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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This book was such a good read. Loved all the characsters a gentleman courtesan and the sassy lady who take control of her own pregnancies debacle.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE ENCHANTING DELIGHT
Sensational! Victoria nailed this baby with 100% on point realism, exposing heartfelt longing, needs and desires, searching for a future and finding way more than she bargained for, planting seeds and watching them grow, sowing this jewel together seamlessly. Hot glances and rising temps, exposing the sensual quirks and defying bents, baring the explosive ups and agonizing downs, breathtaking in it’s simplicity and rousing in it’s depth, propelling this gem to life flawlessly. Restrictions are amplified and exploited, laying out all the harsh facts, deals and fiascos, igniting a fierce determination with such passion and zeal, shifting this baby into overdrive, blasting it into a frenzy with a mind-blowing culmination. Presentation and dynamics in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. The magnetism, attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity, drawing you deeper until you feel the electrifying hum running rampant through your veins. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that’s so rich and lively it feels like you can just reach out and touch it. Remarkable job Victoria, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
The fourth book in The Gentleman Courtesans series a well written story that held my interest until the end this series just gets better with each new book. This is David Graham and widow Regina Hurst’s story. I know when this series is complete I will be reading them all again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When David Graham’s father dies, he inherits a failing country estate. This made no sense since he had been sending money home for years to care for it. He was unaware that an estate agent stole the money. David needs to replenish the funds as quickly as possible because his family and tenants are depending on him now.
Because David loves women, being a gentleman courtesan is a pleasant way for him to earn money. But his new client doesn’t want his “normal” services – she wants a child! The widow, Regina Hurst, does not care about passion. But she doesn’t want to be alone. With the passing of her cruel abusive husband, she wants a child which he could never give her. At first, David thinks the woman is cold. But as he gets to know her, he sees and understands her pain. He begins to respect her and wants to earn her trust. But because getting emotionally attached to a client violates the rules of conduct for a gentleman courtesan, David must hide his feelings for her. When the contract is up, will he have to walk away?
David is a gentlemen courtesan and enjoys his job. Regina is a widow and when she hires David, she isn’t looking for a lover but someone to give her a child. As they spend time together, sparks begin to fly. Will David be able to let her go? Fast-paced read and the 4th in this series but it can be read as a stand-alone. I really liked it.
What is in store for Benedict now?
I really like this series Ms. Vale’s take on a regency romance gentlemen courtesans is great. When I started reading I thought it was going to be Benedict’s story but instead it turned into David and Regina’s tale. Now that story starts off with David being some unexpected news. When David is offered a contract near his location that is when Regina enters the piece. Meanwhile, there is a gossip that Ben needs to deal with. This tale within a tale was a very enjoyable read. I loved all the characters it was an excellent cast. This was a very naughty but very entertaining tale with a very interesting epilogue. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Taming of the Rake by Victoria Vale. This is a new author for me and after reading the blurb and my love of historical steamy stories, I knew I was in for a treat. I’m so glad I grab this one to try out. I really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the drama that followed David and Regina into this steamy love affair. I would recommend this book and author to others. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book It is a great story about David, the most lighthearted and irreverent of the Gentleman Courtesans and Regina, his new ‘keeper.’ Although it is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. David has to return home for his father’s funeral, and to take over caring for his mother and twin sisters. He discovers the family estate has been criminally mismanaged and is on the verge of collapse. David realizes that he really needs the income from a Courtesan job. Ben, the founder and orchestrator of the Gentleman Courtesans, offers him an arrangement with a woman very close by to him. Regina is a young widow who has very specific requirements regarding the his services. She is not at all what his extensive and varied experience with women has prepared him to expect, and he is intrigued by her. Further intrigue this book comes from London where Ben continues in his efforts to stop a gossip columnist from revealing the Gentleman Courtesans to the public.
This is an emotional story, with everything from laughter to tears. I like how it stresses importance of friendship in all its forms. David and Regina are perfect for one other, but they both have to recognize and accept what is right in front of them. It will especially be difficult for her, because she has a heartbreaking history of being abused. They both really deserve a happy ending to their story. There are several excellent secondary characters. Powell, Regina’s loyal footman, definitely deserves his own happy ever after.
The epilogue in this book prepares us for the next book, which is about Ben. I was legitimately startled by it! Vanessa Vale always has a surprise in store for us.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased a copy on Amazon.
David Graham lover of all things female has his reality brought to a screeching halt with the untimely death of his father. He now has his mother, sisters and a property in need of extensive repair to consider. Could this new contract be the answer to his financial concerns? Lady Regina Hurst has spent years being brutally treated by her now deceased husband. She is looking to hire a courtesan with the hope he can provide her with the one thing she longs for.
Ultimately David accepts the contract and at first wonders what he has gotten himself into as he is puzzled by Regina’s actions and responses. As he spends time introducing Regina to the experience of living again, he begins to see that he is no longer satisfied with his previous lifestyle. This is a well written story about learning to live, love and most of all trust again. David’s patience with Regina as she struggles with her fears of intimacy and the lengths he goes to in order to help her are truly romantic. With a bit of assistance from some former fellow courtesans and a loyal well intentioned servant named Powell, this couple can’t lose.
Enter the epilogue. This is a peek at the next book in the series about the Gentleman Courtesans founder, Benedict. My reaction’s as I read were, what?…Wait!….WHAT??!!..NOOOOOOOO!! I had to re-read just in order to ensure my wine consumption wasn’t making me see things. It’s been said that the author has dropped hints in the previous books. Had I read them all I might not have been so blindsided. Admittedly, I am not quite sure how I feel, as the storyline appears to be going in a direction that is not normally of interest to me. Hopefully my brain will come to a decision before Benedict’s story is released.
If you love stories about finding that truly unexpected silver lining, then this is for you. Now I am off to get the first two stories in this series to see what I missed!
I received and ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
A widow’s request for a child seemed a simple task but this rake does not account for his growing feelings. I voluntarily received this book for an honest review
David is one a member of The Gentleman Courtesans Club and he loves his women and is well known for his abilities with his mouth. When his father dies he has to go home to his mother and sisters only to find that he father has relied on his steward and he robbed the estate and now his family is destitute. He gets another assignment to service widow Regina who only wants him to get her pregnant. David agrees to help her because his family needs the money she is offering and the more time he spends with her he sees that she has been abused and treated badly by her now deceased husband. As he shows her the pleasures of lovemaking they both fall in love but are afraid to admit it because they had an agreement. Loved this book and the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Damn, she did it again!
Actually, that one sentence should be my entire review for this book. The entire thing. I can’t think of one sentence that describes this book better. And the Prologue. And the Epilogue. And everything in between.
Victoria Vale didn’t become my favorite author because she wrote erotica. Writing sex isn’t easy, especially when you want it to have emotions, and a plot, and characters to die for. THAT’S why Victoria Vale became my favorite author. And this book, this Taming of the Rake, is another one that will wring you out like a used dishcloth with the emotion it has packed between its pages.
I don’t want to tell the story here, because I really hate spoilers, but there are things you need to know about Regina and David. And you need to know them in order for you to decide to buy the books. First Regina is wounded because of her horrible husband, who has died, thank all that’s holy. He was a wife-beater, which was probably far more prevalent in that time than we think. The men were brought up to believe they had total control over their wives, and only the wives suffered the consequences. But don’t worry, there aren’t scenes of beatings contained within the pages, just recollections. Then there’s David, who after all, was a Courtesan. And after all, was a Courtesan that Regina hires … enough of that. If you know any more of the story, it takes away from it.
And the “Damn, she did it again”? She created two beautiful personalities, sprinkled them with lots of hot steam, and then threw their emotions in there, just to keep the reader completely on their toes. And of course, then she threw in a prologue and an epilogue that, while they didn’t take me by surprise at all, convinced me that the mind of Victoria Vale is a wonder to behold and that I would love to crawl inside to take notes.
Above all else I could say about this book, I’ll say you just don’t want to miss this. Yes it is book 4 of the Gentleman Courtesan books, but this is MORE. This is the one that brings the Courtesans together, thank you David for needing a hand. And if you haven’t read the first of the books, you really DO need to read all of these to get the full “whammy” from these men. Each book is a standalone, each book has its own HEA. And each book will make you eager to read the next. That’s the other thing that Victoria Vale does very well – she makes you WANT to read the next paragraph, the next chapter, the next book.
Ms. Vale, I suggest you get your backside into your office and start writing. We, the lovers of your books, are already impatient.
This is the 4th book in the Gentleman Courtesans series in which follows David and Regina. Regina is a widow whose husband was physically and mentally abusive throughout their marriage. David is a pretty care free rake who finds himself responsible for his family and their crumbling estate upon his father’s sudden death. Regina contacts the GC with an particular request. David agrees as he needs the money as well as the bonus that comes with it if he is successful. David works to overcome Regina’s fears and grows to have affection for her. Regina must decide if she will live in the future or live in the past. This was an enjoyable read and the twist at the end was mind blowing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love the continuing saga with the Courtesan series. Each story builds and to see a man find what he thought he would never find or deserved. David was a complex character who felt he didn’t deserve love or life full of happiness. Regina was a woman hurt badly and was scared to open again. Together surprisingly they found in each other what neither thought they could or would. I loved how couples from previous books were brought in for a few scenes. It ties the series together though separate at the same time. The ending of this story has me wanting to see more how these two live beyond the wedding.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Regina is a strong character who wants a baby of her own and is willing to pay a courtesan to get it. Her deceased husband was unable to give her or any of his mistresses a child so she realizes the problem was not her but him. David is a lover of all women, but Regina is the end of the line for the rest because she becomes the only one he will love for ever.
This book has a pretty powerful message within, and for me it was that not everyone is out to hurt you and that the next person to come into your life might be better than the one who hurt you before but you never know if you don’t give them a chance to prove it. Honestly trusting is something I am struggling with myself. Anyway, the characters in this book are easy to connect with and to like.
Ms Vale knows how to keep a girl coming back for more. She consistently writes interesting stories with interesting characters that are easy to connect with. She also brings old characters back from previous books which I love because I hated saying goodbye to them in the first place.
If you like your historical romance a bit steamy with a great storyline and wonderful characters then I highly recommend all of the books from the Gentleman Courtesan series.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
Like the fact of a widow who had been abused by her husband and family decided to take a chance on having a child she could have to find love. It takes a male courtesan she hires to get her to realize that not all men are what she was used to.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the fourth book in The Gentleman Courtesans series by Victoria Vale. Each book is written as a standalone, however, you should start with the first book so you
David Graham is a true lover of women. He thoroughly enjoys being a Gentleman Courtesan. When he has to return home after the death of his father he discovers a crumbling estate and a huge cash flow problem due to embezzlement. Benedict offers him a contract with a widow close to his home. Regina Hurst is a recent widow who had a miserable marriage. When her husband was on his death bed, she wasn’t even sure if she would even get her widows portion. She hires a Courtesan so she can finally have a baby.
I loved the relationship between David and Regina. It is wonderful when a rake finds his true love and falls hard. The story is fast paced and the characters are real. I like that the characters from previous books are incorporated. It feels like you are meeting old friends. This book is sizzling.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the Author. Thank you!
This is the fourth book in The Gentleman Courtesans series by Victoria Vale. Each book is written as a standalone, however, you should start with the first book so you
David Graham is a true lover of women. He thoroughly enjoys being a Gentleman Courtesan. When he has to return home after the death of his father he discovers a crumbling estate and a huge cash flow problem due to embezzlement. Benedict offers him a contract with a widow close to his home. Regina Hurst is a recent widow who had a miserable marriage. When her husband was on his death bed, she wasn’t even sure if she would even get her widows portion. She hires a Courtesan so she can finally have a baby.
I loved the relationship between David and Regina. It is wonderful when a rake finds his true love and falls hard. The story is fast paced and the characters are real. I like that the characters from previous books are incorporated. It feels like you are meeting old friends. This book is sizzling.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the Author. Thank you!
David Graham one of the Gentleman Courtesans, known for his love of the ladies and being an exceptionally talented courtesan. He’s the jokester of the group, never taking life too seriously. Regina Hurst is recently widowed, stunted by her past, and in desperate want of a child.
David’s father dies leaving him with a failing estate. He sent money over the years but for the most part it went straight into the pocket of the steward, who left before he could confront him.
Regina has endured 8 years of abuse in her marriage but her husband has recently died and now she wants the one thing that can bring her happiness and love, a child. She fears intimacy and well men in general because of this abuse.
She hires David to impregnate her but that means no fun in the bedroom which is not something that typically happens during his contracts. He has his qualms about siring a child that he will never know, but he is desperate for the money. David picks up on Regina’s fears and tries to put her at ease by gaining her trust.
I adore when the rake falls so hard in love. Their relationship is heart achingly beautiful and super steamy! And wow the epilogue let’s you in on what’s coming in Benedict’s story! I’ve really enjoyed this series and have tried to figure out what was going to happen next with the London Gossip. I can’t wait for what’s next!
This new story of the Gentlemen Courtesans is amazing. David has the responsibility of his late father’s estate and of his mother and twin sisters. Their home is crumbling around them and David needs to find a way to solve his cash problem. Benedict offers him a contract with a widow in his area. When he meets Regina, she offers an unconventional contract. It goes against David’s guidelines but he needs the money so he agrees. Regina is suffering from the abuse of her late husband and trusts no man with the exception of her manservant Powell. There was much conflict between David and Regina but eventually she slowly began to trust him. His patience and care were the deciding factors. What Regina’s late husband did to her made my heart go out to her. She was young naive and trusting and her husband betrayed and abused her in all ways. David had his work cut out for him. In the meantime, in London, Benedict was trying to discover the identity of the infamous London Gossip. He was doing all he could to thwart her and a little at a time was succeeding. He had his suspicions but had to wait for confirmation. Back in the country, David was falling in love with Regina. But things went sideways and they stopped seeing each other. David left for London to meet up with the former courtesans that had married along with Benedict. He came up with an idea to woo Regina into marrying him. In London Benedict was in high dungeon when his past came calling on him. What an exciting episode. A must read. You will not be disappointed.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.