Training Lady Townsend (Properly Spanked) Paperback – September 24, 2014

Lady Aurelia has been betrothed to Hunter, Earl of Townsend since she as four and he was fourteen. Except that she’s been in love with his friend Warren for several years and has no desire to marry Hunter whatsoever. Hunter isn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of marrying the “Laudable Lansing’s” innocent, prudish daughter. Unfortunately for the pair, their parents won’t budge and the two are wed. Hunter has specific and dark desires when it comes to the bedroom. When he discovers that Aurelia’s father has blocked Hunter’s access to London courtesans, he realizes that he must teach Aurelia how to please him. Thus begins her erotic training and introduction to the pleasures found in the marriage bed.I feel this is a book best discussed in two distinct parts.In the first half, Aurelia is an uptight, prudish miss who is absolutely terrified of her new husband. And with good reason for Hunter is a selfish, sadistic arse intent on spanking and “training” his new wife to fulfill his dark desires in the bedroom. It is made painfully clear that Hunter views Aurelia as a piece of burdensome property to be endured and then crafted for his pleasure. Little to no regard is given to how she feels about him or the situation of their arranged marriage. All of the sex scenes in the first half may trigger certain readers as they must read graphic descriptions of sexual conquest over a backdrop of Aurelia’s constant requests for Hunter to “stop” and “don’t touch [her].” This was very off-putting since it essentially amounted to rape.Concern and true affection for Aurelia began around chapters 9 & 11, about 50-60% through the book (and far too late in my opinion). In this second half is where we begin to see the positive character development I wish had come earlier in the novel. Hunter becomes protective of his wife, not as a possession but as a person. He takes an interest in her welfare and seeks out activities and presents that would make her happy. Aurelia, in turn, begins to blossom into a confident young woman, enjoying the pleasures of the marriage bed and getting to know the man she has married as well as ways to make him happy – not because he commands it, but because she chooses to do so.The second half of the book was definitely much, much better than the first half. The writing is very good throughout, but the rape of Aurelia severely colored my enjoyment of the novel as a whole (reflected in the rating). The sex scenes are numerous, inventive, and incredibly sensual placing this novel firmly in the realm of historical erotica.Originally posted at Plot Twist Reviews [dot] Com

If you like a good bodice-ripper oh, this is definitely the book for you. However there are many questionable scenes, and the reader is left wondering, whether or not they have just experienced a rape scene or 10! To me, that is definitely a trigger and although I found a lot of this very Stimulating at times, "NO" MEANS "NO!". And throughout most of the book the heroine seems to be terrorized. My curiosity was piqued because I did not want to believe what I was reading but I believe that the " love" that the heroine was experiencing was a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome. And only when the anti-hero completed the debasment and complete victimization of his wife by sodomizing her, did he admit to feeling true love for her...Definitely a questionable love story and a bit frightening. If one takes into consideration that during that period of history, a woman was irrevocably in her husband's control, and his behavior was truly misguided, perhaps a blind eye can be turned at parts. But there were definitely triggers that the author should have prepared readers for...just saying . BDSM AND SPANKINGS were not the only kinks on the menu, and saying so would be a fallacy. There was definitely some rape going on. But in the end the characters did get their happily ever after I suppose. So in the spirit of bodice-rippers oh, this was not too bad I guess.

Reviewed for "Books 'N Cozy Spots Book Reviews", www.Talon-ps.comI had pretty much stopped reading historical novels, for a couple of reasons: one, I’d rather look forward than back. Second, when an historical novel was well researched and written, it drove me crazy wondering how the human race ever managed to survive! But Annabel Joseph writes compelling stories and so, one-click it was…The story, overall, has all the elements that a good historical needs: the setting, the behaviours versus the attitudes, and the most difficult for me, the dressed-up lingo. The latter of course, speaks to the “attitudes vs. behaviours” aspect and also serves to blatantly highlight the worlds-apart that was “Lady Dormouse” Aurelia and Marquess Hunter Townsend.Setting and character properly and gratifyingly, succinctly established, the tale becomes a delightful romp through double-standard to arrive at self-discovery, courage of convictions and of course, abiding love. In this case, The Mighty (Townsend) didn’t so much fall, as he did rise to the occasion, and The Mouse (Aurelia) didn’t so much acquiesce as she did…self-actualize. Not a new concept or process by any means, but so entertaining in this instance because Townsend began as a (note: Amazon-approved lingo applied here) nether-regions orifice of epic proportions such that he was utterly unlikable, and without changing at his core, grew up and grew into an outwardly admirable peer of the realm. Okay, admittedly, Marquess also possessed some seriously mad skills that no peer would admit to…For her part Aurelia, the erstwhile “Dormouse”, forced into a marriage with her polar opposite, grew into, or at least woke up to the person and passions at her own core.Ms. Joseph seamlessly integrates the spanking dynamic with the historical setting and mindset. Historical seems a perfect fit, but in fact, is merely the ability of a supremely authentic author to create a warm and nurturing relationship in any place in time. I enjoyed the romp and look forward to watching the other rich and entertaining secondary characters find their own balance.

I really struggled with this book infact I stopped half way through and read another book before I decided to persevere with this story. I understand where the author was trying to go with this book - Innocent young lady who had been brought up to believe enjoying sex and the human body was shameful - but I thought when she actually started having relations with her husband and he trained her to submit that she would enjoy it. I wanted her to enjoy it. But unfortunately she really didn't (at least not until near the end of the book) and I'm afraid that it just did not make for an enjoyable read. It's not what I look for in an erotic novel where the lead female is so uptight. I actually really like the lead male, I felt quite sorry for him, I did not think he came across as abusive at all, it might have just seemed that way as leading female was so opposed to what he was doing. If he didn't go about the training in the way he did she would have been happy with just consummating the marriage and never have sex again (she wasn't even happy doing that). Like I say it was a good idea for a storyline, it just didn't work for me.

Aside from the erotic stuff, this is an interesting book if you're someone who's read Regency romances and thought: but what happens once the innocent girl is married to the rake? How can it possibly work? The book offers up a suggested version of how it could have worked. Lord Townsend is probably a bit of an anachronism as he recognises how unfair it is that ladies of quality were brought up to think that enjoying themselves was wrong, and wants to bring up his own daughters differently. However, this does make him likeable to a modern audience. He wants to mould Aurelia into his perfect wife and this involves awakening her sexual side, overcoming the sense of shame that's been bred into her and encouraging her to enjoy herself. He doesn't always go about it in the most pleasant of ways, but this gives both characters the chance to grow. The sexual and spanking scenes have been characterised by some reviewers as abuse, but I'd dispute this. Aurelia recognises right from the beginning that Townsend is spanking her for his pleasure, but it's not long before Townsend notices that it's turning her on too, and it's this that convinces him that "training" her is the way forward. Obviously this is not how you'd want your real-life husband to behave, but as a fantasy I don't think it crosses the line.

This is a Regency tale without the dots...... and scenes left to your imagination. It's told well and with some lovely attention to language and historical/sartorial detail.It also has a humorous and romantic side which made it an enjoyable and very easy read.

The story was good. Hunter and Aurelia were ok characters, especially of the era - alpha male and submissive lady. Interesting plotline, with sufficient balls\ house parties. Hunter is partial to dominant BDSM spanking behaviour and actually doesn't have to spend too much time convincing Aurelia that it's a 'hood's addition to their sexual encounters.

This was my first novel set so far in the past, and I very much enjoyed it. The charactersers are well rounded, the development of the relationship was a slow burn, but in a good way. I'll be reading more of this series.