Mistress of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If You Put Historical Accuracy Aside, Filled with Interesting Characters

FINAL DECISION: This book has a premise that doesn’t fit with the historical time period and while the characters are intriguing, the book never overcomes its shortcomings. Interesting, but not a keeper.

THE STORY: Maybelle Maitenon is the granddaughter of a courtesan but is also a virgin. Her grandmother is opening a school where men learn the art of seduction. Maybelle meets Edmund Worthington, Duke of Rutherford and ends up having sex with him that night. Edmund is a staid gentlemen and his encounter with Maybelle shakes his vision of himself. When he decides to pursue Maybelle, he ends up enrolling at the School of Gallantry with Maybelle as his teacher.

OPINION: My problem with this book is that Edmund’s mother is so determined to have Edmund marry Maybelle. The premise just didn’t work and the idea that Maybelle would even be invited to such events feels too incredible to be believed. Sometimes illogical premises can be overcome by an intriguing story or great characters, but this book was good but not great. Maybelle has too many issues for which the reader is not brought into her world to understand. This is definitely a book that is more talk than show as to character’s motivations. There were parts that I liked and I think I might try another book in the series to see if another premise might work better for me. Therefore, I give this book a three rating which means that I was okay reading it, but it wouldn’t be a book that I would expect to want to read again.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book introduces characters who will have their own stories in subsequent books in the series. I was really intrigued with these characters and their stories.

CONNECTED BOOKS: MISTRESS OF PLEASURE is the first book in the School of Gallantry series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.