David Graham loves women—so much that being a gentleman courtesan is more pleasure than business. Having newly inherited a failing country estate, the income to be earned pleasing wealthy women doesn’t hurt matters. When a new, lucrative contract is offered to him, David is happy to take on a new client … until he finds out what she really wants from him.Widowed and alone, Regina Hurst has no … no desire to engage in a passionate affair. Finally free and independent from the tyrannical rule of her late husband, she only wants what he could never give her—a child. Hiring a professional courtesan seems like the best way of achieving her aims, but she never expects an arrangement of convenience to blossom into something more.
David sees Regina as frigid and severe, but more time spent in her company reveals a dark and hidden pain. The more she resists the spark of attraction between them, the more he strives to earn her trust and affection. Attachment is against the rules of conduct for a gentleman courtesan, but David is helpless to fight his burgeoning feelings.
When their time together ends, will he walk away substantially wealthier, putting Regina behind him forever? Or, will he take a chance on turning a mercenary arrangement into something that will last forever?
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I can’t seem to get enough of this series. Have you been following it as closely as I have? I certainly hope so. If not, then you’ve missed the first three stories surrounding three of the original “Gentleman Courtesans” with all the juicy bits attached to their keepers, along with the intrigue surrounding the “The London Gossip” news rag. “Taming the Rake” has absolutely kept me enchanted. Victoria Vale has let her characters push the boundaries of what the preconceived notion of what we’ve come to expect from a widow, widower, and courtesan. There’s an unexpected tenderness with an innocence that is unparalleled with this story that broke my heart one moment and then melted it the next. From tightly wound rosebud to full blooming blossom is the only way to describe it without giving away all the deliciousness. This is such a great story.
I enjoyed this story, it is a lovely passionate story where love finds its way for David and Regina. It was always meant to be, it starts off as an arrangement but turns into something more powerful and enduring.
as always a pleasure to listen to one of Ms. Vales book. I just adore the whole series & this was no different. the characters were written so well you could relate to them easily. you experience all the ups & downs … the emotions they go through from despair & desperation to love and romance! a must read/listen… I highly recommend this Audible/book. I was gifted this Audible as an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I absolutely loved this story of David and Regina! David is very good at his job as a male courtesan, and I loved the way he treated Regina. It was so good to see how she changed, in a good way. She definitely deserved this second chance at love.
This review is based on the audiobook. Excellent performance of the narrator, Darcy Stark!
A twist on the courtesan roll makes this an entertaining read! David and Regina find a strong romance, most unexpected but it cannot be denied! But can she trust him? Very entertaining!
Ohh my goodness! Victoria Vale never disappoints her readers!! She delivered another addictive storyline!! I’m in love with David, he is olive skinned and blue eyed, half Greek and half English!
Regina in my parent is a perfect match for each other. He is gorgeous and has a sweet side, Regina has had a horrible marriage. So much goes on in this beautiful, well written storyline, the narrative was amazing.
I highly recommend this book. I was given this book for an honest review.
A desperate woman’s desire for a child.
by sewsummore
I have read other books in this series with enjoyment and am pleased to say that this book is one of my favorites. David became a male courtesan in an attempt to help provide for his family. He was dismayed when he learned his money did nothing to aid his family and only served to line the pockets of his father’s manager. Desperate to help his family, David agrees to a contract with a neighbor that will see the young woman pregnant. Regina’s husband had only recently died and unexpectedly left his entire estate to his wife. Their marriage had not been a pleasant experience for Regina. She was often beaten and ridiculed by the man she had fallen in love with and married, but she longed for a child of her own and was prepared to pay for the privilege. Regina’s experiences in the bed-chamber had always been painful and unpleasant, and it pained David when he was not allowed to ensure Regina ensured their mating was a pleasant experience for her. Regina’s story was a sad and complex one, but common in the time when this book was set. Women were expected to be chaste before marriage and submit themselves to their husband’s pleasure. This story ends happily for the two lovers and the mystery surrounding the identity of the “London Gossip,”continues in the next book in this entertaining series. I am glad we live in a more enlightened time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Not Her Best, But Not Bad
Over the last year since I have been doing more book reviews on Amazon, I have read a fair number of books by this author, starting with her four-part The Villain duology—yes, this duology does have more than two books! I actually enjoyed the later books better than the first. I’ve also liked her newer series called Gentleman Courtesans. She writes historical, mostly erotic fiction, although not all of it is heavily erotica. I’m not in general a fan of erotica; I don’t mind steamy, but most erotica generally crosses a line that I don’t typically don’t walk. It can be too crude and even “icky.” In these two series, the author has mostly skirted that line—at least well enough for me to enjoy the books (though I did skip the second book in this series as it has power exchange elements I never enjoy in a romance).
My favorite book in this series was about Hugh the painter. Unfortunately, I was not as wild about this particular book. It took too long to get to the good stuff. The first scene is quite fun and sounded like a rollicking good time for everyone involved. But once we meet the heroine, the entire tone shifts. This could have been fine if the author didn’t stay in that space for too long. The heroine had a horrific past with an abusive husband that undermined her sense of self-worth and made her leery of all men, though the author doesn’t really talk about specifics until later in the book. As such, she is very walled-off and hence very different from the outgoing hero. Contrasts, of course, can be good in romances, but I felt like it brought down the entire tone of the book to something quite different from the rest of the books in this series. Until the heroine’s realization of the shackles she had put on herself because of her past and her desire to then break free, the book isn’t that interesting. I actually felt a little sorry for the hero to have to put up with her. And, certainly, what should have been lovely intimate moments just completely fell flat in comparison to what this author typically writes. (Yes, they were in character—if a little histrionic at times—but were such downers.) I didn’t like the way she treated the hero, especially after their intimate moments. Around the 50% mark of the book is when the heroine does have that realization, but it felt like a long slog to get through to arrive at that pivotal point and then to the more interesting parts of the book.
I liked the hero. He could have potentially have been the fun rake that we like to see in Regency romance on occasion. Unfortunately, we only got to see it in the first scene and then after the 50% mark of the book. I love that he was so caring about his mother and sisters. He certainly had quite a shock at the beginning of the book and had to become a more responsible person, but he is up for the challenge (even though he still keeps up his courtesan work). The reason why the heroine wanted a courtesan was completely different compared to the other books—and actually a great premise—and could have been so well explored in this book because it was unique. But instead, the author chose to focus on the darker aspects of the heroine’s past which really did darken that first half of the book, unfortunately. I did feel, too, that compared to some of the author’s other books I’ve read in this series and The Villain duology, this book bordered more on erotica in that latter half. Again, as I’m not a fan of that kind of terminology or ways of expressing sensuality, I didn’t particularly like that here. I have enjoyed other books by this author, so I will certainly continue to check them out. And I am fascinated by what will happen with Benedict, the ringleader of the gentleman courtesans. He is the hero of the next book, which will probably be the end of the series, one that I imagine will solve the courtesan’s conundrum with The Gossip—an overarching storyline that has been featured briefly in each man’s book. So I will definitely read that one. I just wish the book had more of the fun sensuality that the other books in this series have had.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I am still head over heels for this woman’s storytelling skills! Every book I’ve read by her has held some level of emotion to the storyline, but this one was more than emotional for me. I can’t really pick a specific plot point that drove the story this way for me because I think the entire book held emotion at some level.
Regina hasn’t had the best of luck in the romance department in her life. Aside from the times being what they were, her now deceased husband was quite oppressive and severe with her. All she has ever wanted in life is a child and she sees no other recourse now than to hire someone for the job. Cue David Graham, professional courtesan at your service 😉
GAH, I loved reading these two navigating thru their relationship and seeing past each other’s outer persona to who they really were inside. Their journey wasn’t angsty, but like I said before, I felt it to be very emotional and full of heart!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a really well-written story that captured my interest right from the start and I was engrossed till the end. This book was filled with intrigue and romance and had me turning the pages anxious to find out how things end. The characters were interesting and well-developed. David and Regina worked really well together. The author did a nice job of bringing everything together in the end. An enjoyable read that I would surely recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thrillingly tamed and thoroughly enjoyable. David, David, David… This was a thoroughly delightful book. David is a hot, patient, encouraging lover that shows a very closed off, frightened Regina how to live again and love. The personal journey of Regina across this novel was was emotional, raw, and compelling. And David’s journey gives all romance lovers hope for taming the right man. On a side note, I can’t wait for Benedict’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have loved all of the Gentleman Courtesans and David and Regina’s story was an excellent addition to this series. I love that each characters reason for being a courtesan/hiring one are all different. I loved Regina and was sad for her past but loved that she knew she wanted a baby and found a way to make that happen. I liked that this shows a different side to David. These two were great together and I loved their story. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 4th book I’ve read written by Victoria Vale; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
This series has been very enjoyable and I’ve liked watching the couples overcome long odds to be together as well as see what will happen with the London gossip.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Taming of the Rake is book number 4 in the Gentleman Courtesans series. This one focuses on David. He enjoys being in the company of intriguing women so being a courtesan is right up his alley. Saddled with some unexpected debts with his father’s death, he also loves the income it affords him.
Regina is a widow who wants only what she couldn’t get from her late husband, a child. She thinks engaging in a no strings attached affair might finally grant her wish. Knowing they can not get emotionally attached is a huge draw for her as well. She only wants one thing and that’s it.
I really enjoy these books and a topic I can’t remember ever reading before. I wasn’t sure how I would like reading the story of gentlemen courtesans but the relationship between the men, a good true friendship (almost brotherhood) is refreshing. These men can be vulnerable with each other, yes they tease, but also support each other tremendously.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy without expectations. All opinions expressed are my own. Another great read by the author. I believe the next book might be the final installments and I’m not ready to see it end just yet.
Another fantastic spicy historical romance by Victoria Vale. Great storyline packed with heat and emotions. A solid set of characters help the story along quite nicely. Good job!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Regina is a recently made widow with a longing in her life that may never be filled. David’s father passing has brought him home to his mother and sisters. Thanks to Benedict, these two strangers embark into a relationship that will forever change them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My, oh my! While I loved David and Regina’s touching story, the ending of this book with Benedict was phenomenal and is entirely deserving of its very own 5 star review. Domestic violence, sexism, trust, courage, boundaries, friendship, family, new beginnings, hope, and love were some of the undercurrents in this seductive steamfest. Victoria Vale is one of the best authors out there, and I highly recommend this entire series.
I received a free copy of Taming the Rake, but that did not affect my review.
Regency Romance
Now, I’m not usually into Regency romances, but I’m a big fan of the way Vanessa Vale does them. I’ve read her Villain series and her Scandalous series, and enjoyed them both thoroughly, so I new I’d like this one, even though I haven’t read any of the other Gentlemen Courtesans. And, naturally, I did! David and Regina’s love affair is so affectionate and just delightful, all you want is for them to be together and happy. And the Epilogue really has me excited for Benedict’s book!
I love this series…Frankly, the plot (men who are courtesans) caught my attention. David and Regina are wonderful. David – lover of all female beings; Regina – well – without giving anything away – Regina, though married – was innocent and treated as property in every sense of the phrase. Put them together and you’ve got a wonderful story. Now I’m torn which of these gentlemen are my favorite. As always, Ms. Vale’s wordsmith ability makes me jealous and beg her to give up her secret.