Several years ago, carefree Marietta Greentree made a grievous mistake in judgment in a man that ruined her social status. Unable to participate in social gatherings, she resides in the shadows. Marietta resolves to harden her heart and leave her adopted mother's home to become a courtesan like her biological mother, Madam Aphrodite. Knowing too well the hard life of a courtesan, Aphrodite plans to sabotage her daughter's plan by giving Marietta rules of passion and seduction intended to discourage her.

Max Vallard's life cannot possibly get worse. Society has deemed him the scandal of the moment as his father finds a mysterious letter from his late wife confessing an indiscretion and putting doubt upon Max's paternity. His father, betrayed by the woman he adored, retaliates by publicly renouncing and disinheriting Max, leaving the title to his cousin. Wallowing in humiliation and self- pity, Max is struggling to make sense of the mess in his life when Aphrodite's daughter proposes that Max let her test her skills and practice on him, since both their reputations are in tatters.

Needing the distraction and drawn to the unconventional Marietta, Max enters into the bizarre agreement. Unfortunately, Marietta is unable to follow her mother's rule of never falling in love with the gentleman. Max begins to find his heart engaged as he struggles with the consequences of falling in love with an unsuitable woman.

Second in the Greentree Sisters trilogy, this book provides readers with a wickedly sensuous romance. Ms. Bennett adds a drop of mystery and suspense to the tale, which enhances the story even more.

Book Summary

The boldest, most unconventional of the three Greentree sisters, Marietta believes her best course would be to emulate her natural mother, the notorious courtesan Madame Aphrodite. Being woefully unschooled in the ways of passion, however, Marietta, at Aphrodite’s insistence, must first prove herself by properly seducing one man: Max Valland, the moody, disgraced, and disinherited former Lord Roseby.

With his life and reputation already in tatters, Max is most willing to help the exquisite young minx practice her chosen craft—though he is surprised at the depth of his desire…and by her most unprofessional tenderness. But Marietta’s plans are threatened by the dangerous mysteries swirling around this disarmingly sensual gentleman… and by a heart that urges her to break the courtesan’s cardinal rule: never fall in love.

Read an Excerpt