3 Wine Glass #Review of Smolder by Lisa Carlisle

Title: Smolder (formerly Smoldering Nights)
Series: Underground Encounters #1
Author: Lisa Carlisle
Format: Kindle Edition, 138 pages
Published:  September 5th 2017 (first published August 8th 2012)
ISBN: ASIN B0755L9NBM
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Amazon
Rating: 3 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Ice blue eyes. Intense stare. Incredible French accent.
Vampire.

Had I missed the signs?

At the rock climbing gym, he's a harmless crush. But, when I run into Michel at an underground club, my reality and fantasy worlds collide.

I should walk away, but is it too late to escape. And do I want to? Someone I've wanted for so long is finally within my reach...

But, he lives in a world of dark secrets. And my life is threatened by getting too close to the flames. 

Linda's Thoughts:
The Debut of Lisa’s Steamy New Underground Encounters Series!

“Listen, buddy, I just saw a wall blow up, a man whom I was kissing sprouted fangs and jumped out a window, and now two men, if they even are men, are after me. So cut the crap. Who are you? No, what are you? Why are they trying to kill you? And what the hell is going on!” 

Lisa Carlisle has re-released her 2012 Smoldering Nights re-titled as Smolder with additional new content. It’s novella-length and serves to introduce her Underground Encounters steamy paranormal romance series which is slated to feature sexy shifters, thirsty vampires, wicked witches, and gorgeous gargoyles. This opener is the story of Nike, a female firefighter named after the Greek goddess, and Michael, a vampire nightclub and rock-climbing gym owner. The story is told from the hero’s and heroine’s alternating POVs.

Nike lives a stressful life as a firefighter, works off the pressure at a rock climbing gym and releases her inhibitions every chance she gets via music and dancing at Vamps, a local, underground goth club.  On one of her club visits, she happens to see Michael, a hot hunk from the gym she’s been drooling over. He has a French accent, a body to die for and eyes that she could lose herself in.

Little did Nike know, but Michael has been fantasizing about Nike too but has been fighting the attraction because he holds a dark secret. This evening, the temptation offered by Nike is too much for him and Michael asks her to join him in a private room upstairs. Nike is ecstatic. Little does she know that she’s about to get a quick education on the supernatural elements who secretly co-exist with mortals.

Michael is actually a nightwalker and the owner of Vamps. Just as things between Michael and Nike get interesting, an enemy seeking revenge against Michael launches a surprise attack on the club. Nike’s firefighting instincts kick in and there’s a lot of fast-paced action in this scene as the gargoyles defending the club fight back. During this interlude, Michael’s enemy scents Michael on Nike and realizes that Michael cares about her, thereby making her his target also. Michael and Nike are forced to run and fall instantly in love and lust. Is there a future for them? You’ll have to pick up Smolder to find out!

Michael and Nike display some delicious chemistry. Michael is sex-on-a-stick with fangs and Nike is an independent, strong heroine. Their sex scenes are hot, steamy and well-written.

Lisa is a favorite author of mine. Unfortunately, this tale was just too predictable for me. The characters needed to be more developed and the story lacked the fun, imaginative quality that I’ve come to expect from Lisa’s books. That said, I did enjoy Smolder, but it’s not one of my favorite reads from Lisa. However, I look forward to where Lisa will be taking this series as I do enjoy paranormal romances.



Suggested Reading Order: 
Smolder (Book #1)
Fire (Book #2)
Ignite (Book #3)
Burn (Book #4)
Heat (Book #5)
Blaze (Book #6)
Combust (Book #7)