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Title: The Flirt

Subtitle: The Regency Intrigue Series, Book 1

Author: M. C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney

Narrator: Charlotte Anne Dore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-15

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"If I could have foreseen the future, I would have married the first man who asked me!"

Tongues were set wagging when Elizabeth Markham's glamorous young parents were killed, sinking their only child to the unspeakable class of poor relation. Forced to live with her cruel, miserly uncle Julius, Elizabeth is forbidden to partake in the season's festivities. Marriage is her only escape, and she enacts a daring plan to trick her way into the duke of Dunster's exclusive house party, to snare one of the eligible dandies sure to dance attendance on her.

Her plan proceeds swimmingly, as Elizabeth flirts with all but the arrogant Lord Charles Lufford, considered to be quite a catch. She ignores him thoroughly until her uncle discovers her deception, and Charles saves her - by announcing their engagement! But Elizabeth's troubles are far from over, for in her absence she has come into an inheritance. And her uncle, along with one other sinister party, would rather see her perish than receive it.

Members Reviews:

A free ride on my trip down memory lane.

Once long ago I read a few Marion Chesney/M.C. Beaton novels, then just stopped. It was so long ago I don't even remember why, but picking up this free offering (which I notice is now at regular price again and don't get it, please, until it's free again) leads to the conclusion that she was just boring the heck out of me.

This particular story showed a bit of promise at first, although full of cliche and predictable characters and plot. The heroine, once a young diamond-of-the-first-water debutante but now come down in the world after the death of her parents, lives with her strict man-of-God uncle and his family, more or less in the role of Cinderella. A Cinderella who is starved and beaten and doesn't have one bird or mouse to befriend her. Her absolute hunger is portrayed well and is affecting.

But the story itself, although beginning rather well, devolved quickly into cliche after cliche. 1) There's the intransigent hero who is so conflicted about his feelings for her, kissing her one moment and treating her like dirt the next. 2) There's an inheritance unknown to the heroine which her unscrupulous family want for themselves. 3) There's upper-class snobbery in the form of the hero's mother and sister. 4) Threats on the life of our heroine. 5) An abduction, of course.

All of this and more in what seemed to be a never-ending book. I went skimming and skipping along by the time I got to perhaps 60% (or even before). Life's too short to spend reading all the words of this thing.

liked it very much

This book has a good plot - very romantic in a nice innocent way. Reminded me of some of Georgette Heyer's novels. The plot also includes attempted murder, rescue, nasty relatives, etc. I always read the one star reviews and almost decided against buying this book. I'm glad I did no heed the naysayers because I did like the main characters and understood why they behaved the way they did. I recommend it for readers who enjoy books free of crude language and steamy sex.

A charming Regency romance

Elizabeth Markham is considered a terrible flirt by Lord Charles when she disappears from the London scene.