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Masters of Seduction #1-4

Masters of Seduction: Volume 1

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In the realm of the Incubi Masters, pleasure is to die for and love is the deadliest game of all...
Lara Adrian's "Merciless: House of Gravori" -- Seeking vengeance for the murder of his brother, Incubus Master Devlin Gravori demands justice from the high court of the Nephilim.
Donna Grant's "Soulless: House of Romerac" -- Incubus Master Canaan Romerac is focused on revenge against those who betrayed him. That is until he sets eyes on Rayna.
Laura Wright's "Shameless: House of Vipera" -- Incubus Master Scarus Vipera has grown weak, and the only thing that will strengthen him again is Rosamund, the power-rich female of the Harem.
Alexandra Ivy's "Ruthless: House of Xanthe" -- Jian, Master of the House Xanthe, has devoted his life to his family. The last thing he expects is to encounter an angel who stirs more than his lust.
Contains mature themes.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2014

78 people are currently reading
3369 people want to read

About the author

Lara Adrian

92 books11k followers
LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books have been named among Amazon’s Top Ten Romances of the Year, and have also been nominated by readers multiple times as finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), “strikingly original” (Booklist), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.

With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,313 reviews13.7k followers
August 1, 2014
3.5 stars
In the realm of the Incubi Masters, pleasure is to die for and love is the deadliest game of all...


Now I'll admit, I'm not typically a fan of novellas this short since it's rare that I'll get as invested in the characters or the story, but when you some of my favorite PNR authors all in one boxed set? I just couldn't pass it up.

While each of the 4 novellas here are fairly short, what I did like was that they built off of one another. These are not stories meant to be read out of order as the bigger picture of the "conspiracy" develops over the span of all 4.

I can tell you that I liked all the stories equally, I honestly can't pick a favorite, which is a rare occurrence for me. My biggest complaint is the predominant insta-love that is present in every story, but that's to be expected for the length. I also felt each ending to be rushed, but again considering the length, that's to be expected.

The unique world of Incubi and Nephilim is an intriguing one. But then again what is hotter than an Incubi demon that "feeds" off of sex? If you're looking for steam, this delivers it in spades. Each story was SCORCHING.

Merciless: House of Gravori ~ by Lara Adrian
She was strong but he was stronger. And he had no mercy in him. Only fury.

Merciless sets up the world building and the conspiracy that continues through the entire book. Each book follows a different Master of the Incubi houses and his newly found 'mate'. Each Master is just as sexy and sinfully delicious as the next, and I can say I'm definitely under their "thrall". The titles of each story is particularly fitting to each Master.

Soulless: House of Romerac ~ by Donna Grant

Shameless: House of Vipera ~ by Laura Wright

Ruthless: House of Xanthe ~ by Alexandra Ivy

While I can't say that I loved it since they were just much too short, I did enjoy these stories a whole hell of a lot. It's a great way to set up what looks to be a very promising and sexy series. I can't wait to get my hands on the full length novels and see the story continue.

**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

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Profile Image for RoXXie | The Art of Reading .
442 reviews66 followers
January 13, 2025
Review of Masters of Seduction 1-4 with four stars

Four quick-paced, seductive stories by Lara Adrian, Donna Grant, Laura Wright, and Alexandra Ivy are included in the alluring first collection of Masters of Seduction. The series delivers an exciting voyage through retribution, atonement, and forbidden love, all set in an intriguing urban fantasy universe full of Incubi Masters, Nephilim, Angels, and the promise of passion and peril.

Masters of Seduction 1-4 - Review

Masters of Seduction 1-4 - A Review

Opinion

Merciless – House of Gravori by Lara Adrian opens the anthology with a compelling story of justice and retribution. I was drawn into the murky politics of the Nephilim high court right away by Devlin Gravori's resolute pursuit of vengeance and moody manner. Adrian's story is notable for striking a mix between action and sultry romance, giving the collection a solid start.

The tone of Donna Grant's Soulless – House of Romerac shifts to one of self-destruction and personal growth. Canaan Romerac is a fierce, vengeful guy, but his connection with Rayna gives him an intense emotional depth. Grant creates a fascinating world, and her ability to combine desire and intrigue keeps the pages turning.

Laura Wright's Shameless – House of Vipera is perhaps the most thought-provoking of the four. Scarus Vipera's conflict with his fading strength and his overwhelming need for Rosamund creates a powerful blend of frailty and might. By crafting a story that is both sensual and tense, Wright distinguishes this edition from others.

Last but not least, Alexandra Ivy's Ruthless – House of Xanthe concludes the first anthology with a romantic turn between Jian, a loyal Incubus Master, and an enigmatic angel. Their chemistry is electrifying, and the compilation gains a new depth from the unusual investigation of heavenly mythology. Ivy skillfully strikes a balance between Jian's growing yearning and his sense of duty to end the collection on a positive note.

What truly distinguishes Masters of Seduction is the complex relationships between the four storylines, which form a coherent plot within the same realm. The recurrent themes of atonement, forbidden love, and retribution elegantly connect all the stories, despite the fact that each one revolves around a different Incubus Master.

The anthology's fast-paced plot and well penned suspense in each story kept me engaged from beginning to end. The Incubi Masters' complex power dynamics, forbidden attraction, and haunting mystique make for a fascinating read.

Conclusion

However, due to the stories' short length, some character arcs and world-building elements might seem underdeveloped. Therefore, other readers may believe that more depth or information is needed to fully immerse themselves in the complex universe.
But in conclusion, Masters of Seduction is a burning and fascinating record that combines sensuality with danger. Fans of urban fantasy and spicy romance will enjoy this compilation. An intriguing and sensual anthology that well deserves four stars!


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,042 reviews64 followers
July 22, 2014
Four stories all following a bigger plotline.
The world has houses of Incubus, all following the one appointed to reign, but now evidence is showing something isn´t as it should be.
Could their appointed Sovereign be corrupt? And what´s with the high court of Nephilim? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark =)
A great collaboration with four of my favorite authors, a great mix of action, suspense, PNR and fluffy smut.
Profile Image for Mhollie.
703 reviews38 followers
January 7, 2024
2.5 Stars so I am rounding up. 4 Novellas. The premise was good. However, each of these novellas should have been made into full length novels. I’m not really into insta-love/insta-sex. So it was really hard to suspend my disbelief and get into what little story there was. Basically, they were more sex than story. I have nothing against the sex part, just would like more story to go with it. These were akin to scripts to soft porn flicks. Not truly bad, but not truly good either. Good thing this compilation was free with my Audible membership or I would really be annoyed. Now I can return it and forget I ever read it.

One more thought. The narrator should only be narrating children’s books. I felt like I was listening to a kindergarten teacher reading the book to me. Which I found disturbing. Her voice was nasally and she had a preachy accent that kind of grated. All hard vowels. Also, narrators should absolutely always have their word pronunciations down. This narrator did not. Do publishers think before they choose the narrator for their books? If they don’t, then they should. A narrator can make or break an audiobook. This narrator broke this book.
Profile Image for Michelle Leah Olson.
924 reviews117 followers
July 20, 2014
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:

From four masters of PNR comes a new and thrilling continuity about Incubi that I absolutely loved!

Four different tales, each revolving around the Master of one of the Incubi Houses and the Nephilim, all tied together in a thrilling, action packed and super sexy compilation where in fighting abounds, treachery and subterfuge are common, betrayal runs rampant, and allies and love come in/from the most unlikely places.

The first story by Lara Adrian introduces the Master of House Gravori and Temple Blade Nephilim Nahiri. "Devil" is looking for vengeance and the truth about the murder of his brother and takes Nahiri hostage as leverage. After spending time with her, he realizes that there's more to the murder of his brother and something much larger is going on with the Council and the Throne, and finds that he is utterly slayed by the sexy and strong hybrid.

In the second book by Donna Grant, the Master of House Romerac has been betrayed and locked away in the Oubilette. While trying to discover who cursed him to his prison, he runs into a Nephilim hiding from her family and her fate as a brood mare and finds that balance and love are easier to find than he ever expected.

Incubus Master Scarus Vipera is probably one of the most feared Incubi in existence in the third book by Laura Wright, but he has a past that not many people know about. Visiting the Harem to replenish his energy and continue his quest, he uncovers more than he bargains for when he chooses the feisty Rosamund for his night of pleasure.

And last, but certainly not least, in the last story by Alexandra Ivy, the Master of House Xanthe embraces his assumed title as spy and tries to uncover the secrets abounding within the Houses, Throne and Council. While doing so, he meets the lovely angel Muriel and they work together to discover whats been going on with the rumors of the missing Masters and the underlying evil that seems to be stemming from their current Sovereign.

All put together, the continuity collection creates a beautifully intertwined story of intrigue, romance, and action played out with steamy sex scenes and an intricately woven plot that twists and turns and utterly captivates. I love the way the authors took each of their individual voices and shared aspects of the world to bind the tales together and I can't wait for the next installment! I most definitely recommend Masters of Seduction to fans of any/all of these authors and PNR fans far and wide.

My only complaint was the quickness with which each of the couples fell in love, but alas, that is always my complaint with PNR novellas since there is only so many pages to work with and we need the HEA. At least with these, you get the insta-lust and love, but you also get an HEA with a twist, making the reader want more and leaving us wondering what will happen next, thus making the next volume that much more lusted after. :)

680 reviews6 followers
April 8, 2020
Ich bin wirklich begeistert wie es 4 Autorinnen schaffen EINE Welt zusammenzu bringen und zu schreiben und das mit einem Nahtlosen Übergang. Bis auf Lara Adrian kannte ich die anderen 3 Autorinnen nur vom Namen her, was sich jetzt aber definitiv ändern wird :D

Am besten hat mir die Geschichte von Laura Writh und Donna Grant gefallen. Dennoch waren alle Geschichten super zu lesen, wie nicht anders zu erwarten mit viel Erotik die sehr gut geschrieben ist. ABer auch die Story kommt nicht zu kurz.

Bin sehr gespannt auf Band 2 :D
Profile Image for phoebess.
1,521 reviews98 followers
November 25, 2017
Man, I need to know more about what happen next...
Overall, it was an amazing story of four Masters. The first book and the last one were the absolute best, though.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,475 reviews81 followers
November 11, 2014
Original Post at Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust 11/10/2014
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

Audiobook provided by Tantor for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein is my own.


I usually love books by Lara Adrian, her name on the cover piqued my interest in this anthology, but I was disappointed in pretty much every story in this anthology, and I was extremely disappointed in the narration.

Each story featured a one night stand guy, an incubus who is never, never, ever going to stay with one woman. But in each case, of course, he meets that one woman who turns him into a bonded male who will for all eternity, be with this one woman who changes his ways, his heart and his mind. She is the only woman he can feed from; incubi feed off sexual congress, pleasure and orgasm.

This is one of my least favorite tropes in romance and erotica – that the love of a good woman can change a man. The women are nephilim (half nephilim and half incubus) or in one case, an angel. Each of them proclaims they don’t trust or want an incubus, ever! (stamps foot) because you become addicted to them and they are never faithful.

In each story, with little or no reason both parties change from stand-offish to getting-it-on-ish in no time at all. Too fast and inexplicably.

There’s lots of violence throughout the book too. More than I like to read/hear. And there’s a complex but unexplained political plot holding the anthology together but since it is not really explained entirely it doesn’t really work as an adhesive theme.

The narration was hard to listen to with terrible accents, including a situation comedy style Italian accent from the 1960s used to portray Scarus Vipera in Shameless. I didn’t like anything in the narration but that Italian accent made me want to hang it up and make the audiobook a DNF. But I stuck it out. And the last story, Ruthless, by Alexandra Ivy was the best of the four.

It is rare that I can’t find anything to recommend an anthology but I will make an exception here and say that I found nothing of value in this anthology and I was completely disappointed with it.

So, curious about whether I am just too picky? You’ll have to listen for yourself!
Profile Image for Marianne.
1,314 reviews152 followers
July 22, 2014
An interesting (not to mention; hot) start to a new novella series where demonic (always) male incubi and angelic (always) female nephilim are co-dependent on each other for the survival of their bloodlines. Neither the nephilim or the incubi have been able to concieve children with humans for centuries. Female children born of demon/angel unions become nephilim, their male children; incubi. Most children are concieved within the walls of the pleasure palace known as the harem: A place where select nephilim are chosen to service the needs of the incubi. Sometimes, true mate bonds form. In that case, the nephilim will join her mate's house. There are nine incubi Houses still in existence. Mate bonds are exceedingly rare, as neither the nephilim or incubi trust each other, but mainly communicate through their chosen leaders: The Three, chosen to represent the angelic side, or the Sovereign, who is elected from one of the incubi houses.

Story # 1
In MERCILESS - House Gravori, Devlin seeks revenge for the murder of his brother, seemingly at the hands of the Blades; the elite unit which guards The Three. When he sees Nahiri, the leader of the guard, he claims her as a hostage. The master of House Gravori starts out seeking justice, but along the way, he discovers deep rooted betrayal, as well as forbidden passion...

As expected, this was insta-lust and insta-love, and while the sex was hot, I was far more intrigued by the overreaching conspiracy theme.
3,5 ★
Profile Image for Cheesecake.
2,800 reviews509 followers
October 8, 2015
Lara Adrian, "Merciless" Devil/Devlin Gravori and Nahiri
Donna Grant, "Soulless" Canaan Romerac and Rayna
Laura Wright, "Shameless" Scarus Vipera and Rosamund
Ivy Alexandra, "Ruthless" Gian Xanthe and Muriel

Warning... cliffhanger with an HFN. So romantically it's good, but the bad guys are continuing their ass-badness.

Four stories written by 4 authors fit together to create a whole story. The Incubi (male sexual demons) have become dependant on the Nephilim (women who are part angel) to procreate. The female Incubi (Succubi) went extinct centuries ago. Both societies are held in a rigid society that has kept the peace for centuries but something/someone is corrupting the Obsidian throne. Each story builds on the mystery until the last story where you'll find your answers but no justice served yet... Yep a wee bit of a cliffhanger, action-wise. Romantically there are not cliffhangers. I enjoyed all 4 stories. They are quick but entertaining and romantic. Sexy dominant sex Demons and beautiful yet feisty Angels. The intrigue was better than I expected, with good world building and although there are 4 separate authors, the stories mesh together quite well.
I love books that are a collaboration of various authors. It often makes the story more creative than it might be otherwise. Another good example of collaboration would be the series 'Merovingen Nights'
Profile Image for Melindeeloo.
3,268 reviews158 followers
August 6, 2014
There's a whole slew of Incubus clans and the leaders of four of them get their stories here. All the stories in this collection are quick lust to love to HEA in a day or so as the sexy and dangerous incubi find their oh so beautiful nephalem mates. There is a background arc loosely threading the stories not exactly together but joining them to the same world.

While I am actually a fan of short stories on the whole, these have great setups and good endings but there just isn't enough in the middle - where the smexy times reign - to really sell me on those HEAs. But if you are a fan of erotic shorts, so the purpose of the story is said sexy times, these may be just what you are looking for.

Merciless - Lara Adrian
Soulless - Donna Grant
Shameless - Laura Wright
Ruthless - Alexandra Ivy
Profile Image for Nancy Sutphin.
50 reviews4 followers
July 15, 2014
Not What I Was Expecting

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book series, but since I love several of these authors, I figured I would give it a shot. I must admit that I was slightly nervous about the subject matter. I mean incubi mean sex, right? I was terribly afraid that these books would be sex wrapped in a pretty package. I was so wrong! And to be honest, I should have known better. I am so glad that I bought this set! I can't wait until winter for the next installment!
Profile Image for Irene.
570 reviews6 followers
July 23, 2014
So I finished this set. I loved three out of four books, but because of this one I didn't put 5*. Despite the name and settings sex is not the main topic in 3/4 of the book and they do have a story line which add to one another and makes it interesting to read. I am curious what's going to happen with the Obsidian Throne and Nephilims and Angels. Great idea and awesome authors!
Profile Image for Stephanie*.
656 reviews36 followers
August 3, 2014
Only read the first one by Lara Adrian, but it was too short a novella for me to become invested in the characters. A quick romance and insta-love is mostly expected in novellas but for some reason I just couldn't connect at all. I wish there could have been more world building, but again, it was too difficult in a very short novella. On to the next one...
Profile Image for Ana Leal.
14 reviews7 followers
June 4, 2015
apesar de não ser fã de livros de pequenas histórias até gostei bastante. Percebe se que a escrita é diferente de autora para autora mas existe sempre o mesmo mundo por atrás.

As histórias não são grandes o que faz com que o enredo seja rápido, por vezes até demais.

Mas foi o suficiente latas me deixar curiosa com o segundo livro.
Profile Image for Tami Bucholtz.
149 reviews
August 29, 2024
Oh my God I absolutely love this series with incubi and Nephilim such a great idea having a four books four different authors sweet

So merciless is probably my favorite book out of this set of four books his brother and the human that he was with were both murdered and he goes to the temple to kind of ask what happened and who did it and he doesn't get the answers that he's looking for and the blade who's guarding the temple he ends up taking her as a hostage but what ends up happening is they realize that they are definitely more suited as mate than as hostage and Criminal the closer that they get the closer they find out to the truth of what's really going on it's basically a conspiracy that's going on

Soulless this is really interesting so canaan is basically sent to the Purgatory for demons or sexual demons whatever for 500 years wow and then he finds somebody who helps them figure out a way to get out and he is very very powerful I'm surprised that he did Escape out of the prison or whatever sooner and as he goes to investigate to figure out what's been going on he needs to take back his house that he thinks somebody in his family took over a for him he was supposed to be in charge and he runs across this female Nephilim who they have immediate connection and she is basically done with her family telling her what to do female nephilim are expected to be in the Harem to birth baby for a demon which is really kind of degrading to women right Rayna is super awesome wow her name fits her well she is definitely fit to be a queen she's a great fighter she's really awesome

Shameless Rosamund
character luv her she's like totally a feminist super into women's rights and she wants to do everything she can to not become like slave to incubus or whatever she just can't fight what she feels for him I would love for this series to have a third set of books because I want to know how the succubi became extinct that would be super cool to bring them into the picture I definitely love her character and I do love what ends up happening towards the end of the book how he basically there's just a wonderful ending let's just say that

Ruthless this is with the incubus who basically starts the process of addressing The Sovereign causing so many conspiracies within the incubi Jion has an excellent skill of being able to tell someone's Illusions and Muriel is basically the queen of Illusions right I absolutely love how he puts her safety above his revenge very honorable of him but yeah we're kind of left hanging so I think in the next set of books to this the next series I think we're going to find that out it's going to be really great
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Twin Sisters Rockin' Book Reviews.
884 reviews93 followers
August 18, 2014
Overall Rating: 4 Rockin’ ★★★★

This group of authors has once again created beautifully descriptive worlds. With a creative balance that astounds me every time I read anything they create; I was not disappointed by this recent collaboration between authors to create the four novellas in Masters of Seduction. They are packed full of passion and unearthly beauty, each story will keep you wanting more!

Merciless: House of Gravori by Lara Adrian
Devlin Gravori or known by many as Devil, is the master of his house of Gravori, Incubui. He is a demon living among humans, with a sexual appetite that is indulged by all of his kin. He has lived for centuries, but has never taken a mate. In comes Nahiri, the blade of the Three. Three who oversee and keep balance between the angels and demons who live amidst humans. The moment Devlin sets foot in the temple, everything changes for Nahiri. She is drawn to him immediately and not because of his demon charm. It's more...Caught in a fight between right and wrong, will Devlin and Nahiri find the love the both so desperately seek? Will Devlin claim Nahiri as his mate? Will Nahiri put aside her lifetime commitment to the Three to be with the man who sets her world on fire? Read this book!

Soulless: House of Romerac by Donna Grant
Canaan was the leader of his House, the House of Romerac and he had been abducted and thrown into the Oubliette over five hundred years ago. For all the years that he had been held prisoner he blamed his brothers for betraying him. He had given up all hope of every being free to exact his revenge until the day he was assigned the torture of a prisoner that not only knew who he was, but also knew who was really responsible for being held in Oubliette. The Alp Demon also told him he knew a way out and would show him if Canaan agreed to take him when he escaped. While escaping from Oubliette, the demon is killed but Canaan makes it through the portal to safety with the promise from his jailer that he would return. Raya is a Nephilim, half human, half angel had been raised to believe that it was her destiny and birthright to be with a Incubus. After her twin sister was taken by the three to be part of a harem to have a child with an Incubus, Raya swore this would not be her destiny. She left her family and move far away from the Powerful House of Romerac that ruled New York City determined not to suffer the same fate as her sister. Canaan needed to restore his strength and the only way was to feed off of sexual energy. Even though he is a sex demon he will not force anyone. He realizes that he needs help acclimating to this new time period and Raya is just the Nephilim that can help him. Will he get his revenge and regain his House? Is there more than lust between him and Raya? This is a must read book for those that want a good revenge, lust filled love story.

Shameless: House of Vipera by Laura Wright
Chosen as a member of the harem by the Three was not Rosamund’s plan. She wanted a normal life with a human husband and family. Rosamund had stumbled across a little know clause that stated if a Nephilim was not selected by an Incubus within the first year, she will be released. Free to return to her little apartment, Roger and a normal life. Enters Scarus the leader of the House of Vipera who needs to recharge his energy and only a Nephilim from the harem will do the job. He had been betrayed before by a Nephilim that had stolen his son and caused the child’s death. All he needed was to recharge, nothing else. Rosamund had been deliberately disguising herself to look as horrible as possible so when Scarus selects her for the night she is devastated. When he had selected her all he had seen were her beautiful eyes and he had felt the tremendous power in her blood. Instant attraction and want will it be enough? Will the two find what both are searching for? Must read book!

Ruthless: House of Xanthe by Alexandra Ivy
Jian is the head of his house and because of charges against his grandfather his house suffered great economic loss. Jian had been forced to become an assassin to provide for his people. The gift that Jian wields is the ability to see through illusions and he is able to break them. He had accepted a mission to locate the sovereign to find out what the leader that sat on the Obsidian Throne was really up too. When Jian arrived at the fortress to investigate the strange happenings he is met with a place that seems deserted with only a minimal staff. Jian also discovers an open door way between the fortress and another dimension. He meets Muriel the keeper of the Oubliette and an angel in disguise. She has all the answers that he needs but refuses to give them to him. There is an imbalance between the dimensions that does not bode well for the Incubus. Will Jian and Muriel work together? Can they deny their attraction to each other? An angel and an incubus together, is that possible? Read the book and find out!

Would I recommend this book: Yes! Even though this is a collections of quick reads, it is packed full of passion and suspense. I look forward to the continuation of the Masters of Seduction coming out Winter of 2014.

Would I recommend this author: Yes! This is a collection of four outstanding authors that are among my first to go to for a Great Paranormal Read! They always create beautiful worlds that are filled with paranormal embellishments that are pure entertainment!

***Received an ARC of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review***

Masters of Seduction
Lara Adrian
Laura Wright
Alexandra Ivy
Donna Grant
Profile Image for Ruckasaurus Rex.
224 reviews16 followers
August 2, 2014
This review will cover the Masters of Seduction book which contains four stories by heavy hitting authors Lara Adrian, Donna Grant, Laura Wright, and Alexandra Ivy. The world that has been created by these authors is amazing! I absolutely loved the setting of the books and the world of the Nephilim and Incubus houses that keeps the pace of the story moving so well. It was very hard to put the book down at all, but a girl has to sleep sometime.

The cover of the book features a couple in a close embrace on a black background, with the head of the dark-haired male and female dominating the top portion of the book. The female has her dark shadowed eyes closed and her mouth slightly open in a sigh, clutching at the back of her partner’s head. The male is nuzzling her neck, his face partially obscured by her chin and lips, but a shadow of a beard is visible on his sharp jaw. His eyes are also closed, and his dark brown hair is just long enough to begin a curl against his light skin. The title of the book is in bold golden letters in the middle of front cover with purple smoke dancing behind the seductively curled font. The names of the authors center the bottom of the book in strong white font over a background of pale columns wreathed in ivy against a dark gray sky. The cover is very arresting and is an excellent fit to the stories contained in the book.

The first story in the book is Merciless: House of Gravori by Lara Adrian. I really felt like this story leapt straight into emotional turmoil and action instead of leading into the action with details. It was almost as if you were snatched up in the middle of a run and forced to keep pace or die, but it was exhilarating! The details that were necessary (no more, no less) were fed into the story as it progressed, such as who the Nephilim were and how the Incubus/Nephilim relationship functioned, and what powers were related to both races and any outliers. Out for revenge for the professional murder of his brother, the lead male in this delicious tale is taking no prisoners, or wait…yes he is – he is taking the head guard of the people he suspects are responsible for his brother’s death! It just so happens she is a stone cold fox, and a perfect complement to the dark Incubus Master of the House of Gravori. This story of Devlin “Devil” Gravori and Blade warrior Nahiri is fast paced and super steamy, with enough intrigue and action to keep even the most easily distracted reader turning pages (or clicking, whichever).

Soulless: House of Romerac by Donna Grant is another quality story – all the stories in this book were fantastic. Each story feeds into the next story, and the houses and characters fit together so well that it is hard to believe they were completed by different authors. House of Romerac was dealt a serious blow when they lost their Master Canaan Romerac, believed to be dead or a deserter to his house. In reality Canaan spent five centuries in the Oubliette, a prison for supernatural criminals, after being betrayed by his own family. Canaan manages to escape, though, and he is out for blood…and sexy time, which will provide the power boost necessary to lay the smack down. In his search for a nearby partner Canaan stumbles across the Nephilim Rayna, who is flying below the radar to avoid her family – she has also sworn off the entire Incubus/Nephilim world. Like the Borg, resisting the sexy Incubus may prove futile for the sassy Nephilim, but the battle is too enchanting too pass up!

Laura Wright’s contribution is Shameless: House of Vipera, and this story features an especially endearing male lead who has felt loss and is suffering from a languishing weakness. The female in this story is full of backbone and ready to charge into battle with the Incubus that intends to claim her on the cusp of her escape from the Harem. The contrast and similarities between these two characters is wonderful, and the details and backgrounds that are provided only serve to enhance the emotions. Rosamund may try to resist the notorious Incubus Master of the House of Vipera, but Scarus is determined to give her exactly what she needs…regardless of her demands.

The last story in this wonderful compilation is Ruthless: House of Xanthe by Alexandra Ivy, and it was a treat to finish up the book. I am a little disappointed that I cannot immediately jump into the next story, but I guess I will just have to anticipate the release of the next book. House of Xanthe has experienced disgrace and a marked loss in the past five hundred years, and the current Master is ready to do what it takes to bring his house back into the running with the other houses. Jian heads out to discover what shady acts the Sovereign (lead Incubus) is up to and stumbles into the Oubliette’s greatest fear, and possibly his greatest challenge. Without giving anything away that is included in earlier books or this story itself, this was another winning tale in a collection of steamy, strongly emotional, and deep stories.

The e-book is selling on Amazon for a sweet 99 cents right now! Go get it, people!

Ruckie

You can find Lara Adrian on her website, Facebook, or Twitter:

http://www.laraadrian.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LaraAdrianBooks

https://twitter.com/lara_adrian

You can find Donna Grant on her website, Facebook, or Twitter:

http://www.donnagrant.com/

https://twitter.com/donna_grant

https://www.facebook.com/#!/donna.gra...

You can find Laura Wright on her website, Facebook, or Twitter:

http://www.laurawright.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LauraWrightO...

https://twitter.com/LauraWrightRom

You can find Alexandra Ivy on her website, Facebook, or Twitter:

http://www.alexandraivy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/alexandra...

https://twitter.com/AlexandraIvy

If you enjoyed my review, please follow me on Facebook or Twitter! You can also find me on my website at www.romancereviewsbyruckie.com – I am happy to talk books almost any time!
Profile Image for Annette.
1,389 reviews8 followers
March 17, 2017
A compilation of four stories by four different authors on the same theme. I was very much interested in this book because it featured two authors I have read and are following. I just knew it would be good. I ended up giving the book four stars because of the third story by an author I had not read. The first two stories by Adrian and Grant were along the lines of what I was used to in their books. Although they are good stories, I don't feel it was their best work. Adrian's story was a good start and the theme/story line really got me interested. Grant's sub-theme of revenge was good but could have had a bit more action. Now we come to the unknown author of the third story. I feel that Laura Wright's story "Shameless: House of Vipera", was the best of the four. It just flat out appealed to me and makes me want to check out her other works. The last story by Ivy had so much potential but kind of fell flat for me. I did not click with the dialog. I think she was trying to be erotic but slipped into smutty there a bit in her choice of language. I liked the characters but overall, it just wasn't as good as the first three. If I had to grade each author, I'd give Laura Wright an A, both Lara Adrian and Donna Grant a B- and Alexander Ivy a C.

The stories underlying theme is the world of the Incubi Masters and the search for their true mates among the Nephilim. There is a betrayal among the Incubi that sets some of their Houses on a quest for vengeance and revenge. The Incubi have the ability to enthralled any woman sexually. Their pleasure is to die for but the search for love to them is the deadliest game of all.
Profile Image for a collective of books.
1,518 reviews4 followers
December 2, 2018
Very interesting concept and a great read. Each novella written by an author focuses on an incibi who's a master of a house finding his mate, but each story is an event that ties to a larger plot. While I enjoyed reading most of the authors, I didn't care for Laura Wright's story and writing. It stood out to me and not in the best way. It was different from the others in writing style and especially the dialogue. It seemed too old and proper. Other than that I'm enjoying the story and looking forward to finding out what happens.
Profile Image for Alejandra Guerrero.
1,687 reviews5 followers
December 14, 2024
I rated and reviewed the books individually, so I just want to say that overall it wasn't too bad. Keep in mind that this series is incomplete, volume two ends in a very unsatisfying cliffhanger, and most likely the series will never be finished. So I won't recommend anyone to start this, because it will only end in frustration, especially the way most of the authors (except, it seemed, Lara Adrian) didn't give any fucks about the world or the characters, which is painfully evident in volume two.
Profile Image for Debra.
878 reviews
March 31, 2021
NORMALLY I detest novellas but this one worked almost as one piece and my only complaint was it was too damn short I could have quite easily listened to it all day and night. Now I figure out how to get the rest because I feel like I have been left hanging which I detest even more then novellas. This could be difficult with my finances the way they are thanks to this pandemic *sigh*
Profile Image for DarcLibrarian .
325 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2021
Masterful Paranormal Romance

If you love seriously hot demon romance then these books are for you. I fell in love with ALL the Incubi Masters and the strong women they fall in love with. There is action a plenty and steamy love scenes hot enough to melt my kindle in this unputdownable box set.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,955 reviews5 followers
January 9, 2022
Fantastic selection of four stories written from some of my favorite author and about four masters of their houses and the women they are fated for.
These stories blend so well together and have me wanting to grab the next volume.
Wonderfully told with some strong women that are just as interesting as the men they fall for.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
269 reviews4 followers
September 4, 2023
Der erste Band dieser Reihe hat mich eindeutig nicht so überzeugt wie der zweite.
Ich habe den zweiten Band ‚Grenzenlose Leidenschaft‘ zuerst gelesen und war wirklich begeistert von den 4 Kurzgeschichten darin. Leider konnten die 4 Kurzgeschichten in diesem Band da leider nicht mithalten, was mich doch etwas enttäuscht hat.
Profile Image for Juanita.
121 reviews
May 30, 2017
What a treat. Angels plus Incubus

Fun read written by four wonderful writers. Succubus are no more no one knows why. A Master Incubus has been slain with his human lover. Why ??
If you enjoy intrigue and sex start reading. Got to go , just bought second book.
Profile Image for Angie.
769 reviews21 followers
March 1, 2018
I thought this book was great. It has four novella in it by four different authors but each one intertwines to create a cohesive story. They each had the author’s distinctive writing styles without feeling like you’re reading a whole new book. Definitely worth the read.
Profile Image for Tameka.
2,340 reviews3 followers
June 6, 2018
This was an interesting take on the Succubus. I do love how each story regardless of how how unique was able to tie back to each other in some form or fashion. This is a prime example of how one never knows another's background stoey and you can only imagine.
Profile Image for Nola Arganbright.
1,592 reviews32 followers
November 1, 2018
Meeting of two worlds

Laura Adrian is o e of my favorite paranormal writers. This book was an example of why her writing is so loved. Excellent characters, pure passion and a well developed plot give the reader a whole otherworldly experience in reading.
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