Bound by Sin

As Frank embarks on the third Immortal Brothers novel (after Cursed by Ice), she comes no closer to settling on a genre for the series. The plots, dialogue, and style are decidedly adolescent, but the numerous steamy love scenes are definitely R-rated, with this installment in particular bordering on X. As punishment for crossing Weysa, the goddess of conflict, brothers Garreth, Dethan, Jaykun, and Maxum were sentenced to eternal torment. The brothers are bound to fight in Weysa's wars in exchange for brief reprieves from their curse. Jaykun endures a 24-hour cycle of burning from the inside out and then being restored to perfect health, only to burn again. After one of his nightly ordeals, he encounters a beguiling naked woman named Jileana. The mysterious Jileana entices Jaykun to squeeze every ounce of joy from the hours of each day he isn't burning, but their relationship is all formulaic folderol with smoldering benefits. This unsatisfying story falls sadly flat. (Oct.)