When Jasmine inherits a Venetian house from a long-lost relative, along with the tarot card The Hermit (Il Tempo), she dashes off to Italy to check out the condition of the house so she can sell it for a tidy profit.  However, things don’t turn out as planned when she begins having odd dreams of a sensual demonic world, whose gate is housed within her new home.  Lumere, a fellow demon whose purpose is to keep the other demons from penetrating through the gate and wreaking havoc on earth, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Jasmine, a woman who is much more powerful than she first appears to anyone. Vespero, a powerful demon desperate to obtain the tarot card so he can remain on earth, will stop at nothing. And soon, the burden of saving Lumere’s life, as well as the world from his evil grasp, falls on Jasmine’s shoulders.

As I read this novel, I found many passages where I got caught up in the dark sensuality of the story and the chemistry between Lumere and Jasmine. The premise of the story is quite intriguing, and it kept me wanting to read. However, the heroine’s irreverent joking and one-liners during those darker or sexier moments all-too frequently ruined the mood for me. I almost felt as if she would have been better suited to another story, like a chick lit, as she felt out of place in this setting and plot.

Overall, a fairly entertaining, quick read.

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