Pleasure

by Jacquelyn Frank

Book Overview

Beyond our world lies a land where darkness reigns--the land of the virile, sensual Shadowdwellers. Yet their mysterious abilities are no match for the power of desire. . . Double Your Pleasure. . . Discipline. Penance. Order. A Sanctuary priest's life revolves around such things. But when Sagan is taken captive and thrust into the Alaskan wilderness, he encounters a woman who challenges his faith and his self-control. Valera is a natural born witch...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420104241
• ISBN13: 9781420104240
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Zebra
• Length: 343 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Four and half - would have been better to have 2 novels than two stories in one book!

It is going to be a little difficult to write this review - I agree with some of the reviewers here that the stories (there are two) were somewhat underdeveloped and I fail to understand as to why Frank decided to create two stories in a book rather than give them each its own book. Having said that, I loved both stories but I felt that there could have been more meat to them - I particularly loved Sagan's story and his "human" witch mate Valera. It was a charming story and I loved both characters and wished that the story had been longer - as it ended somewhat abruptly. The second story of Malaya and Guin - was also very good but there were some frustrating parts. Malaya is the Princess of Shadoworld that she rules with her twin brother Tristan. Guin is her longtime bodyguard who has loved her for over 50 years. As Malaya realizes that she has feelings for Guin that she never knew she had she is on an all out campaign to get into his pants and get to know him better. The frustrating parts here were his denial to acknowledge his love to Malaya because he feels he is unworthy of being the mate of a royal. It takes some convincing on Malaya's part to win Guin over - but of course she gets her man in the end. The evil Acadian - who in this installment she really proves to evil incarnate - raises to a new level of retaliation - as she seeks revenge on Dae and Magnus for Dae having killed her daughter in RAPTURE. I felt that some of the reviewers here didn't credit Frank and abused her story development. If there is going to be adversity in a story - with villains that are cruel and vicious then there is going to be strife and drama unfolding to make the story more veridical. Yes - there are some tragic moments that befall Magnus and Dae - but you already know that Acadian is out for blood and she is going to get her revenge. So I think it was unfair of some reviewers to trash Frank for not having provided a "rosy" and marvelous, cushy story and maybe creating some moments of grief - which though tragic I didn't feel that they made the story less marvelous. And I feel I have to address those that mentioned that there was more sex than story in PLEASURE. NOT TRUE!!!!!!! All of Frank's stories have been wonderful - with greet characters, superb settings, inventive storylines and YES - supreme, adrenaline pumping sex. After reading about government plots and races that are persecuted for no reason and villains running amuck - sweaty, raw and descriptive sex is the culmination to the story and what a lot of readers expect and look forward to. After all -this is a "romance" - if you want less sex and more story - stick to Urban Fantasy. For you that have read Frank's books before - you know that she injects a copious amount of descriptive sex into her novels. The titles of the books in this series should say it all - ECSTASY, RAPTURE AND PLEASURE. My guess is that you are not reading the titles correctly because - because for anyone th

Love it!

I was very skeptic about buying this book for the first two first reviews. I have to disagree with them. This book was great. Two sexy stories for the price of one. There was about 5-6 top sex scenes in the whole book in mine opinion that is not a lot considering that they are two stories. I liked the first story between Sagan and Valera but I felt that it was a little short even though they appear later on. I loved, loved the story about Guin and Laya. It had sensuality as well as emotion. It was a page turner, I couldn't put it down. What is not to love about a Queen falling in love with her bodyguard? So if you see this book, pick it up and you won't be disappointed. Happy reading!

Another winner from a great author!

I so love Jacquelyn Frank's Shadowdweller series. She keeps making them better and better with each one she writes! The first part of this book features the story of Sagan. It was a romantic tale that even though it was short, it came full circle at the end of the second story. It was the story of Sagan finding his new love, who happens to be a witch. In the Nightwalker world, witches are a big no-no. They believe them all to be bad. But Sagan finds that Valera is not a bad witch and falls in love with her. Then he must convince his people that she is good and is willing to help in the fight against evil. I was disappointed in it being a short story intsead of a whole book between them because their story was captivating. The second half of the book focused on the princess Malaya and her protector Guin. If you have read the other books in this series, you saw this romance coming! You couldn't help but cheer for Guin. He was noble and protective of Malaya and you just knew that he would be her perfect match. I loved how this story unfolded and included the characters from the previous Shadowdweller books. It was nice to see them all come together. Hopefully if there is another book in this series we can see Tristan find his perfect match!

exhilarating Shadowdweller tale

Below ground in Alaska is a concealed city that humans are unaware of its existence. It is the place where the Shadowdwellers race reside. The underground is darkness as even the slightest ray of light can kill these people. Sanctuary priest Sagan is kidnapped by a serial torturer killer and her minions; they bring him to the house of Valera, a born witch. She uses her magic to kill his captors shocking the underground priest that a human magic user has no taint of evil oozing from her. Magnus, the head of Sanctuary, wants Sagan to bring his beloved Valera to the "dweller" city to demonstrate to the Night Riders that not all magic practitioners are evil. The senate governing the Shadowdwellers is trying to force Chancellor Malaya to marry a person of their choice and produce an heir. Her bodyguard Guin, who has protected and loved her (unrequitedly) for fifty years, detests his beloved having to marry a man not of her choosing. Unable to cope he leaves her for the first time in five decades. His departure makes Malaya realizes what she has taken for granted and how much she loves her bodyguard. Acadia, whose uses another name in the senate, attacks Magnus' wife and Guin, leaving it to the outsider Valera to mitigate damages although few Shadowdwellers trust her. Thus ends the exhilarating Shadowdweller trilogy (see ECSTASY and RAPTURE) and while the enjoyable story line fails to wrap up everything in a nice tidy package, readers will gain much PLEASURE from this fine entry that hopes for peace amidst the night walker species. The romantic subplot between Guin and Malaya is fascinating as he tries to hide his feelings especially his ire over what the leaders are doing to his beloved while she fails to see him beyond a trusty protector and to a degree friend. The other romantic subplot is also terrific as the human witch and the Shadowdweller are natural enemies. Jacquelyn Frank is a master fantasist who makes her paranormal earth seem real with a spark of hope for peace, but frankly this is an author known for her twists and spins. Harriet Klausner

very satisfied

I loved this book. Being the third in this particular series it brings a possible dramitic close to the story. The book was written in two parts. The first part was a short story of the priest Sagan and the second being Malaya and Guin's story. Sagan's story is a very good story filled with love at first sight and quiet passion, I wish that there had been a whole book to focus just on him and his love Valera. But since it is not, it is just a precursor to the long awaited story of a Queen and her mate. From the beginning I fell completely in love with the character of Guin. He is strong, arguementative and completely loyal, every girls dream. I found it very refreshing that it was not him that was completely blind to the feeling of love. Instead, it was the stubborn and strong willed heroine who had no idea what she had until it was gone. The story plays out beautifully and I could not put it down. The only problem I see with this book is that the last few pages seem very rushed and thrown together. I didn't mind it enough to hinder my reading experience but as always with a good book I am hoping that it never ends. I would definately recommend this book and all of Jacquelyn Frank's to any and all who love a good paranormal romance. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!