The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld, Book 3)

Gena Showalter just keeps on getting better and better with her extraordinary Lords of the Underworld paranormal series for HQN in Book #3, THE DARKEST PLEASURE (July 2008). In the Lords Of the Underworld's Budapest fortress, Reyes is always hurting himself since Pain is his constant companion. Centuries ago, Reyes and his fellow immortal warriors let all the demons of the world out of Pandora's Box and Reyes ended up being the Keeper of Pain. In Los Angeles, Danika Ford is in disguise, broke and working at a greasy diner to try to escape the Lords, who had previously kidnapped her, her sister, mother and grandmother in Budapest and then let them go. However, Aeron, the Keeper of Wrath, has been ordered by Cronus, the King of the Gods, to kill them because they might know too much. So Danika and her relatives were forced to split up and flee for their lives. Meanwhile, Reyes, who is enamored of Danika, has imprisoned Aeron so he will not murder her. Unfortunately the Lords aren't the only ones who are after Danika, since the evil Hunters want to find her to help them destroy the Lords. When Reyes hears the Hunters have captured Danika he goes to her rescue, kills some Hunters and brings her back to Budapest. Unbelievably Danika seems to have a calming effect on his Demon Pain. The only problem is Reyes can't make love without there being pain involved because his demon finds it pleasurable. In the meantime, the other Lords are out searching the globe for the three remaining artifacts: the All-seeing Eye, the Cloak of Invisibility and the Paring Rod, they need to find Pandora's Box that will put an end to their demon curses. Will Danika be able to save her family and still remain with Reyes and what about her strange visions and paintings she creates? And poor Paris, Keeper of Promiscuity, who has made love to countless women but is pining for the only one who has ever rejected him and is lost to him forever? THE DARKEST PLEASURE is the ultimate pleasurable paranormal romance not only for its amazingly clever plot twists, its delightfully witty dialogue but also for its infinitely touching love story between the dark tortured, Reyes and the angelic feisty, Danika, who's finally able to tame him and his inner demon!

I was so looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. You know the main story so far so I won't give those. This is such a heart renching series of books and one of the best I've ever read. To me there is nothing sexier in a man when he is obsessed with a women that he cares about and will do anything to keep her safe and happy. Danika is running for her life and Reyes will do anything to keep her safe, even if that means locking up Wrath, which was sooo hard for him to do.
It was just so moving how much they both cared for each other and were willing to do whatever for the other, even if it was something really hard for them. Like she knew he needed pain even when they were being intimate and she didn't know if she could, but she wanted to for him. This is such a wonderful series and can't wait for Paris and the rest of the gang.

Great as a continuation of the series. Great on its own. Look forward to the next book........So far I have liked all 3 books in the series.

Reyes has known for millenniums that his immortal life is ugly as he hosts the demon Pain ever since he and dark warriors destroyed Pandora and released her box's content. However, after all this time, he faces his most difficult dilemma. He wants Danika Ford like has never desired a woman before, but will have to kill his possessed long time comrade Aeron who contains the demon Wrath while the Titans demand he murder the woman.

Reyes has kept her alive from the crazed Aeron, but feels he failed his mission when Hunters capture her; probably to use as bait. He has avoided her, but now must risk his existence to save her life. However, he also wonders why the Gods need this woman and her family dead.

The latest Lords of the Underworlds saga (see THE DARKEST KISS and THE DARKEST NIGHT) is once again an extremely dark exciting tale in which Gena Showalter's earth seems genuine. The hero is a fascinating brooding protagonist who for the first time since his fall has a sliver of hope although he does not know it as all he can see is battling Aeron to keep him from harming his courageous Danika yet struggles not to harm his long time friend. Though a stand alone, romantic fantasy fans who appreciate a modernization of ancient myths should read the previous two novels; not only are they excellent, they provide depths to this reading pleasure.

Harriet Klausner

THIS WAS QUITE AND PAGE TURNER..I ENJOYED THIS STORY AS WELL.. REYES DEMON WAS PAIN..WHICH HE INFLICTED UPON HIMSELF QUITE OFTEN.. MET AN ANGEL..DANIKA WHICH CALMED HIS BEAST. IT TOOK HER A MINUTE TO REALIZE SHE WAS ACTUALLY ATTRACTED TO HIM..BUT IT ALL WORKED TO BOTH OF THEIR ADVANTAGE.. SHE WAS HIS ANGEL WHO ENJOYED PLEASING HER DEMON..WHICH INVOLED ALITTLE BITING , SCRATCHING AND FRIENDLY STABBING..LOL
CANT WAIT TO SEE WHICH DEMON GENA PICKS NEXT FOR HER NEXT STORY.