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Lessons of Desire

By: Madeline Hunter
Narrated by: Jill Tanner
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Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Madeline Hunter stokes the fires with this sinfully delicious tale of an unjustly imprisoned woman and her savior.

When publisher Phaedra Blair is released from confinement, she has Lord Elliot Rothwell to thank. But she soon learns Rothwell's ulterior motive - to prevent her from publishing a manuscript that would scandalize his family. Yet Phaedra doesn't mind playing Rothwell's erotic games - and she is every bit his match.

©2007 Madeline Hunter (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC
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What listeners say about Lessons of Desire

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really good book if you can get past the narrator

I loved the story and the narrator wasn't the worst I've ever heard and once I could picture the characters in my mind her voice seemed less important. However, her narration is the reason I couldn't give it 5 stars. Stoll worth the read especially if you speed it up😉😉

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

OK story but slow at start

Story was good but so slow at start, I almost gave up on it. last part better.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not what you may think, but still very good.

A story that has and old time way breaking away the barriers of the Man vs. Women. Both characters are very strong, and sometimes down right erritating to the point that you want to yell at them to "wake up". If you like the 1800's, a lesson in compromise and a great desire for romance - than this one is for you!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Struggling to get through the first half!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narration is cold and haughty. It's difficult to distinguish the characters from the aloofness and unemotional tone of the narration. Mostly I feel like the characters are unlikable.

Would you recommend Lessons of Desire to your friends? Why or why not?

No. I will finish it because I paid for it, but I mostly use the book to fall asleep. Sounds rude, but it is absolutely true.

What didn’t you like about Jill Tanner’s performance?

She is emotionless. Her narration causes the characters to come off as emotionless and unlikable. I cannot cheer for them or even like them. They seem to have no pathos.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. I don't care about the objectives of the characters. The seduction scenes are so cold that I cannot believe that anything meaningful exists between the characters other than calculated manipulation.

Any additional comments?

I will not take another chance on this author or narrator because I cannot tell if the problem is with one, the other, or both.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Endured Only To Hear Elliot and Phaedra's Story

Madeline Hunter is the Best! However, Jill Tanner is not; she has a good regency voice, but not for romance.,,,mysteries or suspense maybe. She honestly sounds like my grandmother reading which did not allow me to thoroughly enjoy the more romantic parts of this work. To begin the series with Susan Duerden (my fav) in "Rules", and then switch to Ms. Tanner in "Lessons", was quite upsetting. At least in "Secrets" Ms. Hunter mercifully employed Simon Prebble, whose voice is a bit too "male" for the female performance, but emphatically more endurable than Ms. Tanner's. I love my grandmother, but I DO NOT want her voice in my head when I am being a bit naughty!!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great

The story was well done. I love the characters and their complicated lives and ideals. The romance was unusual and intriguing. Meredith writes engaging love scenes that are sensuous and romantic. It was a different type of love story with a satisfying end.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Much Ado About Nothing

Struggled to finish and I usually can't put the author's books down. The narration didn't help. Thumbs down on the story and narration.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Yawwwwwn!!

I don’t like submitting negative reviews, yet this story was too long and too boring. I liked Elliot but Phaedra got on my nerves. I also don’t like spoilers. Needless to say, skip this book. You won’t miss much for continuity with the series. This should’ve been a novella. The narrator, Jill Tanner, is one of my favorites. A shame her talent was wasted here.
I’m hoping the next book in the series is a worthwhile listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Disheartening until the end

Is life-long commitment without marriage enough historically? Is it today? Do the children of these relationships suffer? Is it right for certain people and their emotional well being? Love, commitment, and marriage are not easy but this story tries to make one believe it is worth the effort.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Outdated Battle of Sexes. Absolutely Ridiculous Situations

Not worth your time. Wish I had read the reviews before downloading.

There’s a very persistent battle of the sexes theme, and it’s done in a very not subtle way. It feels like feminist men vs women battle of the sexes comedy movies from the 70s and 80s. Except it isn’t a comedy. How is it possible that this book was published in 2007?? It gets to a point where you want to say “ok, I get it, can we please add in some character development or fun conversation?” It felt like the book was 50% very not subtle battle of the sexes, 10% regency romance, and 40% ridiculous situations.

Speaking of the ridiculous situations, SPOILER - seriously?? An entire town holds a revolt where they imprison a lady and then to resolve the rioting when the whole town forces a marriage?? Seriously. What. For real?

Also not loving that there’s a recurring theme that if you’re a feminist, you purposefully provoke people and are ostracized everywhere you go. It is possible to believe in feminist values without being obnoxious, and it’s so weird to me that the author decided to portray a supposed figure of female empowerment in a way that made her a social leper at best and accused of being a whore who’ll be imprisoned for life (maybe killed?) at worst.

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2 people found this helpful