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A 21st Century Courtesan: A Novel
A world of silk sheets, imported champagne, and endless delight await in A 21st Century Courtesan .
She fulfills the deepest fantasies of the most powerful men in the world. Sensual, seductive, and discreet, Valentine Day is a high-class call girl, pampered and adored by her exclusive clientele. But Valentine has a secret. Always in control, she’s never experienced true pleasure outside of her work. But all that is about to change. Now the woman who’s spent a decade pleasuring others is about to embark on a journey of her own.
It happens one night at the opera. Seated next to her in the dark is a stranger. As the music swells so does the sexual tension. Gorgeous, sophisticated Joshua Spencer invites her for a drink, and soon she’s fantasizing about taking him home. When they finally come together in the most tender and intense lovemaking Valentine has ever known, she’s hooked. But suddenly Valentine is questioning everything. Joshua has no idea what she does for a living. Can she risk everything—including her hard-earned freedom and one final, shattering secret—for one man? And would he still want her if he knew the truth?
A 21st Century Courtesan is intended for mature audiences.
She fulfills the deepest fantasies of the most powerful men in the world. Sensual, seductive, and discreet, Valentine Day is a high-class call girl, pampered and adored by her exclusive clientele. But Valentine has a secret. Always in control, she’s never experienced true pleasure outside of her work. But all that is about to change. Now the woman who’s spent a decade pleasuring others is about to embark on a journey of her own.
It happens one night at the opera. Seated next to her in the dark is a stranger. As the music swells so does the sexual tension. Gorgeous, sophisticated Joshua Spencer invites her for a drink, and soon she’s fantasizing about taking him home. When they finally come together in the most tender and intense lovemaking Valentine has ever known, she’s hooked. But suddenly Valentine is questioning everything. Joshua has no idea what she does for a living. Can she risk everything—including her hard-earned freedom and one final, shattering secret—for one man? And would he still want her if he knew the truth?
A 21st Century Courtesan is intended for mature audiences.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Eden Bradley
134 books1,128 followersNew York Times & USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin has published a number of novels and novellas, both print and e-books, with Berkley Heat, Bantam/Delta, Harlequin Spice & HQN, Black Lace Books and Samhain Publishing, as well as venturing into self-publishing. Her books have been translated into German, French, Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Polish, Indonesian and Japanese. Eden has appeared regularly on Playboy Radio and conducts workshops on writing craft and writing about sex. Eden speaks regularly on BDSM safety, psychology & practice, as well as sexual positivity for women.
She loves art, shoes, tattoos, reading smutty books, chocolate and sex, of course, not necessarily in that order. You can visit her website: EdenBradley.com or her group FB page Dirty Minds Social Club!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenBradley
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorEdenBradley.Ev...
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11102...
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/edenandeve/
All of her book ratings at Goodreads reflect her favorite books, from those she loved to lifelong keepers.
She loves art, shoes, tattoos, reading smutty books, chocolate and sex, of course, not necessarily in that order. You can visit her website: EdenBradley.com or her group FB page Dirty Minds Social Club!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenBradley
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorEdenBradley.Ev...
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11102...
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/edenandeve/
All of her book ratings at Goodreads reflect her favorite books, from those she loved to lifelong keepers.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 25, 2010
Not enough story or character development for me. Some readers may appreciate the frequent and explicit sex scenes.
STORY BRIEF:
Valentine (Val) has been a prostitute/high class call girl for 10 years. She came from a dysfunctional family. She could never achieve sexual pleasure with a boyfriend or by herself until she discovered being paid for sex was her solution. She appears happy with her life until she meets Joshua. He doesn’t know she is a call girl, they begin a relationship. They fall in love. She decides to quit her job and have a normal life with him. She tells him of her past. He can handle it. Then while on a date with Joshua, they run into one of her former clients. She can’t handle it and breaks up with Joshua while she tries to get her head straight.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The book is primarily about Val’s frustrations, desires, fears and feelings of guilt. It is written in the first person point of view (Val’s). I felt like a therapist reading this, listening to the ponderings in her mind about what to do. There were a lot of sex scenes and she is tired and sleeps a lot. I felt like there was no story. I was bored during some of the sex scenes probably because I wasn’t emotionally pulled into the characters. I need more story and more character development to enjoy a book. For readers who want a lot of explicit sex and don’t care as much about the story, you might like this. There is self pleasuring, rear door activity, women with women and group sex.
An example of Val’s thinking follows. Page 240: “I’m going to try to believe that love is enough, that it will get us through this. That we can survive not only the reality of what I’ve done, but my own shame. I wish I could make the heavy pit sitting in my stomach go away. That pit still holding on tight to the belief that things will be over, sooner or later. That I am not worthy of his love. You do not deserve him. Oh, yes, that is the thought running through my mind like a broken record. Even now. No matter how much I’ve thought things through, faced the issues of my past. How much stronger I’ve been feeling lately, how determined. I don’t know how I will ever make it stop.”
I am annoyed with the cover picture not matching the story. The cover shows a woman with shoulder-length hair. In the book, her hair goes to the waist. Does the publisher not value this book enough? Ever hear of Photoshop?
DATA:
Story length: 291 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18. Total number of sex scene pages: 60. Setting: current day Los Angeles area, California, New York City and Rome, Italy. Copyright: 2009. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Eden Bradley books, see my 4.5 star review of “Forbidden Fruit” posted 10/31/08.
STORY BRIEF:
Valentine (Val) has been a prostitute/high class call girl for 10 years. She came from a dysfunctional family. She could never achieve sexual pleasure with a boyfriend or by herself until she discovered being paid for sex was her solution. She appears happy with her life until she meets Joshua. He doesn’t know she is a call girl, they begin a relationship. They fall in love. She decides to quit her job and have a normal life with him. She tells him of her past. He can handle it. Then while on a date with Joshua, they run into one of her former clients. She can’t handle it and breaks up with Joshua while she tries to get her head straight.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The book is primarily about Val’s frustrations, desires, fears and feelings of guilt. It is written in the first person point of view (Val’s). I felt like a therapist reading this, listening to the ponderings in her mind about what to do. There were a lot of sex scenes and she is tired and sleeps a lot. I felt like there was no story. I was bored during some of the sex scenes probably because I wasn’t emotionally pulled into the characters. I need more story and more character development to enjoy a book. For readers who want a lot of explicit sex and don’t care as much about the story, you might like this. There is self pleasuring, rear door activity, women with women and group sex.
An example of Val’s thinking follows. Page 240: “I’m going to try to believe that love is enough, that it will get us through this. That we can survive not only the reality of what I’ve done, but my own shame. I wish I could make the heavy pit sitting in my stomach go away. That pit still holding on tight to the belief that things will be over, sooner or later. That I am not worthy of his love. You do not deserve him. Oh, yes, that is the thought running through my mind like a broken record. Even now. No matter how much I’ve thought things through, faced the issues of my past. How much stronger I’ve been feeling lately, how determined. I don’t know how I will ever make it stop.”
I am annoyed with the cover picture not matching the story. The cover shows a woman with shoulder-length hair. In the book, her hair goes to the waist. Does the publisher not value this book enough? Ever hear of Photoshop?
DATA:
Story length: 291 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18. Total number of sex scene pages: 60. Setting: current day Los Angeles area, California, New York City and Rome, Italy. Copyright: 2009. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Eden Bradley books, see my 4.5 star review of “Forbidden Fruit” posted 10/31/08.
July 23, 2009
Absolutely incredible novel that was grippingly emotional and at times difficult to read, A 21st Century Courtesan is about modern day call girl Valentine Day, who is content to have a career selling sex until she meets Joshua Spencer, who suddenly makes her long for a different, more steady life. Eden Bradley is a true artist with words, and this is a heart-wrenching love story about redemption and faith that stays with you.
April 30, 2009
Eden Bradley has taken a chance with her latest book about a high class escort in A 21st Century Courtesan. Definitely an erotica, but still very much a romance, Eden puts a face to the name of many women who get paid for sex. Perhaps A 21st Century Courtesan is a bit too fairy tale like in its telling from the call girl heroine being rescued by her Prince Charming who is so understanding, from her clients who are attractive, well to do men who appreciate Valentine for her body and beauty as well as her mind and her creativeness in accepting their sexual quirks and desires.
Valentine Day is a high-class call girl who lives in the Hollywood Hills of California. She loves her life as a prostitute, getting paid to pleasure men and getting pleasure in return. The only way she can have an orgasm is if she gets money. Valentine loves the power she has over these men and will never go back to a life begging for love or money. She is a woman who makes her own decisions and lives by her own rules. She makes no excuses for the life she lives.
One night, Valentine attends the opera and is seated next to a man who sends jolts of lust through her body. She has never reacted to another man like this unless she is working. His name is Joshua Spencer and he is a real estate developer. Valentine is so turned on by Joshua that it unnerves her. They share some conversation and a drink. He gives her his card hoping she will call him.
Joshua is on Valentine’s mind all the time now. She can’t stop thinking about him even when she’s with a client. As she is alone in her own bed and in the shower, she pleasures herself imaging it is Joshua touching and kissing her. Soon her work is suffering and Valentine is not sure if she can continue being a whore. Even her madam is concerned and has her go talk to a therapist. Valentine becomes depressed and unsure. Finally she breaks down and makes a date with Josh. Josh loves to listen to her talk about herself and he wants to get to know Valentine more. Eventually these two do end up in bed and from her experience with Joshua, she feels whole and clean. Joshua wants a future with Valentine and it is up to Valentine to tell him what she does for a living or to keep living the lie.
Eden Bradley’s blunt and risqué tale of a high class call girl taps into the reader’s emotion. You can’t help but care for Valentine even as she sells her body to the highest bidder. She is a not a bitter woman because she enjoys her work and the men she is with. Some reader will think A 21st Century Courtesan is a bit too perfect because all of Valentine’s clients seem too handsome, rich and respectful.
Valentine’s clients vary between Enzo Alighieri, the Italian film producer who introduced Valentine to her line of work. He is her mentor, friend and lover to whom she has always turned. Louis is a blind rich man who is one of Valentine’s favorite clients with such wonderful hands. Colin Harper is a gorgeous movie producer who likes anal sex in motel rooms. Then there is Zayed Bin Saleh Al-Rahman, a member of the Middle Eastern nobility who loves the harem fantasy and expects Valentine to play into it along with two other girls who must act out the ultimate in girl on girl action.
As you can see, Valentine is an expert of everything sex. I wonder if she studied the Kama Sutra?
Joshua seems too good to be true, but he is the catalyst for Valentine to reevaluate her life as a daughter of an alcoholic mother who was in a cycle of destructive behavior at the hands of Valentine’s father. Joshua becomes Valentine’s savior and his reasons for accepting Valentine make sense. Joshua is all about forgiveness and spreading the love.
A 21st Century Courtesan does open your mind to a lifestyle that breaks many of the stereotypes, especially about the women involved. Valentine’s story is an eye-opener and I give Eden Bradley major kudos for taking a chance in writing about such a topic in this mature erotic romance.
Valentine Day is a high-class call girl who lives in the Hollywood Hills of California. She loves her life as a prostitute, getting paid to pleasure men and getting pleasure in return. The only way she can have an orgasm is if she gets money. Valentine loves the power she has over these men and will never go back to a life begging for love or money. She is a woman who makes her own decisions and lives by her own rules. She makes no excuses for the life she lives.
One night, Valentine attends the opera and is seated next to a man who sends jolts of lust through her body. She has never reacted to another man like this unless she is working. His name is Joshua Spencer and he is a real estate developer. Valentine is so turned on by Joshua that it unnerves her. They share some conversation and a drink. He gives her his card hoping she will call him.
Joshua is on Valentine’s mind all the time now. She can’t stop thinking about him even when she’s with a client. As she is alone in her own bed and in the shower, she pleasures herself imaging it is Joshua touching and kissing her. Soon her work is suffering and Valentine is not sure if she can continue being a whore. Even her madam is concerned and has her go talk to a therapist. Valentine becomes depressed and unsure. Finally she breaks down and makes a date with Josh. Josh loves to listen to her talk about herself and he wants to get to know Valentine more. Eventually these two do end up in bed and from her experience with Joshua, she feels whole and clean. Joshua wants a future with Valentine and it is up to Valentine to tell him what she does for a living or to keep living the lie.
Eden Bradley’s blunt and risqué tale of a high class call girl taps into the reader’s emotion. You can’t help but care for Valentine even as she sells her body to the highest bidder. She is a not a bitter woman because she enjoys her work and the men she is with. Some reader will think A 21st Century Courtesan is a bit too perfect because all of Valentine’s clients seem too handsome, rich and respectful.
Valentine’s clients vary between Enzo Alighieri, the Italian film producer who introduced Valentine to her line of work. He is her mentor, friend and lover to whom she has always turned. Louis is a blind rich man who is one of Valentine’s favorite clients with such wonderful hands. Colin Harper is a gorgeous movie producer who likes anal sex in motel rooms. Then there is Zayed Bin Saleh Al-Rahman, a member of the Middle Eastern nobility who loves the harem fantasy and expects Valentine to play into it along with two other girls who must act out the ultimate in girl on girl action.
As you can see, Valentine is an expert of everything sex. I wonder if she studied the Kama Sutra?
Joshua seems too good to be true, but he is the catalyst for Valentine to reevaluate her life as a daughter of an alcoholic mother who was in a cycle of destructive behavior at the hands of Valentine’s father. Joshua becomes Valentine’s savior and his reasons for accepting Valentine make sense. Joshua is all about forgiveness and spreading the love.
A 21st Century Courtesan does open your mind to a lifestyle that breaks many of the stereotypes, especially about the women involved. Valentine’s story is an eye-opener and I give Eden Bradley major kudos for taking a chance in writing about such a topic in this mature erotic romance.
November 24, 2010
very emotional, psychological read with some good sex. I enjoyed this book because of the deep emotions the heroine overcomes.
October 26, 2011
A lovely character development story about forgiveness, love and letting go of pain.
January 2, 2013
You can't not love a modern day 'Pretty Woman' story! I did, although possibly more due to the incredibly hot sex than the storyline!
September 2, 2010
I haven't taken this with me on holiday, but will resume reading when I return home.
Part of my problem with this, aside from the fact that I read it in three parts (before the first part of my holiday, when I returned and then again when I returned from another trip), was that I bought it expecting it to be romantica, and in fact that's not the strong point of the book. The copy I have is an ARC (think that's what it's called) so maybe changes were made later, but there's a great deal of psychological introspection or introspection on the avoidance techniques or whatever... and it was not particularly entertaining. I didn't feel it went deep enough if the theme was to examine the inner conflict of a woman trying to reconcile her desired life-style with her past, and the erotic scenes were then superfluous. If it was meant as an erotic novel, there was too much soul-searching for it to work for me.
Part of my problem with this, aside from the fact that I read it in three parts (before the first part of my holiday, when I returned and then again when I returned from another trip), was that I bought it expecting it to be romantica, and in fact that's not the strong point of the book. The copy I have is an ARC (think that's what it's called) so maybe changes were made later, but there's a great deal of psychological introspection or introspection on the avoidance techniques or whatever... and it was not particularly entertaining. I didn't feel it went deep enough if the theme was to examine the inner conflict of a woman trying to reconcile her desired life-style with her past, and the erotic scenes were then superfluous. If it was meant as an erotic novel, there was too much soul-searching for it to work for me.
November 20, 2011
I wanted to give this book a 3.5
I enjoyed the fact that the heroine comes to such a dramatic emotional/psychological impasse and exposes the raw process she goes through to move forward in her life. That particular part of the novel, the impasse and the process of healing, felt to honest that I almost felt like a peeping-tom while reading it...almost!
My issues with the book are that I felt Joshua, as a character, was a little underdeveloped. I also felt that the book lets too many loose ended details. Simple things like what happened to her house? Did she go back to her mom and try to help her? etc.
I think maybe it would the book would have toggled between Valentine's and Joshua's pov.
I enjoyed the fact that the heroine comes to such a dramatic emotional/psychological impasse and exposes the raw process she goes through to move forward in her life. That particular part of the novel, the impasse and the process of healing, felt to honest that I almost felt like a peeping-tom while reading it...almost!
My issues with the book are that I felt Joshua, as a character, was a little underdeveloped. I also felt that the book lets too many loose ended details. Simple things like what happened to her house? Did she go back to her mom and try to help her? etc.
I think maybe it would the book would have toggled between Valentine's and Joshua's pov.
May 27, 2017
I just wasn't to impressed with this book. It just wasn't the type I like to read.
April 29, 2018
I had hopes for some elegant erotica with this one, but it was starkly blunt from page 1.
It wasn't seductive.
It was blatant and desperate.
And that is always a turn-off.
It wasn't seductive.
It was blatant and desperate.
And that is always a turn-off.
January 4, 2015
Thank goodness that's over! I took to skipping pages toward the end. I read another piece by Eden Bradley a year or so ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was nothing short of a let-down.
First, everything about the plot was slow. There was too much exposition in the description of scenery and the main character's emotional state. It dragged on for ages. There was a real opportunity here to talk about leaving "that business," but all Bradley did was squick me out. There is a ton of sex. The love interest has way too much stamina to be believed. All of that is overlooked in favour of painstaking detail.
Second, this book is sad. It begins with the character of Valentine Day. The name itself is hilarious and I was unable to take the book seriously because of it. The transitions in time were rushed and I felt Bradley wanted a fast-forward button instead of trying to adequately pace her characters' sexcapades.
Finally, I read the digital version on my android. There are several spelling errors, and the letter "d" is often replaced by "cl" ... The copyeditor should be fired. The prose is shoddy and I found myself alternatively cringing and rolling my eyes at Valentine's internal diatribes.
Avoid this book at all cost. It's a waste of time, so pick up "The Dark Garden" instead.
First, everything about the plot was slow. There was too much exposition in the description of scenery and the main character's emotional state. It dragged on for ages. There was a real opportunity here to talk about leaving "that business," but all Bradley did was squick me out. There is a ton of sex. The love interest has way too much stamina to be believed. All of that is overlooked in favour of painstaking detail.
Second, this book is sad. It begins with the character of Valentine Day. The name itself is hilarious and I was unable to take the book seriously because of it. The transitions in time were rushed and I felt Bradley wanted a fast-forward button instead of trying to adequately pace her characters' sexcapades.
Finally, I read the digital version on my android. There are several spelling errors, and the letter "d" is often replaced by "cl" ... The copyeditor should be fired. The prose is shoddy and I found myself alternatively cringing and rolling my eyes at Valentine's internal diatribes.
Avoid this book at all cost. It's a waste of time, so pick up "The Dark Garden" instead.
June 13, 2014
Mmmm? Not sure about this book. Towards the end of the book I found my heart racing. I kept waiting for the other boot to drop and that was after many boots had already dropped. Valentine is very likeable. Val is very likeable. I'm not sure if I like Joshua or not. There is nothing not to like about Joshua, just not sure he was the "one" for Valentine. I am a little confused at the ending - who is the group?
December 6, 2014
It had the potential to be a much better story than it was. I couldn't quite get into the character and story, not enough emotional attachment to be really good. There was just something lacking in the writing or emotional feelings it didn't invoke in me, but should have. still good, but not great. I thought it was going to be kinda like The Fifth Favor about a male escort, but this one lacked the depth if that one. ok to good, but not great.
August 21, 2016
This was simply awful. The main character is one dimensional and manages to only get worse, there is an air of "love at first sight fixes everything", and while the typos started out mild enough, it seems the editor was playing a drinking game while working. The beginning of the book is relatively cleaned up but as it continues they get more bizarre. Some examples would be "1" in place of "I", "cl" instead of "d", along with missing punctuation and spaces. Overall, don't waste your time.
December 26, 2017
It's been a long time since I've actually finished a book in less than 24 hours. Although the dialogue was a bit thin, I was intrigued by the story. I just kept waiting for the other shoe to fall. It was the story I was hoping 50 shades to be.
July 17, 2014
It's about realizing and being present in the life you are leading. It's about reinventing yourself and living a truly authentic life. It's about the baggage we carry around with us and coming to terms with said baggage. It's about trusting and knowing that you are deserving.
January 29, 2011
An uncomfortable erotic read with psychological and spiritual resolution, discovery, and enlightenment.
October 10, 2011
Contemporary/Erotic Romance
August 2, 2012
Wow the main character whined too much. Nice plot but horrible dialog.
November 18, 2012
3.5 different type of plot, easy read
December 28, 2013
I like her other books and thought I would try this one and wasn't that impressed with it.
September 8, 2016
This could have been a 3 page short story - that would have easily covered anything worth reading.
January 20, 2015
Pretty good.
February 21, 2016
Completed 05/18/2010. A really well written erotic tale with a lot of action, but never seems gratuitous.
November 6, 2012
2.5. Liked the idea of the story but no development.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews