London, England - 1870

The Crimson Belle is London’s most elite brothel that caters to most gentlemen, but always for a price. Madame DeBourcier runs her establishment with an iron fist. Most of the patrons don’t even know what Madame looks like. She is a secret to all, which even includes the women who work for her. But one London gentleman has had the honor of meeting with Madame personally. Alex Randal, Lord Colwick, came to Madame for help for a friend of his. And when he first met the owner of The Belle, he was struck speechless. He was expecting to see a much older and hardened woman. Instead, he was introduced to a very young and beautiful woman, almost as young as her employees. Alex is quite smitten and wants her as his mistress. Whatever price Madame will name, he will meet so he can stay in her bed and enjoy her company in more earthly ways.

Madame DeBourcier’s real name is Jocelyn Tolliver. She took over the brothel from her mother, who has been dead for a decade. Jocelyn never knew who her mother really was because she made sure Jocelyn was away at school and led her to believe that she was an esteemed dressmaker. But Jocelyn had nowhere else to turn, so she took over the reigns of her mother’s business, making it very profitable. Jocelyn also has secrets. She hides herself away knowing she will never be welcomed in polite society and learns about the intimacies between men and women from what her ladybirds do every night. Her education also includes a very extensive personal library of erotic literature. She seems at ease with her life, but when Alex comes to her wanting to experience more personal matters of the flesh, she is willing. She wants to do everything she has read about in her special books and have a bit of happiness with a man like Alex, even though they have no real future together.

Alex and Jocelyn embark on a very passionate love affair within the walls of The Belle. Alex is smitten with his innocent but all too willing Madame. Jocelyn also enjoys Alex’s company, which includes the way he makes her feel, especially when they make love because it is unlike anything she has read. But real life intrudes on these two lovers as Alex’s sister wants to see him marry. As the bodies of dead women from various other brothels are found strangled and beaten, Alex is also worried for Jocelyn’s well being, especially when threats against her and her business are practically being thrown at her front door.

Renee Bernard had a big winner with her first book, A LADY’S PLEASURE, where Jocelyn and Alex were first introduced. Now with MADAME’S DECEPTION, she has written a very mature, but still passionate romance between two very interesting individuals. Jocelyn is a pleasant surprise because she is not what she seems. I was expecting a very mature and pessimistic woman because of her profession. But instead, Bernard writes a character who, although not naïve, is still very innocent about sex. The major secret Jocelyn is hiding is pretty easy to uncover and may make some reader’s roll their eyes, but the way Jocelyn’s situation was written actually works in the long run. Alex is a wonderful hero who thinks with his heart. He too is not what he seems, mainly because he is not some rakish lover of hundreds of woman. He is a very normal sort of fellow who is so enamored of Jocelyn, that it is simply adorable to read about. Of course, the world of prostitution is a bit fairy tale like with no harsh realities intruding. If you can suspend your disbelief, this is one story where you hope everyone will have a happily ever after. There is a bit of a mystery, some deaths, and yes, even more secrets, mainly about Jocelyn, but overall, MADAME’S DECEPTION delivers a nicely written erotic romance. The only deception I could find was Jocelyn keeping her erotic literature a secret from her girls and that of her lover, Alex. It just shows that reading is fundamental, especially when finding pleasure and, ultimately, love.

Kate Garrabrant