From
impoverished beginnings, Verity has risen in station to become London’s most
sought-after courtesan, known as ‘Soraya.’ She has everything most women
wish for – money, beautiful clothes, expensive jewelry – and yet all of it
is simply a means to an end as far as she is concerned. For Verity has
plans to end her reign as esteemed courtesan as soon as her contract with
the Duke of Kylemore expires, and retire to a much simpler, more respectable
life in the country, where no one has ever heard the name Soraya.
But escaping the Duke of Kylemore is easier said than done. The Duke has
been most pleased with their arrangement, and has no desire to see it end,
even though the contract has expired. Furious to find Soraya has
disappeared after their year has passed, he begins plotting his vengeance
through total possession of his runaway mistress. He will do whatever it
takes to have her, even when that means kidnapping…
For
some time, many of my reading friends have raved about new author Anna
Campbell’s historical romance novel, Claiming the Courtesan.
After the first few insisted I must read it, I agreed with them
wholeheartedly, since we share very similar tastes in reading material. On
my next book shopping trip, I made certain to pick up a copy of this
intriguing new work of romantic fiction. I have to confess now that it was
some time after that before I actually made time to read this book, as my
reading pile for review books is always the first priority. Imagine my
utter delight when I discovered that we had a request from the publisher to
review this very book still awaiting a volunteer to review it! It was the
perfect excuse to move Ms. Campbell’s debut novel up to the top of my to be
read stack.
I could kick myself for not reading it sooner. This book was one of the
most gripping historical romances I have read in some time. Campbell has
penned an unapologetic tale of two damaged souls who have resigned
themselves to never enjoying love and marriage for themselves. Yet in each
other, they discover the missing piece of their hearts and the path to
healing and redemption.
The road there is hard for this couple, however. There are some decidedly
dark aspects to this romance, and romance traditionalists may not enjoy the
story as much as others. This is not the sweet little romance where the
hero woos the heroine, saves the day, and they live happily ever after.
These are real people, with their warts and foibles exposed for all to see.
The hero most certainly shows his worst time and again – but through it all,
we also see his pain, his vulnerability. We learn of the tragic background
that brought him to a place where he reacts as he does to the fear of losing
his Soraya.
Verity struggles to overcome her past as Soraya. She wants desperately to
separate the two sides of her personality, to lock Soraya away forever. But
she finally discovers she can never truly be free until she embraces both
sides of herself with open arms and finds a balance between the two
personas.
I loved this story. ABSOLUTELY loved it. Of course, I have absolutely no
rules when it comes to my stories, not even romance. I like a happy ending,
but I don’t always require my stories to provide one. I most admire stories
that don’t cater to what the author thinks their audience wants, but instead
tell the ‘true’ story of these characters as seen in the author’s
imagination. That is exactly what Anna Campbell has delivered in
Claiming the Courtesan.
All that said, I need to point out that this book truly does have a most
satisfying happy ending. The hero does redeem himself, and the pair set off
for a life together that is sure to be full of love and happiness. After
the trials and tribulations this couple experienced along the way, they
deserved their well-earned happy ending.
I will be anxiously awaiting Campbell’s next release. Her books will be at
the top of my buy list and my TBR pile now. You may count this reviewer
among the fans who will be buying her December 2007 release, Untouched,
on release day – unless, of course, the publisher happens to send an ARC to
Ck2S Kwips & Kritiques before then, in which case I will unashamedly play
leapfrog over my teammates to snatch it up! Think of bridesmaids leaping
for the bouquet toss at a wedding reception – yep, that’s surely what I’ll
look like! J
Reviewed by Jennifer
