Tempt Me by R. G. Alexander (Bone Daddy #2)
Paranormal Romance
November 1, 2011
Trade Paperback
Berkley Heat

Reviewed by Helyce

Gabriel Toussaint Giodarno is a mess. When he came home to New Orleans to try and get to know his mother and twin sister, having grown up apart from them since he was a young boy, he certainly didn’t expect to be taken over by an evil spirit who would then use him to try and kill his sister. But that is exactly what happened. Now, confused and scared of what he is or is becoming, he’s staying away from his family in an effort to keep them safe. He’s drinking too much, having meaningless sex, all to try and just “feel” something. Gabriel is worried that he is evil; that he draws darkness to himself and therefore to others and he will not bring that to his family.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what Emmanuel says he must do. Emmanuel is a guardian angel/spirit guide of sorts and he’s been assigned to Gabriel. He doesn’t have all the facts, just that he is to encourage and guide Gabriel back to his family. He wants Gabriel to go home and see his mama, a well respected and powerful Mambo. Emmanuel is sure that once Gabriel goes home and tells his mama what he’s been experiencing that she will be able to help him. But Gabriel is fighting him all the way. Finally, Emmanuel takes matters into his own hands. Even after Emmanuel gets Gabe home, though, he refuses to tell his mother what is going on.

That is, until Gabriel meets Angelique Rousseau. She is beauty and light and she makes him ‘feel’ more than he’s felt in all of his life. Their attraction to each other is instant; but she is young. Worse, she is the baby sister of his friend Celestin who would sooner beat him up as let him get anywhere near Angelique. Angelique is a strong young woman, however, and she has set her sights on Gabriel. She wants him and she won’t let anyone stand in her way.

Gabriel really doesn’t understand what is happening to him. As children, it was clear from the beginning that his sister was special because she could see spirits. Unfortunately, as soon as he showed signs of having a gift as well, his father took him away from everything he’d known and moved to Italy where he was literally beaten until he pushed his gift down deep. So much so that it became non-existent; until he came home and was possessed by the evil spirit of a djab. Even though the djab was banished, Gabriel still only feels darkness and he worried that his gift is exactly that. Dark, evil, everything his sister is not. All he knows is that when he’s with Angelique the darkness that always seems to be around him is replaced with light. Unfortunately, Angelique has drawn something else to her as well and it will take Gabriel and all their friends to figure out what it is-but only Gabriel’s gift can save her.

Tempt Me is the sequel to Possess Me. Though I enjoyed Tempt Me just fine as a standalone, I think I would have loved it even more had I read Possess Me, especially where the character of Emmanuel is concerned. The author does a good job at giving just enough back-story so that you know what happened in the previous book and can appreciate the cast of characters herein. Gabriel and Angelique are beautiful and very sexy together. I love how the author used the metaphor of darkness and light to explore the conflict between this couple and I loved the look we get of the magical world of voodoo and the gifts bestowed onto this group of people. I especially enjoyed the character of Emmanuel who seems to be caught between both worlds. Whether he is a ghost or a spirit is not clear, because he can show himself when he wants to. He is somewhat of a voyeur at times as he is never really very far from Gabriel. What comes through, however, is that he is sad, lonely and he is waiting. And when he completes whatever the powers that be have asked him to do, he will be rewarded and I cannot wait to read that story! I look forward to what Ms. Alexander has in store for us!

Rating: B+

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Under the Covers – 4/5
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