Review: Loved it but would've loved it more if it had been a post-college story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 25, 2014
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."Entice is the fourth book I've read in S.E. Hall's Evolve series, and with each book, I fall more in love with the characters of "the Crew", all of whom are so ridiculously attractive, loving and loyal that you can't help but wish you belonged to their inner circle. Each book in the series is better than the last, and Entice is no exception, although I could be biased considering Sawyer's is the story I've wanted to read since I was first introduced to his character in Emerge. Within five minutes of reading, I was laughing hysterically at Sawyer's colorful way with words. He's crass and crude and he calls it like he sees it. I've read plenty of male point-of-views before but Sawyer's was definitely the most unapologetically truthful, which in turn was incredibly entertaining.I will start by admitting that Entice wasn't what I expected. There's an unforeseen twist involving his love interest, Emmett, was something I wouldn't have predicted in a million years, but helped explain Sawyer's sudden transformation from player to doting lover. The previous books in the series showcased Sawyer's carefree, playboy persona, and although he is a fiercely loyal friend to fellow Crew members, it isn't until he meets Emmett that his vulnerabilities emerge. The dual narratives were helpful in terms of getting inside the heads of Sawyer and Bennett, especially because both characters tend to internalize their issues. What works with their relationship is their ability to understand and accept each other's strengths and weaknesses.Just as the characters in the story mature, so do their love lives. Sawyer's extensive experience with the opposite sex is evident in his handling of an initially much more reserved Emmett. Their physical connection is just as intense as their emotional connection, if not more so. S.E. Hall embraces the raw chemistry between Sawyer and Emmett with several unbelievably steamy sexual encounters. Each book in the series reflects the growth of the characters and Entice follows suit, with Sawyer and Emmett facing a new set of challenges that come with being an adult. Although I was initially surprised with the direction that the story took, I think the narrative was a natural progression for all the characters involved in the series and I'm excited to see what happens next with the Crew.