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Potent Pleasures [Mass Market Paperback]

Eloisa James
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
Price: £7.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Del Rey Books; Reprint edition (1 Jun 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0440234565
  • ISBN-13: 978-0440234562
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 2.6 x 17.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 195,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Eloisa James
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Product Description

Product Description

Nothing is more seductive than temptation.

Reckless desire sends Charlotte Daicheston into the garden with a dashing masked stranger. He's powerful, unforgettable, a devastatingly handsome footman who lures her--not against her will--into a grand indiscretion at a masquerade ball. Then he vanishes.

Several years later, after Charlotte has made her dazzling debut in London society, they meet again. But the rogue is no footman. He's rich, titled, and he doesn't remember Charlotte. Worse, he's the subject of some scandalous gossip: rumor has it, the earl's virility is in question.

Charlotte, who knows all too intimately the power of his passion, is stunned by the gossip that has set society ablaze. At last, there can be a storybook ending...unless, of course, Charlotte's one mad indiscretion had not been with him at all....

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Charlotte was one week short of seventeen when her life changed, falling into two halves like a shiny child's ball: before and after. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Farfalla VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
This book combines some of the best characteristics of the romance novel into a surprisingly delightful whole. There is the typical plot (boy meets girl, get married, strife, reunion) but the way in which this is exectued is wonderful. Nor does the author rely on sex scenes to create a feeling of intimacy between the characters. They talk together out of bed!

The heroine, Charlotte, is quite likable, and likes to paint, actually is a serious painter, even if only for herself. She has a misadventure with the hero, Alex at a masquerade ball right before her debut. She feels herself to be ruined, and after three years of protesting agianst marriage, she finally decides that she doesn't want to be alone, and proceeds to give herself a makeover, and takes London by storm.

During this time, Alex has been sent off to Italy, while his twin brother Patrick, is sent off to India by their irate father. When Alex returns after Charlotte has become one of the reigning beauties of London, he doesn't recognize her. However, she recognizes him. Alex was declared impotent, which he went along with happily in order to escape from his marriage in Italy, and so even though he has a little daughter, he is believed to be ineligable for marriage. And from here, we get the rest of the plot. Alex still is distrustful of women, after his wife in Italy betrayed him with the servants, and those of their social circle, and anyone else to come along. Charlotte knows that Alex is the only one she has ever slept with, even if he doesn't believe her. And society decides that she has a tendre for his twin, since Alex is supposedly incapable.

The supporting characters are well drawn out, and you hope that they will re-appear in their own book(s) - they do! I look forward to reading more by this talented author.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
As a 91-year-old, life-long romance reader, I was enchanted by all the pleasures of Eloisa James' first novel. From the whimsical account of Charlotte's experience in finishing school, to the heart-wrenching child-birth scene, James' novel moved me to both laughter and tears. As a nonagenarian feminist, I was quite happy to encounter a heroine who was talented, witty and self-confident--not the simpering, doting females of many other romance novels. James has a masterful touch with witty dialogue, along with a delicious ability to evoke all the textures and nuances of the age. I found Potent Pleasures to be both imminently entertaining and ridiculously readable!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover

Just prior to her eighteenth birthday, Charlotte Daicheston innocently accompanies a friend to the "Hooker's Masquerade Ball". While there, Charlotte loses her virginity to Alex Foakes, a future duke. Alex searches for her, but fails to find her. A few weeks later, Alex and his twin brother get in trouble and their father exiles them with Alex going to Italy.

By 1801, three years have passed since Alex was sent overseas. He has returned as the Duke since his father recently passed away. He seeks a wife to help him raise his little girl, who he sired while being married in Italy. At a ball, he meets Charlotte, who recognizes him, but he fails to do likewise. He pushes her into marrying him. They make love, but he goes crazy when he realizes she is not a virgin. Though they make up, one must wonder if love dies when trust fails to anchor it. Soon, this couple will be put to a life and death test.

POTENT PLEASURES is an interesting Regency romance that centers on how gossiping scandals can ruin lives. The story line is interesting even though readers will want to pound Alex at times for his boorish, obstinate behavior. Charlotte is a warm character and little Pippa will steal the audience's hearts. Eloisa James has written a historical romance that will please sub-genre purists even as it provides a moral lesson on loose lips sink relationships.

Harriet Klausner

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
book review
Not really for me. Too heavey. Like my Historical novels to have lots of humour. This did not
Published on 25 Dec 2009 by C. Quirk
a disappointing read
I haven't read any other books by Eloisa James, so I don't know if this book is typical, but I found Alex unlikeable and Charlotte unconvincing. Maybe her other books are better. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2003 by pfreeman
Simply Silly
Like Lizzy's youngest sister in Pride & Prejudice, Potent Pleasures is simply silly. It does a disservice to the genre and the many talented Regency writers who have lovingly... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 1999
Disappointing
Potent Pleasures is a grave disappointment when compared to the well-written, historically accurate stories lovingly created by hard-working regency authors who know their stuff. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 1999
A great surprise!
I really fell in love with Potent Pleasures, even though I usually do not like regency as much as contempory love stories. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 1999
Disappointing.
I'd heard so much buzz about Potent Pleasures that I thought it must be absolutely wonderful, and the setting is one I know and enjoy. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 1999
Delightful! A sparkling new voice!!
I picked up Potent Pleasures and read it in one night--I didn't put the book down for a second! How wonderful to have found such a talented new author and a book that is so... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 1999
A rare find that makes the reader laugh, cry and sigh.
Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James is one of those few books that will keep the reader up until 3:30 a.m. Read more
Published on 24 Aug 1999
Wonderful story.
Read a past review here and had to respond. One, I found Potent Pleasures utterly charming, so much so I didn't have time to look at the punctuation. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 1999
What a delightfully wicked Regency romance!
"Potent Pleasures"--what a potent title for such a pleasureful read! It was such a refreshing change to read a Regency-era historical romance that starts out such a... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 1999
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