118 of 136 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Antiques Dealer Gets More than She Bargained for with the Pleasure Slave, November 18, 2005
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.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't put the book down, May 1, 2005
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 :)
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A not to be missed treat!, March 15, 2005
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
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