Customer Reviews

Midnight Pleasures

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I liked Potent Pleasures, but I was even more eager to read Midnight Pleasures to find out the fate of Lady Sophia.... I was not disappointed when I finally bought the book. I finished the reading in a day... I simply could not put it off, altho I have an exam coming up soon....

One thing that sets the story apart from other romances is that...I found the story believable. It wasn't just sweet romantic mush... the poignant emotional portrayal of the two leads were well developed, and I found myself laughing and crying along with the characters.

The author, Ms James, is not afraid to paint flaws in her characters. Patrick, the hero has a ferocious temper... Sophia is the cool as cucumber lady who suffers insecurities abt her marriage, even tho on the outside... she's every bit the beautiful, self-assured lady of the ton. I find it all the more wonderful that Ms James applied consistency to her character, from Potent Pleasures, her first book.

Topics like miscarriage, the pain and aftermath, the healing... is touched on, lending depth to the story.

I'm eagerly awaiting Enchanting Pleasures, Ms James's 3rd book.

Another Regency A#1 story. The hero, Patrick Foakes, and heroine, Lady Sophie York, were first introduced in the previous book, Potent Pleasures. It is not necessary to read the previous book to enjoy this one. Sophie has declined numerous offers of marriage and has settled on a rather dull, stodgy man - Braddon Chatwin - who makes no secret of the fact that he intends to keep a mistress and only marry for convenience. Sophie knows this and in order to keep her heart whole, convinces herself that this is what she wants even though she is thoroughly smitten with Patrick. Patrick is a rake of the first order. Patrick decides to help his friend (the dull suitor) elope with Sophie, but Patrick compromises her and Sophie and Patrick must be married. The story revolves around many misunderstandings by Sophie and Patrick and the subplot of Braddon and his would-be mistress is fun. Sophie is entangled in Braddon's affairs witrh his mistress and Patrick believes that Sophie really loves Braddon. When Patrick stays out all night and ignores Sophie, she believes him to have a beautiful black-haired mistress with whom he has been seen in town. Fast moving and delightful.

I found this book to be a humurous new addition to Eloisa James new arsenal. It is nice to have a modern heroine in a historical setting. Sophie and Partick in a "compromising position" and instead of marrying Patrick she engages herself to an earl. Through a bizarre twist of fate Sophie ends up married to Patrick. In her second novel Eloisa James exceeds all expectations. A must read for anyone who like romance and humor all in one package. A winner.

In 1804, after declining twenty-two known proposals of marriage, Sophie Yorke accepts the offer of Braddon Chatwin, the amiable but slow Earl of Slaslow. Sophie knows that infamous rake Patrick Foakes is the one that makes her body sing with his heated kisses. However, when they were caught in lip lock, he honorably proposed marriage, but she rejected his offer to save her reputation because she fears being married to a philander.

Patrick believes his not having a title led to his rejection and Braddon's acceptance by Sophie. However, several events occur that change the situation. The government bestows the title of the Duke of Gisle on Patrick so that he can provide a diplomatic service with Selim III, ruler of the Ottoman Empire. He is also caught assisting Braddon to elope with Sophie, forcing them to wed. Though attracted to one another, Sophie needs to persuade her rake that she agreed to marriage this time because she loves him not because of a title.

MIDNIGHT PLEASURES is a pleasurable Regency romance that will provide plenty of enjoyment to sub-genre fans. The government's sly use of rakes and the shift to the Ottoman Empire adds a fresh perspective to the tale. Readers can feel the heat generated when Patrick and Sophie look at each other as this sensual pair turns the novel into a page burner. Eloisa James may be relatively new on the scene, but with this novel and POTENT PELASURES, she is earning a reputation for excellent storytelling.

Harriet Klausner

This is the kind of book to plump up the bed pillows, light a candle, and break out the chocolates. Wonderful book to read if you like to find an author who follows up her first book, Potent Pleasures, with a story that continues with those twin brothers, Patrick and Alex. Sophie and Patrick's story is a Regency romp with the added spice of the love stories of other characters. I can't wait to see if Ms. James continues the "pleasures" saga with sequels for Quill & Peter as well as Lucien! If you have enjoyed the novels of Julia London or Sabrina Jefferies, you will enjoy Midnight Pleasures!

I have to agree with several other reviewers that said that this book was not as good as "Potent Pleasures". I loved "Potent Pleasures",and was really looking forward to read this book, since Eloisa James books are usually very enjoyable. The problem with this book is that most of the misunderstandings between Patrick and Sophie are just stupid.
An example is that Patrick hears Sophie breaking up her engagement with Slaslow (or so she thought), he hears her saying that she doesn't feel anything for Slaslow, and that she doesn't want to marry him, however, later in the book he is consumed with jealousy thinking that Sophie is in love with Slaslow, and that if it weren't for his interference she would be happily married to him. That doesn't make any sense. On the other hand, why did Sophie hide from him the true nature of her outings with Slaslow? I don't think any husband would be happy allowing his wife to go out with another man every week without at least an explanation. This is a perfect example of doing good deeds and making them look bad.
Another thing, when Sophie gets pregnant she refuses to be intimate with Patrick, (for no good reason that I can think of), then she complains that he doesn't seek her out, and thinks that he is with his mistress. Although, I have to admit it, he acts really weird too, what the hell is he doing walking the streets all night? Are we supossed to believe this? This behavior is quite unbelievable.
The beginning of the book was very good, towards the end it gets on track again, but in between, the book is full of such nonsensical stuff that sometimes I found myself rolling my eyes in exasperation. This book really could have used a little more work on the plot.
I know this doesn't sound like a 4 star review, but really the book is not that bad, if you can bear with the silly misunderstandings the book is entertaining. The main characters (when not behaving like fools) are really likeable. It was just not up to the expectations I had after reading "Potent Pleasures". But still better than most. This is definitively an author I will continue reading.

This is the second in the series by Eloisa James and just as good as the first. This story picks up with Sophie and hunt for a man she can trust. The one she thinks she can trust may not be the one that is ment for her.

With this book just as with all of Mrs. James other novels you need to set aside some time to be able to read it all in one setting. It gets to hard to put them down. You want to see if Sophie gets what she really needs and desires....

Well written sensual book with a bit of light hearted fun along with a tragedy that brings them together.

MIDNIGHT PLEASURES is a good read, nothing extraordinary. I loved both Sophia and Patrick, but the author gave them issues which had inconsistencies in both action and thought, forcing many of their actions to appear unbelievable.

Good array of supporting characters.

Don't know how the title played into the story. It led the reader to believe there would be more eroticism.

I would recommend this book to others, but would let them know that while it's good, it's not really memorable.

I am pleased to see that this writer has begun to fulfill the promise exhibited in her first novel, Potent Pleasures. With a little more practice, she has the talent to become an excellent romance writer, rather than a merely good one. This second novel continues with the characters from the first book, and it is always fun to see the character development from novel to novel. I would agree with some of the other reviewers that the ending needs a little more oomph, but this is a well-told and well written story, and I would recommend it.

I loved Potent Pleasures, but I have to say that Midnight Pleasures is even better! It's funnier than Potent Pleasures and yet it gave me a lump in my throat just as much. Alex was great but I think Patrick is the sexiest, most tender hero I've read all year (and I read a ton of romances). It's worth it to read it in hardcover! Thank you Eloisa, and I can't wait for the next one.