Review - Prelude to a Scandal

Title: Prelude to a Scandal
Author: Delilah Marvelle
Publishing Date: January 2011
Genre: Historical
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author.

Prelude to a Scandal is the first book in Delilah Marvelle's newest series. Lady Justine is in a bit of a pickle. Her father has been incarcerated for his scandalous, scientific research on the mating habits of animals. Justine creates a proposal to gain the help of her Father's most staunch supporter Radcliff, the Duke of Bradford. She offers Radcliff several nights with her in exchange for helping to secure her father's release from Prison. Radcliffe counter-offers with a proposal of marriage.

Prelude to a Scandal's plot had me engrossed in the story right from the beginning. The pacing flowed marvelously and the characters both had interesting personalities. Radcliff was unusual in the sense that he has an addiction to sex, so much so that he feels ashamed of his inability to control his physical needs. Justine's personality was different in the fact that as a woman in that time period she felt very refreshing and modern. These two learn to communicate early on in their relationship and have no issues with honesty. But they do have other issues that they must work through.

I worried a little when starting this book that with the hero having a sex addiction that the content would be very dark. That wasn't the case at all. Even though the subject matter was serious the tone of the book was light and not angsty at all. Sometimes Justine would come across as unfeeling towards Radcliff because she would take a tough love approach to his issues. It felt a little insensitive at times. But for the most part the book has very funny, light mood. I would recommend this book to a historical romance fan who is in the mood for something fun without brooding, moody characters.

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Save the School of Gallantry Series

I met Delilah Marvelle at RT in Orlando this spring. I had not read her debut release Mistress of Pleasure and to be honest, I had never heard of it. But she was really friendly and we hit it off talking about all kinds of things. We kept bumping into each other, literally on the dance floor in the evenings and found ourselves together at some of the other daily events. I even had the chance to go out to dinner with her the last night of the convention. We talked about books (of course) but we also talked about ourselves and our families. As we were sitting there I thought to myself, "Man, she sure is a good storyteller."

Delilah and Me

After I got home from RT, I hesitated to read her book. What if I didn't like it? If I did like it maybe it's because I am biased since I had such a good time hanging out with her. Then Delilah sent me an email asking for help because Kensington has decided to drop her School of Gallantry series. Well, that was the incentive I needed to read the book and so I did. I was happy to say that Mistress of Pleasure was a FUN read. You can read my review here. Now, I am hooked on these characters and I want to know what will happen to the other men in the School of Gallantry. It would be a real shame to not have the whole series published.

Delilah is having a contest to try and encourage readers to purchase the second book in her series, which will be out in stores August 4th. Click on the link below for details on how to enter the contest and help Delilah save her series.

Enter Contest

Review - Mistress of Pleasure

Title: Mistress of Pleasure
Author: Delilah Marvelle
Publishing Date: September 2008
Genre: Historical
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot

Maybelle de Maitenon is the granddaughter of a famous courtesan and went to live with her after her father's death when she was twelve-years-old. It has been her grandmother's dream to open up a school to teach men the art of pleasuring a woman. Finally, that dream is made a reality but she needs Maybelle's help after suffering a stroke. Maybelle might be knowledgeable about sex, but her experience comes from books, not the actual act of participating in it. She doesn't want to have anything to do with the school. She would much rather be exploring the pyramids of Egypt or traveling the world, but out of obligation to her grandmother she gives in to her cajoling.

Maybelle decides it is time for her to loose her virginity and notices a very handsome, regal man at a soiree. She sets her sites on the Duke of Rutherford and promptly proceeds to seduce him. Things don't go according to plan and their encounter is made public. Edmond worried about the scandal that will befall Maybelle offers her marriage. Maybelle fears loosing her independence and refuses. The Duke left with no other choice, decides to enroll in The School of Gallantry and sets his sites on changing Maybelle's mind.

I think the best word to sum up my experience with Mistress of Pleasure is fun. This story is just an all around entertaining, pleasant read. The tone is much more light-hearted than I am used to when reading historicals and made for a refreshing change. Maybelle and Edmond are fighting a battle of wills. The intending battle has a few mishaps that end in folly and mayhem. Maybelle thinks they are too different, he being a Duke and she the daughter of a bastard. Edmond sees things a little differently. At this point, what is one more scandal in his eyes? His father already alienated his family from the ton. He has no love for society and he would be happy to thumb up his nose at the lot of the pretentious morons.

There are some great scenes in Mistress of Pleasure. One of them is when Maybelle is hosting her first class at The School of Gallantry. Aside from Edmond, she meets four other interesting men and they each have a different reason for attending. Maybelle assigns them homework and she and the students reactions are laughable. There is just a lot of fun material in the book. The only thing I would warn readers about is that some suspension of disbelief will be needed when reading this book. Maybelle does not act like a typical heroine of this time period. She has very modern thinking. It fits with her upbringing, but it would be hard to imagine a woman of that time doing some of the things she does. The whole idea for The School of Gallantry is pretty far fetched in of itself, even though is does make for rather entertaining fodder.

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This book can be purchased in kindle format from Amazon for the astonishing low price of $2.55!