The Courtesan’s Daughter by Claudia Dain
Review by Alicia Thomas

This book caught me by surprise. I went into it blind. I didn’t even read a blurb, first, and this was my first book by this author. I spent the first chapter confused, then realized it was funny! Very funny! After I caught the author’s style I giggled happily through the rest of the book.

Basically, this is a book about Caroline, a young lady whose mother is infamous among the Ton because she was a very popular courtesan before marrying her father, the count. Not only that, but she still stands in the shadow of this amazing widowed countess who holds all who behold her in her thrall.

Raised to be a proper lady but having too questionable a heritage to make a proper wife, Lady Caroline must think of some way to proceed with her life. As it doesn’t look as if she will marry, she decides to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a courtesan, herself.

Little does she know that while she is coming to this decision her mother is arranging another solution. The Countess’ solution to Caroline’s lack of a proper husband? She’ll buy her one.

This is a very character driven story. We are much more in the ladies heads than the men’s but it gives just the right mood for this book. The Countess is witty and very worldly-wise. She manipulates everyone and they all love her! I did, too.

Caroline is quite a dingy girl. Before you start labeling her “tstl” let me say that Claudia Dain is not! You can tell when a heroine is poorly written. It’s a different thing when the author is bright and writing a character who’s not quite thinking straight. (Come on, you Garwood fans!) Caroline makes some huge errors in judgment that lead to situations that are priceless!

Now, our hero, Lord Ashdon, is less open to us. His feelings and motivations are kept more obscure. He’s enjoyable but not necessarily a strong character. He’s a sexy but basically generic romance hero. The women make the book.

I have to say, sexy is not bad! The sexual tension in this book is strong and quite… uh… effective… Considering how little actually happens in some scenes the heat level is impressive.

I did feel there were some excess family scenes that didn’t contribute enough to be included. I understand that this book the first of a series and I really liked the characters but they took a lot of time away from the story at hand. I felt it made the end drag a little.

For those who like witty use of words this book is a treat. There are plays on words and turns of phrase that are set up early in the book and are carried throughout the story to wonderful effect.

Fun and sexy.

Grade: B

Award-winning author Claudia Dain tells a tale of impropriety and independence, and a mother and daughter determined to bend the rules of society in their favor.

Young Lady Caroline’s prospects for a suitable match are severely limited by her mother’s infamous past. Before Lady Sophia Dalby entered London society, she was a highly desired courtesan. What man of title, position, and wealth would marry a courtesan’s daughter?

Sophia’s solution is to purchase a husband for Carolin – the Earl of Ashdon – agreeing to settle his gambling debts if he will take her daughter’s hand. Insulted, Caroline refuses to have a husband who was bought for her.

But after meeting the fiery Lord Ashdon, she wonders if it wouldn’t be satisfying to have him pay for her, perhaps with a priceless pearl necklace? With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashdon may get more than he bargained for and Caroline may get just what she wants.