The Tao of Sex (Harlequin Blaze) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tracy is the landlord of an apartment complex in Champaign, Illinois where Nathan Gao, a student from Hong Kong is conducting sexual awakening classes (called Tantric Sex) in his apartment room to pay for his college. She fantasizes about him, and even attends one of his 'classes' where he preaches about 'awakening the tigress'. (All of his 'student's' are white-American girls; and, according to Nathan, he had thought he would be able to make easy money by making those type of girls believe anything).

However, Tracy believes it's a hoax but Tracy is somehow struck with the 'tigress awakening' (or lightening) one day and needs sex, which occurs with Nathan. However, Nathan is afraid of committment; also still somewhat clinging onto his 'Tantric Sex' beliefs, that he can't fall in love with a tigeress.(He teeters back and forth in believing the myth). Meanwhile, Tracy asks a detective friend to run a check on Nathan to see if he is legit.

Later on, while on a 'friendly' date with Nathan, her brother Joey, and Joey's girlfriend....Tracy tells Nathan openly that the police think Nathan's mother is operating a prostitution ring.This is interesting, because Tracy doesn't confront him privately, especially as she is trying to pursue a relationship with Nathan.Too, it turns out that Nathan's mother actually runs a sexual awakening('Tantric Sex') temple in where Nathan fell in love with a woman who had her tigress awakened...and he was kicked out for falling in love with her.

Tracy comes off as a strong-willed woman, although, as shown above...not always making the right decisions. However, Nathan seems to be the one that is not as strong; it's his belief in the Tantric sex (and the scenes at the temple where we meet Nathan's mother who is the head of the temple) that things become a bit hoaky. It becomes jarring with the juxtaposition of the 'fantasy' elements of the Tantric sex, then the 'reality' moments that just have the two getting to know one another.

There are inconsistent characters and situations, as well as situations that don't ring true. Even though there are some fantasy elements, you want to have a sense that you believe in what the characters are going through. Since said fantasy elements don't necessarily jell with the non-fantasy moments, those aspects don't help the characters or the story...

I have read Jade Lee's historical Tigress series and tended to enjoy them for the most part. There were a few that were excellent and some that were not so memorable. The Tao of Sex takes Tantric Sex into modern times.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the heroine, Tracy mostly. She is spunky, classy and dedicated to raising her brother in difficult circumstances. As the landlord of an apartment building she has to be tough as nails but also considerate to her tenants too.

Tracy has secret fantasies about Nathan Gao, one of her tenants. Nathan is from Hong Kong and is a student of Tantric Sex. To support himself as a local college student he offers Tantric sex classes. Tracy stumbles into one and is shocked, four bubbly coeds are bare breasted and Nathan is wearing only a loin type covering. She wants him evicted but Nathan changes her mind when he shows her that her chi is not in harmony.

Nathan realizes that Tracy is a Tigress, which is a woman who can reach heaven (and I do mean literally) through sex. He is quick to tell her that Tantric sex is not really sex and here I had to stifle a groan. Of course it is sex, yes it is more, but it is sex, you only achieve your slice of the heavens engaging in mind blowing intercourse.

Nathan is wary of Tracy. He has been burned in the past by Tigresses. I can't blame him for his caution. It seems that tenets of this tantric sect are obsessed with themselves and other people's feeling matter little in order for them to achieve their own nirvana. A Tigress moves from one sexual relationship to another when her partner can no longer make her go to heaven. Love, except for self, has nothing to do with it. Here is where the book contained many problems for me. Why would seemingly selfless Tracy even consider becoming a member of this sect if it uses men as instruments only to achieve a woman's sexual nirvana? Also Tracy presumably could not contain herself when her Tigress was aroused and would basically be unable to control her lust. This puts her about a notch above a sex addict.

Still, the leads of this novel manage to form a passionate and romantic relationship. Jade Lee did a good job in a short amount of pages of letting the reader understand both characters actions and feelings. Both were fully developed. All in all this rates 2.5 stars

I keep oscillating between a 4.5 and a 5, but am going to stick with the 5. I won't give a summary as that has already been done.
I really liked Nathan, the cute experienced hero trying to start a new life away from the temple, and even Tracy. Tracy becomes the reader's connection just because these concepts are so alien to her. I have to admit that I found myself a bit lost when it really got into yin and yang and the intricacies of the religion (much like Tracy). And yes, there is a lot of sex throughout the novel.
The highlight of this book is truly the relationship between Nathan and Tracy. (After all, it is a romance novel.:) ) They are both searching for love, but Nathan is just too afraid to give in seeing as how tigresses are only interested in heaven and nothing else at least in his experience. I really enjoyed the ending and that pushed this book to a 5. I don't want to ruin it, but I loved how the concept/ending relevation can be applied to real life, even if you don't understand anything about dragons and tigresses. All in all, Jade Lee has picked an interesting concept that was a welcome introduction to me.