A steamy Victorian historical romance (Noire series Book 1)

The Gentleman’s club by Emmanuelle de Maupassant a good four star read. This is the first book in the Noire series and the first book by this author I have read. This author has written a story that will keep you guessing and keep you wondering all the way through. This is a dark, erotic, risqué, raunchy read. Its set in Victorian London 1898 a time when being rich meant that you could pretty much do what you wanted. This book does contain scenes with elements of BDSM, humiliation, lots of sex between multiple partners and M/M and M/M/F so if you are easily offended please do not read this book, it’s very graphic and you would be upset if easily offended.
This author writes a great story, its full of intrigue, mystery, revenge and darkness the words flow off the page and even if some parts are a little much at times, you can’t put it down and it’s almost like a compulsion to keep reading. I am struggling to put this story into words, because it’s so encompassing I couldn’t distil it to put in my own words.
Lord McCaulay is a complex man who is determined to be in control of everything, but when he meets one of the other main characters Mademoiselle Noire he realises that it may not always be possible, but will he ever give up trying?
Each of the characters has their own story to tell and Maud is one that I was most surprised by, the scenes in this book were wrote so well you could see them growing in your mind and flourishing with every page.

The Gentlemen's Club by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

4 out of 5 stars
This story ends in what I would say is a cliffhanger…
This is the first book by this author that I have read and it’s extremely raunchy, but not in bad taste, it may well make you want to try and experience something new. There were several scenes that I had to reread a few times because they were that good.
The way this author wrote about Victorian London set the story and gives an interesting view from which to see the double standards faced by women in a man's world.
Mademoiselle Noire, and her theatre of sexual exhibitionism has Lord McCauley falls under her spell. Humiliated in from for his peers by her, he becomes intent on revenge, but is drawn only further into her web, entering a dark spiral of erotic obsession.
Maud is a young aristocrat who struggles in her daily life to assert her identity against the domination of men. Meanwhile by day Maud and Lord McCauley’ path intersect.
This story flowed well, and had a descent story line, and was entertaining to a certain degree. I would have loved for the story to be written more smoothly, to explore more of the characters and their surroundings. I look forward to reading the second book as Lord McCauley and Mademoiselle Noire's journey continues.
By Tracy

The Gentlemens Club by Emmanuelle De Maupassant

This book will be a pleasure to read if one is into the 19th century where society had vastly different views between men and women. Men were expected to be and have a very active sex life with many different women whereas women weren't supposed to talk about, enjoy, or have sex unless it was their husband. There is very erotic sex in the pages where there is a brothel, or gentlemen's club, where men can relax, eat a good meal and can go behind a curtain to get many sexual treats, house ran by Mademoiselle Noire.
Maud was a young woman who was living with her great aunt Isabella because she lost her parents. Maud is very independent and loves to learn different things. She loves all types of animals and insects. She has learned how they live their animal lives and sees a resemblance in humans. Her Aunt is trying to find suitable suitors so she can marry.
Lord McCaulay of London is a very handsome man who loves going to the club ran by the Mademoiselle. Everyone is also looking for him to find a wife and settle down but he is madly in love/lust with Mademoiselle Noire. He is trying to convince her to become his but she keeps telling him she will never be happy having sex with just one man. The ways in which she shows him what she likes are very hot and steamy.
The ending is very surprising but totally right.

The Gentlemen’s Club is the first book in Emmanuelle de Maupassant’s Noire series. Set in Victorian London, it follows two characters who are both seeking to reconcile their own sexualities with society’s expectations of them. Lord McCaulay is both humiliated and enlightened by the mysterious Mademoiselle Noire, while Maud wishes to be free to explore her own interests and not subjected to the domination of the men her aunt hopes her to marry.
What really struck me about this book is how well-researched and detailed the world is. I really felt like I was getting a history lesson at times, and found the different aspects of society explored fascinating! There is plenty of story and character-building around, and even in the more erotic scenes. I particularly enjoyed learning more and more about Maud over the course of the book.
For me, this is a four star book but I can imagine it being a five star book for other readers. If you’re a fan of Victorian Erotica then this should definitely be on your tbr list! I was lucky enough to have the sequel, Italian Sonata, ready so I could start on it as soon as I’d finished – you will be eager to read more!

The Gentlemen’s Club by Emmanuelle de Maupassant is a four star novel and the first in the Noire series. The book is set in Victorian London in the late 1800s. I enjoyed reading this book because it really puts how life was back then into perspective. Women were not allowed to do much including enjoy their marriage bed. They are expected to stay at home and keep their husbands happy. The men of the time period are able to enjoy their wives and then also go out on the town to enjoy themselves with whatever women they find. Lord McCaulay is a gentlemen. He is a man about town and does well for himself. He loves learning new things and having intellectual conversation. This is where he meets Maud. She teaches him things about life and how he lives it that he never considered before. While this starts happening by day, he is still caught up in the underbelly of nightlife in London. After a prominent Mademoiselle humiliates him after he volunteered for her show he decides he needs to retaliate and find a way to get back at her. But his plan seems to backfire because he ends up finding more of his way through the dark London nights and getting more wrapped up in the seedy side of things. This book is a powerful story on how he is able to figure out life and how he thinks.

The foreword sets this work up with an intriguing history lesson and the prologue begins poetically. In fact, the narrative is poetic, with swiftly executed lines.
We are introduced to Maud, a reader, and needing distraction from thoughts of Lorenzo. Maud is reluctant to let herself be seduced and she could marry him, yet as she says ‘I would be pinned, like a museum butterfly’
I like the story of the club that runs parallel to that of Maud, as we are not quite sure how the two will cross paths. The club is ‘a modest refuge from the bustle of business’
The ladies of this harem ‘Delight in wielding power over men, whether in domination or sweet surrender’
In chapter three we are introduced to another thread of the story and character Lord McCaulay, who has a great interest in birds, of both the feathered and flesh kind.
With the elegance of the words I was more than surprised at reading ‘A dozen men are seated in a semi- circle of armchairs and despite their half-moon masks, he recognises them all’ It all sounds like something from a channel five documentary:
‘In one hand Mademoiselle Noire carries a riding crop’
What takes place are scenes of an erotic nature: dominance and a chamber maid being punished.
Set in the Victorian era, this is seedier stuff than I remember from my school history lessons.
The innocent passages of Maud contrast greatly with those of BDSM scenes, including a memorable scene with claret and an ostrich feather.
With this being set in the Victorian era the author does attempt to use the language of that time. Pubis and phallis are two such words with a high word count, as well as the climax of a female orgasm referred to as a crisis.
There are discrepancies with the words used to describe various body parts. Instead of one word for the one body part, two or three different words are used.
The role reversal of women being those in charge, dominating the men is immediate from page one. Indeed, this proves to be more exciting than the men controlling women scenario. Christian Grey who?
This book does shine a light on Victorian life and the poor expectations placed on women. I like that this puts women first and leaves men feeling utterly miserable.
I like the underlying romance beneath all of the kink and that Maud will not behave like the traditional Victorian lady and will not be shamed for enjoying sex, which is relevant in todays society.
I won’t write of the twist, as other reviewers have already done so, but I really didn’t see it coming.
The writing is sophisticated, the period of which it is set is perfect and engaging characters ensure The Gentlemen’s club deserves ☆☆☆☆
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The​ ​Gentlemen’s​ ​Club​​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​book​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Noire​ ​Series​ ​by​ ​Emmanuelle​ ​de​ ​Maupassant.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a very​ ​erotic​ ​story​ ​set​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Victorian​ ​times​ ​and​ ​is​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​mystery​ ​and​ ​intrigue​ ​and​ ​will​ ​lure​ ​you in​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​these​ ​dark​ ​secrets​ ​surrounding​ ​the​ ​exclusive​ ​club​ ​and​ ​these​ ​rich​ ​people​ ​and​ ​their unusual​ ​tastes.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​an​ ​illicit​ ​world​ ​where​ ​whatever​ ​their​ ​pleasure,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​found​ ​at​ ​the​ ​club. Whatever​ ​their​ ​tastes,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​found​ ​behind​ ​closed​ ​doors.​ ​​ ​This​ ​story​ ​is​ ​both​ ​erotic​ ​and​ ​sensual and​ ​both​ ​disturbing​ ​and​ ​thrilling​ ​and​ ​will​ ​make​ ​your​ ​heart​ ​beat​ ​a​ ​little​ ​faster.
If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​an​ ​open​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Victorian​ ​erotica​ ​novella,​ ​then​ ​you​ ​have​ ​found​ ​it.​ ​​ ​I would​ ​recommend​ ​it​ ​to​ ​those​ ​over​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​18.

The Gentlemen's Club
by Emmanuelle de Maupassant (Goodreads Author)

Wendy Hodges's review
Apr 27, 2017  ·  edit

really liked it

This is a truly erotic story, though there is some plot it is mainly about the attraction and lust between Henry (Lord MCaulay) and Mademoiselle Noire and their interactions. It is well written and though there is some story away from the Gentleman's Club based around Henry and also Maud most of it is the club and what happens in there. I must admit I do like a bit more to my stories these days but I did enjoy it. With graphic sexual content including some M/M, F/F and M/M/F.

I loved this book. The characters came alive, in fact I identified very much with the leading male character. I'm old enough to remember the Victory Burlesque Theatre that attracted the best of international dancers. This book brought back wonderful memories. I'm glad to see that this is Volume one in the 'Noire' Series. I eagerly anticipate Volume two. Emmanuelle de Maupassant has become one of my favorite erotic writers.

The author writes a solid book. This volume was not one I would normally read. It was well written but in the beginning I found the back and forth confusing. I knew it was necessary for character development purposes. And at the end it made much more sense from a plot perspective. It was effective in portraying the societal expectations for the Victorian age as assigned to your sex. Although this was outside my comfort zone, the author writes a solid book.

I loved The Gentlemen's Club. The characters, Lord MacCaulay and Mlle. Noir, were complex and captivating. In a time where men held all the power, Mlle. Noir could command a room full of men just by entering the room. It was easy to picture the tension in the room, as they witnessed the scenes that were not for the faint of heart. You could feel Lord MacCaulay’s longing as the story progressed, and the surprise at the end was sublime. I am eager to see where this story leads.

This book is dark and erotic . Transported to Victorian era where women were just expected to reproduce and not enjoy sex and men were expected to have mistresses . Anything goes in the gentlemans club only there's a woman that has the power here the power to give pleasure or take it all hers and she intends to. The debauchery that she causes is intense. I can't wait for the next and plan to read all of this authors adventures.

I'm a faithful reader of regency and Victorian romance books, but this book was a shocker. There was no indication in the book's description that it would be m/m and f/f interactions. I tossed the book rather than finish it.

Uncaged Book Reviews

Set in a period drama the Gentlemen’s Club where men can go to watch a notorious Mistress at play with other like-minded people like herself, who enjoy a show of varied sexual activity. This is a steamy read that borders on the slightly erotic. Worth a read. Reviewed by Jennifer

What strikes me about this is the perfect balance of authentic Victorian language and accessibility. It makes the prose gallop through damn hot scene after scene, as we witness a man's rapid slide from need into obsession. This is absolutely not to be read in public under any circumstances unless your poker face has won you thousands. A wonderful novel. Emmanuelle has a valued spot in my library.

An intense erotic novel that is sure to inflame desire in the reader, as well as being an insightful look into aristocratic society of the past. Baring some of the truths of their debauchery and showing the hypocrisy of the treatment of women who also enjoyed the  pleasures of the flesh.

Ow La La!! This book is definitely not for any erotic phobes. It is raunchy and explicit, but still has an interesting backstory to hold the reader's attention.
Don't bother starting this book, if explicit sex acts make you uncomfortable.

Come into the parlour said the spider (Mademoiselle Noire) to the fly (Lord MacCaulay). And that is what happened when lord MacCauley entered the private room of "The Gentlemen's Club". He falls under her spell, and lusts for her as his own. But Mademoiselle Noire soon puts him in his place when she shows him that she is not a one man girl. And if he wants her he will have to learn to share her with other men.
A captivating read.

This book is an excellent addition to the erotica genre, a diamond in the rough. One for those who appreciate their erotica full frontal, strong and throbbing, it is nonetheless, rich in language and description. The empowerment of the heroine is a pleasing touch given the historical setting. I would have given the book 5 stars had its length permitted greater development of the characters. Hopefully this will occur in subsequent books to be published in this series.

Written in a convincing Victorian style, The Gentlemen's Club is full of eye-opening (and watering) sexual activity. Set in, not unsurprisingly, a Gentlemen's 'Club', every page is filled with the richness and secret activities that the cover implies.

The Gentlemen's Club is explicit, but not gratuitous; raunchy, but not tasteless. There's certainly debauchery, but also tenderness and intimacy, something sadly missing in many of today's 'Grey' clones.

If you like your erotica naughty, rather than lurid, then this is certainly the book for you.

I'm looking forward to Volume Two...

An excellent period piece of superbly written erotica. I could not set the book down once I started reading. If you desire graphic sexual storytelling this one is a must. Part one of this series spins a tale of a man caught in a vortex of sexual passions and desires; some he is confident about his feelings, others confuse his manhood and reputation. I'm quite sure we will be hearing much more from this talented author in the years to come.

This story is the furthest thing from a romance I have ever read .I did not like the main characters at all.I do think the author is a terrific writer that was the only reason I could get through the story . I thing buyers should be made aware of the context of this story.