The Professional Pts 1-3 (The Game Make Series) by Kresley Cole-a three part review

The Professional: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 by Kresley Cole

He makes the rules . . .
Mafiya enforcer Aleksandr “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss is unwavering, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, tantalizing redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Sevastyan will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.

Rules are made to be broken . . .
PhD student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the breathtakingly gorgeous Sevastyan before the professional hit man whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. With every day she spends under his protection, she falls 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…

NOTE: The Professional (Game Maker) will be released as a complete novel on May 6, 2014

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PART 1:  Release Date: December 16,  2013

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Part 1 starts with Natalie Porter hanging out in a college bar with friends doing normal college kid things. However, when Natalie decides to hit on a guy, a hot Russian guy, who walks into the bar, she has no idea how much her life will change in that moment. Of course, the guy shoots her down and Natalie tucks tail and goes back to her table and then decides to head home. She has a lot on her plate. Even though she loves her adoptive parents, she has secretly been trying to find her birth father. She feels that something is lacking in her life and has hired a private detective to search for her.

And, oh how things start rolling once she gets home. Seems that her father is alive and well, and, oh year, a mafia boss in Russia. The big problem with that, other than the obvious, is now that she’s been nosing around, her father’s enemies will move heaven and earth to get to her to use as leverage against him. Enter Sevastyan, her father’s number one, who has been kept Natalie under surveillance for the past month, making sure that no one makes a move against her. Once he reaches her house, he literally tells her that her father has sent for her and they’re heading to Russia. Like, now. And, within the hour, she is on a plane headed to meet her father. And, it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly between Natalie and Sevastyan.

Once they reach Russia, the meeting between she and her father is touching. She finds out pretty quickly that there is more to this man than meets the eye. And she is already so enthralled with Sevastyan that her father decides to set some boundaries……….. Oh, but boundaries are made to be broken. And, when she starts meeting others at the compound, some warm to her, some not so much. Oh yeah, Sevastyan decided that no one else will have her……..

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PART 2:  Release Date: January 6, 2013

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Part 2: Natalie and Sevastyan are drawn to each other, but he doesn’t think that the virginal Natalie can handle his true self. Seems he tends to lean towards BDSM, but when Natalie jumps at the chance to experience those things, he gives in to her a little…….. Things are tense between them once they arrive back at her father’s house, due to Sevastyan putting distance between them. But when Natalie’s distant cousin, Filip starts showing a little too much interest, Sevastyan steps in. Poor Natalie doesn’t know which way to turn. Sevastyan is so hot and cold and it’s driving her nuts. However, a series of events sets things in motion that cause Sevastyan to have to whisk Natalie away in order to save her life……….Because, the enemies of her father? They are coming……

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PART 3:  Release Date  January 20, 2014

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Part 3: Once Natalie and Sevastyan are safe in Paris, they embark upon testing out their relationship. This is definitely not for the faint of heart!! He introduces her to things that she’s read about, and truth be told, fantasized about. But Sevastyan still is cold and distant at times. When Natalie finally realizes why he is away so much during the day, she doesn’t know if she should be happy or pissed. Seems he’s been taking care of business for her and not sharing the information with her….. How’s she supposed to trust him if he won’t trust her? She’s already trusted him with her body, but can she give her soul over as well? Well, big team, you’ll have to read to find out…….And, oh, what a read it is…..

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure about this series when I first saw that Kresley Cole was venturing into another romance genre. She is, after all, one of my favorite paranormal romance authors. But, she pulled it off. Both characters were well written. Natalie is a little dynamo. She is secure in who she is and what she wants, and I really loved the scenes between she and her father. Now, for Sevastayn. He is hot incarnate. I mean, really? A tattooed Russian mafia bodyguard? What’s not to love?? Even though I know that his nature is to brood and be introverted, he did get on my nerves at times. But, the chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. And the fact the he was so conflicted at times really tugged at my heartstrings.

There was one big surprise in Part 2 that I totally did NOT see coming. I was literally saying to myself “what in the hell………..”. Even though I didn’t like said surprise, it did enhance the story, as it is Natalie and Sevastyan’s story that she was telling. If you’re looking for an erotic romance that starts with a bang, and a hot Russian to boot, this one is definitely for you!!

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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