Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul...

Obtained: I won a copy courtesy of Sue Grimshaw and her Borders True Romance blog.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Demonica
1. Pleasure Unbound
2. Desire Unchained (book review)
3. Passion Unleashed (book review)
4. Ecstasy Unveiled (book review)
5. Sin Undone (book review)
My Rating:
I never thought I would stumble upon a paranormal romance series that I adored from book 1.  This book has a strong couple, witty dialogue, and a great story line.

Story:
Enter Tayla: a demon-slayer with more emotional baggage than anyone could fathom.  After being badly injured, this young woman wakes up to the image of the sexiest doctor.  Ever.  Imagine her delight when the two begin having sex in her hospital room.

That delight soon turns to disgust and horror upon realizing she just had sex with a demon.  A sexy, drool-worthy demon doctor who saved her life and is the only one keeping the other demons at bay.  Tayla is now forced to struggle with the harsh decision of betraying the one who saved her life (and who conveniently turns her into jello whenever he so much as looks at her), or betraying the group of demon-slayers she's devoted her life to working with.

What I think:
Could you ever imagine demons as doctors?  Crazy, I know, but Larissa has combined two of her passions in life to weave together an intricate tale of love, suspense, and so much sexual tension you could cut through it with a butter knife.

Tayla is a heroine that I adored from the start.  She wasn't gentle, and she wasn't weak.  In fact, if you called her weak, she would probably give you a bloody nose...with a smile on her face.  She is the type of character who will kick your ass if you make her mad, evident through the number of butt kickings that occurred throughout Pleasure Unbound.  She is also the type of character who offers the most amusement upon being pursued by a man. 

Eidolon, on the other hand, is a gentle doctor: the epitome of self-control and respect.  Yet all of that flies straight out the window the second Tayla saunters--or more like is carted--onto his radar.  While not an alpha male (which is weird for me, because I love love love stories with alpha males), he held his own and knew when to stand his ground.

The romance was not sappy, and it was definitely believable.  Both characters had vulnerabilities and strong personalities, despite their different, shaky pasts.

Overall, Ione has created a fun and interesting world.  While it takes a tiny bit of time to grow adjusted to the new terminology introduced in Pleasure Unbound, it was completely worth it.  It is unique, and you will be glued from first page all the way until the last.

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• Paperback - 416 pages
• Price: $6.99
• ISBN-10: 044640103X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446401036
• Released: June 20, 2008
• Larissa Ione's Website
• Buy it at Hachettebookgroup.com
• Buy it at Amazon.com