Monday, November 18, 2013

Review - Pleasuring the Lady by Jess Michaels

Once the game begins, there is no tearing your gaze away.
The Pleasure Wars, Book 2
Her mother’s madness and her father’s and brother’s irresponsibility have relegated Lady Portia to the life of a wallflower. The only shining light in her life is her best friend, Ava, who is suffering a rift with her own brother.
Portia’s quest to help takes her to the notorious Donville Masquerade in the hells, where—behind the safety of a mask—she witnesses shocking public acts of sin. And succumbs to the touch of Marquis Miles Weatherfield.
Unfortunately, they’re discovered. And now, tainted by scandal, she and Miles are destined for a marriage neither of them want. But Portia makes a bargain that raises even Miles’s eyebrows.
In return for saving her mother from the asylum, Portia will do anything Miles wants in bed. Shocked by his driving desire for Portia, Miles agrees. As they explore every wicked desire, every forbidden act that pleases them, they discover something that goes far deeper than flesh. But the lies that brought them together could be the very wedge that drives them apart.
Warning: This book contains wicked encounters, erotic voyeurism, lies, a brief threesome, and unexpected kindnesses.





Portia hasn't lived an easy life.  With a mother whose madness is well known, a father who liked to gamble, and a brother just like her father, Portia has become a wallflower.  She knows no respectable man will marry her so she's resigned her life to living with her mother and servant Potts in a cottage far away from the rest of society.  Afraid to leave her mother for fear of what her brother will do, Portia is forced to live in horrible conditions and with limited food.  


Worse than a lonely life, she feels the grief of her best friend Ava Windbury who has been unable to reconnect with her brother since she married his enemy Christian Rothcastle.  Her search will lead her to Donville Masquerade a place where sex and sin go hand and hand.  It's here that the elite go to find sex and to gamble.  Ava has said that it's rumored that her brother has been seen there, a place where any woman who goes will have her reputation ruined.

Portia has never felt the intimate touch of a man, the closest she's ever been to sex is the drawings she found among her brother's belongings.  That is until she puts on a mask and goes to the Donville Masquerade and finds Miles Weatherfield.  Miles is drawn to the woman with the mask, unaware that below the mask is Portia.  Portia has never been attracted to Miles like she is when he kisses her the first time, but Miles has no idea that under the mask is long time friend and occasional dance partner Portia.  It's here that she's found in a compromising position with Miles by her brother and it's either marry or she will be ruined.

Scared not only for her future but her mother's she will agree to do whatever Miles wants in bed to save her mother from the asylum that her brother wants her sent to.  She will discover passion like she's never before experienced in her life, but how far will she go before it grows to be too much for her?  When feelings become involved can they let go of their pasts and learn to care for one another?

I must say that I loved Taken by the Duke, but Pleasuring the Lady took my love for her work to a whole new level.  These two stories were so different and these characters so complex.  I loved every second of this book as Portia learned what true passion is and as she learns to let another care for her in a way she's never been cared for her entire life.  I look forward to the next book in the series because I know if there's one thing I can guarantee it's that the next book in this series will be just as great if not even better than the first two books.  Oh and if you haven't had a chance to read Taken by the Duke yet, you'll want to because it's well worth the read, 5 stars.

***ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review***


Jess Michaels began writing full-time in 1999 after being encouraged by her husband to follow her dream. In 2003, she sold her first novella to Red Sage Press, an erotic historical romance about an Egyptian tomb and a very sexy curse. Since then she has published (or has contracted to publish) nearly 50 novels, novellas and short stories under three different pen names with several major publishers, small presses and via self-publishing. Her erotic historical romances have been national bestsellers and won awards from booksellers and readers.

She and her husband live in Tucson, AZ. There she enjoys hiking in the beautiful desert, spending time with her nephews, designing jewelry, reading and spending time with her awesome husband and cats.


You can follow her newsletter by following this link:  http://www.authorjessmichaels.com/join-the-jess-michaels-newsletter/  (She raffles a FREE Kindle or Amazon gift certificate EVERY month to members of her newsletter)



As a reminder, don't forget to check out my giveaway going on now.  I am giving away one e-book of Taken by the Duke AND Pleasuring the Lady

No comments:

Post a Comment