Amazon.com's Price: $7.99 as of 11/22/2009 22:34 EST
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781416547129
ISBN: 1416547126
Label: Pocket
Manufacturer: Pocket
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Pocket
Studio: Pocket
Features:
Related Items:
Alternate Versions: Click to Display
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Kate Bergeron is the beautiful and mysterious former mistress of a cloth merchant...and the latest beauty to capture the interest of the Prince of Wales. Mired in a disastrous divorce, the Prince attempts to distract attention from his next amorous pursuit by ordering Grayson Christopher, the eligible Duke of Darlington, to pretend to London society that he is having an affair with Kate. When Grayson reluctantly agrees to his Prince's demand, he finds the lady no more willing than he is. Kate will grudgingly act the part in public, but her favors are not for sale to any man. As Grayson and Kate mimic ardor for the world to see, they find what started as a deception becoming all too real. And when passion flames into love, their predicament becomes extreme. For while marriage between a duke and a courtesan could never happen, Kate knows in her heart that she is willing to accept nothing less....
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I haven't read a romance novel in ages. I've read mystery/romance but not romance alone. So I signed up to read A Courtesan's Scandal for Pocket Book Blog Tours. I am so glad I did; I forget how really good these can be.
Kate Bergeron was the mistress of a cloth merchant, who catches the eye of Prince George, who then purchases her for himself. But the prince is currently trying to divorce his wife and needs to avoid scandal. He sets Kate up in a house and and requests his friend Grayson Christopher, the Duke of Darlington, to escort her around town. The prince doesn't want anyone to try to steal Kate from him and knows they will stay away if they think Kate is with the Duke. Grayson loathes the idea, but must do as the prince asks.
Grayson is surprised to discover the beautiful, down-to-earth Kate, who has only become a courtesan, to avoid living on the streets on London, since she was on her own at age thirteen. Kate discovers love for the first time. But she and Grayson can't be together; he must marry someone appropriate to his station in life and she belongs to the prince. He will destroy them both if they betray him.
my review:
I really liked this book. First of all, I'm a sucker for historical novels set in the 1800's London. Second, this was very well-written. Kate is not the usual young virginal heroine, but she is strong and longs for independence. And when she falls for Grayson, she either wants it all, or nothing. Kate gives money to try to help keep other woman off the street. And she longs to save enough money to open her own bakery and not have to depend on any man. She is also searching for her long-lost brother, Jude. There is a sub-plot where Grayson's brother is trying to get the British slave trade abolished.
my rating 4.5/5
additional ratings that were inspired (blatantly stolen) from my friend Colette at A Buckeye Girl Reads
Sigh Meter- High
Swoonworthy Meter- medium
Hotness Meter- High
Cheesy factor- almost none
thanks to Pocket Books for my review copy.
Rating:  -
My Summary: Kate is a courtesan who only lives the way she does to keep herself from being tossed into the streets. She is "sold" to the Prince of Whales, but as the price is married, he cannot afford a scandal. While the prince divorces his wife, he instructs the Duke of Darlington to be seen in public with Kate so that nobody suspects him. But Kate and Grayson, the Duke, aren't expecting to fall in love.
Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it was pretty entertaining at times, but on the other it was hard to sit down and read more than a few chapters at a time. I found the story rather trivial, really it was all silly politics and unfaithfulness in marriage.
I couldn't finish this book. I got to the part where they fall in love (a little more than halfway) and just didn't have the patience to finish it. There wasn't much of a story line besides, again, politics and reputation and sex.
Characters: The characters were the strong point in this book. They were very real and well developed immediately, and I enjoyed their dialogue.
Writing: The writing was also very good. It's very refreshing to read a novel that uses good sentence structure and a wide range of vocabulary. The prose flowed nicely.
Content: There was no language, but some sex in the book. The scenes were pretty outlined and there were a few pages I skipped. Occasionally a man is drunk and says something a bit odd, but other than that there are no major alcohol references.
Recommendation: Ages 16+ (18+ if you're picky about content) to lovers of historical fiction and romance, and quick easy reads.
Rating: -
Kate, although a courtesan, is not for sale. She is beautiful, strong-willed and has a sharp tongue. And, although she must play the part of actually liking Grayson in public, she has no qualms about her true feelings in private. Grayson, or Christie (as he is called), is the dark and brooding Duke. He's such a stickler to what is expected of him and propriety. Not to mention he is also highly influenced by his family. An affair with a courtesan might be something that can be overlooked but to actually fall in love and marry one is unheard of.
I thought Ms. London did a fabulous job with this novel. I loved her writing style - it was very distinct. She gave a life and energy to her characters that I found endearing. I loved the dialogue between Kate and Grayson. I also loved how they initially couldn't stand each other yet their relationship slowly grew - making you fell all gushy inside along with them. Although this novel is part of a series (which I had not idea as I was reading this), it can obviously be read as a stand-alone novel.
Ms. London has once again done a superb job and I highly recommend. This is historical romance at its best.
Rating: -
A Courtesan's Scandal is a fun, lighthearted romance with almost old fashioned leading characters.
Julia London sets up the conflict beautifully. While the attraction between Kate Bergerson and Grayson Christopher, the Duke of Darlington, is clear from the start, they come into the situation with their own prejudices. It's these prejudices that slow down the romance and make the book enjoyable. We gradually learn that Kate Bergenson has come from the lowest possible background and has a horrible past and yet she somehow remains untouched by it. In fact, Kate is so generous that she comes across as a bit of a soft touch. It's easy to sympathize with Darlington when he suspects the worst of her - he is forced into the pretense and expected that she was a willing party. The story picks up when Darlington slowly comes to learn more about Kate Bergenson and treat her with respect. Julia London is masterful in her build up of the characters and increasing the tension in the plot.
If you are looking for a fun regency romance with an old fashioned sensibility, you are sure to enjoy A Courtesan's Scandal.
Publisher: Pocket (October 20, 2009), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Rating: -
I would say this book is an enjoyable book for the most part. I feel, though, that the use of the passion filled moments and details during those passionate scenes was a bit too much.
Julia London's historical detail, however, was truly great. Describing the clothing and the houses of the 1800's was amazing.
I would recommend this book to those who like historical, passion filled stories, but if you don't like books with detailed passion and language then this book is not for you.
All in all, Ms. London deserves praises for a wonderful writing talent!
|
