Bobby is a blood mix hawaiian guy who has a deep crush on Kimo, a big hula dancer. Kimo lives along the old tradition and he is like a priest of the old religion. He has psychic powers and half his body is covered in tatoo. He is also a direct descendent of the old hawaiian kings and he is a legend in the hula dance show business. And he is married and straight. No one has never heard of him having a tryst with a male. So Bobby thinks his crush will never bring him somewhere. But then he has the opportunity to work with Kimo and to share a room with him for some weeks. Bobby sees the chance he was waiting to test Kimo and his willingness to have an affair with him, cause Bobby thinks that only a brief relationship could born between them. But what it is starting is a lot more complicated of what they have expected...

The book is very strange. It mixes ancient myth and modern problems: complicated relationships, same sex pairing, cheating men, free sex... It's a melting pot like the volcanos that are disseminating all around the Hawaii, but it's somewhat alluring like all the ancient legends.

Bobby is not a strong character. He is independent, yes, but he is also a man who is driven by his physical desires. He lusts for Kimo and with full consciusness he starts a relationship that will bring problems to him and Kimo, and also Kimo's wife (who happens to be a very hateful woman, so the women who read the book can't feel pain for her...): and for some decisions he will take during the course of the book, the reader would gladly hit him on the head, everyone who read the book knows well that there will be troubles around the corner.

And Kimo? He is a strong character? I don't think so. He is like a overgrown child who wants his toy and wants him now and soon. He has strange behaviour, acceptance and negation one soon after the other, and the reader can't foresee what will be his next action. He is hot and sexy one time, and cold and nasty soon after. But he always pleases forgiveness and claims possession.

There are some point in the book that I have cordially hated, and after all I think that I don't fully like neither Bobby nor Kimo. But this book is like a porn: you claim aloud to hate it and blame its naughtiness, but at night you see it in trance. So it's this book: I read it in rapture to know what it will happen next and to be true, sometimes, I was not able to anticipate the events.

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Sometimes even a nice and decent boy like myself needs something slashy badly and wow, the author didn´t fail me with this one. Phantom Lover is one big, wild ride. There is lots and lots of sex and most of it is ... let´s say ... creative. ;-)

BUT! that doesn´t meen that this book is only a line-up of sex scenes and there is no plot to be found. No, not at all. At first I was a little bit indifferent towards the storyline, too. I mean how are you suppose to like the two main characters and sympathize with them? They begin an affair when one of them is married. And the whole setting also feels a little bit to exotic at first. But as the story progresses it becomes impossible not to love Kimo and Lopaka. And they´re both so cute.

Oh, you have no idea what the heck I´m talking about? Maybe I should tell you what this book is all about. Kimo and Bobby/Lopaka are born and bred Hawaiians and both are deeply rooted in the traditions and religions of their homeland. They are both hula dancers and Kimo also has a very close spiritual connection to the god Pele and thus is something lika a priest in that regard.

As I´ve mentioned before they begin an affair, even though Kimo is a married guy. And that is also the reason, Kimo eventually wants to end their affair, which is very hard for Bobby to take. But soon they both find it becoming harder and harder to stay separate from each other and so they must find a way to overcome the obstacles in their way.

I justed loved the story and also the characters, not only the two main ones but also the other characters, especially Tutu (Bobby´s grandmother). The setting in Hawaii with the descriptions of the way of life there and also of it´s traditions and religions feels very exotic (in a good way) and fresh. Just like with the books by Carol Lynne, everything is seen pretty much through rose-colored glasses. But hey, it´s a romance after all, isn´t it?

A must-read in my opinion. ( )