Simply Shameless (House of Pleasure) [Paperback]

Kate Pearce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009 | Series: House of Pleasure

Every desire is explored - One forbidden weekend years ago, Helene Delornay found herself stranded with a total stranger. Bold, virile, and well-schooled in the erotic arts, Philip Ross opened Helene's eyes to a world of sexual delight she never knew existed. Now proprietress of London's most exclusive house of pleasure, Helene never forgot the carnal bliss she shared with Philip - and she never found another man who could satisfy the insatiable cravings he awakened within her...Every fantasy is fulfilled - When Philip suddenly returns to Helene's life, the physical attraction they share is far too strong for either to deny. Now as they explore their fantasies and take them beyond the limit, Helene discovers that her feelings for Philip run far deeper than that of just a lover...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dream world. Despite being told that she really needed to 'get with the program', she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history.

A move to the USA finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write that novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves trail riding with her family, 'western style' in the regional parks of Northern California. Kate is a member of RWA and is published by NAL, Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora's Cave, Cleis Press and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Aphrodisia; Original edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758232209
• ISBN-13: 978-0758232205
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Was Totally Worth The Wait, June 6, 2009

By 

Jennifer McKenzie "Jen" (Fortuna, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simply Shameless (House of Pleasure) (Paperback)

It took a while for me to get my hands on a copy of "Simply Shameless", but I finally and did. Wow!!!! Kate Pearce never disappoints me. Her hero, Philip, is so well drawn, believable and both strong and vulnerable all at once. Too many romances make their men too one dimensional--all brawn and no heart. Ms. Pearce has, once again, created a character who is multi faceted and REAL.
Helene and Philip are two fantastic people with pain in their past. The way they heal each other is touching and beautiful. This book packs the conflict in and resolves it with a happy ending that left me sighing. I picked up the book excited to read Helene's story at last and loved every minute. I couldn't put it down and finished it in the early hours of the morning.
After her character Peter in "Simply Sinful", I didn't think Ms. Pearce could create another hero I loved. I was wrong. She did it again. Kate Pearce is a must buy for me and, while her sex scenes were hot and satisfying, I also got invested in her characters and their feelings.
Thank you, Ms. Pearce, for another keeper.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Naughty historical romance! 4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies!, May 3, 2009

By 

Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Simply Shameless (House of Pleasure) (Paperback)

Kate Pearce's third HOUSE OF PLEASURE installment promises to be a scorcher. Helene and Philip met long ago but neither has been able to forget the other. When fate puts them in each other's presence once again, sparks fly!

Long ago, in almost another lifetime, Helene Delornay found herself in the presence of a gentleman she has never been able to forget: Philip Ross. For years he has haunted her dreams and while she knows he went on to marry another, in her heart of hearts she hasn't been able to forget him. The young man she remembers is nothing compared to the man that Helene sees once again. With a lifetime of hurt between the two it will take a lot of patience and consideration for Philip and Helene to have a relationship; that much is certain. With their fantasies ready, they begin once more to heat up the sheets in a SIMPLY SHAMELESS but breathtaking way.

Phi lip Ross has never forgotten Helene and the weekend they spent together so long ago. Helene is now the owner of one of London's most elite brothels and as such can have her pick of any man she wants. Philip wants her to pick him - she is like a drug - he can't let her go and he doesn't want to. He has fantasies that he wants Helene to help him with and she does, quite shamelessly. Sparks fly and the heat is on - who will come out ahead in this erotic play?

SIMPLY SHAMELESS is simply one of the hottest erotic historical romances I have read this year. The heat begins and never lets up in this intriguing and lust filled tale of forbidden love. Helene and Philip never forgot the other - true love often times does that to a person - and they were truly lovers. Each fantasy was fulfilled and nothing was taboo. SIMPLY SHAMELESS is the perfect title to this skillfully written romance. Helene shamefully flaunted her bordello but in reality, it was all a front because Helene actually has a secret. A secret she has kept for eighteen years.

SIMPLY SHAMELESS is extraordinary. Philip and Helene are so passionate with each other and when you add in Philip's additional fantasies of being with a male, the blinders come off and the eroticism starts. From bordello to ballroom, nothing is taboo. I loved every single solitary erotic word!

Natalie S.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What A Shame!, June 2, 2009

By 

melina zora (Greece) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simply Shameless (House of Pleasure) (Paperback)

I must agree with some of the other reviwers that this 'Simply...' book was below par and left me cold and indifferent. I did'n like the characters as they didn't make me feel for them or draw me in, in spite of their horrendous past experiences. Such experiences normally predispose the reader to be symathetic and understanding , but these two people, Helen and Philip failed to gain my interest.

The story goes something like this. Helen (18) meets Philip while traveling. They spend a night together when their carriage breaks down. During the night they share passionate sex but in the cool of the day Helen parts from an enamoured Philip, as he is betrothed to another. Moreover, her past experience as a prisoner in Bastille,prevents her from forming any meaningful relationship with this young man. So, when she arrives in London, compatriots whom she had helped escape the Bastille back in France, help finance a House Of Pleasures, which she runs.

Years later Philip appears as part owner of this profitable business but he is no longer the carefree, sexually emancipated man Helen once met. He is resentful, cynical and sexually repressed as his wife ( who has died in the meantime) tolerated intercourse for the purpose of procreation only, so when that was fulfilled she no longer had sex with him. Yeah, this extremely attractive man with tantric training in sex was rejected by his wife. Hm.Hm. Was this really necessary? Oh yes. He remained sexually frustrated all these years, yearning for what he shared with Helen. Hard to believe.

I felt that the relatinship between Philip and Helen lacked spark. {Philip is at first too much of a stuffed shirt and Helen too businesslike and cold. The sex scenes contain the same daring descriptions as the previous books but in this case the love they profess to feel for each other rings hollow. It's not enough to simply read that they loved each other and the numerous sexual encounters alone aren't enough to persuade the readetr, either. I think that there are too many minor characters who detract the reader from the story which is, after all the romance between man and woman. Overall, it was a loose storyline, one where the author tried to develop the story beyond the main plot by including other issues such as Helen's relationship with her children, but unfortunately it failed.