Search - A Courtesan's Scandal (Scandalous, Bk 3)

Summary: 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 and 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 to 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...

Wow, while reading this book I didn't realize how long it has been since I have read a regency era romance. I enjoyed this book, it was beautifully written, elegantly written, I could even say. But....I felt like it was missing something. The plot was strong and pretty engaging but I think there was something missing between the Duke and Kate, I understand their circumstances and such but when they were together I wasn't drawn, gripped, into the story as I felt I should have been. The society rules and protocol was interesting and some of the scenes and moments in the book were truly beautiful, and I can appreciate a handsome man standing up for his women. I enjoyed reading this book but I wasn't dragged into the story as I wished I was so I am going to to take a neutral stance and see what everyone else thinks.

* I recieved this book as an ARC from Pocket Books*

For more information or for purchasing visit Julia London's webpage.

Also posted: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2009/11/book-review-courtesans-scandal-by-julia.html

From the back cover...

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 Price 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 to 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...

I really enjoy Julia London's books and this one didn't disappoint at all. Great fun characters that have you reading all day or all night. Lots of intrigue and suspense with the going ons of a courtesans busy life. A really good read.

My first book by this author and I LOVED her! I can't wait to read more books by her! It's hard to make a story really different and original the historical romances genre. After you read a bunch for years, the back story is almost always the same. But this was original as it book in this genre could get! I liked it!

A tragic love story, but finally rectified by the strength and honor of our hero, the Duke of Darlington. I read it in one day. Could not put it down until I saw how it played out.