Carrie Woods is a scholar of Chinese history who wants to teach at Cal Berkley, but must finish her thesis on the Scrolls of Destiny. She travels to a Chinese monastery and, after taking several tours, finds Wei Lin’s journal: proof he was Keeper of the five Scrolls of Destiny, given to guardians who passed them down through their families. Carrie photographs the journal, but when the tour group arrives at the archive room, she panics and takes the artifacts, meaning to return them later. As she leaves, she sees a man in a monk’s garb watching her.

Maximilian Prescott is a Guardian in possession of the Book of Metal and thus its elemental powers. When he spies Carrie, he feels an instant attraction and quickly turns to depart, but his mentor, Sun Chi, stops him. Sun Chi admits that the woman has taken the Book of Water in haste and charges Max with retrieving the journal and scrolls. Chi adds that Max can no longer hide from his past. His destiny lies in the outside world.

After his arrival, Max discovers that Carrie is friends with his enemy, Rhys Llewellyn, the man who possesses the Book of Fire. Max hires Carrie to translate Chinese text, his purpose to use Carrie to bring his enemy down. Max is relieved when he learns that Rhys and Carrie aren’t romantically involved, and although Carrie is afraid of commitment, she can’t fight her growing attraction for Max. The power of the Book of Water has had its effect on Carrie, who has erotic dreams about making love in water with Max. Soon their erotic dreams are fulfilled in the physical world, but Carrie still possesses the Book of Water, a fact that places her life in danger.

While there was so much to appreciate in this paranormal, I loved Carrie’s sense of humor and Max’s agony over falling in love most of all. Kate Perry is a master at creating fantasy worlds and believable characters.

Chosen by Desire is a fast-paced, highly erotic paranormal with a surprising twist—an exciting, passionate and thoroughly satisfying read.