A Courtesan's Scandal (Scandalous)

This book was a mix between `Pretty Women' plot and Cinderella... now I like both of those stories and I always want a happy ending - so what I am saying the even though it could never happen it's a great story. Kate Bergeron is a courtesan for the Prince of Wales but the Prince can not start the affair so he forces the Duke of Darlington to escort Kate to parties so he can meet with her secret. Katie and the Duke of Darlington have a love - hate relationship and the whole situation is doomed to fail - but its fiction - so enjoy the ride - life is too full of reality! Off to add more books by Julia London's on my reading list; One Season of Sunshine, Due out July 2010 and The Secrets of Hadley Green due out fall 2010.

A COURTESAN'S SCANDAL Julia London October 2009 Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group 384 pages ISBN-13: 9781416547129 Miss Katharine Bergeron had grown up and away from poverty and despair into a stunning and exquisite courtesan. She had found the life through despair and extreme desperation and knew only that this is how she survived. Now she was to the Prince's mistress and nothing will ever be the same. The Prince knows he wants Kate but he was trying to juggle one too many things of which the least was obtain a divorce from the wife he had in order to be free to pursue the life he wanted. So to keep the gossips of the ton off their game he asks his friend the Duke of Darlington, Grayson Christopher to pretend to be Kate's lover and make everyone think that the Prince is a victim of his wife's infidelity not a man who committed it. This was a great plan conceived by the Prince who is a master of the duck and cover. It would have proved a success expect for one little problem - Kate and Grayson find they not only like one another they have fallen in love with each other. While at first neither is keen on the idea and they are downright spiteful to one another but once the angry barbs stop and the conversations begin they both realize that they are a good match despite growing up at two different ends of the social ladder. How this love came to be so strong neither is sure about but are the obstacles ones they can overcome, the least of which might be the Prince when Grayson's mother finds out. Grayson is a duke with family responsibilities, a name to uphold and a brother trying to overturn the very lucrative slave trade. Kate could lose the only security she has known and the security that comes with money. Are they strong enough to fight the Prince who is a force to be reckoned with but take on the entire London society that can and will throw them both into the street poor and abandoned? How can a duke find himself so in love with a courtesan that he is willing to risk everything for her - Grayson thought simply by taking one look at Kate's smile and you are in love. Ms. London has a great story in this final book in the series with such a twist on a romance with the mistress being the lead that you are compelled to find yourself rooting for her to win. Grayson is a standup man who understands family responsibilities but also wants to fight for his own identity which can come from being a man in love and when he goes to bat for Kate he shows why some are better than the way they are raised. Lovely! Mary Gramlich ("The Reading Reviewer") [...]

In London of 1806, Kate Bergeron has come a long way from her impoverished childhood as she has become mistress to a cloth merchant. However, she climbs higher up the social ladder when the Prince of Wales wants her. Prinny is in the midst of a public divorce so must conceal his planned trysts with his latest mistress. He asks in a way the duke cannot refuse him, that Grayson Christopher pretend to be Kate's newest lover; he does not even bother to ask Kate as he expects her to comply. Kate and Grayson assume their masquerading as a couple will be a front for the Prince to hide his assignation, but no more. Neither expected to be attracted to one another although each understands the danger if they begin to make love let alone fall in love. A COURTESAN'S SCANDAL in an intriguing refreshing Regency romance as inadvertently the Prince plays matchmaker and relationship breaker. The cast is strong including the Prince who sets up quite a dilemma for the lead couple. Fans will appreciate Julia London's charmer as love proves dangerous to a duke and his not so pretend mistress as neither known how the capricious Prinny will react if he learns the truth. Harriet Klausner

Julia London did it again! After a read Highland Scandal I was afraid to read this new addition since the other book for me was a little disappointing. But God I'm so happy I bought it. The heroin a beautiful courtesan who was throw away from her house by her stepmother and was pretty much force to enter this world. Not that she was actually proud about it. The hero the Duke of Darlington makes a contract with the prince. The prince wants the courtesan (Kate) for his mistress, but since he is going through a divorce he doesn't want people believing that she is his mistress, for that reason he makes Darlington escort her for a couple of outing to makes eyes go their way, thinking that she is actually Darlington's mistress. Darlington can't say no to the prince, for the prince knows a secret of Darlington. Kate despite being a courtesan and knowing what to do in the intimate act, she has her own fears and it's not as experience as people believe. Oh but don't get trick. `Cause she will used what she does know to make the Duke crawl for her. So, that much I'm going to say. If you want to know what happen YOU HAVE TO READ IT. You will not regret it! The chemistry between them was amazing and palpable. Kate's story is very sad, but I love how she didn't want and didn't let people take pity on her. Darlington situation to choose her it's complicated since he is a duke. Love it, love it!

I read the summary and wasn't sure if I would find this book appealing or not. It was hard to picture the Duke of Darlington getting to the point of being willing to marry a courtesan. The story built quickly and beautifully. By the end I was routing for Grayson Christopher (he Duke) to go for it and pursue his love, even at great risk. He does so and I was fully engaged with both characters. Julia writes a poignant story that was fun to read and easy to relate to, throughout the book. Thanks for another excellent Regency novel!