THIS IS BOOK 1 IN THE VICTORIAN DECADENCE SERIES What’s the most ruinous mistake a harlot can make? Falling in love with her client … Edward Fanshawe is everything Nora Hudson wants in the bedroom—and everything she should avoid out of it. He gives her the pain, humiliation, and domination she craves from a sexual partner, but his search for the perfect, blue-blooded wife means the last thing … thing Nora should do is fall for him. Except…it’s too late. She already has.
When Edward offers to make Nora his mistress, the idea of being utterly under his dominion is as terrifying as it is titillating. As much as she wants to stay with Edward forever, she worries that living with the man she loves—the man who takes everything her body has to give and wants nothing to do with her heart—will eventually destroy her. But then Nora meets the woman Edward intends to marry and her situation becomes considerably more complicated. And erotic…
*** His Harlot is an angsty, dark, standalone historical erotic romance novel featuring consensual S&M, BDSM and both M/F, F/F, menage, voyeurism, exhibitionism, explicit love scenes, and YES, a happily ever after!**
This is NOT erotica. That means this has a real story and lots of it.
TRIGGER WARNING: marital infidelity, sexual abuse, miscarriage, & lots of kink. @110,000 words
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Wow. This book was nothing like I expected, and that’s a GOOD thing. Let me be clear up front. This book is NOT for everyone–not even your average lover of erotic romance. It might possibly contain every trigger that could exist in a book like this, yet is dealt with in such a way that none of it felt gratuitous. Everything the characters endure is a result of bad decisions, ill-timing, misunderstandings … you know, the forces working against humans in every day life.
This is the story of Nora and Edward. Nora is a high-priced prostitute who has a favorite client. This client happens to be the wealthy businessman Edward, who also happens to be a dominant who can’t get enough of Nora’s submission. The problems come in while Edward can’t seem to let go of his ‘plan’s for his grand life (a titled wife to go with all his hard-earned money, an heir, and all the things and possessions that will make him stand head and shoulders with the nobility. For Nora’s part, she seems content in occupying a small part of Edward’s life because she loves him, and some of him is better than none.
Or, is it?
I cannot really express much more without giving the story away, except to say that everything changes when Edward takes Nora on as his exclusive mistress. A high-stakes, passionate, and at times toxic, relationship forms between the two, and … let’s just say by the end all parties involve are made to face the error of the ways and suffer for wrongdoing.
Make no mistake, these characters aren’t always likable. They are often awful to one another and others as well. Yet, some how S.M. Laviolette makes us root for them and like them. I think, in making them almost entirely unlikable (but still sympathetic), they become like mirror images of our true selves. Yes, this is an erotic novel, but there are such deep themes running through it. I could see myself going back to read it time and time again to delve deeper.
The character development is on point and masterfully done. There is real growth here, and not just lip service. By the end of the book the characters become likable people who have grown and changed, and now deserve their happily ever after.
This was my first read by this author, but definitely not my last. Even when it pushed me out of my comfort zone, I was riveted and unable to look away. It was sordid and dirty, and somehow still beautiful and poignant. It takes a rare talent indeed to pull off a work like this, and LaViolette has that in spades.
On to book 2!
Fascinating, edgy and eventful story
—>>> So much happens in this historical erotic romance, but it is all painstakingly and lovingly told. Edward’s instant obsession with Nora is only fueled further by her untouchable facade, her icy demeanor taunting in its challenge to the carnal depths of his character. Only Nora can seemingly offer as well as handle exactly what he needs, and indeed, their carnal appetites stoke their desires for each other even higher. Both Edward and Nora’s characters wax and wane throughout their three years apart from each other, but by the time their journey ends, they will have grown and learned much of themselves. This was a fascinating, edgy and eventful story, and I hope to read more from this author in the future!
“Edward wanted inside; he wanted to smash down her doors, rend the heavy curtains, and invade her. Once inside he would control and dominate her mind every bit as fully as he could already dominate her body. He’d never believed in the soul, but if it actually existed, Edward wanted to own hers, just as he wanted to own her body.”
This one took a while for me honestly. I’ve been reading it along with a few other books, however it caught me in the later stages of the book and pulled me in. This is one where you have to push through to get to the meat of the book.
The relationship between the characters were certainly interesting to say the least,and not necessarily the MC but all of them. I could see this happening back in the day, where the mistress/whore was the main woman and the wife just the child bearer and not necessarily one to like.
I liked Nora, she was a woman who knew what she liked and gave up a lot to do it, but in her eyes what she gave up was just chains holding her back. |her new profession was one that she liked and gave her exactly what she wanted and also gave her Edward, the man who is intrigued and possessive about her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An unusual and absorbing love story!
by sewsummore
This was an unusual love story set in a time when Society’s rules were rigid about what was acceptable behavior for woman.Respectable women were never expected to enjoy intimate relations before marriage and often not even after they married their husbands. Any woman who actively searched for and enjoyed intimacy outside of marriage was branded a harlot. Nora had a fascination about sex and actively pursued a career as a prostitute.She discovered very early on in her career that humiliation and pain was a part of her sexual woman she was honest and accepting that this was a part of her sexual inclinations. Edward was a self made wealthy man, who was a perfect sexual match for Nora in every way. His determination to become a rich and successful man had left little time for relationships, and as a foundling he had no role model to follow, only his own desires to dominate.I found the story of Nora and Edward’s love for each other compelling reading. Edward had an obsession for Nora that he fought to combat in the early chapters of the book interesting,while Nora feared falling in love with Edward. Both of them resisted the emotional hold they had for each other until it almost destroyed them them. What I liked most about this book however, was the author’s ability to portray the characters as real people with multi-faceted characters, their sexuality did not define who or what they were.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
His Harlot is a dark standalone historical erotic romance novel featuring BDSM, marital infidelity, sexual abuse, multiple partners, same sex partners, voyeurism, exhibitionism, miscarriage, rape. I recommend to read this book with an open mind, leave behind moralistic standards and judgemental prejudices. There is a well deserved happily ever after. Edward Fanshawe and Nora Hudson met at Madame Tosca’s exclusive establishment for gentlemen. Nora is a high-priced prostitute who has a favorite client. This client happens to be the wealthy businessman Edward, who also happens to be a dominant who can’t get enough of Nora’s submission. The problems come in while Edward can’t seem to let go of his ‘plan’s for his grand life -a titled wife to go with all his hard-earned money, an heir, and all the things and possessions that will make him stand head and shoulders with the nobility. For Nora’s part, she seems content in occupying a small part of Edward’s life because she loves him, and some of him is better than none. They were both helpless to their own needs. When he offers to make her his mistress, the idea of being utterly under his dominion is as terrifying as it is titillating. Then Nora meets the woman Edwards intends to marry, and her situation becomes even more complicated. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Definitely a different kind of romance. I went and got the others in the series I liked this so much! Romance outside the box!
Steamy and an interesting setting. I felt it rushed to conclusion. I would have liked more relationship building, which is a positive because I was enjoying it.
Exquisitely detailed and epic
Such a torturously beautiful story off love, lust and suffering by S.M. LaViolette and Minerva Spencer. And it’s no small undertaking either, encompassing over three years of the characters lives, and appropriately 110,000 words. I loved how Nora and Edward both complemented each other so well, yet were so often in opposition of each other – it really ratchet up the tension. A truly fantastic book.
I enjoyed this book, I like the time period and the subject matter. I thought the characters were believable and I could empathize with most. It played out to be a wonderful story with some unusual moments but in the end all was good. I would read more by S.M. LaViolette. Nora was likable and you could empathize with her, but Mr. Edward Fanshawe was mostly unlikable. There is much to this book but every word was like a brush stroke to the canvas of the story. The ending was perfect.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Really enjoyed this book! Enjoyed the story line. Characters seemed so realistic! Liked that the end of this book was not a cliff hanger to make you purchase the next book. However, I will be purchasing the next in the series because I want to read more books from this author.
For the first third of the book I was wondering why the accolades. It was not very interesting and the characters were all one-dimensional. Boring really. But after that the delving into who these characters were made me continue with the story. Now, I do not think either Nora or Edward are very likeable characters, even at the end of the story. Their stories are tragic and your can kind of understand their issues. I will say that I understand why someone would want to be a submissive but being humiliated is not something I understand. Why would Nora put herself through the humiliation? All of that being said, the middle part of the story was very good and enjoyable.
I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.
What is the most ruinous mistake a harlot can make? Falling in love with her client … His Harlot by S. M. LaViolette is the first book of the Victorian decadence series and readers are warned that it is not for the faint of heart because it features explicit love scenes between Edward Fanshawe and Nora Hudson. When he offers to make her his mistress, the idea of being utterly under his dominion is as terrifying as it is titillating. Then Nora meets the woman Edwards intends to marry, and her situation becomes even more complicated—and erotic. His Harlot is a dark, erotic romance drawing a reader into a complex, tumultuous relationship between Edward and Nora and a supporting cast of secondary characters. The writing is edgy, and their needs and chemistry are dark and sensual. S.M. LaViolette takes the reader into a phenomenal yet forbidden world of consensual S&M, BDSM and both M/F, F/F, menage, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and more. I was mesmerized from the beginning to the end of this riveting story about extraordinarily complex people searching for love. I look forward to reading book two in this series.
Edward Fanshawe is everything Nora Hudson wants in the bedroom—and everything she should avoid out of it. He gives her the pain, humiliation, and domination she craves from a sexual partner, but his search for the perfect, blue-blooded wife means the last thing Nora should do is fall for him. Except…it’s too late. She already has.
When Edward offers to make Nora his mistress, the idea of being utterly under his dominion is as terrifying as it is titillating. As much as she wants to stay with Edward forever, she worries that living with the man she loves will eventually destroy her. Then Nora meets the woman Edward intends to marry and her situation becomes considerably more complicated.
A very well written page turning book with very complex characters. I found this book very hard to put down as I was totally drawn into the relationship between Edward & Nora, at first he’s the punter & she’s the whore but as their relationship develops there are twists to it but also the many layers of these two very likeable characters are gradually peeled away. It’s not your typical historical romance it’s dark , erotic & takes you through a plethora of emotions. Edward & Nora seemed so real & I really felt for both of them as they made their choices both good & bad It’s not a comfortable read at times but it is riveting & extremely hard to put down, I look forward to reading the rest of the series as the secondary characters who I hope will feature are intriguing.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
BDSM, multiple partners, same sex partners, miscarriage, rape… this is no ordinary love story. I was absolutely mesmerized. Layer on top of layer is eventually peeled away to reveal the true depth of the characters in the story. It’s not always easy to accept who they are. Definitely not for light reading. Be prepared to give yourself plenty of time to read from the first page to the last.
I was gifted a copy of this book.