Pleasure for Pleasure
Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James
Description: Fueled by the knowledge that notoriety is better than failure, witty, unconventional Josie does what no proper young lady should—she challenges fate. She discards her corset and flirts outrageously. She attends the horse races and allows an arrogant rakehell to whisk her behind the stables for a surreptitious kiss . . . and is caught!
She doesn’t want to marry the young hellion—but who’s to help? Her chaperone keeps disappearing for mysterious appointments; her guardian is on his wedding trip; and his friend the Earl of Mayne is too busy staring into the eyes of his exquisite French fiancée.
Can a marriage forced by stuffy convention and unwilling desire become the match of the season?
Review: It’s been a long while since I’ve read this series by Eloisa James. Previously, I know I enjoyed the books and rereading Pleasure for Pleasure, I find that enjoyment held true. I actually want to go back and reread the first three books also. I really enjoyed Josie, the heroine. She has gumption and a persona about her that makes her very relatable. She, do to an unfortunate nickname, gets hung up on her weight for most of the book. The hero, Mayne, is able to convince her that she is attractive and that her weight doesn’t define her. This is one of those lessons that are sometimes not addressed in romance novels and perhaps should be. Josie’s weight does not define her as a woman nor should it. Mayne and the other characters in the book, such as her sisters, see passed her weight to the lovely woman Josie is. The problem that I had with the book is Mayne’s engagement and how the tendrils of his relationship with Josie start while he is engaged to someone else.
I forgot how much I enjoyed watching the relationship between Darlington and Lady Griselda develop. Darlington abandons his hurtful wit and doesn’t let the age difference between them stop his pursuit of Lady Griselda. It is an excellent addition to the main story line. And also allows Josie freedom to get into trouble. Trouble, that Mayne is able to deliver her from. Reading this book makes me realize how much Eloisa James has developed as a writer. While I secretly adore her older books, her writing becomes wittier and more enjoyable with each book I read. I do think her newer books are less awkward than some of her older ones. Now I want to reread her Fairy Tale Retelling series and perhaps her Desperate Duchesses series before her new book is released. Rereading Pleasure for Pleasure was like reuniting with old friends but after while, you realize why you don’t spend much time with them anymore.
I’m sure it has been addressed but I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring it up: the cover. The most unfortunate case of an inaccurate cover. Josie’s weight is a major plot point and yet the cover model is quite skinny. Although, I do approve of the sensuality of the cover. It fits with Mayne and Josie’s relationship.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Share this:
Somewhere Lost In Books 