Review: Rush by Maya Banks

Rush
Series: Breathless #1
Author: Maya Banks

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

MY THOUGHTS

Rush by Maya Banks is the first book the Breathless series.  The main characters in this book are Gabe Hamilton and Mia Crestwell.

As I sit here contemplating with how to put my feelings of this book into words, I also have the urge to build a fence around myself because of all the mixed reactions that are being said about it.  I just know people with torches are going to come light a fire and throw me to the flames.  On the other hand, there might be enough supporters out there that would put the fire out and rescue me like a damsel in distress.  Either way, I am going to share my thoughts and maybe I can make my escape before you grab the matches.

I will say that Gabe is one cold man for the first half of this book. He is demanding, emotionally closed off, and has the power to bring his enemies to the floor groveling with just one look.  We do get little insights and the 'why' of his personality and the reasons behind the famous contract's he uses.  I can understand his intense need to protect not only himself, but others that could be involved, even if it does seem a bit extreme.

Gabe is also a billionaire who is in business with two of his best friends.  Ash has to be my favorite so far of the three even though this book focused on Gabe.  Ash is the charmer and the man that explores the threesome's with Jace.  Jace is the smooth talker and the one that will close a deal while having a little fun on the side with Ash.

Enter Mia Crestwell.  She is Jace's little sister that he has spoiled and taken care of since the death of their parents years ago.  He provides everything for her including an apartment, money and even paying for her college.  While she appreciates everything Jace has done for her, she still doesn't know what to do with her degrees from college and is working in a bakery to try and stand on her own feet.

While there were plenty of naughty and intense scenes in this book, I loved the tender moments between Mia and Gabe the most.  When Gabe would open up to Mia and share things that he hadn't shared with many others, you could feel his emotions and the struggle this Alpha-man was going through.  While he is clearly a Dominant man in the all aspects of his life, you could tell that Mia was his soft spot and was going to be the one who would bring him to his knees.  I especially loved her backbone when it came to the climax of her brother finding out.  Of course, I was also appalled at the way her brother finds out -- and the scene was the only reason I lowered the rating from a 5 to a 4 rating. Only because of the abrupt way it happens when we are finally getting an emotional sexy scene from Gabe and Mia.

Now many people have mentioned a scene that happens around the 70% mark in this book.  It is something that many didn't agree with and wanted to stop with the journey when they read it.  While I won't spoil this scene in sharing the details of it, I will say that I am glad the author turned it around bringing Gabe back to his senses.  If he wouldn't have changed halfway through that scene, I probably would have stopped as well.

While the ending had enough sappiness that I was looking for maple trees around me, I still enjoyed it. It was sweet and over the top, but it wasn't so bad that it made me want to dance around in a field of flowers.  Personally, this a series I am already in love with and can't wait for the next book in the series.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #1
Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780441016990

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire. Worse than that, hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next ...

MY THOUGHTS

I originally read this book around the time that True Blood first started airing on HBO.  At that time, the show had better appeal to me so I couldn't remember how much the book differed from the show.  So after I quit watching the show for awhile, I decided to give this series another chance.  I am so glad I am giving them another try!

I think when I tried reading this book before, I kept comparing it to the characters and story line of the HBO show.  With the book I noticed certain characters are missing and the story plays out on a different time table at times.  I can definitely tell with the world building, character building and overall cast of characters that this book is more of a guilty indulgence than one that blew me out of the water.  It was even kind of childish at times with temper tantrums and a crew of Barney Five cops trying to solve the murders in town.

I am still on the fence about liking the cast of characters.  I can't wait to read more about Eric, Pam and Lafayette.  Bill seems a little off to me but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and keep my fingers crossed that he is better in the next one.  And then we have Sookie. Sookie, Sookie, Sookie. Just saying her name makes me laugh.  I wasn't a fan of her in this book, but I am curious to understand why she has this disability and what it could mean.

Overall, it had cheesy moments, sexy moments, detailed moments, and bloody moments as well since this is a book about vampires.  I am going to keep going with the series though just so I can see how everyone's roles will play out.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

The Perfect Play
Author: Jaci Burton
Series: Play by Play #1
Genre: Steamy Romance

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

MY THOUGHTS

Why have I waited so long to read this series? Maybe the hot cover side tracked me all this time because let's face it, that cover is smoking hot!  I kept closing the book just so I could get another peek at that hot body.  I studied it long enough that I even noticed the sweat running down his chest!


I am not a big fan of sports in my romance, but author Jaci Burton really pulled it off in this one.  I didn't feel too overwhelmed with statistics and sport plays in this one.  There was no shoving of the play book down my throat and the players actually seemed like real people.  I loved the character of Mick!  Hot, sexy and athletic all in one glorious package.  I could certainly see that cover model being Mick.  He seemed down to Earth without letting fame go to his head.  Tara was a little annoying at times with her constant reminders of being a single mother and having to give up so much to give her son a better life, but I shelved my feelings on that because the chemistry and attraction between the two made up for it.  Nathan, Tara's teenage son, was actually portrayed as believable.  The side characters were also something I enjoyed reading about.  While I wasn't a fan of Elizabeth, I can't wait to see how her story will unfold with Mick's brother Gavin.

While I felt the beginning of Mick and Tara's romance was rushed and not that convincing, I did like how the relationship developed after their initial meetings.  Their relationship grew with real problems, emotions and turmoil.  I am really looking forward to reading about them again in future books.  A new series for me and one I will keep reading!

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel's Inferno
Series: Gabriel's Inferno #1
Author: Sylvain Reynard
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Source: Publisher
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780425265963

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well-respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love, and redemption, Gabriel’s Inferno is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man’s escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible—forgiveness and love.

MY THOUGHTS

Before I start my review on this book, I want to add some info that I discovered about this book.  You may have heard it already but I am going to add it for the simple fact that there could be others who don't know since I didn't.  Sylvain Reynard is a pen name.  While I am not sure who the true author is -- and there has been speculation from everyone -- I did find out that this book was originally titled The University of Edward Masen by Sebastian Robichaud.  Yes everyone, this is another book based on Twilight Fan Fiction.

While I don't mind reading Twilight fan fiction,  I do want to state that Gabriel's Inferno didn't seem to have the echo's of Twilight to me.  While some intense readers might be able to spot the similarities,  I didn't know about it being based on the Fan Fiction so I didn't find many as I was reading.

I have to wonder though why this book has so many high ratings.  While the book wasn't  horrible, there were definitely some problems with it in this readers mind.  Instead of going through a full review of this book, I am going to just point out what did and didn't work for me.  Other readers are more than likely going to disagree with my opinion -- since this is a popular book at this time -- but I am going to put it out there anyway.

-- Julia Mitchell has to be the most naive and weakest heroine I have ever read about.  She first meets Gabriel at a young, impressionable age and he has just been in a fist fight with his family.  He is drunk and she willingly goes walking with him and puts her complete trust in him.  Plus he is 10 years older than her. Yes readers, she is under age.  She immediately falls madly in love with him and never forgets him.

-- When they do meet up again -- after Julia decides to become a student in his class where he is a Dante Specialist -- he doesn't recognize her and is, well, a class A jerk to her.  He doesn't improve much until later on in the book. Way later on.

-- I think I know more about Dante's Inferno now than I ever did before.  This book is full of references to this book and passages are in almost every chapter.  I for one, had no desire to read Dante's Inferno before, and I definitely have no desire to read about it now.

-- Once Gabriel finally figures out who Julia is -- his alcohol induced fantasy angel of Beatrice -- he suddenly turns into Mr. Nice Guy.  Not just nice, but overly sweet and nauseating.  If I had to read how he wanted to worship his innocent and inexperienced Julia/Beatrice much more, I think I would have ripped the book apart.

Now those things mentioned above are the main reasons I found this book lacking.  I won't get into the details of how disappointing the reasons were in why Gabriel and Julia were the way they were, but I will say that it wasn't some big shocking secret that should cause what it did. I have read worse in other novels and it was far more believable. I also felt like I was reading a textbook because of the SAT like words that were thrown in with each page.  I think I used my dictionary more reading this book than I did in high school.

With all that being said, you are probably wondering if I would read the second book.  Well, yes I would. Why you might ask? For the simple fact that the story still needs to play out.  We have read about their long journey to acceptance, forgiveness and finally some smexy time.  I need to read the next one to hopefully read some angst, conflict and even more smexy time.  I am hoping that the author has left the best for the next book because this book definitely didn't live up to the expectations that I was hoping for.

MY RATING

       

I did not like this book at all!

BUY FROM AMAZON

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*