Review: Van

Van by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve got handcuffs. Wanna play?

I really do enjoy reading this series and I’m so glad it is going to continue with Reed’s story.

Despite being a series following a team of ice hockey players, each book is unique and refreshing. I have read stories about characters that I’ve loved, and some that have challenged my opinions about certain behaviour, including bullying.

We were introduced to Van during Lucas, as Lucas’ quiet, brooding and grumpy housemate. As a result, Van runs in parallel with Lucas for some of the story as we finally find out just what went on behind closed (bed)room doors between Van and Lucas’ sister, Simone.

It’s not the first time I’ve been called rude. I’ve also been described as closed off. Introverted. Asshole. Weird.

I wasn’t prepared for such a determined and dominant character for a 22-year-old but Simone really is a force to be reckoned with, in and out of bed. With her eyes firmly set on Van, she does everything in her power to win him over, even if their connection is based purely on sex. Whilst Simone’s antics came across as funny on occasion, she also smacked of desperation at other times. Van was determined to keep Simone at arm's length for numerous reasons, the main reason becomes clear as the story progresses, but despite her being his teammates’ sister, he struggles to keep away from her after a while.

I’m rotten, mischievous, and completely flirty… in a nice way, of course. I could no more leave a man like Van alone than I could ignore aspirin the morning of a hangover.

After finally winning over Van’s “affections” (that’s affections used in the loosest possible term), Simone and Van have copious amounts of extremely physical sex. And whilst, their connection is explosive, the story became mostly about their coming togethers rather than anything else until we find out the real reason that Van is closed off. At this point, we find a softer side to both characters, which I really appreciated, but despite a tender and heartfelt moment when Van opens up to Simone, the scene ends with them once again banging the hell out of each other!

He’s a total bad boy, and I want him. I foolishly, petulantly want him. He’s the type a good girl goes after so she can tame him, except I’m not such a good girl.

For me, the lighthearted side of Simone was lost when she sold herself short with her sexual exploits. Van, also didn’t come across as a dominant character that you could fall for but instead, he was cruel and disinterested and remiss in ignoring his feelings towards Simone until everything comes to a head.

Whilst I enjoyed this story, I didn’t love it, which disappointed me as I was really looking forward to revealing the man behind the secretive persona. Sadly, the story becomes more erotica than romance, ie more sex and than substance, for some of the book which pulled my interest away from the storyline at times.

That said, this is a book which will be a hit with other readers and I guess that’s the beauty of this series, it really does have something for everyone.

This ebook was kindly provided by the author, publisher and Netgalley prior to release date in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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