Review: We are not in Kansas any more, Part 2
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 21, 2011
Beasts of Desire is the second book in the Beasts Series Trilogy by LeanoreElliott. The story opens with Alex Rayne in New York waiting for her nextassignment from Silas, her point man, friend and mentor. Alex is a catburglar and her next assignment is to go to San Francisco to obtain amedallion. During the robbery, she encounters a mysterious man withglowing eyes who continues to pop up at odd times during the course of thenext few days. Eventually Alex learns that the mysterious man's name isDamon He is a Chimera, (a type of gargoyle) and she is a Messemer/Chimera. A Messemer is a person who has the ability to change thememories of a Chimera when they decide their past is too unbearable. Fiveyears earlier Alex and Damon made love, turning Alex into a Chimera andcausing a cosmic rift that cursed them. Any time they make love, Alex willdisappear.Each time Alex disappears, Damon goes in search of her. She is alwaysliving a different life, with no memory of who and what she really is, and hehas to seduce her to help her remember all over again. His hope is that eachtime they meet, she will remember more, and the curse will be reversed.Without giving too much away, I will say each time Alex disappears, sheactually goes into a memory she has created for someone else while shewas a Messemer. The medallion exists in each life and plays an integral parttoward her remembering. Alexander, Alex's father, and Penelope, hermother, appear often. Bella and Lycian from the previous book make anappearance in this book as well as King Milias.The story bounces back and forth between the distant past, the past of 5years ago, and current times. There are a number of steamy seductionscenes which will have you thinking twice about your name. Some of therealities have a small amount of mystery and suspense which kept meintrigued. Chimeras and Messemers aside, the underlying theme of this bookis the undying love Damon and Alex have for each other and is that loveenough to save them both? I felt this book wasn`t as strong as the firstbook in the series but still a great read, it is a refreshing departure fromyour usual vampires and werewolves. I would recommend reading the firstbook to help you understand the background of the beasts before you readthis one. I'll definitely read the next book to see what Ms. Elliott has in storefor her beasts.Review by Penlope Adams aka Loves To DiveMember of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team-----------------------------