ASIN: B00QP3CZS6
Publisher: Lyrical Press (September 1, 2015)
Making the most of a profession she was forced into at a young age, Madame Philomena McGrattan has made the most of her not-a-little-girl’s-dream life. She’s bold, honest, and has a plan, one that does not include heading a brothel for the rest of her life. But to carry out that plan, she needs money – more money. So when two gentlemen approach her to free their 30-year-old friend of his virginity unbeknownst to him, she chooses to do the job herself, instead of sending one of her girls whom she’d have to share the money with.
Lord Spencer Hornsby is the third son of a duke by birth, but a professor by all other means. He loves his research, and the only other thing he finds as comforting is his solitude. He’s been identified as being rather strange his whole life, so having constant privacy is the only way he can truly feel safe to be himself.
Him and his quirky, yet adorable-most-of-the-time ways, were the last thing Phil expected.
The premise to Gerrard’s tale is uniquely wonderful. Although prostitution is not unheard of in historical romances, it’s the first time I’ve rooted for a madame. I welcomed the unconventional choice for a heroine, and I’m proud to say, Phil’s character was relatable and worth rooting for. Gerrard did a famed job taking the “Pretty Woman” back 100 years and placing her in the lap – literally – of royalty.
I adored Spencer. His eccentric, and sometimes heart-jumping behavior was interesting (for lack of a better word). Instead of me questioning what Gerrard was thinking when she created the character, I welcomed him with an open-mind. I like reading about characters with quirky traits, and I looked forward to the exchanges between him and Phil.
Although I connected to the characters and enjoyed the plot, the relationship development was too quick, and I found myself wishing there had been more mental exchanges between them before the discovery that they were in love – despite the fact that they hadn’t yet said so to each other yet. With Spencer having made the decision to hold on to his virginity for 30 years, I was a tad disappointed at how quickly the chase ended. However, despite that, I would love to read a sequel to this story.
Rating system: Cups of coffee – the less the better
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1 cup of coffee