Virtual Desire

Firstly, a word of warning: if you are thinking of reading this book, then make sure you read its predecessor 'Virtual Heaven' first, or there'll be a lot of stuff you won't understand. Sadly, though, this may have the same downside for you that it did for me: you will compare the two books, and find this one lacking by contrast. In the first book in the series, 'Virtual Heaven', I loved the character of Vad. Okay, maybe that was partly because he was so gorgeously blonde, and I pictured him as looking like Orlando Bloom in 'The Lord of the Rings' (swoon!). Anyway, I couldn't wait to read his story in this book, 'Virtual Desire'. But boy, was I let down. I mean, don't get me wrong, this is still a reasonably good read, and Ann Lawrence's writing is still better than most others in the romance genre. But this book appeared to have been written in a rush, and the story did not flow the way it should. Some of the conversations between characters made me wonder if they were even listening to each other, or if they were just making random statements to explain the plot twists. More importantly, Vad appeared to lack some of the character traits that made him so endearing in 'Virtual Heaven'. He seemed almost two dimensional in places (and isn't a virtual reality game character actually supposed to appear three dimensional?!) If you've already read 'Virtual Heaven' then you are probably already hooked on this series, and I would encourage you to read this, as it will satisfy your itch for more. However, don't expect it to be an earth-shattering experience. How best to illustrate the difference between the two books? Well, 'Virtual Heaven' is like going on a date with Hugh Jackman--gorgeous and appealing and very sexy! This one's more like a date with Hugh Heffner--there'll still be sex and thrills, but you won't like it half as much, especially since the thrills are old, and looking at the man will make you hark back to better times in the past! Two more points, one good, one bad: I did really like the character of Neil in this. He was very appealing, and I look forward to reading his story in the next book in the series, 'Virtual Warrior'. Less appealing, though, was the cover art on this book, which made Vad look like a steroid-pumping, dark-haired man with dirty GREY hair painted on. Ick! I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but really...

Ms. Lawrence continues the TOLEMAC adventure started in VIRTUAL HEAVEN. The hero and heroine are the friends of Kered and Maggie met in Virtual Heaven. "He was every womans fantasy; he was the virtual reality game hero Vad... And Gwen Marlowe found him snoring away in her video game shop." (from book blurb) Will it end in virtual desire or true love?Vad has set out to restore his honor by completing a quest for the Councillors of Tolemac. He crossed the ice fields in order to find his friend Kered and winds up in our world. He came across in Gwen's store and stays at her home. It turns out that she has the dagger that he is seeking but she doesn't believe his identity. Vad had come to resent his looks and vowed to forsake women until he has found his lifemate. Gwen is a woman from another demention; how can she be his lifemate?The friend he thought a traitor isn't and the Council's quest is actually a deceitful maneuver designed to brand him traitor. Vad and Gwen must be strong enough to straddle both worlds to find honor and the love that is their destiny.This is an entertaining adventure full of romance and intrigue. I appreciate the world building in these stories and highly recommend you read them in order for full enjoyment of TOLEMAC [and if you haven't caught it yet, TOLEMAC is CAMELOT spelled backward].

Not quite as good as Virtual Heaven though. The hero and heroine are the friends of the hero and heroine in Virtual Heaven. It's nice to know what happened to them after the story ended.The reason that it isn't quite as good is because the heroine refuses to believe that Vad is who he says he is. I could understand it if she refuse to believe that he's from a different dimension at first. However, she kept refusing the truth for far too long. I hate it whenever authors overplay a character's disbelief of the impossible when it has happened.What happened in the story is that Vad crossed the ice fields in order to find his friend Derek. He came across the heroine's path and stays at her home. It turns out that she has the dagger that he was seeking which she did not give to him because she doesn't believe in his identity.I can't quite remember the end but I remember that she went to his world for a while and help him save a noblewoman of the recently turned peaceful people that lives near the ice fields. I hope this review helps.

I did enjoy this book, although I gave it only 4 stars. I was disappointed with Vad's lack of romantic feelings for the "heroine", Gwen. He seemed more wrapped up in himself and when Ms. Lawrence finally let his romantic interest in Gwen come out, I had already decided Vad was just a jerk. I felt that this book could have been better by creating more romantic tension between the two leading characters. I put the book down wondering why and how they ever fell in love. However, the story was interesting and well written.

Over a year since my last Tolemac fix! This gem was well worth the wait. If you've been waiting for Vad's story, here it is, and you will not be disappointed. Ms. Lawrence continues to please her fans with well-crafted tales that take us from laughter to sweet tears. Vad's tale was not quite what I expected -- it's better! The gorgeous Vad (remember, warriors won't fight him, lest they harm an angel!) has set out to restore his honor by completing a quest for the high-and-mighty Councillors of Tolemac. In the process, he attempts to cross the ice fields, and winds up in our world. Here, he finds a confusing melange of colors, sights and sounds. Some are familiar, some aren't. The most confusing is the slender woman he initially mistakes for a lad. With her close-cropped hair and independent nature, he can't quite fit her into his conception of the man-woman relationship. The more time they spend together, the more he feels the pull of attraction. But his quest gets in the way, as honorable endeavors often do. The more he learns,the more he realizes nothing is as it seems. The friend he thought a traitor isn't, and the Council's quest becomes much more, a deceitful maneuver designed not to clear his name but to brand *him* traitor forever. Can he manage to solve the problems presented by the Councillors' treachery, this world's strange familiarity, and Gwen's physical and emotional appeal?In her first book, VIRTUAL HEAVEN, Ms. Lawrence introduced us to her strange new world, peopled by a cast of primary and secondary characters with rich personalities. In our second trip into the wilds of Tolemac (and Ocean City, NJ), she gives Vad center stage, and he steals our hearts as skillfully as a professional thief. If you haven't read the first one, I recommend you read it before you delve into this. The books will stand alone, but the experience has more depth if you know what has gone before. Fortunately, VIRTUAL HEAVEN is still available.Don't start either of these late at night. You won't get much sleep.