Book Review: Lessons From a Courtesan by Jenna Petersen

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Author: admin
Published: Jul 3rd, 2008

Reviewed by Mayra David

4 Stars

There have been women throughout history who have been celebrated as much as they have been reviled. Some have been queens, some revolutionaries, some even saints. And many have been courtesans. The year is 1815. London’s rich and aristocratic men have been in an aroused state since the arrival of Ria, an incredibly sensual but elusive woman; a prize courtesan.

Justin Talbot, Earl of Baybary, returns to London after a prolonged absence. His brother and friends welcome him excitedly with news of the arrival of Ria. So far no one has been able to gain her as a mistress and they wager money on who will finally win her. Powerful, and not without a reputation for his prowess with women, Justin confidently declares that he will succeed with Ria where others have failed. Then he sees Ria. Suddenly he’s not so sure he can win the bet…but he is sure he does not want anybody else to win either. After all, she is already his wife.

It’s true, Victoria is not the same woman Justin married three years ago. She is a stronger person than the one he left. Perhaps that has to do with her over coming grief, or finding good friends, or the sly “lessons” one of her friends has been sending her from London in the mail. But stronger person or not, Victoria finds she can barely breathe in the presence of the husband she hasn’t seen for three years. As fate would have it, they now find each other in London, in the same circle, and much for the same purpose. They are almost strangers, but if Justin can help it, it won’t stay like that for very long!

Lessons from a Courtesan is the latest by Jenna Petersen. It’s a regency romance, but maybe it should also be considered a text book! Sizzling hot and steamy at the same time, each chapter offers a lesson on love and seduction. Each lesson is demonstrated cleverly as the plot – rich and exciting – unfolds. And although the “demonstrations” are so sexy and well written that you might lose your head, in this case, letting your imagination run wild means you have been paying good attention in class!

11 Responses to “Book Review: Lessons From a Courtesan by Jenna Petersen”

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Gannon
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 5:20 am:

Great review! Sounds like another book I need to add to my list. At this rate, I may get through my TBR mountain by the end of the decade!
Marisa
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 5:41 am:

Gannon, I think you’ll like this one, Jenna’s characters are rich and vibrant and Justin is a hero you really want to get to know.
Buffie
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 6:00 am:

Mayra, great review! I have read this one and totally loved it, as you can tell from the “Books We’re Pimping” section on the home page. Jenna does a fabulous job of slowly revealing the layers of her characters. Personally, I really enjoy it when an authors has chapter headings or saying. I think it adds to the intrigue of what you are about to read.
Maria Lokken
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 6:16 am:

Great review Mayra. I too loved the chapter headings — Jenna explained how those came about when she was blogging with us last week… The book is hawt!!!
AndreaW
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 7:20 am:

I absolutely LOVED this book. Jenna Petersen just gets better and better, imo. And I totally agree with everyone else — I really enjoyed the “lessons” at the beginning of each chapter. It added more depth to an already great story! Enjoyed your review, Mayra!
Jenna Petersen
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 9:03 am:

Thanks everyone and thanks Mayra for the great review! I’m so glad so many people are really enjoying Victoria and Justin’s story! Gannon, I hope you like it, too, if you pick it up.

JennaP
cyclops8
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 12:42 pm:

I love Jenna’s books. I’ll make sure to pick this one up. I like that this story seems a little darker than her Lady Spies series, which I really enjoyed.
Gannon
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 2:43 pm:

Jenna, I just got back from the bookstore, and I got my copy!!
Jenna Petersen
on Jul 4th, 2008
@ 6:26 pm:

Oh thank you cyclops! I think LESSONS is a bit darker. I felt like I was returning to my roots and now the next stories I have plotted are all dark and sexy in the same vein. This is where I love to be and I hope my readers will enjoy it, too!

And Gannon, I so hope you enjoy it!!

JennaP
Mayra
on Jul 7th, 2008
@ 10:53 am:

Thank you all so much!!! I really loved this book and struggled not to give an enthusiastic full blown synopsis of it a la “And this happened!” “Then this” “And then ooooh…!” I promptly sat myself down in the bookstore to get another, and found Seduction is Forever…I’m trying really hard not to crack it open before I leave for vacation!
Mayra
on Jul 7th, 2008
@ 10:57 am:

On second thought, who needs shoes or sunblock…I think I’ll pack the other Lady spies books instead.