Your Scandalous Ways

Your Scandalous Ways (2008) Loretta Chase

Set in Venice in 1820

Francesca Bonnard is probably the most successful whore in Venice, perhaps even Italy. After a scandalous divorce, she fled to the continent and remade herself in one of the most sought after courtesans in Italy.

“Ah, yes,” he said. “Your position. A divorcée.”

“Divorziata e puttana,” she said tautly. A divorcée and a whore.

He leapt from his chair as though one of Satan’s imps had pricked his arse with a hot fork.

“Good heavens!” he said. “I do beg your pardon. Am I keeping you from your work?”

However, she holds something her ex-husband desperately wants back, and he’s not concerned with how he gets it back.

James Cordier is ready to retire from his life as a spy, thief, and agent, but he’s given one last assignment before he can head back to England–retrieve some letters from Francesca Bonnard that prove her ex-husband to be a traitor.

This wasn’t a bad story–I liked the intrigue quite well. I could have done without all the boinking (but then I always say that), but the intrigue was fun. As was the language, especially the dialog of the non-native speakers.

“(D)ropped on the hours of trouble.”

“Fallen on hard times,” James said.

You must advise me what to say. I do not wish to put in my mouth my feet.”

The dialog was also enjoyable, and I’m a sucker for good dialog.

“The man prostitute,” he prompted, “who costs very much. What is his name in English?”

“Husband,” said Bonnard.

“I speak English well, and practice with her all the time. But to read it hurts my head. The way the English spell: Where is the logic? Nowhere can I find it. They spell like madmen.”

This wasn’t a fabulous story, but it was enjoyable, and I’ll certainly read another.
Rating: 7/10

Published by HarperCollins e-books

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