Reviews

The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe

bodiceflipper's review against another edition

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2.0

As a rule, I'm not a fan of characters seducing others when they are lying about their identity. ESPECIALLY when conception is a 1 sided desire (ahem, Bridgerton s1) Hits that non-consensual ethical area I dislike in a romance. 
I thought - these two have really been through the ringer, both did awful things to each other over the course of like a year/ 9 years? The repair was lacking and huge spans of time went by that felt frustrating. Overall, not a favorite Shupe for me. 

Notable tropes: 
Second chance romance
Fake identity
Marriage on the rocks
Pregnancy

amentalshipwreck's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cortleigh's review

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

katyanaish's review against another edition

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3.0

***3.5***

It was a cute idea, but I was a little disappointed in the execution. The hero needed a kick in the nuts, honestly, and the heroine spent too much time feeling bad about deceiving the enormous douchebag who abandoned her to poverty and threatened assault by his cousin. I don't care if he didn't know about it, women were utterly powerless in that world, and she was his responsibility.

So when she insta-forgave him and then insta-loved him, I was really irritated. And then she coddled his whiny, self-absorbed crap until he realized he really wanted her... which added insult to injury.

milicasbookshelf's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5⭐
I have to admit that it has been a long time since I read a historical romance, but I unexpectedly liked this story.

tattu's review against another edition

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4.0

Me gustó mucho, al protagonista lo odié, yo le hubiese hecho la vida imposible xD Pero el libro sí me gustó mucho y lo disfruté bastante. Probablemente continúe con la trilogía.

leslieknope14's review

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slow-paced

3.0

jackiehorne's review against another edition

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3.0

2.5 Not as impressed by Shupe's debut as many other readers have been, alas. Her writing is good, but not outstanding. Her book's premise is annoyingly "high concept," which typically means not very historically probable. Even putting aside the likelihood that a Regency-era gentlewoman could/would take instruction from a courtesan in order to seduce the husband who abandoned her at the altar when she was 16, there is little in the way of character development here, and the protagonists' romance seems to consist primarily of lust. A disappointment...

spotswimmy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

jenn_alwaysreading's review against another edition

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Will pick it up back another day! Nothing wrong with it, just shifted moods