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French Trysts: Secrets of a Courtesan
Somewhere between dating and eternal bliss lies a secret world of glamour, opulence, decadence and the real amorous adventures of the haut monde.
Paris is a sexy, sinful romantic playground--and what could be more thrilling than to be an American girl let loose in the City of Lights? Alexandra Ward is a Sorbonne student with a fabulous French boyfriend who's just gone AWOL and a growing love affair with all things Parisian. She realizes her new life a la Francais feels entirely like play-acting--in a good way. But what happens when a playful flirtation with the CEO of an international luxury conglomerate turns into not just a "dejeuner"--lunch-- at the Ritz, but diving for canary diamonds in the famous swimming pool of the Hotel Ritz? And when that same Master of the Monde (who just happens to be married, bien sur ) asks Alexandra to be something more than a date but something, well, different than a girlfriend?
French Trysts is about slipping into a new life like it's a couture suit, about the thrill of seeing what really goes on behind the gated Hotel Particuliers of the rich and famous Bon Ton de Paris , about the power of sex and the redemption of true romance.
Praise for Kirsten Lobe's Paris Han g over :
"A witty mousse."--Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
"Wickedly entertaining."-- Chicago Tribune
"Decadent, sexy."--Frederic Beigbeder, author of 99 Francs and L'égoïste romantique
Paris is a sexy, sinful romantic playground--and what could be more thrilling than to be an American girl let loose in the City of Lights? Alexandra Ward is a Sorbonne student with a fabulous French boyfriend who's just gone AWOL and a growing love affair with all things Parisian. She realizes her new life a la Francais feels entirely like play-acting--in a good way. But what happens when a playful flirtation with the CEO of an international luxury conglomerate turns into not just a "dejeuner"--lunch-- at the Ritz, but diving for canary diamonds in the famous swimming pool of the Hotel Ritz? And when that same Master of the Monde (who just happens to be married, bien sur ) asks Alexandra to be something more than a date but something, well, different than a girlfriend?
French Trysts is about slipping into a new life like it's a couture suit, about the thrill of seeing what really goes on behind the gated Hotel Particuliers of the rich and famous Bon Ton de Paris , about the power of sex and the redemption of true romance.
Praise for Kirsten Lobe's Paris Han g over :
"A witty mousse."--Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
"Wickedly entertaining."-- Chicago Tribune
"Decadent, sexy."--Frederic Beigbeder, author of 99 Francs and L'égoïste romantique
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Lobe
3 books11 followersKirsten Lobe is a former fashion designer, and the author of the novels Paris Hangover and French Trysts. She has lived in Tokyo, New York, Paris and Lake Geneva, and is now a citizen of the world."
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 21, 2008
The premise had potential, but this was easily one of the most idiotic books I've ever read in my life. I actually feel stupider for having read it. It isn't so much that the plot wasn't satisfying, but the main character's "voice" was so vapid that I found it hard to believe that she was supposed to be a Ph.D. candidate at the Sorbonne. Furthermore, the one thing that drove me absolutely crazy throughout was the fact that the protagonist made all sorts of witticisms in her conversations that would not have worked in French - and I sincerely doubt that the Parisian haut monde were conversing in English. Not to mention no one talks like the characters in this book - verbose, self-conscious, and peppered with cheesy, out-of-date slang. Overall, it was incredibly amateurish...I've never read anything else by the author so I don't know if she was trying to affect a tone here, but it was just so mindless.
An extra star, however, is deserved for outlining a reading list for aspiring courtesans...you never know when you're going to find yourself at a cocktail party with the CEO of LVMH (that's who Jean-Albert was supposed to be, right? Bernard Arnault?), so you might as well be able to speak authoritatively on Sarte and Camus...
An extra star, however, is deserved for outlining a reading list for aspiring courtesans...you never know when you're going to find yourself at a cocktail party with the CEO of LVMH (that's who Jean-Albert was supposed to be, right? Bernard Arnault?), so you might as well be able to speak authoritatively on Sarte and Camus...
July 18, 2011
Guys, this is one of the top three worst books I've ever read. I did not go into it expecting classy literature (I figured if you can't read a feminist nightmare of a super trashy book filled with sex scenes in July, when can you?), but I also thought the author might have, say, some grasp of how people actually talk or even the most rudimentary concepts of plot. Here is the best part of this book: the ABSOLUTE BURN of a cover blurb from Kirkus Reviews: "This writer knows her setting." LOL. THAT IS THE BEST THEY COULD DO.
December 28, 2008
I loved this racy book....a modern day tale of the a very modern courtesan in Paris. The author has done her homework and understands the subject matter (famous courtesans) well. She depicts the books heroine and her mentor as courtesans, translating all of the old historical value, into a relatively believed contemporary setting. Great, fun read!
February 11, 2017
4 STARS
Utterly intoxicating, sumptuous and enthralling...I absolutely adored this read. What a magnificent find from a bargain bin at a second hand bookstore!
This novel is quite simply lovely, especially in that it is not what I'd usually pick up, but a story I'll carry with me for all of my days. The joys of reading outside of one's comfort zone! While definitely not a heavy read, so many vital and endlessly relevant messages were interwoven with the story that it was just an absolute pleasure to read. All the while being layered with so much humour, honesty and desire - there was never a dull or flat moment when reading this! I adored reading from such a fresh perspective and learning more about this whole hidden world that I thought had long faded away (I mean, courtesans!) - plus, the story being interwoven with such rich history, excepts of literature and references to the arts was nothing short of thrilling, especially if you're a lover of these things like me! The dizzying, romantic and seductive imagery of fair Paris and the enchanting French countryside was truly transporting and I found myself overcome with wanderlust.
This story was a little deeper than I had expected and really earns a place as one of those tales that you can gain so much adventure yet wisdom from - flawlessly and subtly reminding you of what is true and most precious in life. It made me want to buy a one way ticket to travel around the world, lose myself in life's little pleasures, eat simply yet wholesomely, learn more languages, read poetry by Parisian fountains, indulge in history and spend all my afternoons and midnights with that one great love, getting lost in drunkenness and moonlight conversations about passion and art and dizzying dreams. I really can't find much fault with this one!
Utterly intoxicating, sumptuous and enthralling...I absolutely adored this read. What a magnificent find from a bargain bin at a second hand bookstore!
This novel is quite simply lovely, especially in that it is not what I'd usually pick up, but a story I'll carry with me for all of my days. The joys of reading outside of one's comfort zone! While definitely not a heavy read, so many vital and endlessly relevant messages were interwoven with the story that it was just an absolute pleasure to read. All the while being layered with so much humour, honesty and desire - there was never a dull or flat moment when reading this! I adored reading from such a fresh perspective and learning more about this whole hidden world that I thought had long faded away (I mean, courtesans!) - plus, the story being interwoven with such rich history, excepts of literature and references to the arts was nothing short of thrilling, especially if you're a lover of these things like me! The dizzying, romantic and seductive imagery of fair Paris and the enchanting French countryside was truly transporting and I found myself overcome with wanderlust.
This story was a little deeper than I had expected and really earns a place as one of those tales that you can gain so much adventure yet wisdom from - flawlessly and subtly reminding you of what is true and most precious in life. It made me want to buy a one way ticket to travel around the world, lose myself in life's little pleasures, eat simply yet wholesomely, learn more languages, read poetry by Parisian fountains, indulge in history and spend all my afternoons and midnights with that one great love, getting lost in drunkenness and moonlight conversations about passion and art and dizzying dreams. I really can't find much fault with this one!
January 15, 2022
I would give this book 1 star for the narrator’s obnoxious voice/personality and 3 stars because the descriptions not in her voice were enjoyable.
July 19, 2015
This book has so much potential and yet it was such a pain to finish. C'est tragique. The idea of becoming a courtesan in France after a sudden break up sounds like a blast to read about. A poor college student thrust in to the world of money and powerful men? Sign me up. I was so excited to read this book but after the first hundred pages it became a chore to read.
Initially I had no issue with the main character. Alexandra kind of stumbles in to this new lifestyle and her thoughts on it were fun to read. However, after a while, Alexandra's voice became grating. I thought the concept of putting French words here and there was clever, but it became distracting and irritating. Had I not studied French at university there would have been passages that I wouldn't have understood.French Trysts appears to be a fun read, you shouldn't have to get a translation app to understand it. The use of French could have been used to set the scene of the book but instead it made Alexandra seem just as pretentious as the men she was "dating". It also really irked me that Alexandra was a Ph. D student that wasn't taking her work seriously. How do you get that far in your education but not make it a priority? Between the preteniousness and the laziness in regards to her school work I just had no idea as to why I should sympathize with her.
I started out really liking this book. It seemed like it could be a light, fun read but by the last sixty pages I had the same feeling I had when I was forced to read books for classes at school. That's not a feeling you want with a book that's essentially a rom-com.
Initially I had no issue with the main character. Alexandra kind of stumbles in to this new lifestyle and her thoughts on it were fun to read. However, after a while, Alexandra's voice became grating. I thought the concept of putting French words here and there was clever, but it became distracting and irritating. Had I not studied French at university there would have been passages that I wouldn't have understood.French Trysts appears to be a fun read, you shouldn't have to get a translation app to understand it. The use of French could have been used to set the scene of the book but instead it made Alexandra seem just as pretentious as the men she was "dating". It also really irked me that Alexandra was a Ph. D student that wasn't taking her work seriously. How do you get that far in your education but not make it a priority? Between the preteniousness and the laziness in regards to her school work I just had no idea as to why I should sympathize with her.
I started out really liking this book. It seemed like it could be a light, fun read but by the last sixty pages I had the same feeling I had when I was forced to read books for classes at school. That's not a feeling you want with a book that's essentially a rom-com.
December 6, 2011
This is a terrible written book. The only review given on the front of the book was 'the writer knows her setting', which you would expect seeing as the writer lives in France.
It is described as an erotic novel, but lacks sexual description. I want to feel and live in the moment of the book, not to be told 'we made love for 10hours'
Spoiler alert!!
She spends months trying to get over her fiancé who ran out on her, only to be back with him at the drop of a hat at the end, with his excuse for running out being 'I had slouch strong love for you that I've never felt before, an it scared me'
A terrible book that I only continued to read with the naive hope that it might get better. But with the hint she might get back with her ex, I skimmed a few pages hoping it wasn't true, but alas it was. At this point I threw my book away and vow to burn it.
It is described as an erotic novel, but lacks sexual description. I want to feel and live in the moment of the book, not to be told 'we made love for 10hours'
Spoiler alert!!
She spends months trying to get over her fiancé who ran out on her, only to be back with him at the drop of a hat at the end, with his excuse for running out being 'I had slouch strong love for you that I've never felt before, an it scared me'
A terrible book that I only continued to read with the naive hope that it might get better. But with the hint she might get back with her ex, I skimmed a few pages hoping it wasn't true, but alas it was. At this point I threw my book away and vow to burn it.
January 15, 2011
This is an entertaining but very naughty novel. It is written like a memoir of sorts and so I wonder if Lobe is talking about herself. She documents the lives of the wealthiest men in France and their courtesans. She is courtesan to the most powerful man in France and receives the gifts worthy of her sexual gymnastics. This is the European version of Sex in The City and I wonder if Lobe saw the series here and moved to Paris to write this version. Lobe's main character finds that she must do an analysis of her behavior and decide if she will continue to live this life.
There are some surprises in the second half of the book.
There are some surprises in the second half of the book.
July 6, 2014
Amusing and girly vacation read. I picked up this book at Half Price Books for $1 and it was worth every penny. Just kidding. But really.
On a real note, I was thoroughly impressed by the life tips and dating advice. Some other review(s) complain about this book's lack of a plot, however, I believe that is the point.. it is supposed to be an educational memoir, in a way. Lobe does an excellent job of integrating the main character's perspective into the reader's mind, ultimately causing you sympathize and imagine yourself in those situations.
There aren't any boring pages in this book. It's worth diving into if you're into dating lit and French culture.
On a real note, I was thoroughly impressed by the life tips and dating advice. Some other review(s) complain about this book's lack of a plot, however, I believe that is the point.. it is supposed to be an educational memoir, in a way. Lobe does an excellent job of integrating the main character's perspective into the reader's mind, ultimately causing you sympathize and imagine yourself in those situations.
There aren't any boring pages in this book. It's worth diving into if you're into dating lit and French culture.
August 28, 2007
If you can get through all of the pretentious insertions of French words and phrases throughout and the far fetched reality of the whole situation and the many exclamation points then you'll be fine! (see) Otherwise it was a good escape book and it only took 3 days to finish so what do you have to lose? Lots of sex talk too which I liked!
December 10, 2011
Hmm, his book bordered soft porn. Took me a bit to get used to. I liked the author's raw sense of humor and found myself bursting with laughter a few times. Worth a read but know what you're getting into -- lots of smut!
October 9, 2014
A story about an American college student that just fell into the world of the courtesan and made - well - no spoilers - but it struck me as implausible. The perspective of the young woman in question is too coarse and shallow for any of the men in the story to take seriously.
August 16, 2007
Just bought this...hope it is good...seems like it might be porn-y. Good times!
May 30, 2008
As enjoyable as the first.
February 24, 2009
very naughty
June 17, 2009
This book is great for those moments you want to be someone else. Imagine stepping into the main character's shoes and juggling three lovers without missing a step or hair appointment. Loved it.
February 16, 2010
Great writing, but the story was lacking. I hate when novels get all moralistic at the end.
September 3, 2012
A great summer read - sexy, fun, romantic, and hilarious. This is the third summer I've read this book.
November 5, 2012
a very naughty book way before Shades of Gray came out.
June 2, 2013
Fine. It was fine.
July 30, 2013
The title is the best thing about this book.
May 29, 2014
read to much as an autobiography and quite alot of parts very unbelievable such as a french courtesan would not befriend an american 'courtesan' so fast or so nicely
February 5, 2016
Well, I didn't learn as much from this one as I thought I would. *wink*
October 18, 2007
an eye opener...quite enjoyed reading this. it did become cliched though...
November 19, 2007
Nice, steamy book!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews