Mistress of Pleasure

By: Delilah Marvelle

Narrated by: Morris Carolyn

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Real pleasure can't be taken....

Granddaughter of a renowned courtesan, Maybelle de Maitenon has no interest in her grandmother's school in London where gentlemen receive instruction - in the art of seduction. Her only desire in life is to remain independent, free from men and the shackles of marriage. But when Maybelle lays eyes on Edmund Worthington, the Duke of Rutherford, at a soiree, and hears of his scandalous reputation, she decides he's the perfect person for her to have a tryst with no strings attached....

It must be given....

Unbridled passion has again muddied Edmund Worthington's family name. After his very public dalliance with the strikingly beautiful and sensual Maybelle, his mother insists he marry her. But much to the Duke's surprise, Maybelle scoffs at his proposal. Never has he encountered such a brazen - and maddeningly irresistible - woman. But when Maybelle's grandmother falls ill, forcing Maybelle to take over the operation of her school, Edmund devises a plan to make her his. He enrolls in the school, where no one other than Maybelle must give him expert lessons in carnal pleasure....

©2008 Delilah Marvelle (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Very entertaining and different, I really liked it

A very different story than your usual Historical Romance. I enjoyed the School of Gallantry that was a lot of fun. The hero, Edmund, and Heroine Maybelle were strong fun characters. Maybelle's grandmother, a courtesan was a riot. Plenty of hot and steamy sex is always a plus too.

The narrator did a great job. the only thing I didn't like was that she pronounced the "ton" as the "tone". If you are Historical romance reader you know what I am talking about. otherwise she did a great job.

Someone complained that the chapters were too short, that's a dumb complaint.. just sayin..

A VERY ENJOYABLE, LIGHTHEARTED & ENTERTAINING ROMP

This is book 1 of School Of Gallantry but, IMHO, I think listening to book 2 Lord of Pleasure gives a better foundation to the why's and how's of the School and it's infamous Courtesan and the clever tunnel system between houses. Plus certain characters characters come across much nicer in the 2nd book giving the reasons why they do the things they do to get the lovers together.

Anyhoo, Maybelle, Granddaughter of a French Courtesan, wants to experience sex and passion rather than just reading about it so she seduces Edmund, a handsome Duke in the gardens of a soirée one evening (good plan). He thinks she's experienced but is shocked to discover her a Virgin and the ton witness their dishevelled appearance when they return from the garden which makes him want to do the right thing and propose. But Maybelle wants her independence and the experience but nothing more, Edmund doesn't want scandal and his Mother wants grandchildren. Everybody wants but nobody is willing to give..... or give in.

A totally unbelievable, unrealistic, unconventional plot but it's also unmissable as it's got some very funny, sexy, romantic, tender and sad scenes and until compromises can be made and past histories can be overcome, no-one is going to get their HEA. More explicit than book 2 but it's witty, fast-paced and a totally enjoyable fictional listen.

Worth a credit? Apart from the narrator always saying tone instead of ton which seriously annoyed me, this is a lighthearted change from the usual Regency Romances and very creditworthy. Next is Caroline's story (from book 2) in Lady of Pleasure and I will happily be adding it to my Library as soon as it's released.

Ridiculous plot ...nothing to do with reality

Lightheaded story with interesting, likeable characters but the plot is so unbelievable and out of any historical period it’s beyond comprehension.
Spoilers alert 🚨
Virtuous granddaughter of the French courtesan, is 22 years old, never been kissed but wants to be get rid of her virginity to render herself unmarrigeable in order to become free and independent woman, Grandmother doesn’t care for respectability and wants granddaughter to join in a family business.
These two ladies of Demi monde are invited to the high tone society ball and granddaughter gets her deflowering wish fulfilled by literally getting dirty on her hands and knees in the house garden with tall and handsome duke, who decides to marry her in order to save her reputation.... and the ridiculousness escalates from here to the end..

This book is hard to rate, even though it’s has a feel good factor and the interesting set of characters, I could never recommend it to anyone I know as it’s just to silly...

Oh what a pleasure it is!.

I truly enjoyed this book!!
Worth a credit, hell yeah!
I laughed, cried, commiserated and celebrated along with the characters. I was so enthralled with the story that I can't really tell you anything about the narrator. I consider that to be a good thing because if you reach the end of a story and only know the story then the performance was very well done.

This is a steamy tale with unusual characters facing the ton and finding their way. I found this story living up to it's historical romance classification...plus it's unique in a good way while predictable in others, a really nice mix of expected and unbelievable surprise.

I am not, however, rushing to the next in the series. I have trouble seeing where the timeline meets for the story since what I already know of those characters does not fit with the story description! I was left with a rather uncomfortable feeling when I read it. It does not seem to fit together seamlessly. I actually almost read the lord of pleasure before the mistress of pleasure and even if it's out of order I think knowing what I learned in the latter the better choice would have been to listen to the first (mistress) AFTER the second (lord). But since I have not listened to it yet I can't testify to the validity of that conclusion.

All I can say it yes yes yessssss!

i loved it!!

very sexy, funny i literally laughed out loud.....loved the characters and the chemistry and once i started reading i couldnt stop....im a huge fan ....this is the third time i have read this series......Promise this is a great book!!