The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe
This is book 1 in the Wicked Deceptions series.
Having been wedded and not even bedded before her husband took off, Julia, the Duchess of Colton, has finally decided to do something about it. She travels to Venice and acts like the reigning courtesan of London to entice her husband. having been mistreated by her husband's family, she figures if she can get pregnant, her husband's family will have to give her money to support the child. She didn't count on falling for her husband.
Feeling like his marriage was just one more way his father tried to control his life, Nick, the Duke of Colton, ran of to the continent without consummating his marriage. Having had many women over the years, he is surprised when the famed courtesan Juliet Leighton, makes such an impression on him. After a whirlwind affair, Juliet suddenly disappears.
What will Nick do when he finds out the the woman he has been spending time with is really not a courtesan at all but his estranged wife?
I really enjoyed this story. Julia dealt with the hand she had been delivered, but when things got out of her control she did what was necessary to take back her life. Nick never got to know his wife just because his father picked her out for him. He didn't want anything to do with her. Seeing the two get to know each other not as husband and wife but as lovers was an interesting twist for a romance novel.
This was my first novel by Shupe and it will definitely not be my last. I loved Simon in this story and I am so happy to see his book is next!
You can purchase this book at the following retailers:
Thanks go out to Kensington via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
oh I do love a setting such as this, and I have been wanting to try this author out. So I just might have to buy it soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually reading book 2 right now and love it just as much! Thanks for stopping by.
Delete