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House Of Pleasure #0.25
Eden's Pleasure
Eight years ago, after a summer of sexual dalliance with Gervase Harcourt and his twin brother Gideon, Eden was forced into marriage. Now widowed and twenty six, she is eager to enjoy her freedom and explore her deepest sexual desires.When she crosses paths with the delectable Harcourt twins again, they offer to make amends for their part in her miserable marriage by fulfilling her sexual fantasies. They introduce her to Madame Desiree's House of Pleasure where any erotic dream can become a reality. She also learns love has its darker side and that for Gideon, not all the fantasies played out at Madame Desiree's are pleasurable.As Eden explores her sensuality she realizes her heart still belongs to Gervase. But is she more than just a sexual plaything to him? Forced to consider another unwanted marriage and convinced that her barren state is why Gervase hasn't offered to marry her, Eden flees from Gervase and the sensual web he's spun around her. But Gervase has learned his own lessons at Madame Desiree's…
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2005
56 people are currently reading
662 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pearce
167 books1,848 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 6, 2012
I read this when I'm sleepy, but well I know the story. About Eden Castair (or Calistair, or Carstair. Told ya, I'm sleepy), a widow who had suffered 8 years of marriage that she doesn't want, a husband who she's not love. Since she had been in love to Gervase Harcourt, her childhood friend. The story start with a bang. Literally. Eden with Gervase's twin, Gideon, is hunting. But Eden fall from her horse. That's when Gideon teach her about pleasure by bring her to his hunting lodge. Surprisely, Gideon not take the pleasure himself even he give Eden so many. Not make sense to me, of course. They have a hot and scorching foreplay, but just one side.
Turn that Gideon do it to prepare Eden for his twin, Gervase who is Eden's true love. Well, Eden not have sex for 3 years, and Gervase is... well endowed. How noble for Gideon, but hey that's what called sibling love for you. So, Gervase and Eden begin their affair before Gervase go to France to capture Napoleon. The sex fest begin with Gervase that oh so dominated and alpha; and Eden who always wet when she is with Gervase. Damn, who will not envy this woman? They then go to pleasure house that owned by Madame Desiree. That's where Eden satisfy her sexual kinky, voyeurism.
Alas, Gervase's father not approved their affair. Gervase never know that Eden's past marriage is his father scheme. And now that man told Eden to go away from his son. So Eden do what woman in love do. She's flee. And Gervase do what man do. He's search her frantically and told her that he want to married her even Eden think she's barren. And then,of course they live happily ever after.
This is the first I read Kate Pearce's book and considering to her "House of Pleasure" this one is tame (I'd take a peek at book one). The story is simple, full of sex scenes, so for you who just want a light read without a good plot, just read this. Serious, I read this when I'm sleepy and here I am, still remember the story, lol! :P
Turn that Gideon do it to prepare Eden for his twin, Gervase who is Eden's true love. Well, Eden not have sex for 3 years, and Gervase is... well endowed. How noble for Gideon, but hey that's what called sibling love for you. So, Gervase and Eden begin their affair before Gervase go to France to capture Napoleon. The sex fest begin with Gervase that oh so dominated and alpha; and Eden who always wet when she is with Gervase. Damn, who will not envy this woman? They then go to pleasure house that owned by Madame Desiree. That's where Eden satisfy her sexual kinky, voyeurism.
Alas, Gervase's father not approved their affair. Gervase never know that Eden's past marriage is his father scheme. And now that man told Eden to go away from his son. So Eden do what woman in love do. She's flee. And Gervase do what man do. He's search her frantically and told her that he want to married her even Eden think she's barren. And then,of course they live happily ever after.
This is the first I read Kate Pearce's book and considering to her "House of Pleasure" this one is tame (I'd take a peek at book one). The story is simple, full of sex scenes, so for you who just want a light read without a good plot, just read this. Serious, I read this when I'm sleepy and here I am, still remember the story, lol! :P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2018
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
Definitely a quick read, but absolutely a must in the series. So good, I really didn't want it to end.
SPOILER ALERT: and what of Gideon?
Definitely a quick read, but absolutely a must in the series. So good, I really didn't want it to end.
SPOILER ALERT: and what of Gideon?
February 9, 2014
"Eden's Pleasure" was my first foray into deep historical erotica. From what I've read many people feel historical erotica is more on the erotica side than actual plot. So this might not have been the best introduction to the genre as it's a novella, so it's even shorter on the plot, but it was something. There are so many sex scenes and short ones (pun intended) it was hard to keep track.
When a bit of plot enters the story (when Gervese learns why Eden left him) it meanders to something else (probably sex) and you're left without character development. The characters came off a bit flat because of this. And when there was plot, it was just stated, there's no real depth to it. It's like "you left me". No, inner monologue, no description, or feeling.
I'm guessing the plot was this: Eden was compromised by Gervese and Gideon and while Gervese wanted to marry her, his father lied and said she was going to marry someone richer. The father in turns arranges Eden's marriage (either knowingly or not) to a curmudgeon of man with a violent stepson. She's been in mourning since his death and has not had a man in her bed for sometime. When she's brought to Gervese by his twin brother Gideon after some "preparation" they decide to reunite for some loving and perhaps more.
Again, maybe because it's a novella there isn't room for more character depth or because it has to include more love scenes. Also, I'm not used to the 1st POV and just from the heroine, so it took a little time to get adjusted to that. I'm not abandoning the series, I think I'll give the first one a chance since it's full length. But since there are 9 in the series thus far I'll certainly have to space them out because I think I just might explode from the love scenes. It's not named "House of Pleasure" for nothing.
When a bit of plot enters the story (when Gervese learns why Eden left him) it meanders to something else (probably sex) and you're left without character development. The characters came off a bit flat because of this. And when there was plot, it was just stated, there's no real depth to it. It's like "you left me". No, inner monologue, no description, or feeling.
I'm guessing the plot was this: Eden was compromised by Gervese and Gideon and while Gervese wanted to marry her, his father lied and said she was going to marry someone richer. The father in turns arranges Eden's marriage (either knowingly or not) to a curmudgeon of man with a violent stepson. She's been in mourning since his death and has not had a man in her bed for sometime. When she's brought to Gervese by his twin brother Gideon after some "preparation" they decide to reunite for some loving and perhaps more.
Again, maybe because it's a novella there isn't room for more character depth or because it has to include more love scenes. Also, I'm not used to the 1st POV and just from the heroine, so it took a little time to get adjusted to that. I'm not abandoning the series, I think I'll give the first one a chance since it's full length. But since there are 9 in the series thus far I'll certainly have to space them out because I think I just might explode from the love scenes. It's not named "House of Pleasure" for nothing.
March 3, 2021
Welcome to my initial entry in the Kate Pearce fan club. She has quite the back list, so we may be here for awhile. If you have been following my reviews this year (cough...Karie...cough, cough) you will know that I have been on a roll with the smut. It all started with Booktok, which lead me to smuttok, where I learned the distinction between erotica and lady porn. Let me enlighten you, erotica=male porn, i.e. just the sex, ma'am. Lady Porn is erotica with a plot, apparently because women need their minds engaged. Something like that and maybe I got them reversed, but you get the picture. According to my above definition, this is erotica. Minor storyline to be found, but just enough to introduce us to the House of Pleasure world. Similar to Lora Leigh, my guess is that this is one of Ms. Pearce's early novel's. She gets quite a bit better at story and character development as the series progresses, but this is a good entry point from the erotic side. If your arm gets tired from waving your fan or clutching your pearls while reading this book, you may want to stop here.
August 11, 2025
You will enjoy this if you enjoy tasteful erotica and/or are a fan of Kate Pearce’s House of Pleasure series and here general style of writing. I find Ms. Pearce mesmerizing in that she so seamlessly switches between almost closed door romance and steamy erotica, but with amazingly detailed story for both. This was another very enjoyable read. I loved getting to the stories of Harcourt twins, who are alluded to in the House of Pleasure throughout. Gervase was a great hero and it was good to see him finding happiness with his first love Eden.
May 17, 2012
4 1/2 Stars! ~ I consider this one to be the prequel to Ms. Pearce's House of Pleasure series. We learn that identical twin brothers Gervase and Gideon Harcourt helped finance Madame Desiree's pleasure house and are often mentioned in the later books. Unlike the other books in the series, this one is written in the first person point of view of our heroine Eden.
As a curious teen, Eden used to watch the twin brothers debauch the maids in their father's stable and having caught her watching the brothers decided they enjoyed contributing to her education. It was Gervase that Eden adored, and allowed to take her virginity. When their father learned of her behavior with his sons, he married her out to an elderly man eager to produce a legitimate son. Now eight years later, upon the completion of Eden's year of mourning her husband, Gideon appears once more in her life. He cleverly manipulates a reunion for Eden and Gervase. Their passion proves to be even more explosive. The twins father points out to Eden that after her eight years with her husband that she had failed to produce a child, and that Gervase must an heir, Eden agrees to consider a list of prospective husbands and retreats to the country.
I'm glad Ms. Pearce abandoned first person point of view in her later books as I found that style didn't work as well with her voice. I loved all the characters. The brothers each have strong personalities. Gervase is dominant and when it comes to Eden, he's insatiable and very possessive. Gideon is compassionate and hides a tortured soul, and though he desires Eden he refuses to take her, knowing she belongs only to Gervase. Eden is headstrong and not afraid to take the lead, she is also brave and willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the man she loves. I'm very much looking forward to Gideon's story.
As a curious teen, Eden used to watch the twin brothers debauch the maids in their father's stable and having caught her watching the brothers decided they enjoyed contributing to her education. It was Gervase that Eden adored, and allowed to take her virginity. When their father learned of her behavior with his sons, he married her out to an elderly man eager to produce a legitimate son. Now eight years later, upon the completion of Eden's year of mourning her husband, Gideon appears once more in her life. He cleverly manipulates a reunion for Eden and Gervase. Their passion proves to be even more explosive. The twins father points out to Eden that after her eight years with her husband that she had failed to produce a child, and that Gervase must an heir, Eden agrees to consider a list of prospective husbands and retreats to the country.
I'm glad Ms. Pearce abandoned first person point of view in her later books as I found that style didn't work as well with her voice. I loved all the characters. The brothers each have strong personalities. Gervase is dominant and when it comes to Eden, he's insatiable and very possessive. Gideon is compassionate and hides a tortured soul, and though he desires Eden he refuses to take her, knowing she belongs only to Gervase. Eden is headstrong and not afraid to take the lead, she is also brave and willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the man she loves. I'm very much looking forward to Gideon's story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2021
Historia precuela de la casa del placer, sobre los gemelos Harcourt a quien oímos nombrar en las primeras historias. Está en especial trata de Gervase y su amor del pasado Eden, a quien separa el padre de los gemelos, por su comportamiento escandaloso en su juventud (Tenían 18 años), y terminara casándola con un hombre viejo. Ahora viuda se reencontraran y renacerán las chispas. ¿Podrán tener ahora su historia de “amor”?
Es una historia erótica muy sensual, no esperaba que me gustara pero para mi sorpresa estuvo entretenida.
Leeré también la historia del otro gemelo.
Es una historia erótica muy sensual, no esperaba que me gustara pero para mi sorpresa estuvo entretenida.
Leeré también la historia del otro gemelo.
January 19, 2015
This book kind of shocked me.
I wa sused to reading historical romances. But I never read historical erotica.
WOW.
That's all I really can say. I kind of liked this book. It made me feel dirty to kind of like the things that I read.
But it's a good book. The two brother really care about Eden, and want to make her happy again. I can't wait to read more about The House Of Pleasure!
4 stars for this book!
I wa sused to reading historical romances. But I never read historical erotica.
WOW.
That's all I really can say. I kind of liked this book. It made me feel dirty to kind of like the things that I read.
But it's a good book. The two brother really care about Eden, and want to make her happy again. I can't wait to read more about The House Of Pleasure!
4 stars for this book!
June 4, 2018
The back implies this story is about Gervase and Eden but it starts out all about Gideon and Eden, although that does get explained away. This book is all about the sex, love seems more an after thought
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2010
See Pleasurable Bargains for review.
April 4, 2012
3.5 stars
wishlist
February 20, 2014Dam you Aly for adding another series to my wish list!! LOL
August 25, 2015
yuck. what a disaster. Did she write this in high school? Who has that many orgasms? I'm surprised her uterus didn't just fall out between her legs.
May 21, 2016
One of the best of this serie.
A really short story but steamy.
Can be read as a stand alone.
A really short story but steamy.
Can be read as a stand alone.
July 11, 2016
What a fun, dirty read. Ms. Pearce’s voice and writing was good in 2005 and is still good.
Bought from kobo
Bought from kobo
November 20, 2018
Short intro book. I liked it well enough.
January 12, 2025
เล่มนี้ดำเนินเรื่องผ่านสายตาของนางเอกคนเดียว (ใช้ I) ดังนั้นอาจจะรู้สึกแปลก ๆ กันบ้างเวลาอ่านนะคะ อีเดนเป็นเด็กสาวที่เติบโตขึ้นมาพร้อมกับพี่น้องตระกูลฮาร์คอร์ท และถ้าเธอยอมรับกับตัวเอง เธอตกหลุมรักเจอวาส ฮาร์คอร์ทน้องชายคนเล็กในคู่แฝด แต่เพราะเธอเป็นเพียงเด็กสาวจน ๆ ไม่มีฐานะ พ่อของคู่แฝดฮาร์คอร์ทจึงข่มขู่ และสร้างเรื่องโกหกเพื่อแยกทั้งสองออกจากกัน อีเดนแต่งงานไปกับชายแก่คราวพ่อ ในขณะที่เจอวาสกลายเป็นทหารในกองทัพ
หลายปีผ่านไป สามีของอีเดนตามตามระเบียบ เปิดโอกาสให้อีเดนว่างพอที่จะมีกิ๊กคู่ใจได้ และเธอก็เลือกกิเดี้ยน ฮาร์คอร์ท แฝดผู้พี่ในตระกูลฮาร์คอร์ท (นั่นเพราะเธอยังเข้าใจเจอวาสผิดไป และเขาน่าจะยังรบอยู่ในยุโรป) แต่กิเดี้ยนก็สมกับเป็นพี่ชายที่แสนดี เขาหลอกล่ออีเดนมายังลอนดอนเพื่อพบกันด้วยจุดประสงค์ตามแนวนิยายอีโรติค และเรียกน้องชายที่รักมารับช่วงไป (และโปรดอย่าคิดว่ากิเดี้ยนจะดีขนาดไม่แตะต้องตัวอีเดนเลย มันก็ต้องมีบ้าง แต่ก็รักษาเนื้อรักษาตัวของอีเดนในสภาพดีที่สุดเพื่อรอเจอวาสนั่นแหละ)
ทำใจนิดนึงนะคะว่านี่เป็นแนวอีโรติค โรแมนซ์ ดังนั้นพล็อตเรื่องมันก็มีแค่นี้แหละ ที่เหลือก็เป็นฉากเซ็กส์ ซึ่งขอบอกว่าเคธเขียนได้ดีมาก ๆ และเล่มนี้ไม่ใช่เรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดในหนังสือรวมเล่มเล่มนี้หรอกค่ะ เป็นเรื่องของกิเดี้ยนต่างหากที่ได้ใจแม็กซ์ไปเต็ม ๆ
คะแนนของเรื่องนี้ 70
หลายปีผ่านไป สามีของอีเดนตามตามระเบียบ เปิดโอกาสให้อีเดนว่างพอที่จะมีกิ๊กคู่ใจได้ และเธอก็เลือกกิเดี้ยน ฮาร์คอร์ท แฝดผู้พี่ในตระกูลฮาร์คอร์ท (นั่นเพราะเธอยังเข้าใจเจอวาสผิดไป และเขาน่าจะยังรบอยู่ในยุโรป) แต่กิเดี้ยนก็สมกับเป็นพี่ชายที่แสนดี เขาหลอกล่ออีเดนมายังลอนดอนเพื่อพบกันด้วยจุดประสงค์ตามแนวนิยายอีโรติค และเรียกน้องชายที่รักมารับช่วงไป (และโปรดอย่าคิดว่ากิเดี้ยนจะดีขนาดไม่แตะต้องตัวอีเดนเลย มันก็ต้องมีบ้าง แต่ก็รักษาเนื้อรักษาตัวของอีเดนในสภาพดีที่สุดเพื่อรอเจอวาสนั่นแหละ)
ทำใจนิดนึงนะคะว่านี่เป็นแนวอีโรติค โรแมนซ์ ดังนั้นพล็อตเรื่องมันก็มีแค่นี้แหละ ที่เหลือก็เป็นฉากเซ็กส์ ซึ่งขอบอกว่าเคธเขียนได้ดีมาก ๆ และเล่มนี้ไม่ใช่เรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดในหนังสือรวมเล่มเล่มนี้หรอกค่ะ เป็นเรื่องของกิเดี้ยนต่างหากที่ได้ใจแม็กซ์ไปเต็ม ๆ
คะแนนของเรื่องนี้ 70
May 15, 2023
The perfect blend of smut and romance. It was surprisingly good as i was expecting full level of spiciness, but the fact that Gervase's confession toward Eden had me in tears was just indescribable. He loves her and she loves him, just a whole lot of bedding and two months later they finally got together. I mean, f Gervase's father cus he is a total d ngl.
December 24, 2017
I didn't like the writing style of this one. If you're looking for historical erotica that isn't really historical aside from a few tropes, try Jess Michaels. Her writing is better and her scenes more satisfying.
-EM
-EM
September 7, 2021
it’s a flat story told in first person not my favourite.
5/5 hotness and steam
5/5 hotness and steam
March 17, 2023
Very hot sexy book…recommend.
Read
December 15, 2014Love Kate's Books
I can highly recommend this book. I loved Eden story, she was such a strong woman. Thank you Kate for all of the awesome books.
I can highly recommend this book. I loved Eden story, she was such a strong woman. Thank you Kate for all of the awesome books.
July 6, 2015
More like a 2.5
July 13, 2013
IT WAS HOT!
June 6, 2016
Very hot, short, historical story set during the Napoleonic Wars.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews