Rating: 
Summary: Hardcover vs. paperback- there is a difference!
Review: I read the "Potent Pleasure" and I enjoyed the story very much. After reading it, I came online here to read the reviews of other people. I was amazed to see both wonderful and very terrible reviews. I began reading the 1-2 stars reviews and I discovered that the historical errors the "unhappy" readers talked about were not present it my "Potent Pleasures" book. I was confused and I truly thought that the 1-2 stars reviews must be talking about a different book than I read. I even went back to try to find the numerous historical errors which other people found, but I couldn't find them. Anyway, finally I figured the puzzle out. Apparently, I am the first one to be reviewing the paperback version of this story (which came out in May 2000) and I can tell you that the story errors, that the other readers pointed out, have been cleaned up and/or rewritten before the paperbacks went into print. This is Eloisa James's first novel and on the whole I found the story to be very interesting and enjoyable. However, I am surprised that an unknown author would have had her first historical romance novel printed in a hardcover book. If I had purchased the $20.00 version of the book and found all the initial errors in the story, I too would have been upset. But for $6.00 the revised softcover version it well worth the money. It's a good story, and I am looking forward to Ms. James next "paperback" book. This new author has alot of potential!
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Compelling
Review: While there were many parts of this book which contradicted each other (and not to mention how the sentences were written in a horrible structure; which might explain confusions in the plot), I enjoyed this book. For a first effort, it's quite interesting and I'll be foreward to reading what else this Eloise puts out. Also would like to mention the cover: Just Love It. I'm sick of those cheesy covers.
Rating: 
Summary: I devoured this book!
Review: I read a lot of books...a lot. I consider myself somewhat of a reliable critic of historical romance. I adored this book. I couldn't put it down. I thought about it all day...even had to sneak a chapter in the middle of the day. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful regency romance--a keeper!
Review: Although I'm rather a sporadic regency romance reader, I found Ms. James' take on the genre fresh and original. The characters are a delight--interesting, charasmatic and all too real. This reader's engagment with the characters made the emotional scenes pack an extra punch. I loved Charlotte and Alex--but found myself hoping that Ms. James would revisit some of the secondary characters (Patrick and Sophie, Chloe and Will) in a later book. I'm eagerly awaiting Ms. James' next endeavor.
Rating: 
Summary: A frivolous romance novel.
Review: This book is only slightly better than a Harlequin romance. (Except dime store romances don't take themselves quite so seriously.)It is a really dumb book - to be blunt. The characters are so unrealistic it is embarassing and the setting so contrived it is painful. The moral of the story is this: if you are beautiful, endowed with sexual prowess, money, and a specimen body, you too could have the world's most perfect romance. Yuk.
Rating:
Summary: Potent Pleasures is a must read!
Review: This book draws the reader into the story from the beginning to the end. I could not put it down. James does an excellent job in describing the love, passion, and feelings of all the characters. I hope she continues writing books of this magnitude.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Ignore the Forest for the Trees . . .
Review: I do NOT understand the vitriol directed at this charming, sexy and funny book (and I won't even MENTION the nasty reviewers who direct it at the writer herself). Me, I can forgive a factual error or two if I am getting one of the best romances I have ever read. It kept me up way past my bedtime and I was a wreck at work the next day, but it was worth every minute. It devlivered that high that I know I go to the romance section for. I'm going to buy everything Eloisa ever writes!!
Rating:
Summary: Sadly disappointing
Review: The description of this book enticed me to buy it, thinking I'd get the same lovely quality of all the historical romances I have enjoyed for years. Sadly, Potent Pleasures failed to deliver. Was I the only one who thought the characters felt like ones you'd find on a television sitcom, and not a very good one at that? Shallow, self-absorbed, pathetic. I was so hoping to find a fabulous new talent in the genre I've loved since I was in school. I work full time and am a full time wife and mother. My time is precious, as are my family finances. Now I wish I'd spent the cost of this book on something more worthwhile. Just call me a disappointed reader. :(
Rating:
Summary: A fun read!
Review: Ms. James style is light and fun, her characters were charming, and the story premise amusing. I am not knowledgeable on the regency period, so I was blissfully unaware of the problems the other reviewers found. I found it to be a thoroughly delightful read.
Rating:
Summary: ignorance is bliss
Review: Ms. James knows nothing about the period about which she writes. The list of her mistakes, misapprehensions and outright absurdities could fill a book. Unfortunately, it would not be a very good read. Potent Pleasures is. Ms. James may know next to nothing about the regency, but she does know how to sweep us up in a story, make us feel the heroine's distress as she battles on through an utterly implausible plot, and rouse our libidinous impulses. Potent Pleasure is fun to read.
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