In Claudia Dain's The Courtesan’s Daughter, Caroline has not had any suitable offers for marriage, and she is concerned that her mother is looking for men for her in all the wrong places. Caroline is choosey, and doesn’t want just anyone for a husband–no one too old, or given to gaming. In her fear that she will while away her existence “on the shelf” if she doesn’t find a husband soon, she decides to take matters into her own hand.

When Sophia, Caroline’s mother, calls Lord Ashdon to her home, he knows the situation can’t be good. Even now Sophia carries the reputation of an astute business woman, and a scandalous master at bending the rules to suit her own needs. He arrives only to learn that Lady Sophia has paid all his debts, and now he finds himself bound by honor to repay his debts through her. And she has only one price. She wants Lord Ashdon to marry her daughter, Caroline. 

Lord Ashdon has no choice but to accept the offer. However, when Caroline learns of the news she is thoroughly insulted. Humiliated by her mother’s efforts, she refuses to see Lord Ashdon even in order to turn him down. She sends her mother, Sophia to do the dirty work for her, but she should have known better than to allow the former courtesan to handle this sort of business. Sophia uses just the right turn of phrase, just the right amount of womanly charm, to convince Lord Ashdon that he must save Caroline—from herself.

When Sophia tells Lord Ashdon that Caroline will not marry him because it is her intention to become a courtesan, he can hardly believe what he is hearing. The young woman would rather be a whore than his wife?  His honor won’t stand for it. Ashdon sets out to show the lovely Caroline that there are far worse things than taking him to the altar. 

Ms. Dain has written a fast paced and adventurous historical romance full of lively, memorable characters. Caroline couldn’t have found a better match than Lord Ashdon, and Sophia was deliciously wicked—worthy of reading about in her own right.

The Courtesan’s Daughter is an engaging book full of twists and romantic turns. You can’t help wanting Lord Ashdon to teach Caroline just the very lesson she thinks she wants to learn. Ms. Dain’s story offers a fresh, fun take on period romance. I don’t believe there is a more natural voice in historical romance to date. Who else could write of a family embroiled in legitimate scandal, yet make them so interesting and likeable?  The Courtesan’s Daughter is a delightful book to be read, and read again.

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