The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe (Wicked Deceptions #1)
Released: March 31, 2015
Historical Romance
Zebra

Reviewed by Mandi

I had expectations for this book before I started – I wanted super emotional, angst, hurt, pain, and longing. When I read the premise of this book – Duke and duchess estranged for eight years, I had grabby hands. I love this premise. I immediately thought of  Sherry Thomas and Laura Florand. Maybe that is where my expectations started, and is that fair to place on a book before reading? Maybe not, but it’s a natural thing I think. I have expectations and preconceived notions about many of the books I read. Sometimes they surprise me and lead me in a new, lovely direction. Sometimes they unfold pretty much how I expected them to. And sometimes, like this book, they turn out different.

I was disappointed with this book. Julia and Nick are indeed estranged. Julia married him when she was sixteen, and never saw him again. They didn’t consummate their marriage. Nick fled England, angry at his family. Angry that his brother died and he had to become duke with all the responsibility. Angry he was forced to marry a girl not of his choosing. He starts to tour Europe, and decides never to set foot in England or see his wife again.

Meanwhile in England, Julia is running out of money.  Nick’s cousin has been taking over his estate, and lessening Julia’s stipend, leaving her in a bad position. So Julia decides to take action. She hires a courtesan to teach her the tricks of the trade, and then takes her best friend, an earl (also friends of the hero) to Venice, where her husband is. She dyes her hair red, and decides to seduce him as this wild courtesan. She even created false rumors about herself, so word would spread to her husband, so when he met her, he would really want her (not sure I believe she would be capable of these rumors…not believable to me).

And this is what she does. She runs into him at a gaming hall and he is definitely interested. Her plan is to seduce him, sleep with him, and become pregnant, so she can have an heir to the estate.

And all of this happens. But I never felt Julia actually acted like a courtesan. Where are all of these tricks and flirtation she learned from the courtesan she hired as a tutor? She acted too….nice and proper for it to be believable. Nick is the one that takes control of the sex – but it felt cold and not sexy. I don’t think I ever liked Nick. I wanted him to fall in love with Julia because of Julia, not because she gets pregnant or other outside circumstances. I never felt that Julia was desperately in love with Nick. The passion was just missing. She lies to him and tells him she is unable to conceive. I didn’t like that. I dont’ care it was actually her husband. The baby storyline just didn’t work for me.

The passion and romance lacked. I wanted an emotional journey, and it felt too cold.

Rating: C-

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