Pleasurable Bargains

By Kate Pearce

Eden's Pleasure By Kate Pearce Eight years ago, after a summer of sexual dalliance with Gervase Harcourt and his twin brother Gideon, Eden was forced into marriage. Now widowed and twenty six, she is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419956604
• ISBN13: 9781419956607
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Ellora's Cave
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Erotica Very Well Written

I bought Eden's Pleasure then Antonia's Bargain as soon as I realized it was Gideon's story. These are serious adult stories. Not for the squeemish, but also not for those just looking for something just detailing a string sexual encounters for no other reason than sex. The characters are complex, multifaceted and keep you interested in the progression of their stories. The stories are set in the early 1800's in England. The relationships between the people and the role of sex in relationship are quite believable for that time period. Gideon and his younger twin Gervase share their stories with strong women, Eden and Antonia. I agree with another reviewer, Gideon really appealed to me the most of all the characters. The characters are so well written at times I almost felt like they were real people. I bought Simply Sexual because it is in part a continuation of these stories. One of the characters with a strong role in Antonia's Bargain, Peter, and two others mentioned, Sara and Valentin. I hope Ms. Pearce will give Peter his own HEA story, outside of HEA with Sara and Valentin.

Eden's Pleasure is Joyfully Reviewed!

Widowed after eight extremely long years, Eden is finally free to be herself and indulge in sexual escapades forbidden when married to her elderly husband. Who does she turn to but the men who were her downfall eight years ago? Gideon and Gervaise Harcourt have one weakness and her name is Eden. Caught in a state of undress eight years ago, they are the reason she was forced into matrimony with an older man in order to save her reputation. Now, however, she doesn't care about her reputation. She wants to explore her sexuality in ways not accepted in polite circles. Who better to show her than the Harcourt twins? This is a novel of awakenings for all three main characters. I thought Eden quite bold, sexy, and brave; especially during this time frame in history when reputations meant everything. Of the twins, Gervaise is the one I love the most. He reinforced my view that love can conquer all. His twin, Gideon, made me shiver with his dark desires and illicitness. I usually shy away from books written in first person. I am happy to say that Eden's Pleasure held me hostage from the first moment I picked it up until I read the very last word. It has all the elements needed to keep my attention and the sex scenes were extremely well-written. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Pearce!

That should be four-and-a-half stars

So here's the deal: There are two romance stories in Pleasurable Bargains, one of which features a hero I love in an unholy way. Honestly, the extent of my Gideon love is nigh-infamous. Here now, I shall attempt to separate Eden's Pleasure (which I liked to a four) and Antonia's Bargain (which I liked to a five, and which starred Gideon, who I love to eleven). Purely for the sake of reviewing. Eden's Pleasure is a second-chance story. It takes that old historical standby--a patriarchal "thou shalt not have boy/girl of thine dreams, thy shalt marry who I say or Bad Things Will Happen"--and gives it a spicy twist or three. It's written with Ms. Pearce's snap, all fast-moving prose that sizzles, tickles, or saddens on demand. It's a great, engaging read, plausible and steamy and fun. A caveat: Gideon is yummy. Everyone I've discussed Eden's Pleasure with agrees Gideon is yummy. Gideon is also Not The Hero...that would be his twin, Gervase. Overcome the Gideon yum temporarily and enjoy Gervase and Eden's relationship for its own sake. Erotic romance readers won't regret it. Antonia's Bargain is, quite frankly, the story that won Ms. Pearce my readership for life. Where Eden and Gervase have to fight their pasts and the machinations of others, Antonia and Gideon blend seamlessly. They are precisely what I'd hoped they might be (but feared no writer could pull off, such was/is my Gideon love) and their relationship unfolds in a real, natural way. Spicier than Eden's Pleasure, perhaps, but absolutely necessary to properly bring these two people together in a realistic way. It's not possible to discuss these stories without mentioning their sexual content, if only for those readers struggling with the current trends of labeling erotic romance. There is sex. Frequently. Explicitly described, all within the confines of their respective plots. This is not a bodice-ripper historical, wherein a few naughty words are used. These are sexual stories intended for readers who enjoy explicit seduction in their romance. But for our main characters, the sex is not gratuitous, it's merely an extension of how they overcome their conflicts to reach their happily-ever-afters. Erotically-charged romance, well-written with engaging characters. That's what you'll find in Pleasurable Bargains. This is one of very few books which I will highly recommend to those who enjoy a very spicy romance read--and yes, they are definitely romances--but will not actually lend out myself. My copy's sacrosanct: it's not leaving my apartment because I'm sure I wouldn't get it back.

Review sites

Reviewer: Rachelle "Fallen Angel Reviews" Rating: 5 Angels As I sat down to read Antonia's Bargain, Ms. Pearce had two items in her favor right from the beginning: the fact that this story was a historical and knowing I would be exposed to some non-traditional sexual encounters. Then she snared me with Gideon who was confident, a connoisseur of all things sexual yet still saddled with a good deal of vulnerability. Ms. Pearce was able to design a man who, in spite of his sexual proclivities, made you feel as if no one else in the world existed. Then she took me over the top with Antonia. Gideon's perfect match and equal when it came to intelligence, wit and daring. These two were perfect and Ms. Pearce was able to highlight their every emotion, which made this book topnotch. A great story for readers like myself who appreciate love full of acceptance, compromise and your `happily ever after on our own terms' relationship. Reviewer: Francesca Hayne "Just Erotic Romance Reviews" Rating: 5 Stars After eight years in a horrendous marriage, Eden is ready to experience a little pleasurable freedom. After having been caught in a compromising situation with Gervase Harcourt, she's ready to explore her deepest desires. When Gideon crosses her path to make amends for his part in her disastrous marriage, he promises to teach her the joys of passion. But once Gervase enters the picture, the fantasy of erotic, no strings attached exploration becomes difficult to live with when faced with the reality of her love for him. This book truly moved me, making me feel an instant connection to the characters and leaving me empowered by the story. I really enjoyed the no-nonsense attitude Eden displays, as well as the compounding emotional turmoil that the situation creates. Any story that can drain me emotionally as well as sexually is rare indeed, and Eden's Pleasure does both. Gervase has a challenging personality that I can't help but feel an attraction to. He knows what he wants and doesn't fail to take what he needs. This take-charge attitude is both desirable and shocking, not to mention devilishly sexy. There isn't a moment in this whole novel that I didn't sense a romantic and loving connection between the characters. They do things together to showcase their love, making their joy seem real. But the sex! Cool me down with a cold shower because these sex scenes are scorching hot. There is a bit of everything here, from sex toys to voyeurism and even a bit of ménage, and the story never slows or becomes dull. Overall, I greatly enjoyed Eden's Pleasure and will be placing Ms. Pearce on my auto buy list.