As a reader who loves her heroes edgy I'm excited to introduce you to Rush by Gina Gordon which releases tomorrow. Keep reading to get a delicious taste of this sensual tale of opposites attracting, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In celebration of its release make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a Loveswept mug, a Flirt mug, and a bundle of select eBooks too!
Everly Parker is about to graduate from law school, always busy, and can’t stop rushing through life. Her late grandmother left her a bucket list of meaningful, can’t-miss experiences, but she hasn’t completed a single one. Then searing-hot Max Levin bursts into her world. As a casting director for a porn production company, Max is loaded, cocky, and all wrong for Everly. Still, she’s tempted enough to cross the first item off her list: Go out with someone you’d never give the time of day.
Inheriting a porn empire isn’t every guy’s dream (well, actually, it probably is), but Max isn’t complaining. It’s just that until he meets Everly, he has no idea what he’s been missing. As the pressure mounts to take over the family business, Max can’t help wondering what would happen if he chose Everly instead. So far, his life has been a wild ride, but only Everly promises the greatest rush of all: love.
EXCERPT:
“I’m in the business of bringing fantasy to life, Ms. Parker.” I was mesmerized by the soft swell of her breasts that poked above the neckline of her shirt. So subtle and delicate. “I bet you’ve got a few stored away for a rainy day.”
A sharp snap brought my attention back to her face. “Don’t you know it’s rude not to look someone in the face when talking to them?” When I finally brought my eyes up and away from her breasts, she was glaring at me. Her shoulders had migrated to her ears in annoyance.
I was usually a lot subtler when checking out the opposite sex. Not that I had to be. It was my job to analyze every curve and swell of a woman’s body, but served me right for giving in to my baser desires. She had totally called me on it.
“Hmm . . . I guess I don’t.” I stepped forward and walked around her, just as the hard crunching noise of the coffee grinder went off in the distance.
I liked this girl. She may be hiding what I was positive was an above-average body behind those frumpy clothes, but she had gumption. Confidence. Yet not the confidence I was used to. I made my living working with women who found their sense of self with their bodies. But not this woman. I had an inkling that her confidence originated from being first in her class.
Her head swiveled with my movements and I heard her tiny gasps for breath as I hovered, each time getting closer. Finally, I leaned in and whispered, “Want to teach me a lesson?” I grinned then stepped away, but not before I saw the shiver race up her spine.
So you do have an effect on her.
But when I turned to face her, she had already forgotten my affect on her body. “Somehow I have the feeling you’ve already got a long line of scorned women ready to teach you a lesson in manners.”
I heard Ben chuckle behind me, then clear his throat.
“Touché, Ms. Parker.”
“I have studying to do, so . . .” She lifted her chin, eyes blazing at me. “I’ll leave you to your meeting.”
“It’s too bad.” I squeezed myself back into the booth and kicked out one leg, resting my arm along the top of the seat back. “Guess I won’t be getting the lashing I so deserve.”
She laughed me off. Actually laughed at my words. Not that cute little giggle women usually got when I laid it on thick, but laughed at me. “Goodbye.” She walked away, but not before giving me one last look that cut right through me.
I’d been eyed before. By women and men. Always with a glimmer of seduction or the blatant go-ahead to bring them to my bedroom. But never like this. Never with such disregard for everything I was and everything I stood for. This woman didn’t know me. She was just like the others. Judging a book before she looked between the covers—and being a student, she should know better.
But I was used to people belittling my work and my character. I’d dealt with it my whole life. I knew what it was like to have people call my mother a dirty slut. How it felt to have my father compared to a pimp. But even after all the teasing and taunting that only adolescents could hammer at me, never had I ever felt the need to defend myself so thoroughly.
I returned my attention to Ben, Jade, and Stella, almost forgetting why I was here.
“Sorry about that,” Jade said. “Everly can be a bit uptight sometimes. She’s just stressed out with studying.”
“So, where were we,” Stella asked, leaning against me. From across the table, Ben stared with a curious, but shocked face. “I think we were going to give you a little sneak peek of our skills.” She purred and pawed at me like a cat in heat.
I wasn’t interested in watching a show. I was . . . confused. Confused at the fact that I was more interested in the bookworm three tables away than the two beautiful women in front of me.
Was it because I was taken aback by her quick wit and innocent smile? Or was it something more? Was it because she saw right through me? She knew I was Max Levin, the porn guy. But she . . . didn’t care.
I had walked into this café with the intent of meeting and signing two escorts to short- term contracts. Instead, I wanted nothing more than to figure out why that Plain Jane had just woken up my cock. More importantly, why her indifference toward me actually hit a nerve. Women usually batted their eyelashes and looked at me with a dreamy gaze. Not this girl, she wasn’t wooed by my charms or status. And it was fucking intriguing.
“Would you excuse me a minute?”
Ben shot me a quizzical look. “Where are you going?”
“Ladies, would you mind discussing with Mr. Lockwood your boundaries? The type of scenes you’d be willing to film.” I stood and pulled out a draft contract from my pocket. “He’ll also discuss the average payouts.” I looked at him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Page twelve.”
The bookworm had just presented me with a challenge.
I wasn’t done with her. Not by a long shot.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a reader who considers the New Adult genre one of her favorites and has read many books in this genre, it takes a lot to set yourself apart from the crowded field. This book does just that and I now have another author to follow as Ms. Gordon's talent for crafting a strong story and memorable romance is on display here. From its intriguing blurb to its likable characters following an unexpected path this book won me over from the first page to the last.
Everly Parker is the quintessential good girl who comes from a legacy of lawyers and whose career path is clearly written by tradition and her overbearing parents. She's a sweet and studious girl but shows flashes of wanting something more. After always believing in how her future was laid out she's now left in doubt, scared and a bit sad about what's to come. With a bucket list given to her by her beloved grandmother though she'll finally get to experience living and quite possibly find what makes her truly happy and feel alive. She's not doing it alone though as the Prince of Porn Max Levin joins her in her exhilarating and eye-opening journey to finding herself. The two of them might start out as unexpected friends, but as they grow closer and discover the truth behind the facade, you get a sweet yet steamy relationship that put a smile on my face. It's a rocky journey to HEA though as her parent's frigid relationship has left her jaded when it comes to love. To truly be happy she'll have to finally stand up for herself which had me rooting for her every step of the way.
Max too has always known what his future was going to be as the heir to a porn dynasty. At first the thought thrilled him but lately it's all become blasé. The business is starting to leave him cold and the women no longer excite him. He's desperate to find something that excites him and meeting the strong-willed and natural Everly catches him by surprise to where thoughts of her consume him. Helping her with her bucket list puts them together in close proximity and allows them to finally be themselves. Not only does Everly see him as the good person he's trying to be but he starts seeing more to himself too. He discovers that he can contribute more to the world than just sex. Max was lovable from the start as he knew his faults and made no excuses for them. He came from loving and committed parents but the loss of his mother has him holding back as he doesn't want to experience the heartbreak of loss again. It left me sympathetic towards him and rooting for Everly to discover the sweet man beneath the sexy surface.
This was a nicely paced book that allowed friendship to grow between Everly and Max to get us fully invested in them before entering into a sweet and sexy romance with a few bumps along the way. These characters are depicted in a real way with banter that's entertaining and with issues that are understandable but stereotypical in romance books. The world of porn is vividly depicted too showing it in a positive light that I'm sure isn't always accurate but makes those who participate easier to relate to. The secondary characters are just as strong as the leads and are all in the sex trade which connects them in an intriguing way. Stella and Jade are Everly's escorting roommates and their fun loving ways won me over. Max's director friend Ben and porn star Lance caught my attention as well with their playfulness and with the way the story ended I look forward to seeing more of all of them. From the first page to the last I was completely consumed by this story and its immensely likable characters and compelling, yet fun and flirty, storyline. Readers looking to be entertained while discovering an unforgettable romance will want to grab this one and keep an eye on Ms. Gordon's future works!
My rating for this is a B+/A-
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
When her dream of becoming a mafia princess didn’t pan out, Gina Gordon went after her second dream: becoming a writer. And she hasn’t looked back. A self-proclaimed happily-ever-after junkie and cupcake connoisseur, Gordon loves spinning contemporary tales of knee-bending first kisses, unconditional love, and super-hot sex. She lives in Milton, Ontario, with her husband and their lovable dog.
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