Rating: 
Summary: interesting Regency
Review: Over the years her widowed father made it clear that Lady Elizabeth Harcourt first responsibility was to him. However, in 1812 when she was twenty-seven years old her father marries seventeen year old Charlotte. The teen, befitting the role of wife, takes over the running or perhaps the destroying of the household as her childish ways drive off the servants that is when she does not fire them.Bored, lonely, and feeling a bit betrayed, Elizabeth feels pretty good about the outrageous behavior of artist Gabriel Cristofore. He insists he needs to paint her portrait, as she is a beauty. While she ponders accepting his offer that blatantly hints at much more, he discusses with his womanizing father that Elizabeth is his next mark as he believes she is a chip off the old block. However, this time the amoral philandering Gabriel falls in love, but her father loathes his dad as her mother was a notch on his father's belt. Because of the shared attitude towards women by the male protagonist and his sire (that will turn off some readers), ABSOLUTE PLEASURE is not your typical Regency tale. Though her father is over done as a disloyal buffoon, the story line will engage the reader as the other two males learn that ABSOLUTE PLEASURE only occurs with love. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: A Holt fan for sure - but this one was a little empty
Review: The half Italian - half English, hero of Absolute Pleasure, Gabriel Cristofore, paints portraits of rich English ladies. He researches his future clients well - assuring that the next lady chosen will provide him not only a fee for her portrait, but also extra payment in the manner of jewels or other valuable items. Why would these ladies pay more than their portrait fee? Yes, you guessed it. Gabriel provides these chosen ladies with another service that requires great discretion. He finds painting a lady, servicing the same lady, and receiving multiple payments from said lady, is a fine way to earn a living. Elizabeth, the heroine, is a rather plain and obedient daughter of a harsh, autocratic earl. She has not married because her father has needed her to head his household and has, therefore, selfishly made her into a mid-twenties spinster. Now her father has remarried and Elizabeth finds she is no longer required to manage her father's home and she has time on her hands for the first time in her life. She is a very sensible and kind young lady and cares greatly for those around her (with the exception of her new stepmother). Gabriel has researched and chosen Elizabeth as his next potential portraiture (or should I say victim). He successfully arranges meeting Elizabeth at a public gathering and casts his net upon her. She falls for it and shows up at his home to discuss his painting of her portrait. Thus the foundation is laid for Gabriel and Elizabeth's romance. I have enjoyed many of Holt's books and really looked forward to her newest publication. This book, however, is a little sterile. I love good writing and romance combined. But books that tend to have words holding together a string of sensual scenes scarcely hold my interest. And I am afraid that Absolute Pleasure almost slips into that category. However, Holt saves this book from that category in that she holds to the premise that the romantic leads must be faithful to their relationship. These sensual scenes are not sex for the sake of sex. There are deeper feelings involved and - though not spoken - fidelity for the span of their relationship. This book did not impress me as a great book. The leads' relationship seems contrived for at least the first 100 pages. When I found myself finally believing that there might be something positive come from Gabriel and Elizabeth's romance, all hell breaks loose. I had to actually make myself pick up this book and read it because I found myself dreading the next possible scene. As the reader, you don't want Elizabeth hurt even if you believe her actions are foolish. Gabriel is repeatedly unkind to Elizabeth and ruthless in his behavior towards her. Although we discover later that Gabriel believed he had her best interests in mind, it still tastes of revenge and meanness. His cruelty occurs too often for my tastes. It is a stretch for me to understand how Elizabeth could believe in Gabriel so strongly and love him. After all, Elizabeth has done her research too and knows that Gabriel is a swindler, defiler of women, and insincere. I wish I could have given Elizabeth a copy of "Women Who Love Too Much" to read. She is immature in her expectations of him. This book has received criticism for it's many sensual scenes. Yes, there are more of these scenes than in most romance novels. But those scenes are not graphic and hardly ever depict "the deed". I rate the sensual scenes about a 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Although several of Holt's other books sit on my keeper shelf, this one will not. There just wasn't enough substance to the story. Gabriel is not a hero I could connect with or even understand how Elizabeth could fall for him. Maybe I am getting more conservative with my reading requirements but there just wasn't enough good old plain love for me to remember the story line fondly.
Rating:
Summary: A Leisure Temptation.
Review: This is no "slam, bang, see you ma'am" project. This is seduction. The promise of pleasure is slow going, and the incentive to read is intense. Lady Elizabeth Harcourt is a twenty-seven-year-old spinster, who has lived a ho-hum sedate lifestyle. As time slips away, Elizabeth's days are consumed with managing her papa's life. Suddenly things change, her father, the Earl of Norwich, marries an infantile, imprudent young lady. The grand old earl must sire a male child -- an heir to his title. Handsome, Gabriel Cristofore is an extraordinary artist. He is also a con man. His confidence game -- he seduces lonely, wealthy women. Lady Elizabeth Harcourt just happens to be his next mark. I liked Elizabeth Harcourt. She sprang from the pages as intelligent and wise. Even though she has lived a sheltered life, she seems to know the score; yet, is willing to take a chance to add a little spice to her life. However, Gabriel Cristofore is an enigma. He was a philanderer, a cad, and after his liaison with Elizabeth did he truly reform? When I finished the last page, I wasn't sure Elizabeth made the wise choice. Also Elizabeth's father is a riddle, his character is bewildering. He seems kind and concerned with his daughter, when he ends her sexual affair; but he is so cruel to his child bride, Charlotte. If the author wanted us to truly despise this girl, she should have expanded further into the girl's persona. Charlotte's eavesdropping at an upstairs stovepipe might be immature, but it is not revolting. Still Holt's art of seduction is wonderful and I read this book with great gusto. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: A Leisure Temptation.
Review: This is no "slam, bang, see you ma'am" project. This is seduction. The promise of pleasure is slow going, and the incentive to read is intense. Lady Elizabeth Harcourt is a twenty-seven-year-old spinster, who has lived a ho-hum sedate lifestyle. As time slips away, Elizabeth's days are consumed with managing her papa's life. Suddenly things change, her father, the Earl of Norwich, marries an infantile, imprudent young lady. The grand old earl must sire a male child -- an heir to his title. Handsome, Gabriel Cristofore is an extraordinary artist. He is also a con man. His confidence game -- he seduces lonely, wealthy women. Lady Elizabeth Harcourt just happens to be his next mark. I liked Elizabeth Harcourt. She sprang from the pages as intelligent and wise. Even though she has lived a sheltered life, she seems to know the score; yet, is willing to take a chance to add a little spice to her life. However, Gabriel Cristofore is an enigma. He was a philanderer, a cad, and after his liaison with Elizabeth did he truly reform? When I finished the last page, I wasn't sure Elizabeth made the wise choice. Also Elizabeth's father is a riddle, his character is bewildering. He seems kind and concerned with his daughter, when he ends her sexual affair; but he is so cruel to his child bride, Charlotte. If the author wanted us to truly despise this girl, she should have expanded further into the girl's persona. Charlotte's eavesdropping at an upstairs stovepipe might be immature, but it is not revolting. Still Holt's art of seduction is wonderful and I read this book with great gusto. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
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