Friday, February 26, 2010

Starting from the beginning of sexy - Review of Pleasure Unbound by Larrisa Ione and a Giveaway!

I recently won Ecstasy Unveiled (twice actually - hence giveaway) and read about how all my fellow book bloggers like smokin hot books, SmexyBooks, and Fantasy Dreamer love the series so I thought I should start at the beginning of the series with Pleasure Unbound - and man I'm glad I did! For those who aren't familiar with Larissa Ione's Demonica series her books focus on a group of brothers as they stumble upon/seduce/almost kill/etc. their forever lovers. But these brothers aren't ordinary - they are Seminus demons which are a type of incubus and every brother fits the incubus title well with their smokin' hot looks and bodies built for sin.

Pleasure Unbound introduces us to Underworld General Hospital- where Eidolon works with his brothers Shade and Wraith, and runs the only hospital that caters to demons, vampires, shapeshifter, and other creatures that go bump in the night. One night while receiving trauma victims, Eidolon finds a nasty surprise on one of the stretchers - a human Guardian that indiscriminately murders his kind. Tayla, the Guardian, is just as surprised to find out that such a hospital exists and to find out that the sexy doctor treating her is not human. Though thanks to the help of Wraith who has the ability to implant erotic dreams into someones mind, Tayla doesn't learn that Eidolon is a demon till after she consummates her wet dream with him. Little does Tayla know that she has something in common with Eidolon other than their lust for each other. Eidolon is attracted to Tayla despite his better judgment and pushes her to look beyond the prejudices she has been brainwashed with by the Aegis- the parent organization for the Guardians. Eidolon also tries to use Tayla to find out if the Aegis are involved in stealing and selling body parts from demons on the blackmarket. Soon Tayla finds herself in a lot of trouble as she begins to question those she used to trust and starts to believe in Eidolon.

Sometimes in books that are labeled paranormal romance I feel that mystery and suspense plotlines get pushed aside for relationship building - that is not the case in this book. The action got so intense that I admit I had to peak at the back of the book to see how things would turn out before I finished it or otherwise the suspense would have kept me up all night reading (unfortunately I had to work the next day). Tayla and Eidolon are great characters. Tayla annoyed me at first with her justifications for killing demons being "they are evil" even after she learns that some of the demons she's killed are vegetarians and would never purposefully harm a human. Tayla struggles as she begins to see the world is painted in more gray than black and white. Her prejudices are strongly etched into her soul but after she experiences a few betrayals of her own by humans she saw as friends she begins to unravel and see demons as more than just evil. Her own discovery about her parentage adds an interesting dimension to the book and her outlook on demons.

Eidolon is a one hot doctor who could work on me anytime! Although he tries to be rational and detached as a doctor, he is anything but when it comes to Tayla. She has a passion that he has never experienced in his own life and the more time he spends around her the more he becomes intoxicated by it. And the relationship between Eidolon and Tayla is scorching hot! They go from enemies with benefits to lovers that have genuine feelings for each other.

This book is a 4.5 out of 5 stars for me - it had it all, great characters, an action filled plot, and smokin' love scenes. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Be sure to check out Larissa's website for descriptions of her books and some free reads (including the Demonica Compendium that explains the demons and world that Larissa has built) as well as her blog.


So for CONTEST TIME - first if you are in the US or Canada you have the choice of winning Ecstasy Unveiled or you can chose one of the previous Demonica series books and join me with reading this sexy series from the beginning. For any international entries (anywhere Book Depository delivers) you can chose any of the Demonica series books. Please let me know what you want in your comments. There will be two drawings - one for Ecstasy Unveiled and one for any book of the series.

To enter answer this question in the comments (which is heavily influenced by the book covers): Do you have a tattoo? If so of what and where? If not do you like your book characters to have tattoos?

For an extra entry either become a blog follower or follow me on twitter @DarklyReading - just make sure to let me know in the comments! 

I'll post the winner on my site on March 7th so make sure to come back and check!

51 comments:

Unknown said...

Awesome review! and giveaway!

I absolutely love this series, one of my favorites ever!!!

No need to enter me! =)

xx

Larissa Ione said...

Oh, you sweetheart! Thank you for your generosity...and for the wonderful review! I'm glad you liked Pleasure Unbound so much!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Larissa - I saw you were reading them too - we can be Demonica reading buddies!

@Larissa Ione - Thanks for writing such great books! I'm excited to do my first giveaway!

And for my contest entry (just kidding) I do have a tattoo, it's what some might call a tramp stamp.. hehe.. and it's of a celtic knot.. I love it!

Tawania said...

Great review, and what a wonderful contest! Larissa's series is awesome!
I am a new follower who stumbled upon this blog. I'm glad that I did. I have three tatoos, 1 on my hand between my thumb and first finger of a butterfly, one on my ankle of a panther clawing up my leg, and one on my right shoulder another butterfly with my daughter's name. I think tatoos are sexy and I love to see characters with really hot tatoos. I would love to win a copy of Pleasure Unbound.
I am a new blog follower
I am now following on twitter
tl.etheridge31(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Do you have a tattoo? If so of what and where?

Yes,I do have tattos.
I have a Treble clef- Bass clef heart with a rose in the middle, in between my shoulder blades.

Do you like your book characters to have tattoos?
I think tattoos are hot, and yes I love the fact all the brothers have them. Sigh, if only they were reality.

Anonymous said...

I do have a tattoo and it's tribal shapes on the side of my waist very similar shape as the ones that all of the guys(larria's demons) have. I love the series i have read all the book sand re-read then a few times. I would love to win any book they are all amazing and they all the charachters should have tattoos tehy are amazing

Book of Secrets said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Tawania your tattoos sound awesome. I love the idea of getting one on my hand and yours sounds cool! Thanks for following my blog - I love getting new followers and talking about books with them!

@Shadowkatt it would be great if those brothers would be real-though then there would be much fighting over them :D

@Anonymous your tattoo sounds very cool!

@book-of-secrets getting a tattoo is a great way to mark a b-day! Thanks for becoming a follower!

Natasha (Wicked Lil Pixie) said...

KC & Smexy have been talking about this series for so long and I still haven't gotten to it! Great review Heather!

I have two tattoos, one on my spine under my neck bone of a rather big dreamcatcher, it has 3 feathers one for each of my sisters & in the middle is a shammrock for my mom. The other was my first tattoo, its Buffaloman (Jamiroquai's symbol). I want more, but it takes me soo long to decide on something.

I follow your blog AND your twitter ;)

Victoria said...

Please don't enter me as I own all of Larissa's books. She is one of my favorite authors. Your review is excellent. Wanted to answer your Q - I do not have any tattoos but love the ones on my yummy demons ;).

Euphoric Embrace said...

I have three tattoos, one was a waste of my time.

The two meaningful ones are angel wings on my back kept together by a large band with my Mom, Grandpa and Grammas initials in them - they are what keep my life on track.

The second is brand new, I got a small dove outline on my ankle to represent rebirth and traquility within myself.

I think tattoo's are a great expression of artistry and how you express it. I absolutely love the idea of the tattos being powerful - I'm especially liking Lore's power envoked during moments of passion.

I dont' need any of the books - I have them all. I bought the newest one last night and I'm already done!

Anonymous said...

I don't have any tattoos at the moment, but planning on getting one sometime soon. I'll get it on my wrist :)

I do love it when characters in books (or movies for that matter) have tattoos. I think I might have to force my boyfriend to get a dermoire ;)

Became a follower. Your blog is great, looking forward to reading more of your posts.

s7anna said...

I would love to win a copy of the first book in this series...It looks fabulous and I really enjoyed reading your review.

As for tattoos...I have a couple...I've got a fairy sitting on a daisy on my lower back....on the inside of one arm I have a lotus flower and a maple leaf...and on the inside on the other arm...I have a wave of stars...
I plan on getting more tatts since I think that they are a wonderful way to express myself and capture a memory.

I am following you via Google Friend.

Happy Reading
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca

E.R. Faulkner said...

I would so LOVE to win Ecstasy Unveiled, I have all the others and now I just need this one... Oh and Sin Undone when it comes out ;D

Do I have a tattoo?
No but I wished I did(too afraid of pain to actually get one though)
Do I like my book characters to have tattoos?
YES, personally I think they're hot on guys. So a definitely yes ;D But you know if they don't wanna have tattoos, that's fine with me too.

I'm a new follower: GenaShowalterFan
I follow on Twitter: B00KJUNK13
erfaulkner91(at)yahoo(dot)com

Raonaid Luckwell said...

I'm a new follower of your blog and at twitter (hehe, i always keep Raonaid Luckwell for anything I sign up for. easier for peeps to know it's me)

As for the tattoos. I have none only because I have not found the ideal image I want permanent on my skin. It's a big step and your first should hold some special meaning to you. I love tattoos, think they are awesome

Chelsea B. said...

I have the first in this series, but have yet to read it. I've heard they are really good! So I guess I would want Desire Unchained, the second in the series! And no, I don't have a tattoo. It it worked for the story, its cool that characters have them :-)

Ina said...

Hi Heather!
oh, I understand your feelings - I just started with that series and I can't wait to read on... therefore I would love to read book 2 Desire Unchained (international *gg*)!! thanks for this opportunity *hugs*
I love tattoos but don't have one yet... and I like it when characters have one, because it tells a story!
greetings, Ina

+follower

dallas.mandy said...

I have zero tattoos, but I am a tattoo artist. I am extremely allergic to the trace amounts of nickle that are in iron oxide pigments and even to the synthetic inks. I love inking in mythological creatures, and even tribals with hidden meaning. I am awed when I am given the opportunity to give people something that, in theory, will be with them for the rest of their lives. It might be strange, but it's a big part of who I am.

I also love tattoos on characters, but only if it is fitting for the character.

To pick a book: it would be one of the first two. I don't have them and I am dying to get them.
mandy

Barbara E. said...

I don't have any tattoos, but I like them on characters if it fits the story.
I have the rest of the series, but need Ecstasy Unveiled, so it would be wonderful to win it.
I'm following your blog.

Mar said...

Heather, great review...awesome! I love this series. I'm currently or will be as of today, on Lore's book.

I don't have any tatts but if I did, they would probably resemble Gem's kick ass rose tatts on her thighs...so sexy!

No need to enter me in the contest.

booklover0226 said...

I do have a tattoo; it's an ankh. It's two inches long, dark blue with light blue shading. It's a little to the right of my heart; in the cleavage area!

If chosen, I would like Passion Unleashed, please.

I'm follower of the blog.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Sophia (FV) said...

Oh very nice review! I haven't started this series yet. I have all but one of them waiting on the shelf for me. I'll get to them soon!! I follow you on twitter and here on your blog. :)

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Please do not enter me, I just wanted to stop by and say Hi! I have yet to read this series yet... yes, I know.. They are kinda screaming at me right now to read them! Oh well.. I will get there!
It is nice to meet you!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Natasha - I know KC and Smexy got me interested in this series too! Now I need to read BDB too! Your tattoos sound awesome!

@Victoria I'm glad to hear you love Larissa's books - I need to go in my reading cave and finish the rest!

@Euphoric Embrace - The angel wings and dove tattoos sound beautiful! Tattoos can be intensely personal - I know I got mine for very personal reasons and because I loved the artwork.

@Hilda hehe - I asked hubby if he would get a tat but no such luck ;)

@s7anna I should of set up a photo link so people could post their tats - yours sounds beautiful!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Luvsdemons666 Yeah I was afraid of the pain too but it turned out to not to bad! The itching wasn't fun though ;)

@Raonaid Luckwell - love your username - hope it brings you luck with book contests ;)

@Chelsea B. I have so many books waiting to be read that look awesome - sometimes I get stuck because I can't decide what book to read next :)

@Ina I love the tattoos in books that have magical properties - I wish mine did - not sure what magical properties I'd want though ;)

@Dallas.mandy I didn't even realize you could be allergic to the pigments! That's awesome that you're a tattoo artist- I'm sure you get a interesting mix of people who want to be inked.

@Mar Yeah I loved Gem tats too - she's such a great character!

@Tracey D Ohh I love ankh's and tattoos by cleavage are so sexy!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Fiction Vixen I'm sure you'll love'em!

@Cecile - thanks for stopping by the blog - it's nice to meet you too!

MrsMixx said...

I have a tattoo on the inside on my wrist,it's a 'Margouillat', which is a sort of Geico/lizard from The Reunion Island (Small island next to Madagascar). I had family there that I couldn't see often and I had this tattooed so that they would always be close to me. I plan on getting a few other tattoos whenever I have the money.

I love when characters have tattoos. I have a huge crush on tattooed characters, seriously. The best example would be Brody in Coming Undone by Lauren Dane...he's SO hot...and he's a tattoo artist with lots of tattoos *g* I can't stop drooling at the thought of him ;)

I'd love to be entered to win Desire Unchained. I'm international. And i follow you here and on twitter (@pattepoilue) and tweeted about this contest =)

Spav said...

I don't have any tattoos, I change my mind too often to put something permanent in my body, but I don't have any problem with characters having them, as long as they like them.

I'm a follower
I'm international
Is the pre-order of Sin Undone an option?

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Artemis - that's cool that you and your hubby have matching tats!

@pattepoilue As you can tell I have a huge fangirl crush on tattooed characters too :) - I love Lauren Dane's covers though haven't read the books yet - those are some hot tattoos!

@Spav -since I can order it off of book depository the pre-order of Sin Undone is an option - you just have a few month wait for the book ;)

Redhot said...

Excellent website you have here!!!! Thanks for the review and for the contest! This is one of my FAVORITE SERIES EVER!!!!! So thanks for the chance to win one of the books I would love to have Ecstasy Unveiled

I personally don't have a tattoo but that is more from lack of inspiration on a design.........I am extremely picky and kid around with my friends that I may just get a marvin the martion and his 3.2 Space Modulator inked on my rear........I LOVE heros to have ink. just something sexy about it.

Thanks again for the contest!!!!!

Sarah said...

I'm not entering the contest (I'm in the UK & I have all 4 of these books in my TBR pile!) but I thought I'd drop by & say hi :o)

I've got 1 tattoo of a crescent moon & tear drop on my shoulder - it's the breedmate symbol from Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series! Had it done last year & love it. I've just finished designing my next tat which is a dragon to go on the small of my back. I'm getting it done on my birthday in April & can't wait - I've been wanting to get this one done forever but it took a long time to decide the design :o)

When it comes to tattoos on men - I LOVE them. Especially tribal designs, they are just so sexy!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Jenn - I love Marvin the martian!

@Sarah - Thanks for stopping buy - I just checked out your blog too and loved it - now I'm a follower! Your tattoo sounds awesome and I love dragon tattoos!

Martha Lawson said...

Hi!! I'd love to win this contest!!

No, I don't have any tattoos! I do like for characters to have them tho..

I am a new blog follower

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

donnas said...

I do not have a tattoo but I have thought about it a lot. And I dont have a problem if the characters in the story do but only if it fits them or the story. If not I dont see the point.

I would pick one of the first 2, they are the only ones I am missing.

I am a follower.

Fedora said...

This IS a great series! I've read the first three, and would love to win EU! I don't have a tattoo, but enjoy stories with tattooed characters, if as DonnaS mentioned, it makes sense for them to be tattooed. I love the reasoning for the tattooes in the Demonica series!

I'm now a blog follower :)

Euphoric Embrace said...

Alrighty, since I was reading and saw that Sin Undone would be a part of the possible contest winnings I retract my "I have all the books statement" and would be definitely interested in a Sin Undone copy!

Have you finished the first book yet? They seem to only get better and better - but Shade is my fantasy dream Demon.

Jackie said...

Heather do not enter me in the contest, just wanted to say that I am a longtime fan of the Demonica series and Larissa has hit another one out of the gate with Ecstasy Unveiled and the excerpt from Sin Undone makes me very anxious for its release date!!! Read all the books and however many more come out in the series because they are worth every minute of your time!


jackie b central texas

tetewa said...

I have no tatoos, I also am enjoying this series! tWarner419@aol.com

bookaholic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bookaholic said...

I am a follower of the blog.
Twitter follower too (@Debasmitadhar)
I love tattoos though never had the courage to drill one through my skin! But if I did,I would love to have one of a faerie on my shoulder!!
And yes,I like the characters with the elaborate tattoos...gives them an interesting look and feel besides making them look H.O.T.!!:)
Please enter me in the contest.I want a copy of Desire Unchained!
Thank you so much for the opportunity!
frndz.debas@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Great giveaway, thank you!

I haven't read this series yet, so I would like a copy of the 1st book in the series, Desire Unchained.

I follow you on twitter @Stella_ExLibris.

I don't have a tattoo, but I would consider getting one small, elegant later. My only problem is that I'm soo indecisive! It will take me forever to decide what pattern or character and also where. So until then I like characters being tattooed gives them a certain edge and more depth (a bit shallow ;-) )

Thank you!

stella.exlibris (at) gmail DOT com

Rhianna said...

This is one of my favorite series, glad to see you're enjoying it!

I don't have a tattoo, even though I LOVE it as an art form. I've always wanted one ... but not unless it had some serious significance or a cool story behind it.

I like tattoos on book covers a lot but I kind of wish they weren't suddenly so popular. If the character(s) have them or they play a role in the story they're okay but just to have them seems kinda misleading.

And I've become a follower now too! Nice to see another book blogger with great stuff. :D

throuthehaze said...

I have a Phoenix tattoo on my right foot.

I follow on twitter @throuthehaze
(I would love to win the 1st book in the series)

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Persephone said...

I don't have a tattoo and I don't think I may ever get one. I can just imagine getting a bad case of regrets.

I don't mind when characters have cool tattoos. Tribal bands and tramp stamps are not cool. I think Yakuza tattoos are way cool.


patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

Heather Y said...

Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! I'd have to start at the beginning of this series...

I don't have a tattoo... I always wanted one as a kid, and bugged my mom for months. Instead of saying yes, she went out and got one herself. Suddenly the thought of having a tattoo wasn't as cool as it had been, and I still haven't gotten over that. I have a smart mom... :)

heather y
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com

Diana Dang said...

Don't have a tattoo but I would if it I could get rid of it without leaving any skin damage or mark anytime I want. And I love my characters with tattoos!

Follower!

faked_sugartone at hotmail

Brooke said...

I do have a tattoo. It's one I drew myself of three geckos making a triskel and some tribal coming off of it. In the process of having one done on my neck and then my wrist.
Love my characters to have tattoos...
weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Hello, great review.
I have 2 Tattoos on my back, A Butterfly on a flower and my son's initials.

I'm a follower now and I also Tweeted this.

I'm just starting this series from the beginning as well.

Sarah said...

Hi Heather, fab review - I've just added the link to mine :o) I'd heard so many great things about this series that I actually brought all 4 books at the same time. I'm really pleased I did as I won't have to wait long before I start on Shades story!! Have you read the rest of the series yet?

Gina M said...

I like books that don't follow a formula, books with odd twists or strange subject matter. It's what I strive for in my writing.
Thank you for such detailed and helpful reviews. You're awesome!

Midnyte Reader said...

I don't have a tattoo...yet. But I want to get a Halloween themed design.

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