At the moment I write this, 12,358 reviews have been written on this book. You don’t need another blogger to tell you why to read it. If you’ve read tAt the moment I write this, 12,358 reviews have been written on this book. You don’t need another blogger to tell you why to read it. If you’ve read this far, you’re just browsing anyway. So I’ll keep it short & sweet…
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I loved this book. I’m loving the series. I’ll re-read the current three books when the new one is released in 2014.
“I want there to be happily-ever-afters for the fucked-up crowd. Show me the way, Eva honey. Make me believe.”
Beneath all of the BS Alpha-Male Billionaire crap which permeates the genre of Modern Romance, there is a plot here… Two victims of sexual abuse, who hide the scars of their pasts from the world, are learning how to function in a relationship. That resonates with me. Take it or leave it.
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Some of my favorite moments: (view spoiler)[ He was the kind of guy who made a woman want to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter along with her inhibitions.
“…You know how it is—some good-looking guys don’t make your hormones go crazy, while some unattractive guys have massive sex appeal. This guy had it all.”
“No idea how anyone could get any work done around him. My brain sort of fried for a minute.” “I’m sure that’s a universal effect.”
“Are you sleeping with anyone?” The question was asked so casually, it took a second to process what he’d said. I inhaled sharply. “Why is that any business of yours?” He looked at me and I saw what I’d seen the first time we’d met—tremendous power and steely control. Both of which had me taking an involuntary step back. Again. At least I didn’t fall this time; I was making progress. “Because I want to fuck you, Eva. I need to know what’s standing in my way, if anything.” … I’d never been so aroused. Never been so scorchingly attracted to another human being. Never been so offended by a person I lusted after.
“…I’m still not sure I didn’t hallucinate the conversation while overdosing on his pheromones.”
“Sex that’s planned like a business transaction is a turnoff for me.” “Establishing parameters in the beginning makes it less likely that there’ll be exaggerated expectations and disappointment at the conclusion.” “Are you kidding?” I scowled. “Listen to yourself. Why even call it a fuck? Why not be clear and call it a seminal emission in a preapproved orifice?”
“B.O.B. and I have a longtime understanding—when we’re done with each other, we know exactly which one of us has been used, and it isn’t me. Good night, Gideon.”
“I loved the way he kissed me, as if he had to, as if he’d go crazy if he didn’t and had nearly waited too long. ”
“One day soon,” I repeated against his lips, “I’m going to kneel beneath this desk and suck you off. Maybe while you’re on the phone playing with your millions like Monopoly. You, Mr. Cross, will pass Go and collect your two hundred dollars.”
“I can’t bail out on Cary,” I said apologetically, turning to face him. “Chicks before dicks and all that.”
“Cracking his knuckles, Cary dramatically prepared to open his fortune cookie. “Let’s see. Will I be rich? Famous? About to meet Mr. or Ms. Tall, Dark, and Tasty? Traveling to distant lands? What’d you guys get?” “Mine’s lame,” I said. “In the end all things will be known. Duh. I didn’t need a fortune to figure that out.” Gideon opened his and read, “Prosperity will knock on your door soon.” I snorted. Cary shot me a look. “I know, right? You snatched someone else’s cookie, Cross.” “He better not be anywhere near someone else’s cookie,” I said dryly. Reaching over, Gideon plucked half of mine out of my fingers. “Don’t worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want.” He popped it in his mouth with a wink.” “Gag,” Cary muttered. “Get a room.” He cracked his fortune with a flourish, and then scowled. “What the fuck?” I leaned forward. “What’s it say?” “Confucius say,” Gideon ad-libbed, “man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day.” Cary threw half his cookie at Gideon, who caught it deftly and grinned. “Give me that.” I snatched the fortune out from between Cary’s fingers and read it. Then laughed. “Fuck you, Eva.” “Well?” Gideon prodded. “Pick another cookie.” Gideon smiled. “Pwned by a fortune.” Cary threw the other half of his cookie.”
“Eva.” He sighed and shoved a hand through his hair. “I spend a quarter of every day inside you. When you set limits outside that I can’t help but see them as arbitrary.”
“Oh, boy.” My nose wrinkled. “Hello, Mr. Comfortable. I’m Miss Complicated.” His grin flashed. “Never a dull moment.”
“You forget who submits, Eva,” he said gruffly. “I’ve given up control for you. I’ve bent and adjusted for you. I’ll do anything to keep you and make you happy. But I won’t be tamed or topped. Don’t mistake indulgence for weakness.” (hide spoiler)]...more
((Lots of Swearing is involved in this review; all spoilers clearly marked))
I often find myself yelling at the fictional characters of my books, and i((Lots of Swearing is involved in this review; all spoilers clearly marked))
I often find myself yelling at the fictional characters of my books, and in the case of this particular book… I yelled constantly.
RUN AWAY!!!
GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!
WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!?
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And that is how I found myself absorbed in another mind-fuck possessive alpha-male romance trilogy… The character Jesse Ward was so over-the-top I had to wonder whether this book was a parody of the Stalking Billionaire trend so prevalent in Modern Romantic Fiction at the moment… But no, the author was serious… And I was transfixed by the absurdity of it all… Like watching a damn train wreck, I couldn't look away…
The “twist” in this book was so blindingly obvious, I’m curious if anyone was actually surprised by the revelation…
I’m not proud of the fact that I was pressed with a morbid fascination so overwhelming that I had no choice but to continue the series… I’m not a book hater by nature. There were some decent parts which made the book entertaining and worth continuing.
I INSIST ON INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING JESSE WARD RANT IN ALL OF MY REVIEWS FOR THIS SERIES. BUCKLE UP:
Is anyone else freaked out at the amount of young girls crying "Book Boyfriend" at Jesse Ward? How is anything other than his dick desirable? Read this rant ----> (view spoiler)[ [image]
PSA: There are a lot of really nice dicks out there... The kind of dicks that will talk dirty to you, Dicks that will hold you down and fuck you, Dicks that will cuddle after spanking you, Dicks that want to spoil you, Dicks that just want to love you, And most importantly... Dicks that respect you, Dicks that won't alienate your friends and family, Dicks that aren't more needy than a girl with her first period, Dicks that are proud of all you've accomplished in your career, Dicks that haven't fucked every woman he's ever introduced you to, Dicks who don't delight in treating you like a child, Dicks that don't constantly lie to you or evade the truth, Dicks that wont steal your motherfucking birth control pills! (hide spoiler)] [image]
Some of My Favorite Moments: (view spoiler)[ “You better stop with the blah-fucking-zay shit now, or I’ll shove this fork so far up your arse, you’ll be chewing metal...”
I can feel myself slipping more with every minute I spend with him. I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. Damn you, Jesse Ward, of an age I don’t know. (hide spoiler)]
Book two of the Crossfire Series is an emotional mind-fuck. So put on your big girl panties before you crack the spine on this one…
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I’ve said itBook two of the Crossfire Series is an emotional mind-fuck. So put on your big girl panties before you crack the spine on this one…
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I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again. I loved this book. I’m loving the series. I’ll re-read the current three books when the new one is released in 2014. Haters can hate on this series all they want; I'm a FAN.
Once I complete the re-read for this series I will write a more thorough review. Just know that this book does not suffer from the sophomore slump. Crossfire Two packs a punch which both embraces and transcends all of the BS Alpha-Male Billionaire crap which permeates the genre of Modern Romance. There is a plot here… Two victims of sexual abuse, who hide the scars of their pasts from the world, are learning how to function in a relationship.
Some of my favorite moments: (view spoiler)[ “Fuck her and her boss. What is it with rich people and control issues?” “They get rich because they take control.” “Whatever. I prefer our kind of crazy—we pretty much only screw with ourselves.”
“Most suits made the man. Gideon did things to a three-piece suit that should’ve been illegal.”
“Actually, you know what? You keep on thinking I’m God’s gift to women, angel. It’s better for me if you believe I’m the best you can get.”
“It shredded me, Eva. Cut me open and left me bleeding. I kicked his ass in self-defense.”
“I love you. Still not the right word, but I know you want to hear it.” “I need to hear it,” I agreed softly. “As long as you understand the difference.” The light changed and he drove on. “People get over love. They can live without it, they can move on. Love can be lost and found again. But that won’t happen for me. I won’t survive you, Eva.” My breath caught at the look on his face when he glanced at me. “I’m obsessed with you, angel. Addicted to you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted or needed, everything I’ve ever dreamed of. You’re everything. I live and breathe you. For you.” (hide spoiler)] ...more
Behold! A snarky review by a sorely disappointed reader... Is this a curse of the sequel? Or is it possibly the product of an Author who was given an Behold! A snarky review by a sorely disappointed reader... Is this a curse of the sequel? Or is it possibly the product of an Author who was given an offer he couldn't refuse to produce a followup to an amazing book? I (still) love Gabriel's Inferno (you can read my review for that book HERE) but I am overwhelmingly disappointed by this follow up.
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((Some Explicit Language... Be Warned...))
This was a re-read for me... That's right, I read it TWICE... I don't remember being so dissatisfied with it when I picked it up in 2012... I decided to re-read both books in preparation for reading the recently released final book, Gabriel's Redemption...
Because this work wasn't completely irredeemable, let's start with the things I enjoyed: - It is a story filled with LOVE and angst... I do get the warm fuzzys from Gabriel when he isn't being an asshole. - The writing is still marvelous; Sylvain Reynard presents a completely original writing style for modern Romance. - The narrator has a quirky sense of humor which prevents the entire work from being unbearably pretentious.
I usually include this at the end of my reviews, but since I'm talking about the good things about this book, I's like to go ahead at tell you:
“For me, your name is synonymous with orgasm. I’m going to start calling them Emgasms”
“I’m sorry about my heels.” “What’s that?” “I saw the marks on your backside when you were getting dressed this morning. I didn't mean to injure you.” He grinned wickedly. “Occupational hazard for those obsessed with high-heeled shoes. I wear my love scars with pride.” “I’ll be more careful next time.” “No, you damn well won’t.” Julia’s eyes grew wide at the sudden flash of passion in his eyes. He captured her lips with his before whispering in her ear, “I’m going to buy you a pair of boots with even higher heels, then I’m going to see what you can do with them.”
In the semi-darkness of the room, he drank in her tempting curves. “You are an argument for God’s existence,” he murmured. “What?” “Your face, your breasts, your beautiful back. St. Thomas Aquinas would have had to add you as his Sixth Way if he’d ever been blessed enough to see you. You must have been designed and not merely made.”
“I breathe you,” he whispered. “You’re everything. You’re the air”
In her whole life, no one had ever looked at her like that. Like a blue tractor beam that froze her and pulled her in. Like she was the only woman in the room, in the world, the only woman ever. Like she was Eve.
“I love you. Madly.” Something about the way her voice sounded in his ear made his heart quicken. “I love you too. I love you far too much, I’m sure. But I don’t know how to love you any other way.” His final words were a whisper, but they burned in the air. “I don’t know how to love you any other way, either,” she whispered back. “Then God have mercy on us both.”
It would be safer, easier, to choose Paul. Her heart would heal with him. But in choosing Paul, she would be settling for the good and not the exceptional. And even if the exceptional eluded her for the rest of her life, it would be better, she thought, to live the life of a Katherine Picton, than to be like her mother. In marrying a good man without loving him passionately and completely, she would only serve to short-change him and herself. And she was not that selfish.
Gabriel’s eyes watered at the sound of her vulnerability and her courage. If he ever had a moment’s doubt that he would love and admire her forever, no matter whether she chose him or not, that doubt faded away like a wisp of smoke.
Julia wondered if such astronomical ass-like levels were humanly possible.
Quite frankly, I don't feel like I can write a standard review for Gabriel's Rapture, so I am going to revert to a petulant GIF filled listing of my grievances... Enjoy!
WHEN I PICKED UP BOOK TWO I WAS THINKING:
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BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS BOOK WAS GOING OFF THE RAILS...
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THE BOOK SOMEHOW MORPHED INTO A SERMON. HEAVY HANDED, RELENTLESS, EXASPERATING...
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THE INCLUSION OF LITERARY REFERENCES IN THE FIRST BOOK WAS ENDEARING, IT PRESENTED A GREAT PARALLEL.
HOWEVER, IN BOOK TWO THE USE OF RELIGIOUS ALLEGORY BECAME OVERWHELMING...
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THE AUTHOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT HIS READERS ARE INTELLIGENT.
THERE WAS NO REASON TO BEAT THE THEMES OF REPENTANCE, REDEMPTION, SACRIFICE, AND LOVE INTO US!
THIS IS NOT HOW YOU IMPART INFORMATION:
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LESS IS MORE.
WE UNDERSTOOD IT THE FIRST TIME, AND SUFFERED THROUGH IT FROM THEN ON.
IT'S CONDESCENDING TO ASSUME THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE SO MUCH TIME TO PRESENT THESE THEMES...
OR THAT YOU NEED TO CONSTANTLY REPEAT THEM...
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WE ALL KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN GABRIEL & JULIA...
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WE ALL KNEW HOW GABRIEL WOULD REACT TO THAT...
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AND, WE ALL KNEW HOW IT WOULD COME TOGETHER AT THE END...
I HAVE A THEORY: IF THE AUTHOR HAD JUST WRITTEN A THOUGHTFUL EPILOGUE TO GABRIEL'S INFERNO, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED TO WRITE A SECOND... OR THIRD... BOOK.
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I'VE ALREADY PURCHASED THE THIRD BOOK... SO I'LL BE READING IT.
I REALLY AND TRULY LOVED THE FIRST BOOK... SO I CAN'T COMPLETELY ABANDON THE SERIES...
MUCH LIKE GABRIEL, I WANT TO GIVE THE AUTHOR A CHANCE TO REDEEM HIMSELF.
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