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rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book in the Breathless Trilogy. The series is set around three 38yo Millionaire hoteliers. They’re best read in order - while each book focuses on one couple, there are storylines that span the series.
I love the Best Friend’s Sister/Brother’s Best Friend trope. Partially because there’s already a relationship between the two and things aren’t starting from scratch. In this case, Gabe is 14 years older than Mia (he’s 38, she’s 24) - so there’s an age gap factor as well. I like that when Gabe says he waited for her to grow up a bit, it’s because he noticed her at 20 not that he’s been wanting her since she was a child.
This is best if you enjoy over the top controlling, alpha male paired with sometimes spunky but mostly submissive women. While this is BDSM, it still felt off at times - for me Gabe’s behavior sometimes bordered on abusive, even within the context of agreed relationship boundaries.
The biggest problem I have with this is how repetitive Banks’ writing can get. At just over 11 hours, I think at least an hour could have been shaved off by not having internal dialogues and conversations rehashing info presented immediately before.
There are a lot of really hot scenes - but an unstable ex, family drama, and business dealings give it a bit of plot. A big breakup and some groveling from Gabe give this a decent HFN.
Narration:
I liked Adam Paul’s narration. Particularly that he gives Gabe, Jace, & Ash unique voices that are consistent through the whole series.
I love the Best Friend’s Sister/Brother’s Best Friend trope. Partially because there’s already a relationship between the two and things aren’t starting from scratch. In this case, Gabe is 14 years older than Mia (he’s 38, she’s 24) - so there’s an age gap factor as well. I like that when Gabe says he waited for her to grow up a bit, it’s because he noticed her at 20 not that he’s been wanting her since she was a child.
This is best if you enjoy over the top controlling, alpha male paired with sometimes spunky but mostly submissive women. While this is BDSM, it still felt off at times - for me Gabe’s behavior sometimes bordered on abusive, even within the context of agreed relationship boundaries.
The biggest problem I have with this is how repetitive Banks’ writing can get. At just over 11 hours, I think at least an hour could have been shaved off by not having internal dialogues and conversations rehashing info presented immediately before.
There are a lot of really hot scenes - but an unstable ex, family drama, and business dealings give it a bit of plot. A big breakup and some groveling from Gabe give this a decent HFN.
Narration:
I liked Adam Paul’s narration. Particularly that he gives Gabe, Jace, & Ash unique voices that are consistent through the whole series.
thatmoxiemermaid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jesseka8787's review against another edition
2.0
I found this unbelievable. The stuff they say to each other is ridiculous...worst book in a while!
ash_thierfeldt's review against another edition
3.0
Ehhhh
It was an alright book! Not so awful I quit but not definitely not as great as I had hoped.
It was an alright book! Not so awful I quit but not definitely not as great as I had hoped.
lilysbookse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
darcyharper's review against another edition
It was supposed to be a romance, but it was assault. That is not love or a Dom/sub relationship
That's sexual abuse and lack of respect, control and decency.
That's sexual abuse and lack of respect, control and decency.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
cglamb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rellwood74's review against another edition
3.0
I came across this review on my shelves when I updated my library. It was marked as a DNF, but I actually read it.
I know that a lot of people love this author and this series, it's on a bunch of lists, however it didn't sit well with me.
Gabe is the Hero and he is a businessman with bank. He is one of three brothers, and his object of desire is Mia who is the little sister to of his best friend.
After he secures Mia in his grasp, he gives her the BDSM contract and gets her to sign on the dotted line. Although Mia is excited and scared, she trusts that this man is going to treat her right. Yes, a woman can be treated right even while being spanked to and tied up.
However, Gabe asks Mia to go above and beyond what would be expected of her at such a recent introduction to the scene. I am referring to a specific scene where she was expected to strip naked and serve as a table or a platter or some kind of inanimate object to hold and serve food for a bunch of unknown businessmen. That pissed me off. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a table or a platter for BDSM fun. What is wrong was how he manipulated this young woman who otherwise has no experience in the scene whatsoever into being groped and watched by strangers while her "loving" boyfriend is there conducting business. Also, she had no idea she was going to be doing this. It was just sprung on her and was followed up with some kind of male manipulation to get it going. I don't remember if she liked it or not, but that isn't the point. The point is you do not get your new submissive who has never done anything kinky in the past to strip and become a platter for food for strange businessmen without even asking first. Actually, he shouldn't have even asked. This is a no-brainer. He supposedly loves her and is worried about her brother finding out they are together. How does he expect her older brother to react when he finds out he had her naked and groped during a business lunch?
Seriously? That is just one of the many reasons why I wanted to stab Gabe with at fork.
And that is one of the many reasons why I marked this as a DNF even though I read it, because that is the response I had after reading it.
I know that a lot of people love this author and this series, it's on a bunch of lists, however it didn't sit well with me.
Gabe is the Hero and he is a businessman with bank. He is one of three brothers, and his object of desire is Mia who is the little sister to of his best friend.
After he secures Mia in his grasp, he gives her the BDSM contract and gets her to sign on the dotted line. Although Mia is excited and scared, she trusts that this man is going to treat her right. Yes, a woman can be treated right even while being spanked to and tied up.
However, Gabe asks Mia to go above and beyond what would be expected of her at such a recent introduction to the scene. I am referring to a specific scene where she was expected to strip naked and serve as a table or a platter or some kind of inanimate object to hold and serve food for a bunch of unknown businessmen. That pissed me off. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a table or a platter for BDSM fun. What is wrong was how he manipulated this young woman who otherwise has no experience in the scene whatsoever into being groped and watched by strangers while her "loving" boyfriend is there conducting business. Also, she had no idea she was going to be doing this. It was just sprung on her and was followed up with some kind of male manipulation to get it going. I don't remember if she liked it or not, but that isn't the point. The point is you do not get your new submissive who has never done anything kinky in the past to strip and become a platter for food for strange businessmen without even asking first. Actually, he shouldn't have even asked. This is a no-brainer. He supposedly loves her and is worried about her brother finding out they are together. How does he expect her older brother to react when he finds out he had her naked and groped during a business lunch?
Seriously? That is just one of the many reasons why I wanted to stab Gabe with at fork.
And that is one of the many reasons why I marked this as a DNF even though I read it, because that is the response I had after reading it.
emilylovestoreadandwrite's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t even describe how happy the ending made me!!!