Jasmine Dunmore has come to Venice to see firsthand a house left to her by an aunt. It is at the height of Carnivale, and Venice is hopping. When she arrives, she misses her check-in at the hotel and decides to stay in the house, despite the fact that it’s rundown and has no working facilities.

The other part of the inheritance is a Tarot card: The Hermit. On her first night there, she has a dream that features a handsome man, Vespero, offering her any number of ways to be sexually satisfied. But when she takes him up on it, another man appears, and this man looks strangely like the Hermit on her card.

Lumere is there to keep Jasmine from giving her card to Vespero. For once she gives it to him, an ancient deck of Tarot cards will be complete, and the door between worlds will open, allowing demons to spill forth.

Jasmine soon realizes that Lumere is a demon who has to protect the gate. She falls in love with him, but Vespero wants the card. And he will stop at nothing to get it.

Book of Masks is a tantalizing paranormal tale that is disturbing, erotic and highly entertaining.  I loved both Jasmine and Lumere and the way they interacted and were willing to go the distance for each other. At times the book was disturbing, though, which is a testament to Ms. Gray’s skills at drawing a demon such as Vespero, who sent chills up my spine.

Book of Masks is an imaginative story that was left open for continuation. It will be interesting to see what comes next.