Prim Courtesan

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing ¿Contra¿ Regency: Fast, Fun, Irreverent, Hot
Review: What a surprise! I opened this book at midnight just to get an idea of what it was about and within "minutes" I was on page 82 and it was 1:10 am! Lord! No Regency I've ever read got off to such a fast start or was so totally involving. But then, this isn't a "right proper" Regency. The time period is right: 1822; there are Lords and Viscounts; and the heroine's marriage will be the salvation of an entire village. Nevertheless, the action, takes place outside of polite society. Instead of parlors and ballrooms, there are farms and pigsties, instead of mansions and townhouses, there are mangers and longhouses. The noblemen here work to make money and are cynical of the ton.

For example to quote the hero speaking to another nobleman:

"I do think you are one of the few forward-thinking men in the haute ton. A savvy businessman."

Lord Hunt: "Shhh. Just don't let it be known in Society. I don't mind, but my wife and children seem to think it matters what the ton think".

While many Regency elements are here, they seem to be backwards like something from the Twilight Zone. This creates a totally refreshing experience for period fans. One other thing: the lovemaking is red hot. This is not your mother's Regency.

This story is driven with lighting speed by the dialogue. The repartee is so witty, intriguing, and unexpectedly funny, it captives the reader. It's just too much fun to stop reading. The conversation is more Oscar Wilde than Jane Austen. You have to look to Wilde's classic plays to find comparable wit. In fact, with a little more social satire, this book could easily adapt to a "Wilde" play. (The theme of an innocent woman pretending to be an impure, in a society of impures pretending to be virtuous, is pure genius.) Even the title and cover artwork, which attracted me in the first place, is more Earnest than Emma. (Cf. Wilde's unfinished play La Sainte Courtisane). The quality here is a cut above the average Romance and finds its place among classic historical fiction.

Now, for the story: Weynth Jones, the heroine, a solicitor's daughter and assistant, on the edge of spinsterhood at 26, has taken over the village legal affairs after her father's death. The landowner, Viscount Ashford, plans to turn the farms into coal mines and destroy the way of life of his Welch tenants. Weynth must stop this tragedy.

Weynth goes to a tavern where Lord Ashford frequents, with a plan to save the farms by offering more rent from the tenants. Weynth plans to introduce more scientific farming techniques which will justify the higher rents. She presents her plan in the bar. The hero, Lord Ash, who will not have anything to do with a proper woman, (he ruined one in the past) does not like the plan. He likes Weynth, however. To get rid of her, he outrageously suggests that she trade her virtue to save the farms. She agrees without really thinking. She adds that she is new to her secret life as a courtesan. Ash does not believe her for a moment but, to have fun with her, he asks questions about the "life" which she has to guess the answers. This creates a very funny exchange.

As the book progresses, the pretense must be kept up. Weynth must keep the pretense going in order to save the farms and, as the hero will not deal with a proper woman, he keeps the pretense going because he is having too much fun. He enjoys playing with Weynth whom he really admires. This is a great idea for a story which creates lots of funny situations, double entendres, and embarrassments. The author works this theme throughout with consummate skill.

The historical research is exceptional. As you read, you experience the time period and place. All detail is intricately woven into the pattern of the story, so the rich background never gets in the way or interrupts the flow of action. All unusual period words are used in a skilful way so that they are fully understandable from the context of the sentence. This is exquisite writing. This book is a labor of love. It had to take years to write.

Now for the most amazing aspect of the book: the climatic love scene. In most contemporary romance, the explicit lovemaking sequences are interchangeable with any other romance novel. The actual descriptions are not driven by the story line but rather by the product line. (To quote one romance editor, "You must have at least one consummated love scene in each novel for this product line".)

In the Prim Courtesan, however, the actual lovemaking is character driven and plot fulfilling. In fact, the spirited climatic love scene is the most artistically justified I've ever read in a romance novel. The scene is a house of ill repute. The hero, at this point, actually believes Wenth is a courtesan. She is however totally innocent. Everything is on the line. There is a moment of truth. What is going to happen? In this case, it is essential to be in the bedroom with the characters. The plot depends on it; full character development demands it. The characters are in love but a consummation could destroy all hope. Both the characters' future and the villagers' way of life are at stake. What is going to happen? Wait to you read it! You'll love the finale.

This book is so good; it's in a class by itself. I call it a "Contra" Regency. You'll probably call it a "keeper" and tell all your romance-loving friends to read it.