Tempting Evil [Mass Market Paperback]

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.

*** Back cover synopsis ***
In a world of sorcery and seduction, the nights bring out the beautiful, the damned, and the desired. Here, Riley Jenson is on her own--half werewolf, half vampire, working for an organization created to police the supernatural races. Trusting her superiors and lovers barely more than she trusts her worst enemies, Riley plays by her own set of rules. Her latest mission: to enter the heavily guarded pleasure palace of a criminal named Deshon Starr a madman-scientist who's been messing around in the gene pool for decades.
With two sexy men--a cool, seductive vampire and an irresistibly hot wolf--vying for her attention, Riley must keep focused. Because saving the world from Deshon Starr will mean saving herself--from the trap that's closing in around her...

*** Review (without spoilers ^_^) ***
Being injected with a drug that has excessive alterations, it's actually increasing Riley's psychic skills. Therefore to keep her body-changes monitored, Jack has recruited her as a guardian for the Directorate - through great-unwillingness on Riley's part though. The story starts off with Riley having her guardian training lessons, but her mind wasn't really into it because she was anticipating for a hot night out with the sexy alpha werewolf, Kellen. But her dreams went down the drain after a tough day with training and came home to two "entertaining" sexy males - Kellen and Quinn - striving for companionship over her and bristling with malice at one another.
Under certain circumstances, Riley was forced to put Kellen on hiatus due to Directorate work - and Quinn on hold due to anger and betrayal and went undercover with a new disguise to investigate the head leader, Deshon Starr, who controls the genetic cloning scheme. Once she enters the lure of her enemies, she found herself in a place where her every breath and action was monitored. With no one to trust and danger lurking at every corner, who could guess how Riley was able to solve the mystery behind the evil danger?

*** Personal opinion ***
In the first two previous books, I find the sex scenes to be too overwhelming and more than a bit unnecessary to the point that it seems to overcast the whole plot of the story. Riley's promiscuous attitude annoyed me to the point that I didn't really enjoy reading about her that much that I developed a liking to the other characters instead. To me, Rhoan, Liander, and Quinn are much more enjoyable to read about rather than Riley herself.
Surprisingly, in this installment, I started taking more notice to Riley's true character simply because I find the plot to be interesting and intensive. Her smart-mouth and likeable bitchy attitude actually made me develop a liking to her and sometimes has me laughing as well.
Even though this book contains more sex scenes because, Riley is placed undercover as woman fighter/entertainer at Starr's crime cartel, the plot itself and Quinn and Riley's relationship had me reading on.
Like the two previous book, I mostly find the fighting scenes to be very dull. Riley's fighting moves insinuate no alternations. They just stand from: "throwing myself to the side... bending down and lashing out with one foot..." you can actually see these same repetitions from the first two books as well as in all the fighting scenes that occur. I can understand, writing these scenes can be hard but Arthur should at least make an attempt to use more creative words to make the scenes less deadly.

I can't quite put my finger on what makes me enjoy the series more than many other 5+ book urban fantasy series out there, but there is something good at work here. I enjoyed Tempting Evil immensely, and I'm glad I read it. This novel picks up right where the last one left off. Riley is training to be a guardian (whether she likes it or not) so that she can infiltrate the lair of the man behind the labs and killings mentioned in the previous novels. The action and suspense don't let up the entire way through the novel. Characters will surprise you, irritate you, and some will make you smile. Riley is a tough girl, yet she gets hurt, she is not successful at everything she does, and she doesn't like killing. What is great about her character is that none of her weaknesses hold her back. Her dislike of killing is understandable, but does not hinder her in completing her missions. Yes, she does have sex with multiple people, but it doesn't make her any less of a person. Riley is a wolf and she will continue to look for her true mate, which she believes must be a wolf as well. Quinn doesn't seem to agree with that, but gets a tad closer to accepting her for what she is. I don't find her slutty or reprehensible at all. I like that she has convictions and sticks to them. Each novel in this series presents a complete story with closure, but it has that little bit at the end to keep you going. I applaud the author for having an enjoyable and complete plot in each novel. This series is definitely worth your time. Don't get stuck on Full Moon Rising, keep going, you'll be glad you did.