The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe

Posted April 4, 2015 by Karen in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna ShupeThe Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe
Also by this author: The Harlot Countess, The Lady Hellion, Tycoon, Magnate
Series: Wicked Deception #1
Also in this series: The Lady Hellion
Published by Kensington on March 31, 2015
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
ISBN: 142013552X
ASIN: B00OEW5S0W
Goodreads
four-stars

FTC disclaimer applies, please visit 'About' page

Can a bold-faced lie lead to everlasting love? One by one, the impetuous heroines in the Wicked Deceptions series intend to find out, each in her unique way. . .How to seduce an estranged husband--and banish debt!--in four wickedly improper, shockingly pleasurable steps...

1. Learn the most intimate secrets of London's leading courtesan.

2. Pretend to be a courtesan yourself, using the name Juliet Leighton.

3. Travel to Venice and locate said husband.

4. Seduce husband, conceive an heir, and voila, your future is secure!

For Julia, the Duchess of Colton, such a ruse promises to be foolproof. After all, her husband has not bothered to lay eyes on her in eight years, since their hasty wedding day when she was only sixteen. But what begins as a tempestuous flirtation escalates into full-blown passion--and the feeling is mutual! Could the man the Courtesan Duchess married actually turn out to be the love of her life?

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Page Break Hearts

Review by Karen

Joanne Shupe, in her debut novel The Courtesan Duchess, writes a sexy and scandalous romance.  The scandalous part is that the virgin wife of the Duke of Colton is forced to seduce her own husband.  Wow, the seduction is tantalizing and steamy.   The sexy is that her husband is a rogue, as bad boys even in regency England, make for delicious leads.  Julia, the Duchess and her persona Juliet, the Courtesan were both in stark contrast to each other.  Juliet, was a woman of the world, and Julia was a virgin, tutored in the skills of seduction and bed sport.  When she sets out to seduce her husband, who abandoned her right after the wedding, she has set herself up for heartbreak.  Her husband Nicholas, the Duke of Colton, has been galavanting around Europe, taking his pleasure where he will; will little thought to his wife.

I do have to say, that Julia despite having been abandoned is far more forgiving than most female readers.  I would have cut him a new one. Furthermore what of his friends could they have not advocated for her more? They seem very vocal otherwise.  There are a few minor plot holes, in what people knew and didn’t know.  In all the book was a really fun read, as the author had a second dangerous plot that interwove with the main love story.  I can’t say that I was in love with Nick, after his return to England, as his treatment of Julia shabby.  His pride was stung and he was not a happy little bee.  The interaction between the two, when Nick allows his guard down is combustable, as is the seduction of the Duchess as the Courtesan.

I do wish the Duke, would have had some interaction with his mother; as I was disappointed in him not resolving the mistreatment of his wife by his mother.  Yes, I did want to bonk Nick over the head with something hard, on more than one occasion, and Julia seemed very pliant; after her return to England.  In all I have put Joanne Shupe in my must read in future column.

Now what you really want to know, is the book worth your money.  Yes, the book is worth the $5.84 price on Amazon and I think you will feel like you got a steal.

Note the synopsis of the book eludes to training as a Courtesan, which is all before the book opens.

four-stars

About Joanna Shupe

Award-winning author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. While in college, Joanna read every romance she could get her hands on and soon started crafting her own racy historical novels.

In 2013 she won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award for Best Historical.

She now lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband.

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