The Nymph King

Valerian, the King of Nymphs is a purely sexual creature that emulates sensuality at its best. He has recently regained the palace from the Dragons. When he is training with his men, he realizes how weak they all are. Since there aren't available women around, that can cause disaster among Nymphs. Nymphs need to be intimate often with women to keep up their strength, its vital for their survival. So he decides that they must go to the surface and bring down human women. Shaye Holling is attending her mother's wedding, her sixth one. Shaye has never been close to her mother, she has had numerous amounts of boyfriends and husbands, and not one of those relationships lasted. Shaye is content with living single the rest of her life, rather than endure the heartache and pain that comes from a intimate relationship with someone. Then six handsome and sensual men come out of the water, and walk toward the guests. Shaye is captivated by the leader Valerian. However, she is able to resist his charm that obviously comes with him being a Nymph. Shaye is almost appalled when she she so many women around her fawning over these males as if they are gods needed to be worshiped. Valerian is surprised that there is one woman that is able to resist his sensual promises and charm. No woman has ever dared to do so. Thus he takes her under the water, against her will, knowing that she is his one and only mate. That she is the one that he will spend the rest of his existence with. At first Shaye believes that when she is dragged under the water that he means to kill her, but then she is taken to Atlantis the home of mythical creatures. Valerian than goes about trying to convincing her that she is his mate, and that her life will be on Atlantis and she will never return back home. Even though she isn't close to her family, she worked hard to create a life for herself. She continues trying to get back, but despite all her protests, she finds her resolve weakening toward Valerian. That she might actually fall in love with this utterly captivating Nymph King.

This is the first book that I have read from Gena Showalter, and have decided that for sure she is one of my favorite paranormal authors so far, at the top of the list. I have a love for mythology and especially for those surrounding Atlantis. Gena Showalter made the myth become reality of Atlantis. I loved really the whole plot and story line to this book, it definitely is the type of book that I love to read!!! I couldn't put it down, I had it read in a couple of hours. I also loved both the main and sub characters, it also had a sub plot with Valerian's cousin and a woman who was as resistant to the Nymph Charm as Shaye was. So that was also fun to get into as well. These pages were filled with adventure, romance, magic, exciting plot, and a love between this couple that will captivate your heart.The cover alone, was what really drew me in, I mean how can one woman resist such a epitome of sensuality right? Its at the top of my list of my favorites, and one I could re-read, so bring on the rest of the series, I can hardly wait for more adventure and passion!!! ( )

The third book in the Atlantis series. This time we are brought into the lives of the nymphs, briefly introduced in Jewel of Atlantis. A race of man-like creatures that no woman (of any type) resist. They have taken over one of the portals from the dragon-men, and raided the surface (Earth) for women. Apparently, nymphs grow weak if they don't have sex a few times a day. Most of the women come willingly, except for Shaye. The nymph king, Valerian, instantly feels a bond to her and wants to claim her as his own, but one of his warriors has the same idea.

Meanwhile, the dragon-men want their portal and castle back and are planning on launching a full scale attack to kick the nymphs out. Then out of nowhere one of the gods (think ancient Greek) appears and starts meddling with things.

Back with the nymphs, Shaye is slowing losing her resolve to fight against the attraction she feels for Valerian. I enjoyed both the characters of Shaye and Valerian. They were constantly evolving as they learned more about eash other and how best to get along. The supporting characters, both nymph human and other, were developed perfectly for the role they played.

Until the very end I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Then things sort of fell apart...or fell together as it may be...just a little too neatly. It seemed as if she had written her characters into a place she couldn't get them out of.

4/5 ( )

Valerian is the Nymph King of Atlantis and when he goes to the surface to find women for his men, he happens to find something he was never looking for; his mate. Being mated for him was something unheard of because of their sexual conquests, but one look at pale, blond, Shaye and he was enthralled by the fiesty stubborn woman. Trying to convince her to let him pleasure her was by far the hardest thing he ever had to do, and he enjoyed the challenge. Shaye repeatedly denies and torments Valerian until she can no longer stand it herself, and gives in the to the "sex god"... and all her cold emotions get melted away with one touch. Shaye knows she is a goner... and she is in love with him..

I love Gena Showalter, but this is not one of her better books. To be fair, not one of her worst, either -- it falls just about the middle. Still, it's a fun, sexy love story and a must-read if you're into her Atlantis series. Heck, it's worth buying just for the cover model. ( )

Valerian is the king of the nymphs, a race of creatures who live underwater and require sex to stay energized for war. Human women have only to take one look at a nymph to succumb to his every touch and desire, and as king, Valerian has never been in want of a female body—until a mission to the surface of the earth puts him in contact with Shaye. For Shaye is destined to be Valerian’s one and only mate, and he will no longer be satisfied by sex with just anyone anymore.

However, the cynical Shaye resists Valerian’s allure, no matter how much just being around him makes her crave his touch. She refuses to be another one of Valerian’s mindless sex slaves. Unbeknownst to her, her denial of him makes Valerian weaker and more susceptible to others’ attacks.

Will the two ever find themselves in one another’s arms?

This is pretty much the second strictly romance novel I’ve read in my life, but it’s probably one that’s going to set the standard for all other paranormal romances. I couldn’t put it down, so enthralled was I with Valerian and Shaye’s relationship, which was sexy, funny, and completely memorable. The ending felt perhaps a bit rushed due to its neatness and tie-in with earlier books in the series, but all in all, I was satisfied, and will most definitely be picking up Gena Showalter’s books for future romance reads. ( )