The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel audiobook

“I’ve never really much liked the strutting peacock heroes. They tend to beat their chests and belittle the heroine and generally get too many people killed. No, I’d rather find myself in love with a reluctant hero.” She turned her head. Pressed her lips against the cotton of his shirt, right above his heart. “Someone who shuns the honor, but steps up when the circumstances demand it.” This was another new to me author in the historical romance genre and I was pleasantly surprised by the story and how it played out. We have an unconventional heroine whose nose is always buried in a book. She lives in a fantastical world where danger lurks around every corner and the only way to stay safe is to keep to her books, stay home, never venturing out into society.Mary is an adventurous soul but her spark has been dimmed by the pain and loss she experienced when she lost her brother and father. When her married twin sister convinces her to visit her in London she hesitatingly agrees. And proceeds to be caught in a damning situation with a well known scoundrel. This is where the story starts and where the strong mystery theme comes through. West might be very young but he's time spent in Crimea has scarred him deeply, although it isn't very obvious to the rest of society. By today's terms West would probably be diagnosed with PTSD, but being that this was the Victorian era he drowns his pain, sorrow and guilt in alchohol and acting the rake hell along with his friend Grant.When West and Mary overhear a plot to kill the Queen, they form a tentative alliance in order to find the ones responsible. I will admit that I knew who the guilty party was, but the author puts a spin on the entire tale surprising the reader even while confirming their suspicions.This was a very plot based storline although there were also some steamy moments for smut lovers. If you're a fan of headstrong and heroines who would rather save themselves than be saved, you should probably give this one a go.     

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.This book was just a whole lot of fun to read! I enjoy a good historical romance every now and then so when this book popped up on my radar, I decided to take a closer look. Once I read the summary, I knew that I had to read this book since the main character always seems to have her nose in a book. I felt an odd kinship with the heroine before I even started reading the book based on the books description.Mary has spent her life safely tucked away with her books. She goes to London to spend time with her sister who is in the later stages of pregnancy. When she seeks the safety of the library at a crowed event, her life takes a sudden turn and not only is her reputation destroyed but she has overheard an assassination plot. West is scoundrel known for all of his ill deeds. When he sees the lady from the garden go to the library during the party, he follows her. Now he must deal with the ramifications of tarnishing the reputation of an innocent while trying to figure out the assassination plot that they overheard.The characters in this book were great. Mary had a lot of spunk and was not at all afraid of saying no to others. I loved how she seemed so educated on just about every subject just from reading about it. West was fun. He didn't make apologies for his prior behavior and owned up to everything when questioned. He seemed like he was actually a much more caring man than he showed through his behavior. It was really nice watching his character develop throughout this book.I ended up really liking this pair as a couple. West treated Mary with a lot of respect and honestly valued all of her opinions. I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between them at the start of the book but as their relationship developed so did their chemistry. I loved how each of these characters seemed so much stronger together than they did apart. There was enough heat in some parts of the book to keep things interesting.I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This is the third book in the Seduction Diaries series but it really can be read perfectly fine as a stand alone novel. I have read any of the prior books in the series and had no trouble keeping up with the story. I definitely plan to look for more books from this author in the future.I received an advance reader edition of this book from Avon Books via Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an honest review.Initial ThoughtsI had a lot of fun reading this one!

This was my first Jennifer McQuiston and it definitely won't be my last. I LOVED this entire book!

What book lover hasn’t pictured herself as one of the heroines she’s read about? Read a mystery and think herself as canny as an inspector? Compared a man to one she’s seen on page? Miss Mary Channing has done all of that. But she hasn’t done much living in the real world. It’s easier to live vicariously through characters she meets on the page. A visit to her sister in London, though, is about to change everything.That’s where she first stumbles across the handsome reprobate Geoffrey Westmore. He’s a future viscount whose only interests lie beneath a skirt or at the bottom of a glass. He’s known for epic pranks and even more epic conquests. He and Mary could not be less suited to one another. But the two of them are thrown together when get trapped in a library and overhear an assassination plot. Unfortunately, no one believes Westmore because of his history with practical jokes. And it doesn’t help that their time in the library ruined Mary in the eyes of society.So they have to solve the mystery themselves. The story follows their adventure as they try to unmask the villains –and just happen to fall in love in the process.I liked the story well enough. It’s got some tender feelings happening. Mary and Westmore definitely bring out the best in each other. I like that Mary finds an inner strength she didn’t know she had and that West manages to get past some of the self-loathing and doubt that has driven him for so long. (It’s also hard not to love a bookworm heroine.)But I did have some issues. The degree of Mary’s naiveté strained credibility at times. I understand that her life experience was limited, but book-living isn’t real-living and at a certain point, a grown woman should recognize that. I’m also not a big fan of such a sexually prolific hero. I know they’re all supposed to be gangbusters in bed, but this guy really was a bit more promiscuous than even your average rake. It was a little bit of a turnoff.As for the mystery, it was fairly good. But I saw the “big reveal” coming –the who, not the why– which made it a bit of a letdown.Overall, though, the romance is good. There’s solid sexual tension and some enjoyable payoff. And the ending satisfies.Rating: B*ARC provided by publisher

Miss Mary Channing is visiting her pregnant sister in London, little does she know that coming to London would lead to adventures that she reads about. Geoffrey ‘West’ Westmore years ago, had quite a few dreams of being an architect but that was before the navy. Even though he had managed to save some lives, the lives of those who he couldn’t save continue to haunt him. Now more of a rake than anything, he is wasting away his life drinking and partying with his best friend.I think this book had a surprise of having the most unusual way for a heroine and the hero to meet. Also while West was a complete Rake and freely admitted it I loved that the man was smitten with his ‘Mouse’ Mary. She made him laugh, intrigued him and ultimately made him want to return to the man he used to be before crumbia. I loved Mary as well, she was bookish, kind and naive but in such a way that you couldn’t help but like her. She was intelligent and very versed in all manner of things alas she preferred the company of her books. She also loved romance or tragedies where the heroine falls in the love with the villain. Her commentary on that whole villain/hero/heroine was cute and I loved the glimpses of her diary I wish we could have gotten a bit more though with her diary back when she was younger. I loved how determined Mary was with a reluctant West who didn’t want Mary to get involved to find the suspect. I loved their romance, it was unique and adorable at times. Overall it was funny, lovely and entertaining story with a dash of suspense!ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure I was going to end up reading this one or not but with "scoundrel" in the title how could I resist? Once I got started I found The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel fun and completely delightful. This was my first story by McQuiston and I can already say it wont be my last. Her story telling had a way of capturing me and taking me to the brilliant world she created. Mary has a love for books and always has (which I loved) and she was passionate about them. When she goes to London to help with her sisters pregnancy she never thought she would met a man who would destroy her reputation. While hiding in the library she comes face to face with West, but she has in fact seen him before peeing in her sisters rose bushes. These two embark on a journey on finding out who is going to be assassinated since they over heard it. I thought the plot was fun and interesting. I kept wondering who these individuals were and why they were set on that course. The writing was a dream to read and it flowed really well. I didn't find an over use of wordage or maybe I was just that involved in the story to even notice. The characters really stood out and took center stage through the entire book. I couldn't have picked a better pairing of West and Mary. I loved how they started a friendship and slowly moved their way into falling in love with one another. At first West came off as a uncaring sod but the more I learned about him and what he went through I did get why he was the way he was. I liked the little changes he made and it was all because of Mary. I found I really liked their relationship and felt they were one of the best historicals couples I have read in a long time. By the end of this book I was wanting more and have already purchased the first two books in this series, I don't know when I will get to them but they are definitely on my TBR list.

(Apr) I swear I thought I wrote a review of this. Oh well - it's been too long for me to remember any great detail, but this was a perfectly nice, somewhat forgettable historical romance. I do recall that Mary first spies Westmore when he's taking a piss in her garden after a night of carousing. Do love a somewhat scandalous meet-cute! Mary is addicted to books and mysteries and overhears what she thinks is a plot to harm the Queen. She and West team up (since no one will believe the spinster or the prankster) and do a bunch of stuff and God Save the Queen! It all ends well. This was a nice book, and easy read, nothing too frustrating about the story or the characters, nice people to spend time with. While this is #3 in a series, I think it can be read on its own.

Four stars on the book as a whole. The assassination plot was well crafted and I enjoyed the twist. I found the heroine mildly annoying and borderline delusional. Five stars to that one steamy scene halfway through.

I enjoyed this book. I got a little bit bored in the middle because I knew they were going after the wrong guy and it irritated me. I also felt like it was dragged out a bit. But over all a good book.

Originally posted on You Have Your Hands FullI recently finished listening to the Audible edition of Jennifer McQuiston’s The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel. This is the third book in The Seduction Diaries, and features Geoffrey Westmore, who fans of the series will remember as the younger brother of the heroines of the first two Seduction Diaries books. We are also introduced to Miss Mary Channing, who is twenty-six years old and has never been kissed. She first encounters “West” (as Geoffrey is called) urinating on a rose bush in her sister’s garden. Needless to say, she is not impressed. They meet again when West follows her to the library at a party. He thinks that she is looking for an assignation, but she is only looking for a book. While in the library, they overhear an assassination plot. And then they share a kiss. And then everybody walks in and sees them kissing. So much scandal! Mary and West are an unlikely pair- she likes reading and writing in her journal, and he likes drinking excessively and playing pranks. But somehow, they work well together. West would like to conduct an investigation into what he overheard, but Mary insists upon joining him. West is reluctant, but Mary is persistent. But if they ask too many questions, they might be putting their own lives in danger! This was an especially interesting book. Not only do we have the usual romance trope of two unlikely souls thrust together, but we also have a mystery. Mary and West both feel compelled to try to uncover the conspiracy even though they do not even know the target of the assassination plot. The mystery was very well done, and even though I figured out half of it, the other half came as a complete surprise. I would recommend The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel. The books in this series function well as standalones, and you don’t have to read the first two books before reading this one. There is a particular delight in seeing the pesky little brother all grown up, but even if you read The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel first, you’ll still enjoy seeing West as a young boy in the first book in the series. This is going to be the last McQuiston book for the foreseeable future, but I certainly hope she comes back to writing when she can. Until then, I am going to have to catch up on her books that I haven’t read yet.

Interesting choice of plot. Not one I’ve often read, which is refreshing.My one question for the author would be: did you forget about Vivian until the end? Oooooor was her part always the plan?

Really more like 3.5*, but needed more than a 3*