Unclaimed (Turner #2) by Courtney Milan

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Mark Turner pulls into the main point of view male character in this book. Previously a major character in the first book; and a briefly mentioned person in the short story between this book and the first book in the series.

In that first book, Mark is shown writing a book about chastity. With a title something like ‘A Practical Guide to Chastity for Men’. Between that first book and the start of this book here, that guide has been published, been read and loved by the Queen – which resulted in Mark being knighted.

The book, unexpectedly for him, has made him vastly popular and famous. He cannot go anywhere in London without a crowd of men and women (yes, despite the book being called ‘for men’ women have read it as well) hounding him with adoration. This is the start of the book – watching him walk across the street in London being hounded. The book then turns to him trying to flee to the countryside to think about a job offer he has received.

Watching him cross the street, and the person actually in the point of view position at the start of the book, is Jessica Farleigh. She’s watching him with a man named Weston nearby. Weston, you see, has made a wager, or bounty, or something like that. He wants Mark’s reputation ruined (for reasons, mainly because they are up for the same job). Jessica is going to take Weston up on his offer. She needs the money, see, so she can ‘retire’ to the countryside.

Retire? Well, for the last seven years Jessica has worked as a courtesan. A prostitute by any other name. A woman who fucks for money. Jessica cannot stand being a courtesan any longer and would do anything to stop being one, including ruin the reputation of Sir Mark Turner. By seducing him. And having proof of his ‘fall’.

And so the action turns (or, in a way, returns) to Somerset in the south west of England, in a little village there named something like . . . well, I cannot recall. Shipplet or something like that. Mark’s there in the old family home. Jessica is there as Mrs. Farleigh – widow.

Mark, to his own disappointment, finds that his reputation preceded him. They know about him in the tiny village and wish to worship him. A the same time, the same villagers have given the opposite reaction to the other stranger amongst them – they treat Mrs. Farleigh with disdain and try everything they can to keep the ‘dangerous woman’ away from the ‘saintly chaste’ Mark.

Mark, though, is intrigued from the start by Jessica. Less because her clothing is scandalous (not so much if worn in London, but definitely so worn in the country – too . . . exposed she be). Partially because of her displayed with when she didn’t know she could be overheard (the Vicar had pulled her aside to try to push her away, to make her leave the village square while Mark was there – their words, unbeknownst to them, though, echoed – and Jessica was quite witty). Mostly, though, Jessica intrigued Mark because of a flinch. The Vicar, see, had basically groped Jessica (okay, put his hand quite near her massive breasts (the size of her breasts are important to the story (nods)) – and the touch made Jessica flinch. A woman wearing ‘scandalous’ clothing but flinching at the touch of a man? Intriguing. She is not what she seems.

Jessica, recall, is there to seduce and ‘ruin’ Mark. I mention, so I can note that the villagers spend a lot of time trying to keep them apart . . . because of their perceptions of her, and their adoration of Mark. She takes matters into her own hands, though, by appearing at his cabin one day. When it was pouring rain. And she’d forgotten a coat, umbrella, or shrew. Her clothing might have been scandalous for the village, but her appearance when Mark opened the door? Well, nothing was hidden – the reader learns of this as Mark takes in her visible-beneath-the-wet-but-basically now see-through clothing. And other visible attributes.

This . . . seduction technique by Jessica actually backfires. Badly. Jessica knew other courtesans had tried, and failed, to ‘tame’ the ‘virgin’. But . . . well she wasn’t thinking clear enough; she was under tight time constraints. Mostly due to her ever dwindling bank account, but partially due to Weston’s hounding letters.

Mark and Jessica then procced to circle each other. Once Jessica admits certain things (and no not everything), Mark begins to court her.

Things proceed.

Many barriers stand in the way of happiness, though. Enemies to overcome. Reputations to . . . get around. Job offers to be thought of.

Rating: 4.25

June 28 2018




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