Kat Kennedy's Reviews > Pleasure Unbound

Okay, so I'm actually kind of embarrassed that I gave this book four stars.

Please don't lose respect for me! Hear me out! Trust me!

I just seems antithetical. I mean, the name of the book is "Pleasure Unbound" and when my husband asked what I was reading, I blushed as I revealed the book's name. Then there's the cover that is, really, the epitome of cheap, softcore porn PNR.

And the plot just seems too ridiculous! He's an incubus demon, she's a demon hunter who can't come when she's with a man... it's like someone gave this plot device to Ione as a joke to MAKE her fail as an author. A mean joke or some kind of wacky test. Clearly the Mad Hatter has taken up work as a publisher!

But here's the deal. Despite the seemingly cheesy concept, bad cover work and HORRIBLE name, Ione has written something remarkably readable.

Allow me to demonstrate.

The characters are actually interesting. In some respects they do represent the mainstays of the genre. He's a fuckhawt doctor and she's a kickarse Buffy clone. She does ridiculously stupid things in the name of her prejudice toward demons and out of fear of her lust for him, and he gets angry at her but funnels that into sex because her cooch is like crack.

Right. We've all been there and done that in other stories.

But for once, I can actually believe that this man would be a doctor. He actually behaves like one which is refreshing. You know what else is refreshing? The female protagonist is believably and understandably stupid as opposed to just being an idiot. More than that - she thinks and learns from past mistakes.

They both deal with her emotional trauma together in a fairly touching way. I really enjoyed the trust and respect growing between these two characters.

What else is there, you ask? Well, there's a reasonable plot, for starters. It was interesting, immersive and this book was completely fun and sexy to read. You will not find any "manroots" or "blossoming lady gardens" in this book. I think he "sheaths" himself once or twice but, honestly, it's a romance novel - if someone doesn't sheath something at least once then I'm actually going to be disappointed. Other than that, the language is very modern and the "lemon" scenes are very....niiiiiiiice...

I give Ione props for reasonable writing that flows solidly.

Lastly, the male protagonist is quite the wet dream: a handsome, rich doctor who is a little anally retentive but otherwise dedicated and responsible. And he has what every sexy, rich, charming man should have:

Sexy, rich, charming brothers.

Which means I'm going to head off and read the next three books!