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Bartered Hearts #1
Angel
SHE SELLS PLEASURE FOR MONEY
Working in a New Orleans brothel is the only life Melisande Angelle has ever known. The work means nothing to her, it’s only a way to stay fed and sheltered…until Bill Donnelly begins to visit and awakens something inside her she’s never felt before. Desire. She starts to view him as a man instead of a client, and his visits become more than transactions...for both of them.
BUT HER HEART REMAINS UNTOUCHED
After years of looking out for herself, Melisande is stunned to find that someone else might care for her. Men have never offered anything but pain, and she never even dreamed of more. So when Bill proposes a new path for both of them, can she find the courage to trust him with her body and her heart?
Working in a New Orleans brothel is the only life Melisande Angelle has ever known. The work means nothing to her, it’s only a way to stay fed and sheltered…until Bill Donnelly begins to visit and awakens something inside her she’s never felt before. Desire. She starts to view him as a man instead of a client, and his visits become more than transactions...for both of them.
BUT HER HEART REMAINS UNTOUCHED
After years of looking out for herself, Melisande is stunned to find that someone else might care for her. Men have never offered anything but pain, and she never even dreamed of more. So when Bill proposes a new path for both of them, can she find the courage to trust him with her body and her heart?
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2015
About the author
Victoria Dahl
73 books2,004 followersI have my mother to thank for my passion for writing. My mom is an avid reader of popular fiction, and I began reading highly inappropriate books around the age of eleven, I think. (Thanks, Mom, for always leaving those delicious books strewn about!)
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 22, 2017
If this book hadn’t been written by Victoria Dahl, I would definitely have never picked it up. Why? Very simple. It combines two of my least favorite sub-genres of romance: historical romance and dark romance. As you know, I’m not usually fond of these two sub-genres in general, but since this was my go-to author’s book, I decided to give it a try. It’s a good thing I did because it’s not every day you come across a well-written love story between a dark-skinned prostitute and an ordinary blue-collar man. (No billionaire here, I’m sorry)
The author did a great job building up the gloomy atmosphere of the story. I have to say that it was dark, but not that dark. It was a mixture of sadness, happiness, love, loss, and hope, all mingled together. Reading this book was like experiencing not only a bitter and acrid taste but also, at the same time, the sweetest taste.
I enjoyed both main characters. They were flawed, yet somehow simply perfect for each other. Bill and Melisande had been through a lot and my heart went out to them. Seeing them finally find love and peace in each other brought me so much joy and warmth.
I love it when a book makes me feel various emotions. And as this short story could accomplish this, I couldn’t help but automatically add one more star to it. Five stars then.
**Due to Melisande’s job, there were mentions of her having sex with other men, which some readers might find disturbing.
**Angel is a prequel to the full-length erotic historical romance, Harlot.
The author did a great job building up the gloomy atmosphere of the story. I have to say that it was dark, but not that dark. It was a mixture of sadness, happiness, love, loss, and hope, all mingled together. Reading this book was like experiencing not only a bitter and acrid taste but also, at the same time, the sweetest taste.
I enjoyed both main characters. They were flawed, yet somehow simply perfect for each other. Bill and Melisande had been through a lot and my heart went out to them. Seeing them finally find love and peace in each other brought me so much joy and warmth.
I love it when a book makes me feel various emotions. And as this short story could accomplish this, I couldn’t help but automatically add one more star to it. Five stars then.
**Due to Melisande’s job, there were mentions of her having sex with other men, which some readers might find disturbing.
**Angel is a prequel to the full-length erotic historical romance, Harlot.
January 6, 2016
3.5 The Understanding of It All Stars
* * * 1/2
Last year Victoria Dahl put of the Western Romance, Harlot.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As I stated in my review, Dahl's women all have strength, minds of their own and inner cores to get them through... even during these Western times.
In Harlot there was a couple which assisted the main character. The woman was a past "whore" and showed the emotional way for the main character to disengage from what she had to do to make ends meet. She played an emotional touchstone and by doing this, the character became fully formed and we were curious for more.
This is Melisande's story. It has the heart, pain and resurrection of her life's journey. It is worth the read and I recommend it whether you have read Harlot first or about to. There is a sweetness and pathos which will reach out and touch you.... for not too long ago... these were our times.
Right now it is Free on Amazon.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2
Last year Victoria Dahl put of the Western Romance, Harlot.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As I stated in my review, Dahl's women all have strength, minds of their own and inner cores to get them through... even during these Western times.
In Harlot there was a couple which assisted the main character. The woman was a past "whore" and showed the emotional way for the main character to disengage from what she had to do to make ends meet. She played an emotional touchstone and by doing this, the character became fully formed and we were curious for more.
This is Melisande's story. It has the heart, pain and resurrection of her life's journey. It is worth the read and I recommend it whether you have read Harlot first or about to. There is a sweetness and pathos which will reach out and touch you.... for not too long ago... these were our times.
Right now it is Free on Amazon.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
October 9, 2019
4 to 4 1/2 stars
January 2, 2016
Ms. Dahl's command of voice here is very good. The heroine's struggles are palpable. The novella is too short to have the heft this story deserves but, accounting for that limitation, Angel is a strong tale.
February 4, 2016
only 60 pages and I couldn't finish...enough said.
March 21, 2016
This was sweet on a superficial level, but I didn't find the romance to be passionate or convincing. I'm not 100% convinced Melisande fell in love with Bill because she seemed motivated more by gratitude, and a desire to not die the way her mother had, than deep love. Nothing in her words or actions indicated intense passion or longing for him. And while Melisande had reason to not trust men in general, she acted a bit too aloof for my tastes. I guess that shouldn't be too surprising considering her line of work and the length of time of her employment.
January 27, 2016
A little facile, but sweet.
January 1, 2016
It's probably a little odd to describe a romance between a prostitute and one of her customers in an erotic historical as sweet. But essentially Bill and Melisande are very sweet together.
Melisande works in a New Orleans brothel. She's been a prostitute since she was thirteen, put to the trade by her mother. Just to make things a little more complicated, she's black, mostly.
Bill is a tradesman who has been coming regularly to Melisande for a while now, but at Christmas, something changes the dynamic.
This is a short story. Fifty-four pages on my Kobo. All the same it's a complete story with the promise of a potential HEA. The sequel, Harlot, about a different couple will supposedly give us a glimpse further down the track of how they are going. Heat level is pretty explicit between the couple but we don't see much of Melisande plying her trade with other customers.
Melisande works in a New Orleans brothel. She's been a prostitute since she was thirteen, put to the trade by her mother. Just to make things a little more complicated, she's black, mostly.
Bill is a tradesman who has been coming regularly to Melisande for a while now, but at Christmas, something changes the dynamic.
This is a short story. Fifty-four pages on my Kobo. All the same it's a complete story with the promise of a potential HEA. The sequel, Harlot, about a different couple will supposedly give us a glimpse further down the track of how they are going. Heat level is pretty explicit between the couple but we don't see much of Melisande plying her trade with other customers.
December 14, 2016
Thoughtful and evocative romance novella between a working girl and a man who has loved and lost and found love again. It's an interesting look at the world of a prostitute in New Orleans in the 1800s, a young woman pushed into the trade when her mother sold her virginity to the highest bidder to keep them solvent. Melisande does what she must, using her body as any other commodity but keeping her heart firmly intact - until Bill, one of her clients becomes something more. He cares for her, and offers her a new lease on life if she'll trust in him. There are some steamy scenes between them, and though it's not a lighthearted read, there is a definite feeling of hope for this couple. It also touches on the reality of Melisande's racial background as being part African American, and the consequences of her being involved with a white man. Well worth the read.
January 8, 2016
This one is so sad and hopeful at the same time. The beginning part is sad, you want more for Melisande, hope that Bill isn't playing her. By the end I had a smile on my face with the hope that the changes these two make will allow them to be happy.
February 8, 2016
I adored everything about it. I only wish it had been a full length novel.
November 30, 2018
this was cute, short and sweet.
April 25, 2016
This is a very short (60 pages) prequel to Harlot and for the most part I really liked it. Dahl's historical voice is compelling and I loved how she blends in some religious themes/elements into the early part of the story (the heroine leaves the brothel to attend Christmas morning church services). The romance is sweet and tender, the love scenes erotic (and vanilla). I would have loved a deeper digging into the conflict, but at 60 pages it's just about right. A solid read and further cements my opinion that Dahl needs to write more westerns.
January 6, 2016
Angel
The Characters:
Melisande Angelle
Bill Donnelly
The Story:
I liked Melisande and Bill when I first read about them in Harlot but now that I know their story I love them. Bill is strong and sweet and Melisande has a pragmatic view of the world that just clicks with me.
The Random Thoughts:
This is my first post for the 2016 TBR Challenge
4 Stars
The Characters:
Melisande Angelle
Bill Donnelly
The Story:
I liked Melisande and Bill when I first read about them in Harlot but now that I know their story I love them. Bill is strong and sweet and Melisande has a pragmatic view of the world that just clicks with me.
The Random Thoughts:
This is my first post for the 2016 TBR Challenge
4 Stars
December 28, 2015
I liked Harlot okay, but this sweeter story suited my tastes better. Gentle and touching with a wonderful, nice hero and a sensible heroine who isn't eager to depend on a man but knows a good thing when she sees it. Great writing. 5 stars
March 2, 2016
It was a very sweet, straightforward love story, written with confidence and skill but not terribly memorable despite the subject matter. But since the last two things I've read / am still reading feature very clunky dialogues, I appreciate just the fact that this was written with effortless style.
January 25, 2016
A really sweet novella that leaves you with warm fuzzies in the end. Just what I needed.
You can always count on Victoria Dahl.
You can always count on Victoria Dahl.
January 29, 2016
Heartwarming story.
A beautiful tale of simple, pure & innocence of life and love. In between the darkness there is two pure souls that come together and overcame the darkness.
A beautiful tale of simple, pure & innocence of life and love. In between the darkness there is two pure souls that come together and overcame the darkness.
September 4, 2016
solid writing but short (took less than 20min to read) - have already picked up the second one
May 2, 2016
What a wonderful short! Cannot wait to read Harlot and see what happens to Bill and Melisande!
June 28, 2019
Short erotic historical novella
Victoria Dahl's story about a prostitute and carpenter who find peace and comfort in each other's company. Is love and a life together worth taking the risk?
Victoria Dahl's story about a prostitute and carpenter who find peace and comfort in each other's company. Is love and a life together worth taking the risk?
May 28, 2017
2.5 stars
August 27, 2017
Not erotic but still very good
More heartbreaking than sexy, it's still kind of sweet when two lonely broken people come together. A quick read. On to the sequel for resolution.
More heartbreaking than sexy, it's still kind of sweet when two lonely broken people come together. A quick read. On to the sequel for resolution.
August 13, 2017
So sweet to find happiness for two lost people.
August 16, 2017
This was charming! A charming erotic piece of fiction. Will pick up the sequel.
December 11, 2017
Absolutely perfect. Sweet but not sappy. Fit very well into its length. Great natural emotion.
March 5, 2018
Too prone to stereotypes and caricatures.
May 22, 2018
Very few people master the art of the short story. It is hard to really grip a reader (at least this one) in a few pages. Pedestrian.
July 29, 2018
Was a short story but was really good.
September 11, 2018
pretty good book. It could of been longer though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews