Set in Victorian England, this erotic BDSM novel features a courtship between a young woman and a dashing rake. Gabriel, Earl of Cranborne, is in need of a wife–preferably a sweet, submissive, well-trained wife who could run his household during the day and obey him in the bedroom at night. When he meets Miss Vivian Stafford at a friend’s wedding, he finds himself drawn in by the exact traits … himself drawn in by the exact traits he was looking for in his own wife and immediately moves to make her his own. Once the betrothal papers are signed, he arranges for her to attend Mrs. Cunningham’s Finishing School. This very special school will prepare her to be the wife of an Earl . . . and also prepare for her the very specific demands and discipline she’ll receive from her new husband at night.
more
I loved this book. And Gabriel loved Vivian. And Vivian loved Gabriel. So much love.
I’m a sucker for a raunchy historical romance and this story hit all the right notes for me. I’m sure there were no finishing schools for young ladies with programmes like the one described in these pages, but it would be nice to think there were.
Gabriel and Vivian begin as fairly standard romance cliches, but Golden Angel paints them well and I enjoyed being in both their heads. This is a stand-alone book and it doesn’t need a sequel, but if one existed I’d gladly pick it up to continue their journey.
This story contains a lot of D/s punishment scenes and some bondage, much of it is FF and all of it is consensual. If this sounds like your thing then I highly recommend this book.
4.5
I badly need a Gabriel in my life. Love the sweet chemistry between Lord Gabriel and his to be bride Vivian. I did not enjoy Miss Banks much but Gaband Viv’s story was awesome.
I love reading Golden Angel and her books, but I felt, for me, that this one was too slow to build and half or better of the book was FF before moving on to MF. Her writing is awesome as always, but the Marriage Training storyline was just okay for me.
Another Enjoyable Story by Golden Angel
As usual, this is another well-written story. It kept me intrigued and entertained. I found the idea of a school that has an extra special curriculum for betrothed young ladies to be quite intriguing.
It has been a while since I have read a Victorian era/ historical anything. This book reminds my why I love them. I loved everything about this book. I recommend this book to everyone!
Golden Angel introduces us to a Victorian romance with a kink twist with Marriage Training.
Gabriel is gorgeous bachelor that is envious of his friend’s beautiful trained submissive wife. When he spots a pretty red head at his friends wedding reception, Gabriel is intrigued if she could be the “perfect ” wife for him with a bit of help from Mrs. Cunningham’s Finishing School.
Vivian is a young sweet natural submissive, that has a desire to please all those around her. She meets a mysterious gentleman at her cousin’s wedding, and has an unexplainable physical connection to.
Mrs. Cunningham runs a finishing school, molding young ladies into debutantes and future wives, that can run a house hold smoothly and efficiently. But also offers a special course for those that are well established, to have their future wife educated on how to please their husband…especially those husbands that have certain kinks and desires.
I enjoyed reading this book. Golden Angel has a way with drawing you into her characters. I especially loved all the times Gabriel spent with Vivian. I did want more cute courting interactions between them tho. Vivian’s “training ” with her handler, Mrs. Banks were very steamy and a bit naughty, sometimes i found myself speed reading through them to get to more of scenes with Gabriel and Vivian together.
**I did receive this book as an ARC for my honest review **
Marriage Training – Sign Me Up!
I had read the version of this that was originally on Literotica, and was excited to see the changes made to turn it into a published book. I was not disappointed! Everything I remember loving from the story was still there, with fantastic updates to round the story out and show us more of Gabriel and his interactions with Vivian.
Seeing Gabriel court Vivian, even when he was already betrothed to her and basically guaranteed an amicable wife, makes me long for someone like that – kinks included! They had such a great connection, and their chemistry leaps off the page. The detail and emotion Golden Angel weaves into her stories makes you feel like you’re a part of them. Even though I know the Victorian time period isn’t REALLY one I would want to live in (just thinking about sanitary conditions makes me cringe), this book makes me want to go get a reformed rake of my own!
As always, my only complaint is I want more! I really want to know the story for the couple in the beginning, and I’d like to see more students in Vivian’s situation. I’m also curious about Mrs. Banks, and the beginning of the “marriage training” aspect of the school.
Warning: There is a LOT of hot, sexy scenes that will have you fanning yourself to avoid swooning. BDSM aspects including spanking, discipline, punishments, etc. are abound, as well as some FF interactions and back door action 😉
A thoroughly enjoyable historical romance full of steamy bits while following the main characters struggle with completing finishing school.
When nobleman Gabriel sees a young Vivian across the room at a friends wedding he sets his sights on making her the perfect wife for him particular tastes. The newly married fried advises him of a finishing school that will provide the training that will provide what he needs.
Vivian thought she was a sponsored by a long lost telative, to attend finishing school until her 18th birthday when she find out not just the nature of her benefactor but also that she has been betrothed. This ius where her training for marriage begins.
A new historical erotic and discipline story by Golden Angel.
As the title says we follow Vivian in her training to prepare her for her marriage to Gabriel. A training that not only involves how to run a house, but also those expected in the bedroom.
My favorites scene where the meeting between Gabriel and Vivian. When they are getting to know each other and you can feel a connection growing.
The actual marriage training takes up a big part of the book and also features light FF scenes in there which might not be what everybody likes. For me personally I felt that there were too many marriage training scenes. It got repetitive and I skimmed a few. I would have liked more scenes between Gabriel and Vivian. The balance was a bit off for me.
I love stories set in the Victorian Age. Add domestic discipline to it and you make it all that much more enticing to me. Golden Angel has combined these elements and wrapped them around two very strong characters; Gabriel, a titled rake who wants more than a ton match and Vivian, daughter of a Duke of meager means. Then she added the spice of a Finishing School for young ladies that also handles Marriage Training for individuals who request their brides be trained in the art of pleasure and pain. It’s poignant and erotic. A romance you want set in a time when it’s least expected with all the eye opening discoveries we come to know and love by Golden Angel.
This book was beautifully written. The eroticism is hot as with any GA books.
I loved both characters. I loved their chemistry. I loved how sweet and patient he was. And how he courted her despite their “arranged” betrothal.
I love the idea of the school, but it was a bit tame in reality. I wish there had been more pupils enrolled in this particular area of study, and maybe some “classes” they participated in together as opposed to the regular day classes the school provided.
I wish it had included a bit more of them together as a married couple.
But, It was a highly enjoyable read all in all. I will read it again.
I first came along this book when it was on Lit. I was totally fascinated by the premise: A virginal Victorian maiden who was handpicked to be the bride of a rake? What’s not to love?
Angel totally expanded the story by giving Gabriel and Vivian backstories and totally expanded the world she has created. I love that this book spent a more equal amount of time on both Gabriel and Vivian.
My one complaint is that I was sort of more interested in the minor characters that Angel introduced than the main characters themselves? A governess who ends up married to the lord of the manor? How did Gabriel’s friend find out about the school?
I read this story back when it was on Literotica. Turning it into a novel just amped up an already great story! I feel that I can personally relate to Vivian I. That I’m a rule follower, but occasionally I loose my cool and say or do things that bite me in the butt! The slow build of sexual tension is sexy as hell!
Pure Victorian hotness! Gabriel and Vivian’s journey into finding… nay … fitting and discovering each other is an absolute delight! The whole idea of a school that taught girls how to be proper wives, heck running a home and everything else is fun, and it was a delight to see Vivian grow and learn… not to mention punishment and recompenses for her progress were just… hot!
Thank you Golden Angel for yet another amazing read!
Regency era romances are always fun to read. Spanking romances are always fun to read. Put the two of them together, and you get something that I enjoyed reading. It was sweet and lovely, and smoking hot.
I thought that Gabriel and Vivian together were really sweet. It’s obvious how much they feel for each other. They just want to go into their own little bubble and live together. It really was something that I enjoyed watching. I liked seeing them apart, when they were thinking about the other, and then when they got together. The thing is that they didn’t change how they felt from when they were apart to when they were together.
I would love to see more out of this world.
I have been anxiously awaiting this story for months and it didn’t disappoint. This book is fun and really sexy. Who would think watching Vivian learn how to run a household. Of course, the incentives for succeeding and deterrents for making mistakes will draw you in and not let go. You’ll finish the story wishing you had a school like Mrs. Cunningham’s Finishing School to go to. Especially if it pairs you up with someone like Gabriel.
A very steamy, erotic historical romance
Marriage Training is the story of Gabriel, Earl of Cranborne, and the impoverished Vivian. Gabriel is envious of his friend’s submissive but sexually enlightened wife-to-be. At their wedding he spots Vivian and is instantly entranced by her submissive demeanour and beautiful countenance.
A few months later Vivian is attending the exclusive Mrs. Cunningham’s Finishing School, where she is learning how to be the perfect debutante and wife. On her 18th birthday she discovers that her place there has been sponsored by Gabriel, and what’s more they are betrothed to be married. Not only that but she is to embark on some ‘special’ training, where she will learn of the very specific requirements the Earl has for his bride.
What follows is a very erotic story involving a LOT of punishment scenes as well as some BDSM and domestic discipline scenes, many of which involve an FF element. These were incredibly hot and well written, none of them left a sour taste or felt crude. They did occasionally feel a tad repetitive, I’m not sure we needed quite as many as we had. It did make sections of the book drag a little for me. However if you love lots of steamy sexy times that won’t be an issue for you!
I loved the scenes between Gabriel and Vivian, particularly the dinner and ‘PG’ scenes. This was when we really got to see the relationship between them develop, where their attraction and love grew. These scenes were what convinced me of their connection, and what also made me fall in love with them both. This is where I felt I really learnt about them as people too.
This was a much steamier and erotic read than the authors previous historical work, though it was much more consensual than similar stories from the ‘Victorian Training’ trope. The writing is high quality, the plot engaging and the characters very likeable, making this a very enjoyable book to read.
Steamy and well-written, but not my taste
A historical romance with a bdsm slant, this series is a spinoff of the author’s Domestic Discipline series. This is an author whose work I typically enjoy, and while neither the historical or erotica genres are my go-to choices for romance categories, I do read some of each, and find it particularly interesting when the two are combined.
I found the setup here intriguing and liked Gabriel. I found it a little harder to relate with Vivian, but I did like the way she and Gabriel interacted; besides the obvious chemistry, they could connect through their art, and their affection for their families. Speaking of families, while there wasn’t as much humor as I usually expect from this author, there was some, and I particularly enjoyed Gabriel’s interactions with his younger sisters.
What I didn’t like has more to do with personal taste than anything else. Bdsm storylines do occasionally push me outside of my comfort zone—I’m not in the lifestyle and some aspects just aren’t my kink. I’m typically most interested in the main characters and their relationship in books, and a lot of time here was spent on Vivian’s training with her female companion at the school, Mrs. Banks. Between the discipline aspects and the female to female interaction, neither of which particularly appeal to me, the story dragged a bit. The book definitely picked up once Gabriel and Vivian started to interact more, but ended a little too soon. While I understand why the author made the choices she did, I really wanted more story and less steam—or at least more of the steam to be between the main characters and not in the training scenes between Vivian and Mrs. Banks, lol.
With an entertaining setup and plenty of heat, this was a basically well-written book. It just wasn’t to my taste this time. 3.5 stars
B2B Kelly
I have to say I was sold when I first read the blurb for this title and I got to say it did not disappoint.
I found the concept of the story fascinating. The story was well written that I could easily picture the school and the teachers and all the learning that went on in it. It was (remarkably) believable and I enjoyed every minute while reading. I loved that there was minimum drama. The MC’s were interesting to get to know, their interactions were refreshing to what I’m used to in HR romance.
As a new-to-me author this was a hit. I’ll be on the lookout for more Golden Angel books.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Interesting Concept – Entertaining Read!! 4.5 stars
Watching the marriage of a friend gives the Dark Angel an interest in pursing the same path for himself. To have a young lady thoroughly ready for the treatment he wants to provide during their marriage.
An interesting journey which is both scintillating and risqué. A bit of the win-win in this entertaining story!
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***