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courtsbooknook's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I actually liked Jace and Bethany's story way more than I thought. I also liked it better than book one. This did have a little bit more of a plot and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop even with Bethany's struggles and more traumatic past. I think they worked quite well together and I also liked the dominant/submissive aspects of their relationship. I also liked seeing how happy Gabe and Mia were now after reading their story. This was a quick read that didn't require a lot of thought and I was here for it. The spice in this one hit for sure, and I was not disappointed. I'm excited to see Ash get his chance at love and I think the conclusion will be a solid one. So far, I like this installment the best.
jenngummo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ojeda87's review against another edition
1.0
I really dislike relationships in which a partner is very controlling. I liked that the plot was rather different and that the heroine was literally rags to riches, but it made me uneasy. Even though the characters male character is all "you don't owe me anything, you have all of this because I love you," the female protagonist still seems to "owe him" for dragging her out of bad situations. The male protagonist and all of his friends make it clear that he is only controlling (to the level of psychological and emotional abuse) because he cares so much about her. I don't buy this. I think that there are people who understand or identify with this mindset, this will probably be an enjoyable read for you.
nero1279's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️& half /5 performance by Adam Paul
Written in 3rd POV. Stronger male character voices in this instalment which helped.
ARTICULATION - clean, clear, precise
Written in 3rd POV. Stronger male character voices in this instalment which helped.
ARTICULATION - clean, clear, precise
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, relatively low mouth noise
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable.
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and majorly consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters quite well. Although a character change is evident for the main male from book 1 to book 2.
SEPARATION- some spillover is evident between narration and character, which can be a little disconcerting.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection is not as visual as it could be but better than the first book.
STORYLINE. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ but a little predictable
Some massive reviews on this book with a lot to stay from the good, bad and ugly. If you liked the first one then this one was a good follow up. Plot was very predictable however, but you are not reading these books for the plot 🤔🤣, are you?
If BDSM is your thing, then give this one a go. Jace and Bethany, a tad far fetched in the where from to where to, but a good Cinderella rendition nonetheless. You still get to met Mia and Gabe and can totally see where the story is going head next. Bring on Ash.
STORYLINE. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ but a little predictable
Some massive reviews on this book with a lot to stay from the good, bad and ugly. If you liked the first one then this one was a good follow up. Plot was very predictable however, but you are not reading these books for the plot 🤔🤣, are you?
If BDSM is your thing, then give this one a go. Jace and Bethany, a tad far fetched in the where from to where to, but a good Cinderella rendition nonetheless. You still get to met Mia and Gabe and can totally see where the story is going head next. Bring on Ash.
nitzanschwarz's review against another edition
3.5
I adore Maya Banks. Her Historical romances are some of the best out there. I will pretty much read anything she writes. However, from all her series I've read, this one is my least favorite, and I usually love possessive, controlling Alpha males.
Bethany is homeless. Broke. Hardened by the rough streets and yet breakable. She is delicate, fragile, and scarred inside. She knows there are no such things as miracles or fairy tales in real life, and she knows there is no such thing as 'happily-ever-after' for girls like her. The fight for survival is never-ending and constant in her world.
Because of all that, she can't understand why a guy like Jace, who is rich, handsome and can get any woman he wants, probably whenever he wants and where he wants, would want with her. Let alone love her, care for her, or want to keep her safe.
But it seems like that's exactly what Jace wants and that he's going to make sure of it whether she wants him to or not. Sure, he'll go slow at first - or as slow as a dominating guy like him can go - but ultimately, she'll be his, completely.
Jace falls fast and hard for Bethany, and she is attracted to the safety of his arms, the warmth of his love, and the care he gives her, even when she's certain he will eventually either grow tired with her, realize how out of his league she is or figure out just how messed up she is, and then he'll break her heart.
Being inside Bethany's head, her insecurities and doubt, self-hatred and fears, was tough. It made me tear up at times. I felt sad for her life and happy that she found someone to take care of her. For some reason, I liked her a lot more than I did Mia. She was easier to relate to, I guess.
Being in Jace's head was a little bit like being inside a caveman's head, and that's okay. We all love our Alpha males, and Jace was sweet and caring and quick to realize and recognize where he was being an A-class A-hole.
The relationship between the two was pretty instant, but the relationship-y parts of the story, AKA their few dates or their talks, were pretty good. There was also no creepy-assed contract detailing how their relationship would be and that he'd own her (he just thinks about all these things in his head).
Now, where does the problem of the book come from? honestly, it's from having 20% story and 80% sex scenes. If I had to choose a word to describe this book, it'll be "SEX". Like, every two pages, sex, and very soon it becomes too much, and I started skimming pages.
Like with the first book, I got the same feeling here; there wasn't really a story in this, just a giant sex scene with some dialogues here and there to create the appearance of a story, and it's rather a shame because I really enjoyed the 'story' part of the book, and would've loved more of it.
Now, before you'll hate on me, I did enjoy the book on a level. I just expect so much more of Maya Banks, and I wish for fewer sex scenes and more story parts.
theninabeana's review
3.0
Okay so,
I have such mixed feelings about this book.
Let me start off by saying I loved the first book in this series, Rush. I thought Mia and Gabe had a real connection that I could feel through the words in the book. However, when it came to Jace and Bethany I felt a little... confused??
I get love at first sight (maybe infatuation at first sight would be a better term), but it just didn’t make any sense to me. There was no context to their relationship, he seen her and that was it.
Also I get the dominant, possessive men trend in these books (honestly I don’t mind it cause I’m into a dominant man), but it was like excessive. By the way, the amount of time the word possessive, along with other synonyms of the word, was used in this book was infuriating. I get it, she’s yours.
The threesome between Ash, Bethany, and him just had me a little lost because he said that was the only way he could have her. But I highly doubt she would have turned him away if he suggested just being with him.
At one point in the book they were having this deep conversation and literally the next sentence they went into full blown sex and I’m like wtf did I miss. Where is the connection? Where is this coming from? Half the book I literally just sat there and said wtf to myself.
Bethany’s thoughts of not being enough and running away drove me insane as well. It was so much flip flopping I wanted to throw the book across the room. If you love him, you love him. Sit there and work through it instead of being a little bitch and running when things get tough. ANYWAYS, I digress.
HOWEVER, I do want to go ahead and say that the last quarter of this book (maybe like page 300 on), I felt I was enjoying the story a little more. They focused solely on Jace and Bethany for so long in the book that you forgot he even had a sister half the time and that there were other characters besides them and Jack.
The connection between her and Jace made more sense as the book went on, solely because they had been around each other a lot and that connection could grow. Once the connection between them was established and Jace wasn’t running around like a mad man trying to abduct this girl and keep her held up in his apartment, I could get with it.
I thought the ending was pretty intense and it definitely threw me through a loop, which I always welcome a good twist.
Sorry if this is so rambly, I have so many mixed emotions on this book... I even ranted to my husband about it!
So conclusion, lol, the only reason this book got three stars from was because of the last quarter of the book. It was a slower read for me just because I couldn’t get into it as much as Rush. I’m really hoping that Ash’s book will be better (although I read some reviews for it and unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case.)
That’s all for now.. on to Burn!
I have such mixed feelings about this book.
Let me start off by saying I loved the first book in this series, Rush. I thought Mia and Gabe had a real connection that I could feel through the words in the book. However, when it came to Jace and Bethany I felt a little... confused??
I get love at first sight (maybe infatuation at first sight would be a better term), but it just didn’t make any sense to me. There was no context to their relationship, he seen her and that was it.
Also I get the dominant, possessive men trend in these books (honestly I don’t mind it cause I’m into a dominant man), but it was like excessive. By the way, the amount of time the word possessive, along with other synonyms of the word, was used in this book was infuriating. I get it, she’s yours.
The threesome between Ash, Bethany, and him just had me a little lost because he said that was the only way he could have her. But I highly doubt she would have turned him away if he suggested just being with him.
At one point in the book they were having this deep conversation and literally the next sentence they went into full blown sex and I’m like wtf did I miss. Where is the connection? Where is this coming from? Half the book I literally just sat there and said wtf to myself.
Bethany’s thoughts of not being enough and running away drove me insane as well. It was so much flip flopping I wanted to throw the book across the room. If you love him, you love him. Sit there and work through it instead of being a little bitch and running when things get tough. ANYWAYS, I digress.
HOWEVER, I do want to go ahead and say that the last quarter of this book (maybe like page 300 on), I felt I was enjoying the story a little more. They focused solely on Jace and Bethany for so long in the book that you forgot he even had a sister half the time and that there were other characters besides them and Jack.
The connection between her and Jace made more sense as the book went on, solely because they had been around each other a lot and that connection could grow. Once the connection between them was established and Jace wasn’t running around like a mad man trying to abduct this girl and keep her held up in his apartment, I could get with it.
I thought the ending was pretty intense and it definitely threw me through a loop, which I always welcome a good twist.
Sorry if this is so rambly, I have so many mixed emotions on this book... I even ranted to my husband about it!
So conclusion, lol, the only reason this book got three stars from was because of the last quarter of the book. It was a slower read for me just because I couldn’t get into it as much as Rush. I’m really hoping that Ash’s book will be better (although I read some reviews for it and unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case.)
That’s all for now.. on to Burn!