Lessons From a Scarlet Lady (Signet Eclipse)

Lessons From a Scarlet Lady (Signet Eclipse) Summary:

By Emma Wildes

Publisher:   Signet

Number Of Pages:   336

Publication Date:   2010-01-05

ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0451228790

ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780451228796

Product Description:

No real lady should take lessons from a scarlet woman... The Duke of Rolthven's new wife, Brianna, is the perfect aristocratic bride. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of Lady Rothburg's Advice--a courtesan's lessons for the boudoir? When his innocent wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, the proper Duke is truly astounded by her seductive powers. Following a courtesan's advice might lead to trouble-but will it lead to Brianna's ultimate desire: winning her husband's love?

Summary: Love it despite it's faults Rating: 5

I'll be honest...this book has its faults, but I loved it and have put it on my keeper's book case. What are the faults? Other reviewers have covered this ground and I would say that I agree that the story lacks depth of characterization, especially of the main couple. Having said that, I enjoyed Colton, the Duke, far more than others have. I can understand why his considerable responsibility has made him as dour as he is. What would have made the story of Colton and Brianne more enjoyable is if we had followed their story from the moment they met - this would have enabled us to get to know them better and empathize more fully when Brianne started her whole seduction routine. I LOVED Rebecca and Robert, the secondary couple - theirs was a very sweet romance. I found the same in Wildes first book "An indecent proposition" so I would suggest that Wildes needs to watch this - ultimately she may loose readers if her primary characters do not catch readers attention in the same way the secondary romances do. And I absolutely adored Damian - I do hope Wildes gives us his story. This book probably deserves a 3 or 4 star rating from a literary point of view, but it left me feeling all gooey so I'll give it 5 stars.

Summary: Two Stories...One couple is steamy and the other is wonderfully romantic Rating: 4

Lessons from of A Scarlett Lady has two romances, one which was a little mediocre (except for the bedroom trysts) and the other which is quite good with only a few intimate scenes but filled with terrific tension. Both stories have the commonality of a naughty little book written by a former courtesan, teaching women how to attract a man and how to keep him sexually satisfied. Briana is the wife of a Duke; she is a kind considerate lady like but also a little bored. Her husband is handsome, dutiful and solicitous but not very exciting in the sack. She discovers the book Lady Rothburg's Advice and goes about seducing her husband. She is quite inventive and her husband is startled at the changes in his demure wife. Seems the only problem these two have is Briana's husband is stuffy and unemotional. He does not cheat and has zero desire to do so. There was little conflict in this story. I never felt as if this couple's marriage was in peril. Briana was virginal when she came to her husband's bed so I am uncertain as to why she believed that her sex life was unsatisfying as she does not seem to share much about her bedroom life with her friends until after she has read her courtesan how to manual. Colton, her husband, was very attracted to his wife, as he describes her as beautiful throughout the story. The writing here is solid though and the trysting is quite steamy. The other story in this novel is very good, so good in fact, that I wish there could have been at least 70 or 80 pages added to it. Robert is brother to Briana's husband the duke. He is handsome, debonair, and carefree and he loves the ladies. He is not searching at all for a wife. Rebecca is sweet, kind and the best friend of Briana. She is an accomplished musician with controlling parents who want her to marry the richest and best titled bachelor. Rebecca has other plans as she has been madly in love with Robert for a year. He is unaware of her feelings and really unaware of her but she admires him from afar despite his unseemly reputation. Robert rescues Rebecca from an overly besotted suitor and suddenly Robert sees Rebecca in a new light. The two attend a house party hosted by Briana and there they have an opportunity to learn about the other. Robert is awed by Rebecca's musical talent and Rebecca is swept away by Robert's charm and kindness. Easily the reader can fathom why these two are attracted to each other. Rebecca feels she needs more ammunition when it comes to claiming Robert's attentions so she turns to Lady Rothburg's book for some advice. The scenes between Rebecca and Robert, and not just the physical ones, are incredibly romantic. You almost sigh when they play music together, or share a kiss. This is a very endearing couple, so much so that this book rates four stars, even if one of the couples in this novel is a bit on the boring side (except in the bedroom) Robert and Rebecca never are.

Summary: fun Regency romance Rating: 4

The envy of the female members of the Tom due to spousal catch Brianna Northfield wants more out of her marriage to the Duke of Rolthven. She wants passion, but Rolthven is too busy for her and besides he expects prim and proper behavior even in the boudoir. Brianna turns to Lady Rothburg's Advice guidebook for courtesans to seduce her mate. Her spouse Colton thinks his shy new wife is perfect. However, suddenly she becomes a seductress enchanting him. Soon he makes love to his delightful wife in places he would never imagine having sex. As the vixen wins his body, she hopes to win his heart too, but if anyone learned of the source, the scandal could lead to her rusticating alone. Adhering to the advice of a courtesan is not new (see Claudia Dain's The Courtesan's Secret), but Emma Wilkes refreshes the concept by having an innocent wife apply the instructions to her marriage in order to win more than just the body of her spouse; she uses An Indecent Proposal to gain his heart too. Brianna and Colton are wonderful as they seem do it everywhere since he cannot resist the lure of his suddenly seductress spouse. Lighthearted, fans will relish this fun Regency romance starring a woman whose sexologist guru is a guide written by a courtesan. Harriet Klausner

Summary: Oh, yes, my kind of romance. And it's a two-for-one deal. Rating: 5

I've been reading a lot of "frog" romances lately and this one is the real deal "prince" for me. The main romance has young bride Briana trying to loosen up her uptight and controlling duke of a husband, with the help of a scandalous (and banned) book by (former)courtesan Lady Rothburg. It's obvious that they love each other and the outcome is predictably guaranteed but the journey for the reader is a lot of fun. Romance #2 has Briana's virginal friend pining away for the rakish younger brother of Briana's husband. This romance was less satisfying to me but it was good enough to keep the five stars for the book. The two romances here are relatively light-hearted, with way less angst than you find in a Karen Ranney, Anna Campbell or Laura Kinsale, but without being silly, vapid stories like a good many I have read lately. So within the genre of historical romances released only in paperback, this is a five-star work. Ask me to compare any five-star book of this genre to a classic like ANNA KARENINA, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, etc., and you have a different story.

Summary: Review from a blue-clad lady about lessons from a scarlet lady. Rating: 4

3.5 stars. Kindle Readers: Please note that this book has a prologue, but that the book opened - at least for me - at chapter 1. The prologue is also not mentioned in the table of contents. I only discovered it because I hit the back button by mistake. Without it, you'll be missing the much discussed carriage scene. I selected this book, because ... well, I don't entirely know. I'd pre-ordered it, so I must have heard something good about the author or she must have impressed me on a message board somewhere. Besides, gorgeous cover, which - as a Kindle owner - I can only appreciate from afar. I'm sure I was also interested because the plot promised some raciness. While I appreciate trembling virgin heroines, I also like a story with more advanced sensuality. The plot actually gives us both types of heroines. We have the newly married Brianna and her friend, the yet unmarried, Rebecca. Brianna discovered in a small shop a book from a "scarlet lady." She bought it because she wanted to seduce her husband into being more attentive and also fulfill some of her own personal needs. Her husband, Colton, is both highly aroused and confused as to where she's coming up with these ideas. He finds a confidante in his brother Robert. Rebecca, Brianna's friend, is quite smitten with Robert, who is a "rakehell." Robert gives his brother terrific advice which amounts to not looking a gift horse in the mouth. This attitude immediately made me anticipate his scenes with Rebecca. Brianna, Robert, and Rebecca are all - in their own ways - progressive thinkers. This is both good and bad. Obviously, it's enjoyable to read characters that see the world more in easily relatable modern terms. Jane Austen would have committed seppuku before writing a book about a wife dropping to her knees, although she might have enjoyed Rebecca's interest in composing. Robert, being the more experienced brother and Colton's sounding board, is as close to a feminist as one could expect back then - at least until he takes leave of his senses AKA falls in love. However, and remember that I want the heightened erotic elements, a book like this can edge on coming across as being people playing dress-up, rather than genuinely inhabiting that time. I didn't fully buy that Brianna, who'd apparently been a perfect "lady" up until then, bought the book and then freely shared this knowledge with her friends, following the advice without trepidation. The plot wasn't a problem, but her comfort level struck me as too modern. How much this, and similar details, are a problem for you will be based on your expectations. The actual guide book felt authentic though, and acknowledged the different expectations for women at that time and, certainly, the outsized control wielded by the men in their lives. This was a good device for speaking to the reader and used to greater effect than the moments when the characters seemed to take on the role of providing social commentary through their thoughts, as the heroines tended to do. I certainly didn't want them to be unaware, but the execution came across a reminder that this was a book written in modern times and with a modern sensibility rather than letting the events and the interactions between the characters lead the reader to her own thoughts on the restrictions of the time. In truth, Rebecca and Robert started out as being the more interesting couple for me. She secretly composed music and the plot allowed an opportunity for him to accompany her in the playing of one of her compositions. I quite enjoyed that - the unknowing intimacy. The revelation that she was the composer came and went too fast. A third brother was also present, and he was also an enjoyable character. I have to say that Colton was my least favorite of the men up until the last few chapters. The lovemaking wasn't truly outrageous, only perhaps advanced for the time, and more time was spent out of the bedroom than in it. There was a lot of conversation between the characters, and the pages were divided between the couples, so there was not a lot of time to fully explore any of the main characters. I enjoyed "Lessons" overall, but I can't say I fully clicked with this author in the same way I have with a few other books I've reviewed recently. I adored the premise, but I'm left feeling not all of the potential was achieved. There's enough here for me to anticipate that this will find an appreciative audience though. I'm guessing the remaining brother, Damien, might find his own lady in the parlor, naughty girl elsewhere soon -- hopefully she'll get a copy of a certain advice-filled book.

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