Stacey

Zarek's book has finally come to audible with a bang if you must know my opinion. In the world of Sherilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter's I have enjoyed almost all of the stories, but Zarek's beyond all touched my heart and tore at me in ways that made me cry like a hurt child with Zarek. He introduced in another of the books Talon's story, but we are given a view that doesn't share much.
In this we are given the pure torment Zarek faces on a day by day basis his life has been a series of tortures and you feel them as no other.
I feel that this is one if not the best book in the series. The last few have left a lot to be desired in the fact that they have fallen from Dark Hunter universe. This was still true Dark Hunter at it's best. Zarek is flawed and tormented but his anger has a point he even says it at one point you can only a beat a dog so many times. He's vicious but with purpose we come to know so much of what made him what he is. And I hope Audible gets Valerius story next because it has Zarek in it and I loved it too. Personally, out of the entire series the first 9 or 10 books may be my faves. But ZAREK wins it for me in the end:)

Black Lace books are erotic fiction, there are some that will go into this thinking it's a romance with a more sex than normal. A Gentleman's Wager is an erotic tale. It relates around Lady Bella Rushdale who finds her sex exploits becoming blase after discovering the new owner of her favorite tristing spot sunbathing naked. From her perch she observes him amusing himself & decides she wants to seduce him. She finds herself attracted to the new landowner Lucerne Marlinscar. She is invited for a stay with other guests at his newly renovated property. Bella decides will be the perfect time to put her plan into place with Lucerne. Only to discover among the many guests a darkly handsome man Marquis (Vaughan) Pennerley among the guests & with eyes for Lucerne as well. Bella suspects something between the two men but wants to prove to Vaughan that Lucerne will choose her.
A great battle of wills between Vaughan & Bella begins for the affections of Lucerne. The tale is well written & you don't know who is good or bad in the triangle.
Also, Louisa, Bella's friend who isn't experienced & isn't sure about the attentions being thrown her way by Vaughan as well as the man she's infatuated with Wakefield. The story is wrought with intrigue & deception with many twists & turns. The love scenes/sex is graphic, but also emotional & you feel uncertainty/pain/pleasure/vulnerability of the cast of characters.
Just thinking of this as an Erotica is an understatement, there is an underlying story of forbidden/unrequited love & the lengths people will go to have their desires for another come true. You could easily remove the graphic scenes from the book & still have a very interesting book. I found myself concerned for the characters & how the story would play out. I enjoyed this book & am glad now that I bought it. She turned what could be a bodice ripper into an intriguing erotic story that was worth the read.