Tempting Evil (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 3) Reviews

• Best of the series

  
  By A3AFCZTWL5VNNR on 2007-05-07
  As much as I disliked Kissing Sin, I liked Tempting Evil. Maybe because there is more substance and action in this book. Riley, almost a full guardian, is placed as the sexual entertainment and fighter (among other women) at Deshon Starr's estate - He is the kingpin of the great crime cartel that is responsible for the breeding labs and the experimental cloning.
  Riley's psychic powers are growing, as is her strength. This assignment will prove her mettle as a guardian. Although reluctant, she is determined to stop Starr's cartel, and if possible stop Starr.
  The action is nonstop and the story progresses Riley and her guardianship.
  Quinn the ancient vampire and Kellen, the alpha werewolf, vie for Riley's heart. Neither will step aside for the other. Both are very strong characters. There is a lot of sex (willing and not) in this book - moreso than the other books.
  I will be reading the next Riley Jenson book. She has strengthened and is a fuller character. Although she still is on the finding her were soulmate jag. - I think that Quinn may have a different plan, and that's what makes it interesting.
  Tempting Evil is a good read, and the series is back on track.
  
  

• Not too tempting

  
  By A205MVZWDI7JM0 on 2007-04-01
  Riley Jenson is closing in on the bad guys in this one and continuing all her sexual relationships but just like book 2 (Kissing Sin) this book did not do for me what book 1 (Full Moon Rising) did: suprise me, excite me and interest me. I think it's time for Keri Arthur to switch the story line to a different character or have Riley do more than re-act to the things that are happening in her life. Since I read the first 3 I will read the 4th book but I don't expect much.
  
  

• Just keeps gettin better & better

  
  By A1IRV5S2ABCMPH on 2007-03-09
  The 3rd installment of the Riley Jenson series was as entincing as the first two novels. The story picks up where the 2nd book left off, Riley is about to find the person who has been behind all the cloning and who had kidnapped her. And like Misha said in the last book, she somehow knows this person. Filled with mystery, suspense, action, a dash of humor and of course sex, this novel lives up to its series. There is quite a bit more sex in this book than the other 2 that I can recall of, but it is not horribly done, it moves through somewhat quickly so you are not reading pages of people having sex. It moves on quickly to return to the plot. Overall a good read! Can't wait till the next one comes out at the end of the month!
  
  

• will appeal to fantasy, romance, horror, and mystery fans

  
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2007-03-04
  On an earth where supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters exist side by side with humans, a Guardian of the Directorate of Other Races is police, judge, jury and executioner for when a preternatural being breaks the law. One of the members of the Directorate is Riley who is training to become a guardian; she passed the test when she survived fighting the vampire Gautier and drawing his blood while fighting.
  
  Riley, a half vampire-half werewolf, is ready to infiltrate Deshon Starr's crime cartel. She intends to make him pay for kidnapping her, abusing her and injecting her with ARCI-23, which enhances her powers l as well as causing her to gain new ones. To get into Deshon's compound she has to pass as one of the fighters in the ring and she has unexpected help from the psychic Dia who will do this in exchange for Riley getting her daughter out of Deshon's control. Once she is there she makes another ally, the spirit lizard Ikotr who will aid her if she finds the device that will free his friends. Quinn, the vampire who wants her but doesn't trust werewolves because they don't make commitments, is on the estate hoping to kill Deshon because he killed a friend of his. Riley's life is in danger from many directions and she needs to takes the final step that will make her either a full fledged guardian or otherwise she will be another victim of Deshon's madness.
  
  This is an exciting and ensorcelling tale that will appeal to fantasy, romance, horror, and mystery fans. The villain is a vile antagonist who creates genetic mutations in the lab to act as his assassins, as well as clones which he grows to control. Riley has more courage, and strength than even her fraternal twin brother and she will do what is right at any personal cost. Keri Arthur is a talent on a par with Tanya huff, Kim Harrison and Laurell K.Hamilton.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  

• Interesting story line

  
  By A25P9AZGDTHIAD on 2007-03-14
  This series of books recently released have been a very interesting story-line. My only regret for this series is the amount of sex scenes. They aren't as long as LKH's Anita Blake series or nearly as explicit. But they are more frequent then my personal tastes enjoy. The overall plot however is a good one and worth the read.
  
  
• OK, Still a Fan But-- Weakest of the Trio
  By A2OIX4KBD3FVC5 on 2007-03-21
  This book is when all the complaints about this character really hit home. I have nothing but praise for an author that can create such a compelling series BUT I am now tired of the whining about finding "Mr Right" vs the lead female characters demanding sex drive that insists on "Mr Right Now". I also don't understand the logic behind knowing that a major character is one of the bad guys yet giving him full access to everyone and everything. The psychic/physical powers that the lead female are developing really ring familiar bells of LKH and the fabulous "Anita". This is still a great read, but it made me impatient for some growth in the series.
  
  
• A true page turner..
  By A3LLPPHBO6I51M on 2007-05-14
  If you like paranormal books, then this series by Keri Arthur is one you shouldn't miss. Riley Jensen is back (Full Moon Rising-Book 1, and Kissing Sin-Book 2) and stronger than ever, discovering new side-effects of an experimental fertility drug that was injected in her (Book 1) and how they enhance her already questionable powers (because of her vampire/werewolf blood).
  I personally love this whole series, it is one of my favorite reads and I always anticipate the next one being released. One piece of advice though is to make sure to pick up the first two before reading the third one, that way you'll be caught up on Riley's storyline.
  
  
• It was okay
  By A126YLPKFPNQDS on 2007-07-18
  Riley is sucked into a job she never wanted...from the paper pool to deep undercover. She finally finds the inlet she needs to enter into the crime bosses home of business, only to discover that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. I gotta give it to Arthur when it comes to action, but her dialogue and plot bite.
  
  Sorry guys, but I definitely had a few chuckles reading all those rave reviews. It makes me wonder if any one of you bother to read literature. You know, those things with hard covers and pages in-between where somebody actually has to have a gift, a talent, to create a work of art? Yea, yea, I know about 70% (probably even more) of the books out there would sooo not be considered good literature, but still, I expect my writer to be able to write plausible dialogue. (i.e. "I want you" . . . then Riley says, "As I you.") Huh. How many people you know out there use those words. "As I you." Hmmm. I don't know about you but I can't think of one person. This is only one example of many within the book. Then there is the "whispering wind." I don't know about you, but I was beginning to think this "whispering wind," was another character in the book, being that it was mentioned so often.
  
  Lastly, and most obviously, PLEEEEESE, PLEEESE, give me a break, Arthur. Really now. How realistic is it for a character to miraculously develop all these numerous and untrained talents and be able to use them and defeat EVERYBODY she comes across. In the previous novel, the bad guy had such unbelievable mind control over everyone (i.e. Misha and all the clones) that he could control them and read them from large distances, but she somehow manages to keep him out of her mind at close range? Duh! Do we look that stupid? Well, according the other 10 reviewers, apparently some of us do, but I don't, and I don't think others would be impressed. Sorry, but I'll take a pass on this series.
  
  
• Paranormal
  By A14ZH47ECQAIX2 on 2007-05-12
  I love the Riley Jensen series of books. Keri Arthur is a terrific writer.
  She develops each of her characters so you feel like you know them
  personally. The action is nonstop and it's hard to put one of her books
  down without finishing the whole book.
  
  
  
• The Most Original Paranormal Series In Years!
  By A1V96TPZ77XO5D on 2007-05-13
  My name is Riley Jenson. First off let's get something straight between us. I was born a bitch, so don't push it. Yeah, that's right. My mother was a werewolf and my father was a vampire, and I play by my own rule, well somewhat. I do work for an organization that keeps an eye on the unlawful activities of the supernatural races and they can really cramp my style sometimes. Now, my latest mission is to infiltrate the heavy guarded pleasure den of Deshon Starr. This is one crazy guy that likes to mix up his creatures, if you get my drift. And in more ways than one, you will find out after you read my story. So let's get cracking we have a lot of ground to cover.
  
  TEMPTING EVIL is by authoress Keri Arthur. In a sharp-tongued first person voice, Ms. Arthur lashes out with the accuracy of a master swordsman, penning one of the best new series this reviewer has read in years. TEMPTING EVIL is a combination of fantasy, paranormal, thriller and futuristic. All tightly woven to give the ultimate reading experience from a spellbinding storyteller. And sexy--white-hot sexy from the word go.
  
  Riley is one tough cookie. Along with being a kick-butt woman, she also is one sexually hungry creature that likes her men served up hot and hard, and frequently at that. She is a wolf, and they have no problem being promiscuous. If it looks good, do it.
  
  At this time of her life, she has three different men vying for her attention, and she loves it. But right now, things are hairy with her new assignment and all the dangers at every corner she encounters. She will be tested, over and over again. Pushing her strength, intelligence, and creatively to their limits, but this is one woman that is more than up to the challenge.
  
  TEMPTING EVIL is amazingly creative, and it was so good, this reviewer went out and personally bought the first two books in the series to live in the heated moonlight along with Riley. Ms. Arthur is sure to be a household name in her genre, mark this reviewer's words. If you are hungering for a new author, with loads of talent, then run...don't walk to pickup a copy of TEMPTING EVIL.
  
  Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2007
  Courtesy of Love Romances and More
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Riley Jenson Rocks!
  By A14C848YS72NAA on 2007-05-14
  It's not often that you see the better side to werewolves when thier compared to vampires. Many authors prefer to give the view of the wolves just being the hired muscle. This is NOT true of Riley Jenson. Don't get me wrong, she is quite tough, but she is also depicted as powerful, seductive, and intelligent. The sex clubs of the werewolves is a place I think that humanity craves, but gets hung up on it's victorian era mentality of chastity and sex with strings attached. The fact that they show a little of her relaxing moments in with the adventure allows the mind time to recouperate and catch a breather. In sets a tango's tempo to the story and enchants you. The only thing that I will complain on is that at the end I want to keep reading. Maybe the next book will alow a little after-glow to the story.
  
  
• A can't-put-down read!
  By A2G9YYQM8XHFKE on 2007-08-19
  I'm in the middle of reading this book and loving every second of it. Its better than book 2 and about the same as book 1. I recommend this book, especially to those who have already read books 1 and 2. It's preferable if you read these books in order as you will have the back story and know who everyone is and how they met etc. Its like 1 continuous story split into a couple of books. A must read!
  
  
• Prefer the previous two
  By A3GYYXVV4IXEA1 on 2007-12-06
  Teh book is ok, going on with the plot develloped in the first one, but it seemed somehow weaker... don't know why, maybe because all the books are very similar between them, and because the female lead is always thinking with her... Yeah, ok, I know this is erotica, but then, some of the sex that happens on the book seems to happen with some bad excuse to get it going, at least in these book.
  
  Anyway, I still want to read the following two!
  
  
• PERFECTLY GOOD READ BUT NOT AS STRONG AS THE OTHER TWO IN THE SERIES
  By A23YHFEEJTG5O3 on 2007-12-22
  Keri Arthur set a high benchmark in terms of thrills and spills in her previous 2 books so this seemed a little lacklustre in comparison. Otherwise it is a good book with all of Arthur's trademark sexy, dark intensity, continuous action and imaginative array of otherworldly creatures.
  
  Despite the various oblique clues throughout all 3 books and a fair bit of thought on my part, the bad guy was not someone who even made it onto my shortlist so expect the author to keep you guessing right up until the end.
  
  Dont read this book unless you have read the other two.
  
  
• Tempting Evil
  By A2XZNQNK66HV0O on 2008-05-26
  Excellent job of connecting this book with books 1 and 2. At least some questions get answered here. Can't wait to see what happens next.
  
  

• Dangerous Games (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 4)
• Kissing Sin (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 2)
• Embraced By Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)
• Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1)
• The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 6)