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7.12.2011

PJ Review: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Paranormal Element: Demons
Series: Demonica Series #1
Order Online:  Amazon.com
Stalk the Author: Web | Twitter
Purchased audiobook through audible.com

PJ's QUICKIE POV:
After the tenth “You haven’t read the Demonica series yet? *Gasp*” I realized that maybe this was something I should get into. I was not disappointed. One of the most original paranormal romances I’ve read in awhile, Larissa Ione isn’t afraid to show you what’s in the deep recesses of her brain. The author pulled no punches with the story of Eidolon and Tayla. This was one of the grittiest paranormal romances that I’ve ever read and that's why I loved it.

REVIEW:
A member of the feared demon-slayers, Tayla is a kill first, ask questions later kind of slayer. A member of The Aegis, they have one purpose: Kill Demons. When she is injured in a fight with a very nasty demon she is taken to the secretive demon ER and even though they are tempted to just let her die, the Head-Doc-In-Charge, Eidolon sticks with his code of ethics and treats and saves Tayla’s life.

While elbow deep in Tayla’s innards, Eidolon notices some strange make-up in Tayla’s biological system. Tayla is half-demon herself and he is captivated by the rarity that is her heritage…and a few other things. It doesn’t help that she is sexy as Hell and tough as nails which gets his motor going. Tayla is the first woman in a really long time to accomplish this. But, she’s a demon-slayer and everyone at the hospital wants to kill her and to make matters worse, demons are being hacked up all over town and sold for their organs and all clues point to the Aegis.

Fast-paced and full of romantic tension, PLEASURE UNBOUND is a gem among the paranormal romance genre books. Ione has a way of spinning a tale, creating tension and still maintaining interest without suffering the usual plot-tricks that romances usually revert to. She did not apply what I term the “Romance Algorithm1” and I applaud her for it. So many authors do this and while their ideas might be original they are usually based on the same foundation like so many that have come before them, hence the tale smells a bit stale. Ione’s PLEASURE UNBOUND was none of those things. Fresh. Gritty. Intense. Eidolon and Tayla went at each other like you would expect a slayer and demon to go at one another. They fought, they (insert another f work here) and they flipped back and forth in their convictions. Love or Hate? It was wonderful. Most of the novel I was like “This will never work!” But, in the end Ione pulled it all together and I was left with that wonderful after-glow. It was quite a ride.

My one misgiving was in the end. I thought one of the baddies at the end was a little too off and the plot point that was tied up with her was just a little thrown in there. I’m sure Ione will expand upon it in later books in the series, so it’s not that big of a deal. But, I like my mysteries to end with an “Oh I see it now!” instead of a “Huh?”


RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommended for paranormal romance fans. Black Dagger Brotherhood lovers should really get into this one. I do not recommend this one as a first time Paranormal Romance. If you are looking to transition this one might be a bit overwhelming for you.









Audiobook sexy


Like this Like That
    1. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)
    2. Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)


    1Parajunkee's Romance Algorithm - Boy meets girl. Boy is hot for girl and girl is hot for guy, but something separates the two. Maybe a past love that went wrong - the fact that one of them is a werewolf and the other is a werewolf hunter - just insert "not ready for love" problem here. Yet, even though they are separated by a huge chasm, they still engage in hot, blow your mind sex. Yet, the secret has not been revealed and doesn't get revealed until after they've had sex at least three times. Once the secret is revealed they separate and think all is lost. They usually realize that they are in love during this separation. A traumatic event - chick getting kidnapped by the big baddie, or some other such thing will lead to the guy or sometimes the girl swooping in and saving the day -- and then our couple when reunited, confess their love and have more sex -- then off to their HEA.

    The basics of this is the MEET + STAY AWAY + ATTRACTION + SEX + REVEAL + BREAK-UP + CLIMAX + REUNITE + HEA







    12 comments:

    Jess (Gone with the Words) said...

    YES!! I looooove this series! And it IS different from others in its genre, which is awesome. Can't wait to see what you think of the rest. :D

    Anonymous said...

    I instantly thought of J.R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood when I saw the cover art and title. I think I need to get my hands on this one

    Samiamae said...

    I love this review and i agree with a lot that you have said about the book. I am really enjoying the series so far and can't wait to read the third.

    I instantly thought of Dark Hunter series when i read this book and the same when i read the Black Dagger Brotherhood as well.

    Your Romance Algorithm is spot on, i have read far too many romance books that features it.

    Anonymous said...

    Love this series! It's one of the very few I just picked up off the store bookshelf because it sounded good instead of doing my research before hand. I love that Ione's books are a bit darker and more twisted but still have everything I like in a PNR. Loved the review!

    Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

    I just started the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Once I finish those I think I'll be ready for this series.

    BLHmistress said...

    I am a huge Larissa Ione fan, I too just picked her books off the shelf because I liked the premise and without hearing anything about them. I am so so glad I did. She is a must buy author for me now.

    julie fedderson said...

    Oh, I love this series! The entire world building with the demon hospital is such a unique premise, I loved it immediately.

    Ninja Girl said...

    OMG, can't wait to read!!! I'd never heard of this before, but if you're putting it right up there with Ward, I've got to take a look :)
    Thanks again Parajunkee,
    Ninja Girl
    Must go buy this right NOW

    Sarah said...

    So glad to hear you liked this! It's definitely one of my favorite PNR series! Wraith and Lore are my favs. :)

    I don't love the Lords of Deliverance spinoff AS MUCH, but it's okay. It's only in it's first book so I'm not as attached to the characters yet.

    ~ Sarah ♥ I'm Loving Books

    ParaJunkee said...

    @Jess - It really is very different. Made me enjoy it!

    @Fat Reality - You should enjoy it if you like the BDB Series

    @Samiamae - I’m excited to go on to book 2. I’ve never read the Dark Hunter series, I guess i have to get on that one. And thanks!

    @Paranormal Haven - So many people kept saying, “Why haven’t you read this yet?” So, I figured I had to. I’ve read a bunch of Ione’s work in anthologies and was very impressed.

    @Alexis - You should really enjoy.

    @BLHmistress - She really is a must buy.

    @julie - It was really unique, the whole dynamic was unique.

    @Ninja - Enjoy chick....

    @Sarah - I have to move on in the series. Just need a little more time...LOL . I wonder if I should finish this series first before I go on to the Lords one? Because I have that book already.

    DangerousRomanceBookBlog said...

    I think your Romance Alogrythm is brilliant and spot on. It drives me nuts sometimes. I'm writing a romance and I'm trying my best NOT to adhere to this, to shake things up a little but it is hard to do in someways...because it works! arggg...
    I haven't read any of these books although they sound intriguing, because I'm just not down with Demons.
    I feel like 1. Buffy pretty much covered that ground.
    2. In almost all books, they aren't "really" demons, they are beings from a different dimension, so why call them demons? They aren't trying to steal anyone's soul, they aren't the bone chilling, nasueating demons that possess people and terrorize them out of their houses. Half the time in these romance books, they are super hot beings trying to live their life, despite their cute little horns, so WTF? Why call them demons. Call them something else.


    Great review. You may have just talked me into reading it despite my aversion to this trope.

    Mariya said...

    just wait til you finish the series. Books 3 and 5 are by far the best =DDDDDD

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