Madame's Deception

by Renee Bernard

Book Overview

An unforgettable love story between a reclusive brothel owner and an aristocratic rogue in this sizzling historical romance from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Jaded Gentlemen series. Jocelyn... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416524215
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Madame's Deception

I enjoyed the first book so much I just needed to see how it all finished and I was not disappointed.

Madame's Deception

Jocelyn Tolliver grew up thinking her mother an extremely successful London couturier. Jocelyn, a bookish young woman, grew up at exclusive European boarding schools. When she learns her mother is dying, Jocelyn ventures to London for the first time to be by her mother's bedside. There she learns that her mother is the madame of London's elite bordello, the Crimson Belle. She promises her mother on her deathbed that she will run the bordello and care for the ladies who work there. Thus, Jocelyn becomes Madame DeBourcier. Alex Randall, Lord Colwick, is one of the few men in London to have met the reclusive Madame DeBourcier face to face. Alex has been unable to purge the memory of the beautiful madame from his memory. Tempting Madame DeBourcier into becoming his lover becomes Alex's focus. When danger threatens the women of the Crimson Belle, Alex will do whatever he must to protect them all, especially the Madame DeBourcier. Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard is shiverlicious! I loved the whole virginal madam aspect of the plot. I adored the handsome and determined Alex Randall. The secondary characters were engaging as well. When their hearts were broken, mine was too. A captivating plot, charismatic characters and sexy, tingle-worthy romance, Madame's Deception is fantastic! Melissa Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Hurry with the next book please

Renee's books seem to be getting better and better. She has a knack for writing and hopefully she will continue for a very long time. It is nice to have a fresh face in the book writing business.

Clever Premise But Missing Some Sparks and Fire...

This novel has one of the more fresh and clever premises that's been around in a little while. Superior and slimy villians--quite a few baddies, too. Plus all the usual "ton-sense" and a dashing hero and female lead that shows brains and spirit. But the story just..lays..there. I wanted to know more about the secondary characters, I wanted to understand a great deal more about the "deflowering" scene which completely changed the balance of power in the relationship. But I am looking forward to the third book in the series and have great expectations.

Loved it...had some flaws..but still....POSSIBLE SPOILERS

First, let me say I thoroughly enjoyed this story every bit as much as Ms. Bernard's debut book, and, perhaps more. The heroine had a small role in Ms. Bernard's first book and now we get "her" story in this one. I had a hard time putting the book down because to me it was that interesting and that exciting and was just drawn in completely. I will point out that there was a mystery running through the book to compliment the romance between the two main characters that I followed all the way through and therein lies a slight flaw at how that puzzle was solved. I became very interested in the murders of the other prostitutes from other establishments...especially when one of Jocelyn's own "girls" (who was very sweet and well loved) is murdered. It really was quite a nice little mystery, but, it just got wrapped up a little too easily and no big climactic ending when catching the murderer. That storyline deserved more because as a reader you really did care. It threw me off kilter just a bit in the last chapter at how that plotline came to a close and for that I was disappointed. I wanted more to happen and it should have been more of an event rather than a mentioning. However, I was able to forgive that because the book is in fact about two people, Jocelyn and Alex, and their love story which the author managed, for me, to make it magical even though it was out of the ordinary by todays standards. Jocelyn is a madame ,but, by sort've by inheritance from her mother who had died. Alex is a member of the peer and he had met her in the previous book "A Lady's Pleasure". She agrees to "spend time with Alex" for payment and had never done this before but she was curious how it would feel to have someone and she yearned for it. Throughout their "meetings" they do have conversations and flirt and have verbal playfulness..along with the steaminess and it does sizzle. I will say that. But aside from their "time" I felt a connection between the characters, loved the dialog between them as well as the talks between the girls in the classy brothel. You couldn't help but connect with the characters and understand how some of them got there. All in all it was an extremely enjoyable read and one I found difficult to put down. I felt this book deserved 5 stars because it moved me, touched me, enthralled me, in spite of the romance possibly needing a little more substance to establish the love that grew between them ,but, I still could see how that love developed even though there was a lot of sex involved. It was steamy ,but, I can't complain about that just wish there was a bit more tension and buildup between the two leads. But I still really felt it and for me that means good writing was involved because it won me over. This goes on my keeper shelf and I know it will be read again in the future. Bravo Ms. Bernard. Can't wait for the next one.