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Crush #1
Crush: A Novel
A rollicking, page-turning thriller that “crackles with sharp dialogue” and “a witty narrative voice that puts the reader in mind of Elmore Leonard” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Caleb Rush, a. k. a. Crush, is the toughest, coolest bodyguard/bouncer in Los Angeles, a man who lives strictly by his own moral code, which doesn’t exactly hew to the standards of US law. When Amelia Trask, the wild daughter of a scruples-free billionaire, comes to Crush for help, his quiet life roars into overdrive. He’ll have to use his wits, brawn, martial-arts training, and knowledge of the Russian mafia to clean up the mess young Amelia has created—and try not to get himself killed in the process. Full of action, suspense, memorable characters, and a sly wit, Crush is “as slick as a switchblade with a pearl handle” (Lee Child, New York Times–bestselling author of the Jack Reacher novels).
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2015
About the author
Phoef Sutton
17 books126 followersPhoef Sutton started as an actor and playwright in college; he was lucky enough to go to a small liberal arts college in Virginia, James Madison University, which encouraged student playwrights. Phoef was one of the only undergraduates to win the Norman Lear Award for Comedy Playwriting. After graduation, Phoef had plays produced at various regional theaters around the country, had his award winning play BURIAL CUSTOMS selected for publication by the Theatre Communications Group and was awarded a National Endowment for Arts Playwrights Fellowship.
After marrying and moving to Los Angeles, Phoef started his career at the NBC television show CHEERS. He stayed with the show for eight years, working his way up from staff writer to executive producer, winning two Emmys and a Writer’s Guild Award. A greater training ground for a writer could not be imagined.
After CHEERS, Phoef has produced and created a number of television shows and consulted on others, including NEWS RADIO and BOSTON LEGAL. He is honored to have won a Peabody Award, a GLAAD award and a Television Academy Honors award for this work on BOSTON LEGAL. Recently, he has worked on critically acclaimed series TERRIERS for FX and THE SOUL MAN for TV Land, DEFIANCE for SyFy Channel and ALPHA HOUSE for Amazon.
He has directed a short film – a suspense tale called ‘TIL DEATH. ‘TIL DEATH has been shown and various film festivals around the world and received prizes at the Garden State Festival and WorldFest in Houston, Texas.
Phoef has also worked for many years as a screenwriter and script doctor. MRS. WINTERBOURNE, directed by Richard Benjamin was an adaptation of a novel by one of his favorite authors, Cornell Woolrich. THE FAN, directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert DeNiro was an adaptation of the novel by Peter Abrahams.
Phoef is a published novelist – FIFTEEN MINUTES TO LIVE, a romantic-thriller; DEAD MAN: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, a horror novel and its sequel DEAD MAN REBORN.
2015 is a promising year for Phoef, with the debut of his collaborations with Janet Evanovich, WICKED CHARMS and publication of his hard-boiled crime novel CRUSH.
Phoef lives in South Pasadena, California with his wife Dawn and his daughters Skylar and Celia.
After marrying and moving to Los Angeles, Phoef started his career at the NBC television show CHEERS. He stayed with the show for eight years, working his way up from staff writer to executive producer, winning two Emmys and a Writer’s Guild Award. A greater training ground for a writer could not be imagined.
After CHEERS, Phoef has produced and created a number of television shows and consulted on others, including NEWS RADIO and BOSTON LEGAL. He is honored to have won a Peabody Award, a GLAAD award and a Television Academy Honors award for this work on BOSTON LEGAL. Recently, he has worked on critically acclaimed series TERRIERS for FX and THE SOUL MAN for TV Land, DEFIANCE for SyFy Channel and ALPHA HOUSE for Amazon.
He has directed a short film – a suspense tale called ‘TIL DEATH. ‘TIL DEATH has been shown and various film festivals around the world and received prizes at the Garden State Festival and WorldFest in Houston, Texas.
Phoef has also worked for many years as a screenwriter and script doctor. MRS. WINTERBOURNE, directed by Richard Benjamin was an adaptation of a novel by one of his favorite authors, Cornell Woolrich. THE FAN, directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert DeNiro was an adaptation of the novel by Peter Abrahams.
Phoef is a published novelist – FIFTEEN MINUTES TO LIVE, a romantic-thriller; DEAD MAN: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, a horror novel and its sequel DEAD MAN REBORN.
2015 is a promising year for Phoef, with the debut of his collaborations with Janet Evanovich, WICKED CHARMS and publication of his hard-boiled crime novel CRUSH.
Phoef lives in South Pasadena, California with his wife Dawn and his daughters Skylar and Celia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 5, 2016
Speed can be the saving grace of any number of literary sins: cliched plotting, shallow characterizations, you name it. Make a story fast enough and kicky enough and readers will forgive the author a lot.
Crush is an example. It reads like the wind: fast and slick, but completely lacking any nutritional value.
Caleb Rush (the titular Crush) is the younger reincarnation of Dalton the Magic Bouncer from Road House. He's big, bald, indestructible, and able to suss out trouble before it happens in the too-cool-for-school Hollywood club he haunts. He rescues Amanda Trask -- the bitchy, spoiled-rotten teenaged daughter of bitchy, spoiled-rotten zillionaire Stanley Trask -- from two Russian thugs bumbling their way through a kidnap attempt outside the club. This kicks off a chase that doesn't end until about five pages from the end, and involves exploding houses, much hand-to-hand combat, hair's-breadth escapes, topless hookers, torture, and driving vintage muscle cars through improbable places.
Yes -- it's a novelization of a Vin Diesel movie that hasn't been made yet.
Crush reads very, very fast. I finished its 218 pages in about three hours. The prose is pretty stripped-down, but there also isn't very much along the way that's complicated enough to slow you down. The author salts in some wry humor along with the wise-assery. It's a fun ride while you're in the thick of it and being dragged along at warp speed; it's only when you stop that the whole thing dissolves into fairy dust.
You won't have any problems casting the characters. The types are so familiar because you've seen them all in more movies than you can count. In addition to the Zen-warrior bouncer and hot-crazy-rich-chick client, there's the bouncer's genius-computer-hacker-geek stepbrother, the bouncer's tough-but-loving martial-arts guru (who's also a hot woman, filling the ass-kicking-female spot on the checklist as well as the unaccountable-platonic-relationship list item), the whoring-hyperventilating-scumbag tycoon, the rabid-dog Russian mobster, even the Agent Smith-inspired FBI agents. The author confuses convoluted character backgrounds for depth and complexity, and bitchiness for grit. The settings are movie-ready and as familiar as the character types; the only one missing (how did this happen?) is the upmarket strip club.
Crush is a fun, vitamin-free rocket-sled ride that ends with a NutraSweet aftertaste. As I mentioned, I finished it in three hours and Didn't. Believe. A. Word (including "and" and "the"). It'll look great when Mr. Diesel turns it into a big, blowsy summer action extravaganza. The screenplay's already done (it's the book). If any of this sounds appealing, then by all means, pack it along for the LAX-Chicago leg of your next trip and don't look back when you leave it on the seat for the next guy.
Crush is an example. It reads like the wind: fast and slick, but completely lacking any nutritional value.
Caleb Rush (the titular Crush) is the younger reincarnation of Dalton the Magic Bouncer from Road House. He's big, bald, indestructible, and able to suss out trouble before it happens in the too-cool-for-school Hollywood club he haunts. He rescues Amanda Trask -- the bitchy, spoiled-rotten teenaged daughter of bitchy, spoiled-rotten zillionaire Stanley Trask -- from two Russian thugs bumbling their way through a kidnap attempt outside the club. This kicks off a chase that doesn't end until about five pages from the end, and involves exploding houses, much hand-to-hand combat, hair's-breadth escapes, topless hookers, torture, and driving vintage muscle cars through improbable places.
Yes -- it's a novelization of a Vin Diesel movie that hasn't been made yet.
Crush reads very, very fast. I finished its 218 pages in about three hours. The prose is pretty stripped-down, but there also isn't very much along the way that's complicated enough to slow you down. The author salts in some wry humor along with the wise-assery. It's a fun ride while you're in the thick of it and being dragged along at warp speed; it's only when you stop that the whole thing dissolves into fairy dust.
You won't have any problems casting the characters. The types are so familiar because you've seen them all in more movies than you can count. In addition to the Zen-warrior bouncer and hot-crazy-rich-chick client, there's the bouncer's genius-computer-hacker-geek stepbrother, the bouncer's tough-but-loving martial-arts guru (who's also a hot woman, filling the ass-kicking-female spot on the checklist as well as the unaccountable-platonic-relationship list item), the whoring-hyperventilating-scumbag tycoon, the rabid-dog Russian mobster, even the Agent Smith-inspired FBI agents. The author confuses convoluted character backgrounds for depth and complexity, and bitchiness for grit. The settings are movie-ready and as familiar as the character types; the only one missing (how did this happen?) is the upmarket strip club.
Crush is a fun, vitamin-free rocket-sled ride that ends with a NutraSweet aftertaste. As I mentioned, I finished it in three hours and Didn't. Believe. A. Word (including "and" and "the"). It'll look great when Mr. Diesel turns it into a big, blowsy summer action extravaganza. The screenplay's already done (it's the book). If any of this sounds appealing, then by all means, pack it along for the LAX-Chicago leg of your next trip and don't look back when you leave it on the seat for the next guy.
June 10, 2022
[Read in Jan 2020; Reviewed June 2022]
When I first read that Phoef Sutton had created a character named K.C. Zerbe I immediately thought, Ah, one of my people. For those not in my age bracket--or if you lack my interest in the trivial (as opposed to Trivia)--Lt. K.C. Trench, played by Anthony Zerbe, joined the TV show Harry O once the 70s private detective moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, a little past the halfway point of the first season. Only a dedicated fan of the genre would remember this, let alone incorporate it into his work. If Sutton had a series--what I tend to gravitate toward--I had to read the first book. Once I found Crush, it did not take long for excitement to turn to disappointment.
Sutton, a screen writer in his day job, essentially wrote a movie disguised as a book. There’s nothing wrong with that. Novels with a cinematic approach are nothing new. And of course many movies have been successfully adapted to prose, even if most seem to fail. But the key word here is “adapted.” Embracing the target medium is essential.
We start off well enough. We immediately get a sense of the protagonist, Caleb Rush (known as Crush), the nightclub where he works as a bouncer, and some of the people populating the place around the midnight hour. We are introduced to the last of these three so that we can witness Crush in action, one of the many movie ingredients that will soon be added to the mix. Because next we’ll get to see Crush severely beaten (but that’s okay because it took two of them). Now add the female lead, who will be the love interest or, if the hero is not attracted to her, will spend enormous amounts of energy trying to seduce him. And then the mentor and/or teacher who can be counted on to be seriously hurt or killed to make it personal and steepen the odds; if someone better than the hero goes down, what chance does Crush have? And the computer genius, the aforementioned K.C. Zerbe, who can hack anything anywhere, even as the narrative tells us it’s not as easy you see on TV. And before it’s over we’ll need extended talks with the stunt coordinator because what’s coming will rival Die Hard 4. All of the above could make an interesting movie. They could all still be interesting characters too. But in novel form there are no actors to provide texture and substance.
Disappointment aside, by my own rules this is a 3-Star book. The author is not responsible for my disappointment. His only obligation is to produce the book he sees in his head. Deciding to ignore the attributes that a novel can provide that the screen cannot is his choice. But it is a choice. It would be a mistake to assume that Sutton can't write because of this approach. There is proof to the contrary present, and this has nothing to do with the opening scenes. Their quality can be explained by having been written and rewritten and rewritten again, by the author on his own or at the suggestion of agents or editors or even friends in the business. The opening is an important part of selling a book. Genuine proof of skill comes later, in the appearance of a very minor character. His presence is necessary, though; it helps explain how Crush became separated from those that were once a very important part of his life. But this character could not just pop up. Wouldn't work in a novel or a movie. And it wouldn't work as a straightforward flashback either. The answer was reminiscent of many novels from the 50s and 60s where characters stepped on the stage hand-in-hand with their extensive backstory. This chapter had to be written. Well written. The reader had to understand his thinking and when appropriate feel his emotion, at least to an extent. And we did.
The book reads just fine as it is. It is successful at being exactly what it was intended it to be. I'm not sure if that makes it a successful novel. Sutton chose not to take advantage of the assets a different medium can provide. Maybe he felt it would have interfered with his cinematic thrill ride. Obviously I don't agree. I think there could have been more substance added to the mix. In the end I’m only one dissatisfied reader that Sutton won’t miss (it is a series after all). And this is only one book by an author I have no need to revisit. Sometimes philosophies do not coincide.
When I first read that Phoef Sutton had created a character named K.C. Zerbe I immediately thought, Ah, one of my people. For those not in my age bracket--or if you lack my interest in the trivial (as opposed to Trivia)--Lt. K.C. Trench, played by Anthony Zerbe, joined the TV show Harry O once the 70s private detective moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, a little past the halfway point of the first season. Only a dedicated fan of the genre would remember this, let alone incorporate it into his work. If Sutton had a series--what I tend to gravitate toward--I had to read the first book. Once I found Crush, it did not take long for excitement to turn to disappointment.
Sutton, a screen writer in his day job, essentially wrote a movie disguised as a book. There’s nothing wrong with that. Novels with a cinematic approach are nothing new. And of course many movies have been successfully adapted to prose, even if most seem to fail. But the key word here is “adapted.” Embracing the target medium is essential.
We start off well enough. We immediately get a sense of the protagonist, Caleb Rush (known as Crush), the nightclub where he works as a bouncer, and some of the people populating the place around the midnight hour. We are introduced to the last of these three so that we can witness Crush in action, one of the many movie ingredients that will soon be added to the mix. Because next we’ll get to see Crush severely beaten (but that’s okay because it took two of them). Now add the female lead, who will be the love interest or, if the hero is not attracted to her, will spend enormous amounts of energy trying to seduce him. And then the mentor and/or teacher who can be counted on to be seriously hurt or killed to make it personal and steepen the odds; if someone better than the hero goes down, what chance does Crush have? And the computer genius, the aforementioned K.C. Zerbe, who can hack anything anywhere, even as the narrative tells us it’s not as easy you see on TV. And before it’s over we’ll need extended talks with the stunt coordinator because what’s coming will rival Die Hard 4. All of the above could make an interesting movie. They could all still be interesting characters too. But in novel form there are no actors to provide texture and substance.
Disappointment aside, by my own rules this is a 3-Star book. The author is not responsible for my disappointment. His only obligation is to produce the book he sees in his head. Deciding to ignore the attributes that a novel can provide that the screen cannot is his choice. But it is a choice. It would be a mistake to assume that Sutton can't write because of this approach. There is proof to the contrary present, and this has nothing to do with the opening scenes. Their quality can be explained by having been written and rewritten and rewritten again, by the author on his own or at the suggestion of agents or editors or even friends in the business. The opening is an important part of selling a book. Genuine proof of skill comes later, in the appearance of a very minor character. His presence is necessary, though; it helps explain how Crush became separated from those that were once a very important part of his life. But this character could not just pop up. Wouldn't work in a novel or a movie. And it wouldn't work as a straightforward flashback either. The answer was reminiscent of many novels from the 50s and 60s where characters stepped on the stage hand-in-hand with their extensive backstory. This chapter had to be written. Well written. The reader had to understand his thinking and when appropriate feel his emotion, at least to an extent. And we did.
The book reads just fine as it is. It is successful at being exactly what it was intended it to be. I'm not sure if that makes it a successful novel. Sutton chose not to take advantage of the assets a different medium can provide. Maybe he felt it would have interfered with his cinematic thrill ride. Obviously I don't agree. I think there could have been more substance added to the mix. In the end I’m only one dissatisfied reader that Sutton won’t miss (it is a series after all). And this is only one book by an author I have no need to revisit. Sometimes philosophies do not coincide.
July 24, 2015
Phoef Sutton hits a towering home run with CRUSH. Cleverly written and action-packed, the novel moves like a freight train, weaving fascinating characters with blistering violence, crackling dialogue and twisting turns. On par with the best writers in this genre, Sutton has crafted a character worthy of Elmore Leonard's best, taking us on a tour of the LA underbelly the likes of which we have experienced since Ross MacDonald. This book will keep you flipping pages until the last scene, at which time you'll ask the inevitable question "What's Crush doing next?"
January 29, 2020
finished today the 29th of january 2020 good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner and the first from sutton. reads easy, entertaining, enjoyed the characters, crush and his brother, amelia, the others, quail...thought it ended quickly like the telling itself and will be looking for another from sutton soon as i hit post.
October 14, 2015
Found randomly on the library shelves. Read in 1 1/2 days without really trying. Fast paced. Holds the reader's interest. Surprisingly easy read. It felt very polished and tv friendly. Equally as addictive (and possibly as corrupting) as tv. I would read this author again if/when I get into a reading rut and need a kick-start. Vulgar language and situations appeared once the story was established (immodesty/nudity, violence, ect). Not a "clean" book.
I kept suspecting Amelia was behind everything. Did anyone else think that too? Why did Crush trust her implicitly? She clearly was just looking out for herself and her own interests, showing no gratitude to Crush or concern for his well being. And it wasn't like Crush really knew her or had any reason to care for her. Was she actually even paying him or did she just promise to? His unearned devotion to her annoyed me. I was also annoyed with the paragraph at the end of the story that seemed to indicate that "love" justifies all actions - ie nothing is wrong if you do it for someone you love (even murder).
I kept suspecting Amelia was behind everything. Did anyone else think that too? Why did Crush trust her implicitly? She clearly was just looking out for herself and her own interests, showing no gratitude to Crush or concern for his well being. And it wasn't like Crush really knew her or had any reason to care for her. Was she actually even paying him or did she just promise to? His unearned devotion to her annoyed me. I was also annoyed with the paragraph at the end of the story that seemed to indicate that "love" justifies all actions - ie nothing is wrong if you do it for someone you love (even murder).
January 4, 2016
As someone else mentions here, it reads like a screenplay. Not a lot of depth, characterization, or emotional impact; just a lot of fast-paced action scenes with people who are not particularly interesting or likable.
December 4, 2015
Mixed feelings
Sutton is a good writer and the story moves along quickly but it is so improbable that it loses its noir moorings. Will give his next book a try.
Sutton is a good writer and the story moves along quickly but it is so improbable that it loses its noir moorings. Will give his next book a try.
February 29, 2016
Not all that impressing.
August 3, 2015
A fast action mystery novel in the vein of Duane Swierczynski, Phoef Sutton has created a memorable character in Caleb Rush, aka Crush. Told in a fast and loose style, with plenty of wry commentary, I had a great time with Crush and hope to read more of him soon. It certainly cries out for a movie treatment and, much like the super talented David Benioff, he is a screenwriter as well, so I assume he'll adapt his own!
Crush is a bouncer at a hidden bar in Los Angeles, who used to be a bodyguard. He gets wrapped up with an ex-client's daughter, trying to keep her alive while the Russian mob tries to track her down. With a cast of characters like his "brother", confined to their apartment for parole reasons, and Gail, his martial arts teacher, they try to avoid getting killed themselves while keeping their distance from the Russians.
I had a great ride with this book. Sutton writes with great panache and the characters, while having some serious skills, are not invincible and have some serious weaknesses. Told with humor and action, the characters are winners and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
Crush is a bouncer at a hidden bar in Los Angeles, who used to be a bodyguard. He gets wrapped up with an ex-client's daughter, trying to keep her alive while the Russian mob tries to track her down. With a cast of characters like his "brother", confined to their apartment for parole reasons, and Gail, his martial arts teacher, they try to avoid getting killed themselves while keeping their distance from the Russians.
I had a great ride with this book. Sutton writes with great panache and the characters, while having some serious skills, are not invincible and have some serious weaknesses. Told with humor and action, the characters are winners and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
October 4, 2015
Caleb Rush, AKA "Crush" (hence the book's title) is a security expert, bodyguard, and bouncer. He represents a trifecta of sorts: a veteran of the US Marines, LA street gangs, and prison. He's also the son of the first of the Russian criminal leaders on the west coast. While working as a bouncer at an upscale club, he finds himself drawn into stopping the abduction of a young woman by two Russian-type thugs. Soon thereafter, she pulls a gun on him, the Russian thus pop up in his rear view mirror, and a chase begins that continues, on and off for the rest of the book It turns out that she is the daughter of one of America's leading business leaders, embezzlers, and defrauders of investors, STanley Trask. Trask is in the crosshairs of the Feds the Russian Mafia, and hundreds of investors.
The book roars along non-stop. It is frequently funny and always fairly violent. The characters are quickly sketched caricatures with a hint of something deeper in several cases (Crush, his female martial arts pal, his sort-of brother, Zerbe). I'll read the next one ("Heart Attack and Vine") to see if they develop further.
The book roars along non-stop. It is frequently funny and always fairly violent. The characters are quickly sketched caricatures with a hint of something deeper in several cases (Crush, his female martial arts pal, his sort-of brother, Zerbe). I'll read the next one ("Heart Attack and Vine") to see if they develop further.
July 29, 2015
Might be biased here but I am a Robert B. Parker fan and have well over 70 of his books. Crush, the title of this book and the main characters' nickname in the book is in my estimation made up of 10% of Parkers' main character, Spenser, and 90% of Spenser's sidekick, Hawk. This writing recipe is like mixing top shelf bourbon with bar well bourbon and hoping the imbiber will be satisfied. I picked the book because Sutton has co-authored with Janet Evanovich in her book "Wicked Charms" and has been a writer for two of my favorite TV shows, "Boston Legal" and "Cheers". I may try another Sutton read but if it seems to copy something I have read before, like the Parker books, I will give up early and move on to another author.
August 15, 2015
"Crush" by Phoeff Sutton reads like a comic book and and a treatment for what might be the next Ray Donovan played by Vin Diesel, LL Cool J. or some other manly bald guy. It is totally a dude book for dudes who don't prefer the art of writing. It is fast-paced with short chapters, a gun catalog of inventory, one blow job and women who show their tits. There is barely any depth, nuance or mystery. Just action, action, action. The rich are drawn in pathetic caricatures and off beats are the heros (very LA). The resolution requires no work whatsoever. Will probably leave this on the shelf titled, "Books to Read During Undergraduate Finals" which require no attention, investment or long term memory.
November 29, 2015
"Crush", the hero of this action packed tale, is embodiment of every action trope of modern literature. Former military for street cred? Check. Gigantic form? Check. Traumatic childhood? Check. Eastern European heritage? Check. Loner with honor? Check. Taciturn in a sexy, no bullshit kinda way? Check. Protective of women and children? Check. Willing to kill/maim/ravage bad guys? Check. Cool loft to live in? Check. Awesome car(s) to drive? Check.
Having said all of that, this was a fast, fun read.
Having said all of that, this was a fast, fun read.
July 24, 2015
Leonard Elmore meets Donald Westlake...action packed, martial arts kicking, sneaky black humor filled crime novel. Various LA bodyguard types get mixed up in crime solving more than in protection. Author has plenty of TV experience and the action sequences may play out better on film than in a book, but be prepared to laugh as you try to figure out who will be left standing. Best part, there is a second book coming out..."Heart Attack & Vine".
May 23, 2017
If you are looking for a fast read, this is it. Nothing complicated and a little predictable but nonetheless, a fun read.
Crush is about a muscle bouncer that doubles as a body guard. When an 18 year old girl hires him to protect her and Rush learns of her name, the chase is on. Unfortunately, the book played out more like babysitter for the clueless spoiled rich girl. Any redeeming qualities where Rush's one liners. Now those were great!
Crush is about a muscle bouncer that doubles as a body guard. When an 18 year old girl hires him to protect her and Rush learns of her name, the chase is on. Unfortunately, the book played out more like babysitter for the clueless spoiled rich girl. Any redeeming qualities where Rush's one liners. Now those were great!
July 20, 2015
I won "Crush" from goodreads-firstreads. I loved this book. The storyline and colorful characters are fantastic! I could not put it down. I would recommend this book to everyone that loves a great action packed book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and your eyes glued to the pages always waiting for what comes next. Jana morgan
August 4, 2015
Crush started really strong. Sutton packed the book with humorous dialogue and colorful characters. This book is a great read for someone who wants to be amused more than feel connected to the characters. It has the feel of a caper novel even though Crush is basically on the right side of the law. There is lots of action and a quirky tone throughout. Crush is super cool-that's a plus.
December 17, 2015
I met the author at his publisher's open house late last year, but Crush got buried in my towering stack of books. It finally worked its way to the top over the weekend and I dove in. It's a gritty, fast-paced story that I could not help imagining as a movie. (Does everyone decide on the cast in their head or is it just me?) Looking forward to reading the sequel.
November 22, 2015
Thesis: What feels like a failed screenplay that was inexplicably turned into a novel, and I'm using the word 'novel' with some hesitation.
Plot: Lots of violence committed by and against people that I could not possibly care about less.
Sequel: Yes, there is one. Why in god's name, why?
Plot: Lots of violence committed by and against people that I could not possibly care about less.
Sequel: Yes, there is one. Why in god's name, why?
September 10, 2015
3 1/2 stars.
November 25, 2015
Fast read, and lots of action - but no plot.
December 7, 2015
Fast paced, hard hitting, sharp thriller
January 1, 2016
Fast paced, a little crazy, will make a perfect action thriller movie.
February 9, 2016
Interesting, but not a terrific read.
February 16, 2016
Read this book in five days... granted it wasn't very long, but still that's an achievement for me. Plus it was a fast paced, action, mystery. I really enjoyed it.
August 15, 2020
Lockdown lucky dip from the library. A quick read, in the vein of Janet Evanovich but not quite as sharp or funny.
February 27, 2021
An irritating read. Shallow characters. I will say it's original - quite unlike anything I've ever read.
November 29, 2021
It was a quick read that was fast paced with lots of action.
November 26, 2017
Caleb Rush is a body guard hired by the daughter of a businessman noted for his lack of integrity. The bar is set really low for the "good guys". There's a lot of fighting, killing, and torturing but oddly enough, it can be sort of funny. I'll put the next 2 books on a list for reading if I find myself short on something to read!
June 19, 2018
Crush, a bodyguard/security expert is a ball-bustin, huge, deadly man with a teddy bear heart. He helps a damsel in distress in this story, but she's more wicked than the witch in the west. But he's her care-taker and is determined to protect her even against herself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews