Phantom Pleasures

by Julie Leto

A hotel developer who wants to turn an abandoned island into an exclusive resort unwittingly unleashes a phantom cursed centuries ago - a spectral man who turns her secret desires into reality . . .

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451223659
• ISBN13: 9780451223654
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 327 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Phantom Pleasures

Alexa Chandler has, since her father's death, dedicated a hundred percent of her energies and time to the running of the Crown Chandler Empire to the detriment of her love life, such as it is. So when Alexa discovers her father left her a secluded island, with its very own castle, she seizes the chance to make her girlish romantic fantasies come true, even if there is no Prince Charming waiting for her. But as Alexa begins to explore the island and castle, her brother gives her a "protection" charm that sets off a chain of events that turn Alexa's life upside down. Suddenly, Alexa awakens the phantom that lived within the sole item in the seemingly abandoned castle - a painting, she is experiencing passion the likes of which she never imagined possible and her brother, Jacob, is upping his usual strange behavior. But when Alexa discovers there is much more at play than a single piece of real estate she discovers things she never thought possible - will she accept the unbelievable or will her stubbornness condemn a man to a magical prison for more years? Phantom Pleasures is a paranormal treasure hunt that will keep surprising you at every turn. Alexa is a modern-day Cinderella, except that she is the one with the money, status, and a castle to boot. Alexa believes that the only thing lacking in her life is a passionate lover that only intrudes in her life at nightfall and conveniently disappears at sunrise. However, when she gets exactly that with Damon, the phantom that inhabits her castle, Alexa slowly learns that there is more to life than keeping her late father's empire alive. While the paranormal element within the book is strong, its importance in the plot is haphazard and not really explored or explained fully. Also, the abundance of secondary characters, which at times were more interesting that the main couple, left little room for the development of the main storyline and present a unifying thread in the action that brought all the different sub-plots together before the very end of the story. In the end, Phantom Pleasures is an interesting and entertaining read for lovers of paranormal romances. Sabella reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I LOVED This Book

From the opening line to the last line, I was hooked by Julie's imaginative plot and awesome writing with a strong hero and an equally strong heroine. When I read a book, I want to be transported to another world. This book certainly took me there. Great job, Julie. I can't wait to read the next one!

GREAT READ!!!!

Phantom Pleasures (Signet Eclipse) What a great book. I couldn't stop reading it and now I am looking to see if there is MORE to this wonderful fantasy! What girl out there does not relate to the princess fantasy??? You will want to read it and then want more! Great book! Thanks!

Really good paranormal starter for a great series

I loved this book. I usually don't read paranormal romances (except for the occasional fantasy vampire story...we just can't seem to get away from them). LOL...but i frequent Julie's blog on plotmonkeys and I couldn't help but pick this book up. Most of the book takes place in 2008, but the story about how the phantom comes to be contained in a picture and trapped in the castle is very interesting and it really was a page turner. I really enjoyed it and cannot wait until the next comes out!

terrific opening paranormal romance

In 1747 in Valoren just outside Germany, the Forsyth brothers rush to a Gypsy encampment to save their sister Sarina from ruin. Instead of rescuing her, they are turned into statues by some magical curse. Over two and half centuries later, affluent businesswoman Alexa Chandler learns that her late father left her Isla de Fantasmas, an island off Florida, that includes a partially reconstructed German castle in which the stones were transported from Europe. She thinks she can convert the place into an exclusive hotel. However, Alexa soon learns of a phantom that haunts her castle. Alexa asks her best friend, paranormal researcher Catalina Reyes to help the ghost who becomes physical at night. Damon Forsythe is fascinated by the independent Alexa, He feels with her and Cat helping him, he might escape the curse, but assumes the cost is no longer interacting with his beloved Alexa. This is a terrific opening paranormal romance that for the most part occurs in 2008, but also details what happened in 1747. The story line is fast-paced from the onset, but accelerates once the female developer realizes that when the castle was moved from Germany to the Florida isle a ghost was brought with it. A secondary plot involving Cat and a Romany scholar Ben augment this pleasurable tale starring the phantom of the castle and the woman whose love gives him hope. Harriet Klausner