MORTAL TEMPTATIONS

Author: Allyson James ISBN: 9780425223697 1/2009 PARANORMAL Publisher: BERKLEY HEAT

Demigods and the women who love them! First in a new paranormal erotic romance series. Patricia was startled when she found a handsome and wounded man in her antique store—but her interest was truly aroused when she saw his well-muscled back sporting two wings. He was Nico, son of a powerful deity, breaker of hearts, and cursed by the goddess Hera to spend eternity as a slave to female desire—drained, used, and cast aside time and again as a sex god. With Patricia, for the first time in three thousand years, he’s looking forward to paying his dues. Now, if she could only free him...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Allyson James sets her erotic paranormal romance, MORTAL TEMPTATIONS, in present day New York City where Patricia Lake (full time antiquities dealer, part time psychic who can see the imprints left on items) owns an antique store that has caught the eye of two cursed demigods—Nico (a winged man) and Andreas (a shape shifting snow leopard). Hera put a spell on them several thousand years ago, whereby women would fall in love with them, use them (and in fact Nico and Andreas are compelled to pleasure the women in whatever way they want), and then leave them shattered and broken hearted. It is payback for their love 'em and leave 'em attitude of the past. The guys are exceedingly tired of the status quo and are searching for a way to break the spell before they go completely insane. Whenever they get close to a clue they are thwarted by Hera's minions known as Dyons. Patricia falls for Nico and will do anything to help. She enlists the aid of an Egyptologist translator when they find a piece of a message that tells their story. Rebecca is such a geek, but she's had to fight for her spot in the male world of archaeology. She's totally entranced by the affectionate leopard man. Will they find all of the clues in order to finally break the spell?

James creates the perfect love (or maybe lust) slaves with Nico and Andreas. Both Patricia and Rebecca have had sub par love lives, and the pheromones pouring off of the two demigods are almost more than they can handle. The guys draw out the women's deepest cravings, curiosities and even some longings they don't know they have. The explicit scenes are beyond erotic—more like "off the charts" explosive. Despite the great sex, Patricia and Rebecca develop sincere love for their men. With the demigods' nearly limitless supply of money and the girls' brain power and connections, it seems like a piece of cake—until Hera appears and sets a test before them. Will love win out over lust?

Although the plot line of MORTAL TEMPTATIONS exists mainly as a vehicle for even more hot sex, it is well written and the twists and turns all make sense in context. When readers stop panting and drooling long enough to continue reading, they will be pleasantly surprised that they've picked up a little travel, Egyptology, and mythology knowledge along with the advanced sexuality seminar taught by professor James. I can't wait to see what's in the syllabus for next term.

Susan Barton