J is my scarlet letter
“Lessons From A Courtesan” by Jenna Petersen
Today’s review is brought to you by the letter “J”
Which would normally stand for “Juan” but not today
Today my heart belongs to Justin, the Earl of Baybary
An Alpha Male I currently love more than my chips and curry
I call dibs on Justin! All you ripmybodice readers out there
Because Sheridan doesn’t share
Not even with Lola who is wailing outside her office door
Or Mimi who is hacking her way through the floor
No doubt to wrestle “Lessons From A Courtesan” away from her possession
But they forget though that the WWE is my lifetime’s obsession
And so as I lay in wait in my glittery spandex tights
Ready to bring all kinds of hurtin’, I write
The story starts on Justin’s wedding night with Victoria
But lest you be mistaken, there is no euphoria
For both have been forced into a marriage neither want
Yet none could describe their wedding night as nonchalant
When Justin swears to Victoria that he will bring her pleasure
Sheridan passed out as if she had found hidden treasure
But Justin doesn’t stay long in his marital bed
Nay, Justin all but ejaculated and fled
Leaving soon after to London town
With Victoria’s face fixed in a frown
You see, Justin wants nothing to do with his wife
His marriage a result of blackmail and an attempt to maintain his family’s way of life
Victoria’s hurt and angry as can be
Especially since Justin has decided to install her in the country
Three years later sees Justin returning to London after vacationing abroad
To find that the ton is completely enthralled
By a mysterious courtesan by the name of Ria, rumored to be trained in exotic lovemaking
And Justin and his friends make bets to see whose back her nails will soon be raking
When Justin catches sight however of Ria’s lovely face
The glass he was holding slips from its place
He sees the face that has “haunted his dreams”
And Sheridan grabs her heart shaped pillow to scream
Because Justin becomes one of the most possessive men Sheridan has ever read
“If you want somebody to satisfy you, all you need is me” he said
Sheridan proceeded then to fill her tub with ice
Especially when Justin growled “No more bets” with anger in his voice
And when it was whispered in the book that Justin had a reputation for leaving no woman unsatisfied,
Sheridan then sat in her cold, cold tub alone and cried
His friends not knowing that Ria was Justin’s wife,
Only served to cause him more strife
“Primal”, “possessive” and totally “out of character” was what Justin became
Sheridan’s heart pounded so much she thought she would never be the same
Examples of Justin’s rage and jealousy were liberally scattered throughout the book
Sheridan has thoughtfully extracted sections so you may have a look:
When Justin’s brother suggested that another take Ria as his lover
Justin expression nearly sent the bloke running to his mother
And when it was revealed to his friends that Ria was none other than his other half
His friends thought that Justin was totally daft
“You look like you want to kill everyone in the room”, they said
“Good God man, calm yourself!” they pled
Upon seeing his wife leave the room with another man
Justin started in the same direction and said “I don’t give a damn”
Forgetting his promise to maintain her cover
Justin, pleadingly asks his wife to be his lover
“I can give you what you need, better than anyone else”
Sheridan attempted to go Titanic and drown herself
Later in the book, Victoria lands herself in trouble (as most heroines do nowadays)
Forcing Justin to risk danger to rush to her side and say(s),
“If one hair on the head of the woman I love is touched by any of you, I will make the wrath of God look tame”
And as I write this, I see Mimi is taking aim
Using an out of season Gucci shoe as ammunition
But once again, Lola and Mimi have underestimated the competition
I am fast like lightning as I am qu - OUCH!
………….
Thirty minutes later, I crawl to the couch
Satisfied that my point had been made to both Lola and Mimi who are now fighting for the book
That Justin, Earl of Baybary is mine by hook or by crook
Props I must give to Jenna Petersen for our very first advance reading copy
We have arrived y’all! And we’re not sorry
With books like “Lessons From A Courtesan” to keep us going
(You guys, this book is Jenna Petersen’s best showing)
Ripmybodice.com is going to be around for a while
Garbed in designer duds to keep us in style
cutepolishgirl68 said,
May 19, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
I love her books!!
mallory said,
May 19, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
*looks up to the sky and shakes fist in the air* Why Sheridan, why oh why, do you make me commit Mastercard abuse? Why? *sobs* I have no self control. None.
When does this book come out …or is it already out? I have looked for this authors books at my local bookstore, but they never have any. My book store sucks donkey balls!
Iria said,
May 19, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
You lucky, lucky ladies atripmybodiceheadquarters,
So, you have got an ARC of this book….I envy you, I do! This book is due on July and you have read it already….Is there any justice in the world? Noooo, just kidding. Of course you got the copy to tempt…sorry….inform us about this book. I am really waiting for this one. Have been a Courtesan-theme-addict since Anna Campbell fantastic CLAIMING THE COURTESAN. When, oh when are you ladies going to tell the truth about that one (wink, wink)?
Shannon said,
May 20, 2008 @ 3:15 am
You evil, evil wench! Tempting us with such Alpha-ness… it is not to be endured! NO FAIR!!!
::Off to add this to the ever growing TBB list::
Jenna Petersen said,
May 20, 2008 @ 3:47 am
Thanks for the very nice review Sheridan! Book is out in 35 days, 9 hours. 12 minutes, 57… 56…55 seconds. Not that I’m counting.
June 24.
Yay for the Alpha!
Wendy said,
May 20, 2008 @ 4:15 am
If I send Lola a two-penis book, can I have the ARC next?
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
May 20, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Hola everybody! I’m sorry to tempt everyone (*glances guiltily at Shannon*) with such deliciousness but I just had to share because Justin is Alpha just the way we like it! Three cheers again to Jenna Petersen for caring, sharing, and not hunting us down with a shotgun when our carrier pigeon mistakenly sent the first advance reading copy back, which then resulted in it being lost somewhere in the US Postal System. *hangs head in shame* Anyway, muchos gracias Jenna Petersen! The review was my pleasure
Mallory I think this is one Mastercard abuse no one will judge you for. In fact, I’m pretty sure the good people at Mastercard (when preparing your monthly statement) will say “niiiiiice. You can’t put a price on Alpha”. (PS - your local bookstore DOES suck donkey balls! You should pack your bags and join us in the pink glittery dome in the sky! (i.e. ripmybodice.com HQ))
Iria - I haven’t read “Claiming the Courtesan” but I am intrigued. I am looking to you to assure me of its fabulousity because I just read one of the most insanely ludicrous book ever and my wee heart cannot take another beating.
Hey cpg! *high five* so do I!
Wendy I think if you send Lola a two-penis ANYTHING, she’ll give you whatever you want. Superman has kryptonite, La Lola, two penises.
Dulce said,
May 20, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
Sheridan, you heartless vixen you! How could you do this to the JP fans, who are salivating to get their grimy little hands on this one. After reading your review, I can not wait an entire month to purchase it.
Excellent review as always though and the hero sounds delish! 
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
May 20, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Howdy Dulce! Glad you liked the review
Trust me, Justin is worth the wait. Maybe we, the ripmybodice.com girls should start a “Dear Jenna Petersen, Please Move Up Your Release Date For “Lessons From A Courtesan”" petition. Cos I kinda wanna re-read the book and Lola has locked herself in her office and after Lola is done with it, Mimi will sink her manicured nails into the book and then, and then, I would have gone mad with the waiting (Mimi kinda reads slow (sorry Mi!)).
Also, I haven’t been called a “heartless vixen” in a while. Hee! Usually it’s “shameless hussy”. Or “Tart”. Or, as I prefer to be called nowadays, “Mrs David Cook”. *wink*
Iria said,
May 20, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
Dear Sheridan Sakura Charlotta,
So, now you need assuring!? LOL. Here we go:
You have to review Anna Campbell´s CLAIMING THE COURTESAN simply because:
a) Hero´s name is JUSTIN (as you like it!)
b) Justin is a really bad boy (you can´t even guess his bad doings in CTC)
c) Justin is really a uberalpha! (just wait till you read about his dealings)
d) despite all heartless things he does to Verity (our heroine) Justin is one of the most delicious heroes I have ever read about
e) Hero is called Justin (Did I say that already?… But do remember Justin from Jenna Petersen´s, Samantha James`s books… every writer seems to have at least one hero called Justin)
f) this book has a good amount of grovelling in the end, because our Justin is a busy boy in the beginning (I know, that you enjoy a good groveling-scene)
Last but not least: I am sure that your wee heart can take another JUSTIN!
Jenna Petersen said,
May 20, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
Oh trust me, I wish they would schedule my books closer together. That’s a publisher thing, not a me thing! You’d have to send that petition to avon@harpercollins.com LOL
And Anna and I were just laughing the other day about our Justin/Courtesan books. Not on purpose, I assure you.
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
May 21, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Iria I am sold!!! Thanks for the great recommendation! Here, have a chocolate martini on us!
Jenna we will form a picket line outside avon’s offices if need be!
Jenna Petersen said,
May 21, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
LOL, they wouldn’t no what to do if people started picketing for little ol’ nobody me. But seriously, they have a lot of great books to fit into their schedule. I just wish they could fit mine in faster.
Hope all of you who have ordered the book now are pleased with it when you get it! I loved writing this book and I just hope you all get as much pleasure from it as I did.
Iria said,
May 21, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
Dear Sheridan Sakura Charlotta,
You made my day! I´ll take double chocolate martini on You! I am waiting for your review about CLAIMING THE COURTESAN most eagerly.
Ps: Justin´s dealings with Verity in this romance REALLY are old-bodice-ripper-style…You love or hate that book; there is no middle road there. I sooooooo hope that you like it.
lauren said,
May 28, 2008 @ 6:24 am
Who is Verity? He doesn’t cheat does he?
Iria said,
May 29, 2008 @ 1:07 am
Lauren,
Verity aka Soraya is the heroine in Anna Campbell´s CLAIMING THE COURTESAN. No, he doesn´t cheat, but is VERY ALPHA otherwise…