Fantasy Lover

Rating:
Summary: I was disappointed
Review: I have never read this author before. Based on the reviews here, I got this book and settled in to be entertained. It just didn't happen. Other reviews posted have detailed the gist of the book very well, so I won't be repetitive. Honestly, I found the heroine Grace, a 29-year-old 21st century sex therapist with a Phd and sexual hang-ups of her own, to be unbelievable. "Physician, heal thyself" kept going through my mind.

When the author wrote about thoughts and feelings in this story, she seemed to capture the emotions of the characters beautifully, but when she wrote actual dialogue, it seemed like a completely different author to me! I found much of the dialogue immature and unbelievable. Example: Grace calling this Greek love-slave "buster" on a few occasions as she avoided his advances, as well as her highly-educated yet quirky friend Selena using the phrase "holy green guacamole!" several times was just odd to me. I just do not know a 29-year-old highly professional woman who would use the term "buster" in this day and age, nor would Grace's friend Selena be old enough to remember the Batman series (holy this and holy that, Batman)!

Lastly, the sexual foreplay episodes Grace and Julian engaged in were interesting, no doubt, but when they finally "did the deed", it was a let-down. The man, after all, was not only Aphrodite's son, but had been a "love-slave" for 2000 years, and I do believe the "act" would have/should have been much more creative than the way Ms. Kenyon wrote it. It just seemed like she was rushing to finish this book and just got it over with as expeditiously as possible.

I wish I could be more positive, and I really tried to see what the other reviewers saw, but in my opinion, this book feel way short of my expectations.

Rating:
Summary: This book was good but still...
Review: This was a good solid book, and I will read her next one that comes out in the fall. But there were a few things I just found lacking in this book. I didn't really like the main female character and I hate to say it, but I usally don't want to read about frumppy female leads in books. I don't read books for realistic characters so I would much rather have the characters attractive.

Rating:
Summary: Good 1st Book in Series
Review: If you are looking for a romance book w/sizzling scenes and a future series, look no further. This book was very enjoyable and a maybe on the keeper list.
Once I started I had to finish and I will keep this because I am going to be purchasing others in the series; however, I do not know if they will always stay on my shelf.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about the greek gods and see how this author pictured them. I think she definately captured the arogance of them.
If you like your romances w/a little improbability and otherworldliness, get this one, it is very good.
I thought that the way she got Julian was a little trite and well used, but it picked up after that and became it's own story. See other reviews for info on the book. Highly enjoyable!!

Rating:
Summary: Sensual and touching
Review: Grace Alexander is a sex therapist who doesn't date. She is given an ancient book by her best friend out of which appears Julian, a Spartan general who has been cursed to be trapped in the book for two thousand years. I had heard a lot about this book before it was published and wondered if it would live up to my expectations....and well, it exceeded them! This is a beautiful story, sensual, funny and very moving. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: A Sensual Must Read!!
Review: I devoured this book in record time and can't rave enough about it. It was often amusing, at times poignant, sometimes intense, and always sensual. I'm surprised my hands weren't singed with the extraordinarily steamy scenes! Grace Alexander and Julian of Macedon were incredibly likeable characters and both had past hurts that needed to be overcome. She is a sex therapist who doesn't much care for the sexual act (after a bad first experience) but has a desperate desire to find love. Julian is a legendary warrior born of Aphrodite who has been cursed to be a love-slave for all eternity. After being cursed since 149 B.C., he finally finds out that there is a way to break the curse but there is a catch. Although there is a sizzling mutual attraction that is hard to deny, Grace refuses to treat Julian as a possession to be used physically, instead treating him with kindness and humanity. Julian having numbed his emotions to avoid further pain finds it hard to resist Grace. Physically she attracts him as no woman ever has, emotionally she lures him with a sensitivity he has never been shown throughout his painful life. Ms. Kenyon has an enviable imagination and does a wonderful job bringing to life Greek mythology with well-known gods and goddesses and interesting tales of harsh Spartan life. These are two characters that have you rooting throughout for them - from their first meeting to the very climactic conclusion. This book is a must read and has earned a spot in my keeper shelf.

Rating:
Summary: A great way to pass a Saturday or any day!!!
Review: I loved this book. It is not the normal type of story that I read but this will not be my last book by this author. I read this book in one day! I could not put it down.

Set in New Orleans two friends get together during a birthday celebration and bring forth from an old book Fantasy Lover. This book had me laughing and crying. A definite sign of a book to keep on your bookshelf.

Bringing all of the romantic mystic flavor that is the Big Easy you should not miss this book!

Rating:
Summary: Oh my what a book!
Review: I loved this book! It was so captivating that I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.

The story really is of a fantasy lover come to life but only for 30 days. The heroine is a modern day career woman, a Sex Therapist. She is in realy need of a man and her best friend has found one for her. He's a Greek god in a book. All she has to do is summon him and he will be her love-slave for 30 days. Perfect right? Wrong. Grace doesn't want a man, or least her mind doesn't her body has other ideas. She does it on a lark and is shocked right out of he socks when he actually shows up, naked and willing to pleasure her right then. Julian has been trapped in the book for 2000 years by his half brother Priapus. Julian is the half human half God son of Aphrodite. He is betrayed and ends up in the book only free when he is summoned for 30 days of pleasuring. He has dark demons which he has suppressed and is completely baffled when Grace wants to help him confront them. He also doesn't quite understand that she doesn't want him to make love to her and wants him to wear clothes and even go outside. This has never happened to him and it has got him off kilter.
...
This was a very refreshing story and I eagerly await future books. This was filled with tons of humor, very very steamy love scenes and very tender parts that had me crying. I loved it and will read it again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Greek Mythology At Its Best
Review: What do you get when you combine "The Gladiator" with sex and a happy ending? Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Fantasy Lover."

Reading Sheri's novel reminded me of all the reasons I loved Greek Mythology growing up. The Gods were larger than life but so unforgetable that you kept coming back for more. With this novel, you get a refresher course on Greek mythology combined with a great love story. I was hooked from the opening line which, by the way, deserves a prize for the most compelling six word opening.

If you loved, "Knight I Shining Armor" but prefer an edgier novel, rush out and buy "Fantasy Lover."

Rating:
Summary: Escapist fun!
Review: If you've ever been fascinated by Greek mythology, you know what happens when the gods get jealous of man or think man is exhibiting too much hubris (that is, a big ego!) They curse the poor fellow. FANTASY LOVER tells the story of Julian of Macedon, an ancient general cursed to spend eternity in a book, only to be conjured forth for a month at a time to serve as a love slave by uncaring, shallow women. You can only imagine what happens when he's summoned forth by a 21st century woman who isn't even sure he's real! If you're looking for a laid-back romp of a book, this is it. A completely escapist read!

Rating:
Summary: From the classics comes a New classic ...
Review: Julian of Macedon was cursed onto a scroll in 149 BC, later it was bound into a book, as a punishment from the Gods for daring to want to be loved. Grace, a sex therapist, was given the book as a birthday present by her best friend. After calling Julian's name 3 times, he appeares to her, to be kept and used for 30 days and nights by his Summoner for her pleasure as a love-slave. Except Grace doesn't want to use him in that way.

Grace saw the man, Julian, when she looked at him. Julian could only face what he thought was his eternal punishment by leaving all traces of his humanity behind. By giving Julian back his dignity as a man, Grace gives the very best of herself to him, as a therapist, but more importantly, as a woman. Julian, in learning to believe that there might be an end to his torment, learns to believe in hope. Together, they both find what the true power of love is.

Sherrilyn Kenyon has written the near perfect book. It is the most marvelous blend of laughter (out loud) and tears (also out loud!), very sensual love scenes (VERY), and absolute gentle tenderness (enough to melt any heart), suspense and resolution. The only reason I say near perfect, is that I wanted the story of Grace and Julian to go on! I cannot wait to see what Ms Kenyon is going to do in the rest of the books in the Dark-Hunter series. This is the freshest, most innovative, telling of the ancient gods and goddesses from the mind and heart of the most talented writer I've read in a very long time. Get this book, read (and re-read) it, love it, and give it a place of honor on your keeper shelf.