Lessons from a Courtesan

Great tension between main characters

This book is a must buy for anyone who loves historical romance, or anyone who loves drool-worthy men, or anyone who...well, really anyone. I fell for Justin the moment he stepped into the room. He's a complex hero with secrets a plenty, and Jenna Petersen does a wonderful job of slowly peeling back the layers of his personality and background until the passionate and loving man underneath is revealed. Victoria is a strong and fascinating heroine, who is the perfect counterpoint to Justin. Their passionate encounters will leave you breathless. You'll want to keep a cool drink on hand for this one.

In 1812 Justin Talbot and Victoria Reed marry although they do not know one another. The Earl and his new bride share a passionate night together as he explores every inch of her delightful body. The next morning she wakes up to learn her husband left without a word. For the next three years, she runs his estate, but he never returns from London and she never goes there. In 1815 Victoria learns of the disappearance of a close friend widow Chloe Hillsborough in London. Thus she decides to go to the big city to see if she can find Chloe. She masquerades as Ria, the sexy courtesan, who has the Ton in a titter; the men want her while the women want her to leave. Justin knows who she is, but is outraged when he hears men claim they took her. As he makes his bid to regain the trust of his wife, they fall in love, but he knows finding her friend is the only way she will believe he is sincere this time. LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN is an exciting Regency romance starring two stubborn lead characters who refuse to admit their love for one another. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Justin realizes the talk of the Ton is his wife and Ria realizes the only touch she desires is that of her husband. Jenna Peterson provides an enjoyable early nineteenth century romp starring the battling Talbots. Harriet Klausner

Jenna Petersen is well-known for her superb Regency Lady Spy Series and her well-written sensually alluring erotic romances written under the pseudonym Jess Michaels. "Lessons from a Courtesan" is a delicious perfect blend of both Ms. Petersen and Michaels. Victoria Reed is a beautiful innocent who has been used as a pawn by her father when he blackmails the handsome, Justin Talbot, Earl of Baybary to marry Victoria. Victoria is taken in passionately by the handsome earl and feels she can make this marriage work, even if arranged, especially after an intense sensual wedding night that turns passion and desire into love for Victoria. Suddenly all of her dreams drift away as Justin shows her passion on their wedding night, awakens her sensuality, only to leave her alone at his country estate as he leaves for London the following morning. For three years, Victoria expertly runs Justin's estate and transfers her passion and love for him to his people and lands and buries her sadness of abandonment with special friendships with a few ladies in the district. Suddenly one of their friends is missing after leaving the country and finding a protector in London. Victoria and her other friend Marah arrange for Victoria to become the famous Courtesan "Ria" as a cover so they can find the whereabouts of their friend. As the men of London are rushing to Victoria's side, frenzied to become the famous "Ria's protector, Victoria runs into Justin. Both are enraged to see each other and Justin realizes that he will not stand another man having what is his and that he has never stopped thinking of Victoria and their sensual wedding night all these years. Can Justin keep Victoria from finding a protector; bring her back to his bed, while not admitting that he really is and has been attracted to her, missing her all this time? Can Victoria continue her quest to find her friend while ignoring the desire and intense passion she has never lost for Justin? Soon Justin discovers Victoria's true reason for being in London posing as a courtesan, and begins to blackmail her, claiming that he will find her friend while sharing her bed. Will Justin and Victoria come to terms with all the lies and early blackmail in their marriage and deal with the intense sexual attraction that soon turns to love, so they can finally have a true marriage? "Lessons from a Courtesan" is an extremely sexy story with characters so interesting the reader simply cannot put this book down. Be ready to sit back, turn off the television, stop everything, and be ready to read this book in one night!

This is a story about a man who will go to any length to insure his family's reputation. Even if it means wedding his enemy's daughter; which is why Justin Talbot, the Earl of Baybary, has done. His wife Victoria doesn't understand why Justin ups and leaves her after their wedding night and goes out of the country. When three year goes by, Justine arrives back in England and stops at a gaming hall to see his friends and socialize. But low and behold, there he spies his wife! But his friends tell him that is Ria who is a courtesan. What in the hades is going on? What could his wife, who looks sexy and beautiful doing in here?? The author, Jenna Petersen, is a true talent in her field. I appreciate all her effort in writing this book, and it really shows how gifted she is. Thanks again, Ms. Petersen for this wonderful book!

Justin Talbot, Earl of Baybary, was blackmailed into marriage and left his new bride right after the wedding night. Years later, he's back in London and discovers that the famous courtesan, Ria, who all the gentleman are raving about, is none other than his timid, estranged wife, Victoria. But Justin soon learns that Victoria is not so shy anymore. Once the shock of her husband's abrupt departure on their wedding night wore off, it turned to anger and emboldened Victoria. She has come to London under the guise of a courtesan to find a friend (a former courtesan) who has gone missing. When she is confronted by her errant husband, she tries to brush him off. Not to be rebuffed, Justin is bound and determined to discover all of his wife's secrets, which may be more than he'd bargained for. This book was so good, I could not put it down. It's dark, emotional and very sexy. Ms. Petersen did a fantastic job of bringing two people together, who each told lies and harbored many secrets, in a very believeable way. The interactions between Justin, a total alpha hero, and Victoria were fraught with sexual tension and the love scenes were smokin' hot. And the "lessons" at the beginning of each chapter were a very nice touch. Jenna Petersen gets better and better with every book she writes. I highly recommend this one!