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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4.5 Klovers! Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques, April 23, 2007
This review is from: Pleasures of the Night (Dream Guardians, Book 1) (Paperback)
Dream Guardians exist on another plane of existence, only crossing over to mingle with humans on the dream plane, to protect mortals from the Nightmares, who feed on fear. But their mission is twofold: protect mortals from Nightmares, while simultaneously searching for the Key, a mortal who was foretold would open the bridge between realms, bringing destruction with them.
Aidan is one of the most powerful Dream Guardians. He has never failed in a mission, part of which involves playing dream lover to mortal females in order to save them from the Nightmares. He has been with thousands of women, none of whom have seen him for himself or touched his heart. Lyssa Bates is different, in many ways. Not only does she have an unexplainable ability to block the Dream Guardians, one night in her arms leaves Aidan shaken, craving her more. But more and more he begins to fear she is the Key his people have been searching for. He knows to the very depths of his soul she can't possibly be evil, and protecting her from the other Dream Guardians swiftly becomes his primary goal...
Sylvia Day very rapidly became one of my newest favorite authors. When her newest book, Pleasures of the Night was offered to us for review, I did not even stop to read a blurb, I snatched it up without hesitation! Once again, this author did not let me down - far from it! This book satisfied so many of my literary loves: paranormal, romance, erotic... The writing is stellar, as readers have come to expect from a Sylvia Day novel, and the characters are wonderful. I was immediately drawn to both Aidan and Lyssa, and my interest in both only grew as the story progressed.
Not surprising, since this is book one of her new Dream Guardians series, the author stirs plenty of interest in the supporting characters as well, laying the groundwork for several sequels in just this first novel. She even manages to capture the readers' interest in a very minor but memorable character who provides us with a healthy dose of comic relief during the one scene she appears in. Keep your eye out for Mrs. Laughlin - I am hoping she graces us with her presence and more hilarity throughout the series!
Day wraps up Pleasures of the Night with a great ending for the romance between Aidan and Lyssa, but with the certain feeling that this is an auspicious beginning to what will be a wonderful series and some intriguing ongoing mysteries that will weave the books in this series together. The first book hasn't yet released to the public and already I'm itching to get my hands on the second!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romance Junkies review of Pleasures of the Night!, April 29, 2007
This review is from: Pleasures of the Night (Dream Guardians, Book 1) (Paperback)
Dream guardians infiltrate dreams and keep people safe from Nightmares. Most of the time, they can enter dreams and make any fantasy come true leaving the dreamer none the wiser the next morning.
Captain Aidan Cross is one such guardian. He is a man that all dream guardians look up to and want to emulate. On the outside, Aidan is the epitome of loyalty and unending fortitude. However, on the inside, he is slowly becoming more and more restless. He senses that all is not what it should be in his search for the prophetic key, and he wants to know why. Entering the dreams of women night after night has become almost blasé until he enters the dreams of Lyssa Bates. He finds himself unable to resist the temptation of visiting Lyssa's dreams time and time again because she is the only person in centuries of dream guarding to have ever seen Aidan for what he is; a man with wants and needs, and his own dreams of being loved.
Lyssa Bates is exhausted - utterly and completely fatigued, but still unable to sleep for more than minute periods of time. Her unexplainable exhaustion escalates her rapidly deteriorating health. On one such day, she collapses on her couch and begins to dream of an enigmatic man who is the model by which fantasies are made. Tall, manly, and downright decadent, the blue eyed man enthralls Lyssa to the point that she doesn't want to him to leave. To her inconsolable dismay, she realizes that he isn't reality; he isn't flesh and blood man.
Aidan experiences both panic and anger when he finds out that Lyssa is in danger because of his careless actions. Unwilling to sit back and watch her be harmed, he searches for a way to get to her. He is not completely selfless in his quest, however, because he has done the one thing that is forbidden. He has fallen in love with a dreamer.
May I be the first to say that I adore Sylvia Day? Never have I read a book written by this gifted author that I didn't like. That said, let me again be the first to state that PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT is a must read. An absolute must! I found myself not only unable to put this book down, but also completely unwilling to stop reading for any interruption. My husband will forgive me one day, I'm sure.
My emotions ran full circle. I cried at the poignancy and complete love shared by Aidan and Lyssa. I sighed at the sensuality that brewed between them. I fumed at the circumstances that aggressively tried to keep Aidan and Lyssa apart. My world stopped for the time it took me to read PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT and I don't regret that for a moment.
From the first scene between Aidan and Lyssa to the last, PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT was an enthralling, out-of-this-world look at a love that can be found despite the daunting chasm of space and time. Sylvia Day has artfully penned a keeper with this gripping story and I can't wait to read the next installment, HEAT OF THE NIGHT coming in November.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This author knows what readers love., April 27, 2007
This review is from: Pleasures of the Night (Dream Guardians, Book 1) (Paperback)
Long ago, a tiny crack had been made by the Elders between the Twilight and our world. There is no way to close the crack and keep the Nightmares out. They could only supply damage control. Nightmares are real beings. The dreams created by the human mind had given Nightmares a new power source to thrive upon. Fear, fury, misery are easily aroused through dreams and fed the Nightmares well. Should the Nightmares enter our world, they will feed on all human dreamers until the race becomes extinct. The Nightmares have done so to other worlds. The Dream Guardians enter a Dreamer's dream, becomes whoever he or she wishes the Guardian to be, and fulfills every erotic desire. By doing so, the Guardians keep the Nightmares at bay and the Dreamers safe. And whenever given the chance, the Guardian kills all the Nightmare entities he is able.
Legend has it that somewhere in our world is a special Dreamer, the Key. For centuries the Guardians have hunted the Key. The Key has the power to open the Gateway and allow the Nightmares free entry. Therefore, once found, the Key is to be eliminated. The Key will be able to bar both Nightmares and Guardians with her door. Once the Guardian gets inside though, the Key will actually be able to see into the Twilight. Thus, Guardians look for four abilities. The Key can see the Guardian's true feature, will know the Guardian's real name, can take control of the dreams, and any nearby Nightmares will become confused and disoriented.
Captain Aidan Cross has been a Guardian for centuries. He now doubts that the Key is anything other than a myth. Yet devoted to the cause, he continues his erotic duties with female Dreamers. Some Dreamers shut away parts of themselves so securely, not even the Guardians could enter. Usually this is due to past abuse or something. Being one of the best Guardians, the Elders send Aidan to the dream door of Dr. Lyssa Bates in hope that Aidan can persuade her to open her dream door to him, where others before Aidan failed.
Dr. Lyssa Bates has one of the biggest veterinary practices in San Diego. She also has one of the biggest cases of insomnia. Despite a battery of tests, nothing physically wrong shows up and no prescription medicine works. Lyssa has never been able to remember her dreams, but now she can't reach a deep sleep and it's making her sick. But then Aidan comes along.
Aidan is the only one Lyssa will allow into her dreams. No Guardian before or after him has succeeded. But the only thing Aidan sees when he is admitted entrance is blackness. Lyssa does not even know how to turn on the lights in her dream, much less see any fantasies. There is nothing wrong with the veterinarian, no past trauma, no mental illness. She just sits in the dark, wishing she could see. Being exclusively assigned to Lyssa, Aidan begins helping her to reach deep sleep, A.K.A. turn on her lights. Once done, Aidan becomes attracted to Lyssa, though this is forbidden. Worse, Lyssa has all the signs of being the Key. Even though Aidan knows Lyssa would never willingly open the Gateway for the Nightmares, should the Elders learn of Lyssa's abilities, they would execute her. Now Aidan must risk all, become hunted by his own people, to save the Key.
***** If you have read any title in the RED line, from Avon Books, then you already know that the series is called "Red" due to all the extra, extra steamy contents. So if you do not like erotica or mild erotica, do not pick up this title. You should also be at least seventeen-years-old.
Author Sylvia Day begins this novel out in the middle of a HOT Dreamer's dream. In the shadows are some Nightmares that the warrior would soon battle. Just knowing the hero was about to defend the lady from evil hooked me straight away. I never could resist a good battle between Good and Evil. This story goes the extra mile for readers by, not only having hot romance, but a sinister plot by beings which could be considered aliens or demigods. I do not know if I would classify it as Fantasy or Sci-fi, but I do know that this is one of the best stories I've read in a Romance category thus far this year (2007). I cannot recommend this RED book highly enough and warn readers to have plenty of free time before even opening the cover. Sylvia Day obviously knows what readers love! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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