A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man by Celeste Bradley, Susan Donovan

Regency London’s most celebrated courtesan, The Blackbird, was a woman before her time—uninhibited, financially independent, and free to live by her own rules. Schooled in the sensual arts by the one man she loved the most, she recorded every wicked detail in her diaries…

Expected publication: May 24th 2011 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

ASIN

B004OA62UE

Let me start with the X rated sex...

For many readers this book with be way too bold, blatant  and detailed in the bedroom scenes.   If you are into erotic reading, this book has some interesting sexual twists and variety. It is interesting to note that  this book  addresses the issue that many women have with actually uttering the "dirty words" to their partners.  The masked male sex buddy, known only as "sir", seemed a bit sexist in concept, but worked in the context of the story.

I need to preface the rest of the review with this statement....I hate the "formula" romance books.  We have all read them....ugly, fat, virginal, shy or otherwise undiscovered ugly ducking girls that meet hunky, hot pirates, lords, millionaires or highway men and hook up.  Then there is some terrible misunderstanding, abduction or other traumatic event that tears them apart.  Ultimately the man comes to his senses, rescues the maiden or performs some other heroic deed to win her back and they all live happily ever after.  The End. 

So...if you enjoy this type of book, you should probably quit reading this review here.

This book does tend to follow the above formula, but with two heroines, one sent in  present day and one in the past and two different authors writing each story.  While I didn't hate this book(I think the sex made it at least a bit more interesting than the usual romance novels.) and I did actually read it to the very end, I did have some complaints.

Without going into great detail and spoiling the plot, for this of you brave enough to read this book...

I had problems with the basic concept of the character of Ophelia choosing to become a courtesan in order to escape marriage and the rules of traditional society.  I also had difficulty with "Sir's" choices and motivation (other than the obvious sexual motive).  His choices were never explained or justified within the story.  That said, I did like the characters of Ophelia, her story line better that the present day story, which seemed to exist only to provide a vehicle to tell Ophelia's story.    The present day plot with Brenna and Mick totally followed the "formula" of a romance novel and copy-catted the sex scenes from Ophelia's plot.

 If you enjoy this type of book, don't tend to question the choices of that the characters make and aren't offended by the sex, you will like this book.