Ready Set Rogue

Studies in Scandal, Book 1

De: Manda Collins

Narrado por: Beverley A. Crick

When scholarly Miss Ivy Wareham receives word that she's one of four young ladies who have inherited Lady Celeste Beauchamp's estate with a magnificent private library, she packs her trunks straightaway. Unfortunately, Lady Celeste's nephew, the rakish Quill Beauchamp, Marquess of Kerr, is determined to interrupt her studies one way or another...

Bequeathing Beauchamp House to four bluestockings - no matter how lovely they are to look at - is a travesty, and Quill simply won't have it. But Lady Celeste's death is not quite as straightforward as it first seemed, and if Quill hopes to solve the mystery behind her demise, he'll need Ivy's help. Along the way, he is surprised to learn that bookish Ivy stirs a passion and longing that he has never known. This rogue believes he's finally met his match - but can Quill convince clever, skeptical Ivy that his love is no fiction?

©2017 Manda Collins (P)2017 Tantor

loved it

got this book on a whim and loves it. I am definitely buying the rest of the series.

Not the best.

The story was too predictable. I didn't have time to care about the characters before they were thrown together. The narrator's voice grated on my nerves and definitely hurt my views about the characters. The mystery part was the best part of the story, although it was not fleshed out enough.

Well done story and romance.

Overall, I enjoyed the story very much. The story was well done and the characters nicely developed and intertwined.

I would’ve enjoyed it if it were just a touch longer just adding a chapter here and there would have been nice. (It seemed to move fast and yet it was well timed, not sure that makes sense). The reason for the conflict between the two main characters, was clear and justifiable I would have like it to carry on just a chapter or two longer. Their coming together was a wee bit fast. And maybe another chapter or two of her looking into the mystery. But really the book did flow nicely. I really liked the other characters, introductions and development was very nice. I liked the different personalities and educational topics. You very much has me ready to pick up with the next book to here see what happens next definitely would read these books in order totally enjoyed!

Good story, narration detracts

This is my second Manda Collins book, and I think I would have liked it more, but the narrator’s tone detracted from the story for me. I still liked it, and it seems like one I’d like better to read in print for myself.

An editor would have made this a full 5 stars!

When “he ignored her for three days” “it had been a week when she finally hunted him down” and “it was her second day there” and “ her first full day” all were used to refer to a series of events that took place in the same two days.... during which “they set out carrying a packed picnic basket” and “surely they were noticed missing at noontime meal” were describing the same events. And a letter written by the lord and sent via valet was then delivered to town to be posted by the same person who sent it with the valet...

It’s too easy to keep getting pulled out of a good story by shoddy editing... how could no one catch this???? I’m only at the beginning and if I wasn’t aware of the big picture and ignoring the little inconsistencies I’d be a confused mass of frustration!

A train of thought that started with a week ago and ended with a within 24 hours comment all about the same thing in one mixed up sentence SHOULD have been noticed by the WRITER and picked up by the EDITOR.

Boring till Chapter 10

I didn't like the characters. So much so, that I am not even interested in the rest of the books. Very little humor. Serious minded. I was expecting some of the few funny parts to expand, making me want to listen to the next chapter but that never occurred.

Then there is the plot. Someone is murdering people and the heroine is ALWAYS getting hurt but none of the 4 smartest women guess someone is trying to kill "her". 4 of the smartest women in their respective fields....ummmm, not so much.