Rating: 
Summary: Get In On the Ground Floor
Review: Years from now people will see Eloisa James at the top of the best seller's list. I read Potent Pleasures with excitement. I knew that I was reading an author with real talent--the kind of talent that will soon be much better known.I bought my copy before reading any of the reviews here that criticize the book for historical errors, but I confess that I didn't know enough to catch them as I read the book. The bottom line is that the book is an enjoyable read and is confidently written. I did not doubt the authority of the author. I read to be entertained and to be able to go to another world--and in this the book is a great success. And that is why I think that James will become a well known and respected writer in the near future. She has the ability, now perhaps a bit raw, to produce valuable books, ones that we will remember and keep. I think it is exciting to find a new talent before she has fully developed her craft and has become recognized by the rest of the world. If you feel the same way, I suggest you try Potent Pleasures (and keep it).
Rating: 
Summary: No Research, Bad Editing, A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY
Review: I purchased this horror of a novel based upon the rather enticing review, before the book was released. I'll never do that again! Many, many error of historical reseach populate this book - I'm glad I wasn't the only one that picked up on the major wanting to become an admiral - gaff isn't the word for that one! But there was one error of historical fact so key to the story that made this book absolutely unreadable - the infamous "Hookers' Ball." Anyone who bothered to do any sort of basic research would have learned that the term "Hooker" (meaning a camp follower, but later to exclusively refer to a low class prostitute) derives from the American General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker, a Union general from Hadley, Massachusetts, whose name became synonymous with prostitutes because of his business-like handling of camp followers, known then as "Hooker's Second Army." And Ms James - FYI, the American Civil War was fought from 1862 to 1865 - a little after the Regency period. Not only is this a "schoolchild's fact", a brief check in a decent dictionary would have provided the origin of the word. Furthermore, there would never have been a "Hooker's" Ball. "Hookers" in the correct historical perspective were camp followers, unattached women who followed armies to tend to enlisted men in both a sexual and menial capacity, doing laundry, cooking, sewing, as well as serving as sexual conveniences. They were considered the lowest form of prostitutes. In the "civilian" context they were equivalent to "streetwalkers" in Regency England. A fancy dress ball to introduce professional streetwalkers to wealthly gentlemen ? I DON'T THINK SO. That's why they walk the streets. Only the more exclusive of prostitutes would attend such a function - the "demimonde" - higher class women who had the looks and training to obtain long term "contracts" with such wealthly men. Ms. James is aspiring to a Mary Balogh-like sensibility - but unlike the excellent Ms Balogh, her characters ring false with every action and word - her "wounded" heroine, after wallowing in her pain and grief, seems to miraculously recover after having to have dinner all by herself, to the extent that her entire personality changes from a shy loner filled with self-doubts to an exhuberant social butterfly, strong and confident. As for the "floppy poppy" - he is beneath contempt, or rather, his depiction is - inconsistent doesn't even begin to describe this moron. He tries to be the classic "romance misogynist" waiting to be reformed- but all we get is a whiny, foolish twerp who can't make up his own mind. Ms James - I would, as well as the many, many other disappointed purchasers of your premier novel would like an apology. If you are planning to write another novel - I suggest you hire somebody to check facts. Otherwise, stick to teaching.
Rating:
Summary: ENJOYABLE - GREAT STORY, GREAT WRITING
Review: I have read an untold number of romance novels and quite a few regencies and I must say that Potent Pleasures is a wonderful book. From the first page I was drawn into a compelling story with great characters. I have read reviews that complain about historical inaccuracies, but since when is a novel supposed to be a history book. I read novels to enjoy them and this one was fantastic. If you are interested in reading an vibrant new talent, try Eloisa James.
Rating:
Summary: The publisher should be ashamed!
Review: I wish I had read ALL the reviews here before I bothered with this book. I happened to look on a day when the batch of reviews at the top were all 5 stars. I figure the author and/or publisher must have called in a bunch of favors! There is no other possible way this book could have rated 5 stars. This book is a mess. I won't bother to repeat all the historical errors already noted here. (Although my favorite howlers are the pajamas, the police, the army officer aspiring to be an admiral, and the reference to Rosetti, who wasn't born until 1828.) The point is, Ms. James cannot have done a single moment of research and, worse yet, neither did her publisher. No author of paperback Regency Romances could have gotten away with such sloppy work. Obviously the hardback editors are not so meticulous. Even this abundance of factual/historical errors could have been forgiven if the story had been compelling and the writing engaging. Unfortunately, that was not the case -- very surprising for an author with a doctorate in English Literature. Frankly, Ms. James' background was one of the reasons I was drawn to the book. Though the dust jacket described a typical Regency Romance plot, I hoped that her academic immersion in English literature would have provided a firm grounding in language, narrative and structure that would have added a new dimension to a tried-and-true genre. Instead, I found horribly awkward sentence structures and no understanding of point of view. Add to all that a premise which wasn't remotely believable and you have one big disappointment. The real puzzler here is what prompted the publisher to 1) buy this book, and 2) to release it in such a sloppy form?
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The gorgeous cover and Eloisa James's background as a professor of English literature led me to expect something quite extraordinary from Potent Pleasures. Unfortunately it was a big disappointment. I'm an avid reader of traditional Regencies and historical romances, and I was appalled by the total disregard for historical accuracy by both author and editor. How stupid do they think we readers are? However, I persevered, hoping the story would eventually draw me in despite the weird, anachronistic setting. The author's quirky writing style was kind of cute, but I found the characters shallow and motivated almost entirely by lust. Even allowing for the circumstances of his previous marriage, the hero is untrusting almost to the point of being psychotic. He treats the heroine very badly (I wouldn't have been surprised at physical violence, but perhaps here the author or editor's sense of political correctness restrained them). And the heroine is ready to forgive him anything, as long as he has sex with her. I'm not a psychologist, but this doesn't sound like a healthy relationship to me. While there always have been and still are such marriages, that's not what I enjoy reading about! All in all, Potent Pleasures has all the elements that sometimes give romances a bad name: sloppy writing, irresponsible sex, and an abusive relationship. In the future, I'll stick to books by my favorite Regency and historical authors. The covers are often tacky, but inside there are vivid historical settings, intriguing characters and love stories in the true spirit of Jane Austen and the Brontes. All for a third to a fourth the price!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: I'm disappointed more with the publisher than the author for actually letting this go all through the supposed system of editors and copy editors and still emerge with so many inaccuracies and just plain shocking grammatical errors. There are dozens of good writers who have paid their dues in paperback who deserve to break out in hardcover. This is an embarassment to the genre and should be to the publisher too. Pajamas, for goodness sake. And yes, one more flying eyebrow and the book would have flown against the wall.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting!
Review: I couldn't put it down. I was rooting for Charlotte from the start, and I fell in love with dashing Alex. Eloisa James is a strong, fresh new voice in historical romance. I'm eager to read her next book!
Rating:
Summary: A fresh and exciting first novel set in England in 1798.
Review: Once I started POTENT PLEASURES, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from this talented author. She had me hooked by her fascinating characters and witty plot. The beautiful Charlote Daicheston wants a taste of freedom before she makes her debut in London, so she and her friend sneak out and go to a masked ball where she meets a handsome man who is irresistible. She finds herself in his strong arms in the garden and is overwhelmed by her own sensual nature, as well as the stranger's, and is ruined. She doesn't know his name or anything about him and thinks he may be a footman, so keeps her ruination a secret, but knowing she can never marry now she will have to pursue her life as a painter. Charlotte never forgets her handsome stranger, a man with black hair shot with silver. Unbeknownst to Charlotte, her stranger can't forget his "garden girl" either and searched for her immediately afterward but without success. In reality he is Alexander Foakes, the infamous Earl of Sheffield and Downes and he has an identical twin brother, Patrick; two men who are always getting into trouble and after Charlotte's debut are sent out of the country. Now three years later, Charlotte meets the man who took her virginity but he doesn't recognize her! Alex has returned from Italy in a blaze of gossip and meets the girl everyone says is a "Diamond" and within 15 minutes tells a friend he is going to marry her. You are going to love reading whether Alex will win his lady's heart? POTENT PLEASURES is told with a marvelous sense of humor, intriguing characters, sensual scenes that will rock you, and how life can get you into unpredictable situations. Will true love pull Alex and Charlotte through the hard times to reunite them, or will it pass them by? This is a very satisfying love story that makes you wish for more.
Rating:
Summary: the best book ever
Review: This is the best book i have ever read, I just could not put it down. It is so well written and so real. Keep the good work up Eloisa James i can not wait to read your next one.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful romp
Review: I loved it! I think this book does exactly what a romance is supposed to do--whirls the reader away into a breakneck, devil-may-care world of love and LAUGHS. The humor and wit of this book make it absolutely worth the read, and the relationship between Charlotte and Sophie is better than any female friendship I've read in ages!
| 
