"Break out the Ice Water for this Electric Shapeshifter Romance!"
Review: Shameless (Shadow Dwellers: Book 3)
The council had been subject to major upheaval when,
nearly a year ago, the rogue vampire Mikhail had
challenged Alexandre for his title. Two of the five council
members, vampires Cassiopeia, and Edward had defected to
Mikhail. Their effort had been thwarted, but the rebels had
escaped. Alexandre, Fayne (a were-cat), and Bliss (a
revenant and daughter of the world's most powerful witch,
Mortianna) are all that remain of the council. In a Colorado coffee house, eleven years after the birthday
dinner that started it all, the five friends - Vivian,
Jennifer, Shai, Melanie, and Erihn, have gathered together
for another birthday celebration, this time Erihn's. Much has happened in the intervening years. Three of the
friends have found significant others, and the ladies have
decided it's time for a new project. It's time to find a
nice gentleman who will treat their physically, and
emotionally scarred, friend in the way that she deserves. At age seventeen Erihn Spencer had been a well known
fashion model. That had ended when she'd been kidnapped by
a madman, while working on a shoot. She'd been held for
three
days before being rescued. She'd been unspeakably
brutalized and her life had never been the same. Now she
had her friends and a successful career as a romance
writer, but she would never trust a man again. She's firmly
convinced that no man would want her anyway. If she
couldn't have love, she would write about it. Her latest
novel, the best selling, Velvet Lover, featuring a
were-cat
as the hero, was a steamy as they come. As the ladies discuss their plans, Shai's lover, Val,
arrives with his good friend Fayne in tow. The gentlemen
settle in the adjoining room while Erihn rises to the stage
to recite a poem entitled "The Cat". Fayne scans the room
and peruses the group of friends. They are all beautiful
women, but it is the understated Erihn that catches his
eye. Never one to go for obvious charms, he is eager to
discover what lies behind her extremely concealing
hairstyle and clothing. Fayne's life had changed greatly over the month's following
the failed coupe. Typical of his line, his life had been
lived almost solely for physical gratification. Since he
had taken on the guardianship of the child Max, who had
been the mute vampire Edward's unwilling interpreter, his
life had been devoted his new son. Though he loves the
child dearly, fatherhood had put a major crimp in his love
life. Now with the full moon waxing and Max away on an
excursion with Bliss, he's free to explore this new found
interest. Fayne rises and with catlike grace approaches the stage to
give Erihn the kiss to end all kisses.
Erihn responds with uncharacteristic passion, but then
reality seeps in and she flees, unwilling to see Fayne's
look of pity now that he's seen her up close. Erin's last novel had been so popular that her fans had
clamored for more. The were-cat idea had been inspired by a
strange diary she'd found in Val's library. Jennifer had
offered her the use of her mountain home as a retreat where
Erihn could conduct research for the sequel in peace.
Unfortunately Jennifer had forgotten to mention the other
house guest. Erihn decides that relaxation is the order of the day, to
take her mind off the mind-blowing kiss and the man who'd
bestowed it. But even a soak in the hot tub and a bottle of
wine isn't enough to dispel that fantasy come true. Imagine
her dismay when her fantasy appears before her, in the
flesh, especially when all of hers is exposed for his eyes
to feast upon! Reality is a bit too frightening for Erihn, but her plan to
flee once again is thwarted by heavy rains and a mudslide.
It doesn't take long for her to realize that the
intimidating giant of a man is really a just big pussy-cat
(little does she know), while Fayne experiences the urge to
be faithful for the first time in his long lascivious life. Happiness could finally be in reach for this pair, however
evil still lurks in both the human world and that of the
Shadow Dwellers. Someone isn't fond of Erihn's books, and
Erihn and Fayne each possess something that one evil doer
wouldn't stop at murder to get his hands on. Will Fayne
be forced to choose between an eternity spent with the
woman he loves, and the life of the innocent child of his
heart? What will become of the Shadow Dwellers if
Elsabeth's diary falls into the wrong hands? Electric! Break out the ice water, J. C. Wilder has done
it again with this highly sensual paranormal romance.
Adding to the fun, the author's unique brand of humor
bubbled to the surface in this story as our sensual,
confident, hero's attempt at seduction is thwarted by an
innocuous cup of herbal tea. Even shnockered, Fayne is as
sexy as they come, and readers are sure to love the results
of Erihn's transformation. Hilarious! The battle between good and evil rages on, with casualties
on both sides. Sacrifices are made, but love triumphs this
round. The saga continues with REDEMPTION, Maeve and
Quinn's story. Copyright © 2001
Original review for Shameless, revised and retitled Tempt
Not the Cat
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted December 12, 2001
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