Rush

Pleasure at Home, Book 1

De: Beth Yarnall

Narrado por: Steven Barnett

Miyuki Price-Jones knows what sells - and sex sells. Host of a successful home shopping show, Mi has all eyes on her - including one very obsessed ex-convict. The stronger his obsession grows, the more danger Mi finds herself in.

When former Navy SEAL turned bodyguard Lucas Vega is charged with heading up her security, Mi realizes that she might need him for more than just protection. She's drawn to the large, sexy, quiet man who guards her. As the heat between them intensifies, Lucas struggles to keep his feelings for Mi separate from his need to keep her safe.

Mi and Lucas search for a way to trust each other as her stalker closes in. With their lives on the line, can two people with such dark and damaged pasts let go and trust their hearts?

©2012 Beth Yarnall (P)2015 Beth Yarnall

THE PLEASURE AT HOME TV SHOW... OH WHAT A RUSH

Lucas, an ex Navy SEAL and Mi, a host of an Adult Sex Toy TV Show were thrown together when her life was threatened and she was assigned a Bodyguard. An all Alpha huge and intimidating Bodyguard that was going to stick to her 24/7 but before even a "hello" was uttered the sparks flew. As their intense chemistry and friendship grew it was closely followed by lust and plenty of sex but their lives were totally different.... and she had a bag full of secrets that she didn't want to share.

A crazy stalker, an angry anti-show mob, a pushy ex Fiancée, one loving but demanding family and one broken dysfunctional family, together with some interesting secondary characters, made this a very enjoyable listen. It packs in drama, suspense, a twist or two, light humor, heartbreak, various interesting sub-plots and a romance that grew into a tender sweet love story. Lucas and Mi were multi-layered well developed likeable characters who had both been through difficult times but, for Mi, the painful secrets she kept close was robbing her of her HEA ending and they proved just as life threatening as everything else.

Worth a credit? A well written and nicely narrated story told from dual POV's with all the different plot threads smoothly interweaving giving you a compelling listen that's sizzling, thrilling and YES creditworthy. Great start to a new series and thanks to the preview chapter of book 2 I'll be downloading Lush asap.

Immature Young Woman

While the writing was good and the narration was excellent, I found the main character of Mi to be incredibly immature and naïve.

First, Mi ignores the threatening letters of a convict for more than a year- who does that? Second, she doesn't admit that a family member, who is mentally ill, is a threat to herself & others. Last, Mi tries to hide a childhood secret, even though she doesn't know the facts.

Unless Mi is still a teenager, she needs to get her head out of the sand and deal with reality. Although sympathetic to her difficult childhood, I thought she was too much of a martyr. Since I couldn't relate to Mi, the rest of the story didn't interest me.

Who is This Giant? Given in Exchage For Review

Mi is the hostess of a home shopping show, selling adult toys. This was a bit awkward for me to listen to as she is describing how to use them and what they are, in the shopping setting, not the bedroom. Anyway…

Of course, as a hostess of such things she has attracted many fans. Not all of them are the type one would want. Especially an unsavory prisoner who writes her on this in my regular basis.

When she notices a huge, bulky, built guy hanging across around the studio she is curious. It turns out he is there to be her bodyguard. When she questions that, she is told that her prison admirer has been released and they're afraid for her well-being.

Can the Lucas (bulky guard) and Mi learn to cooperate for both of their safety or will the constant rub push them apart and into danger?

Above average book
Great performance

Mature themes 18+ years

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Rush: Pleasure in a book

Would you consider the audio edition of Rush to be better than the print version?

I wouldn't say the audiobook is better. I will say a good narration adds and enhances a good story and this is exactly the case with Rush.

Beth Yarnell wrote a book that combines diverse characters, a leading lady with an un usual occupation, drama and suspense.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rush?

I loved the moment Lucas first met Mi and realized what her job is (home shopping TV show that sells adult toys).

That first meeting, Lucas watching Mi at her job and later seeing the differences between the TV persona and the real Mi. And of course his reaction to the toys!

Have you listened to any of Steven Barnett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Steven Barnett's other performances but will defiantly do so in the future. I am always looking for good male narrators and Steve did a great job narrating both female and male characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I always love the scene that show the hero and heroine as real people with real issues. I loved learning about Lucas and Mi's history, what they went through that shaped the, to the people they were when they met.

I love the moments when H/H expose themself and show their imperfections. When done right, it adds depth to the character and enriches a story and Beth did an amazing job (too amazing as at some point I just wanted them to have their HEA).

Any additional comments?

I would recommend Rush to every reader who enjoys a complex story that combines romance and suspense, has an unusual setting and a promise to a great second book in the series.

Makes Sex Toys sound interesting

If you could sum up Rush in three words, what would they be?

Can I just say wow I enjoyed this story more than I thought and it wasn't even because of the sexy parts it was the story of 2 broken people finding there way to each other. I have a parent with mental issues so it kind of touch my heart in way but his story was just as intense.

What about Steven Barnett’s performance did you like?

Great Job

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes it made me laugh and cry but I have to say the story behind it keep me wanting more.

Any additional comments?

Great Series

Not great but not bad

I was a little thrown off by the pawing and "you mean so much to me so fast" feelings these two are having. The instalust just isn't working for me here. The connection just doesn't feel organic.

This story is seriously just "meh" for me. I really wanted to love it. I love a good bodyguard story and I love love LOVE a hot sexy latin hero. This story had both. This story also had a heroine that was too stupid to live. She didn't necessarily DO anything stupid but her attitude is stupid. She made excuse after excuse for why Lucas can't help her, why she didn't get help for her mom, why she enables her mom's insanity, why they can't be together. blah blah blah. I understand having a character who has issues with her past but shit woman this chick couldn't catch a break between a stalker and a murder attempt, her mom, her brother, etc. All of these external issues coming to head in less than a week is seriously just too much.

Can I just say I love hearing the narrator say things in spanish in his deep voice....so sexy. It's not a saving grace for the book but it's still a nice touch.

I'll listen to the next book as filler but again not a multiple listen for me, but at least the narrator had a sexy voice...lol.

RUSH

What did you love best about Rush?

Romantic Suspense Can’t Get Any Better! I know that I was going to love it. It’s rare that I feel this way about a book right off the bat. But debut author Beth Yarnell pulled me right into the story .Great story and narration

Never Ask to Be Stalked

Rush is about Miyuki "Mi" Price-Jones and Lucas Vega. Mi is a hostess for the home shopping series, Pleasure at Home. What she does is sell sex toys. When her life is threaten, Lucas was hired by her boss Cal Sellers, as her bodyguard.

Lucas, a former SEAL, owes a favor to Cal. When Cal hired him to protect Mi, he has no idea that Mi would get beneath his skin. He could not afford any distraction in order to do his job properly. At the same time Lucas is trying to figure his own identity of running his family business or create his own business in doing what he does best.

Mi is also hiding a secret, believing that she is protecting her mother and brother. Her brother has no idea of why Mi wouldn't seek help for her mother or shared the really reason. She is burnt out. Worst of all, she didn't need a anti-sex protestors at her work and having a ex-con sending her infatuation letters that are getting more and more menacing.

Rush visits very situations of how secrets and a ruthless legacy and upbringing could keep one prisoner. Mi and Lucas are good for each other. They are able to see through each other's smoke and mirror that they could be more to than what people perceived them to be and to each other.

The narrator, Steven Barnett does a great job narrating Rush. This narrator is one of my favorite narrator. He is quite talented in providing the voices for every characters that he has narrated. No two voices are ever the same.

I was given this audiobook by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way for writing this review.

Good start to a series

This is a great start to a new series, Miyuki is a host for a home shopping show that sells sex toys. After she received threatening mail her boss hires Lucas as her bodyguard. Lucas will have to keep her safe from both her stalker and the crazy anti-show group that protests the show. Both Mi and Lucas have secrets and hidden pasts. Can they learn to trust each other and let there past control there futures?

This is a well written and narrated story told from dual POV's. It will keep you on your toes with all the different plot twists, there is also some great chemistry between them.

So much more than a romance story...

This novel is so much more than a romance story between a big-broody-alpha male and a broken-but-beautiful heroine. It's also about overcoming all the chaos that comes with dealing with family and friends, childhood trauma, the convergence of two different lives, and those with mental illness.

The narrator did a great job with all the voices. I didn't even cringe hearing his female voices - like I normally do.

I love how the author avoided most of the stereotypes associated with a multicultural cast of characters.

The only demerit I see is that it's missing an epilogue to really push the HEA home, instead of a teaser chapter from another book.

Overall, it was a fun and engaging read!