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The Brides of Fortune #0.5
The Secrets of a Courtesan
All's fair in love and matrimony in Nicola Cornick's wildly romantic new series that introduces the ladies of Fortune's Folly--spirited heiresses who are more than a match for society's most dashing rogues!The epitome of privilege and power, the handsome Duke of Welburn sets all the ladies' hearts aflutter as he strides into the village of Fortune's Folly.
For Eve Nightingale this fluttering is a mixture of wariness and wonder. Once his glittering society mistress--caught up in his glamorous world by day and tangled in his bedsheets by night--she is now no more than a penniless yet proud shopkeeper.
It's a world Eve can't go back to--she has secrets to keep. But this determined duke seems very keen on unravelling them....
For Eve Nightingale this fluttering is a mixture of wariness and wonder. Once his glittering society mistress--caught up in his glamorous world by day and tangled in his bedsheets by night--she is now no more than a penniless yet proud shopkeeper.
It's a world Eve can't go back to--she has secrets to keep. But this determined duke seems very keen on unravelling them....
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2009
About the author
Nicola Cornick
218 books1,111 followersInternational bestselling author Nicola Cornick writes dual-time historical mysteries that draw on her love for genealogy and local history. She studied History at London and Oxford and worked in academia for a number of years before becoming a full time author. Nicola acts as a guide and researcher at the stunning 17th century hunting lodge, Ashdown House and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Lydiard Park in Swindon. She gives talks and tours on a variety of historical topics.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 25, 2019
A novella that manages to retain some tension because of the short length.
He wanted to marry his mistress but she runs away because....sigh.
So he meets her again and wants revenge because of above stated reason.
Yay, revenge! Humiliation too!
But doubts creep in ...'Tell me the truth why you ran away? I can tell (now) that there's more to the story.'
*sigh* 'Okay, you win. This happened and so I ran.'
'Silly goose.' Yes, we second that!
>>HEA<<
He wanted to marry his mistress but she runs away because....sigh.
So he meets her again and wants revenge because of above stated reason.
Yay, revenge! Humiliation too!
But doubts creep in ...'Tell me the truth why you ran away? I can tell (now) that there's more to the story.'
*sigh* 'Okay, you win. This happened and so I ran.'
'Silly goose.' Yes, we second that!
>>HEA<<
January 31, 2015
Good story, though I would have liked it to be a little longer. Welburn has been sent to Fortune's Folly because Eve is suspected of being in league with local criminals. This is the first time he has seen her since she disappeared without a trace five years earlier. He was hurt and furious and all too willing to believe ill of her - until he actually sees her again. Suddenly things aren't adding up and he is determined to find out why. Eve was heartbroken when she left him, but she loved him too much to allow him to throw his future away on her. She is furious at his attitude, but knows that she still loves him. She allows herself to be coerced into helping him, but ends up defending herself from trouble before he can rescue her. Short as it was there was enough heat and action to make it a satisfying read.
December 30, 2018
(audible review) This book was so boring I was almost nodding off. I don't know really what else to say. The narration was dull too. Sorry, I say pass on this book. Short and boring. If it had been any longer I would have quit it.
May 27, 2020
This was recommended to me by a stranger on Goodreads because I asked for a romance where an aristocrat falls in love with his mistress. Gosh, never have I read a book with a heroine who was so determined to be unhappy. It was just so sad. Instead of telling Rowarth that she was pregnant or that she miscarried, she was like now, we can never be together so I'm not going to tell you the truth and I'm just going to pretend like I ran off with another man. I'm surprised Rowarth even fell for that because they seemed to be deeply in love and she had agreed to marry him and what woman wouldn't want to marry a duke??! Especially a courtesan. This is a one in billion opportunity frankly.
And then she
And then she
May 14, 2024
Meh
Duke and his mistress fall in love, and he wants to marry her 😱 but she runs away!!
Five years later he finds her in a small town, she is the resident pawn broker, but he thinks she is dealing in stolen property and in cahoots with a notorious criminal who also lives in the town.
He tries to exact revenge on her, by asking her to prove her innocence and seduce the criminal, but his “feelings” get in the way.
Everything comes out as they reveal their true feelings to each other, she suffered a miscarriage and was told she cannot have children. So even if he married her and they survive the scandal, she can never give him heirs.
Not to worry he has a nephew who will be his heir.
Duke and his mistress fall in love, and he wants to marry her 😱 but she runs away!!
Five years later he finds her in a small town, she is the resident pawn broker, but he thinks she is dealing in stolen property and in cahoots with a notorious criminal who also lives in the town.
He tries to exact revenge on her, by asking her to prove her innocence and seduce the criminal, but his “feelings” get in the way.
Everything comes out as they reveal their true feelings to each other, she suffered a miscarriage and was told she cannot have children. So even if he married her and they survive the scandal, she can never give him heirs.
Not to worry he has a nephew who will be his heir.
August 14, 2019
Short read - another love story set in Fortune's Folly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2019
Cute short story
November 24, 2012
An entertaining short story. I've read the other books in the Fortune's Folly series which I liked. This one isn't as interesting as the full length books, but the characters are well developed. The plot is a bit too contemporary though - Duke wants to marry his mistress?
From a political point of view, that just wasn't done. The power of the noble titles lies in the political and social position. If his political and social allies cut him from the Ton, his title becomes worthless, and any get from the relationship would be cut as well.
For the lack of historical reality, this shorrt is a fairy tale.
And yeah, there's that cliche where she loves him but refuses to marry him. She has more reasons than many a heroine I've read of (baseborn, a courteasan, doesn't think she can have children). I'm just getting tired of the same argument (Marry me, No. Yes, you will. No, I won't)showing up in so many stories in my favorite genre.
From a political point of view, that just wasn't done. The power of the noble titles lies in the political and social position. If his political and social allies cut him from the Ton, his title becomes worthless, and any get from the relationship would be cut as well.
For the lack of historical reality, this shorrt is a fairy tale.
And yeah, there's that cliche where she loves him but refuses to marry him. She has more reasons than many a heroine I've read of (baseborn, a courteasan, doesn't think she can have children). I'm just getting tired of the same argument (Marry me, No. Yes, you will. No, I won't)showing up in so many stories in my favorite genre.
June 8, 2009
Not really impressed by this one. It was cute, but the characters weren't really developed at all. It's a short quick read with some good trashy fun towards the end but, it doesn't begin to compare to Lisa Kleypas or Victoria Alexander.
November 13, 2015
Nicola Cornick's story was pretty good actually. It's kind of hard to forgive the guy for acting the way he did and I kinda felt like she just needed to give up her secrets already since she just keeps hurting the guy she loves, but it was an enjoyable, angsty (although very short!) read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2012
A short story with a happy ending. Rich Duke, found mistress after 5 years who walked away suddenly, raging romance rekindled immediately.
February 10, 2013
An entertaining short story with a likeable hero and heroine.
September 17, 2018
Good story but there were parts that i didn't like as much. would read again but probably not a keeper
February 12, 2015
la historia fue divertida y en cierto punto me impreciono mucho ademas de que Guy deberia estar en mi cama ...
February 3, 2016
Not bad. I'm glad it was short.
February 23, 2016
Whaaat, way too short.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews