a husband of her own, he proposes and whisks her off to London for a limited-time engagement.
50 Ways to Ruin a Rake is a lovely frenemies-to-lovers, fake relationship historical romance. Mellie and Trevor go into the arrangement knowing they don’t suit and looking for mutually beneficial results to their individual problems. However, once they start spending time together, they realize they actually like each other and are extremely attracted to one another. While his actions and thoughts are pretty arrogant and distasteful at times, Trevor’s character is pretty much on the mark for a man of the ton. He may like Mellie, but knows as a country cit, she is beneath his station and both would suffer if they went through with any type of real relationship.
But with the help of Trevor’s female friends, Mellie becomes the darling of the season, and many of men desire her. Unfortunately, after spending so much time with Trevor, she knows she has fallen in love, and no one else measures up. Her journey is both entertaining and heartbreaking as she navigates London society.
Narration: The story is shared in 3rd person POV, switching between Mellie and Trevor. The narrator stays female, but the dialogue alters. Ms. Dore uses a British accent and I enjoyed it; however, I am not an expert on accents and don’t know how period/class appropriate it is. Her narrator voice has a slight rasp and I found it enjoyable overall. Trevor voice isn’t overly deep, but it is distinguishable as male and as his voice. Each character had a unique and distinct speaking voice. Ms. Dore infused her characters with appropriate emotion, most especially the love-struck Ronnie and overly frustrated Mellie.
Overall, I really enjoyed 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake, and I plan to see what comes next for these Rakes and Rogues.
My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
Mellie Smithson has a plan…
Mellie Smithson is trapped in the country with no suitors and no prospects on the horizon except, perhaps, the exasperating—although admittedly handsome—guest of her father. She’s looking for any excuse to go to London to meet more eligible men.
Trevor has a problem…
Trevor Anaedsley’s grandfather has cut off his funds until such time as he gets engaged. Trevor escapes to the country—ostensibly to visit his old tutor, Mr. Smithson, but actually to duck his creditors—where he meets Smithson’s lovely daughter, Mellie. The obvious solution is suddenly before him—but the lady has ideas of her own, and Trevor’s going to have to measure up…
Author: Jade Lee
Narrator: Charlotte Anne Dore
Series: Rakes and Rogues #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Audiobook Release Date: June 16, 2015
Publisher: Tantor Media
Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
Source: Purchased
Audio Speed: 1.5x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)