The Professional by Kresley Cole Publisher: Simon and Schuster on May 6, 2014
Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Romance, Suspense
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
He makes the rules...
Mafiya enforcer Aleksei “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss knows no bounds, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, feisty redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Aleksei will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.
Rules are made to be broken…
Grad student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the dark and breathtaking Sevastyan before the professional enforcer whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. Every day under his protection leads her deeper under his masterful spell.
Are you ready to play?
Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true...
At A Glance
Loved it, then hated it.
The Good
I LOVED the first half of this book. It was fast, exciting, and sexy. The Russian setting felt authentic. I could feel the cold snow and picture the historical buildings.
Natalie was a little naïve and Sevastyan was a little too aggressive, but I didn’t care. They were interesting. I liked Natalie’s sense of adventure and Sevastyan’s protective side, though he takes it to a whole other level. They clashed often, but their sexual chemistry was off the charts.
The concept was different. Natalie finds out her long, lost father is a Mafia Crime Lord and he has sent his enforcer to bring her home, by any means necessary. As you can imagine, mayhem ensues. We get some action, heartbreak, and yummy sex along the way. Plus a lot of surprises.
The Bad
Not the most realistic of stories. I was rolling my eyes quite often. Like Paxan, Natalie’s father, who didn’t want to be a crime lord, it just sort of happened. Seriously? Then Natalie, a graduate student who knows everything about men, and she’s a virgin. *sighs*
Then we have Sevastyan. He kidnaps Natalie and takes her to Russia. He expects Natalie to marry and love him without her knowing one single thing about him. He uses her for sex and that should be enough. And Natalie lets him get away with it.
In general, the second half of the book let me down big time. The plot went down hill and so did everything else. I just didn’t care for the characters in the end.
The Snuggly
Very hot sex, but one sex scene felt a little rapey. That turned me off, but before that, I really enjoyed the bdsm sex, but I wish there was more romance. The Professional is more about raw, rough sex.
Final Thoughts
I wanted to love this one so much more, but I really started to resent it near the end. I expected more out of Cole. She is a great writer, but I think the erotica got the better of her. It gobbled up the plot. I enjoyed it enough to give it 3 stars though, for whatever reason. lol. I do want to read the next book of the series to see where this goes. Kind of recommended?
Quotes
“A body like that was good for two things that started with f. And fighting was the other one.”
“I’ll consider myself lucky, my elusive girl, once you consider yourself taken. Every man has a weakness; you are mine. I’ve accepted that. Now you must accept me.”
“When a woman singles me out”—he leaned down to murmur at my ear—“it’s because she wants to get fucked. She looks at the scars and tattoos and knows she’ll get fucked hard.”
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons
i listened to this as a serial, so I got it in three pieces. I agree with you that the ending was a let down. There is more romance in The Master. Great review.
Jennifer Bielman
I really want to try The Master!
Anna
It doesn’t sound right for me either. Maybe next time. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
Jennifer Bielman
🙂 thanks for stopping by.
kindlemom1
Even if you were rolling your eyes through a good part of this, it does sound like that first half was pretty amazing. I have yet to try this author but I will, maybe just not with this one first. 😉
Wonderful review Jennifer!
Jennifer Bielman
Kresley’s other series is AMAZING!
Kristin
I totally agree with your review. I read this as a serial when the author first wrote it. I’m glad it was turned into an actual novel. I loved the first book but didn’t care for the others. I thought maybe it was due to it being a serial (I’m not a huge fan of them) and being pulled out of the story mid-action. Sad to see that’s not the case.
Jennifer Bielman
I am not partial to serials either, but yeah, this book just sucks on the second half on it’s own.
Lekeisha
Never read this one before, but I may give it a try. It looks like a hot read. Then again, I need more than sex to get me into a story. Not sure yet. Great review!
Jennifer Bielman
The story starts out great, but it lags near the end. Great sex though.
Braine Talk Supe
I am having the most horrible streak so I won’t be reading this anytime soon. Plus the first one pissed me off too. So maybe later…
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, yeah, maybe not the right time. 😉
sharon - Obsession with Books
I’m not sure if this one would be for me, I prefer more realistic situations so it’s a shame this one missed the mark. The premise does sound interesting.
Sharon – Obsession with Books
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, might not be for you.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
I loved the second one in the series but haven’t had the chance to read this one yet. I liked that it had the heavy erotica feel and wasn’t similar to her pnr series at all. I’m hoping the first one will work a bit better for me than it did you. Always sucks when you’re digging it and then…not.
Jennifer Bielman
I have been hearing the second book is waaaaay better. I am going to try it.
Melliane
Sorry to see you feelings had changed. I haven’t read this one but I quite liked her PNE series.
Jennifer Bielman
I love her PNR series so much.
Wickedly Delicious Book Blog
Bummer it was not has good for you the last half. Loved this book.
Jennifer Bielman
Happy you liked it. 🙂
Jaclyn Canada
Yeah this one definitely isn’t for me. Sorry to see that it started out all good and ended limply for you. Better luck with the next read 😀
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks. No more limpness for me. 😀
Christy
Ugh, so much of that turns me off. And I’m so sick of virgins! lol
Jennifer Bielman
Seriously, virgins are sooooo overdone! If I see another virgin over 18 years old, I am going to scream!!!