Readers often debate what is romance or if particular book is romance or something else that has romantic elements. Technically, pure romance is defined as a book where the plot consists of a romantic relationship between its protagonists. Meaning, if you took the romance out of it, the book wouldn’t exist. Most books usually achieve some degree of romance because there is usually some sort of extraneous plot. For example, in Hidden Legacy there is usually a mystery. If you took Rogan and Nevada’s relationship out of it, the books would collapse, but there would still be some chunks left.
THE COURTESAN DUCHESS is about as close to pure romance as you can get. There is a mystery plot, but it’s still wrapped up in the romance. If you took romance out of this book, there would only be crumbs.
How to seduce an estranged husband—and banish debt!—in four wickedly improper, shockingly pleasurable steps…
- Learn the most intimate secrets of London’s leading courtesan.
- Pretend to be a courtesan yourself, using the name Juliet Leighton.
- Travel to Venice and locate said husband.
- Seduce husband, conceive an heir, and voilà, 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?
I really enjoyed this one. Warning: the level of heat is pretty high. It felt fresh and it was exciting and it reminded me of Johann Strauss’s operetta The Bat in the best of ways. It was witty and bright, and the setting of Venice was so unexpected. I also enjoyed the grovel quite a bit. 😉
I found The Courtesan Duchess after reading TYCOON. It’s very rare to see historical US romance set in anything other than Regency or occasionally Victorian time period. I’m all like “Zorro romance! Intrigues of Madrid Court! France!” and the romance market is all “Here is another book set in England where they drink tea and give each other cut direct.”
The Knickebocker Club series is set in 1920’s, which I normally steer away from, but I found it refreshing. It requires some suspension of disbelief and there is a bit of instalove in this one, but I enjoyed it. It was a guilty pleasure. 😀
Sometimes the journey is more pleasurable than the destination . . .
Standing on the platform at Grand Central Depot, Ted Harper is surprised by a fiery kiss from an undeniably gorgeous damsel in distress. He’s certain she’s a swindler who’s only after his money, but he’s never met a woman so passionate and sure of herself. Disarmed, he invites her to spend the journey to St. Louis in his private car—perhaps against his better judgment…
Clara Dawson has long known how to take care of herself, but the savvy shop girl is at a loss when she witnesses—and becomes entangled in—a terrible crime. Desperation propels her into a stranger’s arms at the train station, but she hadn’t expected Ted to offer her the protection she so badly needs—nor did she expect their chemistry to develop more steam than the engine of the train. He’s everything she never thought she could have, and she’s everything he didn’t know he wanted. But as her secrets begin to unfurl, their fledgling romance could be in danger of derailing before they arrive at the next station…
There is just something about Joanna Shupe’s work that really speaks to me. Of course, your mileage may vary, so as always, I recommend downloading a sample first to see if you like it.
Buy and exceprt links for your convenience:
The Courtesan Duchess: Purchase on Amazon | Purchase on B&N | Purchase on iBooks | Purchase on Kobo | Purchase on Google Play | Read an Excerpt
Tycoon: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Read an Excerpt
Thanks for the recs! 🙂
I haven’t read the Courtesan Duchess yet, but I devoured the whole Knickebocker Club series. I really liked her writing style. I’m glad you liked it too!
Also, I know it’s been a while, but it’s so freeing to be able to comment and not always be stuck in Waiting for Moderation purgatory. Wheeeeeeee! I should post more often!
When I really started reading books, I was about 11 and my mom gave me her copy of a “A Rose in Winter” by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I still have that copy of that book (37+ years and counting). I’ve fallen away from romances quite a lot. Used to love Johanna Lindsay’s books (still have several in paperback), especially the Mallory series, but I’m several books behind.
I do like the premise of the Courtesan Duchess, so perhaps I’ll check that one out.
BTW, Ilona, did you ever get around to reading Jayne Ann Krentz’s books she writes as Jayne Castle? What did you think of them?
My first Woodiwiss was The Wolf and the Dove.. I LOVE THAT BOOK SO MUCH! I re-read it recently and it still holds up. I also loved The Flame and the Flower. That one.. well.. it didn’t hold up as well for me. I still enjoyed it though . I also loved Shanna… may have to go and dig that one out too!
Yep, I’ve still got all her books in paperback. They keep moving with me.
Shanna was the one that started me off on romances. I found it ay my grandma’s house and read with a flashlight under the covers. I was hooked.
Me too, haven’t thought about The Wolf and the Dove in ages. Thanks for bringing back the memories:)
Not Woodiwiss and her rape and sexual coercion model of romance that took over the market in the early 80s? No. Just no. Strong independent heroines in charge of their own sexuality is what I’m looking for, especially these days with all the ugliness of powerful men coercing women and ‘grabbing them by the p***y” and Harevy Weinstein ruining young women’s lives by acting out those ‘fantasies’. Kate would kick Woodiwiss’ hero’s asses, and rightly so.
“Strong independent heroines in charge of their own sexuality” might work for contemporary romances, but that wouldn’t have been the case in historical romances. It simply wasn’t the culture back then, unless you were a widow, and a wealthy one at that.
I don’t remember KW’s books being like that. Certainly not A Rose in Winter or Shanna. There was no rape in any of them. Borderline sexual coercion, perhaps, in Wolf and the Dove, but it didn’t cross the line and that’s the closest one I can think of.
Rather rude to jump on our recommendations like that, too.
Jayne Ann Krentz under her pseudonym Anne Quick has recently moved forward in time from Victorian England. “The Girl Who Knew Too Much” is set in the 1930’s just outside of Hollywood. This is part of my to be read list because I have enjoyed any world created by this author. It is getting close to the top of the list but I have not yet read it.
Pseudonym should be Amanda Quick, instead of Anne Quick for anyone looking to google it.
I have read it.
You will enjoy it.
I used to gobble books like this up like candy?. Thanks for the recommendation.
Oh! Always on the lookout for new to me authors, and this sounds like it will fit the bill!
I always appreciate recommendations — thanks!!
I love the regency period romances but also love the Georgian period as well. Have you read Jo Beverley’s Mallorean series? It is very good! And for French court intrigue, my all time favorite is These Old Shades, by Georgette Heyer. And thank you for the recommendation!
Nice, thanks for the recs!
The Courtesan Duchess is in my library ebook loans. I guess this is the next book I am going to read?. Have you guys ever thaught of writing a “Bodice Ripper”? If you did we all know it would be great! Of course y’all could write a grocery list and it would be better than most novels.?
I like lots of books, but I do prefer some mystery in my books. I just finished Michael Connellys books. I have to switch up what I am reading pretty often.
Hahaha, “the cut direct”.
Thanks for the romance rec, can’t wait to hear your talk to romance writers.
I love your book recs, keep the coming.
Always end up liking most of your recs. Thank youu 😀
Thanks so much for the recs; I’ve found many books that I’ve enjoyed tremendously through your recommendations!
I love, ❤ love, ❤ love ❤ ALL your books and re-read them again and again but it’s great to escape into a quick, easy-reading ‘Romance’ book ever so often too ?
Thanks for your recommendations always.
I’m going to give these a try. Although, I’ve been working my way through Eloisa James and I’m kind of done with husbands who desert their wives and then turn out to be irresistible. The wives should totally resist. I particularly hated ‘Your Wicked Ways’. Rees Holland is actually abusive and cruel. Not to mention selfish, inconsiderate and a monumental bore. I was quite appalled. Eloisa James can do much better. I loved ‘A Kiss at Midnight’.
Speaking about taking out the romance. A friend of mine read through the library’s A-E romance section in a very short amount of time.
Me: “How did you do that?”
Friend: “I just skipped all the steamy parts”
Me: “….Wait, you’re reading romance novels for just the plot?”
=)
I have a tendency to skip the steamy scenes too.
Tycoon is only 99 cents right now! Thank you!
So far, I’ve really enjoyed the authors you have recommended in the past, so I’ll give this a go.
I have to say, “Courtesan Duchess” was not my favorite book from this author 😛 I don’t remember the husband having any redeeming qualities and I spent most of the book wishing she’d end up with his best friend. The steamy scenes were also hard for me to get into….I was really distracted by the fact that the duchess’ husband didn’t realize she was blonde when she was masquerading as a red head. I mean…did she dye ALL her hair?!
“The Knickebocker Club” series was pretty enjoyable, though not something I’d read over and over.
Sounds a bit like the Duchess books of Eloisa James…
Ooooohhhh I like it. Nick is a proper scoundrel.
Speaking of Nicks, if you like “intrigues of the Spanish court” romance, check out Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer:
“Cinematographic with escapes, kidnapping, galloping sword play, and a breathless elopement.”
-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
The most daring, dashing hero of all
“Mad Nicholas” to his friends, “Scourge of Spain” to his enemies, Sir Nicholas Beauvallet is one of Queen Elizabeth’s most dashing buccaneers and has never been known to resist a challenge.
A Spanish lady all fire and heart
When Beauvallet captures the galleon carrying Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylvan and her father, he vows to return them safely to the shores of Spain. But he has no sooner done so than he proposes a venture more reckless than any of his exploits on the high seas-he will return to Spain, where there’s a price on his head, and claim Dominica as his bride…
Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1402219512/ref=tmm_pap_title_sr?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
My grandmother left me a 1932 copy of the novel when she died. I may be one of the few people in the world who can say their grandmother was posthumously responsible for igniting their love of romance books. But then, Nanna was a remarkable lady.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I.