I really wanted to like this one, but there were just things and parts that made me contemplate not finishing a few times.
First, the commas. Dear. God. The commas. So many awkwardly placed commas when they weren't needed. The excessive breaks and interruptions made the story very stilted and honestly, difficult for me to read. I kept getting pulled out of the story by my mental editing. I will say, however, that it improved throughout the story and wasn't such an issue later on. (Or maybe I became accustomed to it? I think it's the former, but that's a possibility, too.)
The dialogue was awkward for me in the beginning. Some of it came off as too proper and forced, I felt like the style would've been better suited to a story from centuries ago.
I liked Ryker. He was the only character I actually liked for most of the book. In the beginning, Gia was a doormat and sort of shallow. I didn't blame Ryker for getting fed up with it. I almost through my kindle at the wall when she took Damien's deal. Honest, it infuriated me that much for her to be so easily manipulated. She was like a ping-pong ball; Damien's right, no wait Ryker is, oh no Damien just said three words to me, he's right again, I'm too stupid to think for myself, blah blah. I realize her character had to be vulnerable in order for some parts of the story to work, but I had no respect for her. I didn't care what happened to her as long as I didn't have to keep reading scene after scene of her bouncing around.
And ****SPOILER ALERT**** Damien informs Gia he has slept with a prostitute, obviously with no protection, continues to sleep with her weekly, and Gia continues to sleep with him, too? With not a mention of his lack of consideration of giving her an STD??? That was infuriating.
Overall, there was just too much going on. I think it would've done better as two or three separate novels/novellas.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.