Spectacular Rascal

Steamy, Sexy, Witty Romantic Comedy!

Lili Valente delivers another amusing story from the Magnificent Bastard Consulting. I loved the first book Magnificent Bastard! It was one of the most hilarious and sexy stories I've listened too in 2016, and recommend listening to it first to get an appreciation for MBC. As soon as I learned Spectacular Rascal was out, I immediately downloaded it.

I enjoyed Valente's unique writing style, humor, multiple POV's (even Cat's precious fur baby), and all the texts, letters and emails used for the flashback scenes. Told mainly from Aidan's POV, listening to all his inner dialogue really made this a fun listen. He may look like a lumberjack, but his character was affectionate, easy, carefree, sexy, tough and just plain fun. Due to the history between Cat and himself, he was reluctant to take her "case" on, but quickly becomes her knight in shiny armor when he gets a first hand glimpse of Cat's ex and what she's up against. The chemistry and sex scenes between Aidan and Catherine were hot! My checks still hurt from all the hours spent smiling while listening to this one.

Both David Ledoux and Lili Valente performances were good. Not only did Valente deliver a spectacular story, but she did an outstanding job narrating the female's POV. Ledoux's has a great voice and was a good fit for Aidan's character.

Definitely a credit worthy listen! Can't wait for Miraculous Mess!

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Such An Enjoyable Book

Where does Spectacular Rascal rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm lucky in that I really hit pay dirt with the audiobooks that I listen to, and Spectacular Rascal is right up there with the best of them. It's got everything from irreverent humor to scorchingly hot love scenes to crime caper, and it all just works together.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spectacular Rascal?

The first night that Aidan and Cat spent together is pretty memorable, but I have to say that all of the texts between all of the characters are my favorite moments. The one that really made me laugh out loud was the one near the end of the book between Bash, Penny, Aidan, and Shane; Lili has a real knack for the witty repartée, and it just shines through in the texting scenes.

What does David Ledoux and Lili Valente bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This was my first time listening to an audiobook with David as the narrator, and he just nailed it. The ease with which he brought each different character to life was very well done, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him. Having Lili in there was a pleasant surprise; she's a lady of many talents, and captured the essence of Cat just perfectly.

Any additional comments?

SPECTACULAR RASCAL is a fast-paced, super-fun, sexy as sin listen, and I couldn't recommend it any more highly. 5 stars all the way.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Simply Spectacular!

Would you listen to Spectacular Rascal again? Why?

Yes! This book has me laughing out loud, I absolutely loved it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spectacular Rascal?

The reading of the text messages between Aidan and Bash was hysterical.

Which character – as performed by David Ledoux and Lili Valente – was your favorite?

David Ledoux reads the vast majority of the book so I guess he was my favorite. He brought so much to the character and really did a fantastic job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! I wish I could have just listened to it all at once but life gets in the way.

Any additional comments?

After reading this book I knew what to expect from the story, but hearing it out loud was so much funnier. I would highly recommend this audiobook.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Good plot but too much immature college reminiscence

Story is second in what started as a silly but cute series about a company that is built on embarrassing or shaming ex boyfriends who have humiliated their lovers. This plot is darker though but doesn’t take seriously enough the obsessions of the boyfriend with mob ties. There is a nod with statistics but no real follow through at the end. The story is also about an hour or two too long with way to many tales of the hero and heroine ‘s juvenile college antics as a way to prove their past great connections. Too much trying to be overly cute and clever. The author does a great job as the female narrator but there isn’t enough of her. The main narrator is ok - neither great nor terrible. I recommend this only for the lightest of reading and to speed through the boring parts and only as a romance package selection or freebie. The first in the series was better.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dashing Rascal

Loved this one from beginning to Miraculous end. This book was entertaining on all levels. it seemed to go by so very fast. I wanted more!!! More sex, more love, more ink, just more. narration was amazingly on point. now I guess we will have to wait for more when we get to know the Miraculous Mess!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A SECOND CHANCE FOR HUMOR, HEART, HEAT & LOVE

If you're looking for a Rom/Com then you've probably just found your next listen.. because this has some very funny scenes in it. But humor isn't the only thing that makes this such an enjoyable listen - there's a feisty sassy Heroine, a sexy Alpha Hero, some steamy sex scenes, there's a dash of suspense and danger, a Mob connected ex that won't go away and some very sleak and clever banter between Aidan (aka Curved) and Catherine (aka Cat, Red and Panties). They first met at College when they belonged to the same Dashers Club, got up to all sorts of antics and quickly became best-friends.. but not lifetime friends because, before things could heat up between them, Aidan walked away. Aidan is pondering over his lost friend and the lost opportunities there while he goes to meet MBC's new client and suddenly he sees the very face that's been haunting his thoughts.. Cat - the girl he didn't realize he loved.. the girl he'd left behind. Only now she's no longer an innocent girl and now she's in some serious trouble.. trouble with a capital T and only Aidan can sort it out.

This is a second chance at love story with some flashbacks to their past friendship told from quick-witted and crazy archived letters and texts showing just how tight Curved and Panties were, how well they got along and what they each meant to one another 11 years previously.. before Aidan walked away from the best thing in his life. This book picks up where Magnificent Bastard left off but you don't need to listen to that one first as this is easily a standalone listen. Bash and Penny (from the previous book) made appearances and it also had a sweet dog named Fang. Told from Aidan's POV but a few Chapters were from other characters. Good narration.

Worth a credit? The feeling of togetherness between the H and H really stood out and so too did their off the charts chemistry and so the relationship quickly developed because of it.. but it was easy to understand why these two clicked straight off when you hear the depth to their history together. It's a fun listen, an enjoyable listen, a very entertaining listen and YES a creditworthy one too.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

Review: Spectacular Rascal

What did you love best about Spectacular Rascal?

Oh - The attraction to distraction between these two. Their shared history. The flashbacks and "text archives". The soldier's butt hidey-hole.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spectacular Rascal?

The time in Ithaca was what I remember most, before the thing (spoiler-free speak) happened. The attraction between Aidan and Cat is palpable, both in their past and now. When they are together, free of the stress of their (Cat's) "problem", they are relaxed, happy and falling in love.

Which scene was your favorite?

Aidan's puppy talk scene and the girls and their exploding ovaries.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely - I almost did, but you know, work and adulting and stuff.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Spectacular Rascal

Any additional comments?

I'm a very big fan of Lili Valente's so it's always a pleasure for me to read/listen to her books. Spectacular Rascal was enjoyable and had several LOL moments, Cat is a strong woman that gives as good as she takes.
Really enjoyed the end with the cats POV, very different and cute.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

I was not captured

This on was not my cup of tea. The relationship between Cat and Aidan did not capture me, I just didn't believe in their love story. It was very funny but I found myself comparing it to other friends to lovers stories that I enjoyed like The Pact and Sincerely Carter.

It also did not help that David narrated about 90% of the book. I wish I could have heard more from Cat.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Sadistic Rascal

I was instantly confused; Aidan worked for a security company as a bodyguard. His job was protecting women from violent, domineering ex-lovers. Ironically, in his personal life, Aidan enjoyed beating and bullying his sexual partners. WHF? Couldn't figure out if the author was condemning or condoning domestic abuse.

When Aidan was assigned to help Kat, an old college friend, from a crazy stalker she assumed that Aidan had morals and integrity. Sadly, Kat was incredibly naïve for an attorney, and soon was pressured into a dangerous and degrading relationship with her so-called bodyguard.

It was difficult relating to Kat, who did not possess a backbone, common sense or self-respect. She blindly trusted Aidan just because they went to the same school - really dumb. Wondering who would kill her first - Nico or Aidan - was not enough mystery to keep me interested or entertained.