Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
Oh the things we do for love. Or in the name of love. I think that’s what I’m going to go with on this review, since there’s so much brouhaha about aspects of this novel. And I am going to stick with a straight review, personal feelings may (or may not) come in a later post.
Justin Kinmurrie, the Duke of Kylemore, is a cold, arrogant, autocratic duke. He has won the favors of the most sought courtesan in London and he plans to keep her. In fact, he wants to marry her, since he knows it will upset his mother and his time with her is the only happiness he experiences. However, the courtesan in question has other things in mind.
Soraya is ready to leave her life in London and move to a quiet existence in the countryside. There she can be herself, Verity Ashton, and not Soraya, the infamous London courtesan. Though she meets with the Duke one last time, she leaves without a word. Kylemore searches the ends of England for her and when he finds her, he kidnaps her to a remote hunting lodge in Scotland to exact his revenge. When they are at the cottage, imperious Duke and former mistress engage in a battle of wills in which they both end up loosing their hearts.
The characterization of this book is amazing. AMAZING. Kylemore is arrogant, unfeeling, proud and so tortured it boggles the mind. Yes, he forces his passions on Verity, but Campbell’s journey through his mangled emotional state explains why he does what he does. And Verity is a prim, proper woman of her time. It’s easily forgetten that a straight-laced middle-class English girl would give up her life for one that is seen as that of a fallen woman without thoughts of regret or remorse. Verity subjects her natural tendencies to do what is necessary to support her family. However, at the same time as Soraya she is able to explore her desires as an experienced woman.
Also, after Kylemore lets down his guard Verity acts as any abducted woman would. There is no idea of Stockholm syndrome from Campbell’s prose, just the desperate acts of two people who are so scared of what would happen to them if they lost their rigid control.
For a debut, it’s written extremely well and the characters are fully fleshed out, even Kylemore’s malicious, vindictive mother. The ending does seem a bit contrived, but it still generally fits in with the rest of the very dark, contemplative tone of the rest of the novel. Be warned: don’t read this if you want light-hearted comedy, it is a very deep, emotional tale and not for those who may be disturbed by the story.
Grade: B+
Great review Gwen. I am considering reading the book because you appealed to that part of me that loves a strongly emotional story that’s well written and thought-provoking. Haven’t seen it in any bookstores though, which is rather interesting.
heee
It all confusing in here isn’t it. That is lawson. *g* They should all have the same icon LOL although I think lawson is changing hers.
But close enough, you know I haven’t been out to look if it is or not in stores around here.
YAY judging almost done!!!!!!!!! Which rocks since it is due today *g*. play on…
Heh, yep.
Stacey, that’s exactly what it is. It’s very well written and has alot to offer to a reader.
Lawson and I are twins separated at birth, I think. 🙂
Hey Sybil – I see the cover whore is back in one of the novels you’re reading! Me LIKIE!
I keep meaning to update that maybe make it four books and have one up of everyone or something. But I haven’t gotten that far yet.
And nah… you are soooo much more like me than lawson. I think she is would be the ‘good’ one.
“I think she is would be the ‘good’ one.”
You only say that because I can type with better grammar than you. 😉
LOL I think that goes for… oh everyone
I just got this in the post yesterday!! I am looking forward to getting to read it!
Cool! You can tell us if it sucks or not *g*
I read this over the weekend – I liked it! I’ve read some of the stuff being flung around about the “forced seduction” thing…but I didn’t see it that way at all. It was so far from the “forced seductions” of the 80s that you can’t even compare the two. I’m not sure how to explain it and I don’t have time to do a review over on the blog but Verity wasn’t saying no to Justin, she was saying no to herself (if that makes sense). They both wanted one thing but were saying they wanted something entirely different. You know?
Anywho, I’m looking forward to her next book and that’s what matters, isn’t it? :o)
Good God, sorry about that, Lawson. My own fault for trying to function without caffeine, dammit.
C2, thanx for your take on the book. It sounds like it’s worth reading. I think I’m going to keep looking for it before breaking down and ordering online.
It’s all good Stacey ;). And you should read it, it’s great.
I’m reading this now and am loving it so far! They’re at the abandoned crofter’s cottage. It’s nicely dark – my kind of book.
Now she’s pulling weeds. This has been a very good book so far. One of the few I might actually keep to read again one day.
Holy Smokes! Excellent book! I’ll admit that the “forced seduction” thing left me feeling uneasy and left me pondering how “willing” she was to love this man in the end. But I like that about a book – I like walking away with something to think about when I’ve finished reading. I like feeling uneasy, as if there was more to the story than the author gave us. It’s a sign of a very complex tale to me.
This one is not going in my amazon.com reseller pile. I’m keepin’ it to read again in a few months!
I know, it’s so great Gwen! I loved it because it made me think about relationships and how complex real life is. And with all that it gave us a HEA too.