Book 1 of 5 in the Regency Erotic Romance series, The Gentleman Courtesans.Miss Evelyn Coburn refuses to die a virgin. At the age of five-and-twenty, she has never even been kissed properly. Upon receiving her inheritance, she decides to investigate rumors of a secret London agency which provides the services of male courtesans. Someone to teach her the secrets of the bedchamber and do away with … bedchamber and do away with the nuisance of her maidenhead is all Evelyn anticipates from such an arrangement.
The Honourable Hugh Radcliffe is in dire financial straits after being disowned by his family for pursuing a career as a portraitist. When he’s asked to go into business to form The Gentleman Courtesans, he agrees, needing the income until his work is accepted into the Royal Academy of the Arts’ annual Summer Exhibition—an event that could earn him the exposure needed to launch him to fame.
The arrangement with Evelyn is only supposed to be temporary, and Hugh is determined for her to be his last paramour. But when physical attraction evolves into a deeper connection, she becomes the muse for his greatest work of art yet. With their affair coming to an end, Hugh will be forced to acknowledge that Evelyn is the key to his success as well as his joy.
Will their newfound happiness end when their arrangement does, or will what began as a matter of lust and convenience lead to true and lasting love?
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I really enjoyed this book. It was original and a very good job with the characters and the set up for the rest of the stories about the rest of the men. I like the idea of male courtesans in that time period. I am sure that they existed as women out lived the men for one reason or the other and what were they to do about companionship? It was a unique storyline and well written. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Portrait of a Lady – The Gentleman Courtesans Book 1
Victoria Vale you made me fall in love, cry, go ahhhh, cry, then cry tears of happiness…and then you made me wonder who the hell is out to hurt these men!!
Portrait of a Lady starts by introducing us to how The Gentleman Courtesans began. Benedict, David, Dominick, Hugh and Aubrey..the original 5! After a night of pure debauchery (don’t women ever want a night of debauchery) all of them in need of money, Benedict comes up with the idea of starting a Gentleman Courtesans business, where the men are paid to be “kept” by rich women who for whatever reason (I can think of a few ones) pay for their Courtesan to fulfill their wishes, no matter what they be. (Well not committing a crime but you get it right?)
The story of Hugh Radcliffe and Evelyn Coburn begins two years after the Courtesans are formed. Shy, quiet Evelyn has reached the age of 25 and wants to lose her virginity and experience having a man in her life even if she has to pay for it. Evelyn inherited a large amount of money and can afford keeping a man who will give her the experiences she is looking for without taking her to far out of her comfort zone. Hugh has been disowned by his family, he being the youngest son, has chosen to follow his love of art and become a portrait artist. Frankly I don’t like Hugh’s family! (well there is one person in his family that finally comes through for him but she appears late in the book).
Hugh and Evelyn meet at Vauxhall Gardens by the Cascade. Hugh hopes by meeting at night at Vauxhall, Evelyn will not be nervous or shy and that will give them the opportunity to get to know one another before discussing what Evelyn needs are from Hugh. Hugh, let’s face it with that name and the fact he is an artist is very very handsome and Evelyn who one realizes has no real self confidence are bound to become more than Keeper and courtesan.
Readers, we soon realize that they have fallen in love, but neither one of them realize that the other person loves them. Hugh because of the betrayal of his family and Evelyn because of her lack of confidence. What you want to know as you read this story is will Hugh get his painting in the Exhibition? Will Evelyn finally admit she does love Hugh? No spoilers here but remember what I opened this with..you will fall in love with both these characters, you will cry when they hurt, you will go ahhhh when they become closer and you will cry when they part (even if it is only for a while) and by the end you will tear up with happy tears for them.
This is where I tell you reading friends, that while you are reading Hugh and Evelyn’s story, you are living it as though you are there with them. That’s because much like Hugh’s ability to paint a picture that makes you think you see the flowers swaying in the breeze, or the colour hues of the costumes worn at Vauxhall is how Victoria Vale writes. Your not just reading this but your there on the page, living it with them. Her description of the colours and shades of paint that Hugh uses when painting, or the description of Hugh and Evelyn eating ices outside of Gunther’s makes you feel like you are in the room or the Phaeton with them. When Hugh starts Evelyn’s portrait you are there in the studio with them because of her ability to take words and put you there with them. This is why you feel the story not just read the story.
I throughly enjoyed this lovely story and highly recommend it.
Evelyn has her own money, is 25 and still single and also a virgin which she doesn’t want to be anymore, so she signs up for a Male Courtesan and is contracted to Hugh.
He is kind, patient and a great lover. He is also a good artist.
They really do take to each other and all the bits and pieces of this well planned and well written story come together in an interesting climax.
These two characters are very endearing and although their romance begins nicely, there are a few bumps in the road that had me wondering about the outcome would be.
I did enjoy this story I think that this is one of Victoria Vale’s better ones.
The narration by Darcy Stark brings the story to life.
I listened to the audiobook version and my review above is given voluntarily and is unbiased.
Great start to the Gentleman Courtesan series
—>>> The fourth son of a viscount, Hugh has to find alternative means of financing his dream to become a portraitist as he has been officially disowned by his family. Applying to become a Gentleman Courtesan was quite the success for him, allowing him to pursue his artistic desires. However, these days, that may just include the lovely Evelyn, his latest keeper and muse, who has come to terms with “being on the shelf” at the age of twenty and five and knows that her prospects of finding a husband are quite slim to none. But Evelyn was quite willing to use her inheritance to ensure she could explore her passions and desires before she ends up old and alone, as penning her Gothic romances was not quite enough to satisfy her needs. The prologue sketches out the situation of the original Gentleman Courtesans, which leads up to the first story featuring Hugh and Evelyn.
I really enjoyed this book and am glad it is part of a new series. I am interested in finding out about all the GC members. I loved Hugh and that before he met Evelyn he was ready to be done being kept and be a painter. I felt bad for how shy Evelyn was but I am glad that pushed her into meeting Hugh. I also really liked Patience. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A great premise.
We are introduced to Benedict and his poor companions who enjoy their debauchary all too well. They decide to make their living from being gentlemen companions. With benefits.
This is Hugh’s tale, he’s the emotional painter whose lates keeper is Evelyn. Who has retained him to relieve her if her VCard.
Will it be more than just business for Hugh?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a great concept this writer has used to make this story, the start of a series!
In an era where values and norms are different than today, 5 men decide to start earning their money by selling their time and body. The story revolves around 1 of these men and how he falls in love.
The story is beautifully put down. The female character is a very shy 25-year-old woman who, in the company of men, does not dare to express herself and therefore has not had a chance on the wedding market. She doesn’t want to die like a virgin and decides to use the service of the Gentlemen Courtisan and that’s how she gets to know Hugh. He is a 4th son of an earl and his passion is painting with which he was expelled by his family. The story is described from both POV and that gave this story an extra dimension for me. The love scenes are a part of the book but not the main theme. I think this book is highly recommended and I am very curious about the other parts in this series !!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book one in The Gentleman Courtesans series a well written book and I want to read the rest of this series. This was a different story the men are the Courtesans, I will be reading this book again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh my! I found The Portrait Of A Lady to be interesting from the very beginning with the intriguing story behind the beginning of the Gentleman’s Courtesans.
Skipping two years forward and a starving artist no more, Hugh Radcliffe has decided to take only one more job as a courtesan. Hugh is sure this year he will be able to submit a painting to the Summer Exhibition that will finely make him a well known artist therefore ending his need to be a courtesan.
Evelyn Coburn has decided that being a 25 year old spinster that she will most definitely never marry because of her crippling shyness and her inability to even look a man in the eyes or have even a simple conversation without embarrassing herself. She’s just going to take matters into her own hands and hire a courtesan to take care of her virginity. Evelyn doesn’t want to die still being a virgin that’s never been properly kissed, wined, dined or romanced so she’s decided to use a very discreet unique service known only to a very few ladies…
Wow! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved Hugh and Evie’s story! They are both such awesome sweet interesting characters with so much smoking hot chemistry along with this intriguing storyline it definitely had me flipping pages! It’s such a sweet hot read I just couldn’t put it down! I definitely recommend you read this book! I’m really looking forward to reading more from this amazing author!
What a fantastic swoon fest! I’m not usually a big beta hero fan, but Hugh definitely made me a fan. That grand gesture and that paint scene. This book had the perfect amount of angst, tears, and love. I adored this book and can’t wait for the others! A wonderful start to this new series!
Beautiful. The passion of Hugh (and Evelyn) vibrates through the story and through our imagination. Wondering if male courtesans can be anything but crass, worry no more. Ms. Vale writes a story that will hug you and warm you with its romance. Love. This story is so beautifully written and Hugh and Evelyn are such likeable characters that their arrangement is really put the back burner in favor of courtship and romance. I loved this story and look forward to more of these wonderful men and their keepers.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.