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House Of Pleasure #5
Simply Insatiable
No fantasy is too wild for Madame Helene’s Pleasure House—a brothel in Regency England where forbidden desires are more than welcome…
The most scandalous passions…
Lord Minshom is known throughout London for embracing every illicit longing—the more scandalous the better. When his estranged wife, Lady Jane returns with an ultimatum he flatly refuses—even if it means she will turn to other men. Forced to watch Jane flirt shamelessly at the House of Pleasure, Minshom is enraged…and excited. The innocent girl he wed at seventeen has transformed into a voluptuous woman who still ignites a scorching hunger within him…
Are always the most pleasureable…
After seven years apart from her husband, Jane is now ready to settle their differences and start afresh. But when she is reunited with Minshom, his attitude infuriates her—and she is determined to teach him a lesson. Yet even as Jane accepts the attentions of other men, it is Minshom she truly wants. For she alone knows how to satisfy all of his wicked needs…
The most scandalous passions…
Lord Minshom is known throughout London for embracing every illicit longing—the more scandalous the better. When his estranged wife, Lady Jane returns with an ultimatum he flatly refuses—even if it means she will turn to other men. Forced to watch Jane flirt shamelessly at the House of Pleasure, Minshom is enraged…and excited. The innocent girl he wed at seventeen has transformed into a voluptuous woman who still ignites a scorching hunger within him…
Are always the most pleasureable…
After seven years apart from her husband, Jane is now ready to settle their differences and start afresh. But when she is reunited with Minshom, his attitude infuriates her—and she is determined to teach him a lesson. Yet even as Jane accepts the attentions of other men, it is Minshom she truly wants. For she alone knows how to satisfy all of his wicked needs…
284 pages, Trade Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
71 people are currently reading
1496 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pearce
169 books1,851 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
May 27, 2011
Do NOT read this stupid book! Why? Feel free to spoiler yourself and find out. Btw foul language alert.
August 31, 2011
Another fantastic read from Kate Pearce! I truly did not believe she could make me feel anything remotely resembling concern or interest for Lord Blaize Minshom based on his character in previous books. I was prepared to read my first Kate Pearce novel that I didn't fully enjoy. HA! Not only did she manage to fully engage my interest, she made this one of my favorites and a 5-star read! It takes talent to pull that off, my friends.
Lord Minshom was possibly more damaged than any of her previous heroes in this series (Is that even possible?!). He had many glaring character flaws to address, and issues within himself to face head-on. It was like pulling teeth to get him to do so, but do so he eventually did...to his credit. I very much enjoyed Lord and Lady Minshom together, and loved watching their relationship evolve over the course of this story.
This series, in my opinion, is superior to most other historical erotica series in the market today. As I've said before, it is written with great emotion and a very unique cast of characters. If you enjoy your historical romance both steamy AND with a good story, you owe it to yourself to try Kate Pearce's Simply series!
Lord Minshom was possibly more damaged than any of her previous heroes in this series (Is that even possible?!). He had many glaring character flaws to address, and issues within himself to face head-on. It was like pulling teeth to get him to do so, but do so he eventually did...to his credit. I very much enjoyed Lord and Lady Minshom together, and loved watching their relationship evolve over the course of this story.
This series, in my opinion, is superior to most other historical erotica series in the market today. As I've said before, it is written with great emotion and a very unique cast of characters. If you enjoy your historical romance both steamy AND with a good story, you owe it to yourself to try Kate Pearce's Simply series!
November 18, 2013
This book is so terrible it made my brain spin.
The pitch - an estranged couple in Regency London, something about a high-class brothel, a marriage on the rocks that is presumably mended through magical sex adventures - in no way resembles the actual book.
A more-accurate pitch for the book would be something like:
"In a fantasy version of Regency London where everyone is totally cool with very 2013 San Francisco sex activist attitudes about homosexuality, public sex, bondange, etc. etc., a nobleman slash sexual sadist/general sociopath has a lot of gay affairs. Luckily, everyone in London is anachronistically cool about this, like if he'd worn the wrong color coat to the opera. His estranged wife (also a crackpot) returns and he is horrible to her and they have rather a lot of anal sex and he takes her to a strangely boring brothel. Along the way, it is revealed that the hero starred in Boyfight videos, which is supposed to explain a bunch of inexplicable crap."
A lot of things about this book are startlingly terrible (characters are cardboard cutouts, plot is crummily paced, book seems uncertain as to what it is actually about), but the one I was most troubled by had to do with its treatment of same-sex relationships. While I was rather startled to read a book billed as a Regency romance (albeit one with a lot of sexytimes) and find that it contained mostly M/M sexual interactions, starting with the hero demanding oral sex from his male valet on like page 2, I can imagine someone writing a book about Regency-era men who love men and doing a really great job and really addressing the social realities for men in that situation at that time.
But this book is the opposite of that. I read a lot of historical romance novels. My favorite kind is legitimately a historical novel and feels steeped in the mores of place and time, and is written by an excellent author who understands how to paint a picture of characters and the dilemmas they must overcome in a compelling way. My least favorite kind treats the time and place of its setting as a kind of cosplay opportunity (LOL you guys let's put on some CORSETS!!!) but refuses to acknowledge any constraints placed upon characters because of the era in which they live. What is the POINT of setting something in Regency England if you aren't going to acknowledge the limitations and boundaries of the culture? I guess, given the astonishingly high rating of this book, many people aren't bothered by this. But I am. If you're going to have your male lead engage in a lot of casual gay sex, and have there be rumors and scandal about this, I just... I just do not understand that you then don't think to yourself "I guess I should use this as an opportunity to raise the stakes".
Instead the huge quantity of gay sex is treated in an astoundingly casual manner, like everyone considers it a very minor social snafu. Frankly, I found this to be kind of offensive.
So this "historical romance" is not actually historical at all, in my opinion. It has some phrases dropped in via Georgette Heyer, and people say "my lord" a lot, but for all the use the author makes of the time period, it might as well be set in modern-day Manhattan. In addition, I don't really think that this book is a romance. It's basically pornography (not that there's anything wrong with that) that occasionally has a pretty dull story of people trying to reconcile running through it. The portions of the story that are about the troubled couple are not well-done, and the characters are cardboard cutouts.
The huge quantities of (gay) sex are not what killed this book for me: it's that the sex was so anachronistic and boring and disconnected from any emotional content whatsoever.
The pitch - an estranged couple in Regency London, something about a high-class brothel, a marriage on the rocks that is presumably mended through magical sex adventures - in no way resembles the actual book.
A more-accurate pitch for the book would be something like:
"In a fantasy version of Regency London where everyone is totally cool with very 2013 San Francisco sex activist attitudes about homosexuality, public sex, bondange, etc. etc., a nobleman slash sexual sadist/general sociopath has a lot of gay affairs. Luckily, everyone in London is anachronistically cool about this, like if he'd worn the wrong color coat to the opera. His estranged wife (also a crackpot) returns and he is horrible to her and they have rather a lot of anal sex and he takes her to a strangely boring brothel. Along the way, it is revealed that the hero starred in Boyfight videos, which is supposed to explain a bunch of inexplicable crap."
A lot of things about this book are startlingly terrible (characters are cardboard cutouts, plot is crummily paced, book seems uncertain as to what it is actually about), but the one I was most troubled by had to do with its treatment of same-sex relationships. While I was rather startled to read a book billed as a Regency romance (albeit one with a lot of sexytimes) and find that it contained mostly M/M sexual interactions, starting with the hero demanding oral sex from his male valet on like page 2, I can imagine someone writing a book about Regency-era men who love men and doing a really great job and really addressing the social realities for men in that situation at that time.
But this book is the opposite of that. I read a lot of historical romance novels. My favorite kind is legitimately a historical novel and feels steeped in the mores of place and time, and is written by an excellent author who understands how to paint a picture of characters and the dilemmas they must overcome in a compelling way. My least favorite kind treats the time and place of its setting as a kind of cosplay opportunity (LOL you guys let's put on some CORSETS!!!) but refuses to acknowledge any constraints placed upon characters because of the era in which they live. What is the POINT of setting something in Regency England if you aren't going to acknowledge the limitations and boundaries of the culture? I guess, given the astonishingly high rating of this book, many people aren't bothered by this. But I am. If you're going to have your male lead engage in a lot of casual gay sex, and have there be rumors and scandal about this, I just... I just do not understand that you then don't think to yourself "I guess I should use this as an opportunity to raise the stakes".
Instead the huge quantity of gay sex is treated in an astoundingly casual manner, like everyone considers it a very minor social snafu. Frankly, I found this to be kind of offensive.
So this "historical romance" is not actually historical at all, in my opinion. It has some phrases dropped in via Georgette Heyer, and people say "my lord" a lot, but for all the use the author makes of the time period, it might as well be set in modern-day Manhattan. In addition, I don't really think that this book is a romance. It's basically pornography (not that there's anything wrong with that) that occasionally has a pretty dull story of people trying to reconcile running through it. The portions of the story that are about the troubled couple are not well-done, and the characters are cardboard cutouts.
The huge quantities of (gay) sex are not what killed this book for me: it's that the sex was so anachronistic and boring and disconnected from any emotional content whatsoever.
January 3, 2021
In short:
Hero 4/5 ⭐ Heroine 5/5 ⭐ Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 ⭐ Writing Style 5/5 ⭐ Steam 5/5 ⭐ Romance 4/5 ⭐ Angst-Suspense 3/5 ⭐ Darkness 3/5 ⭐ Humor 1/5 ⭐ Secondary Characters 5/5 ⭐ Drama-Conflict 5/5 ⭐ Mystery 0/5 ⭐ Twists 4/5 ⭐ Pacing Fast ⭐ Action 3/5
Hero 4/5 ⭐ Heroine 5/5 ⭐ Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 ⭐ Writing Style 5/5 ⭐ Steam 5/5 ⭐ Romance 4/5 ⭐ Angst-Suspense 3/5 ⭐ Darkness 3/5 ⭐ Humor 1/5 ⭐ Secondary Characters 5/5 ⭐ Drama-Conflict 5/5 ⭐ Mystery 0/5 ⭐ Twists 4/5 ⭐ Pacing Fast ⭐ Action 3/5
July 9, 2017
3,5 Este libro es un buen ejemplo de cómo convertir un personaje que odias y desprecias en el libro anterior en alguien a quien entender, aunque no sea del todo de mi agrado, e incluso al que desearle la felicidad.
Que el capitán David Gray por fin encuentre el amor que se merece es un plus.
Que el capitán David Gray por fin encuentre el amor que se merece es un plus.
October 29, 2020
3.5 stars
Esta historia no trata sobre el típico romance, es más bien un viaje en el proceso de curación y perdón a sí mismo del protagonista Blaize Mishon, el antagonista en libros anteriores.
El libro es bastante duro y el contenido es a veces hasta incómodo de leer.
Jane una protagonista fuerte, inteligente, aventurera sexualmente que lucha por su matrimonio y por recuperar a su marido, sabe que lo hirió profundamente 7 años atrás y se siente culpable por ello.
Un libro intenso con muchas y diversas experiencias sexuales de los personajes mientras luchan por superar su duro pasado.
El pero que le pondría y por lo que bajé la puntuación, es cómo se da el final, no me gustó mucho el cierre, después de todo lo que tuvieron que pasar Jane y Blaize tenía otras expectativas.
June 22, 2010
I was very wary of this book coming into it. Kinda dragged my feet a little before starting it, but I ended up really enjoying it. I think Pearce did a good job making a tough story very readable.
Series Note:
Fifth book in the "House of Pleasure" series. You should at least read the previous book before this one (since it sets up the hero of this one), but then if you do that I think there are others you should read before that one. So might want to read this series in order.
Summary:
Blaize Minshom has turned into a pariah in London...a laughingstock after his association with Anthony Sokorvsky ended. Every knew that his sexual sub and whipping boy had left him for a woman. Even Blaize's wife. Who decides to return to London to win back her husband and get their life back to where it was seven years ago when tragedy chased him away.
In those seven years, though, Blaize has hardened, locked himself in a shell of sexual domination over males who crave pain and punishment. But with Jane back in the picture, challenging him at every turn, Blaize will be forced to confront all the things that made him who he is today.
note: the back cover summary (which is here on GR) is a bit misleading about how the story actually goes
Review:
What an anomaly this book is. I was so wary of this book. I was not sure the story the author had planned would work at all. I've loved this series up to this point, but I wondered if maybe Pearce would lose me on this story.
Why? Simple: the hero. Or rather, he really should be called an anti-hero because that's exactly what he is. Blaize Minshom is definitely not your traditional romance hero. He really, truly is an anti-hero.
For anyone who read the previous book, Simply Wicked, you'll remember Blaize as the Dom who had Anthony Sokorvsky under his thumb and who refused to let him go when Anthony decided to make some changes in his life. Blaize is essentially a villain in that story. I personally didn't like him. So when I read the excerpt for "Simply Insatiable" at the end of "Simply Wicked" I couldn't believe that Blaize was going to be the hero. I wondered how in the world author Kate Pearce was going to pull that one off.
But somehow, she manages to make it work. I was fascinated by Blaize as I read this book. As you read the story, you come to see that he's an extremely vulnerable, mentally scarred man who covers it all up by being an unemotional sexual dominant. Did I like Blaize by the time I finished the book? I'm not sure. He does a lot of things that makes it hard to truly like him, but there was something just really fascinating by him. I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Then there's Jane. What an odd duck she was to have put up with everything Blaize did. But they have a great battle of wits in this book. I really did enjoy reading about them and every chess move in their relationship. Jane seemed to be the perfect match for Blaize. And yeah, there's some scorching sex thrown in to ;)
Is the story perfect? No. The historical accuracy is a bit off language wise, and I suspect the ton would have never been so casual about Blaize's antics. But did a mind that? No. It works for this kind of story.
Will this book work for everyone? Big NO to that. This book, and series, is for those with open minds about alternative relationships and for those who like more than a little kink in their sex. It's also for those who don't mind reading about an anti-hero because that's exactly what Blaize is.
I wasn't sure the story would work for me on that last one, but it did. I just really enjoyed this book and am glad I gave it a chance. This is a great series overall though and I look forward to the next book!
WARNING, this book contains: okay, let's see there's: very explicit sex and language (of course) and...oy, this is where things get messy...m/f sex, m/f oral and anal sex, m/m oral and anal sex, m/m/f oral and anal sex, BDSM (whipping, restraints, dominance, submission, etc), exhibitionism, voyeurism, body piercings, clamps, coercion, rough sex...I think that's about it, but I could be wrong.
Series Note:
Fifth book in the "House of Pleasure" series. You should at least read the previous book before this one (since it sets up the hero of this one), but then if you do that I think there are others you should read before that one. So might want to read this series in order.
Summary:
Blaize Minshom has turned into a pariah in London...a laughingstock after his association with Anthony Sokorvsky ended. Every knew that his sexual sub and whipping boy had left him for a woman. Even Blaize's wife. Who decides to return to London to win back her husband and get their life back to where it was seven years ago when tragedy chased him away.
In those seven years, though, Blaize has hardened, locked himself in a shell of sexual domination over males who crave pain and punishment. But with Jane back in the picture, challenging him at every turn, Blaize will be forced to confront all the things that made him who he is today.
note: the back cover summary (which is here on GR) is a bit misleading about how the story actually goes
Review:
What an anomaly this book is. I was so wary of this book. I was not sure the story the author had planned would work at all. I've loved this series up to this point, but I wondered if maybe Pearce would lose me on this story.
Why? Simple: the hero. Or rather, he really should be called an anti-hero because that's exactly what he is. Blaize Minshom is definitely not your traditional romance hero. He really, truly is an anti-hero.
For anyone who read the previous book, Simply Wicked, you'll remember Blaize as the Dom who had Anthony Sokorvsky under his thumb and who refused to let him go when Anthony decided to make some changes in his life. Blaize is essentially a villain in that story. I personally didn't like him. So when I read the excerpt for "Simply Insatiable" at the end of "Simply Wicked" I couldn't believe that Blaize was going to be the hero. I wondered how in the world author Kate Pearce was going to pull that one off.
But somehow, she manages to make it work. I was fascinated by Blaize as I read this book. As you read the story, you come to see that he's an extremely vulnerable, mentally scarred man who covers it all up by being an unemotional sexual dominant. Did I like Blaize by the time I finished the book? I'm not sure. He does a lot of things that makes it hard to truly like him, but there was something just really fascinating by him. I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Then there's Jane. What an odd duck she was to have put up with everything Blaize did. But they have a great battle of wits in this book. I really did enjoy reading about them and every chess move in their relationship. Jane seemed to be the perfect match for Blaize. And yeah, there's some scorching sex thrown in to ;)
Is the story perfect? No. The historical accuracy is a bit off language wise, and I suspect the ton would have never been so casual about Blaize's antics. But did a mind that? No. It works for this kind of story.
Will this book work for everyone? Big NO to that. This book, and series, is for those with open minds about alternative relationships and for those who like more than a little kink in their sex. It's also for those who don't mind reading about an anti-hero because that's exactly what Blaize is.
I wasn't sure the story would work for me on that last one, but it did. I just really enjoyed this book and am glad I gave it a chance. This is a great series overall though and I look forward to the next book!
WARNING, this book contains: okay, let's see there's: very explicit sex and language (of course) and...oy, this is where things get messy...m/f sex, m/f oral and anal sex, m/m oral and anal sex, m/m/f oral and anal sex, BDSM (whipping, restraints, dominance, submission, etc), exhibitionism, voyeurism, body piercings, clamps, coercion, rough sex...I think that's about it, but I could be wrong.
May 1, 2010
Lord Blaize Minshom (the dark evil sadistic villian from "Simply Wicked")is nursing his ego after being publicly dumped by his lover Lord Anthony Sokorvsky, when his wife shows up. Minshom married Jane 10 years ago but they have lived seperately for the last 7 years after a sad personal tragedy. Jane wants to talk and make peace with Minshom and maybe try and salvage their marraige.
Minshom is renowned around London for being a sadistic master Dom and his ability to deal out pain. He only takes male lovers and soon you could say they become addicted to Minshom's mastery leaving him in complete control, so how dare Anthony leave HIM!! He thinks Jane has come to London to gloat over his public rejection by Anthony. He wants Jane gone, so he sets out to shock her by taking her to The Pleasure House and showing her his wicked lifestyle. But in setting out to shock her, he is the one that ends up surprised. This is more Minshom's story (quite rightly) than Janes, but the scenes between them are sizzling.
This book begins with Jane arriving to see Minshom getting a "serviced" by his valet Robert, but there is more than just sex there is a good background story on Minshom, and a great subplot with great secondry characters. I was one of the few who liked the neurotic arrogant Minshom with his witty sarcasim in Wicked, and was eager to see how KP would redeem him. Well, she did a great job.
Aw, Robert the valet and Minshoms lover, sexy and sensitive, I really felt the scene near the end when David finds him crying. David Gray(sigh), one of my favourite characters, was Simply Delicious (no pun intended). For me the love between these two men was the most realistic in the book. I felt these two were truly in love with each other, and I am glad KP gave David a worthy loving partner.
Lisettes story is next then followed hopefully by Christians, but there are a lot of secondry characters to choose from so who knows?. It took me a while to warm up to this series, but now I am hooked mainly by the great characters.
This book is very explicit with sex scenes include bondage, whipping, pain, oral, anal, MMF, sex in front of an audience, and M/M
Minshom is renowned around London for being a sadistic master Dom and his ability to deal out pain. He only takes male lovers and soon you could say they become addicted to Minshom's mastery leaving him in complete control, so how dare Anthony leave HIM!! He thinks Jane has come to London to gloat over his public rejection by Anthony. He wants Jane gone, so he sets out to shock her by taking her to The Pleasure House and showing her his wicked lifestyle. But in setting out to shock her, he is the one that ends up surprised. This is more Minshom's story (quite rightly) than Janes, but the scenes between them are sizzling.
This book begins with Jane arriving to see Minshom getting a "serviced" by his valet Robert, but there is more than just sex there is a good background story on Minshom, and a great subplot with great secondry characters. I was one of the few who liked the neurotic arrogant Minshom with his witty sarcasim in Wicked, and was eager to see how KP would redeem him. Well, she did a great job.
Aw, Robert the valet and Minshoms lover, sexy and sensitive, I really felt the scene near the end when David finds him crying. David Gray(sigh), one of my favourite characters, was Simply Delicious (no pun intended). For me the love between these two men was the most realistic in the book. I felt these two were truly in love with each other, and I am glad KP gave David a worthy loving partner.
Lisettes story is next then followed hopefully by Christians, but there are a lot of secondry characters to choose from so who knows?. It took me a while to warm up to this series, but now I am hooked mainly by the great characters.
This book is very explicit with sex scenes include bondage, whipping, pain, oral, anal, MMF, sex in front of an audience, and M/M
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2010
Not much romantic development, but good if you like the series. After a 7 yr separation, his wife returns and he treats her bad.
STORY BRIEF:
Minshom was the cruel and sadistic sexual tormentor of Anthony in the previous book “Simply Wicked.” For the past seven years, all of Minshom’s sexual partners have been men. So it is a surprise when Jane shows up. She married him 10 years ago. They had a fight 7 years ago and separated. She still loves him. She wants to get pregnant and live together. He doesn’t want that, so he tries to do things to scare her away. He takes her to the pleasure house, ties her up and tries to hurt and humiliate her, but she takes it. He won’t buy her any clothes, so she walks around dressed as a pauper/servant. We learn that Minshom suffered horrible abuse as a teen because of his father.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was ok, but there’s no romantic relationship development other than Jane anticipating whatever strange sex act he might be doing with her. This book did not have a “feel good” quality to it. I was unsettled during the story, and at the end I did not “feel good.” It was more of a mental happy ending than an emotional one. Minshom is cruel and mean to Jane, and she compliantly takes it. What was most interesting was why Minshom was so abusive to others. He was abused by his father – and it was horrible. I can’t place it in the group of “you must read this,” but for those who love the series, then yes get it. This is the fifth book in the “Simply” series. Sex scenes include bondage, whipping, pain, rear door activity, group sex, sex in front of an audience, and men with men. Some of the men are actually, truly in love with each other.
CAUTION SPOILER:
Minshom’s interaction with his father was not finished at the end. I don’t know why he wanted to forgive his father. I wouldn’t have. I would have liked more explanation. I also wanted to hear something from the father which did not happen.
DATA:
Story length: 284 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 48. Setting: 1819 London. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic regency romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Minshom was the cruel and sadistic sexual tormentor of Anthony in the previous book “Simply Wicked.” For the past seven years, all of Minshom’s sexual partners have been men. So it is a surprise when Jane shows up. She married him 10 years ago. They had a fight 7 years ago and separated. She still loves him. She wants to get pregnant and live together. He doesn’t want that, so he tries to do things to scare her away. He takes her to the pleasure house, ties her up and tries to hurt and humiliate her, but she takes it. He won’t buy her any clothes, so she walks around dressed as a pauper/servant. We learn that Minshom suffered horrible abuse as a teen because of his father.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was ok, but there’s no romantic relationship development other than Jane anticipating whatever strange sex act he might be doing with her. This book did not have a “feel good” quality to it. I was unsettled during the story, and at the end I did not “feel good.” It was more of a mental happy ending than an emotional one. Minshom is cruel and mean to Jane, and she compliantly takes it. What was most interesting was why Minshom was so abusive to others. He was abused by his father – and it was horrible. I can’t place it in the group of “you must read this,” but for those who love the series, then yes get it. This is the fifth book in the “Simply” series. Sex scenes include bondage, whipping, pain, rear door activity, group sex, sex in front of an audience, and men with men. Some of the men are actually, truly in love with each other.
CAUTION SPOILER:
Minshom’s interaction with his father was not finished at the end. I don’t know why he wanted to forgive his father. I wouldn’t have. I would have liked more explanation. I also wanted to hear something from the father which did not happen.
DATA:
Story length: 284 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 48. Setting: 1819 London. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic regency romance.
May 17, 2011
Lord. I have tried and tried to write this review....but I found it incredibly difficult considering the roller coaster ride I experienced while reading Simply Insatiable.
First off - I hated Lord Minshom before I even started this book. He was featured in book 4 (and maybe others, I can't remember) and he was a completely despicable, piece of shit, sadistic fuck. I can't remember hating a character so much. So when I found out that book 5 was HIS story.....needless to say, I was less than thrilled. I thought how in the world am I even going to get through this book?
For the first part of the book.....my opinion of him didn't change. We find out that he has a wife named Jane, but he hasn't seen her in 7 years. She lives in their country house and has absolutely no contact with her. He spends his time in London at the pleasure house - on the third (and most extreme) floor of the house, I might add. He gets off on abusing men there. (And let me just say this.....the "abuse" is consensual. He isn't raping anyone. He's being rough, forceful, and violent with them.....he beats them, humiliates them, etc....but they are all asking him to do it. Not that I feel the need to defend Lord Minshom, I just want it made clear that while he IS a sadistic douchebag, he ISN'T a rapist. So there.)
For whatever reason, Jane still loves and wants her husband. AND, she wants a baby. And she wants Lord Minshom to father the child. Jane seems WAY too sweet for a dick like Minshom. Like, you almost have to think that she's an idiot for even wanting him. So, obviously there is something about Minshom that is lovable, if someone so seemingly sweet as Jane is able to have feelings for him even after not being in contact with him for almost a decade.
So, Jane is now in London and is refusing to leave even though Minshom has made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want her in his home or in London even. And he refuses to get her pregnant......again. Come to find out, they had a son who died in infancy. This revelation leads us to learn more about why Minshom left Jane and moved to London in the first place.
It's hard to describe the many plot twists and turns without giving away the whole novel, but I will say this.....I did a complete turnaround in my feelings toward Lord Minshom. While I still consider him a douchebag of epic proportions, I learned why he became that way. Childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of his father left deep emotional scars that he was incapable of dealing with. This led to his belief that he was a despicable and perverted person that no one was capable of loving. No matter how much Jane professed her love, he refused to believe it until it was almost too late.
In romance novels, I love nothing more than a tortured hero. The trouble is, when I started this book, I considered Minshom so tortured that he couldn't find redemption. Didn't deserve it, even. I found him to be that vile. But after finding out who he really was and the history he had, my heart broke for him over and over. I started to read between the lines and even as he spoke the most hateful words to those who loved him, I saw him as a character so broken and abused that he had no choice but to lash out. Why would he or how could he EVER trust anyone. Of course Lorn Minshom became a hateful bastard. He had to be in order to survive.
So, yea.....I started out hating this book. Hating it before I had even read a page of it. I don't remember exactly when the transition occurred, but after that - I couldn't read quick enough. I had to make sure that this man got his HEA. Because if he didn't, my heart was going to be broken all over again.
First off - I hated Lord Minshom before I even started this book. He was featured in book 4 (and maybe others, I can't remember) and he was a completely despicable, piece of shit, sadistic fuck. I can't remember hating a character so much. So when I found out that book 5 was HIS story.....needless to say, I was less than thrilled. I thought how in the world am I even going to get through this book?
For the first part of the book.....my opinion of him didn't change. We find out that he has a wife named Jane, but he hasn't seen her in 7 years. She lives in their country house and has absolutely no contact with her. He spends his time in London at the pleasure house - on the third (and most extreme) floor of the house, I might add. He gets off on abusing men there. (And let me just say this.....the "abuse" is consensual. He isn't raping anyone. He's being rough, forceful, and violent with them.....he beats them, humiliates them, etc....but they are all asking him to do it. Not that I feel the need to defend Lord Minshom, I just want it made clear that while he IS a sadistic douchebag, he ISN'T a rapist. So there.)
For whatever reason, Jane still loves and wants her husband. AND, she wants a baby. And she wants Lord Minshom to father the child. Jane seems WAY too sweet for a dick like Minshom. Like, you almost have to think that she's an idiot for even wanting him. So, obviously there is something about Minshom that is lovable, if someone so seemingly sweet as Jane is able to have feelings for him even after not being in contact with him for almost a decade.
So, Jane is now in London and is refusing to leave even though Minshom has made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want her in his home or in London even. And he refuses to get her pregnant......again. Come to find out, they had a son who died in infancy. This revelation leads us to learn more about why Minshom left Jane and moved to London in the first place.
It's hard to describe the many plot twists and turns without giving away the whole novel, but I will say this.....I did a complete turnaround in my feelings toward Lord Minshom. While I still consider him a douchebag of epic proportions, I learned why he became that way. Childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of his father left deep emotional scars that he was incapable of dealing with. This led to his belief that he was a despicable and perverted person that no one was capable of loving. No matter how much Jane professed her love, he refused to believe it until it was almost too late.
In romance novels, I love nothing more than a tortured hero. The trouble is, when I started this book, I considered Minshom so tortured that he couldn't find redemption. Didn't deserve it, even. I found him to be that vile. But after finding out who he really was and the history he had, my heart broke for him over and over. I started to read between the lines and even as he spoke the most hateful words to those who loved him, I saw him as a character so broken and abused that he had no choice but to lash out. Why would he or how could he EVER trust anyone. Of course Lorn Minshom became a hateful bastard. He had to be in order to survive.
So, yea.....I started out hating this book. Hating it before I had even read a page of it. I don't remember exactly when the transition occurred, but after that - I couldn't read quick enough. I had to make sure that this man got his HEA. Because if he didn't, my heart was going to be broken all over again.
November 22, 2010
I reliably enjoy Kate Pearce's Regency-set "House of Pleasure" series, and I especially liked SIMPLY INSATIABLE.
The heroine, Jane, likes sex and is adventurous about it with her husband, which for the setting is pretty impressive in itself. The hero's valet, Robert, is gay and submissive, and has found himself a situation where he can fulfill those aspects of his character through a perceived obligation to the hero; his conflict involves breaking free of that obligation to go to the man with whom he's fallen in love. The hero, Lord Minshom, was the villain of previous books. He has serious angst from childhood abuse, but though that is part and parcel of his personality and he thinks that's the main reason he's kinky, it doesn't seem to be really true. When, as is inevitable in a romance, he's confronted most of his issues and is happier, he's still kinky; it's clearly shown that he and Jane are going to enjoy themselves to the fullest with each other and with a male friend.
The main plot revolves around conflict between Minshom and Jane. They've been married for ten years but estranged for the last seven; in the interim, Minshom has only had sex with men. I guessed pretty quickly what the issue had been between them, but still enjoyed how it was revealed, bit by painful bit. Minshom wants Jane to go back home and never see him again; Jane wants several things which I won't spoil here. They banter and battle and manipulate, mostly in sexual ways but not entirely, and though Jane is younger, they are still pretty evenly matched.
Overall? I had a lot of fun reading this.
Though set in the Regency, most of the events in this series take place in a House of Pleasure where they can experiment sexually, or in various sexual situations. There are a few ordinary social occasions portrayed (in this book, there's a ball, and a trip to a modiste), but they're not the focus, and the books aren't intended as interpretations of Regency society; I think they're more psychological explorations of relationships. That said, I love when small historical details are included; for instance, one character is a captain in the Navy, and the way he's described always makes me think of the naval officers in PERSUASION.
I'm looking forward to the next one!
The heroine, Jane, likes sex and is adventurous about it with her husband, which for the setting is pretty impressive in itself. The hero's valet, Robert, is gay and submissive, and has found himself a situation where he can fulfill those aspects of his character through a perceived obligation to the hero; his conflict involves breaking free of that obligation to go to the man with whom he's fallen in love. The hero, Lord Minshom, was the villain of previous books. He has serious angst from childhood abuse, but though that is part and parcel of his personality and he thinks that's the main reason he's kinky, it doesn't seem to be really true. When, as is inevitable in a romance, he's confronted most of his issues and is happier, he's still kinky; it's clearly shown that he and Jane are going to enjoy themselves to the fullest with each other and with a male friend.
The main plot revolves around conflict between Minshom and Jane. They've been married for ten years but estranged for the last seven; in the interim, Minshom has only had sex with men. I guessed pretty quickly what the issue had been between them, but still enjoyed how it was revealed, bit by painful bit. Minshom wants Jane to go back home and never see him again; Jane wants several things which I won't spoil here. They banter and battle and manipulate, mostly in sexual ways but not entirely, and though Jane is younger, they are still pretty evenly matched.
Overall? I had a lot of fun reading this.
Though set in the Regency, most of the events in this series take place in a House of Pleasure where they can experiment sexually, or in various sexual situations. There are a few ordinary social occasions portrayed (in this book, there's a ball, and a trip to a modiste), but they're not the focus, and the books aren't intended as interpretations of Regency society; I think they're more psychological explorations of relationships. That said, I love when small historical details are included; for instance, one character is a captain in the Navy, and the way he's described always makes me think of the naval officers in PERSUASION.
I'm looking forward to the next one!
June 14, 2014
What a waste of my reading time I disliked both the main leafs.
June 10, 2014
******************THIS IS ALL SPOILERS******************
Omgosh I severely disliked this book, I was thinking I was about to read about a husband and estranged wife fixing their marriage and exploring sex TOGETHER, what I got was a "hero" who was having the sexual with all the members of his fathers kiddie fight club, first rule of kiddie fight club is you never lose or you get raped.....ummm so now as an adult they have all decided the cycle needs to continue with mental and sexual abuse. Our heroine in this story bless her stupid little heart abandoned by her husband after their son dies 7 yrs ago (which she blamed him for and kicked him out.) returns to the hero because she would like a place in the sausage fest sans sausage. She is totally okay with her husband doing the deed with every other male character in this book just as long as he breaks her off a piece as well.....
Throughout this book I was shocked by the apparent acceptance of the gay,bi lifestyle by members of the aristocracy. Casually gossiping about male lovers and the drama that includes. My mistake Lords and Ladies (Now this is a regency review TADAAA) I thought this was a regency where sodomy was a hanging offense....
The ending did not leave me with warm fuzzies hero decided that he might not have been great to his lady love, he goes back to make peace after he chases her off also decided that dear old dad needs to know that everything is okie dokie never mind the child rape and kiddie fight club...Oh and also he loves his now preggo wife but he is going to keep his man love on the back burner maybe invite him over on occasion for a 3 way or some one on one time when it tickles his fancy....I'm sorry but there was no romance in this book just lusty mentally abused man whores galore....
Omgosh I severely disliked this book, I was thinking I was about to read about a husband and estranged wife fixing their marriage and exploring sex TOGETHER, what I got was a "hero" who was having the sexual with all the members of his fathers kiddie fight club, first rule of kiddie fight club is you never lose or you get raped.....ummm so now as an adult they have all decided the cycle needs to continue with mental and sexual abuse. Our heroine in this story bless her stupid little heart abandoned by her husband after their son dies 7 yrs ago (which she blamed him for and kicked him out.) returns to the hero because she would like a place in the sausage fest sans sausage. She is totally okay with her husband doing the deed with every other male character in this book just as long as he breaks her off a piece as well.....
Throughout this book I was shocked by the apparent acceptance of the gay,bi lifestyle by members of the aristocracy. Casually gossiping about male lovers and the drama that includes. My mistake Lords and Ladies (Now this is a regency review TADAAA) I thought this was a regency where sodomy was a hanging offense....
The ending did not leave me with warm fuzzies hero decided that he might not have been great to his lady love, he goes back to make peace after he chases her off also decided that dear old dad needs to know that everything is okie dokie never mind the child rape and kiddie fight club...Oh and also he loves his now preggo wife but he is going to keep his man love on the back burner maybe invite him over on occasion for a 3 way or some one on one time when it tickles his fancy....I'm sorry but there was no romance in this book just lusty mentally abused man whores galore....
May 10, 2011
Though I hated Minshom in the previous book because of how he treated others, I understood now how he came to be. This is a classic example of a tragic hero and true love. Jane, his wife, is a strong woman who did everything she could to bring back his humanity.
This was quite an emotional read for me, there's a sub-story between Captain David Grey, whom we have been reading about since the second book, (Peter's story), and Robert, Minshom's valet, who has his eternal gratitude to Blaize. David and Robert's story took years in the making. It was tragically beautiful and I felt the love between the characters with the way they talk to each other, how they look at each other, and how they made love – there was real passion there, not just some animal lust.
I liked Jane's character a lot, it's difficult not to. She's witty and the only one who could stand up to Blaize. I cried lots of times along the way while reading this novel and wondering if they would have their own happily ever after. I'm a sucker for second chances and Blaize's character really developed, in a convincing way.
The loose ends were tied, Blaize has softened a bit and he started to love Jane back. There were a lot of scenes that annoyed me, some amused me, made me hot and bothered, and just simply entertained me. Though I do not care for M/M, I still appreciate the author's writing.
This was quite an emotional read for me, there's a sub-story between Captain David Grey, whom we have been reading about since the second book, (Peter's story), and Robert, Minshom's valet, who has his eternal gratitude to Blaize. David and Robert's story took years in the making. It was tragically beautiful and I felt the love between the characters with the way they talk to each other, how they look at each other, and how they made love – there was real passion there, not just some animal lust.
I liked Jane's character a lot, it's difficult not to. She's witty and the only one who could stand up to Blaize. I cried lots of times along the way while reading this novel and wondering if they would have their own happily ever after. I'm a sucker for second chances and Blaize's character really developed, in a convincing way.
The loose ends were tied, Blaize has softened a bit and he started to love Jane back. There were a lot of scenes that annoyed me, some amused me, made me hot and bothered, and just simply entertained me. Though I do not care for M/M, I still appreciate the author's writing.
June 26, 2010
Well, I finished this book with tears in my eyes and a thankful heart. In the Simply series, I must say this is my favorite so far. Lord Minshom is a dark character with a twisted past. The storyline was fresh and creative. Blaize...what can I say about this hero's name? Hot, troubled, sexy, a beast that only a gracious and pure heart could mend. I enjoyed the multiple complications in regards to Blaize's past. It was so very complicated and broke my heart. This hero was strong and vulnerable. The heroine was kind and struggling. The scene where Lord Minshom finally runs Jane off by telling her he's going to connect with someone from his past *not wanting to reveal spoiler* broke my heart. The tears were plentiful. The ending was tender and satisfying. This book would be a wonderful read as a stand alone, but is enriched for the reader if the other books are read first. The love scenes are scorching and worthy of my panting breaths. :-) Ms. Pearce has once again given me a beautiful historical erotic romance novel. She is a genius in this genre!
April 11, 2011
I put off reading this book because I "hated" it before I even read it - knowing who the male lead character would be. This story did NOT change my opinion of Lord Minshom - that he is a tortured soul who may never recover from his past. I even surprised myself by giving this book 4 stars, not based on 1 character, but based on the story as whole. The author managed to captivate me and kept my interest the whole time. This was not your typical romance, in fact I wouldn't even describe it as such. The story is dark, the characters are dark and there is NO HEA for anyone IMO. As others have mentioned, this book is NOT for everyone.
November 22, 2018
The gossips always whisper about the scandalous Lord Blaize Minshom, but now the rumors are positively flying that Lord Anthony Sokorvsky has thrown Minshom over for a woman. Minshom may pretend not to care what people say about him, but he is irritated he made a fool out of himself. To make matters worse, his estranged wife has just shown up on his doorstep. Jane is the one person in the world who can tie Minshom up in knots (figuratively speaking, of course) and even after seven years apart, she is still the only woman he has ever truly desired…which is why he’s determined to send her back to the country.
Jane is equally determined to bring her wayward husband home with her. Tragedy may have torn them apart, but she’ll be damned if she lets Blaize lock her out of his life forever. Their marital battle will take them to the most scandalous sections of London, where passion reigns and the price of pleasure may very well be their hearts.
One of the things I love the most about Kate Pearce’s books is that I’ll never know what to expect. That being said, I wasn’t sure how she would pull off a love story for the villainous Lord Minshom without drastically changing his character. Simply Insatiable is better than anything I could have imagined. It’s heartbreaking, spellbinding, and devastatingly erotic.
Minshom, who took a dastardly turn in the previous House of Pleasure book, Simply Wicked, is like many of Ms. Pearce’s heroes in that he is intriguingly complex. He tries so hard to convince everyone, even himself, that he is a bad person that he generally succeeds. I won’t reveal why Minshom believes this of himself because that would spoil the emotional impact of the story. Ms. Pearce doesn’t actually change his personality to make him a hero; she simply shows different facets of his character. As for the woman who so thoroughly captures Minshom’s heart, Jane is a fantastic heroine. She’s intelligent, sensual, and never backs down from Minshom. It takes great strength and tenacity to take on Minshom and his inner demons and Jane does so admirably. The two of them set the page ablaze with passion, for it wouldn’t be a House of Pleasure novel if the story wasn’t wicked.
I should also mention that Simply Insatiable features an engaging subplot regarding Captain David Gray, who fans of the series will remember from Simply Shameless and Simply Wicked. I won’t give away David’s hero, but I was every bit as excited to see him get his happily ever after as I was Minshom and Jane.
As a love story, Simply Insatiable can be read as a stand-alone book. However, for those who have not yet read Simply Wicked, beware of spoilers. Each House of Pleasure book has only made me yearn for more, so if there’s one thing I didn’t like about Simply Insatiable it’s that I am now hungry for the next book, Simply Forbidden. All in all, I loved the captivating Simply Insatiable. It’s everything I could want in a story and I do hope Ms. Pearce writes many more books for this extraordinary series!
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Jane is equally determined to bring her wayward husband home with her. Tragedy may have torn them apart, but she’ll be damned if she lets Blaize lock her out of his life forever. Their marital battle will take them to the most scandalous sections of London, where passion reigns and the price of pleasure may very well be their hearts.
One of the things I love the most about Kate Pearce’s books is that I’ll never know what to expect. That being said, I wasn’t sure how she would pull off a love story for the villainous Lord Minshom without drastically changing his character. Simply Insatiable is better than anything I could have imagined. It’s heartbreaking, spellbinding, and devastatingly erotic.
Minshom, who took a dastardly turn in the previous House of Pleasure book, Simply Wicked, is like many of Ms. Pearce’s heroes in that he is intriguingly complex. He tries so hard to convince everyone, even himself, that he is a bad person that he generally succeeds. I won’t reveal why Minshom believes this of himself because that would spoil the emotional impact of the story. Ms. Pearce doesn’t actually change his personality to make him a hero; she simply shows different facets of his character. As for the woman who so thoroughly captures Minshom’s heart, Jane is a fantastic heroine. She’s intelligent, sensual, and never backs down from Minshom. It takes great strength and tenacity to take on Minshom and his inner demons and Jane does so admirably. The two of them set the page ablaze with passion, for it wouldn’t be a House of Pleasure novel if the story wasn’t wicked.
I should also mention that Simply Insatiable features an engaging subplot regarding Captain David Gray, who fans of the series will remember from Simply Shameless and Simply Wicked. I won’t give away David’s hero, but I was every bit as excited to see him get his happily ever after as I was Minshom and Jane.
As a love story, Simply Insatiable can be read as a stand-alone book. However, for those who have not yet read Simply Wicked, beware of spoilers. Each House of Pleasure book has only made me yearn for more, so if there’s one thing I didn’t like about Simply Insatiable it’s that I am now hungry for the next book, Simply Forbidden. All in all, I loved the captivating Simply Insatiable. It’s everything I could want in a story and I do hope Ms. Pearce writes many more books for this extraordinary series!
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
September 28, 2011
This book is fantastic, emotional and heart wrenching! Damn I always liked stories about a tortured soul hero with loveable and kind heroin. I couldn't believe Lord Minshom, that sick bastard, jerk suddenly became a likeable and favourite character. If you have read the previous installment of House of Pleasure (Simply Wicked, #4), you know that Lord Minshom was a hateful person. I hated him so much I was happy when Lord Anthony Sokorvsky ousted him. Who knows, it was the pasts reason he becomes a monster.
Lady Jane comes to London to reunite with Lord Minshom and she's his wife. Yes, I repeat again, Lord Minshom, that bastard, he has wife. A gentle, kind and lovely wife, indeed. She finally learns the truth about her husband and asks for forgiveness because she's truly in love with Lord Minshom. She wants him back and she determines to do anything to have his heart again. On the other hand, Lord Minshom refuses Lady Jane because he hates to face the past again.
Lord Minshom had had enough, though. I understood why he became a hateful person. It's all to do with what his father did to him when he was young, his son died in front of his eyes and his wife accused him for something he did not commit. Plus, I couldn't believe that Lord Minshom has many admirers or lovers despite he's attitude. Oh, there's a sub-story in this book which is about Robert and Captain Gray. Wow, I liked reading about them. Their relationship is full of passion and love. It was wonderful and amazing!
5-stars given because everything, the whole lot book was fascinating. I really enjoyed and loved the author's writing. I can't wait to grab for the next sequel and I hope, there'll be more of this series.
Lady Jane comes to London to reunite with Lord Minshom and she's his wife. Yes, I repeat again, Lord Minshom, that bastard, he has wife. A gentle, kind and lovely wife, indeed. She finally learns the truth about her husband and asks for forgiveness because she's truly in love with Lord Minshom. She wants him back and she determines to do anything to have his heart again. On the other hand, Lord Minshom refuses Lady Jane because he hates to face the past again.
Lord Minshom had had enough, though. I understood why he became a hateful person. It's all to do with what his father did to him when he was young, his son died in front of his eyes and his wife accused him for something he did not commit. Plus, I couldn't believe that Lord Minshom has many admirers or lovers despite he's attitude. Oh, there's a sub-story in this book which is about Robert and Captain Gray. Wow, I liked reading about them. Their relationship is full of passion and love. It was wonderful and amazing!
5-stars given because everything, the whole lot book was fascinating. I really enjoyed and loved the author's writing. I can't wait to grab for the next sequel and I hope, there'll be more of this series.
April 23, 2017
surprisingly the best in the series so far. Definitely an anti-hero (though nowhere near as heinous as made to seem in previous stories). We get to know the reasons behind Minshom's character and Jane is a good pair to him. She accepts him and somewhat submits but is still strong in her own way and pushes him to be better. I also enjoyed fnally getting a fuller story of/for Captain Gray. Though angsty at times, overall it was interesting.
BTW, if you're a Vampire Diaries fan, Blaize feels a lot like Damon Salvatore in looks and attitude. Can't help wondering if the author didn't have a bit of that influence in there--- which works for me.
The only thing I have some issue with though is the recurring theme in this series that the male characters all seem to have been abused and this "causes" their attraction to other men and/or confusion about their sensuality. I don't think there has been any male homosexual (or even bi) character that just was and didn't have a traumatic past or anything. Also, I know that this is erotic romance and therefore not up to as much scrutiny in relation to historical accuracy, but it bugged me in this and the last few books that on one hand the author acknowledges that "sodomy" (as homosexual relations were viewed) was illegal and a crime possibly punishable by death, and then casualyl discusses it and has everyone know about characters' activities/proclivities, and says it is the gossip on all the tongues in the ton. This would not be "gossip", this would be outrage and ostracism if not,as mentioned, a crime.
BTW, if you're a Vampire Diaries fan, Blaize feels a lot like Damon Salvatore in looks and attitude. Can't help wondering if the author didn't have a bit of that influence in there--- which works for me.
The only thing I have some issue with though is the recurring theme in this series that the male characters all seem to have been abused and this "causes" their attraction to other men and/or confusion about their sensuality. I don't think there has been any male homosexual (or even bi) character that just was and didn't have a traumatic past or anything. Also, I know that this is erotic romance and therefore not up to as much scrutiny in relation to historical accuracy, but it bugged me in this and the last few books that on one hand the author acknowledges that "sodomy" (as homosexual relations were viewed) was illegal and a crime possibly punishable by death, and then casualyl discusses it and has everyone know about characters' activities/proclivities, and says it is the gossip on all the tongues in the ton. This would not be "gossip", this would be outrage and ostracism if not,as mentioned, a crime.
June 15, 2010
Kate Pearce's House of Pleasure series continues to get better and better with each book. I was instantly drawn to this story of true rakehell, actually villain, Lord Minshom and his heroine Jane. Turns out he's had a secret wife in the country for ten years and when she appears one day now wanting a baby, his world is completely shifted on its axis.
It was clear from the beginning that the chemistry between these two was red hot. I adored Jane, who is very sweet and soft-tempered but manages to keep Minshom on his toes because I love heroines who will absolutely not give up on the hero no matter how great a challenge. Some have questioned whether Minshom, who was truly terrible in the previous book Simply Wicked, could even be redeemed, but he did have an incredibly awful past and for me, I was convinced. The reunion of estranged husband and wife is a favorite theme of mine, and Pearce lived up to it in every way.
It was clear from the beginning that the chemistry between these two was red hot. I adored Jane, who is very sweet and soft-tempered but manages to keep Minshom on his toes because I love heroines who will absolutely not give up on the hero no matter how great a challenge. Some have questioned whether Minshom, who was truly terrible in the previous book Simply Wicked, could even be redeemed, but he did have an incredibly awful past and for me, I was convinced. The reunion of estranged husband and wife is a favorite theme of mine, and Pearce lived up to it in every way.
October 20, 2010
I would actually like to give this more of a 3 1/2 stars instead of 4. I enjoyed the book. The warning lable on the back was right. THIS BOOK IS EXTREMELY HOT! The only drawbacks that I have of this book have nothing to do with the book at all in fact, this is the only book I've read in this series and even though I wasn't in the least bit confused (meaning you could read it without reading the others) I still found myself not completely appriecating the characters/story. They characters were good/hot/well rounded, I just think if I started the series from the very beginning I would appreciate them just a little more!
June 12, 2010
Loved this book!!! Jane is a wonderful heroine and Lord Blaize Minshom was one hard nut to crack, but when he finally did....I was so happy for Jane...and for him too.
My only wish was for a little more story at the end when he finally conceded. But a great story none the less.
A special thanks to Kate...I won this book from her and I was on cloud 9 for days!!!!
My only wish was for a little more story at the end when he finally conceded. But a great story none the less.
A special thanks to Kate...I won this book from her and I was on cloud 9 for days!!!!
October 15, 2020
Don't have much to say about Simply Insatiable other than the heat factor was cranked high for this one, and is therefore IMO one of the better books of the series so far. I didn't notice it so much when I first started reading this series but the plot and character motivations are very thin. Minshom is a great character so I'm really glad that he was still a bastard in his own story.
May 10, 2010
Hot steamy sex scenes and a tear-jerking story make this one of Kate Pearce's best!
June 3, 2010
A dark, twisted, sensual read. I loved it.
March 6, 2012
Favorite one so far. And you get to see why Lord Minshom is an asshole. Such heartbreaking childhood with him, Robert, Thomas and Captain Gray.
July 17, 2012
2.5-3 stars
This is a difficult book, not only because it's about Lord Blaize Minshom, whom we've come to hate as a horrid BDSM abuser at the Pleasure House, as well as obviously being a man who manipulates and enjoys others' pain in every day life, but also because of the subject matter that we wade into.
It seems as if these books aren't going to ever be about true HEA. Not even just "flawed" people, but damaged people. These aren't typical romances (not even in the erotic-romance category), because they deal with a lot of pain - pain suffered at the hands of others.
Part of my issues with all of this is that, regardless of what's been done to us in our lives or what we've done, at some point, we must take responsibility for our OWN actions. Ultimately, as adults, we choose how we go on - how we behave, how we treat others, how we live our lives. I don't mean by the standards of Society (the "ton") of this day or even of our day; I mean that WE CHOOSE.
So, while I know I'm supposed to see Lord Blaize Minshom in a new light after reading his story, it's still difficult for me to like the man - to feel much empathy for him. And his "change" in this book is almost too much for me to take.
Lord Blaize Minshom has a monster for a father, but one who upholds certain traditions - like The Little Gentlemen's Club, a "fight club" of 12-18 yr old boys 'nominated' by their fathers; except the fathers gamble on the matches, and the losers of the fights are publicly raped by the winners. In fact, Minshom's father kept the tradition alive, by being the 'manager'. He even carefully documented each fight each year.
He expected his son to win, of course - trained him by beating him up throughout his life. His father was even the first to rape him - his first sexual experience. So, of course, Blaize became a winner - a bully, a man hungry for power and domination over other men. A cruel man, seemingly without a heart, who uses and abuses others for his own amusement. Just like his father.
EXCEPT
1. Blaize seemed to like sex with other boys/men. Enough that when his father caught him having sex with Robert Brown, a stable boy that his father threw into the ring as someone for his son to train on, his father had a stroke while beating Robert within an inch of his life. Blaize just allowed his father to lie there, not going for help. Unfortunately, his father didn't die, but slowly recovered. And his father hounded him about how Blaize preferred men to women - his unnatural and damnable nature - how he wasn't a real man.
2. So Blaize married Jane - a woman who defied her family to marry him. A woman who didn't seem to mind his almost insatiable sexual appetite, nor did she seem to mind any of the ways that he wanted to have sex. She willingly did what he wanted and asked. HOW did he find such a woman? She was 17 and he was 19 when they married.
They had a son, Nicholas, who died when he was a toddler - a mysterious death. Blaize had argued with his father about not leaving any heirs, certainly not for The Little Gentlemen's Club, but also not to carry on the Minshom name. And that night, while the little boy was sick with fever and being held in his father's (Blaize's) arms without any servants or nurse around, little Nicky died. His father claimed Blaize killed the child deliberately, to make good on his vow. Jane, in her profound grief and confusion, believed her father-in-law - enough to throw her husband out of Minshom Manor and demand that he never touch her again - that he leave her alone.
In a fit of pique, Blaize made sure that his father saw him and Robert Brown (now Blaize's valet) having sex, and when his father attempted to shoot Brown but Blaize intervened, his father had another stroke - this time a massive one. One that still has him abed at Minshom Manor, where Blaize left him in Jane's care.
So *this* is how Blaize Minshom went into Town seven years ago; this was the supposed start of Lord Minshom and his horrific sexual practices and villainry.
3. In the previous book (Anthony's), we discovered that Major David Grey was one of Minshom's victims. When Anthony came along and willingly submitted to Minshom, Grey was tossed aside. But in this book, we learn there's more to the story... Not only was Major Grey part of The Little Gentlemen's Club, but when he was involved with Minshom, Grey and Robert Brown "fell in love". No details, exactly, but obviously, Minshom allowed and forced the two to have sex, otherwise, how would they.... anyway. So Grey has his own sub-plot this time. He's hopelessly in love with Robert, who won't ever leave Minshom out of misguided loyalty and love for Blaize saving his life twice and allowing him to be his lover - whenever it suits Blaize. (Of course, it's all horridly complicated with fighting, pain, and domination.) So can poor David and Robert get their own HEA?
The book opens with Minshom taking numerous hits from Society, who love to gossip about him, about losing Anthony - about Anthony walking away and choosing Marguerite. Minshom is furious, of course. Then Jane, his wife, shows up and demands that he give her another child. The two of them haven't had sex in 7 years, since Minshom left, and unless I read the book wrong, Minshom hasn't had sex with women since then, either. Only men - only in his horrid way.
Somehow, Jane is able to throw Minshom off his game - off his life. She's able to not only get under his skin, but also to stand up to him. It's quite a battle of wills, and you have to admire Jane's strength. She even shows that she can pick and choose her battles. Minshom tries everything to force her to leave - cutting off her money, forcing her to take back new dresses and purchases so she looks presentable about Town, forcing her to watch Robert suck him off, and even forcing her to watch and participate in his BDSM-heavy-on-the-sadistic sexual activities on the upper floor at the Pleasure House.
Once again, we're faced with men who must have sex with other men. And given this story line and the others we've encountered in this series, where it seems that rape was a common power play between boys at school, punishment by teachers and parents... well, it's amazing to me that any man in Regency-Victorian-Edwardian England wasn't gay or bi-sexual! And to top it off, getting caught having m-m sex was a hanging offense! So everything must be kept so secret... this type of thing is like an infection or cockroaches - they thrive on darkness, secrecy, hiding, until they take over and kill or destroy.
But I digress... because in the midst of all of this - in the midst of Jane coming to fully accept Blaize's kinky and weird ways, we see Blaize changing. He actually shows up at the engagement ball of Anthony and Marguerite only to wish them well. He starts realizing that he might just love his wife.
And then another kink: Another major, Thomas somebody, shows up, offering apologies to Blaize for besting him 3 years in a row in The Little Gentlemen's Club. Thomas thinks he was was Blaize's "first", only to discover that Blaize's father had that honor. But it seems that Thomas is still in love with Blaize and wants a relationship with him. REALLY? When he discovers Blaize has a wife - literally as Blaize and Jane are having public sex at The Pleasure House - Thomas tries to back off. But Jane pleads with him to have sex with them. YIKES! And so, when Blaize does finally scare Jane off, who wants to pick up the pieces, but Thomas?
But Blaize does go back to Minshom Manor after 7 long years. He does find a way into his father's room to tell his father that he'll always care for him. HUH? He doesn't forgive his father, as well he shouldn't. But somehow, that's supposed to give his father peace - to settle what's between them - so his father can finally die. OK. And Blaize makes up with Jane, but tells her that he hopes she'll welcome Thomas into their lives and into their bed. THE END.
I find myself longing for a story about a man who, despite anything in his past, actually falls in love with and prefers a woman. What a change of events that would be. Is Anthony supposed to be that man? I doubt it, since at the end of that previous book, we were led to believe that he and Marguerite might welcome a threesome.
So... while I know I'm supposed to change my mind about Blaize - to see him as a victim and now a changed, healed man... I just can't. Yes, the festering puss was finally dealt with; the wound was finally cleansed. But can someone so damaged truly be healed? Changed? I don't think so. And I still think that Minshom's character is set; he's still going to be cruel, domineering, and sexually sadistic. It's such a part of who he is, even if he tempers it, I don't believe he can change and be the "hero". And while I admire Jane, I think she's masochistic; she won't change, either, but always welcome whatever Blaize throws at her, because that's her nature. Which, IMO, isn't a real HEA, but I suppose it's as good as it gets for these two... or three, if you count the addition of this Major Thomas.
Honestly, I don't know if I can continue reading these books. They're titillating and addicting in their own way, but I'm finding them so depressing. So many damaged people. And we're supposed to welcome their HEA as if they're truly happily ever afters... happy endings - change - healing. With the exception of Anthony and Marguerite and possibly Madame Helene aned Lord Philip, I don't truly think anyone's been healed or has a HEA. Valentin and Sara still have the question of Peter, and possibly Abigail. Abigail has faded to the background, as has their child; Peter seems more attached to Valentin than ever. And now Lord Blaize and Jane? Not sure I want to learn the depravity of Helene's twins, Christian and Lisette.
This is a difficult book, not only because it's about Lord Blaize Minshom, whom we've come to hate as a horrid BDSM abuser at the Pleasure House, as well as obviously being a man who manipulates and enjoys others' pain in every day life, but also because of the subject matter that we wade into.
It seems as if these books aren't going to ever be about true HEA. Not even just "flawed" people, but damaged people. These aren't typical romances (not even in the erotic-romance category), because they deal with a lot of pain - pain suffered at the hands of others.
Part of my issues with all of this is that, regardless of what's been done to us in our lives or what we've done, at some point, we must take responsibility for our OWN actions. Ultimately, as adults, we choose how we go on - how we behave, how we treat others, how we live our lives. I don't mean by the standards of Society (the "ton") of this day or even of our day; I mean that WE CHOOSE.
So, while I know I'm supposed to see Lord Blaize Minshom in a new light after reading his story, it's still difficult for me to like the man - to feel much empathy for him. And his "change" in this book is almost too much for me to take.
Lord Blaize Minshom has a monster for a father, but one who upholds certain traditions - like The Little Gentlemen's Club, a "fight club" of 12-18 yr old boys 'nominated' by their fathers; except the fathers gamble on the matches, and the losers of the fights are publicly raped by the winners. In fact, Minshom's father kept the tradition alive, by being the 'manager'. He even carefully documented each fight each year.
He expected his son to win, of course - trained him by beating him up throughout his life. His father was even the first to rape him - his first sexual experience. So, of course, Blaize became a winner - a bully, a man hungry for power and domination over other men. A cruel man, seemingly without a heart, who uses and abuses others for his own amusement. Just like his father.
EXCEPT
1. Blaize seemed to like sex with other boys/men. Enough that when his father caught him having sex with Robert Brown, a stable boy that his father threw into the ring as someone for his son to train on, his father had a stroke while beating Robert within an inch of his life. Blaize just allowed his father to lie there, not going for help. Unfortunately, his father didn't die, but slowly recovered. And his father hounded him about how Blaize preferred men to women - his unnatural and damnable nature - how he wasn't a real man.
2. So Blaize married Jane - a woman who defied her family to marry him. A woman who didn't seem to mind his almost insatiable sexual appetite, nor did she seem to mind any of the ways that he wanted to have sex. She willingly did what he wanted and asked. HOW did he find such a woman? She was 17 and he was 19 when they married.
They had a son, Nicholas, who died when he was a toddler - a mysterious death. Blaize had argued with his father about not leaving any heirs, certainly not for The Little Gentlemen's Club, but also not to carry on the Minshom name. And that night, while the little boy was sick with fever and being held in his father's (Blaize's) arms without any servants or nurse around, little Nicky died. His father claimed Blaize killed the child deliberately, to make good on his vow. Jane, in her profound grief and confusion, believed her father-in-law - enough to throw her husband out of Minshom Manor and demand that he never touch her again - that he leave her alone.
In a fit of pique, Blaize made sure that his father saw him and Robert Brown (now Blaize's valet) having sex, and when his father attempted to shoot Brown but Blaize intervened, his father had another stroke - this time a massive one. One that still has him abed at Minshom Manor, where Blaize left him in Jane's care.
So *this* is how Blaize Minshom went into Town seven years ago; this was the supposed start of Lord Minshom and his horrific sexual practices and villainry.
3. In the previous book (Anthony's), we discovered that Major David Grey was one of Minshom's victims. When Anthony came along and willingly submitted to Minshom, Grey was tossed aside. But in this book, we learn there's more to the story... Not only was Major Grey part of The Little Gentlemen's Club, but when he was involved with Minshom, Grey and Robert Brown "fell in love". No details, exactly, but obviously, Minshom allowed and forced the two to have sex, otherwise, how would they.... anyway. So Grey has his own sub-plot this time. He's hopelessly in love with Robert, who won't ever leave Minshom out of misguided loyalty and love for Blaize saving his life twice and allowing him to be his lover - whenever it suits Blaize. (Of course, it's all horridly complicated with fighting, pain, and domination.) So can poor David and Robert get their own HEA?
The book opens with Minshom taking numerous hits from Society, who love to gossip about him, about losing Anthony - about Anthony walking away and choosing Marguerite. Minshom is furious, of course. Then Jane, his wife, shows up and demands that he give her another child. The two of them haven't had sex in 7 years, since Minshom left, and unless I read the book wrong, Minshom hasn't had sex with women since then, either. Only men - only in his horrid way.
Somehow, Jane is able to throw Minshom off his game - off his life. She's able to not only get under his skin, but also to stand up to him. It's quite a battle of wills, and you have to admire Jane's strength. She even shows that she can pick and choose her battles. Minshom tries everything to force her to leave - cutting off her money, forcing her to take back new dresses and purchases so she looks presentable about Town, forcing her to watch Robert suck him off, and even forcing her to watch and participate in his BDSM-heavy-on-the-sadistic sexual activities on the upper floor at the Pleasure House.
Once again, we're faced with men who must have sex with other men. And given this story line and the others we've encountered in this series, where it seems that rape was a common power play between boys at school, punishment by teachers and parents... well, it's amazing to me that any man in Regency-Victorian-Edwardian England wasn't gay or bi-sexual! And to top it off, getting caught having m-m sex was a hanging offense! So everything must be kept so secret... this type of thing is like an infection or cockroaches - they thrive on darkness, secrecy, hiding, until they take over and kill or destroy.
But I digress... because in the midst of all of this - in the midst of Jane coming to fully accept Blaize's kinky and weird ways, we see Blaize changing. He actually shows up at the engagement ball of Anthony and Marguerite only to wish them well. He starts realizing that he might just love his wife.
And then another kink: Another major, Thomas somebody, shows up, offering apologies to Blaize for besting him 3 years in a row in The Little Gentlemen's Club. Thomas thinks he was was Blaize's "first", only to discover that Blaize's father had that honor. But it seems that Thomas is still in love with Blaize and wants a relationship with him. REALLY? When he discovers Blaize has a wife - literally as Blaize and Jane are having public sex at The Pleasure House - Thomas tries to back off. But Jane pleads with him to have sex with them. YIKES! And so, when Blaize does finally scare Jane off, who wants to pick up the pieces, but Thomas?
But Blaize does go back to Minshom Manor after 7 long years. He does find a way into his father's room to tell his father that he'll always care for him. HUH? He doesn't forgive his father, as well he shouldn't. But somehow, that's supposed to give his father peace - to settle what's between them - so his father can finally die. OK. And Blaize makes up with Jane, but tells her that he hopes she'll welcome Thomas into their lives and into their bed. THE END.
I find myself longing for a story about a man who, despite anything in his past, actually falls in love with and prefers a woman. What a change of events that would be. Is Anthony supposed to be that man? I doubt it, since at the end of that previous book, we were led to believe that he and Marguerite might welcome a threesome.
So... while I know I'm supposed to change my mind about Blaize - to see him as a victim and now a changed, healed man... I just can't. Yes, the festering puss was finally dealt with; the wound was finally cleansed. But can someone so damaged truly be healed? Changed? I don't think so. And I still think that Minshom's character is set; he's still going to be cruel, domineering, and sexually sadistic. It's such a part of who he is, even if he tempers it, I don't believe he can change and be the "hero". And while I admire Jane, I think she's masochistic; she won't change, either, but always welcome whatever Blaize throws at her, because that's her nature. Which, IMO, isn't a real HEA, but I suppose it's as good as it gets for these two... or three, if you count the addition of this Major Thomas.
Honestly, I don't know if I can continue reading these books. They're titillating and addicting in their own way, but I'm finding them so depressing. So many damaged people. And we're supposed to welcome their HEA as if they're truly happily ever afters... happy endings - change - healing. With the exception of Anthony and Marguerite and possibly Madame Helene aned Lord Philip, I don't truly think anyone's been healed or has a HEA. Valentin and Sara still have the question of Peter, and possibly Abigail. Abigail has faded to the background, as has their child; Peter seems more attached to Valentin than ever. And now Lord Blaize and Jane? Not sure I want to learn the depravity of Helene's twins, Christian and Lisette.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
The only thing this has is a lot of sex. Not even exciting sex. Just sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. Sex with the plant, sex with the mirror, sex with the someone's eyeball, sex with the rain, sex with the ladder. fictional characters in this series really need to be careful if they don't want to have sex, bc they're gonna have sex. Whether they like it or not. So, as you may have missed it, I didn't like this. Frankly, if there was emotion or a connection other than of the loins, I'd have given it 3 stars. Snort, sorry, I totally lied.
Read years ago, just reviewing now bc I accidentally put another book of hers on my TBR list "Mistress" and realized who wrote it. I hate it when a trope I love is defaced this way.
Read years ago, just reviewing now bc I accidentally put another book of hers on my TBR list "Mistress" and realized who wrote it. I hate it when a trope I love is defaced this way.
April 10, 2018
I was ready to hate him..
Lord Minshom is a horrible horrible man. His character in previous books lead me to believe he was evil incarnate. This is the book that tells the reader how and why he is the man he is. By far the best book in the series. So many ups and downs in the story as Minshom comes to terms with who he is and why. Beautifully written, I laughed, I cried., and laughed again.
Lord Minshom is a horrible horrible man. His character in previous books lead me to believe he was evil incarnate. This is the book that tells the reader how and why he is the man he is. By far the best book in the series. So many ups and downs in the story as Minshom comes to terms with who he is and why. Beautifully written, I laughed, I cried., and laughed again.
Read
July 28, 2025Why Kate Pearce, why do you torture me? I loved your Tudor Vampire Chronicles! But this? I couldn't even read past the 30th page, the characters are just too dumb to be true. I will keep reading the other series, but this one is over. 0 plot, copy/paste characters, cheap sex... You can do better, Pearce! I know you can.
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