Potent Pleasures

The Pleasures Trilogy, Book 1

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Nothing is more seductive than temptation.

Reckless desire sends Charlotte Daicheston into the garden with a dashing masked stranger. He's powerful and 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 that 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.

©1999 Eloisa James (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A little disappointed with E.J.

Would you consider the audio edition of Potent Pleasures to be better than the print version?

Didn't read it and if I had it to read, I would have stopped mid-stream and put it down.

Would you be willing to try another book from Eloisa James? Why or why not?

Yes, because I love most of her books. But this one disappointed me because of the Charlotte character.

What about Susan Duerden’s performance did you like?

Susan is always good.

Any additional comments?

This book started off great and interesting. Then it made me angry. Midway it became slow and a little boring. I love the way Charlotte's character developed into an interesting,talented, bold and independent woman. However, E.J. turned her into a weakling. I hated the way she did not take up for herself with Alex. I agree that after the wedding the book went downhill. As independent as Charlotte was how could she let Alex shut her down and not allow her to talk. I recognize that E.J. wanted the plot to come full circle, but it could have been done better. I can also appreciate that Alex had issues too because of his first marriage and I could see that he didn't trust women. Okay that's fine. He was mean and insulting, but E.J. could have had Charlotte handle her part differently, stronger. It would have made the book more interesting and exciting.

Lots of good but a few things that bothered me

I love the readers voice and her lovely accent but she gets into voice patterns that repeat with the same pitch over and over. It drove me a little crazy. The story was pretty good but also a bit concerning that it promotes staying with controlling, jerk men- so I struggled a bit with that.

Enjoyable

I don't like giving my opinions a lot so I will say yes there is sex and -
Pro Tip: set the speed at 1.20. It felt too slow at normal speed.

Disappointed

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This was my first Eloisa James book. I found it as a recomendation online. I liked how Eloisa writes, the characters weren't flat and the rhythm of the story felt natural. I'm tempted to give her books another chance but I was very irritated with the characters and their relationship. After the marriage, he was verbally and emotionally abusive. I read romance as escapism and to hear a good love story. I've enjoyed dark romances as well but I expect strife and redemption, for people to make mistakes and there to be forgiveness but this was much more disfunctional and instead of there being healing and growth, she just was glad he decided to keep her. He calls her a whore and a trollop and that she is dirty and her behavior inappropriate. He says she is a liar and a cheater and threatens to take her children. This is only the beginning of the vitriol he spews at her. Her response should have been stronger. I could take it if she stood up for herself, if she called him on it and there was some consequence but it just seems so smoothed over, he doesn't have to earn her back at all.

What could Eloisa James have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I need the female to be willing to stick up for herself more. Show more backbone and self worth. Victims aren't sexy, neither is watching a kicked puppy. Or, don't let your men slide from being a heel to being straight out abusive if you want to keep your females so delicate.

What three words best describe Susan Duerden’s voice?

I'm not a big fan. Susan has a clear strong voice but she ends every sentence on a rhythmic low note and it seems overly dramatic and is distracting.

Any additional comments?

I'm not usually so negative in a review. Again, I like how Eloisa writes and so it was extra dissappointing to see how she writes her characters. I want to know if this is her usual format or did this one just go awry?

Tedious plot line

This is my least favorite of Eloisa James books. The plot is both predictable and convoluted. The behavior of the protagonists does not seem true to their characters . At the end when Alex is begging his wife's forgiveness for his lack of faith and idiotic behavior, he says he doesn't deserve her. I could only agree.

Uuughhhh

I screamed out loud. This story could’ve been 3 chapters max. The conflict was so pointless...

Beautifully written

Beautifully written in the old style and was greatly appreciated. I loved listening to this book

The start of a worthwhile freebie trilogy...

This freebie trilogy from the plus catalog was not bad. I enjoyed them enough to listen to all three. The narrator is unique but grew on me and I ended up loving all the characters in all three stories.

Inexcusable!!!!!

The main characters behavior is inexcusable!! I can’t even imagine being able to ever love or forgive such an ugly person!!! Nothing other than death is befitting! Ugh

A little long, but good read

My only real complaint is that this book just seemed to go on and on and on. Just when I thought it was resolved, something else popped up. However I enjoyed the overall story. The author did a good job not glossing over the way the gentry was so hypocriticallly influenced by their peers' reputations as the gossip vine goes. To me it was a little bit like being in high school, only worse. The narrator did a good job, as well, only I would have enjoyed having a dual narration to help keep all the characters straight. The author wrote the thoughts of quite a lot of characters, even those who just kinda passed through.