Breathless Series #1

*This story contains depictions of BDSM scenes.

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When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once. So what if he’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

First off, the opening. There was no need for the prologue. It starts four days into the story. Giving us, as readers, a sense of mystery to the story. Spoiler alert – there is none. Although that really isn’t a spoiler. Once we are caught up to the prologue, the true theme of the story is laid out. It is not nearly as intriguing as the prologue suggests.

It is a common troupe—two people are forbidden by circumstance. In this case, Gabe is fourteen years her senior, and one of her brother’s best friends. According to ‘bro code’, Mia was off limits.

Then there is Mia. She has been fantasizing about Gabe since she was a teenager.

Now that she is a grown woman, Gabe is finding it hard to deny what he has been wanting to do to and with her for years. Mia is not going to stop him.

Gabe uses his position to get what he wants. Hiring Mia to be his personal secretary. That way he can have around the clock access to her.  Plus, Mia will gain work experience that will actually qualify her for success in life.

Mia is skeptical, especially when Gabe presents her with a hefty contract. One that pertains to her employment and their budding relationship. It is all very professional and clinical.

Convinced she will be able to walk away from Gabe when the time comes, Mia signs it.

This is the first book in a trilogy. Each concentrating on a new couple. Gabe and his two friends being the male counterpart.

I enjoyed this book but not in a rush (hehehe) to read the other two. No doubt I will enjoy them when I eventually read them, it didn’t leave me anticipating the next two books.

Mia is just starting out her adult life and is overwhelmed with Gabe’s interest in her. Gabe is a self-made millionaire, along with his two best friends. Having over a decade more experience in life, Mia seems downright naive comparatively.

There was an attempt to add some mystery around Gabe and his attitude toward women leading to the circumstances surrounding his not-so-clean divorce. I don’t feel it had the impact the author was going for; falling a little flat for me.

Being privy to Gabe’s and Mia’s inner-most thoughts became fairly redundant. Gabe is so obsessed with Mia he is having trouble controlling himself no matter his initial intentions. Even though he can’t read Mia’s mind, her actions and responses clearly say that she is all on-board with his pace.

Both are too timid and apprehensive to tell the other what they are really thinking or feeling. Not wanting to scare the other.

There was one point in the book where I left it for a few weeks before finishing. It got to that point in the Lifetime/Hallmaark Romance Formula that frustrates me. The part in the story when everything is going flawlessly, things are resolved and then something happens to derail the whole situation because the characters overreact and lose all sense of logic. And you are left wondering if they will pull their heads from their asses, kiss, make up, and end up together.  Anxiety ensues even though we all know damn-well that things end up righted in the end.

The path the story was taking, the blow out was predictable. Frankly, it pissed me off. I had to close it for a while until I was ready to face their idiocy.  It played out exactly how I expected.

That being said, it’s a romance novel that follows the formula of all romance novels. Predictability is why we continue to read them. That level of clairvoyance is reassuring.

Fortunately, Mia and Gabe are both written well. The steamy bits are just spicy enough.

As for the BDSM element. It’s no Fifty Shades of Grey (and thank goodness for that). It actually touches on a somewhat realistic D/S relationship—minus the written contract.  But not so deep into kink that the vanilla will be turned off. Unless they had no idea this book contained any aspects of kink. Then, well…surprise!

I will eventually get to the other two books. I have no doubt that I will enjoy them. As for a BDSM romance goes, Maya Banks is no Katee Roberts or Jade West. It lies somewhere between 50 Shades and Dark Olypmus.

If E. L. James piqued your fancy, give Maya Banks a try!