Monkou kicks off The Revelers series with, CARNIVAL TEMPTRESS, an intriguing novella with ample doses of humor, erotically charged scenes, danger, and festivities. The cold rainy day will not be the only thing to dampen Micha Lindsay’s spirit. Reorganization at work eliminates her job, her car is burglarized, and her long-distance boyfriend unexpectedly leaves early with a “punk move” have Micha hosting her own pity party. With caring encouragement from her close-knit sister-friends, Micha decides to join them on a trip to Trinidad for the Carnival celebration. After all a little revelry will work wonders for her spirit, and it is not the tropical heat that has a body sizzling but the handsomely macho Amar Jaikaran.

Strait-laced businessman Amar Jaikaran should have known his flighty bandleader sister, Asha, would bring her posse to Trinidad to wreck havoc on his life. What he is not prepared for is Micha, as the attractive curvaceous sexy beauty is sending electric bolts through his body. And he really does not have time for silly distractions. Besides pressing business concerns occupy his mind, and his heart is grieving from painful Carnival memories. That is until he has an unexpected pleasurable voyeurism experience.

With a little help from her friends, Micha plans out her seduction game. But take-charge Amar has plans of his own much to Micha’s delight. Unfortunately, others are not as pleased with Amar’s business decisions, and decide to step up the ante involving those dearest to him.

Monkou creates characters you can’t help liking and being invested in. The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is evident from the beginning, and reader will be rewarded with sizzling erotic loves scenes. The relationship between the four lady friends is pure delight, and all deserve their own story. The twists and turns in the business dealings add elements of suspense, though at times a little predictable, as a family secret is exposed.

If you do not know about Trinidad Carnival, the playlist of songs will have you swaying your hips, as the vivid settings, and celebration spirit pops off the pages engaging the reader in the moment.

Solid storytelling, sharp dialogue, genuine characters, a spectacular location are the strengths of CARNIVAL TEMPTRESS. The twist at the very end caught me by surprise and leaves me eager for the next book in the series. ( )