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Pride and Pleasure
A thief-taker is out to steal the heart of a bluestocking heiress in this sexy Regency romance by the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
London, 1818. There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters corner her, friends become opportunistic, and lately, someone is engineering "accidents" designed to propel her into marriage. But Eliza is too smart to be bullied. To find the culprit, she just needs the right man to infiltrate the nest of suitors—and none comes more highly recommended than thief-taker Jasper Bond. One look at the devastatingly handsome Jasper and Eliza knows he’s the wrong man for the job. No one will believe an intellectual like her could be matched with a man of action like him. But Jasper is determined to change her mind. The intriguing mystery—and the undeniable attraction they share—makes this a case he can't resist. For Jasper, client satisfaction is a point of pride. And it's his pleasure to prove he's just the man Eliza needs."A flawless blend of captivating characters, clever plotting, and searing sensuality.”—Booklist
London, 1818. There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters corner her, friends become opportunistic, and lately, someone is engineering "accidents" designed to propel her into marriage. But Eliza is too smart to be bullied. To find the culprit, she just needs the right man to infiltrate the nest of suitors—and none comes more highly recommended than thief-taker Jasper Bond. One look at the devastatingly handsome Jasper and Eliza knows he’s the wrong man for the job. No one will believe an intellectual like her could be matched with a man of action like him. But Jasper is determined to change her mind. The intriguing mystery—and the undeniable attraction they share—makes this a case he can't resist. For Jasper, client satisfaction is a point of pride. And it's his pleasure to prove he's just the man Eliza needs."A flawless blend of captivating characters, clever plotting, and searing sensuality.”—Booklist
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2011
801 people are currently reading
7467 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Day
121 books122k followersAcclaimed for her signature emotionally charged storytelling and the psychological complexity of her characters, Sylvia Day is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print. Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including six Sunday Times, ten New York Times and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. Visit the author at sylviaday.com
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July 31, 2011
After studying the writing craft for over a decade now, I’d have to honestly say, I’ve been ruined…at least as an objective reader. I can no longer slide blithely through redundant description, dawdling action or blah characterization. I find myself constantly searching for more, silently challenging the author to give me a reason to keep the book open, to ignore the push of real life and remain lost in their fictional world.
And while charming, shocking, seducing or even scaring a reader into maintaining interest has a place in commercial fiction, as a reading-writer, I expect more, and Sylvia Day's PRIDE AND PLEASURE delivered.
------------------------ WRITER'S REVIEW ------------------------
There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows. Fortune hunters flock to her, and lately, someone is engineering “accidents” to propel her into the safety of marriage. But Eliza will not be bullied. She needs a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit.
Thief-taker Jasper Bond is too handsome and too dangerous for such a task. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But Jasper cannot resist the challenge Eliza presents. Before all is said and done, he will prove that he is more than capable of satisfying all her needs…
So many strong points, so little time. For this article, I decided to focus on skills that typically challenge other authors, but which Sylvia excels at: characterization, stakes, and efficiency of prose, or what I call pulling double duty.
In PRIDE AND PLEASURE, the reader is exposed to the heroine, Eliza, and the hero, Jasper, through multiple techniques employed by the author: the characters’ own narrative thoughts, their actions, their dialogue, the observations of others around them and a skillful use of limited, meaningful backstory.
The result is rich, flawed, loveable, fabulous characters that transform into real people from the very first pages. From that point on, the reader is compelled to continue. What happens to these characters matters. The reader must know how each incident affects the character emotionally, intellectually, physically. How it will change their future, their hopes, their dreams.
And this author never leaves the reader disappointed. Sylvia Day follows through with enchanting and descriptive ways showing just how each step of the story affects the characters, inside and out.
As an example of typical characterization, consider this passage:
Jasper would never presume to call himself a moral man, but he did function under the code of ethics Lynd had taught him—help those in actual need of it. He did not extort protection money as other thief-takers did. He did not steal goods with one hand in order to charge for their return with the other. He simply found what was lost and protected those who wanted security…
From page 2, you know this man may engage in some illegal activities, but they are for the welfare of others. This has been a highly successful technique. Think of the famed Robin Hood. In more modern times, the recent television series, Leverage, comes to mind, in which a ragtag team takes on unjust cases to right wrongs, albeit by unconventional or even illegal means. Or consider the huge hit Dexter, a serial killer who kills serial killers. Simply brilliant.
Here’s another example of characterization, this one showing the reader Eliza’s traits, but through Jasper’s eyes. A very enticing tactic.
As with her bookkeeping, the columns were neat and tidy, yet the way in which she formed her letters was different. Highly slanted as opposed to straight, elongated at the highs and lows, bleeding at the point of ink refill as if she was too hurried to shake off the excess properly. He mulled this over as he read—the care over numerals versus the carelessness over proper names was telling.
This passage pulls characterization double duty. Not only does the reader see that at this point in the novel Eliza is more concerned with numbers than people, but also conveys Jasper as astute, intuitive, observant and intelligent.
Sylvia’s strong technique of blending backstory with the present shows us not only who a character is, but why he or she is that way. She uses this aspect skillfully, displaying keys to a character's personality and inner motivation.
Her mother’s life had forever been a series of crises and bursts of happiness interspersed with heated arguments and the depths of despair. Eliza had grown so weary of Georgina Tremaine Martin Chilcott’s incessant drama that she’d taken great pains to moderate her own life. She preferred private dinners to lavish balls, and the comfort of laying on her boudoir chaise with a book over literary luncheons.
Stakes
It is difficult to adequately demonstrate how stakes rise throughout the story without giving away too much and thereby ruining the read, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to take that enjoyment from you. So, I will outline the beginnings of the conflict and describe how it deepens to add intrigue and urgency to the story.
The story’s premise centers around Eliza’s courting season. While she is participating in the season to please her Uncle, she is quite happily independent and sure she won’t wed, despite the numerous suitors interested in her wealth. But strange and dangerous occurrences make Eliza suspect one of her fortune hunting suitors is trying to push her into choosing a husband for her own sense of security.
One of the most agreeable suitors is a man named Montague. Montague also happens to be Jasper’s long-standing enemy, unbeknownst to Eliza. Later we discover, this is also unbeknownst to Montague, which not only ups the conflict and stakes between characters, it adds a subtle intrigue to the story. For Jasper, the job of protecting Eliza and investigating the suspicious circumstances takes on double meaning. Immediately, the reader can foresee a conflict of interest, which ups the stakes – both professionally and personally -- when Jasper and Eliza’s relationship deepens.
The author masterfully continues to amp these stakes, divulging more and more information about Montague and his character, and as the story progresses, so does the rift between Montague and Jasper. As morsels of information are exposed, the reader is both surprised and delighted. These plot twists are not contrived, not purposely held back and then sprung when it’s convenient for the author, but develop organically. The more we learn about Jasper and his background, the more light is shed on the part Montague has played in Jasper’s struggles and, thus, motivations. And with each revelation, the reader is sucked deeper into Jasper’s conflict, his ordeal, his dilemma.
A subtle, masterful, powerful, delightful example of increasing stakes which develops naturally from character. Here are a few passages to show this dilemma as it progresses.
Initially, Jasper wonders why his associate, Lund, would pass this assignment to him.
…which begged the question of why Lynd was passing on this post. With such similar principles, either of them should have been as good as the other.
Then, during the initial conversation with Eliza and her uncle, the first signs of an answer come.
"Eliza, marry Montague and be done with this farce.” [Her uncle said.]
With the voicing of that one name, Jasper knew why he’d received the referral and how little chance Eliza Martin had of dismissing him.
Beyond this point, mentions of and meetings with Montague pepper the story, building conflict, intrigue and Jasper’s motivation.
"So long as Montague fails to acquire the funds he needs to regain his marker from me, I can do whatever is required.” It was a delectable twist that the best way to foil Montague’s suit was to woo Eliza Martin himself. Page 19
The marker Jasper held was for a deed to a parcel of land in Essex that boasted only a modest home and was by far the smallest property Jasper laid claim to. Regardless, its value was priceless. It represented years of meticulous planning and the retribution due him. And in a mere six weeks it would be irrevocably his to destroy or flaunt at his whim. Page 19
[Jasper] kept his hours filled from the time he awoke until he couldn’t fight sleep a moment longer. Such preoccupation afforded less time to ruminate on the thorn wedged in his side. Eliza both helped and hindered in that regard. When he was with her, he was so mindful of her there was no room for awareness of anything else. And that was a problem. He could not afford to lose his focus now. Not when he was so close to achieving his aims. Page 42
Beyond this, I can’t divulge more without spoiling the wonderful storyline for you. But I think you can see from the few passages seeded on page two and growing methodically through page 42, that this is a pattern that will continue throughout the book. This foreshadowing shows how the issues will become a pitting point between Jasper and Eliza, until it all comes together at the very end of the book. When Jasper’s complete story is finally revealed, his backstory and motivation cement his character.
As a writer, I find increasing the stakes throughout a book to culminate in a truly sufficient black moment one of the most challenging aspects of writing a novel. As a reader, I find this element a key component of craft writers often fail to achieve, but one that is necessary to feel fully satisfied by the story. Sylvia Day did a superb job with this in PRIDE AND PLEASURE.
Efficiency of prose:
What I mean by this, is when an author twines several elements together, enabling a scene to perform multiple functions at the same time. Utilizing a passage for several purposes instead of one provides a richer read with an efficiency of words.
Here are a couple examples of how Sylvia Day takes this technique to a micro-level, applying it to the paragraph structure, with powerfully efficient results.
Jasper leaned back in his chair, considering. There was something about the way [Eliza] eyed him that set off a quiet alarm. He appreciated being paid for his services rendered—as anyone did—but he wondered if more than the balance of her accounts and a wish to absolve a debt was motivating her. He’d dealt with members of the peerage who felt the act of paying him put him in his place. Once he’d accepted money, he was no longer a businessman but a commodity they had rights and power over. In most instances, he cared not at all what clients told themselves to assuage their pride. In this case, he would not allow Eliza to think she could control him with her money.
In a mere 125 words, the author has given us a glimpse inside the hero. She has shown us a hint of his backstory, a peek at his characterization, a glimmer of his internal motivation and foreshadowed future conflict between hero and heroine.
Wow. All in 125 words? Yes, powerful.
She looked at his hands, noting the whiteness of [Jasper’s] knuckles as he gripped his biceps. She forced herself to look away and give Lord Westfield her full attention. Her fingers were linked so tightly, they hurt. Even lacking refinement in social graces, she knew what she was about to do was wrong in many ways, but she also knew Jasper needed to hear she wanted him as well. He required it said aloud, with a witness. As confident and aggressive as he could be when in his element, he was as lost as she was when it came to intimacy.
Here, Sylvia has once again masters the multi-purpose paragraph. This short passage shows Eliza’s internal conflict and how that develops her character. We see how Eliza’s feelings for Jasper have grown. In the greater picture, this paragraph is also part of the author’s artfully painted character arc for both the hero and the heroine. We can see Jasper’s character through Eliza’s eyes, the connection between hero and heroine and how their relationship has grown to include understanding one another without speaking.
In 101 words. Amazing. I aspire.
There are far too many wonderful elements of the writing craft utilized in PRIDE AND PLEASURE to outline in such a short article. I hope you’ll explore and enjoy the novel for yourself.
And while charming, shocking, seducing or even scaring a reader into maintaining interest has a place in commercial fiction, as a reading-writer, I expect more, and Sylvia Day's PRIDE AND PLEASURE delivered.
------------------------ WRITER'S REVIEW ------------------------
There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows. Fortune hunters flock to her, and lately, someone is engineering “accidents” to propel her into the safety of marriage. But Eliza will not be bullied. She needs a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit.
Thief-taker Jasper Bond is too handsome and too dangerous for such a task. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But Jasper cannot resist the challenge Eliza presents. Before all is said and done, he will prove that he is more than capable of satisfying all her needs…
So many strong points, so little time. For this article, I decided to focus on skills that typically challenge other authors, but which Sylvia excels at: characterization, stakes, and efficiency of prose, or what I call pulling double duty.
In PRIDE AND PLEASURE, the reader is exposed to the heroine, Eliza, and the hero, Jasper, through multiple techniques employed by the author: the characters’ own narrative thoughts, their actions, their dialogue, the observations of others around them and a skillful use of limited, meaningful backstory.
The result is rich, flawed, loveable, fabulous characters that transform into real people from the very first pages. From that point on, the reader is compelled to continue. What happens to these characters matters. The reader must know how each incident affects the character emotionally, intellectually, physically. How it will change their future, their hopes, their dreams.
And this author never leaves the reader disappointed. Sylvia Day follows through with enchanting and descriptive ways showing just how each step of the story affects the characters, inside and out.
As an example of typical characterization, consider this passage:
Jasper would never presume to call himself a moral man, but he did function under the code of ethics Lynd had taught him—help those in actual need of it. He did not extort protection money as other thief-takers did. He did not steal goods with one hand in order to charge for their return with the other. He simply found what was lost and protected those who wanted security…
From page 2, you know this man may engage in some illegal activities, but they are for the welfare of others. This has been a highly successful technique. Think of the famed Robin Hood. In more modern times, the recent television series, Leverage, comes to mind, in which a ragtag team takes on unjust cases to right wrongs, albeit by unconventional or even illegal means. Or consider the huge hit Dexter, a serial killer who kills serial killers. Simply brilliant.
Here’s another example of characterization, this one showing the reader Eliza’s traits, but through Jasper’s eyes. A very enticing tactic.
As with her bookkeeping, the columns were neat and tidy, yet the way in which she formed her letters was different. Highly slanted as opposed to straight, elongated at the highs and lows, bleeding at the point of ink refill as if she was too hurried to shake off the excess properly. He mulled this over as he read—the care over numerals versus the carelessness over proper names was telling.
This passage pulls characterization double duty. Not only does the reader see that at this point in the novel Eliza is more concerned with numbers than people, but also conveys Jasper as astute, intuitive, observant and intelligent.
Sylvia’s strong technique of blending backstory with the present shows us not only who a character is, but why he or she is that way. She uses this aspect skillfully, displaying keys to a character's personality and inner motivation.
Her mother’s life had forever been a series of crises and bursts of happiness interspersed with heated arguments and the depths of despair. Eliza had grown so weary of Georgina Tremaine Martin Chilcott’s incessant drama that she’d taken great pains to moderate her own life. She preferred private dinners to lavish balls, and the comfort of laying on her boudoir chaise with a book over literary luncheons.
Stakes
It is difficult to adequately demonstrate how stakes rise throughout the story without giving away too much and thereby ruining the read, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to take that enjoyment from you. So, I will outline the beginnings of the conflict and describe how it deepens to add intrigue and urgency to the story.
The story’s premise centers around Eliza’s courting season. While she is participating in the season to please her Uncle, she is quite happily independent and sure she won’t wed, despite the numerous suitors interested in her wealth. But strange and dangerous occurrences make Eliza suspect one of her fortune hunting suitors is trying to push her into choosing a husband for her own sense of security.
One of the most agreeable suitors is a man named Montague. Montague also happens to be Jasper’s long-standing enemy, unbeknownst to Eliza. Later we discover, this is also unbeknownst to Montague, which not only ups the conflict and stakes between characters, it adds a subtle intrigue to the story. For Jasper, the job of protecting Eliza and investigating the suspicious circumstances takes on double meaning. Immediately, the reader can foresee a conflict of interest, which ups the stakes – both professionally and personally -- when Jasper and Eliza’s relationship deepens.
The author masterfully continues to amp these stakes, divulging more and more information about Montague and his character, and as the story progresses, so does the rift between Montague and Jasper. As morsels of information are exposed, the reader is both surprised and delighted. These plot twists are not contrived, not purposely held back and then sprung when it’s convenient for the author, but develop organically. The more we learn about Jasper and his background, the more light is shed on the part Montague has played in Jasper’s struggles and, thus, motivations. And with each revelation, the reader is sucked deeper into Jasper’s conflict, his ordeal, his dilemma.
A subtle, masterful, powerful, delightful example of increasing stakes which develops naturally from character. Here are a few passages to show this dilemma as it progresses.
Initially, Jasper wonders why his associate, Lund, would pass this assignment to him.
…which begged the question of why Lynd was passing on this post. With such similar principles, either of them should have been as good as the other.
Then, during the initial conversation with Eliza and her uncle, the first signs of an answer come.
"Eliza, marry Montague and be done with this farce.” [Her uncle said.]
With the voicing of that one name, Jasper knew why he’d received the referral and how little chance Eliza Martin had of dismissing him.
Beyond this point, mentions of and meetings with Montague pepper the story, building conflict, intrigue and Jasper’s motivation.
"So long as Montague fails to acquire the funds he needs to regain his marker from me, I can do whatever is required.” It was a delectable twist that the best way to foil Montague’s suit was to woo Eliza Martin himself. Page 19
The marker Jasper held was for a deed to a parcel of land in Essex that boasted only a modest home and was by far the smallest property Jasper laid claim to. Regardless, its value was priceless. It represented years of meticulous planning and the retribution due him. And in a mere six weeks it would be irrevocably his to destroy or flaunt at his whim. Page 19
[Jasper] kept his hours filled from the time he awoke until he couldn’t fight sleep a moment longer. Such preoccupation afforded less time to ruminate on the thorn wedged in his side. Eliza both helped and hindered in that regard. When he was with her, he was so mindful of her there was no room for awareness of anything else. And that was a problem. He could not afford to lose his focus now. Not when he was so close to achieving his aims. Page 42
Beyond this, I can’t divulge more without spoiling the wonderful storyline for you. But I think you can see from the few passages seeded on page two and growing methodically through page 42, that this is a pattern that will continue throughout the book. This foreshadowing shows how the issues will become a pitting point between Jasper and Eliza, until it all comes together at the very end of the book. When Jasper’s complete story is finally revealed, his backstory and motivation cement his character.
As a writer, I find increasing the stakes throughout a book to culminate in a truly sufficient black moment one of the most challenging aspects of writing a novel. As a reader, I find this element a key component of craft writers often fail to achieve, but one that is necessary to feel fully satisfied by the story. Sylvia Day did a superb job with this in PRIDE AND PLEASURE.
Efficiency of prose:
What I mean by this, is when an author twines several elements together, enabling a scene to perform multiple functions at the same time. Utilizing a passage for several purposes instead of one provides a richer read with an efficiency of words.
Here are a couple examples of how Sylvia Day takes this technique to a micro-level, applying it to the paragraph structure, with powerfully efficient results.
Jasper leaned back in his chair, considering. There was something about the way [Eliza] eyed him that set off a quiet alarm. He appreciated being paid for his services rendered—as anyone did—but he wondered if more than the balance of her accounts and a wish to absolve a debt was motivating her. He’d dealt with members of the peerage who felt the act of paying him put him in his place. Once he’d accepted money, he was no longer a businessman but a commodity they had rights and power over. In most instances, he cared not at all what clients told themselves to assuage their pride. In this case, he would not allow Eliza to think she could control him with her money.
In a mere 125 words, the author has given us a glimpse inside the hero. She has shown us a hint of his backstory, a peek at his characterization, a glimmer of his internal motivation and foreshadowed future conflict between hero and heroine.
Wow. All in 125 words? Yes, powerful.
She looked at his hands, noting the whiteness of [Jasper’s] knuckles as he gripped his biceps. She forced herself to look away and give Lord Westfield her full attention. Her fingers were linked so tightly, they hurt. Even lacking refinement in social graces, she knew what she was about to do was wrong in many ways, but she also knew Jasper needed to hear she wanted him as well. He required it said aloud, with a witness. As confident and aggressive as he could be when in his element, he was as lost as she was when it came to intimacy.
Here, Sylvia has once again masters the multi-purpose paragraph. This short passage shows Eliza’s internal conflict and how that develops her character. We see how Eliza’s feelings for Jasper have grown. In the greater picture, this paragraph is also part of the author’s artfully painted character arc for both the hero and the heroine. We can see Jasper’s character through Eliza’s eyes, the connection between hero and heroine and how their relationship has grown to include understanding one another without speaking.
In 101 words. Amazing. I aspire.
There are far too many wonderful elements of the writing craft utilized in PRIDE AND PLEASURE to outline in such a short article. I hope you’ll explore and enjoy the novel for yourself.
August 6, 2016
*****3.5 Pleasurable Stars*****
Eliza is an heiress in her sixth season. She has money, manages her own finances and affairs, and has never been denied anything. She has happily decided not to marry, but to live out the rest of her days quietly reading and spending time in the country. Marriage would only cost her her freedom to do as she pleases, and would allow her husband to take over her finances. And that is just unacceptable. Eliza has no concept of carnal lust until she lays eyes on Jasper.
Jasper is a thief-taker, which is dangerous job. He is also the bastard son of the Earl of Montague. His only desire in life is to cause the destruction of the Montagues for the part they played in his mother's demise. He finds his resolve tested and his focus on revenge impeded by desire for his new employer; a headstrong, strawberry blond, blue eyed heiress that is wreaking havoc on his once peaceful existence.
The love scenes between Jasper and Eliza were hot and no less than I have come to expect from Day. Her love scenes are HOT because both parties are not just expressing lust/desire for one another, but something stronger that runs much deeper. Day writes with so much passion, that it feels as if the characters need each other in order to survive. This book would have been a 4 or 5 star if more time had been spent with the main couple or if the secondary characters and plot had been more interesting.
I usually love books by Sylvia Day, and find it a chore to put them down. I am a huge fan of her historical romances because of their intensity. This book however, read in such a slow manner. Every conversation that didn't involve the hero and heroine seamed to drag along at a snails pace. There were quite a few secondary characters, but none of them had enough depth to allow me to care about their welfare.
Eliza is an heiress in her sixth season. She has money, manages her own finances and affairs, and has never been denied anything. She has happily decided not to marry, but to live out the rest of her days quietly reading and spending time in the country. Marriage would only cost her her freedom to do as she pleases, and would allow her husband to take over her finances. And that is just unacceptable. Eliza has no concept of carnal lust until she lays eyes on Jasper.
Jasper is a thief-taker, which is dangerous job. He is also the bastard son of the Earl of Montague. His only desire in life is to cause the destruction of the Montagues for the part they played in his mother's demise. He finds his resolve tested and his focus on revenge impeded by desire for his new employer; a headstrong, strawberry blond, blue eyed heiress that is wreaking havoc on his once peaceful existence.
The love scenes between Jasper and Eliza were hot and no less than I have come to expect from Day. Her love scenes are HOT because both parties are not just expressing lust/desire for one another, but something stronger that runs much deeper. Day writes with so much passion, that it feels as if the characters need each other in order to survive. This book would have been a 4 or 5 star if more time had been spent with the main couple or if the secondary characters and plot had been more interesting.
I usually love books by Sylvia Day, and find it a chore to put them down. I am a huge fan of her historical romances because of their intensity. This book however, read in such a slow manner. Every conversation that didn't involve the hero and heroine seamed to drag along at a snails pace. There were quite a few secondary characters, but none of them had enough depth to allow me to care about their welfare.
February 9, 2011
I did like this book but the story was lacking. I must say if I was rating this book on the sex scenes it would have been a 5 star rating, lol! I also did like the H&h a lot. I just wished Sylvia would have spent as much effort on the story line as she did in the bed chamber.
January 30, 2011
Read one of her other books. This was not good.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I felt like I was reading a boring textbook. My mind kept wandering. It was hard to concentrate and pay attention. I did not want to keep reading, but I forced myself in order to give a complete review. There was too much description about uninteresting things. Many conversations felt like filler. Too many events were “told” and not shown. See Spoilers below for examples. Some parts of the story weren’t developed enough.
The personalities were generic – like many others. There was no interesting relationship development. They meet, interact a bit, he quickly takes her to bed, and she likes it. The first sex scene had too much conversation and pondering. The rest of them didn’t engage me. I felt the desire to skim.
Jasper doesn’t do anything interesting to uncover who the bad guy is. At the end of the book, someone “tells” Jasper and Eliza who was doing what and why.
I really enjoyed some of this author’s other work for example: Snaring The Huntress, The Stranger I Married, Ask For It, and Bad Boys Ahoy. But sadly this book was “off.”
SEMI-SPOILER EXAMPLES OF TELLING – NOT SHOWING (I don’t give away names):
Jasper has a lifelong desire for revenge against his biological father and half-brother. The things that caused his hatred and his planning and actions to get revenge were “told,” not shown. I also had unanswered questions about this.
Accidents occur which cause Eliza to hire Jasper. There were no details about those accidents. We don’t experience them. They aren’t even “told.” I don’t even know what they were, unless my mind was wandering and I just can’t remember.
Someone sets fire to a building. That person interacts with another at the time. The main characters arrive as the fire is being put out, and someone “tells” them who set it and why. We did not experience the conversation and actions around the person setting the fire.
Someone plans an ambush for Jasper. A friend discovers this and has that person taken for questioning. We don’t see the conversations and actions as the friend discovers this. The friend “tells” Jasper what happened after the fact.
A bow street runner “tells” the main characters that someone was murdered and by whom. We didn’t see the murder happen, with conversation and actions before and after. It could have been interesting to see earlier actions and conversations between the killer and victim which led to the motive for murder.
STORY BRIEF:
Eliza is attractive, wealthy, and makes accounting entries in her ledger books. She has a group of suitors, most of whom want to marry her for her money. She is not in love with any of them. Some accidents occur putting Eliza at risk. She hires Jasper to discover who is causing the accidents and why. Jasper suggests he become one of her suitors in order to investigate.
Jasper’s mother was of noble birth. She was kicked out of her family when she got pregnant with Jasper. The father wouldn’t marry her and caused her to become a prostitute to support herself and her son. Jasper now supports himself as a thief-taker (similar to a private investigator).
DATA:
Story length: 269 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 31. Setting: 1818 England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: regency mystery romance
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I felt like I was reading a boring textbook. My mind kept wandering. It was hard to concentrate and pay attention. I did not want to keep reading, but I forced myself in order to give a complete review. There was too much description about uninteresting things. Many conversations felt like filler. Too many events were “told” and not shown. See Spoilers below for examples. Some parts of the story weren’t developed enough.
The personalities were generic – like many others. There was no interesting relationship development. They meet, interact a bit, he quickly takes her to bed, and she likes it. The first sex scene had too much conversation and pondering. The rest of them didn’t engage me. I felt the desire to skim.
Jasper doesn’t do anything interesting to uncover who the bad guy is. At the end of the book, someone “tells” Jasper and Eliza who was doing what and why.
I really enjoyed some of this author’s other work for example: Snaring The Huntress, The Stranger I Married, Ask For It, and Bad Boys Ahoy. But sadly this book was “off.”
SEMI-SPOILER EXAMPLES OF TELLING – NOT SHOWING (I don’t give away names):
Jasper has a lifelong desire for revenge against his biological father and half-brother. The things that caused his hatred and his planning and actions to get revenge were “told,” not shown. I also had unanswered questions about this.
Accidents occur which cause Eliza to hire Jasper. There were no details about those accidents. We don’t experience them. They aren’t even “told.” I don’t even know what they were, unless my mind was wandering and I just can’t remember.
Someone sets fire to a building. That person interacts with another at the time. The main characters arrive as the fire is being put out, and someone “tells” them who set it and why. We did not experience the conversation and actions around the person setting the fire.
Someone plans an ambush for Jasper. A friend discovers this and has that person taken for questioning. We don’t see the conversations and actions as the friend discovers this. The friend “tells” Jasper what happened after the fact.
A bow street runner “tells” the main characters that someone was murdered and by whom. We didn’t see the murder happen, with conversation and actions before and after. It could have been interesting to see earlier actions and conversations between the killer and victim which led to the motive for murder.
STORY BRIEF:
Eliza is attractive, wealthy, and makes accounting entries in her ledger books. She has a group of suitors, most of whom want to marry her for her money. She is not in love with any of them. Some accidents occur putting Eliza at risk. She hires Jasper to discover who is causing the accidents and why. Jasper suggests he become one of her suitors in order to investigate.
Jasper’s mother was of noble birth. She was kicked out of her family when she got pregnant with Jasper. The father wouldn’t marry her and caused her to become a prostitute to support herself and her son. Jasper now supports himself as a thief-taker (similar to a private investigator).
DATA:
Story length: 269 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 31. Setting: 1818 England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: regency mystery romance
June 30, 2018
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
A generous plot with enough twists and turns to keep me from feeling disappointed whenever there were predictable moments. Jasper Bond is gorgeous, well-endowed and alpha to the center of his being. Eliza Martin is intelligent, strong-willed and independent. Together they are fascinating, tempestuous and compliment one another. Sylvia Day makes the most of their interaction along with the intrigue and supporting characters. A steamy, fast-paced and entertaining novel overall.
A generous plot with enough twists and turns to keep me from feeling disappointed whenever there were predictable moments. Jasper Bond is gorgeous, well-endowed and alpha to the center of his being. Eliza Martin is intelligent, strong-willed and independent. Together they are fascinating, tempestuous and compliment one another. Sylvia Day makes the most of their interaction along with the intrigue and supporting characters. A steamy, fast-paced and entertaining novel overall.
May 30, 2022
The toe of his boot touched her ankle, then slid up along the back of her lower calf. Eliza froze. Her lungs seized, holding her breath. A shiver moved up her leg to unmentionable places. Wide-eyed, she glanced at him. Jasper winked. As indignation welled up within her, his tongue traced the curve of his lower lip in a slow, sensual glide. Her breath left her in a rush. Instantly and viscerally she recalled the feel of that talented tongue against her lips and in her mouth, thrusting deep and sure in imitation of a far more intimate act.
It suddenly struck her that Jasper was deliberately arousing her. In the middle of the day. In the center of town. Seated inches away from two other people. His hand lifted to an unsecured button on his coat. Strong fingers grasped it, the pad of his thumb rubbing leisurely against the outer curve. She watched, mesmerized, imagining him touching her skin that way. On the curve of her shoulder, perhaps. Or somewhere else. He would know the best place to focus that caress. The thought of his skill thrilled her.
This book had great characters, sizzling chemistry, an intriguing story, red hot, leave-you-breathless chemistry, a sweet, very passionate love and delicious chemistry.
Did I mention chemistry? Few authors can write it the way Sylvia Day can, Jasper and Eliza had it in spades and I was one very happy reader 😍
It suddenly struck her that Jasper was deliberately arousing her. In the middle of the day. In the center of town. Seated inches away from two other people. His hand lifted to an unsecured button on his coat. Strong fingers grasped it, the pad of his thumb rubbing leisurely against the outer curve. She watched, mesmerized, imagining him touching her skin that way. On the curve of her shoulder, perhaps. Or somewhere else. He would know the best place to focus that caress. The thought of his skill thrilled her.
This book had great characters, sizzling chemistry, an intriguing story, red hot, leave-you-breathless chemistry, a sweet, very passionate love and delicious chemistry.
Did I mention chemistry? Few authors can write it the way Sylvia Day can, Jasper and Eliza had it in spades and I was one very happy reader 😍
January 30, 2013
Pride and Pleasure was given to me as an Arc from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Jasper Bond and Eliza Martin have me all a flutter. What a wonderfully, surprisingly, fantastic regency romance. I have been on the outs with my regency romances lately, but this one was perfect!!! A pure pleasure to read!
Eliza Martin is smack bang in the middle of her sixth and final season. She is surrounded by suitors most of them fortune hunters who seek to better themselves with her very comfortable dowry.
Miss Martin will be having none of that, so when it seems that someone is creating "accidents" to scare her into choosing a husband she, begrudgedly, hires Mr Jasper Bond to get to the bottom of her problems.
I loved Eliza's shrewd manner immediately. The way Jasper and her clashed in there initial meeting, arguing over his suitability to get the job done was marvellous. I have not read such fast witty banter between a pair of characters in a long while, or enjoyed it more. They were purely refreshing to "listen" to,lol.
Jasper, his character was also immediately appealing. Not because his looks, or sex appeal, although I assure you that probably helped. No, I loved Jasper because he seemed the opposite of what he should be. He was the impulsive one, the one that was ruled by his emotions in this book. I do not want to spoil this book for you so I will not fully explain, but let’s just say Eliza is ruled by reason and Jasper relies on his emotions and gut feelings to make his decisions. I thought this was great because it is usually the other way around with men and woman.
The spark in this pair’s relationship was instantaneous. Jasper became jealous and protective very early on in the book, which I personally love.
" I saw the way you looked at Montague. What he said made you see him in a way you haven't before."
Eliza faced him. He was more than a head taller, but his frame curved toward her in a way that made their proximity searingly intimate. As if he were about to twirl her into a waltz. Her heart beat a little faster. Her breathing quickened. “I don't understand."
He cupped her chin and tilted her face upward. "You looked at him the way you look at me."
"That's impossible." Montague incited none of this turmoil.
“I need you to regard me in the same manner with which I regard you."
And this
"The dance you gave to Tolliver was mine."
Elizabeth was confused. "But you do not dance."
"Moments ago," he said in a low biting tone," you were asking if I wanted to be inside you and the next, you're encouraging another man's obvious interest in you".
Poor Eliza didn't stand a chance, I fully sympathise with her, as the book went on both her and I became slaves to Jaspers words. He really does have some amazing lines. Sylvia Day, dare I say I love this man more than Gideon?? He is so ....... gah words are going to fail me. As I read on and it became clearer in Jaspers mind and mine just how much Eliza meant to him, I love every dirty trick, lie "I would do anything for you. Break any law, violate every rule, circumvent any competition--" naughty, naughty Jasper. This man has his secrets, secrets that could ruin any other relationship. Can their love overcome all?
Eliza my girl, I love you more for calling him on every mistake, you are awesome.
Mystery, suspense, steam, romance and genuinly likeable characters are what you get from this novel.I never guessed the villains, never saw the twists coming. I was engaged from start to finish. I truly loved this book; everyone should give it a go
Jasper Bond and Eliza Martin have me all a flutter. What a wonderfully, surprisingly, fantastic regency romance. I have been on the outs with my regency romances lately, but this one was perfect!!! A pure pleasure to read!
Eliza Martin is smack bang in the middle of her sixth and final season. She is surrounded by suitors most of them fortune hunters who seek to better themselves with her very comfortable dowry.
Miss Martin will be having none of that, so when it seems that someone is creating "accidents" to scare her into choosing a husband she, begrudgedly, hires Mr Jasper Bond to get to the bottom of her problems.
I loved Eliza's shrewd manner immediately. The way Jasper and her clashed in there initial meeting, arguing over his suitability to get the job done was marvellous. I have not read such fast witty banter between a pair of characters in a long while, or enjoyed it more. They were purely refreshing to "listen" to,lol.
Jasper, his character was also immediately appealing. Not because his looks, or sex appeal, although I assure you that probably helped. No, I loved Jasper because he seemed the opposite of what he should be. He was the impulsive one, the one that was ruled by his emotions in this book. I do not want to spoil this book for you so I will not fully explain, but let’s just say Eliza is ruled by reason and Jasper relies on his emotions and gut feelings to make his decisions. I thought this was great because it is usually the other way around with men and woman.
The spark in this pair’s relationship was instantaneous. Jasper became jealous and protective very early on in the book, which I personally love.
" I saw the way you looked at Montague. What he said made you see him in a way you haven't before."
Eliza faced him. He was more than a head taller, but his frame curved toward her in a way that made their proximity searingly intimate. As if he were about to twirl her into a waltz. Her heart beat a little faster. Her breathing quickened. “I don't understand."
He cupped her chin and tilted her face upward. "You looked at him the way you look at me."
"That's impossible." Montague incited none of this turmoil.
“I need you to regard me in the same manner with which I regard you."
And this
"The dance you gave to Tolliver was mine."
Elizabeth was confused. "But you do not dance."
"Moments ago," he said in a low biting tone," you were asking if I wanted to be inside you and the next, you're encouraging another man's obvious interest in you".
Poor Eliza didn't stand a chance, I fully sympathise with her, as the book went on both her and I became slaves to Jaspers words. He really does have some amazing lines. Sylvia Day, dare I say I love this man more than Gideon?? He is so ....... gah words are going to fail me. As I read on and it became clearer in Jaspers mind and mine just how much Eliza meant to him, I love every dirty trick, lie "I would do anything for you. Break any law, violate every rule, circumvent any competition--" naughty, naughty Jasper. This man has his secrets, secrets that could ruin any other relationship. Can their love overcome all?
Eliza my girl, I love you more for calling him on every mistake, you are awesome.
Mystery, suspense, steam, romance and genuinly likeable characters are what you get from this novel.I never guessed the villains, never saw the twists coming. I was engaged from start to finish. I truly loved this book; everyone should give it a go
January 3, 2022
4 Stars
Quick Review
- This was my second Sylvia Day. I had read a novella by her in the anthology The Arrangement and I remember liking it, but it never made an impression. I really couldn't say what prompted me to pick up Ms Day's books, but I am glad I did.
- I enjoy her writing style. There is an underlying depth to the intelligence of her writing. She is able to convey a lot of complexity without venturing too far from the central plot. Having said that, I am not very sure what exactly I read in this story.
*There were Christmas parties, a wedding to attend, a whole lot of travelling that I did whilst operating on little to no sleep. I swear I was tired every time I tried to make progress on this book. But whatever I did read, I enjoyed it, I think. I am still hazy on the details.
- The title promised Pride & Pleasure, and pride and pleasure were what it delivered.
- I did not understand the plot. There was some sort of a revenge scheme, some kind of a villain, a fake courtship that turns into real love. Oh, and steam, a lot of steam.
- The romance I bought, there was an intellectual quality to it, but everything else is very unclear unless I accept whatever was written at face value. Let's just say there were too many threads flailing about, which got resolved rather conveniently.
- I liked Eliza and Jasper. Both are prideful creatures, fighting with their past and trying to let it go. I enjoyed their strength and weaknesses.
My Recommendation
Let this crap review by no means dissuade you from reading this novel, as Ms Day is a terrific writer. I may have to read this again when I am fully awake and functioning to come back and edit this review.
Quick Review
- This was my second Sylvia Day. I had read a novella by her in the anthology The Arrangement and I remember liking it, but it never made an impression. I really couldn't say what prompted me to pick up Ms Day's books, but I am glad I did.
- I enjoy her writing style. There is an underlying depth to the intelligence of her writing. She is able to convey a lot of complexity without venturing too far from the central plot. Having said that, I am not very sure what exactly I read in this story.
*There were Christmas parties, a wedding to attend, a whole lot of travelling that I did whilst operating on little to no sleep. I swear I was tired every time I tried to make progress on this book. But whatever I did read, I enjoyed it, I think. I am still hazy on the details.
- The title promised Pride & Pleasure, and pride and pleasure were what it delivered.
- I did not understand the plot. There was some sort of a revenge scheme, some kind of a villain, a fake courtship that turns into real love. Oh, and steam, a lot of steam.
- The romance I bought, there was an intellectual quality to it, but everything else is very unclear unless I accept whatever was written at face value. Let's just say there were too many threads flailing about, which got resolved rather conveniently.
- I liked Eliza and Jasper. Both are prideful creatures, fighting with their past and trying to let it go. I enjoyed their strength and weaknesses.
My Recommendation
Let this crap review by no means dissuade you from reading this novel, as Ms Day is a terrific writer. I may have to read this again when I am fully awake and functioning to come back and edit this review.
February 25, 2011
There was nothing spectacular about this book. The hero and heroine were dull to me. It seemed like all they did was lust off of each other from the moment they met, but yet there was still no chemistry between them. The story line was boring and I just couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I was expecting so much more from this author.
January 23, 2013
Main characters:
Eliza Martin
Jasper Bond
What I Liked: The story was very good and a little unusual. Eliza is in her 6th season and doesn’t want to marry, and if this wasn’t unseen in the romance world, just think that she was a woman of business, she managed her inheritance and loved working with numbers. We wouldn’t have this book if something unseemly wasn’t happening, so here comes the intrigue: she hires Mr. Bond to play at being her suitor and find the person who arranges some mishaps to happen to her.
Eliza and the rest of Society
It was unexpected and very well written, it’s Ms. Day after all, and I read it way faster than I expected. This books was scheduled to be a subway, school, “not with the laptop with me” book, but after I started it I couldn’t put it down.
What I didn't like: There isn’t much, just that sometimes it seemed that the author didn’t give enough details about the scene. And I’ll add the sex words and… thinking? It was just a little “ewww, TMI guys!”(I still can’t get the “marked her with his semen” phrase out of my head), it didn’t detract from the story and it did make me laugh so, it really wasn’t that bad.
Favorite character: Eliza was great. She’s the 3rd or 4th heroine that reminds me of Temperance Brenan from Bones this month, I don’t know how I ended up picking them. She’s self sufficient and has a remarkable brain. I loved how she decided to trust Jasper and then, unlike many other romance heroines, preceded to do just that! No doubts and accepting truths from other people, she just went and asked him, which was very refreshing.
My least favorite character: Eliza’s man of business. He was a liar and deserves to be hanged.
Favorite scene: Eliza teaching Jasper to waltz. It was some of the best scenes I have ever read.
Favorite quote:
“I don’t see how you expect to schedule all these hours of sexual congress,” Eliza said, as the carriage lurched into motion, “while attempting to make a success of a sugarcane plantation.”
“Is that a challenge, madam?”
“Could be…”
Would I recommend the book: Wholeheartedly. I liked the characters, the plot, the writing, there is nothing not to like.
Final rating: 4.5*
Eliza Martin
Jasper Bond
What I Liked: The story was very good and a little unusual. Eliza is in her 6th season and doesn’t want to marry, and if this wasn’t unseen in the romance world, just think that she was a woman of business, she managed her inheritance and loved working with numbers. We wouldn’t have this book if something unseemly wasn’t happening, so here comes the intrigue: she hires Mr. Bond to play at being her suitor and find the person who arranges some mishaps to happen to her.
Eliza and the rest of Society
It was unexpected and very well written, it’s Ms. Day after all, and I read it way faster than I expected. This books was scheduled to be a subway, school, “not with the laptop with me” book, but after I started it I couldn’t put it down.
What I didn't like: There isn’t much, just that sometimes it seemed that the author didn’t give enough details about the scene. And I’ll add the sex words and… thinking? It was just a little “ewww, TMI guys!”(I still can’t get the “marked her with his semen” phrase out of my head), it didn’t detract from the story and it did make me laugh so, it really wasn’t that bad.
Favorite character: Eliza was great. She’s the 3rd or 4th heroine that reminds me of Temperance Brenan from Bones this month, I don’t know how I ended up picking them. She’s self sufficient and has a remarkable brain. I loved how she decided to trust Jasper and then, unlike many other romance heroines, preceded to do just that! No doubts and accepting truths from other people, she just went and asked him, which was very refreshing.
My least favorite character: Eliza’s man of business. He was a liar and deserves to be hanged.
Favorite scene: Eliza teaching Jasper to waltz. It was some of the best scenes I have ever read.
Favorite quote:
“I don’t see how you expect to schedule all these hours of sexual congress,” Eliza said, as the carriage lurched into motion, “while attempting to make a success of a sugarcane plantation.”
“Is that a challenge, madam?”
“Could be…”
Would I recommend the book: Wholeheartedly. I liked the characters, the plot, the writing, there is nothing not to like.
Final rating: 4.5*
May 6, 2011
Quite a few things in this book too me by surprise. There were several things I predicted were going to happen that didn't. Eliza, for example. She was leery about marriage thanks to growing up with a mother who prized passion and love more than anything else. She's learned to be distrustful of men and their motives and really has no desire to be attached to one. So I thought she'd have a fit when she realized Jasper wasn't everything he'd claimed to be, but Day really took things in an unexpected - and welcome - direction. I was also concerned that Jasper would push Eliza away, thinking it was "for her own good". But again Day surprised me. I truly enjoyed both main characters and the way they fell into love with one another.
The villain wasn't hard to figure out, but I was surprised by the motives of some of the other characters. It isn't often that I don't see a twist coming, so it was kind of refreshing here to see not all was as it appeared.
Overall I found this to a pleasant read with a strong romance and likable characters.
The villain wasn't hard to figure out, but I was surprised by the motives of some of the other characters. It isn't often that I don't see a twist coming, so it was kind of refreshing here to see not all was as it appeared.
Overall I found this to a pleasant read with a strong romance and likable characters.
July 1, 2011
I’m the typical reader when I have a book I want to devour in hand - it doesn’t take long to get it read, and then I’m disappointed because it’s over and now I have to wait for the author’s next book. So this time with a Sylvia Day book, I made myself slow down. Savor. Anticipate. Hunger. Need.
It’s not easy putting a great book down, but it’s definitely worth it to make it last longer when reading someone like Sylvia Day.
Eliza is a vintage Day character. Intelligent, independent, self-sufficient, strong, in control of her life, answering to no one. Thus, she immediately takes recently received threats quite seriously and seeks out a thief-taker to get to the bottom of the danger now on her doorstep. She refuses to give in to whatever the culprit hopes to gain from raining unexpected accidents on her. Upon meeting the recommended and mysterious Jasper Bond, Eliza knows with a glance he won’t do. He’s too handsome, too well turned out for anyone to believe he’d be interested in the staid Eliza Martin. She tries to tell the man he’s not what she had in mind but runs up against a brick wall like she’s never hit before.
Jasper Bond is a self-made man, turning a horrible beginning in life onto a path of destiny of his own choosing. He is also living for revenge, and he’s closer to his goal than ever before. When he meets Eliza Martin, he’s quite taken with her, much to his surprise. She doesn’t fawn or pretend as other women of society do, she says what she means and means what she says. He’s a tad perturbed when she dismisses him without so much as an interview for the job she needs done. Knowing he wants to be near this woman and wanting to find out why, he finagles his way into her life, determined to discover who it is behind the mystery of who would want to harm her, why such is the case, and then take care of the bastard himself.
When Jasper and Eliza are together, it’s pure pleasure to be part of their interactions. They’re honest with each other from the start, lust after each other with every look, and they work together very well, Eliza trusting in Jasper when the need arises and Jasper listening to Eliza when she has information to offer. It’s just one of those slowly blossoming relationships that is so satisfying to read. Their pride and pleasure go hand in hand with who they are, both before and after each other, and you feel that with every word they utter, every caress they give, every look they share. They make love with unparalleled passion. Something I wish more heroes and heroines would do. But, really, no one does it better than Sylvia Day.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
It’s not easy putting a great book down, but it’s definitely worth it to make it last longer when reading someone like Sylvia Day.
Eliza is a vintage Day character. Intelligent, independent, self-sufficient, strong, in control of her life, answering to no one. Thus, she immediately takes recently received threats quite seriously and seeks out a thief-taker to get to the bottom of the danger now on her doorstep. She refuses to give in to whatever the culprit hopes to gain from raining unexpected accidents on her. Upon meeting the recommended and mysterious Jasper Bond, Eliza knows with a glance he won’t do. He’s too handsome, too well turned out for anyone to believe he’d be interested in the staid Eliza Martin. She tries to tell the man he’s not what she had in mind but runs up against a brick wall like she’s never hit before.
Jasper Bond is a self-made man, turning a horrible beginning in life onto a path of destiny of his own choosing. He is also living for revenge, and he’s closer to his goal than ever before. When he meets Eliza Martin, he’s quite taken with her, much to his surprise. She doesn’t fawn or pretend as other women of society do, she says what she means and means what she says. He’s a tad perturbed when she dismisses him without so much as an interview for the job she needs done. Knowing he wants to be near this woman and wanting to find out why, he finagles his way into her life, determined to discover who it is behind the mystery of who would want to harm her, why such is the case, and then take care of the bastard himself.
When Jasper and Eliza are together, it’s pure pleasure to be part of their interactions. They’re honest with each other from the start, lust after each other with every look, and they work together very well, Eliza trusting in Jasper when the need arises and Jasper listening to Eliza when she has information to offer. It’s just one of those slowly blossoming relationships that is so satisfying to read. Their pride and pleasure go hand in hand with who they are, both before and after each other, and you feel that with every word they utter, every caress they give, every look they share. They make love with unparalleled passion. Something I wish more heroes and heroines would do. But, really, no one does it better than Sylvia Day.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
May 14, 2021
Gosh, this is just not Day’s best work and I struggled through it. The steamy scenes are as great as always but the plot meanders all over the place. I’ll still read other books by her but this one did nothing for me.
November 19, 2022
Umm I’m not sure what to say about about this book. I think part of me is slightly shocked that it’s been written by the same author who has written one of my favourite book series!
.
The story of Eliza and Jasper was fine. The premise of the story was all ok. But the writing just baffled me! It felt like a stundet was writing it. There were soo many words but not much to them.
.
Often I didn’t know who was speaking, the time frames jumped and I couldn’t keep up. I always have so much respect for any writer as simply putting all the work, effort, time and energy into writing a book, is an unbelievable achievement. I just can’t quite fathom this book!
.
The story of Eliza and Jasper was fine. The premise of the story was all ok. But the writing just baffled me! It felt like a stundet was writing it. There were soo many words but not much to them.
.
Often I didn’t know who was speaking, the time frames jumped and I couldn’t keep up. I always have so much respect for any writer as simply putting all the work, effort, time and energy into writing a book, is an unbelievable achievement. I just can’t quite fathom this book!
February 24, 2022
This year, I'm challenging myself to read at least 1 print book per month, so I can decide which print books are worth making space for. Pride and Pleasure is going straight to the donation box.
I literally did not understand why the hero and heroine liked each other? Chemistry? Build up? Tension? Banter? Idk??
The hero does have some swoonworthy lines. Exhibit A: "You have money and breeding; I work in trade, and my blood is worthless. But I would spill it for you." 🥺 Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for me to like this book. I didn't buy the chemistry or the romance.
The mystery plotline is not that interesting. And the hero purchased a plantation. His friend was like: bro you be "living among savages." I get that this type of attitude is historically accurate, but wow. Did it have to come from the hero and his friend?
thank u, next
I literally did not understand why the hero and heroine liked each other? Chemistry? Build up? Tension? Banter? Idk??
The hero does have some swoonworthy lines. Exhibit A: "You have money and breeding; I work in trade, and my blood is worthless. But I would spill it for you." 🥺 Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for me to like this book. I didn't buy the chemistry or the romance.
The mystery plotline is not that interesting. And the hero purchased a plantation. His friend was like: bro you be "living among savages." I get that this type of attitude is historically accurate, but wow. Did it have to come from the hero and his friend?
thank u, next
January 15, 2013
PRIDE AND PLEASURE is one of those books that stay with you, not necessarily because of the story, but because of the writing. This is less of a mystery than it is a simple yet wonderful character study, and that is my favorite kind of read.
Eliza Martin is a closed, efficient woman who is in her sixth, and final, season for capturing a suitor, something she’d rather not be bothered with. She is independent and wealthy, and she is so determined to be the opposite of her mother, that she’d rather retire to the country a spinster than bother with a man. Someone is threatening her life, and she feels that one of her suitors may be behind it in order to pressure her to marry—for protection, if nothing else. She hires a thief-taker to act as her suitor in hopes of catching the culprit who is making Eliza’s life difficult. She rejects Jasper Bond outright, telling him he is much too handsome, and that no one in the ton will believe that she chose such a man as he. She is simply too practical. Their business arrangement soon turns to passion, but will Jasper’s goal of vengeance get in the way of his one shot at happiness?
Sylvia Day should not hang all her hopes on the 50 Shades knockoff, Bared To You. THIS is where her true talent lies. The characters were meticulously drawn and the love that develops between Eliza and Jasper feels genuine. I loved that, for once, there were no ridiculous misunderstandings that kept the lovers apart, there were no lies or ulterior motives for the sake of creating tension. I loved how this relationship was slowly developed, culminating in a first-time love scene that was so erotic in its simplicity, that it stands out as one of the finest love scenes I have ever read. The mystery of who is trying to do what to whom is not, and should not, be viewed as the main focus here. It is really the character study of two people who come into a relationship with their own motives and baggage, yet learn to shed it all in the name of love. The mystery itself was decent, and I was surprised in the end, but this story really comes down to love, and what we do to sabotage it, and what, with courage and the love of a good partner, we do to bridge the gap so we can find true happiness. I loved this book, and will read more of Day’s historicals before I pick up any Bared To You sequels. There is simply no comparison.
Eliza Martin is a closed, efficient woman who is in her sixth, and final, season for capturing a suitor, something she’d rather not be bothered with. She is independent and wealthy, and she is so determined to be the opposite of her mother, that she’d rather retire to the country a spinster than bother with a man. Someone is threatening her life, and she feels that one of her suitors may be behind it in order to pressure her to marry—for protection, if nothing else. She hires a thief-taker to act as her suitor in hopes of catching the culprit who is making Eliza’s life difficult. She rejects Jasper Bond outright, telling him he is much too handsome, and that no one in the ton will believe that she chose such a man as he. She is simply too practical. Their business arrangement soon turns to passion, but will Jasper’s goal of vengeance get in the way of his one shot at happiness?
Sylvia Day should not hang all her hopes on the 50 Shades knockoff, Bared To You. THIS is where her true talent lies. The characters were meticulously drawn and the love that develops between Eliza and Jasper feels genuine. I loved that, for once, there were no ridiculous misunderstandings that kept the lovers apart, there were no lies or ulterior motives for the sake of creating tension. I loved how this relationship was slowly developed, culminating in a first-time love scene that was so erotic in its simplicity, that it stands out as one of the finest love scenes I have ever read. The mystery of who is trying to do what to whom is not, and should not, be viewed as the main focus here. It is really the character study of two people who come into a relationship with their own motives and baggage, yet learn to shed it all in the name of love. The mystery itself was decent, and I was surprised in the end, but this story really comes down to love, and what we do to sabotage it, and what, with courage and the love of a good partner, we do to bridge the gap so we can find true happiness. I loved this book, and will read more of Day’s historicals before I pick up any Bared To You sequels. There is simply no comparison.
April 15, 2011
Well... What can I say about this one? My mother always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." If I made it a habit to listen to all of my mother's advice, I wouldn't have anything to say about bad books! With that being said, this one was rotten. I was highly disappointed. It wasn't a book, it was a novella-- and a poorly developed one at that. It took too long to get to the point of the book (which I still am unclear of). That's not entirely true... I do know the point, but it took 58 of the 59 pages to reach it. I feel like I wasted valuable reading time on this book. Seriously. No character development. Mediocre plot. Uninteresting characters. I thought it was going to be something like a Pride and Prejudice spin off, but it wasn't. It might be able to pass as a small scene from the book, but that's it.
This was a free e-book from the Sony e-reader store. If you had to buy this book, don't waste your time. You'll be angry with yourself.
Note: According to Amazon, the free book was only a snippet of the actual novel. The full book is 300+ pages. I still don't think it would be any good. The 59 pages that I read were horrible. Don't be fooled by the 4 star reviews on Amazon. Those people are delusional.
This was a free e-book from the Sony e-reader store. If you had to buy this book, don't waste your time. You'll be angry with yourself.
Note: According to Amazon, the free book was only a snippet of the actual novel. The full book is 300+ pages. I still don't think it would be any good. The 59 pages that I read were horrible. Don't be fooled by the 4 star reviews on Amazon. Those people are delusional.
July 17, 2015
3.5
Hay muchos momentos memorables sin embargo, al final no me terminó de "matar" como la mayoria de las veces-
Al acercarse a la parte central de la sala, Jasper aflojó el paso hasta casi detenerse. Eliza lo miró, sorprendida al verlo totalmente absorto en una de las pinturas. Tenía la cabeza tan echada hacia atrás que el ala del sombrero le rozaba la espalda.
Ella miró a su alrededor y vio que la persona más cercana estaba a unos metros de distancia. De modo que, acercándose a Jasper, susurró su nombre.
—¿Hum?
—¿Te acuerdas de que me dijiste que responderías a cualquier pregunta que tuviera, siempre y cuando estuviese relacionada con el presente?
—Sí —respondió él, sin dejar de observar la obra de arte—. Pregúntame lo que quieras.
Ella se aclaró la garganta.
—¿Quieres... quieres aparearte conmigo?
Él dio un brinco tan fuerte que ella saltó también.
—¡Eliza! —exclamó, con los ojos abiertos como platos.
Hay muchos momentos memorables sin embargo, al final no me terminó de "matar" como la mayoria de las veces-
Al acercarse a la parte central de la sala, Jasper aflojó el paso hasta casi detenerse. Eliza lo miró, sorprendida al verlo totalmente absorto en una de las pinturas. Tenía la cabeza tan echada hacia atrás que el ala del sombrero le rozaba la espalda.
Ella miró a su alrededor y vio que la persona más cercana estaba a unos metros de distancia. De modo que, acercándose a Jasper, susurró su nombre.
—¿Hum?
—¿Te acuerdas de que me dijiste que responderías a cualquier pregunta que tuviera, siempre y cuando estuviese relacionada con el presente?
—Sí —respondió él, sin dejar de observar la obra de arte—. Pregúntame lo que quieras.
Ella se aclaró la garganta.
—¿Quieres... quieres aparearte conmigo?
Él dio un brinco tan fuerte que ella saltó también.
—¡Eliza! —exclamó, con los ojos abiertos como platos.
August 29, 2013
I really enjoyed this book!
A historycal romance with a very unusual heroine!
I loved Eliza! She's refreshing and fun. She knows what she wants and what she has to do to obtain it! There's no stupidity in her! She's straitforward and outspoken.
I loved Jasper too. He's also very intelligent and cunning!
They're very good together! Their relationship is sparkling!
Excelent book! Very recommanded!
A historycal romance with a very unusual heroine!
I loved Eliza! She's refreshing and fun. She knows what she wants and what she has to do to obtain it! There's no stupidity in her! She's straitforward and outspoken.
I loved Jasper too. He's also very intelligent and cunning!
They're very good together! Their relationship is sparkling!
Excelent book! Very recommanded!
May 30, 2017
2.5 כוכבים
סהכ נחמד אבל ניתן להבחין בחוסר בשלות של העלילה. לא שבספרים של סלביה דיי קיימת עלילה עמוקה, אבל לפחות בספרים המאוחרים שלה היא מגבשת סוג של עלילה שגם נכונה לזמן שהיא מתארת. בספר הזה העלילה מתייחסת לשנת 1811 והתיאורים ממש לא מתאימים לתקופה. אני מניחה שמחקר הוא לא הצד החזק שלה והיא מוכנה להתפשר לגבי מחקר היסטורי בתמורה לרומן אהבה.
סהכ נחמד אבל ניתן להבחין בחוסר בשלות של העלילה. לא שבספרים של סלביה דיי קיימת עלילה עמוקה, אבל לפחות בספרים המאוחרים שלה היא מגבשת סוג של עלילה שגם נכונה לזמן שהיא מתארת. בספר הזה העלילה מתייחסת לשנת 1811 והתיאורים ממש לא מתאימים לתקופה. אני מניחה שמחקר הוא לא הצד החזק שלה והיא מוכנה להתפשר לגבי מחקר היסטורי בתמורה לרומן אהבה.
September 19, 2022
Pride and Pleasure was a interesting read and this was also my first book by this author. This was a book that I came close to DNFing to be honest. The first chapter will really pull you in but after that the pacing just slowed down drastically and I really struggled with this one, I was hoping that it would get better and while there were moments where the pacing slightly picked up, it just never got to the point where I was engaged. I am not sure if this is the author's writing style or if historical's just aren't for me right now as I have been struggling with them a lot lately. I will be trying this author's contemporary romance and see if those work a bit better for me.
March 8, 2011
Eliza is a wealthy heiress who is a fortune hunter magnet. but lately she also has had some puzzling accidents. Obviously somebody is out to harm her.
Thief taker Jasper is hired to figure out who wants to harm Eliza. He is handsome, tenacious and immediately wants Eliza for himself. He also has a personal vendetta against one of her more persistent suitors.
I have read a few other Sylvia Day books and have always found them pretty pleasant. She was my first introduction to Historical-romantica. Her heroines that I am familiar with were always of the very sophisticated, experienced variety. So Eliza was a bit of a departure from that.
Although the suspense story formed both the reason for Jasper and Eliza to get together and to act as forward plot momentum, the main story really is how the two of them become attracted and then fall in love with each other.
There is nothing about this book that is overly new or fabulous, but it is a good, quick afternoon read and has a satisfying romance at its core. I did love the fact that when confronted with information about Jasper that could have made Eliza question his motives for being with her, the author didn't go the non-communication, grand misunderstanding route. Instead Eliza decided to trust her instincts and Jasper. With good result.
Nice book.
Thief taker Jasper is hired to figure out who wants to harm Eliza. He is handsome, tenacious and immediately wants Eliza for himself. He also has a personal vendetta against one of her more persistent suitors.
I have read a few other Sylvia Day books and have always found them pretty pleasant. She was my first introduction to Historical-romantica. Her heroines that I am familiar with were always of the very sophisticated, experienced variety. So Eliza was a bit of a departure from that.
Although the suspense story formed both the reason for Jasper and Eliza to get together and to act as forward plot momentum, the main story really is how the two of them become attracted and then fall in love with each other.
There is nothing about this book that is overly new or fabulous, but it is a good, quick afternoon read and has a satisfying romance at its core. I did love the fact that when confronted with information about Jasper that could have made Eliza question his motives for being with her, the author didn't go the non-communication, grand misunderstanding route. Instead Eliza decided to trust her instincts and Jasper. With good result.
Nice book.
November 21, 2012
Pride & Pleasure by Sylvia Day
Not as kinky to The Stranger I Married or The Crossfire Trilogy but the story is as good as the books mentioned. The passion of love is always in Day’s books & I love her for it. It inspires the heart & mind and IDK if that’s a good or a bad thing. You decide. ;)
I realized I like the English old ways of communicating. The words when spoken (even while reading it) sounds so romantic, alluring & sincere. I don’t mean the Shakespeare way (“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?”), it creeps me out & sounds so ‘OA’. In Day’s historical stories and mostly set in the 1800’s in London (if I’m not mistaken), it feels like your watching a QUEEN ELIZABETH movie. No, scratch that, it’s like DOWNTON ABBEY- yes, the series. Which is also good. That’s the nearest comparison I can think of. If you like a LOVE story with a kinky & sensual taste to it and a happy ending, then read Day’s books.
** Also posted on my TUMBLR account
http://xoxopimpimxoxo.tumblr.com/post...
Not as kinky to The Stranger I Married or The Crossfire Trilogy but the story is as good as the books mentioned. The passion of love is always in Day’s books & I love her for it. It inspires the heart & mind and IDK if that’s a good or a bad thing. You decide. ;)
I realized I like the English old ways of communicating. The words when spoken (even while reading it) sounds so romantic, alluring & sincere. I don’t mean the Shakespeare way (“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?”), it creeps me out & sounds so ‘OA’. In Day’s historical stories and mostly set in the 1800’s in London (if I’m not mistaken), it feels like your watching a QUEEN ELIZABETH movie. No, scratch that, it’s like DOWNTON ABBEY- yes, the series. Which is also good. That’s the nearest comparison I can think of. If you like a LOVE story with a kinky & sensual taste to it and a happy ending, then read Day’s books.
** Also posted on my TUMBLR account
http://xoxopimpimxoxo.tumblr.com/post...
October 22, 2014
This book was on sale and I could not help myself but read it, needless to say I did not enjoy myself. The entire book read formulaic and I never felt any liking towards any of the characters. The dialogue read stiff and most of the time I was just yawning and speeding through it so I could get to the end.
June 5, 2016
MILAGRE... MILAGRE... Um livro da Day que leva da minha parte 4* ^_^
Amanhã faço a opinião e vão compreender por quê! ^_^
Amanhã faço a opinião e vão compreender por quê! ^_^
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September 2, 2025I've tried to start this book probably 5 times. I can't get through it. I think it's time for me to give up.
January 23, 2025
3.5 stars literally had no idea what was going off 60% of the time but the sex scenes was 5 stars🌟 so credit where credits due.
October 22, 2012
...And just when I thought I couldn't possibly love Sylvia Day anymore.
"Client satisfaction is a point of pride, Miss Martin. By the time I am done, I guarantee you will be eminently gratified by my performance"
Eliza Martin is an independent women, happy managaing her own enormous fortune without the assistance of a husband. However it seems someone has other ideas, hatching a plot to lure her into marriage for the security and protection it could bring from many unfortunate accidents. Although slightly scared Eliza is adamant that she will not give in, and instead hires Jasper Bond, a thief-taker to act as her 'investigator, protector and suitor'. What neither of them expected was the desire that soon blossoms between them.
"before you there was sex. You have been my only lover"
Similar to Day's other books the narrative is beautifully written and similar to Day's other historical novels she establishs setting, time and place with her choice of language and the description of clothing and social customs. However what stood out in this book for me was Eliza Martin. Considering the time that the novel is set she is headstrong and independent, defying social norms as she actually wants to be a spinster. Although she might decide for marriage with Jasper, she still refuses to give up her independence and holds on to her ideals. This appealed to me so much, given that many heroines in other books make me want to scream at how they change and give up all sense and control to a male because 'I can't possibly live without them'.
Similarily Jasper is everything I like in a male character, he has an edge to him but is not too stupid to realise that marriage isn't a prison but a means of salvation from his dark past and murky morals. How I have had enough of insecure males who can't comprehend that the feelings they have after sex aren't just endorphins and are something to cherish, not run away from.
This is a beautiful story with beautiful characters.
"Client satisfaction is a point of pride, Miss Martin. By the time I am done, I guarantee you will be eminently gratified by my performance"
Eliza Martin is an independent women, happy managaing her own enormous fortune without the assistance of a husband. However it seems someone has other ideas, hatching a plot to lure her into marriage for the security and protection it could bring from many unfortunate accidents. Although slightly scared Eliza is adamant that she will not give in, and instead hires Jasper Bond, a thief-taker to act as her 'investigator, protector and suitor'. What neither of them expected was the desire that soon blossoms between them.
"before you there was sex. You have been my only lover"
Similar to Day's other books the narrative is beautifully written and similar to Day's other historical novels she establishs setting, time and place with her choice of language and the description of clothing and social customs. However what stood out in this book for me was Eliza Martin. Considering the time that the novel is set she is headstrong and independent, defying social norms as she actually wants to be a spinster. Although she might decide for marriage with Jasper, she still refuses to give up her independence and holds on to her ideals. This appealed to me so much, given that many heroines in other books make me want to scream at how they change and give up all sense and control to a male because 'I can't possibly live without them'.
Similarily Jasper is everything I like in a male character, he has an edge to him but is not too stupid to realise that marriage isn't a prison but a means of salvation from his dark past and murky morals. How I have had enough of insecure males who can't comprehend that the feelings they have after sex aren't just endorphins and are something to cherish, not run away from.
This is a beautiful story with beautiful characters.
December 22, 2011
It took me a while to really get started on loving this book, but I've pretty much read it in one day if that tells you anything (and it's not because it's a short book/easy read). There are so many things I like about this book. Sylvia Day's writing, for one. There is a perfect mix of dialogue and action, and not too much internal dialogue/repetition. The characters are just wow. Eliza is such a starchy, smart, smartass, independent British blueblood that you can't help but like her. Jasper is so perfect for her. He's tough and sexy and sneaky and blue collar and he brings out her passion and her adventurous side that she didn't even know she had. And he needs her and wants her in a way that is so genuine. I love them together. And one of the best things about this book is that the author could have gone in any of several different directions leading up to THE BIG MISUNDERSTANDING (which I can't stand in most books because it's so glaringly obvious that it's going to happen), and yet she didn't. The characters are both smart enough and trusting/loving enough to NOT let the issues cause any discord. I think I've only read one other book by this author, but I'll definitely be looking for more.
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