Review: Resplendent Rush by Bella J
Resplendence Series, Book 2
Contemporary Romance
Released: January 11, 2016
Liquid Silver Books
Reviewed by Sheena
Lexi is a vivacious, quirky, and fiercely independent woman with enough attitude and wit to intimidate even the most confident of men. Levi is a sexy-as-hell, cocksure, smoldering hot marine blessed with smooth swagger and cool confidence to charm his way into any woman’s bed. The one thing they have in common, though, is their disinterest in finding love. She’s determined to not let love interfere and dictate her life. And with his career, he doesn’t need the emotional ties and baggage of love, and dreams of white picket fences…
Levi was loyal, protective and sex on a stick…and Lexi was his “Petite.”
Shitballs on a cracker for a late-night snack.
….
“And if I say that you are my always and my never?”
“It means that you are mine, always,” he whispered, and she felt his hands move down her sides and settle on her hips. “And I want to be without you, never.”
Holy William Shakespeare.
Resplendent Rush is book two of the Resplendence series and opens with a flash back to a little more than a year ago when Lexi met Levi, when an accidental collision reversed the course for both of their lives. Lexi is a huge character. Vivacious, fearless, sassy and classy. I enjoyed her even more this go round. Short and an absolute fire cracker, it was so easy to root for her come what may. Levi was a really great hero. Cheeky and cocky, protective and loyal and damn he made me laugh!
She eye-balled him for a few seconds before she said, “You are a very disturbed person.” He winked at her.
“And you think I’m sexy.”
The banter alone sold me and drew me into this novel. Two highly sexual, highly enamored and supremely well matched people who only want to love one another without the risk that all lovers take- that the love they share can ensnare them too deeply and ruin them. A gamble they dance around cautiously, until trouble arrives in the form of Levi’s little brother, who has baggage the likes of which could destroy Levi and Lexi- forever.
Resplendent Rush is an easy book to get lost in. The story follows Lexi and Levi as we flash back in time to see how they fell in love. My favorite moments were where they teased one another mercilessly, only to find home in one another’s eyes. They are ridiculously sexually compatible and have a really good thing going. It was beyond easy to get lost in all the good feels going on- too lost, as there are many moments where things were just too perfect for the couple and my mind would drift and wonder, okay, candy’s dandy but where’s the beef! With the exception of a romantic rival who uses his position as a business partner to try to get close to Lexi- something that Levi is vehemently opposed to; and an upstart little tart who unabashedly throws herself at Levi (newsflash, he’s so not interested honey) – with the exception of these two meddling bozos, things are a little too smooth for the pair. So thank goodness the writing totally delivers in the banter and dialogue department with punchy quips and hilarious commentary all working and lending some color to a pretty safe and tame story.
“And where exactly are you going, if I may ask?”
“Business dinner,” she replied like it was no big deal.
A frown formed on Levi’s forehead. “With?”
Oh, damn.
“Reed,” she answered softly, hoping that Levi might hear something like “Saheed…or something else with an “eed.”
“The suit!” he blurted out.
Lexi cringed…”It’s a business dinner with one of his friends who may be interested in giving me a contract…”
Levi stared at her with a blank expression on his face. “Wow, that’s a really a mouthful, but all I heard was – no fucking way!”
Levi has no problem letting his possessive flag fly high when Lexi finds herself in one too many precarious situations with multi- millionaire club owner, Reed McCaw. Lexi’s one sided flirtation with Reed was more so comedic relief, because just like with the tart (Nicole) who tossed her lady parts at Levi, it is so abundantly clear that there will not be an ounce of infidelity, neither romantic rival stood a chance and I felt little to no anxiety about their antics. Again, really good romantic feels from these two!
“Give me your heart, Lexi,” he said softly, and then took her hand in his, placing it on his chest over his own heart. “Mine is already yours.”
…Nothing prepared her for what happened next- she started crying. The moment was filled with so much emotion, so much truth that it spoke to part of her soul that caused her to weep like a little girl.
After a lot of lovey dovey, sexy (very) smexy times, the shocking arrival of Jax, Levi’s younger brother, finally turns the story on its head and what was once a low angst, funny rom-com, suddenly had an air of danger. I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that there was a bit of a disconnect for me with the “sinister” subplot that was Jax’s “issue.” It was explained well that Jax was trouble, and I didn’t even mind that he was just plopped into the plot without any preamble. The obstacle I had with the Jax subplot is that it felt too far fetched and the heroic plan that Levi (and book 1, Hero), Knox, come up with seems even more far fetched, so as I read I had a little niggling of “seriously” getting in the way of all the action! BUT, the upside of Jax’s arrival and subsequent hell that breaks loose- is that we get to, peripherally, see him fall for Lexi’s BFF, Kim, and it is immediately evident that Kim and Jax are going to burn. up. the. pages in their book, Resplendent Rage, due out in March.
What starts out as a super sexy and funny comedic romance, evolves into something a little more sinister and the balance is nice, though there was a little “rug-from-right- under-me” moment when I realized I was starting to read a different kind of story-things were golden for chapters on end, and then a hurricane of hell touched down and things got dicey with Lexi and Levi. Their solid foundation, suddenly rocked to its core. Gale force winds of WTF, blew in and I felt a little hoodwinked and bested by the plot twist and dammit, but I liked it. Well played Bella J! There is a fine line when throwing readers off course and the author toed this line juuuuust right.
Ultimately, I think Resplendent Rush could stand alone, but you really gain an appreciation for the supporting characters if you start with book one. However, if you decide to jump right in feet first, Resplendent Rush is a mighty fine platform to spring from and a marked improvement from its predecessor,Resplendent Ruin, I’m looking at you!
There is a sweeping, dramatic, and emo-feel to the Resplendence series. If you are a fan of such sexy tales that are simply written, yet take you on a nice emotional journey, this could be the series for you. I for one, am properly tantalized and have a great appreciation that I did NOT see that ending coming. Whoa! And I don’t even like cliffhangers, so the wait until the next release just very well may have me in…. resplendent agony!
Heh.
Grade: B
Goodreads I Author’s Info I Series
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