Rush Review

Rush by Maya Banks
Series: Breathless Trilogy #1
Published by Berkley on January 15, 2013
Genres: Erotica, Romance
Format: Paperback
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.

  Rose’s Review       

Maya Banks visited Katy Budget Book Store last month and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet her and even get my books signed.  I first learned of Maya Banks via a friend whom just received an ARC for Rush and since she could not say enough good things about the book and Ms. Banks was coming to Katy, I decided to read the book.  Overall, I enjoyed this book.  Told from the alternating 3rd person narrative of Gabe Hamilton and Mia Crestwell, Rush is a story about friendship, trust, hidden desires and a forbidden love. I have to admit that I did not immediately find Gabe likeable.  He slowly grew on me, as did my liking of this book.  With the writer’s clear, detailed, crisp style, I found the book an easy read without being boring or overly simplistic.  As with all novels that lean toward the more erotic side of the genre, the dialogue felt slightly unbelievable, but that is to be expected.  I found Mia to be much more likeable than Gabe.  Strong willed, matter of fact Mia willingly enters into a no-fuss-about-it contract with Gabe.  Crushing after Gabe since girlhood, this is something she wants, no matter what Gabe’s terms.  And wow! What terms he lays out! (No spoilers here! Shame on you for trying to get me to say! Read the book if you must know!)  Despite there being instances where Mia easily could have played the role, she never became the “damsel in distress.”  Instead, she goes after what she wants and deals with the consequences with little to no whining.  Gotta admire that for a female protagonist of a contemporary romance!  Overall, I gave this book 3 stars.  It was a decent story, but because I felt it focused more on the physical and less on the emotional aspect of Mia and Gabe’s relationship I could not make it a 4 star book.  One thing I did quite enjoy is how Gabe handled his opponent/the villain.  I like that Gabe did not fix his problem with money, but with his fists.  Normally, I would not like this, but Gabe is a super wealthy businessman.  Therefore, he should punish with fists and threaten with money.  A tough, working class hero should punish with his cunning and threaten with violence.  Just my opinion.  Overall, Rush is a sexy, wild, roller coaster of a ride from start to finish.  You certainly won’t be bored. And did I mention there is sexy brother? Yeah, and apparently he gets his story in the next installment of the Breathless Trilogy, Fever.  I can’t wait! 

*NOTE* This book is intended for a mature audience.

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