Customer Reviews

Mortal Temptations

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

James spins a good story, but I think the romance falls flat. Patricia is boring despite her steamy predilections. Nico and Andreas are fairly interesting cursed demi-gods, but they don't seem far outside the standard paranormal-hero mold. (EXCEPT, of course, in their willingness to share Patricia. And have sex with each other. AND engage in a comforting threesome with some were-tiger friend of theirs, also a guy.)
Yes, the main characters indulge in unusual yet oddly mechanical kinkiness. But their wild sex does not equal characterization, and it doesn't really generate emotional connection between the patricipants.
Except maybe the men. Only they seemed intimate on a more than physical level.

I also found Andreas and Rebecca more interesting than Patricia and Nico. In my humble opinion, Nico was a bit emo, whereas Andreas had a believably animal point of view. Very intriguing. Becky the hardworking grad student is not your typical romance heroine , unlike gorgeous Patricia, who owns an antique business. Wish I'd seen more of Andreas and his Becky! Authors, beware the dangers of the secondary couple!

This was a good book wasn't what I expected. I was thinking that this would only be a love story of a man and a woman, but they bring some guy on guy action into the story and I am not sure how to feel about it. This is a good story of breaking out of your shell and finding yourself. I did like that and the fact that he is hiding something from her even though he has a great pull to her. It is a good book with a good story line but I am not sure still how to feel about this book.

Two hunky demi-gods. One vengeful goddess. One major curse.

Patricia's quiet little existence as an antiquities dealer was shattered when the sexy winged man literally fell into her life. Finding Nico on the floor of her shop with a broken wing might have sent her over the deep end if it were not for her own psychic ability.

Before long, the curse plaguing Nico binds them together, at least temporarily. It seems that he has been cursed to an eternal existence as a love slave, and for the time being at least, he is all Patricia's. Not only that, the deal seems to come with some pretty exotic fringe benefits in the form of his equally handsome best friend, Andreas.

Good-hearted Patricia wants more than a short fling, however. She wants forever with Nico and is determined to help the two hapless demi-gods break the curse that Hera cast over them, no matter what it takes to do it. No small feat, considering Hera and her minions are bound and determined to prevent that from happening.

When I see the name Allyson James on the cover of a book, I know it is a story I want to read - I don't even need to see the synopsis for the story. This author hasn't disappointed me yet, continuing to deliver creative tales that excite my imagination and stir my heart.

To say that Ms. James has a knack for paranormal romance would be an understatement. No matter how fantastical the plot, she makes the stories come alive on the pages. In MORTAL TEMPTATIONS, she builds the story from the roots of ancient mythology - something which is always a draw for me.

This is definitely a romance, but we enjoy two different, yet connected, love stories in one great book. Our primary couple is Nico and Patricia, and the secondary romance is between their friends Andreas and Rebecca.

Nico and Andreas are both demi-gods and have been friends since their youth. They were cursed together and so have been tied together for an eternity. Although they have very different personalities, their deep friendship makes that binding a blessing for them. They might suffer, but they have always had each other for comfort.

These men have lived for centuries experiencing constantly transient relationships, with only each other as constants in their immortal lives to lessen the oppressive loneliness.

Patricia and Rebecca are bright spots in the men's bleak existence, and Nico and Andreas are determined to enjoy it for as long as it lasts, never allowing themselves to hope this time might be different. Of course, this never daunts our intrepid modern heroines, who are relentless in their goal to free the men they are falling for.

In the end, our couples find their happy endings, in very different ways. One truth remains for each man, however: love is its own reward.

MORTAL TEMPATIONS is a beautiful erotic romance that exemplifies once again the power love has to conquer all obstacles.

**4.5 Bookmarks, Courtesy of Wild on Books**

Let's just say that Mortal Temptations was HOT, HOT, HOT! Ms. James is right up there in Erotic Romance with Emma Holly and many others. I believe she can truly wright a very strong and determined character. I cannot wait until Mortal Seductions with Dimitri comes out. If you don't like the m/m/f experience then this is not for you. Ms. James can definitly wright a hot sex scene or an action scene. She really kept me on edge and I had too know what was going to happen next. I finished the book in 1 night.

If you don't like menages -- beware! I am the kind of girl who loves a good romance novel where the two lead roles fall in love, are devoted to each other, and are faithful to each other. In this book, however, I was not satisfied. Sure the two leads fall in love - but since the hero and his best friend are cursed to be sex slaves, and the heroine is the new unwitting master, things get a little weird. She asks him to have oral/anal sex with his best friend because it turns her on, and then for all of them to have sex together, even though she really only loves *him*. And of course he does it, because he just wants to satisfy her, and he loves turning her on, blah, blah, blah. Menages just don't float my boat. If you like menage books then I am pretty sure you will like this one - it has some intriguing supporting characters for possible upcoming books. The thing is, I have read some of this author's other books and loved them, so I might have liked this book if it wasn't a menage. I will continue to look for the more traditional type romance books from Ms. James, though!

OMG! This book is so hot. My friend picked this book up because of the cover. Best decision ever made. These two guys are sex slaves and have to do what she wants even if she does not say it out loud. If she dreams it, it will come true. Be warned there is m/m, m/f/m, and it is HOT!!!

After I finished my girl friends copy I immediately ran out and bought my own. It is that good. I have never read allyson's books before but I will now.

Antiquity dealer Patricia Lake thinks she is seeing things. Not only is a naked man unconscious on the floor of her shop, but he has what looks like a seriously broken wing. Her psychic abilities have given her insight into the paranormal world, so while her mind is telling her men with wings can't possibly be real, her heart is looking at the handsome man and slowly melting. When the beautiful man awakens and demands she give him the ostracon she purchased recently, Patricia is intrigued with his story. It seems the ostracon she purchased and immediately sold is the key to ending the man's curse.

Cursed by Hera for an insult she thought he dealt her, Nico Stanopolous has spent hundreds of years being a sex slave - along with his friend Andreas, a leopard shifter. Throughout their entire curse, they have been searching for some way to end their affliction. When word comes that an ostracon with the formula needed to free them has been purchased, Nico knows he will stop at nothing to free himself.

Unable to reach the woman before she sells the artifact, Nico is disheartened but finds himself extremely attracted to the pretty and unassuming antiques dealer. Somehow, someway, somewhere Nico means to be free to enjoy Patricia as he likes and the biggest lesson of all is very close to home. Freedom lies within his and Patricia's hearts; if only they would stop long enough and listen to the feelings and emotions each brings out in the other.

I found myself smiling immediately upon opening MORTAL TEMPTATIONS. I can only imagine waking up and finding a naked, winged man in my home. Like Patricia, I would try and think of every reason why I was the one going nuts instead of believing. I am glad that Patricia came around, however, because Nico was her soul mate. Their attraction to each other was instantaneous and over the top scorching hot. Add Andreas in to the mix and I was in ménage heaven.

MORTAL TEMPTATIONS is not an average book by any means. Mythology and angry gods and demons play huge roles in the situations in which the characters find themselves. The woman everyone loves to hate, the Greek goddess Hera, makes an appearance just to stir things up a bit. Before I knew it I was a believer in the supernatural as well. MORTAL TEMPTATIONS is the first book in a new series and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment!

Angry goddesses, hulking demons, love scenes that will melt wax - MORTAL TEMPTATIONS is a brilliant release! Kudos to Allyson James - I definitely think she has a successful series on her hands.

***Natalie S.***

I happen to love this author. I find all of her books great to read.

Nico and Andreas are friends and demi-gods cursed by Hera many, many years ago. The gist of the curse is that they end up falling in love with women only to have their hearts broken when the woman is suddenly done with them. Many years and broken hearts have brought them to current times, and maybe finding something that will help break the curse that binds them. However, Hera isn't quite done with them and has no intention of allowing them to ever break her curse.

Patricia Lake owns an antique shop and is always on the look out not only for things for her shop, but also things that will appeal to her long-term customers. It's one of those finds, a piece of broken stone tablet with old Egyptian writing, that ends up bringing two sexy strangers to her. One breaks into her store and the other is his partner. Both Nico and Andreas call to her sexually but its Nico she instantly feels an all but overwhelming attraction.

Patricia learns not only about the curse and how it affects Nico and Andreas but also what they hope will help them. Determined to do what she can, Patricia ends up locating Egyptologist Rebecca Trimble from Cornell. Following clues lead all four to Egypt in hopes of finally breaking the curse and finding out if the passion that abounds between them all is real, or just part of the curse.

How can you tell if passion is real or part of a pleasure curse? Nico, Andreas, Patricia, and Rebecca, all find the answers to this in Mortal Temptations. There were several things that surprised me as I read on. The first being the Nico and Andreas' backgrounds - those gods really got around. After that, it was how ancient parts of history were woven into and around the plot. Seeing what Nico and Patricia felt had me hoping that it was much more than the curse. When you added Andreas into the mix, and even later on with Rebecca, I just knew that the ending would be exciting. I was proven right when I turned the last page and found the best of happy endings possible. Mortal Temptations takes erotic passion and suspense to show what true love is to gods and mortals alike.


Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Again I can't say enough about how great Allyson James' writing is. It has me buying all her books to make sure this isn't a fluke. So far I find all the books I have read to be wonderful. I fantasize about finding the right man to make me feel the way Allyson makes her characters feel. Thank you for giving me some fantasy.