Kiss Of The Beast (Secret Fantasies) (Harlequin Temptation) [Paperback]

Mallory Rush (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373256582
• ISBN-13: 978-0373256587
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,268,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A _very_ weird love story!, April 29, 2000

By 

BarkLessWagMore (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Kiss Of The Beast (Secret Fantasies) (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

OK, I've got a confession to make. I started this book with really low expectations. I was expecting to hate it or at least to dislike it. Why? I read this author's previous book LOVE GAME which was supposed to be erotic, hot and something special. I found it to be thin in plot and characterization and I didn't much care about the love scenes. I think I was expecting too much because it was so highly touted. I put off reading this one for a year and almost traded it in unread on the basis of that one disappointment. I am so glad I didn't!

Eva Campbell, a lonely virtual reality whiz, conjures up her perfect dream man. A man who lives to fulfill her every fantasy (whew, great premise, huh! ) She's been hurt deeply by her cheating snake of an ex-hubby and has very little self esteem. Her gorgeous creation, Urich, gives it back to her. But she fears he only worships her and thinks her beautiful because she's programmed him to think that way. Little does she know that he is not at all what he seems and his feelings come straight from the heart. He has secrets and an agenda all his own that could tear their fragile and forbidden love apart at the seams . . .

This book was a little hard to get into at first. The premise is a bit bizarre but once I got into the story and got to know the characters I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I can't lie. There were a few things that bugged me a little bit; the heroine's personality went through a drastic change in a real short span of time, she changes from an insecure workaholic into a strong, woman confident of her sexuality in what seemed like a matter of days, she also acts immaturely in spots (especially when she's mad) and the hero holds a secret for too long. Usually these things will turn me off in a book but somehow they didn't bother me all that much and I know why. I absolutely loved the hero in this story. I don't want to say too much and spoil his secret but he was really original and loving, sweet, sensitive, not to mention beautiful, faithful, and best of all he shed tears! He really made the book for me.

I don't think this is a book for everyone though, it was a bit on the bizarre side and you really need to suspend disbelief to thoroughly enjoy it. Although the sexual tension was steamy with a capital S and the love scene really worked for me I don't think those who dislike paranormals would appreciate the oddness of it. But if you like your books hot, love sensitive heroes and are looking for a very different type of storyline this book should hit the spot.

KISS OF THE BEAST is a major fantasy and I recommend it but only for other weirdos like myself *g*.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ick Factor Too High for Me, September 11, 2001

By 

Sires "I enjoy mysteries, historical and proc... (Chesapeake, OH, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kiss Of The Beast (Secret Fantasies) (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

I gave this book a three because it promised a red hot read and that was what Rush delivered. However, it also tended to make me go Eeeeuuuuwwwwww too often. I have a pretty high tolerance for nontraditional sex. I've enjoyed books where humans and nonhumans have relationships, even explicitly described sexual relationships, but this was a little too close to the bestiality edge for me to be completely comfortable with it. Which is odd because the hero is obviously sentient, and not an animal in the zoological sense at all. However, he certainly doesn't use his intelligence when it comes to sex-- apparently none of his species does.

As for the science fiction-- well, it's pretty hackneyed. Aliens who are last of their species and looking to propagate by kidnapping earthwomen used to be standard drive-in fare. Rush does not do anything to improve on that plot.

This book did not remind me of Beauty and the Beast-- not even-- (shudder) the Disney version. It reminded me more of the 3rd film of a triple feature in 1979 or maybe something that the MST3K cast would have enjoyed riffing on.