Reviews

In the night, all rules are forgotten....

Eloisa James, the acclaimed author of Potent Pleasures, returns to Regency England with an unforgettable new heroine — a genteel but naughty innocent who gets more than she bargains for when she finally says yes to love.

To her legions of adoring suitors, it comes as quite a shock when Lady Sophie York rejects an offer of marriage from the dashing, rakish Patrick Foakes in favor of amiable but dull Braddon Chatwin. He may be an earl, but it is Patrick's stolen kisses that sear her lips.

When Patrick, in disguise, scales a ladder to retrieve his friend's fiancée, he never expects the elopement to be his own. Neither does Sophie, Braddon, or the rest of the tattling ton. One hasty wedding later, the passionate innocent and the sophisticated rogue play out their own intricate dance as Sophie masters what it takes to keep a man where he belongs. And Patrick learns the ultimate lesson in love.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Eloisa James's Paris in Love.

From Publishers Weekly

The daughter of the marquis of Brandenburg, Lady Sophie York is a beguiling and flirtatious innocent. One of the most marriageable young women in Regency London, she's also secretly brainy. Yet she finds herself in love with a man she is dead set against loving: Patrick Foakes, a handsome rake. Sophie has determined never to marry, since her father is a notorious philanderer who constantly humiliates Sophie's mother with his flagrant pursuit of Frenchwomen. Sure that Patrick will always be a libertine, she turns him down when he asks for her hand. She then accepts the proposal of his stodgy friend, Lord Slaslow. Patrick is stunnedAa little relieved, but mostly stung: the proud lothario has fallen for Sophie. After Patrick adopts a disguise as a favor to Lord Saslow, the fiery pair are thrown together. They find they can't resist each other, so they bed and marry. But each has separate, unspoken fearsAshe of his assumed infidelity, he of her early death from childbirthAthat puts them at cross-purposes, until tragedy strikes. James (Potent Pleasures) proves herself a notable chronicler of the genre here. Her spritely tale takes on substance with a subplot about events in the Ottoman Empire. In addition, while the customary hallmarks are in evidenceAthe breathless, drawn-out sex scenes; the misunderstandings that almost ruin everythingAthese contretemps flow naturally from the characterizations and plot, and contribute to an engaging story. (Aug.)

Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A steamy, satisfying romantic romp ... romance writing does not get much better than this."

— People

"Sheer reading delight: witty, wise, and passionately romantic."

— Mary Balogh, author of More Than a Mistress

Don't miss Eloisa James's acclaimed novel:

Potent Pleasures

"Unexpected twists...surprises all around."

— Publishers Weekly

"Utterly frivolous."

— USA Today

Available from Dell

And look for Eloisa James's new hardcover:

Enchanting Pleasures

Available in June 2001 from Delacorte Press

From the Paperback edition.

krissyranae's review against another edition

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2.0

This book would have been much better if everyone would have just talked to each other.

juliana_caterin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

misschievous's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

katleap's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

I liked Sophie a lot in [b:Potent Pleasures|658351|Potent Pleasures (Pleasures, #1)|Eloisa James|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403175424s/658351.jpg|644435] so I was excited for her book. But we got a lot less saucy Sophie and more morose tragic Sophie in this one. Patrick with his walking the streets all night because he can't actually talk to a person. The two of them just needed to sit down and have a conversation, would have solved so many problems.

excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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