The Look of Love

Book of Love Series, Book 1

By: Meara Platt

Narrated by: Hollis McCarthy

When Lady Olivia Gosling finds the Book of Love in a musty bookshop, she is most eager to try out its love "recipes" on someone safe.

Did she say safe?

Well, Beast isn't really safe, but with her odious guardian about to marry her off to one of his unsavory friends, Olivia needs her childhood friend to fall in love with her...fast. If Beast can love her, then any man she chooses will surely do the same.

Alexander Beastling, Duke of Hartford, is known as Beast among the ton. He is big and muscled, and there is a dark aura of mystery about him that he makes no effort to dispel. Now that he's returned from battle, he's appalled to learn of the marriage plans Lady Olivia's loathsome guardian has for her. Beast has decided that he will help her find a proper husband, even if it means putting up with her ridiculous experiments taken out of a book she refers to as the Book of Love. Olivia calls them magical recipes for love.

Is it possible they actually work? Because suddenly, Beast can't seem to get Olivia out of his mind...or his heart.

©2019 Myra Platt (P)2019 Tantor

mediocre story made worse by the narrator.

The first half of the book was plot-less and dead in the water. Some minor character development happened, but it was a slog to get through. The last 3 hours redeemed the book from a 1 star review. Suddenly, a basic story arc was introduced! Huzzah! It finished on a decent note.

The real problem was with the female character voices the narrator used. Every time an adult female character had dialogue the narrator made her sound like a high-pitched, simpering, petulant 6-year-old. It was impossible to visualize the characters as adults. It was particularly jarring during romantic scenes. It honestly sounded like the men were making out with little girls. <shudder>

Overall, If you want to check out the story, I would suggest reading the book rather than listening to the audio.

So sweet it could be a piece of chocolate.

Goose and the Beast. The two met when he was a young teenager and she was 6 years old. Beast saved her life and Goose fell totally in love.
Goose is a sweet person that always sees the good in people. It was inconceivable to Goose that there were bad people on the world until her parents died. When she was taught the difference.
Then along came Beast and everything changed.
The story was exactly what I was looking for in a Regency Romance. The narration was superb!
I loved it!

A Beautiful Story - A must have.

This was my first book by Meara Platt and I loved the entire story. Beautifully written, outstanding descriptive details, captivating storyline & exciting twists to this perfect romance. I can’t wait to get another book from this author. Hollis McCarthy performed this story beautifully. She really brought each character to life. She performs each scene with the right emotion, whether it is humor or heartache, the narration also captivates you. I loved it. A must have.

Cute and Silly

This book was cute and silly. Also funny. Some of the antics made me laugh out loud. I had to speed up the naration but otherwise ok.

Darling Story

This is a delightful story. The characters are fun and quirky. There is a buildup of sexual tension without becoming graphic, and a happy ending. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

I didn't care for the narrator because some of the voices were quite nasal.

Sweet story. Enjoyed it.

Loved the idea of the Book of Love. Fun characters, good narration. recommend it.

Light weight story

This is a mediocre novel best enjoyed by teenage girls over summer break. The narrator was also hard to listen to at times.

Great book and narrator!

I laughed out loud! This book was sweet and fun with a touch of naughty. I can’t wait for the next books in the series!

Better Off as a Screen Play

The book is waaaay toooo loooooong for the story. Many passages are simply numbing. I can see it as a sweet old film. Audrey Hepburn would have been a wonderful Goose. Beast could have been played by any of the leading men of her time.

I LOVE THIS STORY!!

I Absoulty Loved "The Look Of Love" I wish more Historical Romance authors wrote stories with characters like this.

At age 14 Alexander Beastling Duke of Harford saves a young girl of 6 from drowning in the lake. He gives her a nickname Goose. It was Lady Olivia Gosling. He sees her again after many years at Gresham's Antiquara Book shop. "The Book of Love" has just fallen on her head for the second time.. Beast comes up behind her. His eyes can't believe what a beauty she has grown up to be. He also, finds out that her parents have died and she is place in the guardianship of a crule, conniving and theiving distant cousin who now holds her fathers title.

Beast is a National hero and from a very long line of Dukes. He is powerful, rich and handsome. But his eye was injured during the war. I even liked his relationship with Prinny. I liked the believable why the Prince Regent was woven into the story.

I love the way these two have a open honest relationship. Beast is very protective of his little goose Olivia and demands she be allowed to attend a House Party in the country with her friends Poppy and Penelope. Also, Beast, and his two friends Nathianiel and Thaddeus. Lets not forget young Pip.

Olivia is using the recipe or techniques from "The Book of Love" on Beast just to see if they really work. Ahe is honest and tells Beast what she is doing. The conversations between these two are priceless. They connect on every level. Even the conversations between the friends are very well written. I felt like I was there in the story. The description of the clothes the manor house and the landscape is perfect. You can really feel Beast and Olivia falling in love.

This story is mildly sensual. Light Petting and a few hot kisses. But There Love, Friendship and Camaraderie Shines Through. Beast is awesome in the way he protects Goose/Olivia.

The Book of Love is a Keeper and A Re Read!! The story makes you feel good!!