Your Scandalous Ways

by Loretta Chase
Your Scandalous Ways
book data
74 ratings, 3.85 average rating, 21 reviews (more data...)
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published
June 1st 2008 by Avon

binding
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

isbn
006123124X   (isbn13: 9780061231247)

description

James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He's a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class lover—all for King and C...more







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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 123)



Christa
Christa rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/22/08

bookshelves: booksfree-com
Read in July, 2008
Although I didn't consider this to be one of Loretta Chase's best books, I did enjoy the story. I am not a fan of the courtesan theme, so that influenced my opinion of the book, but Chase portrayed it in a way that made me almost forget I did not like this plot device.

James Cordier is an agent for the British government, and after many years of danger and disguise, he is ready to leave it all behind for a normal life. As he finishes his last mission and is relishing the idea of retirement,...more
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Julie (jjmachshev)
Julie (jjmachshev) rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/08/08

bookshelves: 2008-reads
Read in July, 2008
I'm such a big Loretta Chase fan. I'm always eager to head to the bookstore when I know she has a new book coming out because I know I'll be entertained and amused. "Your Scandalous Ways" is no exception. I don't know how she made me enjoy a book about a courtesan I was sure I wouldn't like and a spy who was willing to use sex to get information from his suspects!! But I ended up liking them both, wanting them to be together, and knowing they were perfect for each other.

Frances...more
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  3 comments

Annie
Annie rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
10/20/08

bookshelves: reviewed, romance, stories-read-in-2008
Read in October, 2008
recommended to Annie by: Elle Gardner
recommends it for: Historical Romance Readers
I've never read a Courtesan novel before and I must say, I really enjoyed it. I found the female lead oddly refreshing in her ability to laugh at herself and her complete Independence. Now I know that most romances are based on a female with a strong mind but I find most still require a certain degree of 'rescuing'. Francesca Bonnard, I'm quite confident, would've survived the plot of the novel without the hero James. But then we wouldn't have had that magnificent scene at the bell tower at dawn...more
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Erin
Erin rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/28/08

bookshelves: romance
Read in June, 2008
A fun read, although it didn't quite live up to all the glowing reviews for me. I liked the way the novel kind of openly mocks historical romance convention, particularly in having these two depraved souls find each other. But a few things bugged. First, Francesca feels it's necessary to tell us on every page that she's a whore. I get that she's proud of the life she's made for herself, but the constant reminders were not really necessary. I think also that Chase doesn't give her readers enough ...more
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penelopewanders
penelopewanders rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/03/08

bookshelves: historical-romance
Quick read on the train, light entertainment after Ride the Wind which was heavy going. Nice, with an unusual setting in Venice, but not spectacular or perhaps up to Chase's standards.
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Fiordiligi
Fiordiligi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/30/08

bookshelves: 2008, european-historical, romance
Read in November, 2008
November 2008: B

This book was well written, I wouldn't expect anything else from Chase, however the storyline, or better said the heroine, wasn't to my liking. The heroine is the most expensive courtesan from Venice, probably from the whole of Europe. She's also divorced from her first husband. Instead of being a socially fallen woman, she has worked hard to become the complete opposite, an object of desire and privilege. Chase shows well how she became this woman who manipulates in order to...more
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MB
MB rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/18/08

bookshelves: mindless-romance
Read in July, 2008
If you rate this novel against all the other historical romance novels out there, this book scores high. But rating it against Loretta Chase's previous work, I can only give it 3 stars.

Loretta can certainly write, and the setting is marvelous but this book was strangely unfulfilling. I would have liked to have more character development. I found both the hero and the heroine (in spite of their intriguing backstories) to be strangely blah. They were both rather boring and even their romance ...more
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Gail
Gail rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/28/08

Read in May, 2008
I enjoyed this book a lot. Loved the interaction between the hero and heroine and I liked their reaction to each other. The hero is the 19th-century version of James Bond--jaded spy who sleeps his way to much of his success. He's sort of a combination spy/thief, because often stealing jewels has political implications. The heroine is an infamous divorced woman who, rather than sinking into poverty and death, decides she'll use the reputation her ex deliberately ruined--out of sheer meanness, fro...more
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Alicia
Alicia rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/19/08

bookshelves: light-reads, romance-novels
Generic romance novel elements found in this book:
-- a hero
-- a heroine
-- a picturesque location
-- a happy ending
-- a slightly wimpier, slightly younger rival
-- a slightly less gorgeous best friend
-- a threat to the heroine's life

Ways in which this particular romance novel wondrously, joyously fucks with all of the above (includes spoilers):
-- the hero is the half-Italian bastard son of an important English nobleman (who happily acknowledges his by-blow) and who works on the...more
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Mitzi
Mitzi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/21/08

bookshelves: romance-historical
Read in July, 2008
Pretty good book.

Francesca is a high paid courtesan living in Venice. She's been married to Lord Elphick and went through a scandalous divorce but before she left him she stole letters that incriminate him as a french spy. He wants to be Prime Minister of England and wants his letters back.

James is an agent working for the crown. They suspect Lord Elphick of being a traitor and send him to Venice to find the letters.

James ends up saving her life a few times from the bad guys her ex h...more
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Hirondelle
Hirondelle rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/03/08

bookshelves: nice-cozy-reads, romance
So much fun, the dialogue, Venice, the characters. All the while feeling so rich in historical details without feeling contrived or heavy. Delicious treat of a book.

Trying to be critical, I liked this, thought it more interesting than her most recent ones. A friend asked me if it was better than her most famous book, and not quite as good, but still lovely charming book.

PS - I know it´s nitpicking, but I truly hate this cover. Besides being bad, it´s just wrong, the feminine back l...more
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Chris
Chris rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/15/08

bookshelves: autoread-authors, romance
Read in June, 2008
Lots of the Amazon reviewers HATED this book. To me, it was vintage Chase. Not her very best, but miles better than The Last Hellion, which is by far her weakest, and still better than most of what sells (oh dear, damning with faint praise).

I think what may have been the weakness is that, unlike Captives of the Night, which had a similar plot (treacherous husband, independent wife, spy lover), this upped the adventure and intrigue at the expense of the emotional angst. The a...more
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Ardith
Ardith rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/25/08

bookshelves: keeper-romances
Read in June, 2008
Loretta Chase creates some of the most innovative romance characters ever. Both the hero and the heroine are scandalous.

Francesca Bonnard decides to become one of the most expensive & exclusive courtesans in Europe after her husband breaks her heart and divorces her. She is unabashedly sensual, witty, and expensive.

James Cordier also sleeps around. But for King & Country.

He is assigned one last, ahem, job, before he retires, but discovers that sleeping his way into her hear...more
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Kit
Kit rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/24/08

Read in August, 2008
This got a good review from the folks at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, so I knew I was in for a good romance read. And it was. Picture Inara from Firefly in a Regency romance (yep, the heroine is the one with "scandalous ways") and you sort of have an idea of the tone of the book. I particularly like when romance novels have good secondary characters and senses of humor, and this one definitely does.
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/07/08

bookshelves: romance
Read in July, 2008
I liked the heroine and the hero in this book. I really liked the heroine's self-deprecating sense of humor and the way the hero never insults her choice of career or thinks she has something morally wrong with her.

There was just something lacking in why I didn't give it five stars. It didn't sing with Chase's regular voice. It just didn't make it when held up to her regular standard.
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Little Red-Haired Girl
08/21/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction, romance
Read in August, 2008
I would probably give this 3 1/2 stars if that were an option. I very much enjoyed the book. I liked the idea of the courtesan as the heroine - different from all those romances where the girl must be awakened to sexual pleasure. I did find the main characters' constant railing at themselves being so stupid as to fall in love a little annoying after awhile.
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Kim
Kim rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/02/08

Read in September, 2008
I have a handful of authors that I'll turn to if I need something predictably charming, comforting and/or good public transit reading. Loretta Chase is high on this list, and she also never disappoints. Spies! Courtesans! Jewels! Banter!
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Lisa
Lisa rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/23/08

bookshelves: historicalromance
Read in June, 2008
A different sort of historical where you don't have the shy, retiring virgin bride on the marriage mart. This sassy heroine has fun getting into trouble! Fun read, but not high quality lit.
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Leigh
Leigh rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/16/08

I loved the setting in Venice. I thought it was well crafted-the plot, characters, romance- were exciting.
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Melissa
Melissa rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
08/01/08

Read in August, 2008
I couldn't even finish it. Nothing about this story was appealing to me.
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