Title: Passion Unleashed
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Demonica, Book 3
Publication Info: Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner), March 2009
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

The Demonica series is hands down one of the best dark paranormal series in print. Fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood and Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark take note. Readers will delight in this thrilling tale of demonic love and an epic battle of good and evil.

Plot:

Half vampire, half demon Wraith, the tortured brother of Eidoldon and Shade from books 1 and 2, has turned into a mature Seminous demon. He can’t run from his terrible past, and tries to drown his pain by recklessly killing bad guys and trying to impregnate everything in sight. His brothers have done all they can to save him from his destructive path, to no avail. An old enemy is out to kill the brothers, and Wraith is the first one of the hit list. He gets poisoned by a toxin with no cure. His only chance is to steal a survival charm from its keeper, but when he discovers her he finds the task isn’t as easy as he thought.

Serena Kelley has guarded the charm since her mother gave it to her–sacrificing herself in the process. Her life depends on keeping the charm, but she has to stay a virgin in order to do so. When she meets Wraith, pretending to be human, she thinks she might have found a man worth sacrificing for. But heaven and hell have a stake in the charm too. A fallen angel is bent on using the charm to unleash Armageddon, and heaven can’t let that happen.

Wraith is torn. Is his miserable life worth more than this woman he has come to care for? Wraith has never been the noble type, but the fate of the world rests on his decision.

Discussion:

Another brilliant novel from an excellent author! The world building in these books is rich with demon lore, inter-species political machinations and magic rules. The characters’ transformations are compelling and believable, and their interactions set the pages on fire. Ms. Ione is on my must-buy list. I love how complex the story is, with multiple plot lines and many potential-heroes I’m eager to read about in future books. Reaver is really intriguing, as is the newest Seminus brother, Lore. I also love how Armageddon is set in Jerusalem. Why aren’t more end-of-the-world type battles set where the last battle is supposed to be set? I’ve been to Jerusalem and seen the Dome of the Rock and other sites, which makes reading books set in those locations even more interesting to me.

My favorite is still book 1, because I love protective heroes more than tortured ones, but PASSION UNLEASHED is a close second.

My recommendation: READ THIS SERIES!! (in order-it’s important)

1. Book 1: Pleasure Unbound (Eidoldon’s story)
2. Book 2: Desire Unchained (Shade’s story)
3. Book 3: Passion Unleashed (Wraith’s story)

Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

I’ve been Tagged on Facebook by Nicola of Alpha Heroes, but I thought i’d share on my blog.

Hello, my name is Ciara, and I’m a bookaholic.

1. What author do you own the most books by?
That would probably be JK Rowling, since Harry Potter has 7 books plus two skinny school books. Though I may have a box full of Nancy Drews in my parents garage….waiting for some distant time when I may or may not have a pre-teen daughter.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?
Peter Pan in all its different forms. I collect them. One original edition (my sweetie is the bestest!) A script of the play. A few beautifully illustrated editions. The Disney version and another picture book in Swedish. Can I count the audio versions?

3. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
I am quite openly in love with Adam Hauptman from Patricia Briggs‘ Mercy Thompson series. I would also take Samuel (BABIES!!!).

4. What book have you read more than any other?
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede. Fabulous book. I would name my future daughter Cimorene, if it weren’t so weird.

5. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
I think at that time I had just discovered Dealing with Dragons, otherwise it would have been Peter Pan.

6. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
I don’t finish books that don’t keep me hooked. Too many books, too little time.

7. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Cried like a baby.

8. If you could tell everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
only one??? I guess The Time Traveler’s Wife.

9. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Define difficult. I hated reading books for English class. THE STRANGER by Camus was one of the worst books I’ve ever read. H.A.T.E.D. it. Also ANGELA’S ASHES, which I was forced to listen to on a very long family car ride from seattle to Yellowstone. It was torturous.
Nonfiction – one of my college economics textbooks.

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
In literature? neither! Talk about depressing. When I was little my dad liked to read me Tolstoy. I was scarred for life. Now I only read happy books.

11. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer?
Shakespeare, as I haven’t read much by the other two. Though I had to memorize the opening of the Canterbury Tales in 8th grade and can still recite it for you. (but don’t ask me what I had for breakfast, I couldn’t tell you.)

12. Austen or Eliot?
T.S. or George? I haven’t read any. I saw the Jane Austin movies – does that count?

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
The classics. They’re boring and depressing and I can’t be bothered.

14. What is your favorite novel?
I can’t pick one. Off the top of my head: The Spymaster’s Lady, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Games of Command, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Sabriel

15. Play?
If I can count musicals, I’d go with Phantom of the Opera. The last straight play I watched was PERSUASION by Jane Austin at Book-it Theater.

16. Poem?
The Desiderata, author unknown

17. Essay?
No clue

18. Short Story?
“Thicker than Blood” by Meljean Brook in the FIRST BLOOD anthology

19. Non Fiction
Stitch N’ Bitch

20. Graphic Novel?
Elf Quest

Excited after purchasing DEMONICA book 2 (Shade's story). Currently reading book 3 (Wraith's story).

21. Science Fiction?
GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair

22. Who is your favorite writer?
Joanna Bourne

23. Who is the most over rated writer alive today?
I’m not going to answer this.

24. What are you reading right now?
PASSION UNLEASHED by Larissa Ione

25. Best Memoir?
BOY by Roald Dahl

26. Best History?
WILD SWANS by Jung Chang (it’s a memoir too)

27. Best mystery or Noir?
huh?

Larissa Ione‘s second Demonica novel, DESIRE UNCHAINED, debuts TODAY. Book one, PLEASURE UNBOUND, was so good, I can’t wait to read book two. I fully expect Shade’s story to be even better. If you like paranormal romance, this series is not to be missed.

Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .

Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn’t resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.

A Seminus demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he’d seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts—or succumb to a madman’s evil plans.

Please stop by the Desert Island Keeper blog today through Saturday and say “cheerio, mate!” I am hijacking the island for three days of, um, me and my booklust. Hello, my name is Ciara, and I’m a bookaholic.

In other, more exciting news, hawt paranormal romance author Larissa Ione is hosting a party with tons of givaways and author interviews. On Ms. Ione’s day of fun, she will be giving away four ARCs of DESIRE UNCHAINED. You know it’s gonna be good. I am counting down the days for Shade’s story. The party is hopping on her group blog WriteMinded. Some lucky sod will be selected to win one of two Grand Prizes, see below.

Grand Prize #1: A Writeminded Tote Bag filled with SIGNED books by the Writeminded authors, including:
Brazen by Maya Banks
For Her Pleasure by Maya Banks
Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks
Long Road Home by Sharon Long
The Boy Next Door by Amy Knupp
Doctor in Her House by Amy Knupp
Wild, Wicked and Wanton by Jaci Burton
Riding Wild by Jaci Burton
Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton
Hunting the Demon by Jaci Burton
Riding the Storm by Sydney Croft
Unleashing The Storm by Sydney Croft
Seduced by The Storm by Sydney Croft
Hot Nights, Dark Desires by Sydney Croft, Stephanie Tyler and Eden Bradley
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
Coming Undone by Stephanie Tyler
Risking It All by Stephanie Tyler
Beyond His Control by Stephanie Tyler

Grand Prize #2: An eBookwise-1150 eBook Reading Device

The 2008 Romance Writers of America Conference is finally over. My very first time at the conference, it has been a fabulous, overwhelming week of much squeeeing and many deer-in-the-headlights moments. I am exhausted and need a month to recover, but must get back to work WRITING! My critique partner spent the conference holed up in her hotel room rewriting her opening chapters. I bow in her general direction. Good lord, that’s dedication. Me, I was busy hiding behind plants and generally making a fool of myself. (I’m terribly shy. Brad Paisley has it right: I’m so much cooler online.)

Highlight 1: Star Struck – Meeting My Favorite Authors *squeeeee!*

(above left) Nora Roberts remembered my Ferrets Against Plagiarism teeshirt and said her grandkids wear theirs all the time. (above right) Harlequin authors Delores Fossen and Jessica Andersen.

(above left) Larissa Ione signs PLEASURE UNBOUND. (above right) Lisa Kleypas *fans self* signs SUGAR DADDY. Yup, I own both these books. But I lurve them and so I need signed copies.

(above left) Kresley Cole signed the most recent IMMORTALS AFTER DUSK book. (above right) Nalini Singh ran out of books *sob* but she signed the ARC of HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE for me. Too bad I have to give it back to Katie(babs).

(above left) Mother-Daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast. (above right) Lori Handeland signed ARCs of her new Urban Fantasy series.

(above left) Melissa Marr signed copies of her 2008 RITA winner in the YA category WICKED LOVELY. (above right) Julia London also ran out of books, but she talked to me for a bit.

Highlight 2: Romance Bloggers Rule the World

Finally met quite a few of the lovely ladies I’ve been blogging with over the past year: the Smart Bitches, Jane from Dear Author, Katie(babs) and Kristi(J), Wendy Super Librarian, Little Alys, Lisabea, Sula, Tracy, Rosie, Amy, and I apologize in advance for forgetting anyone else…my brain is fried. I also met Twitter friends. Teh Internetz is amazing.

Highlight 3: Christmas in July from Jolly Old Saint Martin and his publishing friends

This picture only shows the stash from Friday. Saturday I attended three more publisher signings, and scored a bunch of Advanced Reader Copies from TOR. I put the ARCs in my suitcase and shipped the two full boxes back.

Highlight 4: Writing Workshops (wait, there were workshops?)

Been there, done that, bought the CD. Actually I did attend a few, and I’ll write up my notes (no promises) when I get back home.

A non-romance-reading friend recently asked me for paranormal romance recommendations. Of course I jumped at the chance to pimp books, but the pressure is hot. The mission, should I chose to accept it (and I did): She needs to be completely sucked in and addicted for life. It’s imperative. (Especially if I’m moving to Portland! I want her to join the Cheeky Pages Romance Book Group at Powell’s with me and attend all the Romance author signings in Cedar Hill Crossing.)

I wrote up a list of recommendations and started filling a box of books for her. Mr. Wonderful called me crazy, said I was going to scare her, and told me to tone it down, so I sent him to Portland with only 7 books from my shelves to tempt her to the dark side. Her reading tastes have been everywhere from chick lit to horror. My goal was to give her a wide cross-section so that she would have a better chance of finding her poison of choice. Does she prefer light or dark paranormals? High Fantasy or Urban Fantasy? Hot or sweet? Irreverent or serious? Here are the books I sent her, and my thoughts on the series to recommend NEXT if that book hits the spot, from DARK to LIGHT:

1. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
   Next – Patricia Briggs‘ Mercy Thompson series, Ilona Andrews‘ Kate Daniels series
2. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
   Next – J.R. Ward‘s Black Dagger Brotherhood
3. Fantasy Lover, Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
   Next – Gena Showalter‘s Lord of the Underworld series
4. Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson
   Next – Meljean Brook‘s Guardian Series
5. No Rest for the Wicked, Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole (I temporarily misplaced book 1. :0) Next – Nalini Singh‘s Psy/Changelings
6. You Slay Me (book 1), Aisling Grey, Guardian series by Katie MacAlister
   Next – Stephanie Rowe’s Goblet of Eternal Youth series
7. Bit the Jackpot, Vegas Vampires series by Erin McCarthy
   Next - Lyndsay Sands‘ Argeneau Vampire Series

I don’t own the first book in Nalini or Meljean’s series, otherwise I would have sent them. (I hope to get autographed copies for my forever shelf soon!) Would have sent Dark Lover and Moon Called, but my copies are already on loan to other friends.

What books would you recommend to a Paranormal Romance virgin? What books are out-of-this world that are guaranteed to get my friend addicted?

EDITED TO ADD: She’s starting with BITTEN!!

Title: Pleasure Unbound
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Demonica, Book 1
Publication Info: Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner), June 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Hot, Hot, and Hawt. Buffy meets E.R. in this completely addictive paranormal action-adventure, the first in a new series that is sure to be the next Black Dagger Brotherhood. I’m not kidding. I liked this book more than Ward’s crack-between-covers, and I’m a repeat offender

The Story
Demon-slayer Tayla Mancuso was taken in and trained by the Aegis after she saw her mother raped and killed by a demon. To the Aegis there is only one kind of good demon: a dead one. After a disastrous fight in which her partner is killed, Tayla wakes up into her worst nightmare. She is the captive patient of the world’s only demon hospital, which she describes thusly: “If Castle Dracula screwed a hospital, this would be the bastard offspring,” (p56). Underworld General Hospital founder and head doctor Eidolon is a rare breed of Incubi on the cusp of a maturation that will turn him into a lust-crazed monster unless he finds a mate. The other doctors want to kill the “Buffy,” but his oath to protect and heal won’t let him sacrifice the injured slayer. Someone is kidnapping demons and harvesting their organs, and the Aegis is suspected. Eidolon must convince Tayla that not all demons are evil, before his coworkers or her fellow slayers kill one or both of them. The clock is ticking as a mysterious illness slowly kills Tayla and Eidolon’s maturation speeds up. Can they learn to trust each other and find the organ-harvesters before time runs out?

World Building
Ms. Ione’s world building sucks you in with complex layering. Humans live alongside an untold number of demon species, which include vampires, werewolves, and incubi. Each species of demon has its own ruling council that manages the accepted number of human kills per capita. Most demons live deep under the Earth and can travel via a hell-gate to the surface. Humans are protected from this evil by a society of warriors, The Aegis. At the risk of comparing Pleasure Unbound overmuch to the BDB, what I liked better is that unlike the Omega-Scribe Virgin conflict, the demon-Aegis conflict is not black and white, good versus evil. Ms. Ione delves into the shades of grey that speaks to the heart of the human condition. What is evil? Nature or nurture? What if evil is necessary for survival? Pleasure Unbound only begins to address these questions, and I look forward to peeling off more layers in future books.

Characters
Ms. Ione has crafted a strong cadre of secondary characters that both enrich Pleasure Unbound and provide for future book heroes and heroines. I’m already salivating in anticipation of Shade’s book, coming up next. The hero of Pleasure Unbound is Eidolon, the Chief archetype. His brothers Shade and Wraith are the Charmer and the Lost Soul, respectively. The heroine’s sister Gem will (hopefully) get her day in the sun too. She’s got spunk and a dash of bad girl, and we already know where her heart lies. I love Eidolon. He’s handsome and smart, sweet and protective. His expletives are funny, since as a demon his mythology centers around the evil half of the coin. I especially liked Shade’s “Hells Bells!” Yum!

Love, True Love
Yes, Oh YES! And hot too.

A huge THANK YOU to the Book Binge for their interview with Larissa Ione and contest, in which I won a copy of this book. I luvvvvvved it. I can’t wait for Demonica Book 2: SHADOW LOVER comes out in March 2009. Read the excerpt here.

Today is the last day of the auction put on by Eloisa James and Julia Quinn. Many Regency authors have donated more items over the month, including an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) by Colleen Gleeson and a 50-page critique by Joanna Bourne! The money is being raised for a young family in need, so you get awesome autographed books and get to contribute to a good cause. There are a few non-regency offerings too, including an ARC of Jennifer Ashley’s Immortals: The Redeeming. I have her first book sitting in my bookshelf just waiting for me to delve into.

Bidding ends TONIGHT, Friday, June 27th at Midnight, EST (that’s 9 pm to those of us on the Best Coast).

Check out the auction here.

I must point out that the autographed ARC of Mr. Cavendish I Presume by Julia Quinn is currently only going for $80. Some rabid fan paid over $300 for it on Brenda Novak’s auction, so you’re getting a steal.

***

And in other news:

I WON A BOOK AT THE BOOK BINGE!!!

Title: Pleasure Unbound
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Demonica, Book 1
Publisher: Forever, June 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Yay! It looks good. The Book Binge gave it 4.5 out of 5 and you can read Casee’s review here. Even more exciting? Author Nalini Singh says “What a ride! Dark, sexy and very intriguing, this book gripped me from start to finish. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!” Nalini is a goddess, so you know it’s gotta be good.