Book Review: The Blackstone Affair

While I’ve been remiss in writing, I have not been remiss in reading. In the last couple weeks, I’ve re-read the firs 2 books in the Blackstone Affair series and then the one that was released in May. I went on to read the 3rd book in what was supposed to be the Bared to You ‘trilogy,’ Entwined With You. A few nights ago, I finished the latest in the Chaos series by Kirsten Ashley, Fire Inside. Now, it’s time for me to share.

Yes, the Blackstone Affair is a series of books about a couple–I’m addicted to romance novels these days, we know this so cut me some slack. Anyway, this series is set in London. There is no billionaire and there is no virginal college graduate. This is a story that follows Ethan Blackstone–who owns a security company; and Brynne Bennett–an American art student and nude model. Brynne’s past is troubled, which is why she’s in London making a fresh start. Ethan does NOT have a tortured past. He lost his mother at a young age, but he’s close to his father and older sister and they have a loving familial relationship. The first two books were very short–under 200 pages. The 3rd installment had a bit more girth to it, lending itself to over 200 pages–a nice transition.

While the coming together of Brynne and Ethan was essentially predicated on a secret/lie–and the reason the first book ended as it did–their story is rather enticing. It crosses continents, involves political intrigue, and since it’s set in present day–it even touches on the Olympics in London in 2012. It is a bit more grounded than the trilogies that are being produced in the spirit of Fifty Shades of Grey. While on the subject of Fifty–is E. L. James ever going to put out another book? I had heard that she was going to write a book from Christian’s point of view, but… Which brings me to one of the things that makes this series a bit different from others–the first book was written from Brynne’s point of view, the 2nd, from Ethan’s. And the 3rd is from both. It’s an interesting writing approach.

In the most rudimentary summations: Ethan is hired to protect Brynne because the vice president of the US has died and the senator and father of the son Brynne used to date is next up for the position. But the senator’s son is part of the reason Brynne has such a troubled past. There’s a murder– a few actually, jealousy over Brynne’s nude modeling, and of course a lot of steamy love scenes.

The author of this series is clearly coming into her own. She’s not rushing her characters and she’s not in a race to get the next book out at the expense of her story lines. It’s nice to see. I wish Raine Miller much success in the future and I’m looking forward to more of the Ethan and Brynne story.