The Madam of Maple Court
Joan Elizabeth Lloyd
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Buy *The Madam of Maple Court* by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd online

The Madam of Maple Court
Joan Elizabeth Lloyd
Kensington
Paperback
304 pages
May 2008
rated 1 1/2 of 5 possible stars

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In the wake of her husband’s funeral and the newfound realization that her wealthy financial security was only an illusion created by her husband, Pam DePalma and her lawyer set to work developing a new smaller budget by which Pam will have to learn to live by. Sadly, in rambling through the financial files and accounts of the DePalmas' personal and business lives, discrepancies in the numbers prove that Pam’s husband was up to something. The question is, what?

What Pam knew of her life, her marriage, and her self changes in one moment when she learns that her husband spent over one hundred thousand dollars in a year on a high-end prostitution/fantasy service located in the city. As she investigates this service and finds, much to her chagrin, that all her stereotypes are being blown out the window, Pam begins to see the allure of the business and lifestyle that apparently captivated her husband so much.

With his death, Pam begins to realize her own sexuality. When she becomes fast friends with the owner of the fantasy club, a spark within her ignites, bringing together the world of prostitution and the high-class party extravaganzas that Pam makes her income from. It's only a small leap before Pam is also playing the role of prostitute and making men’s fantasies come alive. With every passing week, Pam comes to learn, enjoy, and love the sexuality within her and the gift she's been given in fulfilling men’s fantasies.

This is novel is not much more than a step up from a rather over-the-top pornographic film. The “interactions” leave few extreme bedroom preferences untouched and in truth are somewhat nauseating to read. The protagonist also goes from extremes, living initially as monogamist with deep desires for children and family. Yet after a few months of selling herself, the opportunity finally knocking on her door begets her ultimate desire for the new profession. Hidden in the endless sexual encounters, the goal is for Pam to find herself and her inner strength, but Lloyd does a poor job convincing anyone that a woman selling her body for money and having endless sexual partners, but no real love, is the answer to finding oneself. Unlike Eden Bradley, author of A 21st Century Courtesan, Lloyd’s portrayal of prostitution is demeaning in every way to women and to the sanctity of marriage beds. The whole story is dissatisfying.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Sonia R. Polinsky, 2009

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