Customer Reviews

The Pleasure Slave

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The paranormal romance THE PLEASURE SLAVE by Gena Showalter was, for me, a disappointment. It's the story of a handsome warrior named Tristan who is cursed by a sorceress to a lifetime of serving women masters, inside the bedroom and out. Tristan is from another time and another dimension, but he ends up in the possession of Julia Anderson, an antiques dealer in Santa Fe, who falls in love with him.

The premise of the story is great. It's what attracted me, initially. Plus, I had also read (and enjoyed) Showalter's THE STONE PRINCE, a "prequel" of sorts that features some of the same characters.

However ... THE PLEASURE SLAVE simply did not appeal to me, and here's why:

1) The heroine, Julia, has major self-esteem issues that are more unattractive than actually being unattractive. I guess I'm not a fan of romance novels in which the heroine is plain, frumpy, overweight, awkward, shy, and burdened with a single past rejection that cripples her for the rest of her life, socially. I am especially unhappy when all she does throughout the book is cry about how plain, frumpy, and overweight she is. If the heroine MUST be plain and frumpy, I'd appreciate it if she had some shining attribute of her own, like scathing wit or artistic talent or something. Also, I'd prefer she not obsess over her terrible looks. I hate heroines with self-esteem issues. If they don't think they are fit to be with the hero, THEN NEITHER DO I. In my opinion, author Johanna Lindsey is the best when it comes to writing about heroines who aren't breathtaking beauties. Why? Because Lindsey never hits you over the head how plain and frumpy she is. Instead, she gives the heroine a personality that's wonderful and fun, and you forget she isn't gorgeous ... and you just can't wait for her to hook up with the hero. Read SECRET FIRE or DEFY NOT THE HEART for examples of mousy heroines who are just awesome. Other authors could learn a thing or two from Lindsey.

2) I saw absolutely no reason for the hero, Tristan, to like Julia at all the moment he meets her. Right from the get-go, Tristan is attracted to her. Why? Because she bites her lip? Because she refuses to sleep with him upfront? Because she wears cute pajamas? These are not reasons to adore someone. Sorry.

3) Tristan is an alien from another planet who is cursed to serve women. You would think the moment you met a cursed alien that a) you'd ask him about his planet and b) you'd want to know more about this curse. What does Julia do? Well, she doesn't ask him anything about his planet - not until MUCH later in the book, and only after she's briefly sent there. Nor does she even think about asking how to break his curse until around page 333. Pretty darn selfish, I'm thinking. Although this book is called THE PLEASURE SLAVE, in which you would hope the heroine would want to help out said slave, the plot actually revolves around poor Tristan trying to help Julia recover from one lame-o rejection when she was a teenager. I mean, Tristan has been abused and used by women for a thousand years, but does he complain or cry about it? No, he's beautiful, so it must OK, I guess. Plain little Julia, on the other hand, is dissed by a guy once, and it's shattered her life forever. So SHE needs to be babied and coddled. Then, once she gets her orgasm, she's good to help Tristan. Ugh.

4) Who in the universe was the plumber? It started to go somewhere, hint-wise, but no connection was ever made. Of course, I was probably speed-reading at this point, just to get the book over with, so maybe I missed it. Who knows.

So there you go. These are my issues. I know I sound annoyed, and I am a little bit, mostly because I had hoped for better from this author. I have two other books of hers that I bought and have yet to read, so I'm praying THE PLEASURE SLAVE is the worst of the lot, and I'll like the others much better.

Something else: there are two other romantic paranormals similar to this book. One is FANTASY LOVER by Sherrilyn Kenyon, which is about a beautiful Greek general who is cursed and the frumpy psychiatrist who frees him. I loved that book. It was fun and cute, and the heroine was absolutely adorable. The other is TIGER EYE by Marjorie M. Liu, about a man who is part tiger and is cursed to be a slave. He, too, is freed by the heroine (who doesn't ignore the fact that he is otherworldly, unlike Julia with Tristan). It's also entertaining and has a good cast of characters.

Julia Anderson purchases an antique jewelry box and opens it to find her very own love slave inside. Tristan, who is from another world, has been cursed by a former lover and is destined to remain a love slave until he finds true love. Once that happens, the curse will be broken and he'll be returned to his world. Which, of course, means that he'll then be separated from his true love. That's quite an obstacle for these characters, and one that leaves the reader wondering how/if they will be able to overcome it.

Wonderful characters, and a great story told by a talented author. She pulls the reader in from the beginning and never lets go of them. I couldn't put the book down.

One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. She's now on my 'automatic-buy' list.

I do wish, however, that if she's going to have a character would really sees herself as overweight that she'd at least put them in a double-digit dress size. When I found out Julia was a size 8! I rolled my eyes :)

Julie Anderson, an antique's dealer, can't figure out why she is drawn to a battered jewelry box but finds herself buying it. She never imagined that it contained a love slave and is surprised when the gorgeous Tristan appears determined to fulfill her every fantasy. Tristan was a warrior and a leader to his people on another world when a jealous scorned lover cursed him to be a love slave in the jewelry box. The only way that the curse can be lifted is if he truly falls in love and admits it. When Julie calls Tristan from the box he expected that a passionate night would follow, instead Julie asks him to help her seduce her neighbor. Tristan agrees while planning to win Julie for himself and begins his campaign to get Julie to desire him. Although she attempts to resist his charms, Julie finds herself falling love with Tristan and Tristan can't believe it when he realizes that he is also falling in love with Julie. Tristan decides that he will stay with Julie forever but he can never admit that he loves her because his jealous former lover would do whatever is necessary to destroy Julie and posses Tristan and the box again. Plus if the curse is broken, would that mean that he'd return home and have to leave Julie?

The Pleasure Slave was a delightful surprise. This is the first book that I have read by Gena Showalter but it certainly won't be the last. I found myself engrossed with the story and unable to stop reading. Tristan is a compelling hero that make you feel for him and his determination not to love Julie for her own protection. From beginning to end The Pleasure Slave was a scrumptious not to be missed book that is loaded with sensuality and humor.


Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
www.joyfullyreviewed.com

Julie is obsessively shy. She can't be near a nice looking man without stumbling over her words as well as her feet. Tristin is from another planet in another galaxy and has earned the unwanted attention of a Druinn (a being with magical powers). Perhaps I shouldn't say it was unwanted--after all it does take two to make bed partners (suffice it to say she wanted more from the relationship). When Tristin refuses to be her mate she betwitches him to a life as a pleasure slave trapped in a jewelry box.

Meanwhile, on earth, Julie is shopping for antiques for her antique store when she come across an old jewelry box. Something tells her she must have it and after haggling (unsuccesffully) for the price, she purchases Tristin's box. When she opens the clasp when she gets home she is shocked to find a very attractive half naked man in her kitchen. After threatening karate she tells him she wants him gone. So he disappears--she thinks she is loosing her mind. Anyway, the story goes on. Julie ask Tristin to teach her how to suduce her neighbor, but Tristin has other things in mind.

Very cute story. A nice little get-away. My only fault with this story is that I read another with the same premise that was done so much better. Tiger Eyes by Liu has the same story line, but the action and reality of the story was so much better done. If you like this one, I suggest you look up the other.

Okay, maybe this isn't exactly the greatest story ever told, and there are a few teensy weensy little errors in it, and you do have to suspend disbelief just a mite. But I had so much fun reading it, I didn't give a damn about any of that! This was pure escapist ambrosia, and I was hooked on it right from the word go! In fact, I had such a hard time putting it down I've barely slept these past few days. And the icing on the cake was that it was hot, hot, hot -- and you know what I mean by that! Grab your boyfriend and hit the sack kind of hot.

I liked the writer's style -- light, breezy, funny and articulate, but above all appealing and accessible. The storyline seemed deceptively simple, but it was actually very clever in a lot of ways, and moved along with the speed (and fun) of a rollercoaster ride. However, the thing I liked best about this book was the author's ability to make me empathise with the main character, Julia. Oh, I don't just mean that I empathised with her for her initial lack of self esteem and all that. (What woman hasn't felt that way at least once in her life?) I mean, I empathised with the way Julia dealt with everyday life and the obstacles it threw at her. She kept her wits and her sense of humour about her at all times. She was intelligent, and funny, and human, and capable, and that was all SO refreshing in a romance book heroine. She wasn't a bimbo who threw hissy fits or constantly fought with her love interest about nothing or needed rescuing every five minutes, like some of your typical romance novel gals. She was real. And frankly, I could very easily see what Tristan saw in her.

This book did finish with a couple of loose ends still hanging and doors left ajar. And yes, like another reviewer here, I would have liked to know who the mysterious plumber was, and find out the answers to a few more questions as well. But I figure that the author left us with a few intriguing mysteries because there's a yummy sequel coming up, which will reveal all. Or at least I hope that's what it means. It would seem that this author knows that cardinal rule of writing...LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE. (And I do so want more...)

I loved the story of Tristan and Julia. I liked the fact that Julia didn't fall at Tristan's feet when he put his charms on, but instead she had the brains to realize that she couldn't just sleep with a man because he came out of a jewelry box and looked like a greek god. This story is brimming with humor and emotions. The love that the two develop seems real and not just part of a fictional story. Gena Showalter is going to be the next top selling author. Her books have everything that a romance reader is looking and hoping for when they pick up a book at a bookstore. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants a good laugh. Believe me you will close this book on a dreamy sigh when you are finished.

Gena Showalter keeps setting the standard higher and higher. One word of warning - have your man handy while you read this one and tell him to take his vitamins! I loved Julia and Tristan and watching them fall in love. The humor and sensuality make this the perfect can't-put-down read. I can't wait to see what Ms. Showalter comes up with next.

Gena Showalter is on my auto-buy and The Pleasure Slave is just as wonderful as her first book, The Stone Prince. Julia, an antiques dealer discovers a magic trinket box, and when she opens it - her own personal pleasure slave comes to life! Tristan is the kind of man any woman would fall in love with, and Julia tries her best to resist? But who would resist their own pleasure slave (although I'd go for a little dusting in between<g>).

The main thing I loved about this story was how the author kept making the situation worse and worse for these two. I couldn't figure out how she was going to fix it. A wonderful ending.

Gena Showalter's book is one of those books you read where you think "this is an opportunity missed". The basic premise, that a warrior has been trapped in a box and has to obey the commands of the woman that owns the box, which ends up being passed to many different people over more than a millennium, has quite a lot of possibilities. What might this warrior Tristan have learned from different cultures over this time, especially when we discover that he's actually from another planet? What does he think when ending up in the possession of the owner of an antiques shop in small-town America? How does he cope with shopping in the mall, working in the shop, communicating with other 20th century Americans?

Sadly all these opportunities for interest weren't realised. Instead most of the interaction between Julia Anderson, the rather average woman, and the amazingly dishy Tristan, were about love and seduction. Now his job is technically a pleasure slave so we know that he's probably reasonably good at this, but I felt that the book was hinting that Julia saw him differently and was trying to treat him as a human being rather than a slave. This didn't really come across very well to me, though. And he fell in love with her surprisingly quickly. There was also the incongruity of him supposedly having to agree to her every wish but he actually stood his ground against her a number of times - I wasn't entirely sure how this worked with the Curse he was under to obey the owner of the box.

There are some amusing moments (he seemed to like conquering telephones) and I liked the heroine's ordinariness but somehow there wasn't enough meat to this story and I felt myself wanting to skim some passages to get to more action. The plot was pretty thin and the characterisation rather wooden. This would have made a pretty decent short story but it didn't have enough oomph in it to keep me glued for a full length novel.

Yet another fantastic, scorching read from the talented pen of Gena Showalter! Even if I didn't personally know this author, I'd buy her books in a hot second...they're *that* good!

Santa Fe antiques dealer Julia Anderson purchases a battered jewelry box, not understanding why she's drawn to it. Imagine her surprise when she opens it, and her own personal pleasure slave appears! Tristan has been cursed for a millennia, his only purpose to serve the woman in possession of the box...and to break his curse, he must admit *and* truly feel love. When he meets up with Julia, nothing prepares this sensual warrior for the shy woman who will release his battered heart. But how can he admit his love for her knowing that in doing so, he'll be separated from her for eternity when he returns to his home planet?

I was so enthralled by this story that I read it in one sitting, much to my husband's annoyance <g>. If you want to be transported, both by a fabulous tale AND the power of love, pick this one up immediately!