Release Day Review ~ Gideon (Order of the Black Knights) by Ashe Barker

Release Day Review ~ Gideon (Order of the Black Knights) by Ashe Barker

Title: Gideon
Series: Order of the Black Knights
Author: Ashe Barker
Release Date: October 5, 2016
Category: Mystery/Suspense, Erotic Romance
Pages: 200

Dreamspinner ~ GoodReads



Blurb:


Gideon Maybury enjoys a life of wealth and privilege, not to mention the advantages his position offers him in his career as a merchant banker and his less public life as a high-class, skilled, and very well-paid assassin for Her Majesty’s government. When his brother dies unexpectedly, he becomes the Duke of Westmoreland.

Michael Mathison has hated Gideon since they were at university together. He’s convinced Gideonhad a hand in the death of Michael’s college lover, Christopher, and that he had something to do with the death of his own brother. So he gets a job as Gideon’s driver, enabling him to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the elder Maybury sibling. At first his suspicions seem to be confirmed, but clues emerge that suggest all is not as it appears at Maybury Hall.

As the mystery deepens, so does the attraction between the two implacable enemies, as does the feeling that they have met before—under dark and terrible circumstances. Each has reasons not to trust the other, but neither is averse to a bit of kinky play. Gideon and Michael end up owing each other their lives, and it results in consequences neither could have imagined.

First and foremost let me make it clear that this book was very well written. Ashe Barker is an extremely talented writer and has a fantastic way of creating a very imaginative world for readers. The writing alone is worth 5 Stars. My problems with this particular story have to do with content. I like to think of myself as pretty open minded and while I'm not a huge fan of gore, I'm not that squeamish. I read novels that center around crime, I adore a strong antihero and am no stranger to connecting with morally ambiguous characters. Yet the prologue of Gideon had me wincing and asking myself if I'd really be able to read this book. Gideon is a despicable person, not at all my idea of a redeemable Antihero. His taste for death and murder is sickening, from the young age in which he found the idea of death enticing and attempted to kill another boy. To his fascination with taking life, from plants and insects to animals. Now there is a paranormal/supernatural element to the story. I err on the side of caution and won't give anything away, this is the type of story that needs that air of mystery. Because of the supernatural twist, I tried for some leeway, but truth be told it was hard to like Gideon and it's difficult to enjoy a book when you truly dislike a main character. Somewhere along the way, however, I started to soften a little towards Gideon. I liked Michael and more and more I started to realize I no longer despised Gideon. The last part of the book I pretty much did an 180 with how I felt and I enjoyed it. So having said all of that, this is hard to review for me. I know there are going to be people out there who love this book. Some people will hate it and others will be able to get past the difficult beginning and enjoy how things come together. I recommend with caution. Writing: 5 Stars!
Story: 3 Stars! Characters: 3 Stars! ***A copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest and fair review***