In Vogue with Books: The Manhattan Ten Series by Lola Dodge {BLOG TOUR + REVIEW}

Book Title: Temptress
Author: Lola Dodge
Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Romance
Publication Date:

[REVIEW COPY]

Blurb:

Kiss your powers goodbye.

Kidnapping a super-powered suspected felon from a Vegas bachelor party is another day at the office for Jenny Ray, alias Temptress. With one kiss, any naughty supe’s powers are hers. Except this time she’s caught by her mark’s boss, who’s no ordinary superhero.

It’s Thinktank, leader of the toughest hero crew around. One destroyed men’s room and near-toilet-drowning later, Jenny’s forced to steal an innocent hero’s powers.

For a super brain, Tank’s feeling pretty idiotic. First, he let Jenny close enough to get to him. Second, he’s helpless against the tide of desire that rises in him every time he kisses her. Which he’s doing a lot, since she’s trying to give him back his power—only it’s not working. As he shadows her on her various freelance casino security jobs, he realizes she’s no she-demon—she’s a time bomb. Her acquired powers are shredding her, body and soul.

As they give in to desire, a shadowy figure from Jenny’s past surfaces with a kidnapping plan of his own. Jenny will do anything—even level Las Vegas—to rescue the man she loves. But there may not be anything left of her when the dust settles.

Product Warnings
Contains high-stakes poker, high-end cocktails, and high-flying over Las Vegas skies. Never drink and fly!

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My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Like some others out there, this book reminded me too of X-Men to some extent. I love those movies and reading a book that revolves around the very theme of a group of superheroes that have different powers and a perfect mix of romance made me like it all the more.

Among all the superheroes, Thinktank and Temptress are kind of the lead characters in this book. I liked their story, how the romance started and developed. Even though the author did not show any explicit romantic situation and though it seemed a wee bit fast at times I can overlook that as it's not possible to give a detailed romance within this short span of the book.

I like the fact that the superhero and villain world is not made invisible or disguised in the normal human world. All are aware of them and for some reason, I loved this idea. One thing that bugged me little was there weren't much description of the group Manhattan Ten itself. Some information on that, and maybe also mentioning why people are okay with having superheroes around them would have cleared my doubts.

As characters, I loved both Jenny and Jason. Jenny is the 'Temptress' who uses her power stealing kissing ability to kiss the superheroes that are under trial out of their powers. In contrast to her name, she isn't a seducer at heart, rather a normal girl who leads somewhat lonely life. In a turn of events, she is forced to steal Thinktank's power too, even though this is not what she had planned. After it's done, she evn tries to kiss him over and over again, to give him his powers back, something's wrong.

Then there is Jason, or the Thinktank, who could easily be seen as both a superhero and the guy next door who probably would make your heart do a somersault. They are both superheroes, in their own very different ways and yet they manage to tune in so easily. I liked how the author didn't overdo the whole superhero thing. She kept the real persons alive under the overall superhero gear, which made it easy for me to connect and feel for them.

The other characters are also well introduced and built. In such a short length of the book, the author has made it possible to have the taste of everything and not too much of one thing as well. I remember taking up the second book as soon as I finished this one.

***

Book Title: Ivory
Author: Lola Dodge
Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Romance
Publication Date:

[REVIEW COPY]

Blurb:

That cold day in hell? It’s here…

Manhattan Ten, Book 2

If Ivory’s fellow flight attendants whisper that she has ice in her veins, they’d be right. She’s spent years ruthlessly suppressing her dangerous ice powers, pretending she didn’t grow up wild on the tundra.

Her legendary coolness has held solid—until a crazed attacker snaps her composure, unleashing her ice beast and blowing her cover. And she’s not sure if the man who defuses the situation is any less dangerous.

When Panther’s trans-Atlantic catnap is interrupted by Ivory’s ice spear through his mark’s gut, he doesn't hesitate to claim her as one of the Manhattan Ten. It’s the only way to shield her from prosecution. It doesn't hurt that the Nordic beauty puts his inner cat on the prowl.

Panther tempts Ivory in every smoldering way, but to let him melt her resistance is a risk she can’t afford. But when her past rises up to claim her, Pan is caught in the crossfire…and the only way to save him is to let the beast claim her, body and soul.

Product Warnings
Contains one smoldering ice vixen and the sexy beast man who wants to get his claws all over her. Make sure your icemaker is in tip-top shape before reading. Mukluks optional.

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My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

This is the second book in The Manhattan Ten series but was published before book 1. And still, you would never feel the story'd been compromised for this reason. This book narrates a very different story, two different lead with different perils to deal with, and all of these basing on the very familiar concept of superheroes and romance from the previous book.

Ivory, or Valdis, is the female lead here. And pretty obviously, she has her own powers. But unlike the Temptress from the previous book, she can't let anyone know about it, let alone use it publicly. SO she tries to look as normal as possible, but when it comes to having superpowers, 'normal' is a luxury one can't ask for. Ivory is left with no other option than using her ice power to bring the situation under control when the air condition goes out of order. Then not to mention the guy nitucung what she had done and her tackling him, everything contributes in blowing up her cover pretty clearly. This is when Panther appears in th picture.

Even though I was finding it weird that the name was 'Panther', but after knowing his superpowers I feel it's the most appropriate name for him. He has the power to shift, has a touch of wilderness to his nature, a big flirt and all the things that makes him hot all the more. I liked the chemistry between Panther and Ivory. Starting from the names, they may appear as totally different persons, but somehow they can't deny the connection they feel towards each other. What I loved about these two characters is that the author has given them both a touch of an unique wilderness, making them all the more desirable. Panther wants to save Ivory by taking her in The Manhattan Ten. later Ivory is faced with her past and must take steps to save Panther from getting in the crossfire. At some points, I felt their actions and connection was way better than the Temptress and Thinktank (though I loved them as well)

As this book was published prior to the former one, I guess that is the reason there were some more details in the book that helped me clear some of my earlier doubts. I got to know more about the Manhattan Ten and I think I love them as much as I love X Men! If you've read book one and liked it, this installment will never disappoint you at all!

***

Book Title: Belle Fury

Author: Lola Dodge
Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Romance
Publication Date:

[REVIEW COPY]

Blurb:

This is one diva with killer moves…

Manhattan Ten, Book 3

Belle Fabian has worked her toes to the bone to become an internationally renowned ballerina. When the curtains rise on her career-making performance of Giselle, she brings down the house—literally.

Mid-dance, she manifests a superpower that nearly destroys the Metropolitan Opera House, wiping out a line of chorus girls and sending the audience dashing for the exits. As she flees the theater, she assumes the worst. Her hard-won career is over.

The Manhattan Ten’s leader is playing hooky with his new lady, so it falls to Red Ruin to round up the super-powered danseur. It’s just one small, bird-boned woman hiding in a convenience store. How hard could it be?

Their first encounter generates sparks that border nuclear and their chemistry sends Belle’s powers into overdrive, but their perfect storm of passion is marred by her suspicion that Ruin is holding back. That secret that could turn the sweet burn of Ruin’s lightning into a permanent scar on her heart.

Warning: Contains one lightning-hot hero and a not-so-blushing ballerina. May cause third-degree burns and spontaneous tango.

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My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

I have mixed feelings about this book. No doubt, after reading the first and the second book, I couldn't wait any longer before starting the third one. This one is good too, but a little different that the former two.

While the previous books had dealt more with romance and superhero-superpower themes mingled with action, it's more of a love story of superhero, minus the action and the superhero-working-for-greater cause. I missed the way the previous books were dealing with different angles. I'm not saying this book is bad, cause it has its own charm. Belle Fury focuses more on the inner selves and personal lives of two superheroes, namely Belle and Red Ruin. I loved their chemistry, though the love seemed to have happened in a rush. And don't think for once that this book contains all sunny things, as Belle and Red Ruin do have problems to face.

What I like most about this third book (apart from the hero- the very obvious!) is the female lead, Belle. She has struggled and made her way to so far to become a ballerina. Now her superpowers are interrupting with her dreams, and superhero or not, it's not that easy to let go of the thing that makes you YOU. It was really nice, for a slight change, to see a superhero willing to have her dream back in exchange for her powers. Apart from that, Belle is actually a likable character and you would often find it hard to believe she is a superhero, seeing her care-free and down-to-earth attitude.

Belle Fury is not like Temptress or Ivory, but as a part of the series (though it can be read a s a standalone too) you can read it, to feel a sense of completion :D And it's a worthy-read for at least Belle, if not for anything else.

AUTHOR BIO:

Lola Dodge was forged in the suburbs, tested in the retail wastelands and reborn as a romance writer after several strong cocktails. Armed with her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, she travels the world in search of story fodder and men with accents.

Connect with the Author on her WEBSITE

The Manhattan Ten Series is also Available on SAMHAIN WEBSITE --- iTUNES