A heartwarming story of love and redemption – Historical Novels Review

In a spin-off from her first novel, His Last Duchess, Kimm takes the character of Francesca, formerly the mistress of the complex duke of Ferrara, and places her centre-stage in her own novel.  Francesca is now an aspiring courtesan:  astonishingly beautiful and ambitious, she revels in the power she wields over men.

But when she is visited by an inexperienced young man, it becomes horribly clear to Francesca that, despite her many admiring patrons, she has never been truly loved.  Suddenly, her glittering and sumptuous life becomes little more than a gaudy façade.

And then another unexpected encounter brings with it devastating implications that plunge Francesca and her two young daughters into the sort of danger she has dreaded ever since she began to work the streets all those years ago

A glorious tale of dangerous love in 16th-century Italy – Sarah Broadhurst, The Bookseller

This passionate story resounds with historic truth and makes for a vibrant journey around the Naples of the past – Italia

The multiple narrative strands of this rich tapestry are woven with a skilled, light touch. The Courtesan’s Lover is sexy, moving and, at times, nail-bitingly tense. Peopled with memorable characters set against a stunning backdrop, this is historical romance at its best – reader review

There are plot developments which carry this tale way above the normal romantic fiction, and some moments (deep under the streets of Naples) which are truly disturbing. I loved this novel, and thoroughly recommend it to anybody looking for an exciting, touching, beautiful and memorable book – reader review