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Potent Pleasures The Pleasures Trilogy Eloisa James 9780440234562 Books

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Potent Pleasures The Pleasures Trilogy Eloisa James 9780440234562 Books

Very promising but a total letdown
It is difficult to rate this book, I decided on the negative 2 stars because of the awful behavior of the hero and the fact that he isn't really shown to change. Up until the ending I enjoyed the book very much, in spite of the high angst and the suffering of the heroine, because I expected the hero to undergo a suitable emotional "punishment" and show himself to be changed/redeemed.
I liked the tableau of Regency aristocracy and the heroine's interactions with her family and acquaintances. I liked that she had her passion of painting as her emotional anchor when she lost her virginity and could not enter society as she was expected to. I liked the fact that she came out of her shell and was able to reclaim her place in society after a few years. I also liked the secondary heroine who came from trade background and led a fortune hunter rake to redeem himself.
However, what I did NOT like was the awful idea that if a woman shows sexual passion and/or enjoys sex she is not a gentlewoman, not a lady but a *prostitute*. This idea was not only felt by the heroine but the hero also thought so. After he took the heroine's virginity (it's in the book introduction so doesn't count as spoiler) he thinks she could not possibly have been a gently bred lady but a young and inexperienced prostitute because of how she responded to him. This theme returned after he realized that his wife wasn't a virgin and was a part of what led him to believe all false accusations about his wife instead of trusting her. Also, I want to warn people that there is an instance of attempted marital rape by the hero against the heroine - although he doesn't go through with it.
As others noted, the hero turns against his wife TWO times with essentially the same accusation (having sex with other men), even though he promised after the first time that he would trust her, he says extremely hurtful things to her and turns her away, behaving the second time exactly as he did the first time. There is nothing to show that he would not do the same thing the next time something occurred to anger him /to make him jealous, so their final reconciliation feels insecure.
I found the ending a total letdown and the hero's redemption untrustworthy - it made me doubt this author. I doubt I will read anything else by her.

*******************SPOILER ALERT!**********************************

My last complaint is against the way their first encounter is revealed to the hero.
Obviously, all the conflict between them stems from the fact that although he took her virginity he doesn't recognize her when they meet after several years, and doesn't believe her when she says the only man she has been with is him. When he finally learns about it, he ought to understand how grievously he had wounded his wife - both unwittingly when he ruined her, and after heir marriage when he did not trust her. He ought to feel his fault all over again and beg for his forgiveness. But what does he say instead?
"I should kill you for this trick", he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "or I should kill myself for being such an utter, unmitigated idiot."
It is probable that by "trick" he refers to the fact that his wife arranged to recreate the circumstances of their meeting and took him there blindfolded, and the text makes it clear that they are throughly reconciled with each other and Charlotte does it as a sort of a loving joke, not in order to vindicate herself. But still, I think he doesn't blame himself for anything in their past any more.


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Potent Pleasures The Pleasures Trilogy Eloisa James 9780440234562 Books Reviews

Reading this first (?) book by Eloisa James was very interesting as it is not as tight and crisp as the others of her books. I had read that it was her first book in other reviews before I read the book, and I was not surprised because it has that "Peter Principle" feel everything was going wrong, which was a little disappointing and slightly confusing, but in many instances very funny, just too much at times. However, it was a fun read and interesting to see how much her writing has developed.
You can tell Eloisa James is just getting started as an author in this long and tortuous page turner. I suffered and cried and hated the hero at some point...but I wouldn't have missed the rollercoaster ride that is this novel. Not recommended for readers who see morality in black and white. There are some dark shades of gray you may not forgive or understand as I did.
Ghastly story, shockingly bad for EJ. Characters written as too stupid to live, ridiculous circumstances shoehorned in, all to support a single, contrived, ludicrous misunderstanding. Ugh.
Wow, there were so many negative reviews I wasn't certain that I had read the same book. I have ALL of Eloisa's books and though I think I have this one in print, I got it for my kindle too. Charlotte and Alex had met at a cyrpian's ball. Although they didn't know each other (he thought she was a prostitute in training) she of course wasn't. But he'd ruined her and couldn't find her. When her come out was upon her she didn't want to do it. She couldn't come out as she was ruined. She continued on with her painting. After a few years, Alex returns from Italy. He had been married there, but his bride wasn't who he thought. She was supposed to be a virgin but was not. She was in love with a priest. She got her annulment by saying Alex was impotent. Of course he wasn't, he'd father the child that she carried. But all of England is aware of his annulment. Charlotte and Alex meet again. She of course, know who he is but he doesn't know who she is. And she won't tell. They agree to marry. It all goes down hill from there. Alex takes her to Scotland instead of to Italy. They have fought and he can't forgive her even though he is the one who had stolen her virginity. After they go back to Alex's home, he is sent away to Italy. Not knowing that Charlotte is pregnant. He stays away longer than they think. When he does return, he doesn't believe that the child is his. Charlotte takes off for Scotland again. But along the way, she starts to have the baby. She almost dies. But Alex comes to his senses and helps her. In the end, Charlotte recreates the old Cyprian ball they were at. Alex finally realizes that Charlotte is the one he deflowered that long ago night. I think this was Eloisa's first book. It was a great start. Then next books was just as good. I have read all of the series. It was truly great.
Eloisa James takes Regency England and romance and builds a novel full characters, detailed settings and plots that keep the pages turning. Misunderstandings abound in "Potent Pleasures" as well as sharp dialogue, some charming humor, angst and, of course, the HEA -- finally! Charlotte Calverstill, daughter of a duke, has an inopportune and unexpected dalliance with Alex Foakes the Earl of Sheffield and Downes. And from this event all manner of confusion and complex machinations flow holding me to each page wanting to see what craziness Ms. James planned next. I happily enjoyed the personalities and how enough time passed within the novel to appreciate the changes and growth within individuals. I do need to note that Alex's angry verbal attacks put me on edge to the point I wanted to dislike him. Reminding myself of the difference between 1800 England and 2016 America helped me calm my own temper. A book that pushes me that much is one I will remember and respect.
Very promising but a total letdown
It is difficult to rate this book, I decided on the negative 2 stars because of the awful behavior of the hero and the fact that he isn't really shown to change. Up until the ending I enjoyed the book very much, in spite of the high angst and the suffering of the heroine, because I expected the hero to undergo a suitable emotional "punishment" and show himself to be changed/redeemed.
I liked the tableau of Regency aristocracy and the heroine's interactions with her family and acquaintances. I liked that she had her passion of painting as her emotional anchor when she lost her virginity and could not enter society as she was expected to. I liked the fact that she came out of her shell and was able to reclaim her place in society after a few years. I also liked the secondary heroine who came from trade background and led a fortune hunter rake to redeem himself.
However, what I did NOT like was the awful idea that if a woman shows sexual passion and/or enjoys sex she is not a gentlewoman, not a lady but a *prostitute*. This idea was not only felt by the heroine but the hero also thought so. After he took the heroine's virginity (it's in the book introduction so doesn't count as spoiler) he thinks she could not possibly have been a gently bred lady but a young and inexperienced prostitute because of how she responded to him. This theme returned after he realized that his wife wasn't a virgin and was a part of what led him to believe all false accusations about his wife instead of trusting her. Also, I want to warn people that there is an instance of attempted marital rape by the hero against the heroine - although he doesn't go through with it.
As others noted, the hero turns against his wife TWO times with essentially the same accusation (having sex with other men), even though he promised after the first time that he would trust her, he says extremely hurtful things to her and turns her away, behaving the second time exactly as he did the first time. There is nothing to show that he would not do the same thing the next time something occurred to anger him /to make him jealous, so their final reconciliation feels insecure.
I found the ending a total letdown and the hero's redemption untrustworthy - it made me doubt this author. I doubt I will read anything else by her.

*******************SPOILER ALERT!**********************************

My last complaint is against the way their first encounter is revealed to the hero.
Obviously, all the conflict between them stems from the fact that although he took her virginity he doesn't recognize her when they meet after several years, and doesn't believe her when she says the only man she has been with is him. When he finally learns about it, he ought to understand how grievously he had wounded his wife - both unwittingly when he ruined her, and after heir marriage when he did not trust her. He ought to feel his fault all over again and beg for his forgiveness. But what does he say instead?
"I should kill you for this trick", he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "or I should kill myself for being such an utter, unmitigated idiot."
It is probable that by "trick" he refers to the fact that his wife arranged to recreate the circumstances of their meeting and took him there blindfolded, and the text makes it clear that they are throughly reconciled with each other and Charlotte does it as a sort of a loving joke, not in order to vindicate herself. But still, I think he doesn't blame himself for anything in their past any more.