Harlot (Bartered Hearts, #2)
Victoria Dahl
HE CAME HOME TO MARRY AN ANGEL... After two years of work in the gold fields of California, Caleb Hightower has come home to marry his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Willoughby. But when he returns, Caleb learns his refined bride-to-be is now a whore. Enraged by her betrayal, he can’t reconcile this shameless woman with the sweet innocent he once deeply loved--but Caleb knows what to do with a harlot. He’s determined to get everything from her that she’s sold to other men. And he’s prepared to pay for the pleasure of his revenge. BUT ALL HE FOUND WAS SIN... Left penniless after her father’s death, Jess made a deal with a devil. Now she must face her childhood sweetheart, whose scorn is no match for her regret. To make amends, she’ll let Caleb quench his rage with her body. Their bargain strips them down to searing passion and naked vulnerability, and Jess can still glimpse her loving Caleb buried deep inside this rough cowboy. In the end, an unbearable truth emerges that could push them toward forgiveness…or could destroy their fragile bond forever.
Publication Year: 2015
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
0 0When I received an email at midnight telling me my pre-order of HARLOT was available, I knew I was going to have a rough morning. Those missed hours of sleep were well spent, however, as I thoroughly enjoyed Victoria Dahl's return to historical.
A LITTLE BIT WILD is one of my favorite historical romances, as the heroine grows into a very modern acceptance of her own desires. HARLOT parallels this journey, but it starts from a much darker place. Truthfully, A LITTLE BIT WILD is the more daring exploration of this particular romance taboo (a heroine who is neither a widow nor a virgin), as she enjoys and seeks out sex, where as Jessica is forced to trade sex for a livelihood. Jessica's self loathing opens itself up to growth with a more BDSM flavor, though, as her evolving sexuality helps expiate her guilt for transgressing both social and her own expectations.
While HARLOT deals with many hot button issues (coerced rape, slut shaming, sexual double standards), Dahl is trustworthy steward of reader emotions (and libido). Sexy, savvy, and modern without being too anachronistic, HARLOT is a quick, satisfying fantasy.
0
© 2024 Pagebound