This starts out very slowly. The first third of the book was actually pretty dull. Gabriel, the male lead, was a cold jerk and rather disinteresting, and not much was happening. It was hard to see what all the fuss was about. Things undergo a radical transformation after that though, and from there on out I was hooked!

This is a slow burner of a romance. Lots of long conversations, soul-searching, time spent in classrooms and academic settings, things like that. There’s more emotional heat than physical for much of the book. And some of the things related to the main characters’ shared history and following behavior are a little…improbable, but I was willing to let that go. It’d need to be really, to hint at the story of Dante and Beatrice.

Add all these things together and I can see how this seems to be hit or miss for a lot of readers. For me it was a BIG hit – enough for a relisten, and I don’t do that often! If a slow-building romance in an academic setting sounds like it’d suit your style, give it a shot!

Overall, very emotionally involving, and hot without being degrading which was a refreshing change!

The narrator was wonderful. He caught all the nuances of the story just right and has a great voice.

Anyone that liked 50 shades of grey and didn't want to shake the main character.

I enjoyed the Toronto backdrop in the story.

I have a hard time reading books with characters that have low self esteem. I have no sympathy for either main character.

Julia (Julian?),Beatrice - if I met her I would be afraid to stay in the same room. She swoons, shivers, sweats, trembles, hums, groans, moves from bliss to anger at a word and trips, breaks, shakes, fumbles and stumbles her way in and out of consciousness. Gabriel is almost as bad with his saccharin and demeaning sweetness, He lacks most bodily control at the drop of a sigh yet drinks himself into obliviion without raping or insulting anyone. Is he just a sexy happy drunk and vicious yet hungover lover? Together they make quite a pair. They vibrate, twitch and hyperventilate at each other's touch. Ugh! I do not know if I can suffer through to the end of the novel before I am moved to vomit along with Gabriel - or maybe I could just accept the pain invoked by channeling Julia and hope that it is all just a hallucination of my own.

Based on some of the other reviews, I thought that I would not like this story. I'm so happy that I purchased. Excellent writting. I love the details given for the characters.

The way it was written. I have never read a book that I felt so good about. I felt what they felt. I was within the character.

Gabriel

Yes and I have listened to it multiple times. I have read the hardcopy twice.

Very talented author!

Reynard writes poorly and I would not waste my money on another book.
Morgan's performance was okay, but he should have been embarrassed to read this junk.

pot-boiler, cheap unrealistic sexual attitudes

yes

disappointment

don't waste your money on this

Least--the story is shallow and boring.

Probably a non-harlaquin romance novel. I need something with depth.

Not really.

This book gave me a distinct feeling of deja vu for fifty shades of grey.
I had to quit i8n the middle. Coulde not force myself to finish.

The narrator was wonderful, like warm, silky milk chocolate on the tongue. The writing made me feel like I was listening to actual literature versus listening to a "bodice ripper". When you combine the two, it's a magical concoction.

When they finally made it to Florence. The seduction was magnificent. It took a very long time to get there though, but well worth the wait.

No, I haven't had the pleasure before, but I will certainly correct that momentarily.

Not at all. It's much too long for that, but that doesn't make it any less pleasurable.

I have just thoroughly been made love to. I'm not fit to drive, so I suppose I'll sit here for a while and reminisce.

No

The last Crossfire book!

His performance was fine - it was the writing that was terrible.

This book was awful. I have read them all - Twilight, 50 Shades, all the Nora's, Sandra's, etc. But this one is just awful. The girl is such a back boneless character that it is painful. And who really talks this way? I get angst. This is just too much.