Reading is a risky game. There is always that chance of you investing too much in a story, only to get yourself burned in the end. 
 I took a risk with The Courtesan Duchess. 
 And I got burned. So badly in fact that I had to watch cat videos to calm myself down. 
 Before I rant, I'd have to applaud Ms. Joanna Shupe for her writing prowess. It's not everyday that I'm this impressed by new writers, since normally, their inexperience shows in their inept grasp of the technicalities. There is usually that great flaw in the plot structuring, the pacing, or the planning that screams "fledging writer"--pardon the term--but I didn't find that in this book. In fact, it actually seemed as though Ms. Shupe has been writing novels for years, with the masterful way she wrote the story. 
 But a good grasp of the writing technicalities is not enough to produce a good book. If it has no soul, if there is no connection with the characters, if the story is not believable, then everything is all for naught. 
 I have two main issues with this story. 
 The biggest problem with this book is that I could not stomach the hero, Nick. Reading about him was a big test on my endurance. For one, his way of thinking, his logic, was ridiculous! The author's justification or excuse for his actions was a flimsy one, and downright illogical. 
 Okay, let's talk facts: During his wedding, Nick's impression of his wife was that she seemed like an innocent girl. 
 What he did: Nick abandoned her after the wedding, justifying himself with the excuse that she was his father's pawn. Whenever his wife was mentioned, he got angry. 
 My thoughts: If Nick believed that she was innocent, why would he assume the worst about her? What right did he have to get angry at his innocent wife? And if he planned on abandoning his ducal responsibilities, why get married in the first place? Why did he have to get married BEFORE going abroad? Why not go abroad BEFORE the unwanted marriage????? 
 Another thing: Simon ("Winchester" as he was called), Nick's best friend, has told him repeatedly over the years that his wife was suffering. Nick knew his family was cruel. Nick met Julia, who was pretending to be a courtesan. He wooed her. He got to know her. Then, he found out that Julia was actually his wife. 
 His reaction: 
 That whore. 
 It had all been a game. The rumors, the flirting, the kissing. She'd merely wanted him to chase her, to fall at her feet. And he had, goddamn nitwit that he was. It was some sort of revenge for ignoring her for eight years. God, and the things he'd told her. Nick had revealed parts of himself to her that he hadn't shown anyone, ever. 
 And she and Winchester had been laughing at him the whole time. 
 My thoughts: How could he assume the worst of Simon, his best friend? Shouldn't the NORMAL reaction would be to give his best friend the benefit of the doubt? Given their extensive history together, you would have thought that Nick would know that Simon wouldn't stoop so low. Also, given that he actually got to know Julia over the days they spent they spent together, I expected him to give her the benefit of the doubt as well. ESPECIALLY since Simon has hinted so many times that she was suffering. Why didn't he even think, for once, that Julia could be experiencing hell with his family???? 
 I'm sorry, but Nick was not justified at all. He was so NARROW-MINDED, so consumed by angst, that I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face. 
 CAN YOU TRY TO BE LESS SELFISH, NICK? PLEASE FOR FUCK'S SAKE THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU!!!!!! 
 After that fuckery, there was no redemption for him. I was killing him in my head with every page. 
 The other problem with this story was that the justification for the story itself was not convincing. A virgin pretending to be a courtesan without the man knowing it? Umm right. I'm not buying it. 
 While the writer gave a valiant effort at justifying the story, I'm not convinced. I think I would have been more forgiving if Nick wasn't such a fucking asshole. 
 Sorry, but yeah, I blame Nick for this 1 star rating. He was awful. Just fucking awful. I have ZERO tolerance for disrespectful, immoral and hypocritical MOTHERFUCKERS like him. He can burn in hell for all I care.