3.75 stars

I like Shade and Runa's characters. The curse ending was a bit predictable, but it was done fairly well. I enjoyed Gem and Ky's interactions and relationship woe's.
I can't imagine waking up chained next to an EX that I wanted to hate. That would make me mad as well... I can understand Runa's qualms about it. Fortunately it works out in the end between them. The writing is good, kept me reading. There wasn't a lot of senseless filler which I like. ( )

Another wonderful read in this series that you won't be able to put down. This has the right amount of snappy dialogue and believable characters (well, as far as you can make a demon believable) with romance that is not forced. I highly recommend this series to any one who enjoys their paranormal romance a little on the steamy side. ( )

In the beginning, Runa plays the scorned lover and I didn’t care for that attitude at all regardless of how deserved it was. I didn’t care to read an entire book focused on her hatred for the hero. But with circumstance and an irresistible attraction that they both share, Runa grows and becomes a more dynamic character. She has strong morals and expects everyone else to have them too. She is very smart, can kick butt but knows her own limitations. Shade is unapologetic about who his is. He is an incubus and he does what he needs to. Ms. Ione does a good job keeping her demons realistic to what they are but weaving in those moments that make them good. Shade is very serious about his EMT duties and he feels it deeply when he can’t save someone.

Shade has unusual demon ability from his mother’s side that allows him to release others from their pain. I didn’t think this part of the story was particularly well done. It is mentioned a few times and then plays a role on a scene further in the book where he helps Runa move away from guilt she has carried around. It would have been better if used as a more central plot element somehow. More in depth. It was off putting as is. It was used as an explaination of the things Shade does but underdeveloped for something that is inbred in him as much as his Seminous side.The sex is hot and bit explicit. There are B/D themes that may be off putting to some. I thought it was sad that they were used more as a plot device than a choice of lifestyle.

The relationship is what drew me into this book. They have a lot of problems and are up against insurmountable odds but it makes the read more enjoyable because they are a couple you want to work it all out. When Shade betrayed Runa and she subsequently become a werewolf she doesn’t see any way for redemption for Shade. Shade has had a lifetime of shielding himself from love so when it happens he has an even harder time of expecting it.

I really enjoyed the secondary plot between Gem, Tayla’s half demon sister, and the human Kynan. Gem has secretly been in love with Kynan since she has met him. His has a lot of issues since he found out his beloved wife was cheating on him and helping out the demons. You can practically see the sparks that fly between these two. They are heartbreaking to read, the best kind.

There is a lot of action and excitement in this book. A couple of big fights happen that are very well written. The plot about the demon organ harvesting that began in book one is concluded in this book. The man behind it all gets what he deserves in the end.

I enjoyed this one better than the first just because I liked the characters and the relationship a lot more.

http://betteroffread.com/2009/06/revi... ( )

Walking in on her lover Shade with two other women, Runa Wagner ran from his apartment and into the arms of immortality. Runa was bitten by a warg (werewolf) and she spent over a year in hiding while her brother, a part of the US Army’s paranormal unit, searched for a cure.

Long ago the Seminus (sex) demon Shade was cursed to never know love. If at some point he were to fall in love he would slowly fade away to nothing yet fully aware of his surroundings, never able to interact with anyone or fulfill his endless sexual desire. He used this curse as an excuse to never form attachments to women.

As Runa sets out to find a supposed traitor she is captured by the Ghouls, demons who harvest organs for money. When she’s brought to the dungeon to await her fate she comes face-to-face with none other than Shade. Together they fight for their lives and despite their reasons for not wanting to get close they can’t help turning to each other regardless of the danger for both.

Again this was a smoking hot book that I really liked but it’s my least favorite of the series so far. It may be due to the fact that some of this book’s sex scenes have hints of S&M and while I might like a naughty spanking every now and then I was a bit turned off by some of it.

Other than that I loved Runa and Shade as characters. Runa is a strong female and Shade has a tender side. Together they made a great couple and I enjoyed the way the book ended.

In this book also is the beginning of the relationship between two characters Gem and Kynan that finishes up in book three, Passion Unleashed my favorite book in the series so far. This is another must read and I can’t wait for the next installment Ecstasy Unveiled due out in February 2010. ( )

Shade is cursed, like all Seminus Demons, to fulfill sexual needs of women. If a woman, either demon or human, is near those of his breed and hungers for release, he is compelled to give it to them. Because of his promiscuous nature, he made the mistake of hurting Runa, a shy human who he had given release to a few times. When Shade's brother is out for revenge against him and his siblings whom he holds responsible for his attempted murder, Shade finds himself in a dungeon shackled near a stronger, leaner, and definitely less-shy Runa. Even worse, it appears that this is the headquarters of the black market for demon torture and organ harvesting. If Shade and Runa make it out, she may just kill him herself for his part in turning her into the monster she cannot escape in herself.

Larissa Lone weaves a strange world of demons, vampires, werewolves, and humans. The book is interesting with twists, turns, and individual stories that allow you to get to know the characters more. The bad guy is insidious and pure evil, and the hero is not entirely good himself, which makes for an interesting turn of events. This book has an extraordinary amount of action that will keep the reader entertained. Although I can appreciate the vivid and well-written sex scenes, more build up would have heightened the experience. ( )