Book Review April 29th
The Prelude
by: KaSonndra Leigh
★★★★ 4 Stars
Alek Dostov is a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. He’s successful, hot, the son of a millionaire, and women all over the world flock to see one of his performances. For Alek, Erin represents the ultimate challenge: sexy, smart, and unaffected by his charms…or so she thinks. Just like Erin, Alek avoids attachments that leave him emotionally vulnerable. But unlike Erin, his pursuit of all things pleasurable is ruthless.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest
Review*
Move over rock-stars, the maestro is about to rock your
socks off. More probable is they’ll fly off with the rest of your clothes when
you meet Russian Alek Dostov. This really is a great read and pushes boundaries
outside of typical NA fiction.
Erin has come a long way since she was a young girl. After
putting herself through design school she dives head first into designing
clothes, far away in Milan, Italy. Distance helps keep Erin sane, especially
when her family back home in the states treat her like she’s a mass murderer. After losing her father and sister in a car
accident Erin can’t help but blame herself, especially when her mother is
injured. Years later Erin can’t shove the blame away and keeps herself at a distance
with people particularly men, unless she is using them for sex thus keeping her
emotions guarded.
Alek barges right in and stomps on Erin’s emotional shield. Planning
a high profile performance requires creativity and diversity thus Alek hires
Erin and her company to design outfits for all his performers. Though Erin always
wanted to be a singer she puts everything she has into making sure her company
and designs are the best. Alek has been
under his mother’s thumb for quite some time. Honest to God, she even pimps him
out to rich socialites so they remain wealthy, not that Alek minds all the hot
young women. Of course once he meets Erin, things start to look differently and
he views the way his mother controls both him and his sister as something they
should probably move away from. His mother is practically obsessed with remaining
wealthy and doing everything she can to make sure her children have a good life
because of the one she left behind. Not to mention her husband (who she’s separated
from and Alek’s father) is in the Russian mob. Alek’s father is a evil heartless
man and it’s understandable why they all ran away from him.
The Prelude has an abundance of
heartbreak that has surrounded Erin since she was a young girl. When we learn
the connection between Alek and the accident that took both Erin’s father and
sister it is truly heartbreaking if a little far-fetched. I mean the world is
not that small. But somehow this connection allows Erin to mourn with someone
else who understands. Alek helps her release the guilt and live life instead of
hide from it.
I can’t bring myself to give any more of my soul to
another person that will leave me.”-Erin
There is one instance that sort of eluded me because Alek’s
mom instigates that he hired Erin for some hidden reason and not because of the
family connection between his father and her sister’s accident. This is
something that is never answered and I was confused and curious about what it
was but never found out. He never really
delves into why her design company was chosen.
The whole design aspect was very interesting however. From
the company logo to the actual clothing it was extremely interesting and
creative. I never knew fabric could be so interesting Lol. Also reading about Alek
composing and conducting was rather mind-blowing. Who knew standing in front of
a orchestra and waving a stick around could be so hot.
I also enjoyed the minor side characters like Alek’s sister,
best friend and the Martuccio brothers who helped Erin start her company: Black
Butterfly Designs. However, I won’t lie the whole swingers/swinging aspect
really threw me and I was minorly grossed out mostly because it was bad enough
Alek’s mom was pimping him out but mixed with this it all seemed a little over
the top and rather unsanitary. His mom is a trip all her own so in some way it’s
understandable. And I admire Alek for leaving his old lifestyle in the dust
before ever even starting anything with Erin.
“Wrapping a woman up in my charms comes easy, I
must confess.”-Alek
Overall I really enjoyed The Prelude. It
was edgy, different and totally entrancing. Just like you learn in the book,
the prelude is the beginning of the song, the moment that sucks in listeners
and holds them. This book is the exact same way… New Adult fans looking to stay
within the genre but don’t mind venturing outside the limits - The
Prelude is just what the doctor ordered.
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