Review: 4.5 blue ribbons from Romance Junkies
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 20, 2011
Sydney Chase is on the prowl.  She's not bothering with looking for a good man intent on a happily ever after.  Nope, she's been there, done that.  What she wants is a one night stand.  No commitments, no strings, no false promises and no broken heart.  She's convinced a nightclub called Panther's Lair is the perfect place to seek and find exactly the sort of man who fits her criteria.She's right on one account.  Sydney does find a man who peaks her interest in club owner Raimond Decoudreau.  He's sexy, attentive to her needs and possesses a French accent that makes her positively weak in the knees.  She assumes that because he's the owner of the club he indulges in spending time with a variety of women.  She's in for quite a surprise because Raimond isn't your typical club owner - and he's determined that one night is not enough - in fact, he's decided that Sydney is the one for him.  All he has to do now is convince her of that fact.After one mind altering, life changing night together, Raimond's more convinced than ever that Sydney is his mate.  She's made it perfectly clear that she's not looking for a permanent relationship despite the fact that she knows they connected on a much deeper level than just merely sex.  The discovery of flat tires on her car result in him giving her a ride home, only Sydney lies and has him drop her off at her friend's home.  She also gives him a fake phone number.  Raimond is more than a little frustrated at Sydney's attempts to evade him.  He doesn't even know her last name.  What he does know is that her car is still parked in the club's parking lot and he's not above using her need for transportation against her.  If she wants her car back, she's going to have to come to him.There's no question in his mind that Sydney belongs to him.  Her scent lures him in and he's unable to prevent himself from marking her.  He has no doubt that she's as attracted to him as he is to her but he carries a secret that he's afraid to share.  He fears that if she learns who he truly is too soon, she'll reject him.  However, circumstances beyond his control push his instincts into taking over and the results could potentially lead to total heartbreak or happily-ever-after.THE PANTHER'S LAIR is a fascinating mixture of paranormal, suspense, humor and some scorching sexual tension.  I love how Esmerelda Bishop begins her story as a mere sordid man meat hunt and brings it full circle into an emotionally charged situation that captivates the imagination.  I got a real kick out of Sydney's tempts at evading Raimond and had to laugh at his obvious pleasure at the realization that she had completely forgot that she would have to retrieve her car and thus deal with him.  The connection between them is endearing and downright hot and could possibly make you just a little bit envious.This book was reviewed using a digital galley via NetGalley.Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)