I have literally just discovered Robin Schone by reading some well written reviews almost by accident, and was intrigued. Erotica is not a genre that has ever interested me but having started this novel I became fascinated. This is not a smutty, kinky, shallow tale, but rather a deep, dark, sensual love story.Elizabeth Petre is a wife and mother, her husband an influential, high ranking, ambitious, politician. Dutiful and supportive of her husband and his aspirations she is nevertheless dissatisfied with her loveless, passionless marriage. Living in Victorian England with its double standards, narrow minded attitudes and lack of women's rights, she has little hope of improving her lot in life. Through the ton's grapevine she hears rumours that her husband has taken a mistress. What follows is Elizabeth's way of trying to win back her husband and seduce him back to her bed.Lord Ramiel Safyre is the base born son of an Arab Sheikh and an English Countess. Renowned for his bedroom talents but scorned and slighted for his bastardy, Ramiel is a lonely man, longing for someone to accept and want him for himself rather than his sexual prowess. Elizabeth approaches Ramiel and surprises him by asking him to tutor her in the ways of pleasing her husband in bed. This is a novelty to Ramiel, he has never encountered a woman who is unselfishly anxious to pleasure a man, he privately wonders what it would be like to be wanted by a woman in that way.Ramiel agrees to Elizabeth's request and the tutoring begins using an erotic manual written hundreds of years previously and known as The Perfumed Garden of the Sheikh Nefzaoui. Elizabeth has specified that she will not be unfaithful to her husband so the tutoring is done by words alone. How this is achieved is quite remarkable, sensual, erotic, sexy and utterly captivating. This is where I thought I would feel uncomfortable, I did not, Ms. Schone manages this erotic dialogue to grow the relationship between the unbelievably naive Elizabeth and the sensual, honourable Ramiel. The air is sizzling and it is not long before the attraction begins to grow between them.There is no physical interaction between these two compelling characters until well into the second half of the book. In the meantime there is a darkly dangerous background story emerging, in which Elizabeth's very life is endangered. There is a shocking culmination, which I did not see coming and which some readers may be repulsed by, I was not. I feel it thoroughly describes the dark days of the Victorian era, with its ridiculously draped table legs but conversely, hypocritical darkly sexual predilections of some members of society.I was slightly uncomfortable with the very graphic descriptions of the actual sexual acts (this is however a bit unreasonable on my part given that it is an erotic historical romance) but loved the slow unraveling of Elizabeth and her low self esteem, she learns to become comfortable in her own skin and this is achieved by her accepting her body as it is, with the delicious Ramiel teaching her how to be a sexy, desirable woman at last.My only real gripe with the writing is the use of American words used incorrectly in Victorian England. It is a pity that Ms.Schone did not employ an English reader to correct this otherwise very well written novel. Gotten instead of got, Fall instead of Autumn, block instead of street but the worst of all 'fanny' which means something completely different in England! I was fascinated by this excellent story and it is a pity I had to be picky. Nevertheless, 4 stars for a sensual, darkly compelling tale.
WARNING: If you want to enjoy the surprises that this book cleverly reveals, don't read the more critical reviews here on Goodreads. There are many which should have spoiler labels but don't.Elizabeth, a proper Victorian lady, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and daughter of the Prime Minister, hopes to repair her loveless marriage, so she seeks out Ramiel, the infamous Bastard Sheik, to give her instruction on how to please a man. He is the son of an English noblewoman and an Arab sheik and reputed to be a consummate lover. Her lessons are centered around discussing The Perfumed Garden For The Soul's Recreation, a four hundred year old book on the art of lovemaking. There is to be no touching, just talking.From this improbable beginning, Robin Schone creates a believable romantic story, as we come to understand how terribly lonely and unloved Elizabeth feels. She is convinced that her husband has a mistress and longs to feel attractive, even at the "advanced" age of 33 and after giving birth to two sons. She is committed to her marriage, however, and not looking to have an affair with Ramiel.Gradually, Ramiel falls in love with her, and after rejection by her husband and a shocking series of events, Elizabeth seeks his protection and they become lovers. From this point, the plot is full of surprises that I won't reveal here. The book is full of graphic discussions and depictions of sex, but Ramiel and Elizabeth don't come together until about two-thirds of the way into the book. Once you realize how utterly loveless Elizabeth's experiences with her husband have been, you can't help but root for her to cut loose and enjoy herself. Ramiel's mother, Elizabeth's parents, and even the servants are strong secondary characters who play integral roles in the plot, which keeps you guessing until the very end.
What do You think about The Lady's Tutor (1999)?
Oh I'm trying deperately to put the words together for a review of how this book made me feel, for something so luscious and evocative I really do need to do it justice, but really don't think I can. I'm late coming to this book and reviewers before me have given details of the plot etc, so I'm not going to repeat what has already been said. What I will say tho' is this book had a profound affect on me..slightly shifted my way of thinking if you like.This book was perfect for me erotic and sensuous, full of luscious writting a very sensual sexual book. there was nothing that I didn't like/enjoy/felt deeply about on some level...I'd read some of Sir Richard Burtons "The Perfumed Garden" a few years ago and the way Robin Schone has woven her story around various parts of the book shows wonderful insight.......I love the way Rameil(exotic, mysterious and oh so very lonely with a sad secret burried in his past but always at the forefront of his mind) is portrayed. And Elizabeth (despite having borne two children,virginal, innocent and also so very lonely) written as she was, is perfect for the pairing which arises from a unique arrangement, requested by Elizabeth (in a desperate attempt to save her marriage) and undertaken by Rameil(out of curiosity perhapes)which takes place over a few days.There are parts that make you weep,they are important to the story and Rameils quiet understanding and seemingly non judgmental attitude (despite the fact that you know the way these passages are written that he seeths at Elizabeths treatment) are what put him,for me,above a character who would have been more vocal, his silence is deeply moving and erotic in its own way. Rameil never ever belittles Elizabeth or her innocence either, which is also deeply moving as she asks alot of questions:). He is a true gentleman who deserves alot more in his life than what has been offered to him.Elizabeth is an innocent victim, trying her best to re-establish something that was sadly never established in the first place, she has unknowingly been betrayed by everyone who should love her, mislead by evil, nefarious,lies to cover a vile truth. There are light hearted parts to the book and Lady Devington (Rameils mother) is a wonderful woman whose own story and way of life is interesting and adds so much to the story.The plot of the story,for me, was full of Victorian intrigue and wouldn't have been out of place 100yrs ago as a novel sold in weekly magazine form from street vendors. I feel it was unique enough for the story to reach it's happy conclusion withou being forced or manipulated.Rameil and Eliazbeths story is breath takingly beautiful, sensuous and erotic (never crude or cringeworthy) and will be burnt into my mind for a long time.....
—Adrienne
Reas your comment about her having children, but never having seen a man with an erection - From what I've read about middle-class and upper- class marriage and sexuality in the Victorian era, it's not that surprising. Some girls and women didn't even look at their own bodies while bathing. Both bride and groom were often ignorant about sex right up until the wedding night, and you can only imagine how awful that experience might have been for two people who were both embarrassed and ashamed of what they were doing. Men took mistresses because the "proper" women they married weren't supposed to like sex. What a messed-up world. No wonder pornography was as popular as it was illegal!
—Wendy
This book was dreadful! The premise of the story was really interesting, but it turned out to be stupid and boring if you can believe that. It just wasn't done right. It wasn't executed in a way to hold the readers interest. Many of the OTT things that happened read like it was only done for shock value and nothing else, and felt utterly disgusting - and I'm not talking about the erotic love scenes between the hero and heroine. Why did the author have to bring kids into this revolting book? I also didn't like the heroine. I thought she had a bland and boring personality. I couldn't see what the hero saw in her. I really enjoyed "Gabriel's Lover" by this author, but I was extremely disappointed in this book. I didn't even have the desire to want to finish it. I wish I had never wasted my time reading this train wreck.
—LuvGirl
