★★★★★ “… it was all so sublime…”
I moonlight at Ma Maison as an escort to pay for Mom’s pricey psych treatments. Beautiful, broken billionaires pay ungodly sums of money to be with me because I’m empathic — I feel in my own body what they feel in theirs. I can heal what broke them.
When gorgeous high stakes poker player Dylan McAlister hires me, my empathic ability returns with a fury. I … McAlister hires me, my empathic ability returns with a fury. I feel the emotions that torment him. His shame roots in my belly. His heartache compresses my chest. His fear stabs me in my back. It’s overwhelming, it’s excruciating, but I can’t abandon him — I’m falling in love with him.
Will I help Dylan McAlister heal? Or will I break him beyond repair — just like the first boy I feel in love with?
.
★★★★★ “If Sierra Simone and Skye Warren had a book baby it would be PLAYER.“ USA TODAY Bestselling author Samanthe Beck
.
21st CENTURY COURTESAN is a sexy, dark, addictive SERIES. These books are NOT stand alones. Read in this order: PLAYER #1 * MOVIE STAR #2 * BELOVED #3 * HUSBAND #4.
★★★★★ “…breath-taking, beautiful, and brilliant. A must-read…” USA TODAY bestselling author Maggie Marr
21st Century Courtesan is a romantic psychological thriller series filled with love, lust, family loyalty, deceit, revenge, and all the sweet little things in life worth killing for…
PRAISE
★★★★★ “…original, suspenseful, mysterious, sexy, and dramatic…a captivating read….” Angela – Goodreads
★★★★★ “… it was all so sublime. There was love and drama as well as a darkness that will thrill you…” Sarah – Goodreads
★★★★★ “This book grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the last page. I easily gave up all of my day to blaze through this one…” Ashleigh – Goodreads
★★★★★ “I actually finished this book in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down.” Michelle Austin
★★★★★ “I am ADDICTED!” Liz Vrchota
Buckle up, baby! 1-Click PLAYER and immerse yourself in the 21st Century Courtesan world today!
more
Player is the first book in the 21ar Century Courtesan series and what an amazing story it is. This is my first book aby Pamela DuMond and I love her writing style. She has a very descriptive writing style. She draws you into the story with the character story line. The main character in the story is Evie. Evie is a special escort who is also an empath. She has that talent to really help the men who hired her. She is getting ready to retire but she has two more clients to see for the last time. With that in mind she is starting to feel there is something wrong and she cannot shake that feeling. Will one of her last clients be her very last client or will the client be healed by her service?
PLAYER (21st Century Courtesan Book 1)
By: Pamela DuMond
5 out of 5 stars
The story PLAYER (21st Century Courtesan Book 1) by Pamela DuMond is a New Adult romance book. It is a story that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. I loved reading about the characters of Dylan McAlister and Evie. Evie is a woman who is a teacher by day and escort by night. The second job is because of her caring for a family member. She is a kind, resourceful, strong, and independent woman. Meeting Dylan brings out a desire and passion within her that she never showed with other clients. You could call Dylan a broken man when Evie meets him. As she gets to know him better, she finds that they have a connection. She is empathic. Can Evie help him heal what is broken? What do the cards hold for Evie and Dylan? Read this book to find out. There is some mystery and suspense in this story. I wondered what was going to happen next. Evie has a stalker and you wonder why they have targeted her and if their identity will be revealed. I loved reading about the bantering back and forth between Dylan and Evie. They have a chemistry together and there are some steamy scenes that are included in this story. There are other additional characters that you are introduced to that are kind and friendly. I enjoyed reading about them. Then there are those that have their own personal agenda. This story had my emotions going up and down the entire time. I grew to love Dylan and Evie with each chapter that I read. This is an amazing story that I would recommend reading. This is the first book in a series and I look forward to reading the next story.
In a way, this entire book is like one super long prologue. The majority of it takes place two years in the past, when Evie, the MC was just starting her job as an escort. She’s struggling financially, a friend presents the possibility of making some good money by working as an escort. A few months in, she meets a man who changes everything for her.
I enjoyed the way the world building was done and how Evie’s backstory was presented; all kinda sprinkled throughout… It didn’t get tedious or especially boring at any point. At the same time, we didn’t really get that much background info on Evie, besides the facts that she’s an empath, her mom is mentally ill, she isn’t close to her sister and once upon a time she kinda/sorta/not really almost killed a boy she loved. The thing about this is, that the info is presented, but not much explanation is given. And because everything was so surface-level and I didn’t really know that much about Evie, I couldn’t really connect with her.
Dylan (book one’s love interest) was nice. He was sweet and thoughtful. But I feel like we just barely scratched the surface with him too. Which I guess explains why I’m not swooning all over the place or shipping them all that hard. I wasn’t convinced they fell in love with each other. There was chemistry, there was attraction. There was no shortage of lust. But love? There was no deep emotional connection. No heart to heart convos. They’re in love and still neither of them struggled with the fact that Evie was sleeping with other men? Neither of them agonized over the time they spent apart? I’m not buying it. They’re good friends and they care about each other, but they’re not in love.
Because of all this, I couldn’t get invested in them as a couple and I also don’t think they will end up together.
All of the mysteries and unanswered questions were what I found the most compelling about this book. All the while reading this I had this constant need to just know more. More about Evie’s relationship with her sister, more about the Wolfe brothers, more about the struggles of dealing with a mentally ill parent, more about the person behind these seemingly innocuous, non-threatening letters and why they freaked Evie out so much. Also, what about Evie’s dad? He wasn’t mentioned at all.
I’m excited to read more because I feel like there’s so much more story left to tell, so much more to develop. So much potential for awesomeness!
Pamela Dumond is keeps the pages turning.
An Empathic Escort Heals – Fascinating!!
Evelyn, Evie to her friends, grew up struggling with PTDS due to an early incident. She is also empathic, which makes her shield herself from others. When paid to accompany rich, powerful men to events, she realizes she can see and feel that which is truly disturbing or holding them back by using this power.
Brilliant concept exceptionally well executed. Results in a page-turner of a read which you will not be able to put down. My first read from this author – I will definitely be pursuing more!!
**I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book**
cour·te·san/ˈkôrdəzən,ˈkôrdəzan
noun
a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients. (Miriam Webster Dictionary)
I was super surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. I had preconceived ideas as to what it would be about and it was so much more!!!
This is a well written tale about a woman who is in tune with her empathic talent and uses it to help people heal in their life. We get to read the story from not only her point of view, but we get to”hear” her emotions as well (I enjoyed Hope most of all).
This book has a lot of layers with enough suspense that I’m invested in the journey and will immediately search for the next story in the series. (Crossing my fingers that it is written)
There are open door sex scenes but they aren’t super drawn out or used as filler to the story.
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will be reading more in the future!!!
Player by Pamela DuMond is the first book in the 21st Century Courtesan series. This book is full of mystery and intrigue and it will keep you reading through to the end.
Evie has a rather unusual second job. Hired as an escort to the wealthiest around due to her empathetic abilities she is able to earn enough money to support her family. However there is risk involved with the work she does. She knows she needs to cut ties and move on. With only a few clients left that is exactly what she will do. But will she be able to get out before it is too late? And will she be able to help heal her latest client?
This book was great. It had a unique and intriguing storyline to it. The characters fit so well with the story the author was telling. They were compelling to read about. I was never quite sure where the story might take us. I’m glad I picked this book up!
PLAYER (21st Century Courtesan Book 1) by Pamela DuMond was a charmly dark, yet weirdly sweet read, that had me hooked from start to finish.
My first read by this author, and a bit of a first for this type of storyline. So you can say this read was out of my comfort zone. I’m happy I gave this book a chance, because it wasn’t what I was expecting and as I said, I was hooked pretty much instantly.
This book has a little bit of everything, from the growing love, to the mysterious stalker. It added that darkness to a otherwise sweet, not your normal, bubbling romance. I say not so normal because of how Evie and Dylan meet. Evie, isn’t your normal escort, not just because she’s strong, and independent, she’s a empath. That “gift” lets her feel her clients emotions, and with that she is able to “heal” them. Right away things with Dylan are different, a different she’ doesn’t know how to handle, and that difference could lead to something dangerous.
I love their back and forth; there’s a added past to present POV switch, that really adds that extra push to this already amazing story. Not to mention the added danger that is Evie’s stalker. That alone adds a another layer of darkness, almost burying the light at times. Even when there was happy times, that edge of dark was always present, making you feel unease, and not letting your mind drift too far away. Having such a multi layer and complex tone shifts, makes this book more than a romance, it makes it believable and a hidden diamond. The only other way for you to know what I mean, is to read this book.
In saying that, that is where I leave you, so please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval, that you will fall into this tale of love, danger, and learning that it’s okay to sometimes heal yourself.
Happy Reading.
-E.A. Walsh
Need to read the series.
This is not typical of what I love to read, but it was recommended so I did read it.
It starts out with a prologue of what happened in Evie’s life when she was a young teen, trying to live normally around a bipolar mother, who evidently doesn’t take her medication regularly. Pretty tramatic for an impressionable teen. I think this is when she sort of figures out she has a gift. Yes, she had therapy, and I’m pretty sure, it wasn’t 100% successful.
Fast forward to current time, and she’s now a very highly paid and sought after Escort/Healer who helps rich, powerful men heal through her empathetic sex therapy.
Backing up by two years, it explains her journey of how she came to meet Dylan, and realized she could help heal men who had weaknesses. She fell for Dylan, when it was only supposed to be an escort job. She figured out what she felt was everything he was feeling, and felt she could “fix” him. They have a connection on a pretty deep level, plus the sex is amazing, she never knew it could be like that. She even meets his family.
Well, people are hateful, vengeful beings, and through some bizarre manipulation, she ends up leaving Dylan while they’re in Texas. So she’s back in Chicago and feeling depressed. A few months later Dylan requests her services again through the agency.
Her employer, Madame Germaine, exploits Evie’s rare gift and even Dylan is guilty of sending some of his broken friends Evie’s way, via Ma Maison agency.
So, I liked the story concept well enough, really did, surprisingly.
The presentation was rather scattered and tedious. I got to 25% and thought surely it would start moving along faster. I really don’t understand why authors don’t give readers enough credit to get the point. Reiteration and mindspeak slow a book down so much for me. I really understood what Bipolar Disorder entails just by the word alone, no need to go into the manic highs and depressive lows, over and over. Evie’s mom plowed into the Wolfe boys, yes, it messed everyone up, either physically or mentally, move along please. I’m still not sure why Evie felt guilt over that, and probably never will.
Dylan is a gambler, and a preacher’s son, a rich preacher, I’m picturing Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker here, though Dylan’s mom was sincere. Not sure about Dylan’s hateful, money loving brother or his dad.
I think there’s something sinnister coming, Evie is getting creepy, knowing mail from a “fan”. Dylan begs Evie to cut her hair which is a really huge deal to her, but he also warns her that not everyone sees her as a healer.
Would love to tell you this ends with an HEA, but I can’t because it’s a psychological, suspenseful,
Cliffhanger, and I would need to buy the next two books to find out what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book through bookfunnel and am giving my honest opinion.
Warning, this is a serial – but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the wonderful ride!
Player by Pamela DuMond left me wanting more. This is a cliffhanger and I’m usually too impatient to wait for the next book. I’m ready for the next book in the series but I knew going in what I was in for.
Evelyn has so many big heavy thing put on her shoulders at such a young age. With bills piling up she did what she had to do to keep her head above water. In my younger years I would have judged someone for doing what Evelyn did. But with age comes wisdom and I get it now.
I’m curious to see where this adventure takes us. What’s going to happen? Is she going to find love? Happiness? I certainly hope so.
If you’re on the fence about reading this book just do it.
Player (21st Century Courtesan Book 1) By Pamela Dumond sucked me in from the very beginning. I really felt connected with the characters and she did a wonderful job of making them come to life in words. I love that the main characters job is a teacher by day. It makes the story all the more interesting and realistic. The story had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book, and I hated to put it down. This is a great way to start the new year, with a new author and new series. I really loved it and can’t wait to read more by this author. I give this book an easy 5 stars! <3
Player is the first book in the 21st Century Courtesan series by Pamela DuMond. I had never previously read any of the author’s work before but I was intrigued by the blurb and decided to give it a go.
The book was well written, with really great characters and it was flowing really well, then it just…ended. I was rather thrown by the ending. It felt like the book just came to an abrupt halt and I wasn’t prepared for it to be over. I still had so many questions that hadn’t been answered yet. At least it didn’t leave you on a cliff hanger. I just need to hope that book 2 in this series will continue Evie and Dylan’s story as I really need to know what the future holds for them.
I totally adored the main character Evelyn (Evie) Berlinger. Evie is a kindergarten teacher by day and high class escort by night. She has a special gift, as an empath, she is able to feel the feelings of those around her, leading to her helping them to get over any issues they may have. This gift makes her services sought after through the escort agency she belongs to.
As an escort Evie never actually had sex with any of her clients. That is, until she met high stakes poker played Dylan McAlister. There is an undeniable connection between the two of them. Just as the plot gets really interesting around these two, the book comes to an end. Praying that their story will continue in the next instalment in this series.
Pamela DuMond’s Player is the first book in the 21st Century Courtesan series. This new adult/college romance that has been set as a stage for a potentially epic series. Evie is unforgettable. She is such a strong and capable character as more and more of her character is unearthed through the story. The paths she’s to embark will lead on a journey and as a reader, you question where exactly the author is going to drive her. Dylan’s character was exquisitely written, you could feel the emotions, thoughts, feelings rolling off his character with the details that are added. Pamela DuMond has a remarkable writing talent that shines in this novel, to such an extent that I cannot wait to read the subsequent books within the series.
I just finished reading Player *book 1* by Pamela DuMond.
Meet Evie Berlinger – a woman with many layers – a teacher, a sister, a daughter, a friend and an escort.
She has had to overcome a lot of hurdles in her young life, one being an incident that made a lasting impression on her 13 year old self, something that she still thinks about today.
Evie is a very selfless, caring person that tries her best to take care of everyone around her and when her empathic abilities come back in full force, she decides to use them in order to help Dylan McAlister.
Dylan McAlister has an interesting background as well and like Evie, he has had to learn to live with his not so perfect past.
Being an escort can be demanding enough but Evie goes above and beyond for her clients that are going through some tough times.
Amidst all of this, Evie starts to receive some fan mail.
Who is sending these letters to her and what is their ultimate goal?
I know I can’t wait to find out!
This was such an interesting book to read – very refreshing with some very solid characters!
I loved Evie’s friends and I loved meeting Dylan’s family as well.
Thumbs up for Pamela DuMond – I can’t wait to read her other books!
PLAYER (21st Century Courtesan Book 1) by Pamela DuMond is bittersweet and an original story that is multi layered in its telling. There is lots of emotions, highs and lows and is complex and mysterious, as it is sexy and as suspenseful, as it is dramatic, and it is definitely captivating in its uniqueness.
Evies life has been plagued with mental health issues. Everything she has done is so she can take care of her family and that is why she is where she is today. She has a unique ability, that makes her highly sort after by the rich and famous but who is able to help her?
It is as beautiful as it is bittersweet. I am a definite Pamela DuMond fan after this read and there is so much more story to tell and I can not wait for the next book in the series.
5 Stars
This story was amazing! This is the first story that i have read by this author and i honestly think i am going to become a little obsessed with her stories (they’re that good!!). I devoured this book and read it in one setting. I couldn’t put it down.
The main character is called Evie and i just cant help but feel for her and her tragic start in the world. She is strong and beautiful and she had such a giving soul. I loved her.
She meets Dylan through her work when she takes him on as a client. She has a special knack for helping men heal and that is exactly what Dylan is needing.. Will she end up helping him heal or will she end up destroying him in the process?
I highly recommend reading this book! Go get it now!
Happy Reading.
Review by Anastasia D.
Player by Pamela DuMond
Five Stars
Player is the first book in the 21st Century Courtesan series by Pamela DuMond. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I have to say, I hope I have the pleasure of reading many more. This book had me hooked from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down until the last. Evie is a school teacher by day and a high end escort at night. She is a very interesting character who feels she has to help the men she has dates with. When she meets Dylan, a professional poker player, things change for her. The book flows well and I enjoyed the writing style. I can’t wait to read what Ms. DuMond has instore for us in the next book in this series.
PLAYER (21st Century Courtesan Book 1) By
Pamela DuMond. This book had me in an unshakable grip from page one, although I’ll be honest I didn’t try shaking it too much. This story has so many amazing aspects that draw readers in and takes them on quite the journey. With amazing characters that you fall in love with. Evie is one of my favorite characters I’ve gotten to read about and her story is not one you want to miss. There’s some twists and turns that had me turning the pages as fast as I could so I could see what was going to happen. It’s well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking anything. It’s a well balanced story with characters you connect with and root for. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I’m giving this book a five star review and highly recommend it.