Night of Pleasure

School of Gallantry #4

by Delilah Marvelle

Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, knew his fate since he was seventeen when his father announced his union to the beautiful but mysterious American girl by the name of Miss Grey. To protect the troubled estate, Derek submits to his father's wishes, not realizing he's about to entangle himself in a hell of a lot more than marriage. Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey may be worth millions, but not a single coin has ever bought her a smidge of happiness. When she marries the charismatic and dashing Viscount Banfield, whose only strife in life appears to be the uneven seams in his coat, she finds that siring the heir he wants requires far more than her heart is prepared to give. Unable to seduce his overly-serious and reluctant wife, Derek realizes his dreams of creating a loving family has turned into a nightmare. But with the unexpected assistance of a retired courtesan and her outrageous school, Derek and Clementine discover that passion is a language spoken not just from the body, but from the mind, heart and soul.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience, Victorian, Regency

262 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2014

About the author

I spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. I scribed endless stories that almost invariably surrounded the topic of love, for I felt an inane need to be rescued from a family that did not understand my lust for life. In my mind, King Arthur became my true love and I waited for the day when he would come riding upon his steed and invite me to sit at his round table, not as his queen, but as his knight. To my distress, King Arthur was never to be found anywhere except for in the tip of my quill. And so I led an imaginary life for many, many years. When I finally came of age, my family was further horrified to discover that I had fallen in love with an American. An American King Arthur who became my knight, my husband, my all. I have been blessed beyond reason and am grateful for each day I have with him. What is equally amazing is that I now have the opportunity to share my passion for stories with the public. The reason why I write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always evolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also evolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest."

Reviews

[Bgurl (don't h8 me cuz I'm honestful) · Rating 4 out of 5]

TOP 5 THINGS I LIKED ABOUT Night of Pleasure



#5. THE WISE COURTESAN.



“ ‘Do the blind ever know when a glass is full without touching it? Put the glass into your husband’s hand. For he is blind to what you feel. He is blind to what you hold. You must therefore make him see what you feel.’ ”
~ Thérèse Angelique Bouchard, Madame de Maitenon

Any chick who dishes out that kind of advise, is A-Okay in my book!

#4. THE PROTECTIVE BFF.



“You women-loving men are too focused on being men. Focus on being human, for fravashi sake. Focus on being a friend. That is all she needs. The rest will fall into place if you recognize that.”
~ Prince Nasser, His Royal Highness of Persia

Everyone should have a BFF like this dude!

#3. THE HILARIOUS SPARE HEIR.



“Andrew pushed up his sleeve, exposing the skin beneath. The word MENTULA was burned across his inner arm. It appeared fresh and was Latin for… Fear scrambled Derek’s mind and innards. A shaky breath escaped him as his gaze snapped to his brother’s face. 'What the hell is this?'
Andrew grinned. 'It’s my promise to her. I let her burn it into me. Hurt like hell but it was worth it.'
'You let her burn the word PENIS into your arm?'
His eyes widened. 'Penis? No, no. Mentula is an endearment. I asked.' "
~Andrew Mark Holbrook & Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield

C'mon! You know at least 1 side of your mouth was grinning.

#2. THE SWEET, STEADFAST HERO.



“Something told him he was going to love this girl for the rest of his life. He swallowed and tightened his hold again, settling into a sense of calm knowing what his future would bring: her.”
~Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield

What can I say? The dude's sweet! And steadfast!

#1. THE SPUNKY, YOUNG HEROINE.



“If Derek thought he was the only one who could chew spiced candy, he’d never met the girl who had shot a pistol, smashed vases over men’s heads, grabbed her reticule, crawled out of a window bleeding and then watched the New York authorities take over while lighting a cheroot on the street.”
~ Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey

Like my mama used to say: "Spunky is as spunky does." (Actually, she never said that, but... whatever.)



1 very large, very mysterious stranger, with an impressive collection of Persian swords (and deadly accurate aim). 1 very small, very curious boy, with an unhealthy interest in razor sharp weapons (and a fondness for inappropriate reading material). And, 1 very attractive, very candid housekeeper, with surprisingly beautiful teeth (and a mystifying upper-class accent).

Night of Pleasure (School of Gallantry 04), by Delilah Marvelle: 4 "Likable" Stars!

For information about my rating system, see my profile page.

[Delilah Marvelle]

My dearest Reader,
What happens when a boy who grows up with everything he ever wanted meets a girl who grew up never having what she wanted? A twisted love story neither of them expected. The concept of an arranged marriage has always fascinated me. How do two young and inexperienced people come together and make a marriage genuinely work when their reasons for going into the marriage is solely duty? Can it work? Does it work? I dove into researching many arranged marriages in history and found it ranged from complete disasters to unexpected love matches. Having been married all the years I have and having put in what it takes to make a marriage last, it made me realize how truly blessed I am to be living in an era where it's not about duty but…love. I hope you enjoy reading Clementine and Derek's story that is a nod to my own early years of marriage when I married my husband at the young age of 19.
Happy reading and much love,
Delilah
P.S. Are you ready to meet Lord Brayton? Get ready. You'll be formally introduced to the man in this book.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have said many times in the past, Delilah will never write a typical historical romance. She is always going to shock you about where and how she is going to push the boundaries of a story. That is ok with me, that is what I love most about her as an author. Night of Pleasure is no exception. We have known Derek since the very first School of Gallantry book and became intrigued by his dark good looks and long unfashionable but sexy hair. Derek Holbrook has had his bride in the bag for the last 7 years; after all they have been betrothed since she was 14. Now it is time for him to reap the rewards for all those tender words he has wrote over the years to his Clementine.

Well….not so fast there slick. When they first met, Derek scared Clementine with his passions and his letters over the last 7 years has only reinforced that fear. Derek for his part, assumed that Clementine felt as he did and once she comes to London, he gets a rude awakening as not only is she not interested, she isn’t getting married and in fact is set to run away with another man! One who understands her and wants her to be happy. I really liked Derek, but did feel he needed a good swift kick in the behind and of course the School of Gallantry has the means to do just that, as Derek scrambles to find common ground to keep his new bride in his arms and heart. Clementine, for her part, loves Derek but needs him to hear her concerns and fears and not dismiss them…of course and allow her those little stress relievers now and again.

While this book didn’t push the bounds to where I was squirming, it did have some untypical moments with Clementine and her habit. Also where is she going with Andrew, Derek’s brother??? Is he one of our candidates for the Whipping Society books??? Can’t wait to find out and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. My only complaint is that I didn’t want it to be over; I really loved Derek and Clementine as a couple and wanted to hang in their world for a while longer, although that ending was pretty sweet. I want to thank DM for giving me an opportunity to review this ARC for my honest review. This is my honest review….honest.  I also didn’t chop down that cherry tree.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

NIGHT OF PLEASURE is the fourth book in the School of Gallantry series and, once again, Delilah Marvelle delivers another enthralling and emotionally charged story.

How I imagine Derek…


“Spice makes a soul breathe in deep. Live a little.”

I simply adore Derek…so intense, passionate and with an overwhelming enthusiasm for life. His fondness for those strongly spiced candies seems to mirror his nature perfectly. I love his charm, his wit and his unfashionably long hair.

I admire how, even at such a young age, he takes on his responsibilities as Viscount Banfield with a determination to be ‘strong, responsible and reliable’. Not only does he care for his brother Andrew and his mother, but also for numerous cousins.

So often, it is the heroine who falls hopelessly in love with the reluctant hero. It was refreshing to see Derek fall head over heels in love with Clementine, remaining constant in his love throughout their seven years apart and sending her such passionate letters. I do so love a besotted hero!

How I imagine Clementine…


Unlike other females, she didn’t laugh. She didn’t flirt. She didn’t sashay into a room with a whirl, looking for things to play with next . Her sense of humor was nonexistent and pathetic

Clementine is the complete opposite of Derek…cool, calm and overly serious and It is easy to understand what shaped her into the person she has become. Her life has been so very different to Derek’s. Her childhood was marred by the violent clashes between her father and her volatile, irrational mother, leaving her fearful of what unrestrained emotions could do. After her mother’s death, she had to deal with her father’s excessive drinking and the sometimes dangerous backlash from his political career.

I understood her reaction to Derek and her determination not to marry him. He completely overwhelms her with his passionate nature and she is afraid of succumbing and losing control. Her fear is that she will be just like her mother. She feels totally unworthy of him…

This laughing, playful Adonis deserved a world she would never be able to offer him. Her eyes burned. Everything about her was pathetic. And a man like Derek, her beautiful Derek, deserved so much more.

I love how Ms Marvelle developed the romance between Clementine and Derek, emphasising the importance of respect, trust and friendship within a relationship. It was a emotional roller coaster of a journey as these two young and inexperienced lovers had to work past their fears, insecurities, frustrations and anger to find a strong and lasting love. Of course, this is Delilah Marvelle, so expect some simmering sexual tension and steamy love scenes.

How I imagine Madame de Maintenon…



Madame de Maintenon was a favourite character of mine in the previous books. She’s such a colourful and larger than life figure who delights in flaunting the stuffy rules of society. Here she dispenses her unique and wise brand of marriage counselling, including the scandalous contents of a large, red velvet satchel!

Ms Marvelle’s secondary characters always add richness to the story. I like Prince Nasser who understands Clementine so well and is a genuinely good friend. I also enjoyed that he rattled Derek’s cage. I wonder if Derek’s brother, Andrew will be a connecting link to the forthcoming new series,The Whipping Society. I’m really intrigued by the mysterious and scarred Lord Brayton whose story will be told in Master of Pleasure, due for release on August 1st.

I do love the scene at the School of Gallantry involving the dildos. I think I was actually blushing!

This book had the sort of Epilogue that warms the heart and when Derek reveals his special gift for Clementine, it is definitely an ‘Aww’ moment!

Once again, Delilah Marvelle spins an unforgettable and beautifully written story full of vibrant characters, emotional depth, witty banter, sensual love scenes, and a heart-warming ending.


REVIEW RATING: 5/5 Stars

The School of Gallantry Series (click on the cover for more details):

- 1 August 2014

I received a copy of this book from the author via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This review is also posted on my blog:

http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...

[AerinLuvs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall review: 3 stars
Plot: 4 stars
hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 1 stars
Sensuality rating: 1 star
Sex scenes descriptiveness: 4
Sex scenes frequency: 4
Writing flow / style: 4
Denouement: 3

I read an unedited ARC. More detailed review submitted to publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book by an author I usually really enjoy.

Both the hero and heroine are very young and very sexually inexperienced. The sex scenes were very awkward because of the heroines actions and words, and she was kind of a cold fish the first few times, it was very un romantic and un erotic to me.

On the good side, the love story is original and the hero is sweetly devoted to the heroine. He isn't a rake, which is a change of pace for books of this genre. There is an interesting character named Nasser. The emotional journey that is described is sweet. I think this is a YA novel because the love scenes are not erotic, and both the hero and heroine are so sexually inexperienced. There is good dialogue and touches of humor.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, was pretty unique in a whole bunch of ways, which made for an enjoyable read.

For a start, it is based on an marriage arranged between what we would call children (she's 13/14 and he's 17). Not many Regency/Victorian romances use an arranged marriage to the extent this one does - the point at which the hero and heroine falling in love always seems tobecome a bit rote, almost like the genre has to prove our Western contemporary thinking wrong that arranged marriages are doomed to failure. This one is nothing like that. The hero is smitten straight away, the heroine much, much less so, but the book is dominated by the unhealthy emotions of both the protagonists to an extent which is unusual.

The hero is absolutely, obsessively smitten by the heroine. He calls it love, but I'm not convinced. It seems too extreme, maintained for too long at a distance to be remotely healthy or normal. Likewise, the heroine, a package of outward beauty and poise, is completely screwed up. She has so many problems linked to non-existent self-esteem that it's amazing the author has been able to write about her and not make her out to be a complete nutcase. In fact, pretty much every character here is messed up in some way. There are no "perfect" characters at all, which, to be honest, is something of a relief. Nobody's perfect, and any romance which suggests it, automatically (and subconsciously) gets knocked down a star by me.

The plot and the writing is unbelievably good. I absolutely loved it.. until about 80% through, when it just seemed to veer a little into the goofy. The notion of a school for seduction is not new, but is quite fun, although how it is written about here is just plan silly to me. Also, the Persian Prince and his group of friends/servants/lovers could have been a wonderful, powerful, exotic addition, but it just fizzled a bit for me.

So, I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this one, but the ending really let it down for me. 3 stars. I liked it.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems Mr. Derek can't make up his mind about what his thoughts are on Ms. Clementine first he's what appalled by her lack of erm...assets? "In his opinion, she could have easily passed for a debutante of eighteen if there had been more...well....bosom...in her corset. She was almost as flat as paper. Which was sad, really. A sizable pair of high-perched breasts would have made her a triumph." Then the next he wants to pounce on her, "damn. He'd heard Americans speak before, but not with such dazzling sophistication and purpose. It was enchanting. She was enchanting. His mouth quirked. "I completely understand." He shifted toward her. God she was beautiful. He wanted to grab that face and tongue her until neither of them had the ability to breathe for weeks." Let's not get started on how protective he is, "Derek shifted his jaw, feeling a muscle ticking angrily in it, and edged toward his brother until they were boot to boot and almost nose to nose. "Are you insulting my woman? To my face, no less?" The boy just has no manners when it comes to his girl, "he searched her face. "Christ. Watching you eat candy should be illegal." Adjusting his coat with the tug of the lapels, he turned and kept walking. "How was your trip?" he rumbled out." And when the two get to doing the nasty the girl is simply straight forward about it, "Jesus. It was like they had just taken up a painting project and she had things to do. "Clementine, I really don't know how long I'll take." His voice was ragged. "But the longer you make me wait, the longer it will be. Her fingers skimmed his shoulders as she lowered her gaze to his chest." I really enjoyed reading this book it was funny and entertaining.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable light historical read which ties in nicely with the School of Gallantry theme.

3.5 ★

[Patty McKenna Van Hulle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delilah Marvelle

There is no action or evil afoot in this story, but you will need tissues aplenty, and if you are an ugly crier avoid mirrors, because this romance takes you through a gambit of emotions!

Clementine Grey grew up in a war zone with yelling, objects flying, screaming and even thrown punches, all courtesy of her mother. She was cold, unloving and kinda creepy to Clementine. After her mother's 18 pregnancies, with only Clementine surviving, she never wanted marriage or children. When her mother died, her larger than life father, Rubert Grey, crawled into a bottle, she pulled him out and she has been raising him ever since. Her father is Midas rich and a political mover and shaker, so they traveled the world and she would only let her emotions loose to painted. She believes that all emotions are messing, hurtful and explosive and she must use total CONTROL of all her emotions, to always avoid any type of affections and ALWAYS keep her heart surrounded by her wall of diamonds.

Derek Holbrook and his younger brother, Andrew, grew up in laughter, love and warmth from they parents. His father, Viscount Banfield, was a man who always laughed, sang, danced and even tickled his way through his life. He was a man with a gooey heart and an open wallet to any and all his relatives. The Holbrook clan was the brightest and warmest family and they loved to spread it to all they touched. Then his father became ill.

At 14 and 17, Clementine and Derek meet, he shamelessly flirted with her and almost made her choke on his spicy candy. The next thing they knew they were betrothed, while his father was dying. Now Derek is the new Viscount Banfield, heart broken and alone, so Clementine breaks her rules and hugs him, as he sobbed his heart out. That moment defined and cemented their relationship for better and worse! For 7 years, they exchanged letters, his of feelings and love and hers about their many adventures, but no emotions. Now it's time for their marriage and Derek is pumped with excitement, plans the whole wedding and awaits his bride from NYC. Clementine is only coming to London to not only break their betrothal, but to destroy his heart because she knows that Derek can and will unleash her emotions and that will do no one any good. She wants to board a ship with her best friend, Price Nassar, and flee to Persia.

Only 6 days before they wedding, they are reunited, Derek is busting with love and she is destroying his heart, as she tells him that she NEVER wants intimacy or children, doesn't want to marry him and wants to flee to Persia with her prince. Derek feels her ripped out his heart, but he does love her enough to let her go, but she must give him a night of pleasure and she agrees. When Clementine goes to him at that night, Derek asks her to please paint a picture of their one night together. The night is magically, enlightening, passionate, sometimes hilarious and unforgettable, but also a serious mistake. Derek wakes the next morning alone and devastated, but when he looks at the painting, he KNOWS she has feelings, too. With a lot help from a Persian Fairy GodPrince, 300 plus wedding guests, a scheming Persian spy, the romantic wedding of the century, Clementine losing some of her control and gaining new emotions, Derek losing some emotions and gaining some control and most importantly the super intelligent, elegant, "take no lip" and "tell you like it is" Courtesan Madame de Maitenon and her School of Gallantry to dissolve, rearrange, rebuild and repair this relationship of budding love. Can Clementine let go of her control for Derek? Will Derek keep is zipper up long enough to actually get to know Clementine? Will they ever have children? Do they have to many Fairy Godprince/mothers? How will the School of Gallantry kick Derek bootie?

I still can't believe this is my first Delilah Marvelle read. I will be honest and say that I almost didn't finish this book because there was no action scenes, evil mistress or foul play, but I keep reading about these two characters with a flip flop of roles. Derek is kinda female touchy feely and emotional, while she is like a rogue with her feelings hiding behind her wall of diamonds. I hit Chapter 8 and HELLO massive crying, and I don't cry pretty! Ms. Marvelle does not only created this unique and one of a kind of story, she nurtured, carried, went thru labor and gave birth to a screaming story with a multiplex of feelings and emotions, and that folks is TALENT! I loved her story so much I did something I have never done before, I put on my big girl pants and hit that evil and mean Amazon "BUY" button for the first book of the School of Gallantry series. She has converted me to a fan of low action, no evil afoot and a multitude of messy, not pretty and sometime ugly emotions, and that defines Ms. Marvelle! I give my top score of 5 fingers up and 10 toes to this rollercoaster ride of the good, the bad and the ugly love story!

NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delilah Marvelle is one of my favorite authors and her books are greatly anticipated by me. When I heard that she was continuing her School of Gallantry series, I literally went and bought all the earlier books so I could be brought up to date with all the characters in it. By the way, you don’t have to run out and do the same. Each of these stories is well written as a standalone, but if you want to know the origins behind the school of gallantry, you should get them all.

As usual Ms. Marvelle does an excellent job in creating characters that are fun, witty and passionate about life. I adored Derek, the hero of this tale. How could I not to?! When first we meet him, he’s just a young ‘randy’ man and so charming and personable. I loved the way he ....thanks for jumping in and finishing this review on b2b ....

http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...

*Melanie for b2b.

*Book provided by the publisher.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

A marriage of convenience story is usually a favorite of mine, but this one is disappointing. :(

Usually a synopsis will describe maybe the first third or so of a book but this one tells the entire story. I was expecting more time in school, so to speak, like a twist on couples therapy or something. There are hardly any scenes of them in school, and it doesn't even happen until the last 20% of the book. I wish more of the book were scenes like the last 20%. The pacing is just too slow.

Also the hero and heroine don't treat each other very well for much of the story. He's kind of rude to her at times, but at least she calls him on his bullshit.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Karma♥Bites ^.~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

HR (steamy)... Pre-order special @ 99¢

I think that the Prologue made me firmly pre-disposed to liking this one. Wasn't perfect but there was unexpected depth re: relationships & being newly-married. And given the overall circumstances, together with an interesting mix of characters, this light-hearted read w/ a dash of angst here & there worked for me. Definitely antsy for Lord Brayton's book!

Full review to come. :)

* ARC review copy provided by the publisher/author via NetGalley.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so sweet! Right from the beginning Derek is swoon worthy. Clementine was not what I expected but she won me over in the end. This is a really fun series!

[Tin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I had planned to read just a few chapters, then put the book down to go to sleep. A few hours later, I was still reading and I ended up finishing Night of Pleasure in one sitting. Very few books have kept me past my bedtime ...

And this is one of them. Here's why:

1. A hero who falls (head over heels) in love with the heroine first: Even before he knew her name or her circumstances, Derek saw Clementine walking into their house and was instantly smitten. Then he started talking to her, and fell even more in love with her. So solemn. So clever. So biting in her retorts.

2. A unique arrangement: Then it is discovered that theirs is a pre-arranged marriage, but they would have to wait seven years for the heroine to come of age. And, in those years, the hero has never looked at another woman and has saved himself and his heart for her.

3. An interesting complication: But the heroine does not feel the same way about the hero and plans to abandon him at the altar.

4. A most unusual courtship: And so dear Delilah Marvelle unveils the engrossing story of two people figuring out a relationship when they already engaged to each other and, in between, you get yearning, passion, pain, and heartbreak.

This is an amazingly emotional story from dear Miss Marvelle, and my favourite, so far, in her School of Gallantry series.

Derek Holcomb thought the world was his oyster. When he marries Clementine, he would get an astounding amount money and the most fascinating girl in one single act -- and he didn't even have to lift a finger to achieve it (save to sign the marriage contracts) -- because she was his from the very beginning. Imagine his surprise when Clementine comes back to London after seven years and tells him she won't marry him.

After witnessing her parents' unhappy marriage and her mother's declining health from several failed pregnancies, Clementine has developed an aversion to the married state and is determined to avoid it. She has made plans to travel to Persia with her friend, Prince Nasser, but only after she ensures that Derek receives the marriage settlement. She had intended to leave without telling him, but, upon seeing him again, she realises she owes him the truth. What she didn't realize was how deeply she would be affected as well.

I was holding my breath the whole time I was reading this and really felt for Derek as he listened to Clementine's plans of jilting him at the altar. It really was a visceral experience for both the hero and for the readers and I could feel my own heart twisting as Clementine explained her plan and as Derek poured out his heart to her. Though he would still get the money, what Derek really, really wanted was the girl.

How does one court a woman you are already set to marry? It is uncharted territory for Derek, who had charmed all the girls (except Clementine) as a younger man, and, as an older man, never thought he needed the skill because he was already promised to Clementine. Derek was a refreshing hero, full of very honest and intense emotions -- and who was so proud of the love he felt for Clementine that he wasn't embarrassed or afraid to share it with anyone who would ask. I love that it came to a point that he even saved his virginity for Clementine (only to surrender it to a courtesan a few weeks prior to his marriage, just so he could make sure he does it right with Clementine) and you could feel, through the pages, how his heart was crushed by Clementine's pronouncements. Our hero is a proud man and a peer of the realm -- but, when it comes to Clementine, he did not hesitate to plead and bargain with her.

Hot vs Cold: I can't help but remember Olaf the Snowman's song in Frozen: "The hot and the cold are both so intense. Put’em together -- it just makes sense!" Derek and Clementine seem to be on extreme ends of the emotional spectrum, and, when one of them pushes (most likely Derek), the other retreats. Derek's challenge is to draw Clementine out of her shell, but this is not to say that Derek was already perfect when he came into the courtship. He needed to learn how to be in a relationship with Clementine and it was only then that I also realised that there is a difference. The confrontation between Derek and Clementine at the School of Gallantry was both revelatory and raw. Madame de Maitenon proved her skill and experience by counselling the two of them, and provided them with a roadmap on how to deal with each other. (This story runs parallel to Mistress of Pleasure , and it was nice to see Maybelle and Edmund from a different perspective.)

I could also understand and relate to Clementine's reluctance: her childhood wasn't as happy or as idyllic as Derek's and she witnessed very intense clashes between her father and mother. When her mother died, his father's reaction to her death and his current life weren't any better: he turned to the bottle. There is a small part of Clementine, though, that was drawn to Derek's vitality and joyfulness and she longed to touch it. But, like the moth and the flame, one knows what happens when one gets too close to the fire -- and Clementine holds herself back.

She'd always had very muddled feelings about their relationship. She still did. A part of her wanted to stay. She wanted to give herself a chance to explore what she was capable of as a wife, but a much larger part of her had seen what strong passions could do to a marriage. She refused to ruin him or her.
- loc 1115

* * *

If Derek was the flame, then she most certainly was the moth. But unlike all moths, she had no wings left to burn, for she had long removed them and locked them safely away into a box not ever [sic] she was permitted to touch. Selfish though it was to go to him and cradle him and then leave him, she knew this was her one and only chance of ever truly knowing what, if anything, could have been possible between them.
- loc 1631 to 1635

The book's title refers to the one night that Derek asks from Clementine: one night together before she leaves him forever. Yes, it was pleasurable for both of them, but, more importantly, it was our hero and heroine laid bare (literally and figuratively). It was such a heartfelt and intense moment and it amazed me how well our dear author wrote the scene. Breathtaking, exhilarating, tumultuous -- it is a scene that touches so many emotions. (Another scene to look out for is on the wedding day itself -- will Clementine follow through with her plan?)

If you've noticed, I keep adding "dear" in reference to the author. I've loved all of Delilah Marvelle's books and I've loved and admired the author for her uncommon approach to telling a love story -- but I love and admire her even more because of this book. Night of Pleasure is definitely another addition to my keeper shelf.

Night of Pleasure was released last March 15, 2014. Congratulations to dear Miss Marvelle!

Disclosure: I received this review copy from the author through Kati @ Romance Wrangler. Yes, this is an honest review.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grand Lesson for all!
This story was written in a different way to the first three on this series in that the School of Gallantry only comes into play towards the end, but, even so, it is a delightful and extremely interesting one showing how important it is to not only be lovers, but to be good friends too.
I loved the arrogance of Derek and the way he cannot understand how friendship would in fact draw Clementine quickly to his side. She has had a horrible example set for her by her parents of a relationship which she wishes to avoid in her own marriage.
As with all historical romances, there is thankfully a very happy ending and how this came about pleased me greatly.
I am certainly loving this series and am definitely recommending this particular book. In fact, it would be a good one for most men to read too (lol)!

[Camille Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars!

Refreshing characters, heart-tugging scenes, lovely, lovely story.

Full review below.

The story in a nutshell…

Derek Holbrook finds himself engaged at the age of seventeen after an announcement from his dying father to Miss Clementine Grey, an American heiress whose father is a close friend of his father. After a few weeks of getting to know each other, Clementine had to leave again for America on her father’s business affairs. But the two of them have been exchanging correspondences since then. Now, the date of the wedding has been set and Clementine and her father finally return to Britain. For Derek, it had been a long time coming. He has waited years for his bride. For Clementine, the trip to America is a very important one, but one that might not coincide with Derek’s idea of importance. Understandings and misunderstandings ensue to ultimately teach these two stubborn people what it means to live a life together.



What worked for me?

This was a very delightful and really refreshing read for me. Derek and Clementine are unique characters that I had no problem wanting to get to know more about.

Derek is a rare hero for me. He’s had feelings for Clementine ever since the first day that he met her and those feelings only grew as time went by. Never mind that they only really got to spend a few weeks together after they first met before she went to America again. Never mind that he seemed to be sending more letters to her that she to him. In short, he found himself pretty much in love with her for seven years. And in those years, he hasn’t looked at another woman, although he is not counting the woman he paid to have so he could at least practice once and not embarrass both of them on their wedding night.

Clementine on the other hand deeply cares for Derek but not as much as he obviously does, at least in the beginning. And this is the point in the story that I found really, really refreshing. I always enjoy reading stories where the hero harbors a secret love for the heroine for years while the heroine remains oblivious. The set-up in this book is similar but still not quite. And I love that about it. You have here a hero who most definitely feels more deeply than the heroine. I just love his steadfastness, a fidelity nearing devotion.

And I absolutely love that there were a lot of room for more development for the both of them, not just as a couple but as individuals as well. When they meet again as adults, we see them at critical points in their lives and you just can’t help but want to know more about how they will act, what they will say and do. I loved that I can’t tell whether the story will go one way or the other and I enjoyed being surprised all throughout the story.



What didn’t work for me?

Clementine, somewhere in the beginning of the book. I don’t mean that it didn’t work for me but that it only made me a little nervous and wary. In the wake of Derek’s obvious devotion to her, I was afraid that I would find her not as worthy of his affections as I would have liked to and that I won’t like her because of whatever pain she might cause him. Fortunately, Delilah Marvelle did a great job of revealing Clementine to her readers piece by mysterious piece and past the halfway mark, I already understood what motivates her plans and actions.



My over-all take on it?

This book is a breath of fresh air in the historical romance genre especially in terms of unique characters. I found I enjoyed reading about our hero’s and heroine’s journey towards their happily ever after as much as the actual destination. This is the first time I’ve read Delilah Marvelle and I would say it definitely won’t be my last.

[Cerian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally given 4.5 hearts at Rookie Romance.

I love Delilah Marvelle. There, I said it! I've yet to read a book from her that I don't love, and she's done it again with Night of Pleasure, the newest book in the School of Gallantry series.

I absolutely adored Derek, his enthusiasm is contagious and he's a very passionate and intense man. He has been engaged to Clementine since they were young, but even when they first met he felt a connection between them. After years of communicating via letters only, he's very eager to marry his lovely bride. I also loved how dedicated he was to Clementine during all their years apart. He's adorable and such a lovable hero.
I found Clementine to be a really interesting heroine. Frankly, at first I didn't particularly like her. I thought she was cold and kind of a bitch. BUT, and that's a big but, as the story progresses and we learn more about Clementine and how her life has been, you come to understand why she acts as she does with Derek. It doesn't take long before you find yourself sympathising for her, even if I still wanted to give her a good shake. Truly though, I was very impressed by how Clementine develops in the reader's eye- I'll admit I was a little worried that I wouldn't like Clementine, and disliking a heroine ruins a romance for me, but she comes through and you realise her fears and insecurities are holding her back from being who she really is.

I loved Derek and Clementine together, but thank God for the School of Gallantry, otherwise their new relationship could have floundered and failed. Derek brings out the passionate side of Clementine's nature, something she suppresses but desperately needs to free.

I love how well Delilah Marvelle can write an unconventional historical romance. She deals with issues in a very realistic light, and she brings her characters to life.
It's the kind of book that keeps you up all night...like I did! You'll fall head over heels in love with Derek and urge Clementine to allow herself to accept his love as you follow their tumultuous journey to a happy ending.

*I received a review copy form the author for my honest opinion. Thank you!

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, lovely historical romance, A Night of Pleasure was a wonderful read. I really liked this book. From the lovely characters, to the enjoyable story, this book was fantastic.

Clementine was a good heroine. She was certainly strong, loyal, determined, and refused to let anyone bully her into anything. At first, I found her to be a bit mean. It was painfully obvious that Derek was in love with her, yet she planned to rip out the poor guy's heart and leave him. And, she wasn't very nice to him in general, though he was never anything but sweet. She has her reasons, though, and, over the course of the book, she learned to relax and allow herself to feel. Despite any issues I had with her, by the end of the book, I liked her.

Derek was just amazing! This man was so sweet and so utterly precious and I totally loved him. He was sweet, charming, devoted, and vibrant in how he always found a way to laugh and enjoy himself. He fell in love with Clementine when they first met and, though they spent 7 years apart while she came of age, he was true to her and so adorable in how he unabashedly loved her. I thought he was perfect.

The romance was lovely. It was a bit frustrating, with Clementine's reluctance, but Derek's utter adorableness made up for plenty of sweetness. And the chemistry between them was sizzling. Derek was a very passionate man and, despite her trepidation, Clementine was as susceptible to it as anyone else. I thought they were great together.

The plot was fast paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. The story was light, fun, and truly enjoyable. And the ending was lovely.

A Night of Pleasure was a wonderful historical romance. I really liked this book. It was romantic, sweet, and a very enjoyable read. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek, Viscount Banfield discovers on this father’s deathbed that he has been betrothed to the then 14 year old daughter of his father’s American friend whom he met for the 1st time that day itself when she & her father pay a visit on arriving in London. He falls instantly for her but has to wait 7 years at her father’s insistence until Clementine comes of age.

I adored Derek from the start tho the man was terribly intense & passionate. I did feel for Clementine in that he hardly gives her room to breath but swoops in & quite smothers her with his passions. I loved how he totally committed his heart to her right from the start. Love letters all through the 7 years & being totally chaste for her until just before she arrives for their wedding where he goes to get a “lesson” from a prostitute so as not to disappoint his bride. What a main!

Clementine is quite the opposite. Always perfectly poised, she shies away from showing any emotion & keeps herself in control. As the story unfolds we learn how her childhood fears made her that way, growing up with a volatile mother who was constantly arguing with Clementine’s father. She keeps Derek constantly at arm’s length & thinks she isn’t good enough for him. “A reserved woman whose greatest fear was loving a man she had fallen in love with through a bunch of stupid letters”

A wonderfully written emotionally charged story. I devoured it over a few hours. The relationship & romance between Derek & Clementine really tugged at my heartstrings & I cried at some parts.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC copy. Review to come soon. :)

Review: I typically don’t fall for the hero in the first chapter but I totally fell for Dereck in chapter one. The moment he brought out his tin full of ginger drops, I was hooked. He truly is a sweetheart from the first pages to the last pages. Don’t get me wrong he isn’t perfect but he is the guy you want your daughter to fall in love with and marry. Truly a prince charming. Now, I know what you’re thinking, easy, typical prince charming the heroine is so damaged that he fixes her and they live happily ever after. Well, eh, no, not exactly. Do they have a happily ever after? It’s a Delilah Mavelle book, what do you think? BUT like Ms. Marvelle’s books she has some very entertaining twist and turns that I will not elaborate about but they will make you enjoy the book even more.

The heroine, Clementine is a girl I can identify with on so many levels. How can you not like when an American crosses the Atlantic with her own opinions about life? She really gives Derek a run for his money but when we see the layers come off Celmentine you’ll want to hug the girl. She is very strong but even the strongest woman needs a hug. I love that Ms. Marvelle changes the rolls a bit in this story. The heroine is a bit standoffish and the hero is all about love and devotion. It’s a good twist and I enjoyed it. This book is a book you won’t want to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the end.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

What happens when you have an arranged marriage where the groom falls deeply in love and the bride-to-be don’t think that she is marriage material?

Derek found out at the age of 17 that his arranged marriage to Miss Clementine Grey had been arranged at his father’s death. He automatically fell for her but soon discovered her true age was only 14 and that he would have to wait 7 years before they could be wed.

They corresponded back-and-forth over those year’s with letters and he knew she was the one for him. Derek was raised in a family atmosphere with loving parents and Clementine grew up with an angry mother that died early in her life and left her to take care of her father who liked to indulge in his drinking. Because of her parent’s difficult marriage Clementine thought that she wasn’t marriage or mother material and automatically tried to push him away. There is another man involved in this equation and that is where all of the misunderstandings stem from. Clementine is keeping a secret for this man and because she can’t tell Derek about it, he automatically jumps to the wrong conclusion.

In the end, everything comes out and they truly start to become friends and lovers.

My favorite quote from the book came from Derek’s father “If a tear could save the world, I would tell you to use it. But given it can’t, I am telling you to save yourself and smile.”

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in Delilah Marvelle's School of Gallantry series. As usual, I very much liked the hero and heroine and the overall setup. Once again, the author manages to come up with a situation and characters that are out of the norm for Regency romance.

I do wish the central conflicts had taken a little longer to resolve and that we got to see more of the actual resolution on the page; a number of moments of change for both Derek and Clementine take place off page, so the ending feels a bit rushed. (Additionally, I wanted to see the resolution of the conflict between Derek and his brother instead of learning of it as a fait accompli.)

I also wish we'd spent more time at the School of Gallantry itself, but Madame de Maintenon does make a delightful appearance in this book. (Yay!) I also liked the character of Nasser and wish we had another scene or two with him, but the scenes we do get (especially the one where Derek meets him) are quite enjoyable. We also learn some tantalizing and unexpected details about Brayton, who I assume is the hero of the next book. I'm very much looking forward to learning more about him and seeing him get his HEA.

[R.C. Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story started out so wonderfully. Derek began as a swoon worthy hero and it was so refreshing that he was madly in love with Clementine. But once they got together it was mostly downhill. I couldn't relate to Clementine. She was cold and came across as selfish and unfeeling. It just doesn't make for good romance. The sex scenes were uncomfortable (ahem...where did that title come from) and awkward, not passionate as the title would imply. I had to skim through most of the middle of the book because I found the H/h both childish and annoying.

In the end this book didn't do much for me. Maybe it could have been redeemed if the two shared physical passion but even that was lacking. Which left me with nothing much to enjoy but a couple of laughs here and there.

This one just wasn't for me.

[Christi Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book. Saucy and spicy with a great story line. I had a hard time putting this book down. Derek and Clementine learn about relationships from each other along with a few friends lol. Derek learns there is more to a relationship than the physical and Clementine learns how to be physical and show love. It is beautiful how this relationship between them grows. I cried as well as rejoiced as the story unfolds. I highly recommend reading this book. I will be looking out for more books from this author.

[Swanangel15's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, this book was refreshing and I loved it. It emphasized on the coming together of first timers and the awkwardness that comes with it. I loved this book for that and the characters were just too much (but in a good way).

Read the rest of my review on my blog at:
http://swanangel15home.blogspot.com/2...

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alrighty...So, I'm going to start this whole thing off by saying I have never been asked to review a book before, though I have been asked to review several books that had already been released and have reviewed several authors. I've never received an ARC and I was really looking forward to my first experience. Also, I have never read anything by this author before. I have had nothing but recommendations for her and all of her books have received amazing reviews so I went into this book very positive and very excited!

****CAUTION SPOILERS AHEAD****

Keeping in mind that the version I received was apparently unedited, I am going to skip over the myriad of grammar, tense, and punctuation errors and move right along to the dialogue. All I can say, without going on a rant, is that it was confusing, and often redundant.

" 'Out of all the things you could have painted, why Rotten Row?'

Oh, how she loved surprising him. 'I always paint things for a reason, Derek. Always. Aren't you going to ask why I painted it?' "

Uhhhh....Didn't he just do that? This book is riddled with lines like this. Some of the most unrealistic dialogue I have ever had to sit through.

" 'I wasn't even going to kiss you.'

He was such a liar. 'What were you going to do?'

He shrugged. 'I don't know."

Oh, he knew.

'I didn't mean to stand on your dress,' he casually added.

She set her chin. 'Thank you for apologizing for your indecent behavior.' "

I constantly found myself having to go back and reread entire sections of the book so that I could try to understand what was leading these rapid and unnatural twists and turns in the conversations. I believe the author may have been trying to portray her characters as having quick whits but it just comes off chaotic and messy. This may be something that is cleaned up in editing, so I will definitely be doing a reread when the book is truly released. Here's me crossing my fingers and hoping for a properly managed dialogue.

Moving onto our hero and heroine. *sigh* Frustrating is the word that constantly came to mind. Understandably they are both ignorant in the ways of love and relationships but the roads they went down, the inferences they made about situations or actions, and the constant bickering and reactionary attitudes spoke of immaturity and dramatics. I just wanted to grab them, shake them, and scream "JUST LISTEN!". In most romances there are honest miscommunications, stumbles, and misspoken words but here they both say exactly what they are feeling and honestly try to communicate but the other person just chooses to not listen or chooses to play ignorant. It's infuriating! I swear the characters are bi-polar. Going from "You're terrible, I hate everything about you, and I'm never seeing you again" to "Oh, I sat in a chair and actually listened for 20 seconds and now I love you forever!". Keeping track of their rocky and all-over-the-map emotions was like herding kittens. It helped if I remembered that they were both new to these emotions and had never experienced anything like this but, man, it was aggravating at times.

Most of the Heroines story was just nonsensical. I can definitely understand her back story and the reasons for her struggles when it comes to Derek who is, to say the least, overwhelming for someone who has never been in a romantic relationship. If I REALLY stretch my mind I can sort of understand not wanting to be married after watching her parents destroy each other because of their passions. Especially when the only sort of affection Derek shows is passion. I get that. But her constant internal battle and her sharp, cold spikes that she constantly throws Derek's direction are confusing. I found myself cheering when Derek finally loses it and confronts her for her wishy-washy behavior. She is then surprised when Derek didn't know she loved him the whole time. Are you kidding? SOOO many women would have been ecstatic to have the man they were arranged to marry, actually be attractive, let alone be dedicated and wonderful to them at every opportunity until he was finally pushed too far. So he's a little passionate...women back then did not have a lot of options and would have adored Derek's dedication (bordering on obsession ;).

The School of Gallantry sounds interesting, and Derek's interaction in the only class session we are shown is funny and awkward as I assume a class of this sort would be. I'm not going to go too much into the idea of the actual school as I have not read the first three books in this series and it is not my place to speak of yet.

Now, don't get me wrong. There were some saving graces for this book. I loved Clementine's relationship with her Dad, as unhealthy was it was. He aloud her to be herself and grow and stretch her wings as she wished while she was with him (though this was mostly because he was drunk a lot). You were able to tell that he truly loved his daughter and wanted only good things for her. Her father is an honest man who is dedicated to his dear friend that passed. He could have married Clementine off to some rich Lord but he wanted to do right by his friend and it was very noble.

The interactions between Derek and his father are sweet and emotionally devastating.

"Derek paused and seeing the life-size portrait of his father on the wall, walked up to it and touched the bottom of the gilded frame. His eyes fell on that bright jolly face that grinned. 'Wish you were here,' he whispered, half-nodding."

Very sad and stirring. By the end I enjoyed Nasser. His interactions with Derek at the end are caring and funny. I actually smiled for the first time while reading the book during Derek and Nasser's first interactions. Clementine's loyalty to her friend was noble and worthy of respect but she didn't have to be SO secretive about it. She could have explained a little more than she did to help Derek feel more comfortable and potentially avoid the entire situation but I guess she didn't understand that that was a possibility? Whatever. Clementine and Nasser's friendship is fun and one of true dedication and loyalty so you can't really discount them anything. At the very very end, we see a very sweet and loving version of Derek and Clementine, and you get to see a small glimpse of what you had been hoping for throughout the entire book. I wish I had been given more than a mere 3-4 pages of this peaceful, kind, and loving couple but at least I actually got to see them!

In the end, I'm giving it 2 stars. If a reread of the actual release of this book shows signs of improvement in the areas of grammar, tense, punctuation, and general build and execution of dialogue and character development, I may read more of Delilah Marvelle's books. If not, I'm very sad to say that I likely won't be visiting her worlds in the future. Having a husband that is a writer, I see how much work goes into writing a novel. The research, the dedication, the story building, the world development, the late nights, the exhaustion, the absolute joy when they find that perfect word that makes for the perfect scene. Being a writer is not easy. There are some that find there niche and thrive, MANY of which I have had the honor of reading and truly enjoying. Unfortunately this author is just not one of them for me.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This review will likely be edited once I read the edited version!

[LOU71 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night of Pleasure is the fourth book in the School of Gallantry series. Okay, this historical romance was an intense emotional read, and it eclipses the previous book by half a star as my new favourite in this series thus far. Prologue set in 1823, with the story starting in 1830, plus the emotional Epilogue happens nine months after the end of the story.

Like the previous stories, some scenes in this book overlap with previous books which make the story-telling in this series so interesting because these romances are happening simultaneously. I particularly enjoyed the creative Prologue at the beginning of this story. The Hero and Heroine meet as young teenagers outside the door of the Hero’s father’s deathbed. It intrigued me because I was already wondering how the story would unfold.

~~~Madame Thérése’s School of Gallantry: All gentlemen welcome. Learn from the most celebrated demimondaine of Franc. Everything there is to know about love and seduction. Only a limited amount of Applications are being accepted at 11 Berwick Street. Discretion is guaranteed and advised.~~~

Mistress of Pleasure: 3 stars: Edmund & Maybelle (forgettable Hero)
Lord of Pleasure: 3- stars: Alexander & Charlotte (disliked Heroine)
Last of Pleasure: 4 stars: Ronan & Caroline (best Epilogue)
Night of Pleasure: 4+ stars: Derek & Clementine (very intense)

Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, knew his fate at seventeen when from his deathbed his father announced to him that Derek was already betrothed to his father’s best friend’s fourteen year old daughter. Derek was required to wait seven years for her to come of age so he passed the time writing her heartfelt letters expressing his heart to her, plus he stayed chaste all those seven years - bar one night when he paid to get sexual experience. Derek is charismatic and determined to create a loving family with the beautiful American girl he was smitten with as soon as he clapped eyes on her. He has an enthusiasm for life and is very charming.

Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey may be worth millions but not one coin has brought her happiness. Clementine is an overly serious and humourless Heroine. She is cool, calm, and is deeply traumatised from witnessing her parent’s marriage. Fortunately, she’s not rigidly stubborn so she matures and learns how to open her heart. Though she’s reluctant to marry, Clementine faces her fears and communicates with Derek which is good because usually in this genre the Heroine doesn’t communicate which leads to the whole misunderstanding scenario. I liked reading the dialogue between these two because there were many seemingly impossible issues to work through.

For a lot of the story, Derek is quite besotted with Clementine. There are a lot of fears, insecurities, and frustrations to work through in this romance. It’s hard work to read through all the uncomfortable times. The reader is certainly put through the wringer with the whole gamut of emotions. At times I couldn’t imagine how the author was going to resolve matters between these two.

The school lessons given by Madame de Maitenon play a definitive role in bringing Derek and Clementine together to address their baggage. The school makes more sense to me now in books three and four than it did in book one and two.

There were grammatical errors in this book.

I recommend this book but it’s an intense read. I recommend this series.

[Eileen Dandashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Night of Pleasure, Book 4 (A School of Gallantry Novel)
Author: Delilah Marvelle
Genre: Historical Romance
Story Setting: London, England 1823
Published By: Delilah Marvelle Productions, LLC (March 15, 2014)
Pages: 246
ASIN: B00J1RDHN0

THE SCHOOL OF GALLANTRY SERIES:
Book 1, Mistress of Pleasure
Book 2, Lord of Pleasure
Book 3, Lady of Pleasure
Book 3.5, Romancing Lady Stone
Book 4, Night of Pleasure
Book 5, Master of Pleasure


About the Story:
At seventeen Derek Holbrook loses his father. Moments before his father passes away he meets his wife-to-be unbeknownst to him. With her comes a fortune to take care of the estate. She’s a beautiful, self-controlled, naïve young girl of fourteen. Derek is drawn to her like a bee to honey and immediately tries to take advantage. Clementine is overwhelmed by Derek’s advances and put off. Yet when Derek learns his father was dying she consoled and embraced him knowing he was devastated by his death.

Weeks later she and her father left London and for the next seven years they corresponded. In that time Derek grew up as did she. He learned to manage the estate and struggled with keeping a firm hand on his younger brother. He became a man of good character. Through the correspondence with Clementine he survived the loneliness and lived for her return.

So when Clementine arrived with her father to his estate, very cool and reserved, he couldn’t understand. Was this the young woman he’d been writing to? He was so in need of touching her, so overwhelmed with desire for her that she was repulsed by his need and the way he made her feel. She didn’t want emotion. It only led to bad things happening. She told Derek they couldn’t marry even though it was only six days before the wedding. Derek loved her and knew if she didn’t want him then it was useless to marry. But what would he do with over 300 guests invited to the wedding?


Review:
Here is a story about two very young people. They are only three years apart and have lived completely different lives. Clementine, honest to a fault, has learned through moving from place to place with her father she must be strong and protect herself against men. She’s also learned through her life experiences that it’s better to stay in control. She usually is self-controlled, soft spoken and doesn’t want to have anything to do passion. In her opinion emotions are bad feelings because they lead to violence.

It was interesting and gratifying to see Clementine grow and develop her ideas and her talents. She learned to accept her own feelings and not feel intimidated by Derek’s.

Derek also learned how to see Clementine as a person, a friend before seeing her as his wife.

Both characters were very appealing with their naiveté, their spirit and determination to make marriage work even though there appeared too large obstacles to surmount. I enjoyed seeing Derek as a free spirited, determined, honest individual who could accept differences in people and accept those differences readily. I hope there were more Derek’s during that period with such broad minds.

Delilah Marvelle delighted me with her story. The plot engaged, satisfied and intrigued me throughout. I like that she showed us how important friendship is in a marriage and how to learn to trust.

In the Author’s Words: Bio data at GoodReads
“I spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. I scribed endless stories that almost invariably surrounded the topic of love, for I felt an inane need to be rescued from a family that did not understand my lust for life. In my mind, King Arthur became my true love and I waited for the day when he would come riding upon his steed and invite me to sit at his round table, not as his queen, but as his knight. To my distress, King Arthur was never to be found anywhere except for in the tip of my quill. And so I led an imaginary life for many, many years. When I finally came of age, my family was further horrified to discover that I had fallen in love with an American. An American King Arthur who became my knight, my husband, my all. I have been blessed beyond reason and am grateful for each day I have with him. What is equally amazing is that I now have the opportunity to share my passion for stories with the public. The reason why I write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always evolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also evolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest."

For some fun facts about Delilah, check out this link to her website.
http://www.delilahmarvelle.com/#!meet...

[FV Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-night-...

He stared down at her, his head, his heart and his body pulsing. He’d never felt anything like it, but those alluring eyes made him want to grab her and bite down hard. He inclined his head. “Good afternoon, Miss Grey. How are you?”

Derek Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, and his intended met the night of his father’s death. A seventeen year old, cocky young man with the world at his feet, he is immediately enchanted with the beautiful Miss Clementine Grey. She’s a fourteen year old girl who travels with her obscenely rich father around the world, but has no desire to ever be caught up in a passionate marriage. But their fathers are friends and in order to provide the funds the estate is desperately in need of, they’ve decided the two shall marry. So they will, but not until she grows up a bit. That’s when a courtship through letters begins that spans seven years.

When the time comes for their marriage to finally take place Derek is beyond pleased, there is nothing in the world he wants more than to finally make Clementine his wife. As the years have passed his affection for her has grown into love and his expectations are of a wonderful, warm marriage much like his parents. He has remained faithful to his soon to be bride, only visiting with a prostitute once so he can gain some knowledge of what goes on in the bedroom in order to fully satisfy on his wedding night. So it’s quite a shock when the Clementine he remembers is nothing like the woman who he spies smoking in her carriage and once she gets him alone quickly informs that they won’t suit and she has no intention of marrying anyone. In fact she plans to run away, with a friend, who just happens to be another man.

Before I even get to the main protagonists and their romance, I need to state how much I absolutely adored Derek’s brother Andrew. I want his book now. He is introduced in the prologue at the same time Derek and Clementine meet, but it’s not until the first chapter where conversations like this start to take place:

“You let her burn the word PENIS into your arm?”

Those eyes widened. “Penis? No, no. Mentula is an endearment. I asked.”

Derek snarled “It is not an endearment but an insult. Have you ever read the texts of Priapeia?”

Andrew glared. “So you’re better read than I am. What of it?”

“What of it? Jesus, I’m trying to– What rational woman burns a man’s arm with the word PENIS and claims it’s an endearment?”

Right then and there I fell a little bit in love with both Derek and Andrew. I’m not even sure why. Something about the relationship between the brothers grabbed me immediately. Derek has grown up in an incredibly loving family, protective of his brother and desperately looking forward to marrying the girl he’s been betrothed to for the last seven years. There is never a thought in his mind that the two of them aren’t meant for each other. His only moments of doubt are about what he can provide her that she doesn’t already have. Her unwillingness to settle down with him in matrimonial bliss completely confounds him. And he’s angry. He also wants a wedding night. The one he’s been looking forward to for years.

Clementine has her reasons for not trusting herself and what kind of marriage she would have with Derek. She has fallen in love with him over the years, but the relationship between her parents has taught her only that passions are ugly. She does agree to Derek’s one night in exchange that he let her go. All the misunderstandings and conflicts pretty much stem from her friendship with this other man. Derek jumps to conclusions, waivers back and forth between anger and sorrow. One minute you are thinking Clementine needs to slap him upside the head for his pig-headed ways and the next you want her to give a little and let him in. I liked the back and forth of their relationship. It took a lot of time for this couple to learn to compromise and give in, even going as far as Derek agreeing to attending the School of Gallantry (hence the name of the series) where he is taught by a renowned courtesan about how to pleasure and please his wife. The romance worked for me because even though these two did have love, it wasn’t until they understood and accepted each other that it all ended up working. Even sex didn’t become satisfying and fulfilling until the end when they finally are content with their relationship.

I liked the pacing, found this to be a fast read, there was humor, sexy times and just the right amount of conflict. The heroine is strong and capable, while the hero has no fear of letting his intended know how much he loves her. This historical romance hit all my buttons and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Final Grade- B

Favorite Quote:

Miss Maitenon swept toward the row of four women and gestured toward them. “These beautiful women will be demonstrating the dildo.”

Oh, now, shite. How was this educational? He highly doubted Clementine, who couldn’t even manage saying ‘I love you’ would be able to manage a dildo.

[Myrt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Myrt's Review

Night of Pleasure (School of Gallantry #4) by Delilah Marvelle

Opposites Learn to Attract!

This is the fourth book in a series but it can be read as a stand alone as I did.  Be warned, you will probably end up wanting to go back and read the rest in the series.

At 17, Derek, Viscount Banfield is introduced to Miss Clementine Grey, 14, the American daughter of his father's dearest friend.  Derek is instantly smitten, which is fortunate for him, since his and Clementine's father have long since arranged for the two to marry when they both are of age.  Seven years from then when Clementine is 21.

After Derek's father dies, Derek focuses on learning to manage the impoverished estate and caring for his mother and brother. Meanwhile, Clementine and her father spend the next seven years traveling internationally and using his massive wealth politically, when he isn't heavily drinking that is.

For the next seven years Derek and Clementine regularly exchange letters until they finally meet again for the contracted marriage.  Despite their years of correspondence, however, Derek and Clementine have grown into extremely different individuals and really know nothing about each other.  The reunion is less than idyllic.

Derek has never forgotten the lovely girl he met years ago and unlike most romantic heroes, is so deeply in love with the thought of Clementine to the point of having saved himself for the past seven years so Clementine will be his first and only lover.  Um, that is until a couple of weeks before they are to finally meet again and Derek decides it might not be such a good idea to have two virgins fumbling around on such an important night so he goes to a high end prostitute for a 5 hour tutorial!  Kind of sweet for the times, I suppose. Thusly prepared, Derek can't wait to be married and start a loving family like his parents had.

Naturally Clementine has other plans.  The last thing she wants to do is get married.  Clementine is an only child and the product of a divisive and volatile marriage.  Her mother died before Clementine met Derek and Clementine's only memories of her are as an overly emotional, yet remote and uncaring woman.  While Clementine's mother is presented as a rather unpleasant woman, I think it's only fair to put a little more emphasis than the book seems too, on the fact that though Clementine was an only child, after her birth her mother subsequently went through eleven (11!) more failed pregnancies until she finally died in childbirth herself. Frankly, after a constant stream of pregnancies and miscarriages I'd be pretty cranky myself. Her father is a gregarious drunkard who Clementine has tended to in their travels.  She considers emotion and passion as dangerous things to be avoided but she cares enough about Derek to not want him to lose her much needed dowry even if she won't marry him and she plans to explain this to him when they finally meet before she heads off to Persia for a marriage of convenience with a prince.

The story revolves around hoe Derek and Clementine overcome their disparate personalities and expectations to develop into a strong passionate couple. They are their own biggest obstacles.  While Clementine, though beautiful, comes across as cold and insensitive and somewhat unlikable, she is carrying a load of personal baggage and despite her travels with her father she has been somewhat isolated and so she really hasn't experienced love or passion, only having her parents as an example.  Considering this and her mother's unending pregnant status and the time period, I suppose Clementine can be excused from believing that by simply kissing a man she would get pregnant! 

Derek is the one who has to uncomfortably correct Clementine's misconceptions. His own special tutorial didn't include how to explain the basic mechanics of sex and procreation to a wary and appalled young lady. Derek is extremely handsome and sweet and the more obviously sympathetic of the two at first but he is overwhelming in his passion for Clementine and has a difficult time understanding her reasons for not wanting marriage and her need to be her own person.

The couple end up going through with the marriage and that's when the story gears up as they have a disastrous wedding night and neither knows how to improve their situation.  Through a series of circumstances and misunderstandings Derek ends up at the titular School of Gallantry and finds himself learning how to focus on his wife's needs and pleasure while Clementine works on fearlessly opening up her feelings and emotions to herself and her husband.

I thought this book really provided a different hero and heroine than the usual. Neither was perfect and they both started off as incomplete people who needed to grow up before they could consider a relationship with someone else.  I enjoyed the way they worked individually and with the help of others and then finally together, to build a strong enriching relationship.  By the end, Derek and Clementine are so much more than when they started, both individually and together.  This was a fun read watching these two earn their happy ever after!

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.