A gentleman should never mix business with pleasure, unless he’s a gentleman courtesan …
Driven to selling his services to settle gambling debts, the Honourable Mr. Dominick Burke thoroughly enjoys satisfying the appetites of wealthy women. When Miss Calliope Barrington contracts his services, his desire for her is instant and powerful.
Unfortunately, her reasons for hiring him have nothing to do … do with his bedroom talents. On the hunt for a husband, Calliope plans for Dominick to act the part of enamored suitor—thereby making her a more attractive prospect for the gentleman she has her eye on.
In his attempt to seduce her at every turn, Dominick finds himself rapidly losing his heart. However, winning Calliope’s in return will prove difficult. With the true target of Calliope’s efforts taking notice, he now has competition. When a past misdeed threatens to ruin everything, Dominick is left with no other choice. To win Calliope, he’ll have to incite one of the biggest scandals the ton has ever seen.
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Making of A Scandal – The Gentleman Courtesans – Book 3 – Victoria Vale
The Honorable Mr. Dominick (Nick) Burke and Miss Calliope Barrington have entered into an agreement where Nick will escort Calliope around London in order to try to make The Honorable Mr. Martin Lewes come up to snuff and ask for her hand in marriage.
That being said, as time goes by one wonders, is Martin Lewes really the man Calliope wants to marry? Could Nick Burke really be the man she truly wants?
Nick is not open with his past and there are a very few who know how Nick’s life has not always been a positive one for him. Nick is a man who can make a lady blush, he is well known, sexy, handsome, has the mouth of, no a mouth worse than a sailor and a well earned reputation as a “Rake amongst rakes.” It is his insecurities that few people see that shapes how Nick really sees himself.
Miss Calliope Barrington, has also had to deal with the blatant disrespect of the Ton, outright prejudice that has been shown to her father (who is a Viscount) and herself because of who her mother was (an Bengali Royalty)
Victoria Vale has told this story so well you are there in the small room the night Nick meets Calliope. You are with them each time they meet, you are part of this story because she is able to create two people who come of find the best in each other and by finding the best have found the one person who sees them for the wonderful human they are.
I love reading Victoria Vale’s books. She brings together characters that are real, who suffer and feel the emotions that any of us feel. She brings into each story the history of England and who and what was acceptable and not acceptable. She uses words and phrases that draw you in page after page while allowing you to live along with each character in her books. Vale gives us characters who when they find their way and their love and have reached their happily ever after, know that no matter what they have friends and family who are their supporters.
I felt for Nick and Calliope in this book and my feelings for them were feelings of understanding. I understood exactly what 1819 was like for them because time hasn’t changed since then in some cases it is worse. This could have been my daughters who would have faced this same issue then. This was personal.
The emotions and events that take place in this book take the reader on a rollercoaster ride. Beginning with Nick’s more than colourful language, there is self doubt, prejudice, intolerance, secrets, the passing of a very special person, fights, a duel and just when you think all might work out there is a note delivered that potentially can blow the Courtesans completely into total havoc!
Victoria Vale has given not just a 5 star story but a view of a time and place where fairy tales are no match for reality.
I feel honored to have an advancer reader copy of this book. In my opinion this is one of Victoria Vale’s best books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Making of a Scandal by Victoria Vale is fantastic. I’ve loved all of her books to date, and this one does not break the streak. If anything, it is making me chomp at the bit for the last two stories.
Dominick is a sweetheart, and it doesn’t take long for the reader to ‘get’ him. Foul-mouthed, sexy as all get out, he thinks his only worth is what people are willing to pay him. I just wanted to curl him up in my arms and tell him he’s worth more.
Calliope is fantastic. A woman of color(!!!!), one of the very few I’ve ever read in my many years of devouring Historical Romances. And she’s amazing. Well rounded, also held back by her own preconceptions of herself. When the two of them meet, I laughed out loud at both of them.
The story is well written, the sex is steamy hot. It will make you smile, laugh, gasp, and cry. It also made me crave the rest of Benedict’s story. He’s always played a supporting character and I fell in love with him more and more throughout the story. David and Benedicts will finish this series, but then what? Please give us more of the Courtesans!
I plan on rereading many many times.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great read! The 4th in the series, I was surprised at how original it was from.all.the others. I didn’t know how Victoria could make this an original story, due to the entire series detailing the lives of gentleman courteseans, but she did! In marvelous fashion. Every time I think the next book in the series will be in no way as good as the last, she surprises me with another wonderful book.
I love the characters in this story, Callie and Nick, they are dear to me on personal level and I can relate to the struggles in this/their relationship. This one gave me all the feels! This book has it all….steam, love, angst, humor, etc…I loved everything about it. I highly re commend this book.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG!!! I finished the ARC and honestly, I can’t imagine anyone not knowing who Victoria Vale is or what to expect from her writing. “Making a Scandal” is no exception to the excellence I’ve come to expect when reading one of her books. If you’ve kept up with the first two books, then you know their keepers pay for the privilege of having an escort in public and a lover in private. Dominick is one of the original Gentlemen Courtesans. He’s never figured love into any of his scenarios but when Calliope enters a contract to become his keeper, what he thought he knew changes. There’s just one hitch. Calliope only wants an escort to make another gentleman jealous. This storyline has more twists and turns than any roller-coaster but ride it I did, and it pulled out every emotion possible. I would recommend this book to anyone to likes their romance with steam.
Calliope Barrington, born to a Bengali mother and English earl, has had to walk a straight and narrow path so that the ton accepts her. But it is not working, men court her and then offer for her but not to become their wife. She has set her hat on a certain man, Martin Lewes, but as much as they are thrown together he still shows no sign of liking her in a romantic way much less proposing to her. So she hires Dominick Burke, third son of an earl and a concealed courtesan known for his sexual prowess, to “fake” court her so that Martin will propose. The ton knows Dominick as a rakish gambler. He has bedded many women trying to pay off his debts and make his way in the world. He soon finds out that Calliope is unlike any other woman who has contracted his services and this will lead him on an entirely different path in life.
Wow, this story is spicy hot! But I also found my heart soaring at their feelings for each other and then it shredding to pieces as Calliope tried to figure out if she wanted to marry a safe, dull man or a filthy talking, passionate one. Then there were the moments that were so heart wrenchingly sweet they made me melt like butter. So far this is my favorite book in the Gentleman Courtesan series. Dominick arrived at the time I needed him most, lol! I am eager to see what will happen with David, but also Benedict and the mysterious London Gossip?? I received an ARC of this book and chose to post my review.
Hiring A Courtesan
Calliope Barrington needs a man to make her perspective husband jealous. So she hires one of the Gentleman Courtesans. Nick is willing to take the money, gambling is his vice and he has debts to pay, plus Calliope intrigues him. In no time at all he’s in love, but the lady is afraid of scandal and loving a courtesan is definitely creating one. This one will put you through the ringer with emotions all over the place. I definitely shed some tears. An excellent read from the beginning to the end.
I simply love Victoria Vale’s writing and her way of storytelling. From page one I could not put this book down till I read the final sentence. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone, but you are truly gipping yourself if you do not read them all! I hate spoilers so I will endeavor not to share any now. I will say that these characters are both phenomenal. Nick is witty, charming and sexy as sin. The mouth on this man could melt more than ice! Calliope is intelligent, strong and witty as well. She is exotic and (thinks) she knows what she wants. Callie was the perfect sparring partner and match for this man! The HEA is earned and the ride to get there is sublime! I received an advance copy and these are my own opinions. I have already read it twice and plan on reading it again and again!
This is the 3rd book in the series The Gentleman Courtesans and they keep getting better and better. This book is about Dominick (Nick) and Calliope. Calliope hires Nick, who is one of the Gentleman Courtesans. She is a little different she does not hire him for sex, she hires him to help her catch a husband. This book is a little longer than the other book in this series, but it does not feel like it. Nick is a fun loving, teasing, dirty mouth adorable man, who you can not help falling in love with. Victoria Vale is a writer who I am never disappointed in. She writes hot sexy romances with lots of love. I can not wait for the rest of the Courtesans book, especially Benedict.
Brilliant as always, Victoria Vale’s every book is a must read. I am thankful I received ARC of the book and had the chance to be among the first people to read it.
No spoilers here, but I’ll just say I adore Nick and Calliope. The storyline is great, the heroes have their own caracters and as in every book of VV the sex scenes are impressive and rousing(even the rough ones).
You go through palette of emotions while reading, captivating story and, well, a scandal or two .
The ending is related with another hero, so nail chewing continues until the next book comes out
Calliope has decided on the man she would like to marry. They only problem is that he doesn’t seem to see her as a marriage prospect, just a friend. Her sister has the idea to hire one of the Gentleman Courtesans to act like he is courting Calliope. They hope that this will prompt the man to come up to scratch. Calliope hasn’t counted on being so attracted to the man they hired.
Dominick joined the Gentleman Courtesans to be able to settle his gambling debts. Known for his dirty talk with the women he is with, he doesn’t know what to do with Calliope. He respects that she didn’t hire him for his normal duties, but as he spends more time with her, he begins to see that he wants her for himself. Can he convince her that he is the man for her and that she needs to stop chasing her fantasy husband?
I absolutely adored Dominick and Calliope’s story!! Watching these two together had me grinning from ear to ear. I loved the way he was always teasing her! They were so much fun to read about!!
I’m really excited to see what Vale has in store for David, who’s story is next!! It will be here in June.
I think I’ve found my new favorite couple of all the books written by Ms Vale.
Nick was the one courtesan that Benedict thought he would never have to worry about losing his heart to a client. Then Nick met Calliope and that was the end of that. I think I’ve found my newest book boyfriend because, dang I love a bad boy.
I received an ARC copy from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished the ARC of this book the other day. Why did it take me so long to write the review, you ask? Because, typical of Victoria Vale, this book isn’t any ordinary Regency Romance. This book has more chemistry in its pages than Bill Nye the Science Guy could ever dream up in his lab. Holy Moly, this thing is hot … suggestive … the hero has a filthy mouth … the heroine is so gorgeously sexy that I can’t stand it … and the story of this book ROCKS!! I should by now, never expect just a normal Regency Smut Romance out of this woman. I should know that if I wanted sex served up with my romance, I could turn to her. But I should also know that she creates MEN in her books who would melt the panties off the most prudish of the Ton.
And melt the panties she did with this one. Dominick is one of the original Gentlemen Courtesans, as such, his “keepers” pay him for providing them with sex, plain and simple. Dominick has never, ever considered that he would actually fall in love with someone and want them more than he wants life itself. Enter Calliope, yes, named after the Greek Muse who presides over eloquence and poetry. This woman, in this book, SO fits that description. And Nick is head over heels. Unfortunately, not all is well in the Calliope/Nick affair, since he was never hired to provide her with anything other than an escort to make yet another man jealous and force him to propose.
I loved this book – it had more twists and turns than the road up Pike’s Peak. And it brought the Gentlemen Courtesans together again, so we got to see them all, and see what they’ve been doing.
If you read this book, and I think you should, you will laugh, giggle, cry, laugh some more, and cry really happy tears at the end. Promise. This book pulled more emotion out of me than my mother’s clothing choices for me in the third grade, er, maybe you don’t want to hear about that. Either way, you need to read this book. No matter how high your expectations for Regency steam, Victoria Vale’s Making of a Scandal, will surpass them.
Best line in the entire book? Kat Ryker says it was “Oh … I see.” lol
Making of A Scandal The Gentleman Courtesans Book 3 Victoria Vale is freaking amazing! Victoria weaves a story that it full of a little scandal, a lot of heat, friendship, drama more heat and a wonderful Happy Ever After! I loved Nick’s first meeting with Calliope . This was such an interesting way to need a Courteasan. I really enjoyed how the book started, with Aubrey’s wedding day and Nick being a complete disaster. I love that Nick saw Calliope … really saw her and she was making him want to be a better man.
I really feel like I am in that time period when Victoria writes. And man can she turn up the heat. You won’t be disappointed!
This is a must read book and a must read series.
Driven to selling his services to settle gambling debts, the Honourable Dominick Burke thoroughly enjoys satisfying the appetites of wealthy women. When Miss Calliope Barrington contracts his services, his desire for her is instant and powerful.
Unfortunately, her reasons for hiring him have nothing to do with his bedroom talents. On the hunt for a husband, Calliope plans for Dominick to act the part of enamoured suitor—thereby making her a more attractive prospect for Martin Lewes the gentleman she has her eye on.
In his attempt to seduce her at every turn, Dominick finds himself rapidly losing his heart. However, winning Calliope’s in return will prove difficult. With the true target of Calliope’s efforts taking notice, he now has competition. When a past misdeed threatens to ruin everything, Nick is left with no other choice. To win Calliope, he’ll have to incite one of the biggest scandals the ton has ever seen.
This is the third book in the series & yes it could be read on its own but to fully appreciate it, I’d recommend reading the whole series. I absolutely adored Dominick such a complex character who appears to be the gambling rake but is so much more, I also loved Calliope who felt that she was the square peg trying to fit in the round hole together they were electric. I was also taken on a plethora of emotions from laughing out loud to crying. A beautifully written book with stunning characters & a pace that kept me glued to my kindle. It isn’t a short book but I didn’t want it to end as I found it to be totally enthralling & one of the best books I’ve read this year
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This is a fun read and full of heat and unexpected events. The irony of the sexiest and most sought after for his sexual prowess courtesan being hired not to demonstrate that prowess but rather to make someone else jealous is the premise of this story. A rake with a serious gambling addiction, cut off by his father and with no prospects, Dominicks fortunes change dramatically when he is hired by Calliope to make the man she thinks she wants to marry to step up. Little did either of them know that Dominick would change his ways, become the heir to his Uncle’s fortune and to cap it all, fall in love. They say the course of true love never runs smooth and it certainly doesn’t for Dominick and Calliope but there is a happy ending.
Fans of Ms. Vale have been patiently waiting for the release of the next Gentleman Courtesans book and we have not been disappointed! The character-building and sexual tension between Nick and Calliope is through the roof. I love a good scandal and HEA. I highly recommend this book as well as all others by this author.
I adore bad boy Dominic Burke!!! He has met his match when Calliope Barrington takes up his contract. She is single minded in her pursuit of a husband and refuses to be sidetracked. I certainly understand her misgivings regarding Nick’s lifestyle, but he is so alluring and funny. I love his inappropriate use of earthy anglo saxon swear words and dirty sex talk. I totally recommend this romance for those who like spice. I would also suggest reading the previous Gentleman Courtesans, as the relationship between the gentlemen is amusing and informative.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved this story of Nick and Calliope’s romance. The developing of their relationship was heartwarming and electrical. Dominick is a male courtesan hired by Calliope for the mere purpose of making another man jealous. The one woman Nick really wants and she won’t let him touch her. She has her heart and future set on a proper nobleman, not a broke, gambling, womanizer. The story is pure magic, start to finish. Loved every page of it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Making of a Scandal by Victoria Vale is book three in her “The Gentleman Courtesans” series. What rock have I been hiding under that I missed the beginning of this deliciously different regency series? You can be sure I am going back to read the first two!
Who can resist a sexy, dirty talking rake? Not me…. Especially when said rake tells you that you make him want to be a better person and change his ways. I for one am seriously swooning and have to admit that I am totally smitten with Dominick. I am guilty of having a soft spot for a bad boy that means well.
Dominick Burke has never really been highly regarded by his father as he is a third son, therefore impressing him is not on his list of things to do. His lack of self- worth is responsible for some of his choices in life.
Calliope Barrington is ever vigilant regarding her reputation. She is born of mixed heritage and knows that the ton is just waiting to pounce on any perceived misstep on her part. Even so, she decides to take a chance and hire Dominick as an escort in order to give the gentleman she is interested in a kick in the pants, so to speak.
While their initial meeting is laugh out loud funny, what follows is a story about having the courage and trust in each other to reach for that HEA. The heart-wrenching raw emotion between Dominick and Calliope at times made me stop to catch my breath. You cannot help but root for this couple.
Anyone looking to have all their emotional buttons pushed will enjoy this book. I laughed, cried, got mad and cheered for this couple. You will too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dominick is a very handsome, charming and willing to please in any way possible courtesan. He has sworn never to fall in love or to even consider the thought of marriage. Belonging to an organization of male courtesans he is considered to be the best at his profession and who never leaves a women unsatisfied. Dominick also has been scorned by his family and harbors underlying sadness and loss at not being recognized by his family due to being the third son and choice of profession.
Calliope a beautiful woman of English and East Indian parentage has never been considered marriage material by the ton. Several men have wanted her but only for a night. Calliope finally decides Martin Lewes, a friend of her brother-in-law, who shows interest beyond the bedroom feels he is the one for her. In order to push him toward a betrothal she hires Dominick to escort her to various functions and to be seen in public with in order to make Lewes jealous.
While spending time together, flames soon ignite between Nick and Calliope. Their story is steamy and makes for one luscious read. Victoria never fails to disappoint and delivers another steamy, exciting and heart wrenching story that you can’t put down. I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.