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Diable Delamere #1
Educating Elizabeth
When Miss Elizabeth Waterstone encounters the enigmatic Duke of Diable Delamere in the most shocking of circumstances, she is determined to exploit his rakish expertise to the fullest extent. The duke agrees to teach her everything she needs to know, but in return expects to receive her unwitting cooperation to uncover an assassination plot against the monarchy. But Elizabeth is hard to deceive, and the duke finds himself needing more than her innocent skills in his bed. Together they must use their remarkable abilities, to thwart a villain, save the Prince Regent and accidentally and inevitably fall in love.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2011
831 people are currently reading
1420 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pearce
148 books1,826 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
September 18, 2021
RTC!! At the 25% mark, I had a pure moment of joy cackling to myself and it holds up all the way through! Funny. Not explicit if you know her from House of Pleasure but sexy. Interesting plot and at times, tense. I did not know Kate Pearce could write a Regency like this.
~FULL REVIEW~
"I knew that a supposed libertine wouldn't need a secretary or have a desk piled high with important-looking documents. And I should have known that a rake would never ever try to seduce me whilst wearing his spectacles!"
This is from a scene that did make me cackle out loud and made me trust that I was in good hands with Kate Pearce and boy, this story was equally sexy as well as genuinely interesting. Kate Pearce can be bit or miss for me because she is a writer who focuses on the erotic and on plot development, and it is hard to do both.
This is why I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-written Regency that was sexy and funny. This is more of a traditional turn by Kate Pearce in that this feels more vanilla. Heroine is smart at puzzles and loves to eat (this is remarked by the characters a few times as a loving joke). She also thinks the hero is hot and is infatuated by his touch very early on, which I liked, because it wasn't love-at-first-sight but more like her acknowledging how attracted she was to him. From what I recall, sex happens like maybe 50% mark? I felt like it was the 60 or 70% mark, but there are lots of hot kisses and caresses along the way.
There is a spy plot. Hero is a spy and asks heroine to crack a code for him. The whole premise is also a little shaky like, he accepts her into his household in exchange for forgiving her stepfather's debt to him, not to mention she asks him to teach her how to be a courtesan. All right it doesn't add up, but it never really bothered me. The tension, is heroine a spy? Is she innocent? I loved it, especially that showdown in the hero's study where he accuses her of all these crimes - so good.
I liked it! Maybe it might not be the most original, but it was entertaining for what it is.
Currently free on the Kindle store.
~FULL REVIEW~
"I knew that a supposed libertine wouldn't need a secretary or have a desk piled high with important-looking documents. And I should have known that a rake would never ever try to seduce me whilst wearing his spectacles!"
This is from a scene that did make me cackle out loud and made me trust that I was in good hands with Kate Pearce and boy, this story was equally sexy as well as genuinely interesting. Kate Pearce can be bit or miss for me because she is a writer who focuses on the erotic and on plot development, and it is hard to do both.
This is why I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-written Regency that was sexy and funny. This is more of a traditional turn by Kate Pearce in that this feels more vanilla. Heroine is smart at puzzles and loves to eat (this is remarked by the characters a few times as a loving joke). She also thinks the hero is hot and is infatuated by his touch very early on, which I liked, because it wasn't love-at-first-sight but more like her acknowledging how attracted she was to him. From what I recall, sex happens like maybe 50% mark? I felt like it was the 60 or 70% mark, but there are lots of hot kisses and caresses along the way.
There is a spy plot. Hero is a spy and asks heroine to crack a code for him. The whole premise is also a little shaky like, he accepts her into his household in exchange for forgiving her stepfather's debt to him, not to mention she asks him to teach her how to be a courtesan. All right it doesn't add up, but it never really bothered me. The tension, is heroine a spy? Is she innocent? I loved it, especially that showdown in the hero's study where he accuses her of all these crimes - so good.
I liked it! Maybe it might not be the most original, but it was entertaining for what it is.
Currently free on the Kindle store.
April 9, 2022
Free on Amazon Kindle.
New-to-me-author. From what I recall, the steam level is pretty high, but it's not as erotic as I had anticipated it would be. The heroine is given to the hero to repay her stepfather's debt to the hero. She thinks she's there to work for him and he thinks she's there to sleep with him. The misunderstanding is cleared up, but her reputation is ruined, so the hero agrees to teach the heroine how to be a courtesan.
For some reason, I don't enjoy HRs where the hero or heroine is a spy very much. The hero is a spy in this case (as well as a duke and French) and the heroine ends up helping him decode some letters.
Some of the chapter transitions are choppy. That was probably more noticeable because I was listening to the audiobook and had to rewind to make sure I didn't mishear a scene. The story was slow-paced, which is mainly the reason for my rating of 2 stars.
I plan to read more from this author. At least one more book.
New-to-me-author. From what I recall, the steam level is pretty high, but it's not as erotic as I had anticipated it would be. The heroine is given to the hero to repay her stepfather's debt to the hero. She thinks she's there to work for him and he thinks she's there to sleep with him. The misunderstanding is cleared up, but her reputation is ruined, so the hero agrees to teach the heroine how to be a courtesan.
For some reason, I don't enjoy HRs where the hero or heroine is a spy very much. The hero is a spy in this case (as well as a duke and French) and the heroine ends up helping him decode some letters.
Some of the chapter transitions are choppy. That was probably more noticeable because I was listening to the audiobook and had to rewind to make sure I didn't mishear a scene. The story was slow-paced, which is mainly the reason for my rating of 2 stars.
I plan to read more from this author. At least one more book.
December 5, 2014
I was bored. Story had a thrown together feeling. Author’s heart was not in it.
I did not sympathize with the heroine. Her thoughts and actions were not logical, or did not fit her character, or I’m not sure what.
Elizabeth wants to become a courtesan so she can support herself and her wheelchair bound brother. For no logical reason she keeps a secret from the Duke (that she is supporting her brother). She meets secretly with a guy who is like a nurse to her brother. Because of that the Duke thinks she is doing something bad. I saw no reason for her to keep that secret. And there were other things I did not like.
The Duke decides to support Elizabeth while he teaches her how to please men in bed. He gives her money and buys her a lot of clothes. But for half the book (which is how much I read) she is still a virgin (I think). He has several touching sessions with her but they don’t have penetration sex. It’s written as if she is a shy virgin he is wooing. That whole thing seemed odd. The sex scenes lacked emotion – or something.
I read the first half and the last 10%.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 5,260 (296 - 304 pages). Swearing language: mild. Sexual content: probably moderate. Setting: 1814 London, England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: regency romance.
I did not sympathize with the heroine. Her thoughts and actions were not logical, or did not fit her character, or I’m not sure what.
Elizabeth wants to become a courtesan so she can support herself and her wheelchair bound brother. For no logical reason she keeps a secret from the Duke (that she is supporting her brother). She meets secretly with a guy who is like a nurse to her brother. Because of that the Duke thinks she is doing something bad. I saw no reason for her to keep that secret. And there were other things I did not like.
The Duke decides to support Elizabeth while he teaches her how to please men in bed. He gives her money and buys her a lot of clothes. But for half the book (which is how much I read) she is still a virgin (I think). He has several touching sessions with her but they don’t have penetration sex. It’s written as if she is a shy virgin he is wooing. That whole thing seemed odd. The sex scenes lacked emotion – or something.
I read the first half and the last 10%.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 5,260 (296 - 304 pages). Swearing language: mild. Sexual content: probably moderate. Setting: 1814 London, England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: regency romance.
February 25, 2018
I opened this late one night and nearly quit at page two, but the next night I gave it another go. Reformed rake is one of my favourite tropes.
The rake in question is Gervase, Duke of Diable Delamare.
The Elizabeth is Miss Waterstone. She has been handed over to the Duke as payment of a gaming debt of her stepfather’s. The Duke almost beds her, thinking she will pay the debt on her back. She thought she’d be doing secretarial work.
For the record, she isn’t dressed or behaving in any kind of way that might make him think this.
…
Yeah… and then it kind of turned into a patchwork that just didn’t fit together.
We are constantly told that Elizabeth is incredibly smart. So smart she thinks a DUKE needs her to write letters? She throws a heavy clock at his head, runs away, exposing herself to ruination. [woman seen leaving Duke’s house in a dishevelled condition etc.] and she goes home. Where her stepfather smacks her around and takes her back to the Duke. Because she didn’t speak to Gervase before she ran away, now she is stuck.
Plus, the thing that she can throw accurately is never referenced again.
So she makes a deal with him to teach her about sex, so that she can become a courtesan and support her invalided brother.
*blinks*
Repeat. She’s supposed to be smart. She’s already twenty four, which is kind of late to start in the courtesan trade. She’s also a virgin. So she has NO clue what she is doing.
He sends her away for a week to put his daughter into school [and we never see the daughter again] and then Elizabeth comes back cleverly disguised as MRS Waterstone, a widow. I repeat… a week.
*laughs hysterically*
Plus, the Duke is 34 and he has an 18 year old daughter. Yeah… you do the math.
It turns out that Elizabeth can speak and read four languages, and has a knack for decoding messages intercepted from a spy trying to arrange the assassination of the English Prince Regent. So she could do almost ANYTHING else other than be a courtesan. I mean… really.
The Duke is, of course, a spymaster for the English. Uh huh. [But he’s French.] He uses his skills at cards to obtain secrets rather than paid winnings.
Someone sets Elizabeth up to take the fall as a traitor. Gosh, who could that be? There are literally two options.
Add in a badly handled ‘misunderstanding’ between the two mains, a ridiculous scene at a masked ball and I’m almost noping out again.
‘Oh, didn’t I tell you I have a knife in my boot?’… a man with broken ribs runs after a gunman, and he recovers from a gunshot wound too quickly… facepalming SO hard.
Add in Deus ex Grandfather… she turns out to have incredibly high rank grandparents that she never bothered to think about or ask for help until the 95% mark. I can’t imagine that they’d be very pleased with the courtesan plan. But conveniently, this elevated rank allows her to marry the Duke with little society issue. Sighs…
It ended up relatively entertaining, but had so many coincidences and plot-holes that it barely hung together. And the whole time, I had this feeling that I’d read it before. I’m usually pretty good at remembering stuff.
2 stars
The rake in question is Gervase, Duke of Diable Delamare.
The Elizabeth is Miss Waterstone. She has been handed over to the Duke as payment of a gaming debt of her stepfather’s. The Duke almost beds her, thinking she will pay the debt on her back. She thought she’d be doing secretarial work.
For the record, she isn’t dressed or behaving in any kind of way that might make him think this.
…
Yeah… and then it kind of turned into a patchwork that just didn’t fit together.
We are constantly told that Elizabeth is incredibly smart. So smart she thinks a DUKE needs her to write letters? She throws a heavy clock at his head, runs away, exposing herself to ruination. [woman seen leaving Duke’s house in a dishevelled condition etc.] and she goes home. Where her stepfather smacks her around and takes her back to the Duke. Because she didn’t speak to Gervase before she ran away, now she is stuck.
Plus, the thing that she can throw accurately is never referenced again.
So she makes a deal with him to teach her about sex, so that she can become a courtesan and support her invalided brother.
*blinks*
Repeat. She’s supposed to be smart. She’s already twenty four, which is kind of late to start in the courtesan trade. She’s also a virgin. So she has NO clue what she is doing.
He sends her away for a week to put his daughter into school [and we never see the daughter again] and then Elizabeth comes back cleverly disguised as MRS Waterstone, a widow. I repeat… a week.
*laughs hysterically*
Plus, the Duke is 34 and he has an 18 year old daughter. Yeah… you do the math.
It turns out that Elizabeth can speak and read four languages, and has a knack for decoding messages intercepted from a spy trying to arrange the assassination of the English Prince Regent. So she could do almost ANYTHING else other than be a courtesan. I mean… really.
The Duke is, of course, a spymaster for the English. Uh huh. [But he’s French.] He uses his skills at cards to obtain secrets rather than paid winnings.
Someone sets Elizabeth up to take the fall as a traitor. Gosh, who could that be? There are literally two options.
Add in a badly handled ‘misunderstanding’ between the two mains, a ridiculous scene at a masked ball and I’m almost noping out again.
‘Oh, didn’t I tell you I have a knife in my boot?’… a man with broken ribs runs after a gunman, and he recovers from a gunshot wound too quickly… facepalming SO hard.
Add in Deus ex Grandfather… she turns out to have incredibly high rank grandparents that she never bothered to think about or ask for help until the 95% mark. I can’t imagine that they’d be very pleased with the courtesan plan. But conveniently, this elevated rank allows her to marry the Duke with little society issue. Sighs…
It ended up relatively entertaining, but had so many coincidences and plot-holes that it barely hung together. And the whole time, I had this feeling that I’d read it before. I’m usually pretty good at remembering stuff.
2 stars
February 15, 2024
I enjoyed following the story, but I think perhaps the romance suffered to the detriment of the mystery about the assassination attempt. I liked the way the hero slowly seduced Elizabeth; I would have liked the book to be more about that..
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October 27, 2016Gervase is the Duke of Diable Delamere, and I just couldn't with this book. I mean, seriously? This is why it doesn't pay to skim the blurb, because I thought this was going to work out old style, where because of his reputation he was called Diable, not that it would be his actual name, which was just nonsense.
Heroine Elizabeth is traded to Gervase in a card game by her stepfather. Gervase manages to not rape Elizabeth when he realises she's actually scared and not doing a harlot role-play. Apparently this is a common scenario, ladies of negotiable affection indulge in when Gervase flings them some guineas? Hmmm.
Acknowledging Elizabeth's purity, Gervase sends her home. She is returned to him the next day, at her stepfather's insistence. Her mother is refusing to have anything to do with her, or let sullied Elizabeth near the remaining daughter.
Elizabeth needs to keep her stepfather on side because he's taking care of her war-wounded brother. Her mother (what a peach) won't go near the brother either, because she can't bear to see his injured body.
Gervase sort of thinks the stepfather may be involved in spy stuff. His other big deal is that he's a widower, and his late wife cheated on him with lots of men. She had a daughter and Gervase is raising her.
Elizabeth's solution to being ruined is for Gervase to teach her to do sex. She figures, after his attempted rape, that if she can stand for him to touch her she can stand for anyone to touch her. But she wants to be fancy, not some back alley gin hooker.
Neither Gervase or Elizabeth were attractive characters. Gervase is all smarmy and ugh, and bitter about his wife. Elizabeth is grim and humourless, and while I'm assuming sexy times will happen, there are all these undercurrents of how she'll rise above the crapulence of a projected life of sex with multiple partners. That just made me cranky.
All this should have been sexy and fun and right up my alley. Instead, I couldn't get into it. The dialogue is super clunky. I know it's fancy shmancy Regency talk, but it just comes across as too wordy dictionary dribble.
Heroine Elizabeth is traded to Gervase in a card game by her stepfather. Gervase manages to not rape Elizabeth when he realises she's actually scared and not doing a harlot role-play. Apparently this is a common scenario, ladies of negotiable affection indulge in when Gervase flings them some guineas? Hmmm.
Acknowledging Elizabeth's purity, Gervase sends her home. She is returned to him the next day, at her stepfather's insistence. Her mother is refusing to have anything to do with her, or let sullied Elizabeth near the remaining daughter.
Elizabeth needs to keep her stepfather on side because he's taking care of her war-wounded brother. Her mother (what a peach) won't go near the brother either, because she can't bear to see his injured body.
Gervase sort of thinks the stepfather may be involved in spy stuff. His other big deal is that he's a widower, and his late wife cheated on him with lots of men. She had a daughter and Gervase is raising her.
Elizabeth's solution to being ruined is for Gervase to teach her to do sex. She figures, after his attempted rape, that if she can stand for him to touch her she can stand for anyone to touch her. But she wants to be fancy, not some back alley gin hooker.
Neither Gervase or Elizabeth were attractive characters. Gervase is all smarmy and ugh, and bitter about his wife. Elizabeth is grim and humourless, and while I'm assuming sexy times will happen, there are all these undercurrents of how she'll rise above the crapulence of a projected life of sex with multiple partners. That just made me cranky.
All this should have been sexy and fun and right up my alley. Instead, I couldn't get into it. The dialogue is super clunky. I know it's fancy shmancy Regency talk, but it just comes across as too wordy dictionary dribble.
November 6, 2016
Educating Elizabeth is an extremely delightful and sassy romance set shortly after the French revolution. Gervase is sexy, intelligent and far more than what he appears, while Elizabeth is spirited, smart and passionate enough to meet him head on at every turn. If I had to complain about anything, it would be the cliched rift and conclusion that causes the couple to fall out. Also, things in Gervase's past seem unresolved and the circumstances with Eliazabeth's mother seemed too neatly wrapped up, along with the issues concerning her father's death. Otherwise, the unusual beginnings and seduction --executed by both Gervase and Elizabeth on one another--is a thrill with elements of humor and heat. I also loved the colorful descriptions of clothing, scenery and characters. This was fun overall, and I could read more in this series.
May 7, 2021
From the onset of the book, I disliked the Duke and as I continued reading, that dislike compounded itself until, by the end of the book, I hated him. He did nothing but demean and humiliate Elizabeth from the beginning. Even after ascertaining that she was an innocent, he persisted in actions of sexual advances upon her person in public, up to and including giving her a lascivious gown to wear to a masquerade ball.
Although all throughout the book she is seen as being "not much to look at", even by the Duke, who purports to love her. Now, that is what is commonly called "a crock". When you are in love, you see the object of your affection through eyes of love and, therefore, see beauty. The heart sees what the eyes do not, so if he does not see her as beautiful, even when in the throes of passion, he is not in love with her and what he says he feels for her probably is more like a passing fancy and will fade as time goes on.
And, as far as Elizabeth is concerned, she does not appear to have a backbone. I realize those were different times, but I felt that she was more than a church mouse and would at least chide him for his public sexual outreaches and, she most certainly should have confronted him about Sir John and what she had found out about him. As to proof, all she would have to do is have the Duke ask Sir John to see his code book and when he could not immediately provide it, as she knew it was at the Forester's house, that would provide credence to what she was trying to tell the Duke. And then, wait until the last possible moment to tell the Duke where the assassination was to take place, which she had more than plenty of time to do on several occasions.
What a mess. Time sequence seems to mean nothing to this author.
And, I must remark on the secret code fiasco. It would seem that the French were sending coded messages to their compatriots, apparently to give them instruction, without giving them the code to translate them. Now, ain't that a hoot. The assassins had to get someone to decode them for them?
I would tend to question that, but the author gives no clue as to who, how or where these messages were obtained.. Plus, it would seem natural for the assassins to pick the spot where the deed would take place, as they were there and their compatriots were not, so why would their compatriots be sending a message advising as to what point it should take place..
In any case, if this is the genre of the rest of the books in this series, I will pass. I like to be entertained by the books I read, not annoyed or aggravated by them.
And, just to be ornery - Elizabeth's mother should not have gotten away scot-free, as she tried to shoot the Prince Regent in his back after the carriage has passed them. She was as guilty as sin and should have been punished.
Although all throughout the book she is seen as being "not much to look at", even by the Duke, who purports to love her. Now, that is what is commonly called "a crock". When you are in love, you see the object of your affection through eyes of love and, therefore, see beauty. The heart sees what the eyes do not, so if he does not see her as beautiful, even when in the throes of passion, he is not in love with her and what he says he feels for her probably is more like a passing fancy and will fade as time goes on.
And, as far as Elizabeth is concerned, she does not appear to have a backbone. I realize those were different times, but I felt that she was more than a church mouse and would at least chide him for his public sexual outreaches and, she most certainly should have confronted him about Sir John and what she had found out about him. As to proof, all she would have to do is have the Duke ask Sir John to see his code book and when he could not immediately provide it, as she knew it was at the Forester's house, that would provide credence to what she was trying to tell the Duke. And then, wait until the last possible moment to tell the Duke where the assassination was to take place, which she had more than plenty of time to do on several occasions.
What a mess. Time sequence seems to mean nothing to this author.
And, I must remark on the secret code fiasco. It would seem that the French were sending coded messages to their compatriots, apparently to give them instruction, without giving them the code to translate them. Now, ain't that a hoot. The assassins had to get someone to decode them for them?
I would tend to question that, but the author gives no clue as to who, how or where these messages were obtained.. Plus, it would seem natural for the assassins to pick the spot where the deed would take place, as they were there and their compatriots were not, so why would their compatriots be sending a message advising as to what point it should take place..
In any case, if this is the genre of the rest of the books in this series, I will pass. I like to be entertained by the books I read, not annoyed or aggravated by them.
And, just to be ornery - Elizabeth's mother should not have gotten away scot-free, as she tried to shoot the Prince Regent in his back after the carriage has passed them. She was as guilty as sin and should have been punished.
January 16, 2012
Reviewed for TwoLips Reviews. 4 Kisses, 1 Pepper (M/F, oral sex)
Gervase, the rakish Duke of Diable Delamere wins a game of cards, but his opponent, Mr. Forester, doesn’t have the funds to pay his debt so he offers the services of his stepdaughter, Miss Elizabeth Waterstone, as payment. Elizabeth goes willingly, but doesn’t realize she's expected to share the duke’s bed. After he comes perilously close to forcing himself on her, Gervase is struck with guilt and offers her refuge from her abusive step father.
Elizabeth refuses Gervase’s initial offer of monetary compensation, instead she asks that he teach her how to be a courtesan. She figures that information will serve her well in the future, as her reputation will already be ruined. She also desires a way to earn money in order to help provide for her invalid brother. Despite the Duke's considerable seduction skills, becoming a courtesan is not an easy transformation for her. Her body is willing, even as her mind resists. Elizabeth is intelligent, humble, strong-willed, hard working and thoroughly likeable. And of course, Gervase is not the shiftless rake he appears to be. He was hurt by his late wife and is guarding his heart, but he's an intelligent and passionate man.
There's a plot to assassinate the Prince Regent, and Gervase and Elizabeth are caught in the thick of it. He works for the government, exposing gambling cheats and cracking codes and Elizabeth cracks a code it took experts months to decipher. She isn’t completely forthcoming about needing money to pay for her brother’s care, and her relationship to the questionable Mr. Forester, makes Gervase suspect she may be a French spy. Gervase hopes she’s not a spy because he’s coming to care for the feisty bluestocking.
Educating Elizabeth will suck you right in as it leads you through the twists and turns of the assassination plot and the tempestuous relationship between Gervase and Elizabeth. As usual, magnificently talented Kate Pearce has written a powerful and tender romance that readers won’t be able to put down. Add a healthy dose of political intrigue and suspense, and you’ve got a must-read historical romance.
http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content...
Gervase, the rakish Duke of Diable Delamere wins a game of cards, but his opponent, Mr. Forester, doesn’t have the funds to pay his debt so he offers the services of his stepdaughter, Miss Elizabeth Waterstone, as payment. Elizabeth goes willingly, but doesn’t realize she's expected to share the duke’s bed. After he comes perilously close to forcing himself on her, Gervase is struck with guilt and offers her refuge from her abusive step father.
Elizabeth refuses Gervase’s initial offer of monetary compensation, instead she asks that he teach her how to be a courtesan. She figures that information will serve her well in the future, as her reputation will already be ruined. She also desires a way to earn money in order to help provide for her invalid brother. Despite the Duke's considerable seduction skills, becoming a courtesan is not an easy transformation for her. Her body is willing, even as her mind resists. Elizabeth is intelligent, humble, strong-willed, hard working and thoroughly likeable. And of course, Gervase is not the shiftless rake he appears to be. He was hurt by his late wife and is guarding his heart, but he's an intelligent and passionate man.
There's a plot to assassinate the Prince Regent, and Gervase and Elizabeth are caught in the thick of it. He works for the government, exposing gambling cheats and cracking codes and Elizabeth cracks a code it took experts months to decipher. She isn’t completely forthcoming about needing money to pay for her brother’s care, and her relationship to the questionable Mr. Forester, makes Gervase suspect she may be a French spy. Gervase hopes she’s not a spy because he’s coming to care for the feisty bluestocking.
Educating Elizabeth will suck you right in as it leads you through the twists and turns of the assassination plot and the tempestuous relationship between Gervase and Elizabeth. As usual, magnificently talented Kate Pearce has written a powerful and tender romance that readers won’t be able to put down. Add a healthy dose of political intrigue and suspense, and you’ve got a must-read historical romance.
http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content...
May 29, 2022
Note: At the time of this review the audio is included in Audible Plus.
The blurb sounded interesting as I tend to like romance that has a little mystery/suspense in it. Things were fairly predictable, in a comfort read kind of way. I enjoyed the bones of the story but sometimes the execution felt a little off. There weren’t explanations for why some of the characters were making choices or keeping secrets that they were keeping - which made it harder to completely buy in to the plot. Transitions from one scene to another could be so abrupt I’d replay thinking there was a glitch in the audio.
The Duke “training” Elizabeth vacillated between descriptive and vague. The scenes of foreplay and oral were more evocative than most of the penetrative sex scenes.
I liked that Elizabeth was a strong, intelligent, and creative lead. Unfortunately this was sometimes undermined with actions that felt inconsistent with her character and were added to further the plot. The Duke was burned in the past and his “vow not to love again” is one of my least favorite tropes. It led to a great deal of angst that went on a bit too long. He could also be quite nasty and I didn’t feel like that was properly atoned for.
I actually appreciated many of the secondary characters more. Since they’re free to borrow via Audible Plus I may try more of the series.
Narration:
I truly enjoyed Julie Maisey’s narration. She did a great job with all the accents and emotions. A delight to listen to.
The blurb sounded interesting as I tend to like romance that has a little mystery/suspense in it. Things were fairly predictable, in a comfort read kind of way. I enjoyed the bones of the story but sometimes the execution felt a little off. There weren’t explanations for why some of the characters were making choices or keeping secrets that they were keeping - which made it harder to completely buy in to the plot. Transitions from one scene to another could be so abrupt I’d replay thinking there was a glitch in the audio.
The Duke “training” Elizabeth vacillated between descriptive and vague. The scenes of foreplay and oral were more evocative than most of the penetrative sex scenes.
I liked that Elizabeth was a strong, intelligent, and creative lead. Unfortunately this was sometimes undermined with actions that felt inconsistent with her character and were added to further the plot. The Duke was burned in the past and his “vow not to love again” is one of my least favorite tropes. It led to a great deal of angst that went on a bit too long. He could also be quite nasty and I didn’t feel like that was properly atoned for.
I actually appreciated many of the secondary characters more. Since they’re free to borrow via Audible Plus I may try more of the series.
Narration:
I truly enjoyed Julie Maisey’s narration. She did a great job with all the accents and emotions. A delight to listen to.
June 3, 2020
The characters made this book a mess.
Gervase (the male MC) is working with the Foreign Office to save the Prince Regent from an assassination plan. He ‘wins’ Elizabeth (the female MC) at a game of cards with her stepfather whom is more than happy to give her services away.
Elizabeth at first thinks that Gervase only wants her to offer him her managerial and letter-writing skills. I rolled my eyes at that.
Girl, you’re accompanying the Duke at night in his carriage towards his home. Are you stupid? How the heck is he employing you to write letters?? I’m sure he’s had a better education that you could ever have.
But anyways, when of course Gervase starts manhandling her and getting all touchy-touchy, she gets scared and angry and throws a heavy clock at him before running away.
That could have been the end of the book. And I really wish it had been. Too bad it was only the start.
Her stepfather promptly takes her back to Gervase first thing in the morning - a debt has still to be repaid. After some random talking and, really, some weird reasoning on her part, she randomly asks the Duke to teach her to become a courtesan.
I was flummoxed. I was confused. I didn’t know where that came from, because no proper explanation was given of why she wanted to become a courtesan. Or at least, we were given a reason (she needed money to take care of her brother) but I felt like there were many other better opportunities available for her. Herself, later in the book, she mentions that she could have become a governess or a companion instead.
Yes, Elizabeth, why didn’t you?
But then, of course, the book wouldn’t have been made now, would it?
Anyways... some boring tripe happens after that. They don’t actually start fornicating after weeks because Gervase finds a long-lost sense of honour inside himself (*audible eye roll*). When they FINALLY have sex, the scene was utterly disappointing. The first happenstance was of the closed-doors sort wich I positively loathe. Others, when they showed promising details, ended up in barely a paragraph. All, were lukewarm at best.
In between all that, Elizabeth ends up helping Gervase to crack down coded messages that they intercept from the enemy French. Curiously, no-one ever mentions about Gervase Delamere being positively the most frenchy french of the lot, and all the gag-enducing ‘ma chere’ s that he throws around. But of course, he’s not the enemy.
Elizabeth is soooooo clever. She knows Latin and ancient Greek and Spanish. She cracks complicated codes in a matter of hours when experts back at the Foreign Office had been labouring to solve them for months. But of course Elizabeth can do it (even though she has no experience or training for it) because, by her own words, she’s “got a knack for languages”.
Excuse me a few moments whilst I have deep breaths.
After that, more stuff happens. Gervase comes to believe that Elizabeth was a French spy, even when it was SO FUCKING OBVIOUS WHO THE REAL SPY WAS.
*deep calming breaths*
Some action happens. They successfully ruin the attempt assassination. Randomly, Elizabeth ends up living with some grandparents that we never knew existed and seem to be pretty high up in the social ladder. Where were those grandparents at the beginning when she needed money??
They grovel and apologise to each other and decide to marry after spewing ‘I-love-you’s.
This was utterly bland. Horrible sex scenes. Stupid actions performed by characters that are supposed to be clever. Plothole galore. Convenient ending. Wasted afternoon.
*sigh*
Gervase (the male MC) is working with the Foreign Office to save the Prince Regent from an assassination plan. He ‘wins’ Elizabeth (the female MC) at a game of cards with her stepfather whom is more than happy to give her services away.
Elizabeth at first thinks that Gervase only wants her to offer him her managerial and letter-writing skills. I rolled my eyes at that.
Girl, you’re accompanying the Duke at night in his carriage towards his home. Are you stupid? How the heck is he employing you to write letters?? I’m sure he’s had a better education that you could ever have.
But anyways, when of course Gervase starts manhandling her and getting all touchy-touchy, she gets scared and angry and throws a heavy clock at him before running away.
That could have been the end of the book. And I really wish it had been. Too bad it was only the start.
Her stepfather promptly takes her back to Gervase first thing in the morning - a debt has still to be repaid. After some random talking and, really, some weird reasoning on her part, she randomly asks the Duke to teach her to become a courtesan.
I was flummoxed. I was confused. I didn’t know where that came from, because no proper explanation was given of why she wanted to become a courtesan. Or at least, we were given a reason (she needed money to take care of her brother) but I felt like there were many other better opportunities available for her. Herself, later in the book, she mentions that she could have become a governess or a companion instead.
Yes, Elizabeth, why didn’t you?
But then, of course, the book wouldn’t have been made now, would it?
Anyways... some boring tripe happens after that. They don’t actually start fornicating after weeks because Gervase finds a long-lost sense of honour inside himself (*audible eye roll*). When they FINALLY have sex, the scene was utterly disappointing. The first happenstance was of the closed-doors sort wich I positively loathe. Others, when they showed promising details, ended up in barely a paragraph. All, were lukewarm at best.
In between all that, Elizabeth ends up helping Gervase to crack down coded messages that they intercept from the enemy French. Curiously, no-one ever mentions about Gervase Delamere being positively the most frenchy french of the lot, and all the gag-enducing ‘ma chere’ s that he throws around. But of course, he’s not the enemy.
Elizabeth is soooooo clever. She knows Latin and ancient Greek and Spanish. She cracks complicated codes in a matter of hours when experts back at the Foreign Office had been labouring to solve them for months. But of course Elizabeth can do it (even though she has no experience or training for it) because, by her own words, she’s “got a knack for languages”.
Excuse me a few moments whilst I have deep breaths.
After that, more stuff happens. Gervase comes to believe that Elizabeth was a French spy, even when it was SO FUCKING OBVIOUS WHO THE REAL SPY WAS.
*deep calming breaths*
Some action happens. They successfully ruin the attempt assassination. Randomly, Elizabeth ends up living with some grandparents that we never knew existed and seem to be pretty high up in the social ladder. Where were those grandparents at the beginning when she needed money??
They grovel and apologise to each other and decide to marry after spewing ‘I-love-you’s.
This was utterly bland. Horrible sex scenes. Stupid actions performed by characters that are supposed to be clever. Plothole galore. Convenient ending. Wasted afternoon.
*sigh*
January 6, 2021
I LOVED this book. It was very reminiscent of the House of Rohan series. It was a bit of a slow burn. I am a speed reader but this took all day as I kept picking it up and putting it down when the story slowed. Lots of tension between the H/h. The love scenes weren't as clear as they could be considering that Kate Pearce is usually a jedi master at writing erotica. As another reviewer stated, I was equally invested in the spy storyline as I was the romance. It's really nice to read a story where the heroine is given something to actually do and it's acknowledged that's she's smarter than most of the other characters. So I enjoyed that immensely. Definitely recommend!
October 1, 2014
I read the first pages on my kindle without reading who the book was by because I got some over netgalley lately but after a couple of them I realized that I know the style – it simply had to be …. Kate Pearce.
The story is pretty easy and lovely and cute and … addictive!
Miss Elizabeth Waterstone meets the Duke Diable Delamare (Gervase) under the most horrible circumstances. Her stepfather lost a huge amount of money on the gaming tables and offers the duke Elizabeth. He trades the “services” of his stepdaughter for his debt. The Duke, a rake, thinks of course that the girl knows what he is talking about is about to ravish her when he finds out that she has no experiences that she’s a virgin in every way. Up from this night she lives in his huge house because nobody in her family wants to see or speak with her because she is ruined, nevertheless she spent the night at the duke’s.
Because everybody probably thinks that she is ruined now she decides that she wants the duke to teach her everything about being a courtesan. In the beginning Gervase is unsure, he thinks that she isn’t sure what she is about to do but Elizabeth is intelligent and strong minded, stubborn nonetheless. She knows several languages and already is suspicious about the duke’s secretary. One day she finds a code in his study, but for her it wasn’t a game but a puzzle. Without knowing what she does, she plays with it and solves it ...
Through all those days spent at Gervase’s house, she is turned – to fit the story – into a faraway relative, Mrs. Waterstone – a widow. Everybody belives in the story because Elizabeth has never been introduced into society probably because her family never had the money.
So they live under the same roof. He teaches her things. She solves his codes but the probably slowly starts to become huge … what they feel for each other.
+
Well the story may be a little predictable but in contrary to Pearce’s other novels they do not sleep with each other within the first 10 pages/percent – it takes it’s time and that’s what I loved about the book. It’s a slow story with a plot. It’s not all about the flames of love, the passion and so on. It’s also about a second storyline – about spies, secrets, assassins and all those things.
Pearce has a hand for details if it comes to wallpaper, cloths, corsages and all those things. I love that about her style. But also the way she develops characters. I felt so bad for Elizabeth several times that she had me at the brick of tears. It rarely happens with novels lately. Sometimes I am about to cry because they are so badly written or characters so horribly developed but to feel with a main character doesn’t happen to me on a regular base.
I think the book could have had an epilogue and show us the happy end 10 months later or so on. I think it ended rather abruptly.
Rating: 4**** stars
The story is pretty easy and lovely and cute and … addictive!
Miss Elizabeth Waterstone meets the Duke Diable Delamare (Gervase) under the most horrible circumstances. Her stepfather lost a huge amount of money on the gaming tables and offers the duke Elizabeth. He trades the “services” of his stepdaughter for his debt. The Duke, a rake, thinks of course that the girl knows what he is talking about is about to ravish her when he finds out that she has no experiences that she’s a virgin in every way. Up from this night she lives in his huge house because nobody in her family wants to see or speak with her because she is ruined, nevertheless she spent the night at the duke’s.
Because everybody probably thinks that she is ruined now she decides that she wants the duke to teach her everything about being a courtesan. In the beginning Gervase is unsure, he thinks that she isn’t sure what she is about to do but Elizabeth is intelligent and strong minded, stubborn nonetheless. She knows several languages and already is suspicious about the duke’s secretary. One day she finds a code in his study, but for her it wasn’t a game but a puzzle. Without knowing what she does, she plays with it and solves it ...
Through all those days spent at Gervase’s house, she is turned – to fit the story – into a faraway relative, Mrs. Waterstone – a widow. Everybody belives in the story because Elizabeth has never been introduced into society probably because her family never had the money.
So they live under the same roof. He teaches her things. She solves his codes but the probably slowly starts to become huge … what they feel for each other.
+
Well the story may be a little predictable but in contrary to Pearce’s other novels they do not sleep with each other within the first 10 pages/percent – it takes it’s time and that’s what I loved about the book. It’s a slow story with a plot. It’s not all about the flames of love, the passion and so on. It’s also about a second storyline – about spies, secrets, assassins and all those things.
Pearce has a hand for details if it comes to wallpaper, cloths, corsages and all those things. I love that about her style. But also the way she develops characters. I felt so bad for Elizabeth several times that she had me at the brick of tears. It rarely happens with novels lately. Sometimes I am about to cry because they are so badly written or characters so horribly developed but to feel with a main character doesn’t happen to me on a regular base.
I think the book could have had an epilogue and show us the happy end 10 months later or so on. I think it ended rather abruptly.
Rating: 4**** stars
August 19, 2014
I was really enjoying this read, but the ending was such a fizzle after all that had gone before. The hero never actually apologizes, just thinks about doing it, and then he gives her the high-hat. And he seriously needed to apologize BIG TIME. Otherwise I would have given this one 4 stars easy. But the ending just fell so so flat... -sigh-
I'm not even sure why it ended the way it did. It kinda seemed tacked on with this surprise addition of characters that the heroine should have known about if she wasn't dumb as a post. Before the ending, I didn't think she was dumb as a post, but now.... Hmmmmm.
I'm not even sure why it ended the way it did. It kinda seemed tacked on with this surprise addition of characters that the heroine should have known about if she wasn't dumb as a post. Before the ending, I didn't think she was dumb as a post, but now.... Hmmmmm.
dnf
October 16, 20225 chapters is all I can take of this a-hole "hero" and a "heroine" who cannot decide whether she has a backbone or not. He almost rapes her in the first (second?) chapter and thus ruins her. She comes up with a brilliant plan to become a courtesan and who better to educate her than the man who almost raped her? I know... I need my braincells for something else, thank you very much.
added-it
January 10, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/10/2021)! 🎁
April 15, 2024
3.25 stars!
RTC
RTC
September 17, 2024
Review:
Score - 3/5
POV - 3rd Person
Heat Level - 5+/5
Tropes - Regency; Erotica; Sex Lessons; Duke MMC;
This felt like a good introduction into probably how this author writes. It was an enjoyable HR and very spicy but both MC's were incredibly frustrating. By the time I made it to the end of the story I felt very much just relieved. I am writing this review around a week later so I'm honestly just forgetting a lot but I do know that I would read more from this Author and if someone is requesting a high spice HR I would recommend this.
3/5
Score - 3/5
POV - 3rd Person
Heat Level - 5+/5
Tropes - Regency; Erotica; Sex Lessons; Duke MMC;
This felt like a good introduction into probably how this author writes. It was an enjoyable HR and very spicy but both MC's were incredibly frustrating. By the time I made it to the end of the story I felt very much just relieved. I am writing this review around a week later so I'm honestly just forgetting a lot but I do know that I would read more from this Author and if someone is requesting a high spice HR I would recommend this.
3/5
October 1, 2016
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to! I wasn't super thrilled with the last Kate Pearce book I read, but this one was really quite enjoyable. I was hooked from the beginning of the premise: Elizabeth, having been wagered to settle her stepfather's debts in a card game, asks Gervaise, the Duke of Diable Delamere, to educate her so that she can become a courtesan. The duke agrees, and quickly discovers that she is very smart and knows several languages, so he determines to use her puzzle-solving and linguistic abilities to help him avert a plot to assassinate the Prince Regent. In the meantime, he teaches her about seduction, while intending to hold himself aloof (and we all know how well that goes, don't we?)
I really enjoyed the cast of side characters and the feeling that there was more going on than the generic whirl of the ton and high society. The stakes of the assassination felt real. I didn't like how obvious the straw villain was; I knew from the minute that character stepped on the page that something was not right, and this grew only more obvious as time went by, until I was frustrated that Gervaise didn't seem to see it too. I make some allowances for the blindness of friendship and history, but really, somebody should've cottoned on substantially before they did.
I really enjoyed that Elizabeth was razor-smart and allowed to be so; I loved that she was valued for that and her abilities were accepted at face value. I loved the sexy scenes, which were just the right blend of specific and glossing over (okay, once or twice I rolled my eyes because it got to the point of straining disbelief, but what else is fantasy for?) I loved the way she adapted to circumstances that were frankly ruinous: she looked at her options, calculated the possible paths, picked one, and dedicated herself to it.
I mentioned before that the side characters were great, and I'll reiterate that. I'm really looking forward to other books in the series when those characters get to shine even more on their own (one thing this book did really, really well was draw the relationships between characters in a way that felt real and deep.)
I really enjoyed the cast of side characters and the feeling that there was more going on than the generic whirl of the ton and high society. The stakes of the assassination felt real. I didn't like how obvious the straw villain was; I knew from the minute that character stepped on the page that something was not right, and this grew only more obvious as time went by, until I was frustrated that Gervaise didn't seem to see it too. I make some allowances for the blindness of friendship and history, but really, somebody should've cottoned on substantially before they did.
I really enjoyed that Elizabeth was razor-smart and allowed to be so; I loved that she was valued for that and her abilities were accepted at face value. I loved the sexy scenes, which were just the right blend of specific and glossing over (okay, once or twice I rolled my eyes because it got to the point of straining disbelief, but what else is fantasy for?) I loved the way she adapted to circumstances that were frankly ruinous: she looked at her options, calculated the possible paths, picked one, and dedicated herself to it.
I mentioned before that the side characters were great, and I'll reiterate that. I'm really looking forward to other books in the series when those characters get to shine even more on their own (one thing this book did really, really well was draw the relationships between characters in a way that felt real and deep.)
January 19, 2012
This was an enjoyable quick read with a fairly likeable heroine & magnetic hero. The situation that throws our Elizabeth into the arms of the Duke is believable enough (for this type of story) & I happen to enjoy the political twist to it. Some of the secondary characters are also very enjoyable (Angelique, the Duke's cousin, the nurse). Obviously, there is a misunderstanding on both sides of the relationship & much of the conflict could have been avoided by a simple conversation, but this is a romance so that would just be silly ;)
The sex scenes are decent but not full blown erotica. Just enough to warm the blood up a bit.
All in all a nice quick read that left me interested in seeing what the author has done in her more explicit "Simply" series.
The sex scenes are decent but not full blown erotica. Just enough to warm the blood up a bit.
All in all a nice quick read that left me interested in seeing what the author has done in her more explicit "Simply" series.
July 11, 2013
After her stepfather "loses" her in a card game, Elizabeth moves into the Duke of Diable Delamere home as a companion to his daughter. While in the Duke's employ and company he discovers that she is a true intellectual - a genius in code-breaking. He sets her to work on some ciphers that look to be an assassination attempt. In addition he teaches Elizabeth about pleasure and she falls in love. The spy story is almost if not better than the love story. I have read many of Ms. Pearce's books but his was one of her best. I had to ready well past my bedtime since it was so good.
November 8, 2016
Educating Elizabeth by Kate Pearce is a fabulous read. Ms Pearce has given us a well written book. It's packed with action, drama, sizzle and humor. Best of all were the characters, they are amazing. Gervase and Elizabeth's story kept me glued to the kindle from start to finish. I enjoyed reading Educating Elizabeth and look forward to reading more from Kate Pearce in the future. Educating Elizabeth is book 1 of the Diable Delamere Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
August 11, 2014
I got intrigued about the plot. I liked the heroine in this story. The story got dragging for me. The title of the book is not appropriate, because the story is more about the mystery of killer. In spite, of the great reviews I read. I think this book needs more of the h/h. I cannot see anything between them to have a blossoming happy ending.
October 11, 2016
Intrigue till the last written word.
There is the rake, the duke, the brilliant mind of a woman,do tell. The love story that is pale in comparison to everything else that is going on. Very well written, lots of twist and turns. A real good read. Keeps your attention from start to finish.
There is the rake, the duke, the brilliant mind of a woman,do tell. The love story that is pale in comparison to everything else that is going on. Very well written, lots of twist and turns. A real good read. Keeps your attention from start to finish.
October 17, 2016
- picked this up as an easy, flimsy read
- fair amount of typos
- lame read, over explained
- thin plot
- not erotic, no chemistry
- seemed slightly promising at the beginning in terms of the plot premise of learning the art of seduction but then got sidelined by the code mystery which wasn't well developed at all
- fair amount of typos
- lame read, over explained
- thin plot
- not erotic, no chemistry
- seemed slightly promising at the beginning in terms of the plot premise of learning the art of seduction but then got sidelined by the code mystery which wasn't well developed at all
March 15, 2021
This story kept me enthralled from start to finish. A fantastic mix of arrogant dukeliness, intelligent maidenly innocence, beautifully written steaminess, and well thought out suspense.
One of those books where you sigh lustily because it finished so satisfactorily - and because you never wanted it to finish. I fell in love with the characters. Thank you, Kate Pearce.
One of those books where you sigh lustily because it finished so satisfactorily - and because you never wanted it to finish. I fell in love with the characters. Thank you, Kate Pearce.
February 26, 2021
Yawn
God, I was so bored. By 40% I gave up because it was just boring and lackluster. The romance felt weird and forced. The whole premise of the heroine wanting the Duke to teach her to be a courtesan was an odd storyline with some spy work. I should have been drawn in with it since that sort of stuff is interesting. This just wasn't.
God, I was so bored. By 40% I gave up because it was just boring and lackluster. The romance felt weird and forced. The whole premise of the heroine wanting the Duke to teach her to be a courtesan was an odd storyline with some spy work. I should have been drawn in with it since that sort of stuff is interesting. This just wasn't.
August 11, 2015
I made it to about the 60-70% mark thinking this was a pretty good book, but then it started to bore me. The story was too long. I began skipping not just sentences but pages. Would have been better if it were shortened.
March 1, 2017
So promising at the start. Then it went off on this spying tangent and got skimpy on the interpersonal stuff.
October 17, 2016
A surprisingly good read. A bit cliche but, oh well.
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