Just finished this book last night. First off, I'm a huge POTO fan and am one of those who, while I didn't dislike Raoul, would have liked to see Christine end up with Erik. Which is one of the biggest reasons I picked up this book. For the record, I never read the original novel...only saw the 2004 film and one of the stage plays, both of which I absolutely loved.

As far as the book...I never read erotica, but I like this one, a lot! The sex scenes (which there are plenty of, of course) were sexy. Not much lovemaking, but down and dirty sex. In different ways, and with different people. The author's writing flowed, and I could really feel the emotions conveyed by the characters: Fear, lust, love, pity, uncertainty. Even the parts when people weren't "doing it" were well written and descriptive. There were some scenes toward the end which were very hard to read and I had to put the book down for a moment, but I could understand how they were necessary to flesh out (pardon the pun) certain characters some more.

My only complaints were the ending, which was way too abrupt, although the biographer's notes at the end somewhat made up for it. And there were one or two times in the book when I thought the author "head-hopped" and I couldn't figure out whose POV it was, so I had to go back a few pages and re-read them to clarify.

So, while I enjoyed it, I can see how others would find it too crude and/or not true to the "original" POTO story. Should I ever find myself in the mood for erotica, I'll be looking for Ms. Gale's other works =) ( )

Esta es la historia del Fantasma de la Opera como nunca antes habia sido relatada. La delicada y timida Christine, joven corista de la Opera de Paris, oculta un voluptuoso secreto. Cuando cae la noche y las luces del escenario se apagan, una enigmatica sombra pronuncia su nombre y la arrastra por caminos de pasiones escondidas, mostrandole el poder de su voz y despertando toda su sensualidad con sus manos aterciopeladas y su rostro desconocido. Es su angel de la musica, su tutor, su inspiracion, quien le ensena como afinar las notas para que suenen perfectas mientras recorre lentamente su espalda y posa sus labios en su cuello nacarado. El, la legendaria figura que aterroriza a todo el mundo de la opera, es el unico que puede someterla, que la hace vibrar con cada uno de sus susurros y atenciones, un enigmatico hombre sin cara que la transporta a un mundo de placeres ocultos, haciendo emerger tanto su musicalidad como sus deseos mas reconditos.

Just finished this book last night. First off, I'm a huge POTO fan and am one of those who, while I didn't dislike Raoul, would have liked to see Christine end up with Erik. Which is one of the biggest reasons I picked up this book. For the record, I never read the original novel...only saw the 2004 film and one of the stage plays, both of which I absolutely loved.

As far as the book...I never read erotica, but I like this one, a lot! The sex scenes (which there are plenty of, of course) were sexy. Not much lovemaking, but down and dirty sex. In different ways, and with different people. The author's writing flowed, and I could really feel the emotions conveyed by the characters: Fear, lust, love, pity, uncertainty. Even the parts when people weren't "doing it" were well written and descriptive. There were some scenes toward the end which were very hard to read and I had to put the book down for a moment, but I could understand how they were necessary to flesh out (pardon the pun) certain characters some more.

My only complaints were the ending, which was way too abrupt, although the biographer's notes at the end somewhat made up for it. And there were one or two times in the book when I thought the author "head-hopped" and I couldn't figure out whose POV it was, so I had to go back a few pages and re-read them to clarify.

So, while I enjoyed it, I can see how others would find it too crude and/or not true to the "original" POTO story. Should I ever find myself in the mood for erotica, I'll be looking for Ms. Gale's other works =) ( )

Ms. Gale takes classic tales and twists them into erotic stories ... and she does it remarkably well. She adheres to the original story line and adds spice. A nice way of escaping for a little while if you like to read erotica. This one is definitely a must read for fans of Phantom of the Opera who always wished that Christine would have stayed with the Phantom. ( )

Angels of Music Unbound

The story of the Phantom of the Opera is a well known one. It has been recreated on paper, music, film and for the stage, over and over. Colette Gale has once again breathed life into the legend of the Opera Ghost, the Angel of Music, by telling his tale in a more romantic, erotic way.

The author pretty much retains the basics of the original tale, taking the character s of Christine Daae and Erik de Chagny to new heights. Christine Daae, a budding opera singer one day finally gets her chance to stand solo on stage, singing the lead aria for Romeo and Juliet. For months she had been coached in secret by none other than the mysterious Opera Ghost, whose only wish is to see her shine in the limelight. Winning the applause she craves, Christine takes the crowds by storm and becomes the most wanted new opera diva France has ever seen. We all know the story of how Erik falls in love with her and kidnaps her to his underground lair, warding off her courting boyfriend Raoul who has come to marry his childhood sweetheart. Erik becomes obsessed with Christine and claims her for his own, forbidding her to see any other man but himself.

Colette Gale has imagined a whole new world of the luxurious Opera House and has added depth and sensuality to both Christine and Erik like we have never seen before. The writing is polished and exquisite. Opulent descriptions of lavish opera house surroundings and of Erik’s underground palace, combined with scenes of tender sweet love and erotic interludes of lust and carnal sex, make this novel a multi-faceted shining gem. The story is suspenseful and nothing short of intense. Readers will be holding their breath as each page turns, caught up in the rapture these two lovers present. You will hear the keen notes of passionate music from the Angel’s violin, harp and piano, as Erik plays his instruments that add to the seduction of his captured Christine. You will feel the sensuality of the historic costumes; satins, lace, silks, and velvets as the players dance and preen in and out of these delightfully wicked scenes of decadence, deceit, debauchery, and through one dalliance after another. This is a very visual book, so incredibly detailed and evocative of 19th century France.

This is not your average romance novel. It is a remarkable, and memorable, serious tale of passion, murder, family betrayals and forbidden love. Where Gale’s true talent lies though is in her ability to create a blend of tender sensual intimacy, with soft erotica and carnal sex that goes above and beyond the norm. The sexual adventures throughout this story are far from vanilla. There is great creativity here within the erotica realm scenes and I found this factor alone to be such a breath of fresh air. This erotic novel is quite different and will evoke many opportunities for the reader to feel the depth of love, intimacy and ravenous need that Erik and Christine have for each other. This might not be a book for the light of heart due to the advanced and unusual erotica scenes graphically depicted, but if you are bored with the average cat and mouse tame love stories and want something in between the average genre paperback romances, and offensive hard core degrading porn, this book is for you. A Fantastic debut, highly recommended for adventurous readers. I can’t wait to read the next two installments of this series that will involve more erotic adventures with Maid Marion and the Count of Monte Cristo! ( )