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Simply Wicked

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Simply Wicked by Kate Pearce
Historical Romance- Sept. 29th, 2009
4 stars

Simply Wicked is no typical or tame Regency romance. Kate Pearce has really pushed the envelope in this highly erotic story filled with passion and pain. She continues her Wicked series in this 4th installment that brings back many of her beloved characters. However, I do feel that it can easily be read by itself. This story delves deeply in to the psyche of 2 beautiful but deeply troubled and vulnerable main characters.

In this long anticipated novel, Kate Pearce finally writes Anthony's story. (Anthony is the younger half-brother to Valentin, the hero from her 1st book in the series, Simply Sexual.) Anthony has always felt pressured by his father and when his long lost half-brother, Valentin returns from a life of slavery, Anthony's entire world is further disrupted. He is no longer the heir and when his half-brother's arch nemesis kidnaps and tortures Anthony. Anthony is forever changed. He becomes a man bent on self-destruction and sexual excess. Only now Anthony wonders if his lifestyle may kill him. When Anthony's father and Valentin try to manipulate him Anthony finds hope when he is asked to escort a young widow, Marguerite. But Marguerite proves to be more than a diversion as he finds himself suddenly and unexpectedly attracted to her.

Marguerite loved her first husband Justin and blames herself for the duel that caused his death. She has kept herself hidden away from society and prefers the quiet if lonely existence of her simple house. However her sibling are troubled by her reclusive nature and she finds they have asked Anthony Sokorvsky a young man of town to befriend her and get her to enjoy life with the rest of the ton. At first Marguerite wants nothing to do with young Anthony but she finds behind his bright social face a soul just as lonely and struggling to find himself as she is.

What can I say about this book except WOW! This book is inventive and sexually adventurous. (The hero has several partners and m/m scenes.) The characters are fresh and their journeys of self-exploration are an enthralling read. Marguerite's guilt over her husband's death has kept her frozen in time. She has stopped living. She needs Anthony's fire and passion to awaken her true self. In contrast, Anthony's desires to punish himself for circumstances that he could not control are calmed by Marguerite gentle presence. She makes him wonder if love is something that he could be worthy of. I enjoyed these 2 characters and Kate Pearce has written a novel that is complex and shocking. If you are looking for an original and surprising novel with steaming sensuality then look no further!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I have never read a book that had so many drama kings, I felt kinda sorry for Anthony and Valentin's father. It is a wonder he can get up in the morning. Anthony had a lot of stuff to work through and for the most part his story did not disappoint me and that is because of Lord Minshom. I cannot wait to read his book. He is such an evil person and makes no excuses for his behavior. I did not care for Marguerite in the previous book and was jut getting to like her in this one until I discovered her terrible secret regarding her marriage should have been a non issue considering her family background and mothers occupation. The best part of the book is when Minshom has Anthony and Marguerite at his mercy and in the mddle of tormenting them he realizes they are not worth is time and effort. A LOL moment for me is when he said "I'm leaving. I've never heard such pathetic drivel in my entire life. I fear the pair of you are beyond my help". This book was a nice addition to the series, the first book is still the best.

In 1819 London anything sexual is Anthony Sokorvsky's reputation; which he affirms overnight at Madam Helene Delornay's pleasure house making him late for his meeting with his brother Val (see SIMPLY SEXUAL) at Sokorvsky and Howard shipping. He vows to his sibling to change his ways as he loathes that Lord Minshom owns his body and soul as his personal sex slave.

The Delornay twins ask Anthony to do them a favor; escort their widowed older sister Marguerite Lockwood around town. He agrees as he sees her as a first step back into society after his recent homosexual relationship; she also accepts his invitation as she must overcome the scandal caused by her late husband's death in a duel; her in-laws blame her. As their attraction turns physical, Anthony's former partner has plans for his former submissive and the submissive woman he has ties to.

The key to this Simply Wicked Regency erotic romance is Anthony as he does not suddenly find the holy grail of heterosexual activity with Marguerite, but instead learns he is a bisexual submissive. Marguerite is also a submissive so with no dominant can they find happiness just like they have found love. Fans of the House of Pleasure will enjoy the latest heated historical as this is simply one of the bets sub-genre series leaving fans SIMPLY INSATIABLE for more.

Harriet Klausner

Lady Marguerite Lockwood, daughter of the infamous owner of Madame Helene's House of Pleasure, has been living in self-imposed isolation. Her brief marriage ended when her husband was killed in a duel against his best friend, and the whispers are that the duel was over her. Marguerite has no intentions of reentering society, until her brother introduces her to the dark and devastatingly handsome Anthony Sokorvsky. Anthony awakens desires in her she never expected to feel so strongly, but she soon finds that a simple affair may not, in fact, be so simple.

Anthony Sokorvsky knows all-too-well the darker side of pleasure. But when he wakes up one morning riddled with bruises, he's very aware that he has gotten too deep into the realm of sexual punishment and pain and has done so for the wrong reasons. When Christian Delornay asks Anthony to squire his sister Marguerite around town, Anthony takes the opportunity to step back from his reckless nights. And when he meets Lady Marguerite Lockwood, Anthony finds that there's something about her that calls to him. For the first time in his life, Anthony has met someone he wants to seduce. But when lust turns into something more, a dangerous figure from Anthony's not-too-distant past threatens his newfound happiness. Can Anthony and Marguerite's relationship survive the machinations of someone who threatens to expose their deepest secrets?

Just when I think I've decided on an all-time favorite book of Kate Pearce's, she delivers another gem. Simply Wicked is an erotic tour de force about love, acceptance, understanding, and passion. With Anthony and Marguerite, Ms. Pearce has created two wonderful protagonists, and the tenderness between them grabbed my heart while their love scenes burn with intensity - a double dose of bliss to readers like myself who like both heat and heart.

Anthony is a man who has grown accustomed to letting himself be sexually used and discarded by other men. He was abused in the past by another and though he thinks he has long since recovered, what was done to him left its mark. At the beginning of the story even Anthony is forced to see he is on a dangerous downslide. I cheered for Anthony when he made the decision to take a stand, to stop allowing others to dictate his sexuality, to explore what he truly desires, and to experience passion and joy rather than using pain and humiliation to bring about sexual release. It takes a strong woman to look Anthony's past square in the face and not let it shake her; good thing Ms. Pearce is a master at creating strong heroines. Marguerite's past contains tragedy of its own, and for a while she lets it get the better of her. She hides herself to avoid the cutting tongues of society, living a half-life of sorts. I was thrilled to see her come out of her shell, to finally start being the woman she truly is inside. When Simply Wicked begins, there is a broken innocence about both characters that only true love and acceptance will heal into something stronger and more powerful. Both Marguerite and Anthony learn to stand on their own, but they're even better as a pair, which is why I was up late into the night reading Simply Wicked - once I started reading I could not stop.

Simply Wicked is the fourth book in Ms. Pearce's phenomenal House of Pleasure series, but it can be read on its own. I will admit that some of the initial anticipation I had for reading Simply Wicked came from seeing what happened to Anthony in the first book in the series, Simply Sexual, and his subsequent decline over the following books (Simply Sinful and Simply Shameless) into a craving for pain during sex that he did not actually desire. However, this anticipation is only what led me to bite my nails waiting for Anthony and Marguerite's story. The excitement I feel now is that of a reader well and truly satisfied by a great story, so new readers need not fear they'll miss some of the joy of reading the book. I'm sure anyone new to the series will fall in love and rush back for the previous books, as they're all sensual delights.

In Simply Wicked Ms. Pearce continues her tradition of creating unique heroes and heroines that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I fell in love with Anthony and Marguerite and their story was amazing. I cannot wait for the next two books in this series, Simply Insatiable and Simply Forbidden. Ms. Pearce will definitely have to work to make a believer out of me with Simply Insatiable, since the hero is the villain of Simply Wicked. I'm not too concerned, though, because if anyone can write a deeply complex and fascinating hero, it's the clever, talented Ms. Pearce. It's her marvelous brand of realistic complexity in her heroes and heroines which made me fall in love with Simply Wicked and will keep me avidly reading her books for many years to come. Joyfully Recommended!


Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I picked this book up out of order from the rest of the "Pleasure House" series. However, it is the mark of a wonderful, talented author that I didn't feel I needed to read the other books in this series to understand the last few books I've missed. The writing is sexy, plot is engaging, and the author really breathes life into her characters. I could barely put it down and will certainly be purchasing the next few books, both those I missed and those in the future.

Kate Pearce has amplified the spiciness with SIMPLY WICKED, the fourth novel in her HOUSE OF PLEASURE series. Readers will finally read and understand Anthony's desires and needs as well as those of his soon to be lover, the widowed Lady Marguerite Lockwood.

Waking up from a night of total depravity, Anthony Sokorvsky finds himself no longer deriving pleasure from his sexual wants and needs. The depravities he allowed to happen to his body the night before have left him shaken and almost broken. Not to mention the fact that he is late for a meeting with his brother. Deciding to forgo his life of debauchery and repair his reputation as being a sexual slave, Anthony's answer to save his standing in society comes in the request of the DeLornay twins. They want Anthony to escort their widowed sister Marguerite about town. After a bit of thought, Anthony agrees - never knowing what a challenge this independent but shy widow will turn out to be.

Marguerite Lockwood misses her husband very much. Since his death, she has been staying at home due to the scandal of her husband's death. Still mourning the loss of her husband, Marguerite stays at home in order to hopefully repair her reputation and keep herself out of the limelight. Now, however, her family is pushing her to get on with her life, and Marguerite is scared. She is scared to feel anything for another man. She is scared of her reputation becoming once again tarnished. But most of all, she is scared that she will be the cause of another man's death. When Anthony Sokorvsky is introduced to her, she can't help but see the man he is trying to hide from the world, and that intrigues her.

Anthony and Marguerite vow to be friends. They both have an agenda, and becoming lovers is not on either of them. It's a good thing fate has other ideas because in each other, Anthony and Marguerite are about to find the one person who makes them whole.

I love, love, love, this series! Kate Pearce makes me crave to go back in time and walk in the footsteps of her characters. Anthony is truly one of Kate Pearce's most wicked of characters - but in his wickedness there is a youthful and almost innocent yearning in him to find that one person to spend his life with. He knows what is wrong with his life and takes steps to improve it - for that he is braver than most.

Lady Marguerite. What can I say about this woman? Because of her husband's death, she has been judged by her peers and their opinion of her is what goads her into action. She never expected to find Anthony desirable, nor did she expect to give in to her forbidden hunger to be the one woman Anthony will not forget. Add in a vengeful and devious ex-lover and my historical romance loving soul was replete.

SIMPLY WICKED holds nothing back. The heat is escalated, the sexual escapades are naughty, and the characters are unforgettable. Everything I love in a book and more!

Natalie S.

In Simply Wicked, Kate Pearce introduces us to Anthony. His history of abuse has skewed his perception of sexuality and he believes pleasure can only lie in the dark and perverse. Determined to put the violence of his desires behind him, he leaves his lover and the world of bondage and dominance behind him. When he is asked to act as social escort to Marguerite, he sees an opportunity for a much needed distraction from a lifestyle that is destroying him.

Marguerite doesn't know what to think about the intriguing and sensual man her family has asked to escort her. He titillates dormant desires she doesn't hesitate to act on them. But Anthony's when his former lover refuses to let him go, Marguerite is pulled into a vicious game of revenge.

Ms. Pearce has penned a story of sensual elegance so lush and appealing, I didn't want to put it down. The Anthony and Marguerite battle their private battles, and try to move on with their lives. Their pasts aren't as separate and secret as they thought. They must work together to set things right before they can move on.

Anthony's vulnerability drew me in. His desperation to leave behind a lifestyle which left him filled with shame and degradation was filled with turmoil and confusion. This lost quality left him floundering, searching for some elusive sense of happiness. Anthony's attitudes were frustrating, though. At times he seemed to enjoy wallowing in victim mode, but as he learned to make his own decisions he matured.

I was never sure what drove Marguerite or why she made some choices. She was, however, surprisingly open to new sexual experiences. Sexually, she was the perfect match for Anthony, firm and demanding, yet still the picture of soft, feminine sensuality.

This fourth book in the House of Pleasure series left me wanting more. Ms. Pearce's luxurious writing is a decadent delight and I cannot wait for book five and its unexpected hero.

This is an erotic title and the sexuality in it is extreme. I do not recommend this title for those who are not open to rough love play, homosexuality or bondage.

I think with the 1st three books in this series, I was really impressed and excited about the writing and the story Kate Pearce weaved around all the characters.In Simply Wicked we have the story of Valentine's younger brother Anthony Sokorvsky. In the previous Simply series, Anthony's is raped by a man out to seek revenge against Valentine. He turns to a life of debauchery and Lady Helene's house of pleasure and has a twisted sub/dom relationship with Lord Minshom. Now he has decided he wants to explore his sexuality. Can he have a "normal" relationship with a woman or is he meant to have a "normal" m/m relationship? Either way, he has decided that the humiliation he suffers with his relationship under Minshom's hand must end. He starts by escorting Lady Marguerite(a recent widow)around to London Balls and soirees. Lady Marguerite, for those that are familiar with the series, is the daughter of Helene. So in a nutshell, for me this novel didnt have the same sexual excitement and level of adventure that is defined as erotica. In fact, aside for one or two scenes the sex was what you can find in todays mainstream romance. We arent given any scenes to show what Anthony's relationship with Minshom was like. There's a lot of hints and sly innuendo and other than the small peak at the beginning of the novel, Anthony is fully vested in pursuing his relationship with Marguerite. Throughout the story it is hinted that Marguerite has some HUGE secret passion or risque sexual adventure with her deceased husband. When its revealed at the end you're left with a flat and soooo??? I found myself rushing through the pages hoping that it would pick up or get steamy or something that would make me go ahhh, this was delightful. Unfortunately this was a bit flat for me. The storyline was thin, the passion not so passionate. I am however intrigued at the idea that Pearce is going to make Minshom the hero of her next novel. I cant imagine making the reader fall in love with him. that will be quite a challenge. In summary just a solid 3 since we see old characters and have closure for Anthony

**edit done for spelling

When I picked up 'Simply Wicked' I was a little worried that I wouldn't understand the story, having not read the previous titles in the 'Simply . . .' series. But I needn't have been concerned.

Kate Pearce is a real pro. She fills the reader in on previous events by seamlessly weaving the past into present conflicts. The book begins with Anthony Sokorfsky, brother of Valentin, awakening, bruised and shaken, in Madame Helene's pleasure house.

(I think every city ought to have a Pleasure House modelled after Madame Helene's. On the main floor, one can dine and flirt and sip champagne, while upstairs, the pleasure comes from the lash of a whip or the crack of the crop. I think Madame could have a franchise, were she willing to invest the time.)

Anthony hurries to Sokorvsky and Howard Shipping Company to meet his Valentin. He's come to the realization that he's had enough pain and humiliation at the hands of Lord Minshom. He also wants to prove to his Father and Valentin that he is more than a useless aristocrat. Anthony vows to change.

In a sense this is the coming of age story of two adults. One, Anthony Sokorfsky, and the other Marguerite, the twenty-three year old half-sister of Madame Helene's twins. They implore Anthony to squire their widowed sister about town. Since her husband was killed in a duel, she has removed herself from society. She mourns her dead husband and isn't ready to have sex. Since Anthony wants to change his ways, he could begin by courting Marguerite, without worrying about actually having to consummate the relationship.

What nobody foresaw was the instant attraction between Anthony and Marguerite.

From their first meeting to the last page of the book the two tentative, rather mysterious would-be lovers must deal with their past (the man who killed Marguerite's husband in the duel and what, exactly, that duel was about, and Anthony's almost evil ex-Dominant Lord Minshom)and their own sexual proclivities.

Are they a good match or would they be better off as affectionate friends? Should they be bound together forever or go their separate ways?

The plot may sound like a traditional bodice-ripper but in fact it's packed with decadent, wicked, kinky sex, sex, sex.

By the last page of Simply Wicked all the complications have been resolved satisfactorily and one is left with both a sense of satisfaction and a craving for more.

Kate Pearce is a terrific erotica author and I tip my fascinator to her.

STORY BRIEF:
Marguerite was married for a short time when her husband had a duel with another and died. She never goes out. Her siblings ask Anthony to take her out occasionally for her own good. They know Anthony prefers men and would not be a threat. However, Anthony and Marguerite find themselves attracted to each other. She is the first woman he has ever desired. Anthony was raped by a man when he was 19. Since then he has had sex only with men who inflicted pain and humiliation. Now he wants to change, but his previous partner doesn't want to lose him. Anthony and Marguerite tell each other about their past sexual desires and find the other accepting, understanding, and willing to accommodate. There are a lot of erotic sex scenes with bondage, sex toys, rear door activity and men with men.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I had trouble with the last third of the book. Prior to then Anthony and Marguerite had been open and honest with each other about embarrassing sexual history and desires. But during the last third of the book he thinks she's disgusted with him, and she pushes him away for vague and illogical reasons. It didn't work well as a story. For example, she wants to meet someone at night to get information about something, so she lies to Anthony, letting him think she no longer wants to be with him. Her purpose in lying was to keep him away for the night so she could sneak out. But he would have supported and helped her. That didn't make sense. Later she is angry at Anthony - I have no idea why. After that she pushes him out of her life and tells her brother "I'm afraid to let him down, to prove unworthy of him." Again, vague and illogical since they had such an open and accepting relationship - and his past was more scandalous and humiliating than hers. Why would she think this?

I also had trouble with the story about Marguerite's dead husband. It wasn't explained well enough. Motivations were vague.

The sex scenes were interesting and different, but I needed better story to go with them.

DATA:
Story length: 301 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 16. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 57. Setting: 1819 London. Copyright: 2009. Genre: erotic regency romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Kate Pearce books, see my 4 star review of "Simply Sexual" posted 10-02-08.