Series Review: Breathless by Maya Banks

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Must Read Author
Series: Breathless
Author: Maya Banks
# of Books: 3 (Rush, Fever, Burn)
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Smokin’ (BDSM: High)

Thoughts:

Maya Banks is a must read author for me for a few reasons. One is that her highlander books are my favourite to read of that genre; another is that no matter the setting or genre, her writing is consistent and I always get what I expect; and three, I just enjoy the stories she creates. So when I saw that she was coming out with a new contemporary series, I jumped on it.

I personally am not a fan of BDSM-focused books. That stuff doesn’t turn my crank but I don’t mind some of the milder stuff that we see in other popular contemporary reads like the Stark Trilogy or the Crossfire Saga. The books of the Breathless Trilogy are a bit lighter than some other BDSM novels out there (like Banks’ Sweet Series) but they a touch more heavier than the Stark or Crossfire series. So my recommendation is if you don’t enjoy or can’t get past EXTREMELY dominate, alpha males, don’t pick up this series–it will NOT be your cup of tea!

I really enjoyed Burn but not as much as I had hoped. To be honest I’m not sure why I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped. I liked all the characters and their stories. There was more to the plot than just sex (though it does take a while for the secondary plot to kick in but I enjoyed watching how the romance progressed so I didn’t mind too much) and it ends on a solid note. I think the reason I would give it a 3.5 rather than a 4 is the BDSM element to it. I think it was a little too much at times and I just can’t fathom the whole concept personally so I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I could have.

When it comes to Fever, the BDSM element again is the factor holding back my higher rating. In Fever the BDSM element is definitely more present than before so that turned me off a bit. I also would have liked more of a personal relationship between Jace and Bethany. It just happened so quickly and I just didn’t understand their “connection”. All I really needed to see was one date where they talked without ripping their clothes off and I would have been satisfied. But overall, the plot was a lot more suspenseful so that was a bonus.

Burn was a major disappointment for me. Ash’s need for submission really made reading the book uncomfortable for me. It was way too much for me and I didn’t like that element. Again, I wanted more of a personal connection between the characters and we didn’t get that. The last 50 or so pages were really great and I couldn’t put it down so I wish that there was more of that suspense. I also would have loved a real epilogue but I was happy with the way it ended.

Conclusion:

Not the best series of all time and I was disappointed but I did enjoy the stories. However, this series is not for everyone! If you don’t like BDSM novels or extreme alpha male characters–AVOID these books! These books are a lot more “hardcore” than others out there and won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Fans of Bank’s other contemporary series will like these.

Rating: 3/5

Similar Reads: Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks (Sweet Series, #1) and Release Me by J. Kenner (Stark Trilogy, #1)

Synopsis for Rush (from Goodreads):
Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking…

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, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’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 a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.