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The Gentleman's Choice
A sleazy internet dating show blamed for a viewer’s death, a host with a dark, secret past, and a killer with a sadistic grudge…
Someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the popular streaming show The Gentleman’s Choice – a strictly-for-adults hybrid of The Bachelor and Love Island . Private Investigator, Vanessa Young, is hired by a victim’s family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole Gianni, the show’s charismatic star, begin to fall romantically for each other, until Vanessa’s plan goes terribly awry when they’re drugged and taken to a remote location to take part in their captor’s own brutal, ultimately fatal, version of The Gentleman’s Choice.
With the clock ticking toward their fateful final night, Vanessa and Cole are forced into a battle of wills to survive their tormentor and escape with their lives before it’s too late…
Someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the popular streaming show The Gentleman’s Choice – a strictly-for-adults hybrid of The Bachelor and Love Island . Private Investigator, Vanessa Young, is hired by a victim’s family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole Gianni, the show’s charismatic star, begin to fall romantically for each other, until Vanessa’s plan goes terribly awry when they’re drugged and taken to a remote location to take part in their captor’s own brutal, ultimately fatal, version of The Gentleman’s Choice.
With the clock ticking toward their fateful final night, Vanessa and Cole are forced into a battle of wills to survive their tormentor and escape with their lives before it’s too late…
412 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2023
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 17, 2023
While billed as a gritty noir thriller (which is true), I felt this really slips into the slasher/horror genre as well as it combines the thriller and mystery elements with extremely terrifying images and plenty of bloodshed!
Former contestants of an internet only reality/ porn show are being kidnapped and tortured to death. Whoever's behind these crimes has their sights set on the main male star himself and as those intentions are made clear, there's nowhere to hide from the sociopathic killer.
This is the main arc of the narrative but there's also a female private investigator who goes undercover on the show to find the killer and she puts herself unwittingly in the cross hairs.
But it's the scenes of unflinching brutality as the killer takes his time torturing the victims that give it the slashery vibe horror fans will be familiar with. The author doesn't hold back and you'll want to look away but , of course, won't as these victims squirm under some very unconventional pain with a strong BDSM vibe.
This novel has sex, mystery, a budding romance, a sleazy producer, and graphic scenes of violence that will appeal to fans of dark thrillers and horror. I highly recommend it!
Former contestants of an internet only reality/ porn show are being kidnapped and tortured to death. Whoever's behind these crimes has their sights set on the main male star himself and as those intentions are made clear, there's nowhere to hide from the sociopathic killer.
This is the main arc of the narrative but there's also a female private investigator who goes undercover on the show to find the killer and she puts herself unwittingly in the cross hairs.
But it's the scenes of unflinching brutality as the killer takes his time torturing the victims that give it the slashery vibe horror fans will be familiar with. The author doesn't hold back and you'll want to look away but , of course, won't as these victims squirm under some very unconventional pain with a strong BDSM vibe.
This novel has sex, mystery, a budding romance, a sleazy producer, and graphic scenes of violence that will appeal to fans of dark thrillers and horror. I highly recommend it!
April 30, 2024
This book is a noir thriller. If you like spicy and gory novels you have found one. The Gentleman’s Choice is a popular reality show. Women compete and are eliminated from the show until only one is left on day five. The lucky winner gets to strip down and get nasty with the host of the show on television for the viewers to watch. Now there is somebody abducting former contestants and are brutally torturing and killing them. Can they be stopped? The novel is very explicit both sexually and in slasher gore.
May 21, 2023
*rounded up from 4.5*
This went from Holy $hit to Oh Holy $hit so quickly I got whiplash. And I mean that in the best possible way. Full of X-rated trysts and gore, this novel was extreme. This had multiple timelines and POV, including one from the killer. I do wish that I was a little more connected with the main characters, but it was still a good book. The plot was gripping and it was well written overall. This was like a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from (again, in the best possible way). I knew the torture and gore was coming, but I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen. I did figure out part of the ending, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
The Gentleman’s Choice is an X-rated reality “dating show” that is broadcast live on the internet. Every week, a new girl tries to woo The Gentleman (and the viewers). Each date they take, gets progressively more spicy, until culminating in intercourse with each other if the female contestant makes it to the fifth date, voted through by viewers. The girl then gets prize money and a vacation for making it though the full week, and it starts all over again. Suddenly, past contestants are started to show up dead. And not just dead, kidnapped, tortured and murdered. There is clearly a connection to the show, but will they be able to figure it out before anyone else gets hurt?
This went from Holy $hit to Oh Holy $hit so quickly I got whiplash. And I mean that in the best possible way. Full of X-rated trysts and gore, this novel was extreme. This had multiple timelines and POV, including one from the killer. I do wish that I was a little more connected with the main characters, but it was still a good book. The plot was gripping and it was well written overall. This was like a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from (again, in the best possible way). I knew the torture and gore was coming, but I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen. I did figure out part of the ending, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
The Gentleman’s Choice is an X-rated reality “dating show” that is broadcast live on the internet. Every week, a new girl tries to woo The Gentleman (and the viewers). Each date they take, gets progressively more spicy, until culminating in intercourse with each other if the female contestant makes it to the fifth date, voted through by viewers. The girl then gets prize money and a vacation for making it though the full week, and it starts all over again. Suddenly, past contestants are started to show up dead. And not just dead, kidnapped, tortured and murdered. There is clearly a connection to the show, but will they be able to figure it out before anyone else gets hurt?
June 3, 2023
This is not my usual type of read, but I decided to give it a go. Whelp...that was definitely a genre change for me 🤣
I enjoy horror movies...the scarier and gorier (is that a word 😂) the better. I especially love horror books. I don't read erotica or anything overly sexual or violently graphic. The Gentleman's Choice is a blend of horror (disturbing and on the sicker side) and erotica. At least what I would consider to be...maybe not for seasoned readers of this genre.
Honestly, the erotic parts of this didn't bother me much. Mostly cheesy and uninteresting so I skimmed thru a lot of it anyway LOL.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and good gravy did I CRINGE at some of the violent depictions...whew!! This is definitely not for people who don't do well with violence and graphic murder scenes.
Well, that completes my adventurous wanderings into this type of read for a bit 😂 but I'm glad I gave it a try. If this is your type of read in general then I say go ahead and grab this one. It's quick, gory and definitely horror worthy.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoy horror movies...the scarier and gorier (is that a word 😂) the better. I especially love horror books. I don't read erotica or anything overly sexual or violently graphic. The Gentleman's Choice is a blend of horror (disturbing and on the sicker side) and erotica. At least what I would consider to be...maybe not for seasoned readers of this genre.
Honestly, the erotic parts of this didn't bother me much. Mostly cheesy and uninteresting so I skimmed thru a lot of it anyway LOL.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and good gravy did I CRINGE at some of the violent depictions...whew!! This is definitely not for people who don't do well with violence and graphic murder scenes.
Well, that completes my adventurous wanderings into this type of read for a bit 😂 but I'm glad I gave it a try. If this is your type of read in general then I say go ahead and grab this one. It's quick, gory and definitely horror worthy.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 2, 2024
i had the pleasure of having this book sent to me , so here are my thoughts on this novel !!
so i have never read a horror/thriller book before , this was my first so i had no idea what i was getting into. it gave me more horror vibes , in my mind it was reminding me of scream , obviously more intense and gore.
i really did enjoy this book , it was a different change for me!
thank you again for sending me this book! i recommend it!
so i have never read a horror/thriller book before , this was my first so i had no idea what i was getting into. it gave me more horror vibes , in my mind it was reminding me of scream , obviously more intense and gore.
i really did enjoy this book , it was a different change for me!
thank you again for sending me this book! i recommend it!
June 6, 2023
This book is a clear indicator of how we must take into consideration every trigger warning, heck even every tv warning when stunts are played out, because overall - we are spectators, amateurs, not professionals.
It's told in the third person POV, which has not been my preferred storytelling lately, first-person just feels easier to connect with.
However, I was surprised, the first 15% really dug deep into the gore and had my stomach in knots, and my heart pounding.
I have to say, while I had 3 possible theories, I ended up throwing them away and waiting for the inevitable big reveal.
Did it make me tear up? A little, yes, I have always been able to connect with the emotional aspect of storytelling, and the author did not disappoint, where it seemed to me, I’d be likely to find it’s just a sick individual doing the sordid murders.
If you are into mysteries, riddled with ghosts of the past, multiple-character POVs, and suspense, it thrills you to discover who did it.
I recommend you give this book a chance!
My very first dive back into horror, in written form.
There were moments, where I questioned my ability to stomach the gore, but I am glad I stuck it out.
It is not easy to fool me when I live for delving further into the character’s psyche.
But be mindful of the triggering content, mental health matters..
It's told in the third person POV, which has not been my preferred storytelling lately, first-person just feels easier to connect with.
However, I was surprised, the first 15% really dug deep into the gore and had my stomach in knots, and my heart pounding.
I have to say, while I had 3 possible theories, I ended up throwing them away and waiting for the inevitable big reveal.
Did it make me tear up? A little, yes, I have always been able to connect with the emotional aspect of storytelling, and the author did not disappoint, where it seemed to me, I’d be likely to find it’s just a sick individual doing the sordid murders.
If you are into mysteries, riddled with ghosts of the past, multiple-character POVs, and suspense, it thrills you to discover who did it.
I recommend you give this book a chance!
My very first dive back into horror, in written form.
There were moments, where I questioned my ability to stomach the gore, but I am glad I stuck it out.
It is not easy to fool me when I live for delving further into the character’s psyche.
But be mindful of the triggering content, mental health matters..
July 15, 2023
I went into this not really knowing what to expect.
Crikey. It’s got it all!
Sex, violence, threat, you name it.
But I enjoyed it.
At times I grimaced, a good sign!
I flinched, also good!
It was a diversion from my usual horror & thriller reading and it was an escape into a dark, adult sleazy world.
Crikey. It’s got it all!
Sex, violence, threat, you name it.
But I enjoyed it.
At times I grimaced, a good sign!
I flinched, also good!
It was a diversion from my usual horror & thriller reading and it was an escape into a dark, adult sleazy world.
July 15, 2023
Introduction
I was given a copy to review by LoveBookTours. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #BlackTideBookTours #HenryRoi #BookTourReview #Ad #adpr #gifted #Bookstagram #extremeread
Review
For those who know me or follow my reviews it is no secret that I love horror. Gore, psychological, visceral, slasher. You name it and I will try it and most likely like it. While The Gentleman’s Choice is billed as a noir thriller I feel it also has sub categories of extreme horror and erotica but this did not spoil the novel for me. This is a brutal read. From the very start Rudman sets expectations to be bloody, violent and depraved. If you are not a fan of or cant separate fiction from real life, torture, graphic violence and graphic depictions this might not be the book for you. If you are a fan then it will be one your will enjoy, possibly while having your skin crawl.
Ultimately this is a thriller, a detective one at it’s heart. Someone is kidnapping, torturing and ultimately murdering previous contestants from the strictly for adults, pay to view, streaming show The Gentleman’s choice, a hybrid of The Bachelor, Love Island and sprinkle of only fans. Vanessa Young, Private Investigator, as started to piece together a connection and with funds from one of the murdered contestants parents she sets out to infiltrate the show and expose and capture the killer before they can strike again. Only things become complicated when Vanessa begins to fall for Cole Gianni, the show’s charismatic ‘gentleman’ with a dark secret of his own. It only gets worse for the couple as they are drugged and taken to a remote location to partake in a new, deadly version of the show which the murder wants to see played out at the end. With the clock ticking down to their fateful ‘final date’, Vanessa and Cole must battle their tormentor and escape with their lives before it is too late.
As I already hinted at above this novel does not hold back. It packs a punch in every department and continues to beat the reader all the way through. In the best way possible, well at least if you like horror that puts you on edge. It’s extreme, it’s violent, it’s bloody and it keeps you guessing. That said I did guess who might be the murder but that was just because I didn’t like the character before the reveal and had little to do with Rudman’s skill at keeping the identity hidden. I was actually shocked I was right because it was just a guess. The only downside I had was other than Vanessa I wasn’t too invested in the characters. They all were well developed and rounded, it wasn’t that at all, it was just I found them not very likable because of the personality. Particularly the sleazy Skippy who (slight spoiler so jump to the next paragraph) I am glad finally got what he deserved.
All in all though I really enjoyed this one and I have to say I was not sure I would. I entered this book tour to push my boundaries into sub genres I don’t normally read and I am really glad I did. The horror is top tier, made all the more worse because at the end it’s not some supernatural being or unexplained fiend. It’s a person, a depraved, angry person and to me Rudman captured that descent into madness fuelled by revenge and perceived betrayal beautifully.
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July 17, 2023
I have to say, before going into this review, that Rudman took all my expectations for this book and blew them straight out of the water. What I thought would be a relatively straight forward crime novel turned out to instead be a gripping and bloody horror-thriller novel.
The Gentleman's Choice is certainly not for the faint-hearted. It contains explicit sexual content and brutal, gory torture scenes. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so graphic, but it actually works in the novel's favour without being gratuitous. There was a good amount of body horror and gore - enough to make the reader wince, but not overwhelming to the point of putting the book down. Add to this the fact that the characters, for the most part, have no idea they're being targeted by a killer and you've got a brilliant dark shadow looming over the cast.
From the novel's blurb, I expected the book to focus mostly on Vanessa, as the private investigator. To my pleasant surprise, the book actually switches between viewpoints with a heavy focus on Cole. As a character, Cole was fascinating and insightful, a truly enjoyable character to follow. Because of these multiple switching viewpoints, the novel felt like a good thick read.
This would honestly be a five-star read if not for a couple of aspects that let it down. The first was the treatment of a non-binary character whop expressly stated their pronouns were they/them, and whom the novel, quite disappointingly, insists on referring to as he/him. If the book was written in first person I could maybe forgive this as a character's opinion rather than the author's opinion shining through, but as it's written in first person it kind of just gives me the ick instead. The other disappointment was the ending. Although exciting and action-packed, the book just ends after the climax. There's no decompression, no explanation of what happens to the remaining characters after the climax. Several threads are left loose with no efficient conclusion and as some of them don't even strongly relate to the plot, it makes me wonder why they were included in the first place.
Despite these flaws, I found The Gentleman's Choice to be well-written, with good prose and exceptional pacing, and overall a book I was reluctant to put down.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gentleman's Choice is certainly not for the faint-hearted. It contains explicit sexual content and brutal, gory torture scenes. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so graphic, but it actually works in the novel's favour without being gratuitous. There was a good amount of body horror and gore - enough to make the reader wince, but not overwhelming to the point of putting the book down. Add to this the fact that the characters, for the most part, have no idea they're being targeted by a killer and you've got a brilliant dark shadow looming over the cast.
From the novel's blurb, I expected the book to focus mostly on Vanessa, as the private investigator. To my pleasant surprise, the book actually switches between viewpoints with a heavy focus on Cole. As a character, Cole was fascinating and insightful, a truly enjoyable character to follow. Because of these multiple switching viewpoints, the novel felt like a good thick read.
This would honestly be a five-star read if not for a couple of aspects that let it down. The first was the treatment of a non-binary character whop expressly stated their pronouns were they/them, and whom the novel, quite disappointingly, insists on referring to as he/him. If the book was written in first person I could maybe forgive this as a character's opinion rather than the author's opinion shining through, but as it's written in first person it kind of just gives me the ick instead. The other disappointment was the ending. Although exciting and action-packed, the book just ends after the climax. There's no decompression, no explanation of what happens to the remaining characters after the climax. Several threads are left loose with no efficient conclusion and as some of them don't even strongly relate to the plot, it makes me wonder why they were included in the first place.
Despite these flaws, I found The Gentleman's Choice to be well-written, with good prose and exceptional pacing, and overall a book I was reluctant to put down.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 24, 2024
Synopsis ---
A sleazy Internet dating show blamed for a viewer's death, a host with a dark secret past, and a killer with a secret grudge....
Someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the popular streaming show The Gentleman's Choice- a strictly-for-adults hybrid of The Bachelor and Love Island. Private Investigator, Vanessa Young, is hired by a victim's family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole Gianni, the show's charismatic star, begin to fall romantically for each other, until Vanessa's plan goes terribly awry when they're drugged and taken to a remote location to take part in their captor's own brutal, ultimately fatal, version of The Gentleman's Choice.
With the clock ticking toward their fateful final night, Vanessa and Cole are forced into a battle of wills to survive their tormentor and escape with their lives before it's too late.....
Review---
Well I went into this book not really knowing what to expect as I'm new to this author and also the genre. Anyone who follows my reviews knows i really enjoy a good,gritty Thriller, this is described as a noir thriller, but it is so much more and certainly not for the faint-hearted!
I feel it also contains extreme horror/slasher vibes and erotica from the outset.
The author goes into a lot of detail about the adult- only reality show, maybe a little too much in my opinion. As I did find it went on a bit at the beginning, although i guess he was just settling the scene.
I'm glad I persevered though as Rudman also went into a lot of graphic descriptions on the violent and bloody side to the story too, and also the eroticism.
His writing is faced paced but he effortlessly moved from romance and explicit BDSM themes, to suspense to intrigue and lots of bloody and gory danger.
I did guess the murderer, but was still surprised when I was right, as nothing was given away!
I would definitely recommend this book, a quick and thrilling read!!!
A sleazy Internet dating show blamed for a viewer's death, a host with a dark secret past, and a killer with a secret grudge....
Someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the popular streaming show The Gentleman's Choice- a strictly-for-adults hybrid of The Bachelor and Love Island. Private Investigator, Vanessa Young, is hired by a victim's family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole Gianni, the show's charismatic star, begin to fall romantically for each other, until Vanessa's plan goes terribly awry when they're drugged and taken to a remote location to take part in their captor's own brutal, ultimately fatal, version of The Gentleman's Choice.
With the clock ticking toward their fateful final night, Vanessa and Cole are forced into a battle of wills to survive their tormentor and escape with their lives before it's too late.....
Review---
Well I went into this book not really knowing what to expect as I'm new to this author and also the genre. Anyone who follows my reviews knows i really enjoy a good,gritty Thriller, this is described as a noir thriller, but it is so much more and certainly not for the faint-hearted!
I feel it also contains extreme horror/slasher vibes and erotica from the outset.
The author goes into a lot of detail about the adult- only reality show, maybe a little too much in my opinion. As I did find it went on a bit at the beginning, although i guess he was just settling the scene.
I'm glad I persevered though as Rudman also went into a lot of graphic descriptions on the violent and bloody side to the story too, and also the eroticism.
His writing is faced paced but he effortlessly moved from romance and explicit BDSM themes, to suspense to intrigue and lots of bloody and gory danger.
I did guess the murderer, but was still surprised when I was right, as nothing was given away!
I would definitely recommend this book, a quick and thrilling read!!!
June 4, 2023
At the heart of "The Gentleman's Choice" by Blake Rudman lies a controversial premise—an internet dating show that becomes entangled in a viewer's mysterious death, leading to a series of chilling events involving the abduction and murder of its contestants. This dark and unpredictable backdrop sets the stage for an intense and gripping narrative. Vanessa Young, a private investigator, infiltrates the show to expose the killer but along the way finds herself falling for the show's star, Cole Gianni. The author's writing style is fast-paced and keeps readers engaged, with plenty of twists and turns to keep them guessing.
One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of the reality TV show, "The Gentleman's Choice." The combination of "The Bachelor" and "Love Island" in an X-rated format offers a unique and intriguing setting. The author captures the sleazy and manipulative nature of the show, shedding light on the darker aspects of reality TV culture.
However, despite its thrilling nature, the book has its flaws. The characters, while complex, lack likability, which may be intentional but can also make it difficult to fully connect with them. Additionally, the explicit content and extreme violence, may not be suitable for all readers. It is essential to approach the book with caution and only if one is comfortable with such dark and explicit themes.
In conclusion, "The Gentleman's Choice" offers a mixed bag of thrills and controversial themes. Blake Rudman's ability to create a dark and intense atmosphere is commendable, and the exploration of the reality TV show concept adds an intriguing layer. Fan's of horror or slasher style movies and books may find themselves enraptured by this author's uniquely twisted tale.
One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of the reality TV show, "The Gentleman's Choice." The combination of "The Bachelor" and "Love Island" in an X-rated format offers a unique and intriguing setting. The author captures the sleazy and manipulative nature of the show, shedding light on the darker aspects of reality TV culture.
However, despite its thrilling nature, the book has its flaws. The characters, while complex, lack likability, which may be intentional but can also make it difficult to fully connect with them. Additionally, the explicit content and extreme violence, may not be suitable for all readers. It is essential to approach the book with caution and only if one is comfortable with such dark and explicit themes.
In conclusion, "The Gentleman's Choice" offers a mixed bag of thrills and controversial themes. Blake Rudman's ability to create a dark and intense atmosphere is commendable, and the exploration of the reality TV show concept adds an intriguing layer. Fan's of horror or slasher style movies and books may find themselves enraptured by this author's uniquely twisted tale.
May 9, 2023
The Gentleman’s Choice is a streaming tv show featuring Cole. It’s a X rated version of The Bachelor and Love Island. Each week Cole takes a woman on up to five dates, and the final date is a televised sex date. The woman wins money and a week’s vacation if they make it to the fifth date – all voted on by viewers.
Victims of the show start turning up dead, and Vanessa Young is hired by one of the victim’s family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole fall for each other from the start. However, things take a brutal turn when they’re drugged and taken to a remote house to take part in a sadistic version of Cole’s show. They must survive countless torture if they have any hopes of survival…
What a wild ride this book was! It was labeled a noir thriller, and if this is what this genre is about – then I am all in. Sign me up all the time. This book was just mind blowing and amazing and not in the way I expected. I will say that this book is not for the faint of heart. Only read if you are in the mood for some dark theme. Think BSDM but to the extremes, where death and dismemberment is involved. But this book is also smutty. The sex scenes aren’t detailed, but sex is a major theme of the book right from the opening line and it didn’t let up – it only got darker (and I loved it). This book was such a gripping and wild ride, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Check this book out if you are a fan of H.D Carlton or loved Den of Vipers.
Thank you so much to @brudmanthriller and @Hellboundbooks for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Victims of the show start turning up dead, and Vanessa Young is hired by one of the victim’s family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole fall for each other from the start. However, things take a brutal turn when they’re drugged and taken to a remote house to take part in a sadistic version of Cole’s show. They must survive countless torture if they have any hopes of survival…
What a wild ride this book was! It was labeled a noir thriller, and if this is what this genre is about – then I am all in. Sign me up all the time. This book was just mind blowing and amazing and not in the way I expected. I will say that this book is not for the faint of heart. Only read if you are in the mood for some dark theme. Think BSDM but to the extremes, where death and dismemberment is involved. But this book is also smutty. The sex scenes aren’t detailed, but sex is a major theme of the book right from the opening line and it didn’t let up – it only got darker (and I loved it). This book was such a gripping and wild ride, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Check this book out if you are a fan of H.D Carlton or loved Den of Vipers.
Thank you so much to @brudmanthriller and @Hellboundbooks for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2024
Let me start by saying that The Gentleman’s Choice is an absolutely incredible book. From the first page I was completely hooked. The plot is so intricately crafted, with layers upon layers of suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. It’s like a thrilling rollercoaster ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning each page to uncover the next revelation. There’s some gore, there’s plot twists, there’s some spicy scenes, and so much more.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. They are incredibly well-developed and feel like real, flesh-and-blood individuals. You’ll find yourself forming deep connections with some of them, rooting for their victory, and feeling their fear. You end up trying to figure out who the serial killer is, and let me tell you I was NOT expecting it to be who it was.
The descriptions are so vivid and real, you can almost feel the rage and intent that the serial killer shows, you can feel the fear of the victims. I absolutely loved the idea of the book, the dating show part but with adult entertainment (not sure I can say the P word on Goodreads🤣) but with a gory thrilling twist!
In conclusion, The Gentleman’s Choice is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping story, well-rounded characters and doesn’t mind some gore. It’s truly incredible.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. They are incredibly well-developed and feel like real, flesh-and-blood individuals. You’ll find yourself forming deep connections with some of them, rooting for their victory, and feeling their fear. You end up trying to figure out who the serial killer is, and let me tell you I was NOT expecting it to be who it was.
The descriptions are so vivid and real, you can almost feel the rage and intent that the serial killer shows, you can feel the fear of the victims. I absolutely loved the idea of the book, the dating show part but with adult entertainment (not sure I can say the P word on Goodreads🤣) but with a gory thrilling twist!
In conclusion, The Gentleman’s Choice is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping story, well-rounded characters and doesn’t mind some gore. It’s truly incredible.
May 13, 2023
Oh my, that was fun! Brutal, but fun. The winning factor for me was the TV show - I don't think I've read anything which includes something like that, so it was new terrority.
There is POV from lots of different characters. I wouldn't say there were any likeable characters, but I think that's the point. Either way, I did feel afraid and nervous for the contestants! Their endings were long and horrible that's for sure!
I had absolutely no idea who was doing it, but when it all came out, I wasn't entirely surprised by it and their screwed up reasoning. I'd speak about this further but I don't want to spoil the fun of finding out for you.
I recommend to any horror lover, especially if you like the idea of the reality TV show (Maybe Love Island would be a comparable show but I haven't watched it!) although this book show was very, very steamy. I absolutely cannot imagine any reality show goes as far as that!
The story goes straight in with the action and there is something wild happening at every turn. Not for the faint hearted! Don't go on any reality show folks! Keep your toes safe heh heh
There is POV from lots of different characters. I wouldn't say there were any likeable characters, but I think that's the point. Either way, I did feel afraid and nervous for the contestants! Their endings were long and horrible that's for sure!
I had absolutely no idea who was doing it, but when it all came out, I wasn't entirely surprised by it and their screwed up reasoning. I'd speak about this further but I don't want to spoil the fun of finding out for you.
I recommend to any horror lover, especially if you like the idea of the reality TV show (Maybe Love Island would be a comparable show but I haven't watched it!) although this book show was very, very steamy. I absolutely cannot imagine any reality show goes as far as that!
The story goes straight in with the action and there is something wild happening at every turn. Not for the faint hearted! Don't go on any reality show folks! Keep your toes safe heh heh
June 20, 2023
A saucy internet dating show is at the center of this bloody story. The star, Cole, is not who he says he is, but neither is Vanessa… a contestant with discrete intentions.
I feel that the synopsis gives a lot away, so I’ll leave you in the dark with the rest. You know I like to encourage my fellow ink drinkers to go in blind. 😘
There is a whole slew of possible triggers in this story, so please enter at your own risk.
My takeaway: The Gentleman’s Choice was much darker and far more detailed than I anticipated. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became invested in these characters’ lives. When I first started flipping the pages, I wasn’t convinced this was the book for me, but by the end, I was at the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and stomping my feet in anticipation of what lurked around the corner.
This read like a spicy slasher to me. I had a few flashbacks to the 1998 Dee Snider movie Strangeland. Had I read this book the year I watched that movie (2003ish), I probably would have been traumatized. 🤣 That being said, this was an exciting ride and I’m glad I gave it a shot.
Not for the faint of heart, but many of my fellow horror fans may dig this one!
I feel that the synopsis gives a lot away, so I’ll leave you in the dark with the rest. You know I like to encourage my fellow ink drinkers to go in blind. 😘
There is a whole slew of possible triggers in this story, so please enter at your own risk.
My takeaway: The Gentleman’s Choice was much darker and far more detailed than I anticipated. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became invested in these characters’ lives. When I first started flipping the pages, I wasn’t convinced this was the book for me, but by the end, I was at the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and stomping my feet in anticipation of what lurked around the corner.
This read like a spicy slasher to me. I had a few flashbacks to the 1998 Dee Snider movie Strangeland. Had I read this book the year I watched that movie (2003ish), I probably would have been traumatized. 🤣 That being said, this was an exciting ride and I’m glad I gave it a shot.
Not for the faint of heart, but many of my fellow horror fans may dig this one!
July 8, 2023
This book was bit of a surprise. I was expecting some kind of horror book, but not a erotic horror. I’m going to start by saying this book isn’t my cup of tea, however the blame isn’t on the author’s skill or imagination. This just isn’t the type of book I normally go for. I’m still reviewing it because the writing was excellent.
The book follows an internet porn show. Kind of a behind the scenes look. It’s a “dating” show that ends with a happy ending if you make it to date 5. This part I wasn’t expecting.
Now if you are into spicy books, this probably will be low on your spice scale.
There is someone hunting and killing past contestants of this show. If you are a lover of horror this will probably be low on your gore scale… but there are scenes in here that made me squirm due to the torture.
Overall this book was interesting and had twists that I didn’t see coming. I did. guess the killer early on… but that could be because I love mystery books and look for all the clues.
If you love erotica & horror I’d say this book is worth a read. The writing is excellent and the story is interesting.
I received this book for free for an honest review.
The book follows an internet porn show. Kind of a behind the scenes look. It’s a “dating” show that ends with a happy ending if you make it to date 5. This part I wasn’t expecting.
Now if you are into spicy books, this probably will be low on your spice scale.
There is someone hunting and killing past contestants of this show. If you are a lover of horror this will probably be low on your gore scale… but there are scenes in here that made me squirm due to the torture.
Overall this book was interesting and had twists that I didn’t see coming. I did. guess the killer early on… but that could be because I love mystery books and look for all the clues.
If you love erotica & horror I’d say this book is worth a read. The writing is excellent and the story is interesting.
I received this book for free for an honest review.
June 6, 2023
I was quite puzzled by the book as I was expecting a thriller. It’s a mix of horror, murder mystery, social criticism and romance.
My biggest disappointment - and it’s not an issue with the book itself but with the publisher - is that the synopsis summarises 50 to 75% of the book. If I am told that Vanessa starts to investigate the show, falls in love with Cole and they get kidnapped, I am expecting that to happen within the first quarter of the book. The book then felt that it was dragging quite a lot and some plot twists were expended and lost their power to surprise.
I also feel the horror could have gone further. Not that I am a fan of the genre but it felt quite tame.
Now that this is said, the author sets up a heavy, dark atmosphere. Cole is the most relatable character, the victim of poor life choices and desperate to escape a situation that he dislikes. The dissection of the mechanics of the reality TV show is one of my favourite features of the book. It is raw and realistic in its own specific horror.
My biggest disappointment - and it’s not an issue with the book itself but with the publisher - is that the synopsis summarises 50 to 75% of the book. If I am told that Vanessa starts to investigate the show, falls in love with Cole and they get kidnapped, I am expecting that to happen within the first quarter of the book. The book then felt that it was dragging quite a lot and some plot twists were expended and lost their power to surprise.
I also feel the horror could have gone further. Not that I am a fan of the genre but it felt quite tame.
Now that this is said, the author sets up a heavy, dark atmosphere. Cole is the most relatable character, the victim of poor life choices and desperate to escape a situation that he dislikes. The dissection of the mechanics of the reality TV show is one of my favourite features of the book. It is raw and realistic in its own specific horror.
January 26, 2024
The Gentleman’s Choice is an adult entertainment show where Cole, the eligible Gentleman dates beautiful women for 4 nights whilst the paying online audience decide if she gets voted to the fifth for a night of passion with Cole. But, the losing ladies are turning up dead, mutilated and tortured. Vanessa, a PI, becomes a contestant to find the killer but will she be the next victim?
A gritty crime noir thriller, this is explicit and gruesome. The brutalisation of the victims is detailed and the seedy side of the entertainment industry is laid bare. No-one in this is innocent, they all have secrets, they are all selfish and self absorbed. This has detailed descriptions of eroticism and domination and is savage and sadistic. A journey into a dark and perverse world where the reality of show business is ripped open revealing the viscera in all its blood soaked glory.
It is real world horror and at times deeply uncomfortable showing the depravity of humanity at its worst. Fast paced and disturbing!
A gritty crime noir thriller, this is explicit and gruesome. The brutalisation of the victims is detailed and the seedy side of the entertainment industry is laid bare. No-one in this is innocent, they all have secrets, they are all selfish and self absorbed. This has detailed descriptions of eroticism and domination and is savage and sadistic. A journey into a dark and perverse world where the reality of show business is ripped open revealing the viscera in all its blood soaked glory.
It is real world horror and at times deeply uncomfortable showing the depravity of humanity at its worst. Fast paced and disturbing!
July 20, 2023
TW: body horror, graphic violence, torture, BDSM, child abuse (sexual, off-page), domestic abuse
From the first chapter, The Gentleman’s Choice reels you in and doesn’t let up until the very last page. The adults-only streaming show and its host Cole Gianni are front and center in this novel so there are plenty of sexually explicit scenes. I think it helps the reader understand Cole Gianni, the show’s participants and audience, and gives the reader a glimpse into the darker side of reality TV.
The book has a great plot and I would have liked to give this a higher rating but I felt that the main characters and some plot points were underdeveloped. I would have liked to explore Vanessa’s past a little bit. Her being a PI was also pretty useless in the end when she and Cole got kidnapped. In the end she felt more like an accessory to make Cole look good. My favorite character was actually the killer who had a sad but interesting backstory. 😬
From the first chapter, The Gentleman’s Choice reels you in and doesn’t let up until the very last page. The adults-only streaming show and its host Cole Gianni are front and center in this novel so there are plenty of sexually explicit scenes. I think it helps the reader understand Cole Gianni, the show’s participants and audience, and gives the reader a glimpse into the darker side of reality TV.
The book has a great plot and I would have liked to give this a higher rating but I felt that the main characters and some plot points were underdeveloped. I would have liked to explore Vanessa’s past a little bit. Her being a PI was also pretty useless in the end when she and Cole got kidnapped. In the end she felt more like an accessory to make Cole look good. My favorite character was actually the killer who had a sad but interesting backstory. 😬
August 19, 2023
"The Gentleman's Choice" by Blake Rudman. I was sent my copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this gritty noir thriller, someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the television show "The Gentleman's Choice."
This sultry show, similar to The Bachelor, introduces you to Cole Gianni and the lucky ladies who are fighting for his affection.
The clock is ticking, though, and it's likely Cole won't survive unless Private Investigator Vanessa can expose and capture the killer.
I went into this story expecting it to be more horroresque, but in my opinion, it's definitely not a part of the horror spectrum. It is, however, very spicy and rather mysterious. I also didn't suspect the killer or the twisty ending at all.
There were several kill scenes that shocked me, and this definitely has more spice inside than I generally care for, but ultimately, I enjoyed the story and liked that it played off the show The Bachelor.
In this gritty noir thriller, someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the television show "The Gentleman's Choice."
This sultry show, similar to The Bachelor, introduces you to Cole Gianni and the lucky ladies who are fighting for his affection.
The clock is ticking, though, and it's likely Cole won't survive unless Private Investigator Vanessa can expose and capture the killer.
I went into this story expecting it to be more horroresque, but in my opinion, it's definitely not a part of the horror spectrum. It is, however, very spicy and rather mysterious. I also didn't suspect the killer or the twisty ending at all.
There were several kill scenes that shocked me, and this definitely has more spice inside than I generally care for, but ultimately, I enjoyed the story and liked that it played off the show The Bachelor.
June 15, 2023
God damn!! What a great thriller !
The Gentleman's Choice is a sleazy, sexy internet dating show where women compete to make it to night 5 to win a huge cash prize and a shot at love with Cole, the handsome main character. There is one contestant a week, and people online watch as Cole, and the contenstant go on wild dates and they decide if she gets voted through to round 5. Suddenly, the women who were voted off the show are being murdered and Vanessa, a private investigator, plans on catching the killer posing as one of the contestants. The chase is on when the killer plans on the ultimate revenge, and she and Cole must survive the most intense "episode." This was an incredible thrill ride that made my heart race! There is sex and a lot of gore in this, so be warned if you're squeamish, I don't suggest you read it. A definite 5/5 for me !!!!
The Gentleman's Choice is a sleazy, sexy internet dating show where women compete to make it to night 5 to win a huge cash prize and a shot at love with Cole, the handsome main character. There is one contestant a week, and people online watch as Cole, and the contenstant go on wild dates and they decide if she gets voted through to round 5. Suddenly, the women who were voted off the show are being murdered and Vanessa, a private investigator, plans on catching the killer posing as one of the contestants. The chase is on when the killer plans on the ultimate revenge, and she and Cole must survive the most intense "episode." This was an incredible thrill ride that made my heart race! There is sex and a lot of gore in this, so be warned if you're squeamish, I don't suggest you read it. A definite 5/5 for me !!!!
July 21, 2023
There is no doubt that this is a very dark book, and the killer is not the only villain in the story. In its look behind the scenes of a reality show, albeit fictional and taken to the extreme, the book reminds us how much participants (and viewers) can be deceived by the glamorous veneer of showbiz, when the reality is very different.
The author goes into a lot of detail regarding the adult-only reality show as well as the murders. Readers should, therefore, exercise caution, as there are a lot of graphic descriptions.
The story didn't quite follow the expected path to its conclusion. Rather, it veered into horror territory at times, making it stand out from other, more conventional serial killer stories.
Certainly not a comfortable read - tense and unsettling from start to finish!
Thanks to the author, Hellbound Books, and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
The author goes into a lot of detail regarding the adult-only reality show as well as the murders. Readers should, therefore, exercise caution, as there are a lot of graphic descriptions.
The story didn't quite follow the expected path to its conclusion. Rather, it veered into horror territory at times, making it stand out from other, more conventional serial killer stories.
Certainly not a comfortable read - tense and unsettling from start to finish!
Thanks to the author, Hellbound Books, and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
February 7, 2024
- MIND BLOWN -
This book pulled me in from the very first page. It started with a real bang that just never ended… So many twists and turns!! So much brilliance…
Spicy bits sprinkled like glitter throughout the pages.
I found the plot absolutely compelling. I couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening in the story. And theories… oh my word the theories my brain conjured drove me absolutely nuts!!
This book has so many different layers.
- It was sexy and steamy
- It was dark and twisty
- It was gruesome and scary
It was FANTASTIC!!!
I loved the characters - some of them I loved to hate but nonetheless they made the story so much more entertaining.
I loved that Cole got a happy ending. I really did also fall in love with ‘the’ Cole Gianni!!
All in all I will recommend this book to literally everyone.
It was an amazing read and amazing writing.
This book pulled me in from the very first page. It started with a real bang that just never ended… So many twists and turns!! So much brilliance…
Spicy bits sprinkled like glitter throughout the pages.
I found the plot absolutely compelling. I couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening in the story. And theories… oh my word the theories my brain conjured drove me absolutely nuts!!
This book has so many different layers.
- It was sexy and steamy
- It was dark and twisty
- It was gruesome and scary
It was FANTASTIC!!!
I loved the characters - some of them I loved to hate but nonetheless they made the story so much more entertaining.
I loved that Cole got a happy ending. I really did also fall in love with ‘the’ Cole Gianni!!
All in all I will recommend this book to literally everyone.
It was an amazing read and amazing writing.
June 6, 2023
4.5 stars
This book started off with the perfect pace. It was a very compelling read to say the least and overall, I didn’t want to put it down. Unfortunately, sleep and work are a thing.
The Gentleman’s Choice is an x-rated dating show (think The Bachelor) and someone starts to take previous contestants that were on the show and brutally (and I mean brutally) murdering them. The murders were graphic and disgusting, but the author painted one hell of a visual.
The murderer wasn’t at all who I expected and this book wasn’t easily predictable making you want to continue reading to find out what’s going to happen next.
This book is perfect for anyone who likes to read a good, gore filled horror novel. One that keeps you on your toes!
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book.
This book started off with the perfect pace. It was a very compelling read to say the least and overall, I didn’t want to put it down. Unfortunately, sleep and work are a thing.
The Gentleman’s Choice is an x-rated dating show (think The Bachelor) and someone starts to take previous contestants that were on the show and brutally (and I mean brutally) murdering them. The murders were graphic and disgusting, but the author painted one hell of a visual.
The murderer wasn’t at all who I expected and this book wasn’t easily predictable making you want to continue reading to find out what’s going to happen next.
This book is perfect for anyone who likes to read a good, gore filled horror novel. One that keeps you on your toes!
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book.
July 21, 2023
The Gentleman’s Choice by Blake Rudman is an extreme horror book. With no monsters but the human kind, this book is an intense, sexy, bloody, absolute romp through mankind’s based nature. About people looking for love in the wrong places and looking for thrills where ever they can find them, it will put you through the wringer. It has believable characters and an internet show I'm utterly amazed no one has tried before! A cross between the Bachelor and things you can find on Pornhub it would surely be a hit if tried in real life. Rudman has a sure hand with this dark material, and this is the first of five stand alone noir thriller novels he has written that will all be released this year. PersonallyI can’t wait!
February 13, 2024
I was sent my copy in exchange for a honest review.
This is not the type of book I'm used to reading, but I still wanted to give it a chance. The book tells in POV what I found a bit more difficult to empathize with. But once I got a little further into the book, it became much easier for me to follow.
The story is about an internet show where candidates try to win Cole's heart in order to win a large sum of money. After a while, several candidates are kidnapped and brutally murdered. Detective Vanessa is called in to find out who the perpetrator is, but is ultimately kidnapped along with Cole.
The murderer was a big surprise to me.
I definitely recommend this book if this is the genre you like.
This is not the type of book I'm used to reading, but I still wanted to give it a chance. The book tells in POV what I found a bit more difficult to empathize with. But once I got a little further into the book, it became much easier for me to follow.
The story is about an internet show where candidates try to win Cole's heart in order to win a large sum of money. After a while, several candidates are kidnapped and brutally murdered. Detective Vanessa is called in to find out who the perpetrator is, but is ultimately kidnapped along with Cole.
The murderer was a big surprise to me.
I definitely recommend this book if this is the genre you like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
What a wild ride The Gentleman's Choice is one hell of a addictive and dark and disturbing thriller that will keep you up at night. A X rated version of love island and someone is killing contestants and then two main characters of the show are starting to fall in love when they are kidnapped and pitted against each other. A lot of sex scenes that I wasn't a fan of but I was happy it didn't go into too much detail. The murders and the mystery is what kept me reading and the suspense gets better and better keeping the tension high!
June 25, 2023
I’m so glad it was this book that I dived back into Horror/Thriller with!
The Gentleman’s Choice is a graphic and fast paced whodunnit.
At no point was I prepared for what was happening from one page to the next! This book was a train wreck, but in a good way! I couldn’t look away or stop reading! It’s a wild ride that I loved every second of!
If you’re a fan of Den of Vipers (specifically Diesel) and/or Dead Inside I think you’ll really enjoy this book.
The Gentleman’s Choice is a graphic and fast paced whodunnit.
At no point was I prepared for what was happening from one page to the next! This book was a train wreck, but in a good way! I couldn’t look away or stop reading! It’s a wild ride that I loved every second of!
If you’re a fan of Den of Vipers (specifically Diesel) and/or Dead Inside I think you’ll really enjoy this book.
May 28, 2023
This was my first erotica/horror book and this was a very interesting blend. You would have scenes of expertly described sexual scenes with graphic scenes of intense body horror and torture. The payoff at the end and the climax were well done. I recommend this for anyone looking for a different blend of genres and to those fans of erotica!
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July 22, 20233.5 Rating - This was an interesting adventure where Bachelor takes on a Boogie Nights theme and slams head on with a slice of Saw and Fatal Attraction and a touch of Fifty Shades of Grey gone wrong. Take a sleazy adult dating show with scrupulous producers and a sadistic dominatrix who kidnaps and gruesomely murders the prior contestants. The story was really good in itself with a spice level through the roof. To be honest it was bit too much spice for my tastes but I blush pretty easily so if spice doesn’t bother you and your looking for a good slasher read with lots of spice then I highly recommend this read.
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