Review and Giveaway: Temptation at Twilight

Temptation at Twilight (Lords of Pleasure - Book 1) by Jo Carlisle


Publication Date: November 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Erotic Romance/ Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 304pp
ISBN-13: 9780451234827
ISBN: 0451234820

(Received for a honest review from Berkley Heat)


Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Jo Carlisle on the WEB: website, facebook



Excerpt from Temptation at Twilight WARNING: This excerpt may not be appropriate for readers under 18-years-of-age.


Synopsis:


Excess has long been th name of the game for vampire brothers Aldric, Soren, and Luc Fontaine. Now they're letting everyone play - at La Petite Mort, New Orleans's hottest fantasy resort of uninhibiited adults. Everyone who is willig to pay the pirce, that is...

Soren Fontaine has something in common with is two brothers: a lonely existence without a mate. He's still grieving the tragic loss of his wife almost a century ago. That changes when Leila, a secutive voodoo princess, offers Soren anything he wants, It's a dangerous bargain but he agrees - at the cost of bonding him forever to Leila's dark desires.

When gorgeous Harley Vaughn arrives at La Petite Mort it appears Leila has held up to her end of the deal, since Soren is convinced that Harley is the reincarnation of his late wife. While they feverishly explore the resort's many pleasures and their own inexhaustible fantasies, Soren and Harley develop an even deeper emotional connection- one that Soren has so desperately wanted. But locked as he is in the twisted embrace of a vooddoo witch, Soren may lose his mate once again - and this time, for all eternity.


Thoughts: 


Author Jo Carlisle brings readers the first in her new Lords of Pleasure series,
Temptation at Twilight. Carlisle explores the bonds formed between brothers in this series, even when those brothers happen to be vampires. This is a very steamy erotic romance, but it also packs a punch to the emotions. Vampire mythology has always portrayed the vampire as the ultimate killing machine, a predator that draws it's victims in with seduction. Carlisle's vampire brothers are all that and more. They show some very human characteristics as well.


Carlisle doesn't spend time building the reader up to the sexual scenes, she jumps in with both feet in Temptation at Twilight, right on the first page. Readers get a taste of just how powerfully and seductive Soren Fontaine can be right from the git go. What I especially liked about this scene is the way that Soren takes care of Trisha, one of the Chosen. He is dominate to be sure, but he is also very caring with her, with says a lot about him as a character.

Soren is what I would describe as a tortured soul. The loss of his wife, Helena over a century ago has left him bereft and lonely. His love for her, a human, so complete that he cannot force himself to take another mate or to concede that she will never be his again. Carlisle writes, Soren with such a deep sense of loyalty and purpose, but he is also obsessive and can be quite manipulative. So he has some serious flaws that I think will garner him a bit of sympathy from readers. I don't like perfect heroes that much, I prefer them dark and brooding and Soren certainly fits the profile.


Soren's two brothers, Aldric and Luc are a very big part of the overall story and they play a vital part in the action. The relationship between Soren and his brothers is a high-point in this novel. The way they interact with each other, the dialogue that occurs between them, their sense of love of each other is very compelling and believable. The fact that they are all vampires is superseded by the their bonds as brothers and I really liked that. It was almost as if their ruthless and brutal nature was secondary to their feelings for each other. Vampirism is a big part of the story but not the most essential element. I look forward to finding out more about each brother in future books in the series. I think Carlisle has hit on a winning combination with these three very different brothers.


I tend to really enjoy the female characters in a book of this nature, so I fully expected to like Harley. First of all I loved the name and thought it fitting, though it was a little more current than names like Aldric or Soren or even Leila. I was surprised at the author veered from the theme. When readers first see Harley she is being auctioned off and Soren buys her to become one of the Chosen at the adult fantasy club he owns with his brothers, La Petite Mort. She comes across as a bit simpering in the beginning, somewhat pretentious and too much like a groupie to suit me, but she definitely grew on me as the story continued. The way she handled Soren's relationship with Leila was quite interesting and I found myself becoming more accepting of her.


I loved the overall premise of this book. I thought it was original and very compelling. Vampires are a bit overused in the paranormal genre but the way Carlisle portrayed them in this one, was almost secondary and not quite as invasive as usual. The idea of the adult fantasy club isn't new either, but it was tastefully done and added a different dimension to the story. The sex was hot and there was a lot of it, but it didn't take over the novel. It was a part of it to be sure, but not the main focus. Soren was such a great character, I liked him a lot. And his brothers are definitely going to have great stories in future books in the series. As far as erotic romances go, this is one of my favorites so far. 


I recommend this one erotic romance fans, and paranormal enthusiasts. There is something in this novel for both groups and I think readers will appreciate that Carlisle allows her vampire characters to be very close to human in some ways and yet all blood-sucker in other ways. A delicate balance that Carlisle achieves well in this book.

Temptation at Twilight is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my Book Bag!

Jo Carlisle spent sixteen years teaching before turning to writing romance full-time, starting with her debut on Ellora's Cave. She lives in Texas. 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This is the first giveaway I have been able to offer in the erotic romance genre!

The publisher is offering one copy of Temptation at Twilight by Jo Carlisle for giveaway. 


~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only (Publisher Request).
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST November 22nd.


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