Simply Wicked (The House of Pleasure Book 4)

Lady Marguerite Lockwood, daughter of the infamous owner of Madame Helene's House of Pleasure, has been living in self-imposed isolation. Her brief marriage ended when her husband was killed in a duel against his best friend, and the whispers are that the duel was over her. Marguerite has no intentions of reentering society, until her brother introduces her to the dark and devastatingly handsome Anthony Sokorvsky. Anthony awakens desires in her she never expected to feel so strongly, but she soon finds that a simple affair may not, in fact, be so simple.Anthony Sokorvsky knows all-too-well the darker side of pleasure. But when he wakes up one morning riddled with bruises, he's very aware that he has gotten too deep into the realm of sexual punishment and pain and has done so for the wrong reasons. When Christian Delornay asks Anthony to squire his sister Marguerite around town, Anthony takes the opportunity to step back from his reckless nights. And when he meets Lady Marguerite Lockwood, Anthony finds that there's something about her that calls to him. For the first time in his life, Anthony has met someone he wants to seduce. But when lust turns into something more, a dangerous figure from Anthony's not-too-distant past threatens his newfound happiness. Can Anthony and Marguerite's relationship survive the machinations of someone who threatens to expose their deepest secrets?Just when I think I've decided on an all-time favorite book of Kate Pearce's, she delivers another gem. Simply Wicked is an erotic tour de force about love, acceptance, understanding, and passion. With Anthony and Marguerite, Ms. Pearce has created two wonderful protagonists, and the tenderness between them grabbed my heart while their love scenes burn with intensity - a double dose of bliss to readers like myself who like both heat and heart.Anthony is a man who has grown accustomed to letting himself be sexually used and discarded by other men. He was abused in the past by another and though he thinks he has long since recovered, what was done to him left its mark. At the beginning of the story even Anthony is forced to see he is on a dangerous downslide. I cheered for Anthony when he made the decision to take a stand, to stop allowing others to dictate his sexuality, to explore what he truly desires, and to experience passion and joy rather than using pain and humiliation to bring about sexual release. It takes a strong woman to look Anthony's past square in the face and not let it shake her; good thing Ms. Pearce is a master at creating strong heroines. Marguerite's past contains tragedy of its own, and for a while she lets it get the better of her. She hides herself to avoid the cutting tongues of society, living a half-life of sorts. I was thrilled to see her come out of her shell, to finally start being the woman she truly is inside. When Simply Wicked begins, there is a broken innocence about both characters that only true love and acceptance will heal into something stronger and more powerful. Both Marguerite and Anthony learn to stand on their own, but they're even better as a pair, which is why I was up late into the night reading Simply Wicked - once I started reading I could not stop.Simply Wicked is the fourth book in Ms. Pearce's phenomenal House of Pleasure series, but it can be read on its own. I will admit that some of the initial anticipation I had for reading Simply Wicked came from seeing what happened to Anthony in the first book in the series, Simply Sexual, and his subsequent decline over the following books (Simply Sinful and Simply Shameless) into a craving for pain during sex that he did not actually desire. However, this anticipation is only what led me to bite my nails waiting for Anthony and Marguerite's story. The excitement I feel now is that of a reader well and truly satisfied by a great story, so new readers need not fear they'll miss some of the joy of reading the book. I'm sure anyone new to the series will fall in love and rush back for the previous books, as they're all sensual delights.In Simply Wicked Ms. Pearce continues her tradition of creating unique heroes and heroines that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I fell in love with Anthony and Marguerite and their story was amazing. I cannot wait for the next two books in this series, Simply Insatiable and Simply Forbidden. Ms. Pearce will definitely have to work to make a believer out of me with Simply Insatiable, since the hero is the villain of Simply Wicked. I'm not too concerned, though, because if anyone can write a deeply complex and fascinating hero, it's the clever, talented Ms. Pearce. It's her marvelous brand of realistic complexity in her heroes and heroines which made me fall in love with Simply Wicked and will keep me avidly reading her books for many years to come. Joyfully Recommended!ShaynaReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is the last of the 4 books I purchased when they were "on sale". I liked Anthony & felt his pain as he attemped to deal w/what happened to him @ age 20 & inexperienced. I just didn't think his story was as well executed as those of Val & Peter in the first 2 books; I actually put this book in the same category as book 3, Helene's story. Neither book contained M/F/M only F/M & M/M.... for some reason, I think that took away from the connection.There isn't as much action in this story as the first two, but more than in book 3. I wish Pearce had explore Anthony's relationship w/Val more but she only touched upon it. I'd like to read the next few in the series (I think there's 3-4 more) but I won't at their current price.... a shame :(Pearce is a gifted writer & if you'll like to sample it... her books GIFT OF DESIRE & MASK are often free.

Well-written and exciting, this book continues to showcase Miss Pearce's skills as a storyteller. Complicated, yet simple, the story follows Marguerite and Anthony as thry struggle to understand their own sexuality as well as accept each other's. Wonderful addition to the series. Now on to book 5.

I was very happy that Anthony had his own story, and I definitely liked margarite! This book almost seemed a little toned down after the first 3 books, and got more into them discovering themselves, then about the sex. Anthony and Margarites relationship was so sweet, and they are perfect for each other! I do have to agree with another commenter who said they were really whiny though, it did get annoying after a while. I also have to say lord Mishom is terrible! I didn't like him at all and he makes the perfect villain!

STORY BRIEF:Marguerite was married for a short time when her husband had a duel with another and died. She never goes out. Her siblings ask Anthony to take her out occasionally for her own good. They know Anthony prefers men and would not be a threat. However, Anthony and Marguerite find themselves attracted to each other. She is the first woman he has ever desired. Anthony was raped by a man when he was 19. Since then he has had sex only with men who inflicted pain and humiliation. Now he wants to change, but his previous partner doesn't want to lose him. Anthony and Marguerite tell each other about their past sexual desires and find the other accepting, understanding, and willing to accommodate. There are a lot of erotic sex scenes with bondage, sex toys, rear door activity and men with men.REVIEWER'S OPINION:I had trouble with the last third of the book. Prior to then Anthony and Marguerite had been open and honest with each other about embarrassing sexual history and desires. But during the last third of the book he thinks she's disgusted with him, and she pushes him away for vague and illogical reasons. It didn't work well as a story. For example, she wants to meet someone at night to get information about something, so she lies to Anthony, letting him think she no longer wants to be with him. Her purpose in lying was to keep him away for the night so she could sneak out. But he would have supported and helped her. That didn't make sense. Later she is angry at Anthony - I have no idea why. After that she pushes him out of her life and tells her brother "I'm afraid to let him down, to prove unworthy of him." Again, vague and illogical since they had such an open and accepting relationship - and his past was more scandalous and humiliating than hers. Why would she think this?I also had trouble with the story about Marguerite's dead husband. It wasn't explained well enough. Motivations were vague.The sex scenes were interesting and different, but I needed better story to go with them.DATA:Story length: 301 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 16. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 57. Setting: 1819 London. Copyright: 2009. Genre: erotic regency romance.OTHER BOOKS:For a list of my reviews of other Kate Pearce books, see my 4 star review of "Simply Sexual" posted 10-02-08.

I was a bit disappointed with Anthony's story. Although a fairly easy page turner, it didn't excite me like the first three, which, to my mind, are keepers; easy to read exercepts from at different times.I found both Anthony & Marguerite rather wishy-washy, angst ridden and to be honest, a bit dull. The sex scenes didn't really engage me either but I'm not sure which was cause and effect. After the long lead up to Marguerite's big secret, I found the denouement rather 'so what?'. I didn't feel the developing characterisation of the other books.So in my opinion, an okay read but not Ms Pearce's best.

I not sure.. I was not taken with Margerite.. something about her just got on my nerves!Actually even Anthony was pathetic in this book!

I would recommend this book to most. Anyone that liked 50 Shades would enjoy this however its not for everyone!