Review: Soiled Dove and the Desperadoes by Laura Ashton

Soiled Dove and the Desperadoes by Laura Ashton

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Menage Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Well-bred and genteel, Valerie Johnson travels by train and stagecoach from Boston to join her husband three thousand miles away in Virginia City, Nevada, only to discover she is a widow. Low on money, unable to find respectable employment, she accepts a temporary position as a courtesan at Rosie's Parlor--an elegant Virginia City brothel.

When godlike Duke Dugan picks Valerie, they both wonder if it is lust or love at first sight.

Fascinated by the beautiful, flaming-haired prostitute he calls Red, Duke, wishing to learn more about her, takes her to dinner in Virginia City's finest restaurant. To her dismay, Valerie finds out that Duke is a rebel captain, who, along with his two brothers, is on a desperate mission for the despised Confederacy. She would tell the authorities, except there's one problem--she's fallen in love with him.



Monica’s Review

Laura Ashton has written a wonderful book. Soiled Dove and the Desperadoes takes place in Virgina City, Nevada in 1860’s sounds like a great place for a western story. Ashton writes about a wonderful woman Valerie Johnson whom is leaving her town to go reunite herself with her husband only to realize he is dead. What to do now? Not realizing that she will need to fend for herself, a prince charming comes strolling in her new life in Rosie’s Parlor where she is a courtesan/strumpet. Ashton did wonderful writing about the history and maybe mystery of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

Ashton wrote her characters in this story very well, starting with Valerie Johnson who is a very brilliant, educated woman. But due to unforeseen circumstances she has to work in a Parlor to satisfy men's needs. All she would like is someone to love and love her back just like her husband. Then we have the Dugan brothers, Duke, Cody and Cory who are part of the confederate army, and farmers. They are wonderfully strong men; good willed and charming to Valerie. Ashton keeps you guessing to find out what kind of mission they need to complete in order for Valerie and Duke to stay together forever. During their journey they all have a new way in looking at life and how they could live.

I recommend this book to readers—it is very romantic and these men know how to make a woman feel like a lady. Duke makes Valerie feel like a real woman, not as a strumpet, but his brothers don’t trail far behind.

3 Tea Cups!