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iamivan91tx's review against another edition
4.5
After reading Fair Game, I liked it more than enough to continue this series. In the Dark is book two of The Rules series. It’s a standalone romance, meaning this isn’t part two of Jade and Shepard’s love story. These are the sort of romance novels where each book focuses on a different couple. The protagonists of In the Dark are Gabriel Walker and Lucy (whose last name wasn't mentioned, not that I recall). The former is Shepard’s best friend, who had a small but significant role in Fair Game.
Like Shepard, Gabriel doesn’t do commitment. Their sole concern is to have fun while they’re in college. Once they graduate, then they’ll be responsible adults. This means Gabriel never dates or sleeps with the same girl more than once. Things start to change as soon as this book starts. Gabriel is spending the summer with his family at their Santa Barbara beach house. The vacation would have been boring if it weren’t for a certain someone. Gabriel’s been spending a good part of his time ogling the next-door neighbor. She’s a girl around his age who likes to use the backyard pool.
This girl is Lucy, though Gabriel doesn’t know it yet. Also unbeknownst to him is that Lucy knows he’s been watching her. Rather than feeling creeped out, Lucy appreciated the attention. Gabriel doesn’t resolve to introduce himself until his younger sister, Sydney, pushes him to do it. When they meet, Gabriel and Lucy quickly feel a strong attraction toward each other. Gabriel thinks she’s one of the most alluring girls he’s ever seen. As for Lucy, she finds Gabriel so attractive she calls him “Mr. GQ” in her head.
The chemistry between Gabriel and Lucy is sizzling from the start. They don’t act on it right away, at least. Gabriel takes time getting to know Lucy, partly because he’s fascinated. And Lucy, as most Hispanic women, is not the kind of woman who would get into bed with a man soon after meeting him. But when Lucy and Gabriel finally get to first base, it’s both funny and almost disastrous. Things after that little hurdle get better. Over the rest of the summer, Lucy and Gabriel enjoy their whirlwind romance.
As the synopsis mentions, Lucy ends up attending the same college as Gabriel. She never expected this. What’s the complication? Because Lucy was staying at the beach house next to Gabriel’s, he assumed she was from a rich family. Lucy never bothered to correct him, thinking their relationship wouldn’t last past the summer. Now, Lucy is so afraid to reveal the truth that she keeps up the charade. She’s not just risking her possibly real love with Gabriel this time. Lucy and Sydney have become really good friends. Things could get awkward if Lucy’s and Gabriel’s relationship ends badly.
In the Dark was just as enjoyable to read as Fair Game. Gabriel and Lucy are compelling protagonists, especially the latter (for me). She’s a good person despite the truth she kept from Gabriel. Lucy didn’t do it because of his money or any other bad reason. As for Gabriel, he seemed pretty similar to Shep. Gabriel was a little more down-to-earth, though, and an easygoing kind of guy. Lucy is charming and driven, too. I could imagine how attractive she is as well, being Hispanic (I pictured Lucy as Kayla Compton from The Flash). The only issue that In the Dark has is the new cover. I much preferred the old one. Other than that, I really liked this book.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
bookbriefs's review against another edition
4.0
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
In the Dark is the second book in a new, new adult contemporary romance series from Monica Murphy. It's called the Rules Series and these books just keep getting better and better. The Rules Series is follows Shep, his friend Gabe and his cousin Tristan. I enjoyed Shep's story, Fair Game, but I knew right away that I wouldn't be able to wait for Gabe's story. Gabe was a breath of fresh air in In the Dark.
The story is told in alternating points of view between Lucy and Gabe. Lucy is house sitting for the summer in a super fancy home, and Gabe and his family are renting the house next door. Gabe was totally taken with Lucy the moment that he saw her, and I loved that about him. I loved that he was not afraid to be completely smitten by her. And I could see why he was. Lucy is great. Sweet, but with some spunk in her. Gabe and Lucy come from two different worlds, and fittingly the book is kind of split into two different parts- their summer and the school year.
I think you will be able to tell where the bumps, drama and road blocks pop up. Not in their blissful summer where they were in their own little Lucy and Gabe bubble. College brought them back to the realities of their situations, and things started to get a little bumpy. Why? Oh yea, because Lucy let Gabe think she was a rich girl. Not the biggest insurmountable problem in the world, but it was just enough for Monica Murphy to works her magic blend of lighthearted agnst that I love with my romances. It wasn't too much, and it didn't take away from the really sweet and wonderful romance that was going on. Just enough to keep it interesting.
In the Dark is a great follow up to Fair Game. I really am digging the Rules Series. They are great beach reads. I have to admit that I am still a little hesitant about Tristan's story. He still seems like the biggest jerk. Monica Murphy is going to have to work her magic on him. I know this series is going to be a big hit with tons of readers of new adult contemporary. This was a great, sexy and fun read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
In the Dark is the second book in a new, new adult contemporary romance series from Monica Murphy. It's called the Rules Series and these books just keep getting better and better. The Rules Series is follows Shep, his friend Gabe and his cousin Tristan. I enjoyed Shep's story, Fair Game, but I knew right away that I wouldn't be able to wait for Gabe's story. Gabe was a breath of fresh air in In the Dark.
The story is told in alternating points of view between Lucy and Gabe. Lucy is house sitting for the summer in a super fancy home, and Gabe and his family are renting the house next door. Gabe was totally taken with Lucy the moment that he saw her, and I loved that about him. I loved that he was not afraid to be completely smitten by her. And I could see why he was. Lucy is great. Sweet, but with some spunk in her. Gabe and Lucy come from two different worlds, and fittingly the book is kind of split into two different parts- their summer and the school year.
I think you will be able to tell where the bumps, drama and road blocks pop up. Not in their blissful summer where they were in their own little Lucy and Gabe bubble. College brought them back to the realities of their situations, and things started to get a little bumpy. Why? Oh yea, because Lucy let Gabe think she was a rich girl. Not the biggest insurmountable problem in the world, but it was just enough for Monica Murphy to works her magic blend of lighthearted agnst that I love with my romances. It wasn't too much, and it didn't take away from the really sweet and wonderful romance that was going on. Just enough to keep it interesting.
In the Dark is a great follow up to Fair Game. I really am digging the Rules Series. They are great beach reads. I have to admit that I am still a little hesitant about Tristan's story. He still seems like the biggest jerk. Monica Murphy is going to have to work her magic on him. I know this series is going to be a big hit with tons of readers of new adult contemporary. This was a great, sexy and fun read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
jbenando's review against another edition
4.0
Full review to come!!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
kimmylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I finished Fair Game I couldn't wait to read the rest of the series. Shep's friends gave him so much grief for falling in love, so I was looking forward to Gabe and Tristan meeting the same fate.
While sunbathing one day Lucy noticed Gabe watching her, so she let him watch. For weeks. Gabe eventually gets up the courage to actually talk to Lucy and he talks her into hanging out. Gabe goes to her place after being out to dinner with his parents. Unfortunately for him, he had a few too many drinks at dinner and ends up making a TERRIBLE first impression. I won't tell you what happens because it is actually quite funny, but this is part of the fall out.
I love how hard Gabe fell for Lucy. Gabe had everything handed to him from the minute he was born, so I liked the fact that he had to work to get Lucy. He knew that she was special and it did not take long to realize that she was the one for him. On multiple occasion Gabe tried to forget about Lucy, but he just couldn't do it. He was determined to make Lucy a permanent fixture in his life.
I LOVED Lucy. She was this beautiful, headstrong, funny, women and I knew as soon as she met Gabe, he had met his match. Unlike Gabe, she had to work extra hard for everything in her life. She wasn't necessarily ashamed of where she came from, but she was worried that Gabe would look down on her. I think at some point she realized Gabe wouldn't care, but she was in too deep at that point.
Gabe and Lucy were HOT together. Their chemistry was off the charts and it didn't take long for either of them to fall for the other person. He genuinely cared for her and when things went a bit south I was proud of the way he handled things.
So two down, one to go! The final book in this series will be Tristan's story. Let's just say that I am not happy with that man and I hope that he has to work extra hard to get the girl. Like really, really hard. And it will take a lot for me to like him again.
As soon as I finished Fair Game I couldn't wait to read the rest of the series. Shep's friends gave him so much grief for falling in love, so I was looking forward to Gabe and Tristan meeting the same fate.
While sunbathing one day Lucy noticed Gabe watching her, so she let him watch. For weeks. Gabe eventually gets up the courage to actually talk to Lucy and he talks her into hanging out. Gabe goes to her place after being out to dinner with his parents. Unfortunately for him, he had a few too many drinks at dinner and ends up making a TERRIBLE first impression. I won't tell you what happens because it is actually quite funny, but this is part of the fall out.
“Let me make it up to you,” I toss out as a last bid. She comes closer to me, her hand shooting out to touch my chest. Hope lights me up but then—she just gives me a hard shove and I stumble out of the pool house backwards.So as you can see, Lucy is not going to make things easy for Gabe. He has to work to make Lucy give him another chance and thankfully she does. That second chance goes extremely well and the two end up spending a lot of the summer together. What Gabe doesn't know is that Lucy is keeping a very big secret from him. She is not the girl he thinks she is, but she figures that keeping the truth from him for the summer won't be a problem. But when the two of them cross paths at college, things get complicated. I kept waiting for the truth to come out and it happened in a way that I wasn't expecting.
Damn, the girl is strong.
“No,” she says as she pulls the pool house door shut behind her.
“I’ll take you out tomorrow. Dinner, a movie, whatever you want to do.” Hell, I’ll make her dinner and the only thing I know how to cook is a grilled cheese sandwich and a quesadilla, which is pretty much one and the same.
She shakes her head—very firmly. “No thanks.”
“Let’s go hang out at the beach tomorrow afternoon. Soak up the sun, walk in the waves.” I sound like a cheesy asshole and I’m pleading. Oh, shit. I never plead, not with chicks. I never have to.
“I don’t think so.” Did she waver? Nah, she didn’t waver. This chick is tough as nails. Passionate as all get out with a body sexy enough to make my head spin just looking at her.
And she hates me, because I somehow fell asleep mid-kiss.
I’m a complete idiot. If the guys ever find out about this, I’m screwed.
Clearing my throat, I make one more attempt. “Lucy…”
She holds her arm out, indicating I need to get away from her pronto.
“See you later Gabe.”
Nodding once, and with my proverbial tail between my legs like a chastised puppy dog, I leave her place and head back to mine.
I love how hard Gabe fell for Lucy. Gabe had everything handed to him from the minute he was born, so I liked the fact that he had to work to get Lucy. He knew that she was special and it did not take long to realize that she was the one for him. On multiple occasion Gabe tried to forget about Lucy, but he just couldn't do it. He was determined to make Lucy a permanent fixture in his life.
I LOVED Lucy. She was this beautiful, headstrong, funny, women and I knew as soon as she met Gabe, he had met his match. Unlike Gabe, she had to work extra hard for everything in her life. She wasn't necessarily ashamed of where she came from, but she was worried that Gabe would look down on her. I think at some point she realized Gabe wouldn't care, but she was in too deep at that point.
Gabe and Lucy were HOT together. Their chemistry was off the charts and it didn't take long for either of them to fall for the other person. He genuinely cared for her and when things went a bit south I was proud of the way he handled things.
So two down, one to go! The final book in this series will be Tristan's story. Let's just say that I am not happy with that man and I hope that he has to work extra hard to get the girl. Like really, really hard. And it will take a lot for me to like him again.
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