The Professional: Part 1

The Game Maker, Book 1

By: Kresley Cole

Narrated by: Kimberly Alexis

Length: 4 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

From number-one New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole comes The Professional - the first scorching installment in her Game Maker series, an erotica collection that has listeners asking: How hot is too hot?

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...

©2013 Kresley Cole (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Serial series = more expensive audiobook

Before I gripe about the format, let me be clear that I did very much enjoy this first installment of The Professional. It's written in first-person (Natalie's - only acceptable reason Robert Petkoff isn't narrating this Cole story) which is a nice change, and she doesn't seem to be prone to the over-reacting a lot of that IAD heroines tend to do. The chemistry between the two lovebirds is hot for sure, and I'm surprised at the lessons on Russian culture. Wasn't expecting it but really liking it!

Now, the format of this story. It's about 4 hours, and I got the book on sale for $5. Not too bad. But, this is only part 1 of 3, which means in the end I'm going to end up shelling out $15 (or more) for this story by the time it's done, when the IAD novels are less than $10 a pop. LAME! And on top of it, you're going to make me wait a total of 6 weeks to finish the story. I can understand the appeal from a publisher's perspective, and maybe for the print reader, but for audio folks, it's a bummer situation.

So, the book is good, but had I been really thinking/ what I'd do if I could do it over - I'd wait to see if they end up releasing it as one volume in a few months at a standard price. Because if you start, you're going to end up like me and overpaying...because now I can't NOT buy the next one as soon as it becomes available since I'm totally sucked into the story!

Jeez! Hottest book I've read in a while

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for a good erotica book, this is that. It has a different spin on all of the "billionaire likes S&M and good girl wants to explore" themes out there right now. The setting is unique (Russia) and the back story is believable. My biggest complaint is why are there 3 books...they are so short they could have been 1 book easily! As soon as I finished one I went and bought the next right away...but it seemed ridiculous, each one was only like 3 hours long.

KRESLEY COLE RULES SEDUCTIVE SITUATION

Any additional comments?

"I give commands. You obey them. Surrender."

A huge fan of the Immortals series, I am well versed in K.C.'s writing skill so I was eager to start this series. NOT disappointed. Nope. Wow. It's amazing how Kimberly Alexis is able to believably narrate both feminine and masculine voices. She's crazy good.

The Professional is told in three short books so I suggest you purchase all three because you'll want to start the next immediately. They don't have cliffhangers... they just stop. What? Quick, start the next one!

AWESOME

Great book I have listened to it several times but I did NOT like having to purchase it in 3 separate parts I felt it was a rip off and how the parts were split was stupid and happened it strange places.

I am happy to see that book 2 is not separated into 3 parts.

great story I need to know what happens next

This is my first Kresley Cole book. I loved her writing style and her well developed characters. I am currently listening to her second book. It is also very good however I was so hoping it would have continued this story. This is part one of three parts you will listen to them all they are almost impossible to put down. Please continue the Professional story!!!!!!

Waiting for more

Good romantic/erotic story line. Holds your interest and leaves the reader wanting more. This is not a complete book in and of itself, but is an installment of more to come which is very obvious by how the book ends. It is not complete and finished by any means. Definitely waiting for the next installment. I don't normally like books in piece parts but I have to see where this one is going. It has possibilities.

AMAZING!!! Couldn't stop listening!!!

I not only listened I also purchased and read this book. Is there a man like Sevastyan in real life? Natalie was the tits......lol! In other words loved these characters to death.

Had me a PLAY…

What made the experience of listening to The Professional: Part 1 the most enjoyable?

First-time audible listener. This book pulled at my heart and inner bad girl. The narrator was great at pulling me in and allowing me to see everything as if i was there. great book and great narrator

Half a book!!

I would have liked the book better if it had not ended prematurely, what a letdown to be left hanging. I should have know better since it was a 4 hour book.

Great story! I was hooked write away.

If you could sum up The Professional: Part 1 in three words, what would they be?

Steamy! Interesting storyline!

What does Kimberly Alexis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She does an amazing job with the accents and keeping you interested in listening.

If you could rename The Professional: Part 1, what would you call it?

The Siberian!