Phantom Pleasures (Signet Eclipse) [Mass Market Paperback]

3.5 Stars

Business heiress and hotel developer, Alexa Chandler, inherits an island in Florida from her deceased father. On this Island is a castle that was moved there years before from Europe. The island and the castle conjure images from Alexa's youth where she used to fantasize about castles and prince charming. Ignoring the rumors about the haunted island and the castle that won't allow in visitors she sets off to see her new prize. She has her heart set on making this a luxurious getaway.

When she gets to the castle a portrait of a man calls to her, she can hear a whisper beckoning her and as she is captivated by the man in the portrait, she touches it and inadvertently releases the "phantom." Damon Forsyth has been trapped in that painting and in that castle for centuries, when he is released from the portrait he is taken in by the red haired beauty who released him.

OK, I have very mixed feelings about this story. The part that really lowered the rating for me was the main couple; they just didn't have any chemistry for me. A minute after meeting, after setting this Phantom free, Alexa has sex with him. I just couldn't buy it. I realize this is fantasy and believe me I have no problems imagining the impossible. But it seemed to me that even in the land of make-believe a woman would have to digest and accept the phantom factor for say maybe 5 or 10 minutes before jumping said phantoms' bones. It was like men pop out of paintings everyday around her, no big deal.

Then the Phantom/Damon was pretty much a big time jerk. He ran hot to cold in seconds and she just kept coming back for more. I would have left his sorry bum in the castle and found my self another oil based boyfriend! ;) It's hard to get involved in a story when you don't care about the two main characters. Luckily the secondary characters of Cat and Ben had plenty of sizzle, they really made this story. They had all the chemistry and likeability the main couple lacked.

The actual storyline itself is fanciful and well told. Julie Leto created a tale about Gypsies and magic, curses and love, lost brothers and missing civilizations. I loved the story, how Damon got in the painting, the conclusion and I am looking forward to the next book, Phantom's Touch, in December. All in all a good story that could have used a little more time developing the main love story.

Cherise Everhard, April 2008

Alexa Chandler has, since her father's death, dedicated a hundred percent of her energies and time to the running of the Crown Chandler Empire to the detriment of her love life, such as it is. So when Alexa discovers her father left her a secluded island, with its very own castle, she seizes the chance to make her girlish romantic fantasies come true, even if there is no Prince Charming waiting for her.

But as Alexa begins to explore the island and castle, her brother gives her a "protection" charm that sets off a chain of events that turn Alexa's life upside down. Suddenly, Alexa awakens the phantom that lived within the sole item in the seemingly abandoned castle - a painting, she is experiencing passion the likes of which she never imagined possible and her brother, Jacob, is upping his usual strange behavior. But when Alexa discovers there is much more at play than a single piece of real estate she discovers things she never thought possible - will she accept the unbelievable or will her stubbornness condemn a man to a magical prison for more years?

Phantom Pleasures is a paranormal treasure hunt that will keep surprising you at every turn. Alexa is a modern-day Cinderella, except that she is the one with the money, status, and a castle to boot. Alexa believes that the only thing lacking in her life is a passionate lover that only intrudes in her life at nightfall and conveniently disappears at sunrise. However, when she gets exactly that with Damon, the phantom that inhabits her castle, Alexa slowly learns that there is more to life than keeping her late father's empire alive. While the paranormal element within the book is strong, its importance in the plot is haphazard and not really explored or explained fully. Also, the abundance of secondary characters, which at times were more interesting that the main couple, left little room for the development of the main storyline and present a unifying thread in the action that brought all the different sub-plots together before the very end of the story. In the end, Phantom Pleasures is an interesting and entertaining read for lovers of paranormal romances.

Sabella
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I have to agree with the other reviewers, Cat and Ben were the much better couple and I would have loved to have seen the whole book revolve around the two of them. I never felt a connection or spark between the main hero and heroine, Alexa and Damon. They fell flat for me, I only started to enjoy the story when Cat, Ben, and Paschal came into the story. I even found myself skip the pages where Alexa and Damon were featured to read on about the secondary players. I'll read the next one just to catch up with Cat and Ben again!!!