THERE WILL BE SPOILERISH COMMENTS - AND POTENTIALLY FULL SPOILERS - AHEAD
I really liked this book very much, both individually and as a set-up to what looks like will be a good series.
The basic set-up/plot: Jace, Ash and Gabe (hero of Rush) have known each other for years. They are in business together and highly successful/wealthy. Gabe is 38, and has fought his attraction to Jace's much-younger (by 14 years) sister, Mia. He is not an easy man, in that he is dominant, likes BDSM activities, and suffers from a fundamental lack of trust in women - he was VERY badly burned by his ex-wife, who publicly claimed such activities had amounted to non-consensual abuse. So, to protect himself, Gabe requires that each woman in his life - all of whom are very briefly in his life - sign a detailed contract about his expectations, activities, etc.
He sees now-24-year old Mia at a party (he's known her since she was 16, and Jace took on guardianship after their parents died), and decides he's done fighting his attraction. He proposes that she come work for him as his personal assistant, but that she also sign said contract and be at his personal/physical beck and call. Since Mia has always loved Gabe, after much soul-searching she agrees. But they also agree to keep it secret since both are sure this will run its course and not be anything lasting (though Mia clearly wishes it would be).
As the story unfolded - and, really, almost from the beginning - we were given pretty clear signs that Gabe had softer feelings for Mia. No matter how he tried to keep her in a very constrained box in his mind/heart - it didn't work. And he began to wrestle with that when he could no longer deny he felt better when she was around - that she really was like "sunshine" to him, while at home, in the office, everywhere. I also liked that, while he was clearly dominant, he also TRIED to be reasonable, and made it clear that some of his "demands" were more about keeping Mia safe vs. having total control.
Which brings us to Paris... and a totally boneheaded decision made by Gabe to prove to himself that Mia had not encroached on his heart. I won't go into all the details, but suffice to say, in one fell swoop he betrays Mia's trust, puts her at risk, and creates a situation that is VERY upsetting to her. In addition, he is forced to call his own bluff, because the scenario is something he immediately loathes, and he is forced to admit how much he DOES feel for Mia, that he is not indifferent, that he is incredibly possessive of her - and that that possessiveness is based on EMOTIONAL attachment.
Now, for some reviewers, this whole Paris interlude was a deal-killer for them. And I do understand why. But for me, it worked on several levels - it was brief, and the transgression was stopped almost immediately; it was a truly transformative experience for Gabe, and therefore his relationship with Mia. Moreover, not only did Gabe repeatedly, and strenuously apologize, but his inner dialogue made it clear how SORRY his was... how ashamed. I truly believed his remorse was real and total.
When they were back in NYC, some negative ramifications from the Paris situation cropped up - and, as other reviewers have stated, they were dealt with perhaps a bit too cleanly and easily. But this plot development was effective in further revealing (to the reader and Gabe), how much he felt for Mia - and it prompted the decision to finally bring their relationship out into the open, and see where it might lead. Gabe was astounded by the trust Mia showed in him. By the fact that she didn't betray him - even though he would have totally understood if she had. And all of this completed his realization that she was different, special, and someone he couldn't let get away.
Of course, nothing could be that easy. Gabe/Mia had intended to tell Jace upon his return from a trip. Clearly, they don't intend to tell him all the gory details of what they've been up to - just that they are seeing each other, and planned to continue. Unfortunately, at the WORST possible moment, Jace and Ash walk in on Gabe and Mia "in action". Fists fly. Recriminations abound - and, sadly, Gabe's self-recriminations, guilt, shame, etc., reach towering proportions. He goes back into self-blame mode, and adopts Jace's take on things as his own. That he took advantage of Mia; will change her; isn't good enough for her given his track record/predilections, etc.
Sadly, this leads to a part of the story where this reader (and likely many others) wanted to throttle Gabe. Rather than manning up and owning his feelings and the true nature of his relationships with Mia (namely, the deep emotions he felt right along with her), he pulled into his shell, acted as if SHE was the only one getting too emotionally attached, and told her it was for the best that they went their separate ways.
I had liked Mia from the beginning, but it was in this moment that I LOVED her. She called Gabe out for the total BS he was handing her, but also told him straight-out that if he was such a coward - if he couldn't put it all on the line for her the way she had for him - then he didn't deserve her. She warned him that he would soon realize the error of his ways, but it would be too late. But if he did try to come back to her, he'd better be prepared to crawl.
In the end, Gabe steps up big time - but not before Mia knocked him down quite a bit; she did not cave easily. Once Jace and Ash realized that Gabe truly loved Mia and wanted to marry her - that she wasn't just one of his transient partners - they helped him execute a really lovely surprise for Mia that sealed their happy ending.
So, yes, I liked this book. But all this said - at times it did feel like it dragged. 50 or so pages could have been cut, and the narrative would have been a bit tighter. And speaking of 50... it is not surprising that a number of reviewers have drawn parallels between this book and 50 Shades of Grey. But, some may not realize that Maya has written about BDSM - often in quite a bit of detail in her Sweet series - LONG before that other trilogy was written.
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Popular Highlights in this book
“I can’t be without you,” he whispered. “You have to stay, Mia.”Highlighted by 330 Kindle readers- “Don’t fall in love with me, Mia,” he warned. “Don’t take this for anything more than it is. I don’t want to hurt you.”Highlighted by 315 Kindle readers
- “The only thing I’m sure of is that I’ve waited entirely too damn long to have you.”Highlighted by 266 Kindle readers
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Top reviews from other countries
Mahua
A very poor amateur pathetic take of the genre that 50 shades of grey inspired.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 18, 2020Lena platt
can this really be maya banks?!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 26, 2013
Kelly Wootton
good but not good enough for Maya Banks
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 8, 2013
