BOOK REVIEW- THE COURTESAN DUCHESS by Joanna Shupe

Can a bold-faced lie lead to everlasting love? One by one, the impetuous heroines in the Wicked Deceptions series intend to find out, each in her unique way. . .

How to seduce an estranged husband--and banish debt!--in four wickedly improper, shockingly pleasurable steps... 

1. Learn the most intimate secrets of London's leading courtesan. 

2. Pretend to be a courtesan yourself, using the name Juliet Leighton. 

3. Travel to Venice and locate said husband. 

4. Seduce husband, conceive an heir, and voila, your future is secure! 

For Julia, the Duchess of Colton, such a ruse promises to be foolproof. After all, her husband has not bothered to lay eyes on her in eight years, since their hasty wedding day when she was only sixteen. But what begins as a tempestuous flirtation escalates into full-blown passion--and the feeling is mutual! Could the man the Courtesan Duchess married actually turn out to be the love of her life?  AMAZON  4 STARS


I liked this unusual book but also realize its not for everyone.  And I will say right off the bat that there is plenty of detailed sex.  Marital sex but still pretty detailed.  After all, we did get warned that Julia was going to seduce her husband Nick like a courtesan.  It was smile worthy, the lengths that she went to and how prepared she made herself.  Nick and Julia (Juliet) were both strong, stubborn really good characters.  Eight years though?  Wow, that's a long time to just leave a wife and not look back.  
Nick had quite the rotten childhood and his parents didn't expect him to amount to much and he rose to their low expectations.  He made it his mission.  Even his becoming knows as The Depraved Duke, added to the smack in the face to his parents that he desired.  It was just an added bonus for him.

There really is a good story-line with several things going on beyond just the attraction and seduction.  Also some really good secondary people.  Simon  Winchester is Nick's close friend who doesn't agree with Nick's treatment of Julia and has tried to talk him into going home to England.   Julia's Aunt Theo always had her back and was quite a "character" all on her own.  And yes, I did say that with a double meaning too.  Fitz is Nick's bodyguard friend who although being loyal to him also doesn't spare his words when truth is needed.  

There are several surprises and twists and turns towards the end.
One other thing that I enjoyed was the notes at the beginning of each chapter.  There were quick short,notes from Miss Pearl Kelly to the Duchess of Colton.  Pearl being the true courtesan who helped Julia.