PLEASURE FOR PLEASURE

Author: Eloisa James ISBN: 0060781920 12/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency - 1818 England

Josephine Essex has barely appeared at her first ball before she's labeled the "Scottish Sausage." What's Josie to do? Fueled by the knowledge that notoriety is better than failure, witty unconventional Josie does what no proper lady should—she challenges fate. She discards her corset and flirts outrageously. She attends the horse races and allows an arrogant rakehell to whisk her behind the stables for a surreptitious kiss...and is caught! She doesn't want to marry the young hellion—but who's to help? Her chaperone keeps disappearing for mysterious appointments; her guardian is on his wedding trip; and his friend the Earl of Mayne is too busy staring into the eyes of his exquisite French fiancee. Can a marriage forced by stuffy convention and unwilling desire become the match of the season?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Elosia James has ended the Essex Sister's Sequel with a bang-up story for little Josie Essex. Although being the youngest of four girls, Josie Essex has never seemed little in mind or spirit. She seems to always be ready with a sharp witted retort when one of her sisters find themselves in their all too frequent predicaments.

After giving a thorough set down to one of her Scottish brother-in-law's neighbors, he starts a vicious rumor that precedes Josie to London and her first season there. So, along with the nickname "the Scottish Sausage" and the creation of a very bad seamstress, it is immediately apparent Josie will not be the great success all of her sisters were. And the only thing Josie can think of that could be worse than being called "the Scottish Sausage", would to be called the "unmarried Scottish Sausage".

In comes the Earl of Mayne. Mayne has known the Essex sisters since his good friend, the Duke of Holbrook, took over guardianship of them almost three years ago. And although he is preoccupied with his beautiful French fiance, he cannot idly stand by and watch the ton destroy his little Josie. So, after instructing her in the art of seduction and providing her with the right seamstress, Josie emerges a beautiful and most erotic young lady. And just as Mayne's fiance calls off their engagement, Josie is ravished and Mayne mistakenly thinks she has been raped. Mayne immediately knows what the right thing to do is, and when Josie cannot find the courage to correct Mayne, she excepts his offer for her hand in marriage. Now the two of them must find a way to make their life together a happy one.

Some may be put off by the age difference between these two, but Ms. James has found the perfect mate for both of these characters. Mayne is perfect for helping Josie overcome her insecurities about her voluptuous body, and Josie's fresh outlook helps the world-weary, debauched Mayne see things in a new light. Their discovering love for one another is sweet and smoldering by turns, and seeing Josie embracing her curves instead of trying to hide them, is an enlightening lesson all women can learn from.

I am truly sad to say goodbye to the Essex sisters, but I am thrilled to have been able to visit them again in PLEASURE FOR PLEASURE. If you have not read Eloisa James, pull up a warm sofa and lose yourself in this enchanting series! Happy Reading!

Deana Monteleone