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yanina_amanto's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kbranfield's review
4.0
Simply Pleasure is a prequel to books one and two in Kate Pearce's deliciously carnal House of Pleasure series. This novella provides readers with the back story of Valentin "Val" Sokorvsky and Peter Howard who were kidnapped and held as sex slaves in a Turkish brothel until their rescue at age eighteen. The story opens while the men are on their way back to England and it is at times unbearably heartbreaking, poignant and ultimately hopeful as Val and Peter try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
It is impossible for Val and Peter not to be forever scarred their experiences and the men have very different ways of coping with their ordeal. Val is hardened, resentful and deliberately hurtful to everyone around him. Peter is placating and gentle in the beginning, but eventually turns to unhealthy means of coping with his life. When Peter's life spirals out of control, will he welcome Val's attempts to help save him?
Peter has no memories of his life or family before the kidnapping but Val remembers exactly who he is and he wants no part of the life waiting for him. However, Val agrees to remain with his family in exchange for gaining access to his inheritance when he turns twenty-one. His other stipulation is that Peter is to be allowed to stay as well. The story fast forwards to just before Val's birthday and while he has used the intervening years to his advantage, sadly Peter has fallen into a pit of despair. Val is determined to save the man who unselfishly helped him keep his demons at bay during their captivity, but will Peter accept what Val is willing to offer?
Simply Pleasure is not a romance but it is full of strong emotions. It is a beautiful story of new beginnings for both men as they try to put their past behind them while maintaining the bond that ties them together. Like the other books in Kate Pearce's House of Pleasure series, there are plenty of scorching hot sex scenes but it is the last one of the story is most meaningful.
It is impossible for Val and Peter not to be forever scarred their experiences and the men have very different ways of coping with their ordeal. Val is hardened, resentful and deliberately hurtful to everyone around him. Peter is placating and gentle in the beginning, but eventually turns to unhealthy means of coping with his life. When Peter's life spirals out of control, will he welcome Val's attempts to help save him?
Peter has no memories of his life or family before the kidnapping but Val remembers exactly who he is and he wants no part of the life waiting for him. However, Val agrees to remain with his family in exchange for gaining access to his inheritance when he turns twenty-one. His other stipulation is that Peter is to be allowed to stay as well. The story fast forwards to just before Val's birthday and while he has used the intervening years to his advantage, sadly Peter has fallen into a pit of despair. Val is determined to save the man who unselfishly helped him keep his demons at bay during their captivity, but will Peter accept what Val is willing to offer?
Simply Pleasure is not a romance but it is full of strong emotions. It is a beautiful story of new beginnings for both men as they try to put their past behind them while maintaining the bond that ties them together. Like the other books in Kate Pearce's House of Pleasure series, there are plenty of scorching hot sex scenes but it is the last one of the story is most meaningful.
friends2lovers's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
Simply Pleasure is a prequel novella to Pearce’s House of Pleasure series. The prequel fills in the tragic backstory of Val (hero of book 1, Simply Sexual) and Peter (hero of book 2, Simply Sinful). Other readers may disagree but, if you’re new to the series, I would not recommend starting with the prequel. Read Simply Sexual first, then Simply Pleasure afterwards if you are interested in Val and Peter’s fraught history.
Val and Peter were both abducted as children (around age 10) and forced into sex slavery in a Turkish brothel. 8 years later, they are rescued by Mr. John Harrison (the father of the heroine in book 1). The first half of the prequel follows their journey and return to England. Then there’s a 3-year time jump, and it’s clear that neither of them have adjusted well to their new lives and freedom.
When I read Simply Sexual and Simply Sinful, I was not aware this prequel novella existed! My favorite arc through those two books was the evolution of the relationship between Val and Peter, so I was excited to read a story that focused on them alone. They have a complicated, co-dependent dynamic and I’m honestly not sure I understand what they are to each other by the end of Simply Sinful. At the end of the prequel, they are business partners, best friends, and lovers. Then in books 1 and 2, they both fall in love with women and where they fit into each other’s HEAs is murky, at least to me. The ambiguity frustrates me!
The prequel feels like the set-up for an epic romance between Val and Peter—one that (in my wishful thinking) spans many years, weathers ups and downs, and ends with them recognizing each other as their soulmate. Instead, in the following books, their love story is sidelined in favor of developing the central M/F romances. After reading the prequel, I now want to reread books 1 and 2 and see if my perception of Val/Peter as being tangential to the main story changes. I also need to read, and plan to, the novella Simply Irresistible (#2.5), because the blurb makes it sound like the polyamorous dynamics between Val, Peter, Sara, and Abigail are explored. I’m hoping reading all 4 books in succession will give me a better sense of Val and Peter being settled and committed to each other, like they are with their female partners.
Finally, I want to mention that I love the structure of the story, how the erotic parts fit in with the relationship parts, and the placement of the sex scenes. All the sex in this was important for characterization and didn’t feel superfluous. The Val/Peter scenes at the beginning and end contrast each other in a beautiful way.
Overall, I recommend Simply Pleasure to anyone who loves and wants more Val/Peter! It was gut wrenching, heartbreaking, but ultimately ended on a hopeful note. Now on to a reread of Simply Sexual…
Endnotes
Series: House of Pleasure #0.5
Genre: Historical Romantic Erotica
Setting: 1803 and 1806 (Georgian era, pre-Regency), on a ship traveling from Turkey to England, then London, England.
Hero: Valentin “Val” Sokorvsky, age 18 then 21, long black hair, violet eyes
Hero: Peter Howard, age 18 then 21, blonde hair, blue eyes (?)
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, caretaking/nursed back to health, traumatic pasts, unrequited love
Format: Kindle ebook borrowed from Libby, copyright 2014
Length: novella, 87 pages, 23k words
Read Date: January 18, 2022
Read Date: January 18, 2022
Heat Index: 5 🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️
Heat Notes: 4 full, explicit sex scenes (2 Val/Peter, 1 Val/other man, 1 Peter/other man) and 1 fade-to-black scene (Val/Peter). M/M, anal, spanking, light bondage, power play.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery
mephala's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Reread.
3,5/5 stars
3,5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse and Physical abuse
airaseem's review
3.0
It's been a while since I read Kate Pearce book. She writes very erotic and creates complex characters who have many struggles to overcome before their happily ever after. This prequel is an insight to Val and Peter relationship and what they had to go through to let go of the nightmare to finally be free. It was a good read and enjoyed it for what it was.
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