Book Review: Jeaniene Frost’s Twice Tempted

I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Source: the library

Twice Tempted

by

Jeaniene Frost

urban fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by Avon Publications on March 26, 2013 and has 360 pages.

Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon


Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Halfway to the Grave, First Drop of Crimson, Death's Excellent Vacation, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave's End, Destined for an Early Grave, Unbound, This Side of the Grave, One Grave at a Time, The Bite Before Christmas, Once Burned, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, The Beautiful Ashes, Bound by Flames, Into the Fire, The Other Half of the Grave, Halfway to the Grave

Second in the Night Prince urban fantasy series revolving around Leila in love with Vlad.

My Take

Oh, brother. Borrow this from the library. It’s not worth buying. It’s got a lame romance-suspense plot with limp twists and moronic reactions. I’m hoping that Frost was simply overwhelmed with deadlines of some sort. I had been looking forward to this installment ever since reading the first in this spin-off series…and I’m so bloody disappointed. I kept checking the cover to be sure I really was reading a Jeaniene Frost…

It has all the right pieces, but it just doesn’t grab hold of me. There’s no subtlety. The kidnapping is lame. Then there’s Leila’s reaction to what she supposedly wants. Gag. It’s like reading a really bad romance novel.

Okay, the Bits & Pieces of It…
I completely understand Leila’s reasonable reaction to Vlad’s proposal. And what was Vlad thinking to make this kind of proposal? Supposedly he can “read” minds, so how did he miss what Leila is thinking and screw up this badly? The Maximus manipulation was halfhearted. Oh, whoopie, Leila’s handicap has disappeared. How conveniently easy.

Maximus’ history is interesting to learn.

Why does Leila believe the dreams aren’t real? I mean, duhh.

Her father is very unhappy with her attraction to Vlad, and with Vlad’s actions with her. Yeah, well, what kind of father would he be if he weren’t? Then there’s Gretchen. Is she behaving more like a bad, trailer trash kind of sister in this or is it just my imagination?

Why does everyone keep saying that Vlad is a “borderline psychotic” and a “crazy cruel bastard” when psychosis is defined as “a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality”. I’ve never noticed Vlad being crazy; sure, he’s been cruel and, in his cruelty, he can be a bastard. And, this attitude from Frost is just another nail in Twice Tempted‘s coffin.

Dearie?? Really?

The Story

Leila is still handicapped and starting to worry over Vlad’s lack of attention. Questioning if her power is the only attraction she has for him.

Only, there’s someone else out there who hates any attraction Vlad has to anyone for any reason. Betrayal is on the menu.

The Characters

Leila Dalton was changed by an accident in her youth. One that led her to Vlad’s protection in Once Burned, 1. Unfortunately for Leila, she’s fallen in love. Gretchen is Leila’s greedy sister. The retired Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Dalton is her angry father. Marty is the dwarf vampire with whom Leila had a circus act. Had being the operative word.

Vladislav “Vlad” Dracul, Prince of Darkness, vampire, is living with Leila. For now. Maximus, formerly known as Rossal de Payen, is Vlad’s second-in-command with a secret passion. Shrapnel is Vlad’s third-in-command. Isha is the chef angry with Leila, and Sandra and Joe are some of Vlad’s live-in donors. Dr. Natalia Romanov is the in-house physician.

Mencheres and Kira and Bones and Cat help out. I’m just not telling who they’re helping. Edgar is a good, fair negotiator.

Cynthiana is a witch and was Vlad’s lover before Leila. Adrian is the bombmaker. Mihaly Szilagyi has been Vlad’s bitter enemy for centuries.

The Cover and Title

The cover is the best part with the hot — in every sense of the word — shirtless Vlad standing in profile amidst the flames.

I suspect the title applies to Vlad and his worries over the reaction his first wife had. And now, with Leila, he’s Twice Tempted.

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