The Copper and the Madam (novella)Blind Cupid #3
Karyn Gerrard
Historical Romance/Erotica
Published in 2013
H/h - Detective Rory Kerrigan/Abbess Rea (Rhiannon Davies)
Setting: London, 1897.
Read in May, 2014.
My rating:
[spoiler alert]
A nice conclusion to Karyn Gerrard’s Blind Cupid series, The Copper and the Madam
was a pleasant surprise, especially when I didn’t know what I’d feel
for the heroine who is the infamous madam of a famous brothel with the
same name as the series. She has been featured in all the other books,
but I never thought that she’ll have a story of her own to tell.
The Blind Cupid series basically features characters from this brothel, who find love in the most unlikely places. Book 1, The Blind Cupid, featured Desmond, the most popular gigolo of the brothel. He goes on a call to ‘entertain’ a certain spinster, Anne... Though a bit hasty and unbelievable, they fall in love in one night and Desmond decides to leave the brothel where he has been almost all his life.
The Blind Cupid series basically features characters from this brothel, who find love in the most unlikely places. Book 1, The Blind Cupid, featured Desmond, the most popular gigolo of the brothel. He goes on a call to ‘entertain’ a certain spinster, Anne... Though a bit hasty and unbelievable, they fall in love in one night and Desmond decides to leave the brothel where he has been almost all his life.
Book 2, The Governess and the Beast,
was an ok read for me. It was about another prostitute called Lila.
After a traumatic experience at the brothel, where she was raped and
bloodied by a customer, Lila gives up the profession in search of a
better life. Abbess Rea, the Madam of the Blind Cupid, helps her achieving her goal. But when she visits Lord Stonecliff’s home, expecting to be
hired as a governess for his ward, things change for Lila too. It turns
out Lord Stonecliff has his own secrets to hide and a way to blackmail
Lila to do his bidding... which is to occupy his bed. Lila is not forced
to do anything, mind you, and her life changes for the better because
ultimately, she finds love in a scarred man.
The Copper and the Madam
actually begins couple of years before the time-frame of book 1 and 2.
It concerns Desmond and because of him, detective Rory and Abbess Rea
come to be introduced to each-other. I don’t remember now if Rory was
featured in the other two books but Rea, whose real name is Rhiannon,
has been attracted to him ever since day one. But because of her
profession and because she considers herself aged (aged 34 or so), plump
and unattractive, Rea never dared expressing her interest. Rory promised
to check up on Desmond, which is why he visited the brothel once a
month these past years without fail. Generally, he takes dinner with
Rea, there are some small talks too. And before leaving, he’s free to
avail himself to the service of one of the girls of the brothel. All for
free, courtesy of Rea herself.
But here is the twist, Rea would
also watch him do it with her girls... I should’ve been disturbed (and
disgusted) by this but I ended up feeling sad for her. Rhiannon has her
own heartbreaking secret that she kept hidden away, something that
happened to her the first day she started ‘working’. Let me tell you, it
was not a happy one. She was traumatized and the next few years that
she worked before acquiring The Blind Cupid, Rhiannon hated every moment
of sex and being used by virtual strangers. Yet, Rory is the only man,
who, in so many years made her want to do it with him. She burned for
him but didn’t think she’d ever get what her girls are getting… until
one day Rory gives her the indication that not only he wants her, has
wanted her for a long time but also that he knows she watches him in the
act. He confronts her about it, to know if she
really harbors any attraction for him that might lead
to a mutual agreement.
Rhiannon reluctantly agrees, not knowing
what to do, leaving Rory surprised. He actually thought Rhiannon had no
interest in him. Upon knowing her past, Rory is concerned, so he
decides to take things slowly. He begins opening up too, in hopes that
this might be the beginning of something new.
But things weren’t
going to be as easy for Rhiannon and Rory. Though she loves spending
time with Rory, one day, one of Rhiannon’s boys is brutally murdered by a
sadistic psycho. Rory is promptly called in and is given the duty to
notify her. After some detective work, and Rhiannon’s help, they zoom
into one suspect; the one man who was responsible for abusing Lila.
Because ‘REA’ was carved into the boy’s body, Rory begins to think that
she’s in danger and needs his protection. At the same time, he’s also
very determined to work and take their relationship to a new level, even
if it sounds ludicrous. Who could understand Rhiannon’s plight better
than he? After all, Rory’s mother was also a street-worker. He has seen
plenty of ugly things in his life to learn not to judge anyone so
hastily.
Rory has already felt that Rhiannon’s affection for him
is much deeper than simple lust. He can say the same... if only things
were that easy, they’d be together forever. But first, there’s the
murder. Then they both have to overcome some of their own personal
demons to reach an understanding that can surpass beyond lust and sex.
Question remains, can they do it together?
I did love the ending,
because I thought Rory and Rhiannon deserved something good between
them, but wasn’t sure about the second romance between one of Rory’s
juniors, another detective named Cian and Rhiannon’s cook, a pretty girl
named Caroline. Though I definitely felt that spark and the connection
between the two, I wasn’t sure if to believe in their hasty romance.
They don’t get their HEA in this story, and I was expecting another
installment, until I read that this is going to be the last installment
in the series. I can only say that I’d love to see what happens next to
Cian and Catherine, if they have their own book in future or not.
4
stars.
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