Confessions of a Courtesan [Kindle Edition]

Deborah Hale (Author), Elizabeth Charles (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Scandalous but True! From the harsh streets of 18th century London, Lizzie Cane rose to become the most successful and sought-after courtesan in England! Mistress of earls, dukes and even the young Prince of Wales, she lived an exciting luxurious life that was not without its perils. A single misstep could spell disaster!

Then, at the height of her career, she risked everything she had struggled to gain by breaking the courtesan's cardinal rule...Never fall in love!

Elizabeth Charles is a pseudonym for Canadian author Deborah Hale. Deborah's first novel, the Georgian-era romance My Lord Protector won RWA's Golden Heart award and was nominated for the RITA for Best First Book. Since then she has written more than twenty more novels in the genres of historical romance, inspirational romance and otherworld fantasy. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.

"Deborah Hale recreates mid-18th century manners with charming flair and the ending is deliciously cogent." - Romantic Times

"Hale's characters are so finely created they become real in her readers' minds and hearts." - Sheryl Horst, syndicated romance reviewer

"Yet another masterpiece penned by the historical mistress of romance. Don't miss this truly touching and tender story." - The Old Book Barn Gazette

This edition contains additional bonus content:
Separating Fact from Fiction
What Happened to...?
Verses on the Temple to Friendship
Funeral of the late Honourable Mrs. Fox
Selected Research Sources

About the Author

Elizabeth Charles is a pseudonym for Canadian author Deborah Hale. Deborah's first novel, the Georgian-era romance My Lord Protector won RWA's Golden Heart award and was nominated for the RITA for Best First Book. Since then she has written more than twenty more novels in the genres of historical romance, inspirational romance and otherworld fantasy. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. "Deborah Hale recreates mid-18th century manners with charming flair and the ending is deliciously cogent." - Romantic Times "Hale's characters are so finely created they become real in her readers' minds and hearts." - Sheryl Horst, syndicated romance reviewer "Yet another masterpiece penned by the historical mistress of romance. Don't miss this truly touching and tender story." - The Old Book Barn Gazette

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 442 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005UNWLSQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,032 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life of Luxury or Loneliness?, October 18, 2011

By 

Jutzie (Surprise, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confessions of a Courtesan (Kindle Edition)

Confessions of a Courtesan by Deborah Hale writing as Elizabeth Charles

This is about Elizabeth Bridget Cane, known as Elizabeth Armistead. It is both fact and fiction. At the end of the book the details of the people and events are listed, including the real Elizabeth's obituary. Deborah writes it in such a way that gets you thinking how we don't know how people ended up where they were and maybe they don't always want to be there. In the fictional story you see the human side of Elizabeth. Her hopes and dreams and not just some lusty woman who chose to sell her body.

Deborah has taken the facts and created a story around them. In this case, a young girl who lost her mother and brother to illness and it had left her father blind. Living off what meager coins they received from her father's begging. When he passes away, Elizabeth is on her own and not doing well. She cannot get a job as you need money to apply or decent clothing. When she is at the point of freezing or starving an old friend comes across her and takes her in. She falls in love with him but he does not return it. He took her in with the purpose of gaining coin but bringing her to a House of Pleasure- a brothel where they catered to the higher class and made sure the girls stayed disease free.

The fictional Elizabeth takes on the name of her rescuer to remind herself not to fall in love again. After some years in the same place she is kicked out after one her patron's rowdy friends burst into her room. She goes to those men and asks them to help her because the Queen of Courtesan's. And they do. She creates a lasting friendship with Bob, Charles and Richard. This book walks through her life and her conquests. It is not a detailed account of every sexual encounter as much as showing her life. The book makes you think what you would do if you lived in a time where so few choices were open to women. In real life she did become a sought after Courtesan. When she was in her 30's she broke the cardinal rule of the Courtesan; never fall in love. The fictional Elizabeth did not choose her circumstances but ended up taking control of them.

**Sexual situations

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, October 23, 2011

By 

Paula - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of a Courtesan (Kindle Edition)

Confessions of a Courtesan is one of the most fascinating historicals I've read in a very long time. Writing as Elizabeth Charles, Deborah Hale has taken her remarkable research skills and crafted a story that delves into a side of Georgian life rarely seen in romantic fiction.

Elizabeth Armistead's unfortunate circumstances lead her into the kind of life most women of the time would have done anything to avoid if they'd had other options. Many would have withered and died. Elizabeth, however, flourishes. This is not a tragic tale. Rather, Elizabeth is a beautiful, kind, compassionate woman whose qualities make her one of the most sought after courtesans of her time. Devoted friends help guide her career, and in the end, Elizabeth remains a woman truly deserving of all the good she receives.

As I finished Confessions, my own confession is that I would have loved to know before I began reading that although fictionalized, the story was drawn from fact. Elizabeth lives and breathes on these pages, and I can't begin to tell you how much I loved her story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure to read, October 23, 2011

By 

Mrs. Vonnie J. Hughes (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confessions of a Courtesan (Kindle Edition)

This erudite book exudes an aura of the Georgian and Regency eras.

Elizabeth Cane became a prositute through necessity and a courtesan through planning and adherence to her own rules. She knew that if she was to survive in a ruthless world she must do more than merely sleep with men for money. She must become a true courtesan - a kept woman.

The research Ms Hale (Charles) brought to this book is outstanding. Her characterisations of Charles Fox and his cronies and the young prince who was to become the Regent are outstanding.

For anyone interested in this time in history, I could not recommend a more satisfying book.