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Luxury
A scandalously good look at life lived in the lap of Luxury
Sexy, smart New Yorker Logan Barnes knew how to take what he wanted to get where he wanted to be. But you can’t win the girl, make the money and live the high life without picking up enemies along the way...
There’s only one enemy who matters, and that’s the friend Logan betrayed years ago – Nicolo Flores. He got mad, but better still he got even, waiting in the wings to pull the plug on Logan and see his fortunes come crashing down.
Now Logan’s back, in London with a perfect wife, perfect family, and the perfect jewel to crown his rebuilt hotel empire: a stunning island getaway for the truly über-rich. Nicolo’s crazy to find a way to crush him again – but with gambling, addiction, sex and scandal all knocking on the Barnes’ family door, maybe they’ll destroy themselves before he even has a chance to...
Sexy, smart New Yorker Logan Barnes knew how to take what he wanted to get where he wanted to be. But you can’t win the girl, make the money and live the high life without picking up enemies along the way...
There’s only one enemy who matters, and that’s the friend Logan betrayed years ago – Nicolo Flores. He got mad, but better still he got even, waiting in the wings to pull the plug on Logan and see his fortunes come crashing down.
Now Logan’s back, in London with a perfect wife, perfect family, and the perfect jewel to crown his rebuilt hotel empire: a stunning island getaway for the truly über-rich. Nicolo’s crazy to find a way to crush him again – but with gambling, addiction, sex and scandal all knocking on the Barnes’ family door, maybe they’ll destroy themselves before he even has a chance to...
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
37 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 19, 2015
I really enjoyed all the details - such as special cooling systems for beaches to keep rich people's feet from burning. Very much a morality tale, the crazy cast of characters are pursued by the fates just as surely as anyone in Greek Tragedy. But along the way you get wonderful clothes, delicious meals, scheming harpies, ingenues, amazing descriptions of how the uber rich enjoy themselves, and lots of plot. Really recommend for an enjoyable wallow on a winter's night. Preferably in the bath.
June 1, 2012
Palm Springs vacation book #1: This book was hilariously fun in the way that it was extremely descriptive and also all about how hard it is to be rich. E.g., "And as if by mutual but silent agreement, she turned to her left, and he to his right, to make polite small talk with their dining partners about, respectively, the interior options for a new Aston Martin and the difficulty of finding good help in London, while drinking their amuse-bouches of tiny shot glasses of red mullet bouillabaisse topped with caviar foam."
Amazing, right?! In the last 50 or so pages though, shit starts going down and people start dying and it becomes too Serious for a day at the pool. Be warned.
Amazing, right?! In the last 50 or so pages though, shit starts going down and people start dying and it becomes too Serious for a day at the pool. Be warned.
June 19, 2024
This book was a bit frustrating because it actually has a really good story line but it wasn’t delivered very well. Every time it got good it then went flat. Overall I thought it was a good read.
November 9, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It has been on my to read pile for ages and I'm glad I finally made time to read it as once I started I couldn't stop.
Luxury is a blockbuster novel that takes you on a thrilling journey with some fabulous characters, there are twists and turns and a few surprises in this fantastic book. There was never a dull moment, the pages flew by and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen.
Definite escapism and highly recommended, fans of Jackie Collins and Penny Vincenzi will also love this book.
Luxury is a blockbuster novel that takes you on a thrilling journey with some fabulous characters, there are twists and turns and a few surprises in this fantastic book. There was never a dull moment, the pages flew by and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen.
Definite escapism and highly recommended, fans of Jackie Collins and Penny Vincenzi will also love this book.
January 13, 2013
An awesome read or sheer indulgence - I want to find Luxury!
September 13, 2015
I found this very slow to get into, but once it got going, I was loving it. Some fabulous descriptions of an exotic island getaway, and a good story of revenge.
May 4, 2025
Jessica Ruston’s Luxury is a whirlwind of opulence, power, and deeply flawed characters, wrapped in a juicy, slow-burning narrative that pulls you further in with each chapter. From the opening pages, the novel immerses you in the elite world of hotel empires, private jets, curated outfits, and emotionally vacant relationships, all seen through the complex lives of Logan, Johnny, Nicolo, and Maryanne.
The story unfolds like an indulgent vintage soap opera—flashing between the present and the characters’ complicated pasts, revealing betrayal, ambition, and longing. What begins as a lavish tale of riches becomes something much darker and more emotional: a brutal look at the price of wealth, and what people sacrifice in pursuit of power and recognition.
The tension between Logan and Nicolo is one of the book’s strongest threads, with their rivalry rooted not only in business but in a stolen love that still burns years later. Maryanne, caught in the middle, becomes a tragic yet resilient figure whose choices shape much of the narrative’s emotional core.
Ruston doesn’t shy away from heavy topics: addiction, abuse, infidelity, suicide, and even darker taboos like rape and paedophilia are woven into the plot, adding shocking layers that are hard to read yet impossible to ignore. These moments ground the book’s glamor in gritty reality, showing the rot beneath the gold-plated surface.
Though the story can feel jumpy at times—bouncing between timelines and a wide cast of characters—the layered perspectives give the novel its rich, soap-operatic depth. You’ll feel pity, rage, confusion, and even admiration for characters who are, for better or worse, incredibly human.
It’s not a love story; it’s a power struggle dressed in silk sheets and champagne flutes. And somehow, amidst all the drama, it works. If you enjoy messy characters, high-stakes tension, and don’t shy away from the darker aspects of luxury, then this book is for you.
Final thoughts: Luxury is tantalising, disturbing, and totally addictive. A dark, emotional drama soaked in excess, secrets, and ambition—with just enough heartbreak and scandal to keep you hooked to the very last page.
The story unfolds like an indulgent vintage soap opera—flashing between the present and the characters’ complicated pasts, revealing betrayal, ambition, and longing. What begins as a lavish tale of riches becomes something much darker and more emotional: a brutal look at the price of wealth, and what people sacrifice in pursuit of power and recognition.
The tension between Logan and Nicolo is one of the book’s strongest threads, with their rivalry rooted not only in business but in a stolen love that still burns years later. Maryanne, caught in the middle, becomes a tragic yet resilient figure whose choices shape much of the narrative’s emotional core.
Ruston doesn’t shy away from heavy topics: addiction, abuse, infidelity, suicide, and even darker taboos like rape and paedophilia are woven into the plot, adding shocking layers that are hard to read yet impossible to ignore. These moments ground the book’s glamor in gritty reality, showing the rot beneath the gold-plated surface.
Though the story can feel jumpy at times—bouncing between timelines and a wide cast of characters—the layered perspectives give the novel its rich, soap-operatic depth. You’ll feel pity, rage, confusion, and even admiration for characters who are, for better or worse, incredibly human.
It’s not a love story; it’s a power struggle dressed in silk sheets and champagne flutes. And somehow, amidst all the drama, it works. If you enjoy messy characters, high-stakes tension, and don’t shy away from the darker aspects of luxury, then this book is for you.
Final thoughts: Luxury is tantalising, disturbing, and totally addictive. A dark, emotional drama soaked in excess, secrets, and ambition—with just enough heartbreak and scandal to keep you hooked to the very last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2018
A tale of decadence, relationships, revenge and general oneupmanship!
A really good read.
Possibly the moral of this story is that 'money can't buy happiness or love' .... oh and that 'revenge isn't always sweet!'
A nice few days of escapism.
A really good read.
Possibly the moral of this story is that 'money can't buy happiness or love' .... oh and that 'revenge isn't always sweet!'
A nice few days of escapism.
April 14, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Will definitely read more from this author. Very easy reading but good story that kept surprising me.
November 23, 2023
Nearly didnt finish this - sample was slow but was on holiday so downloaded rest and really enjoyed it once it got going. Would make great tv and left open for follow up!
April 15, 2023
loved it
First book l read by this author so will now look for more. Hope she does a follow up to this as there is plenty of room to do that. Loved the book. Could not put it down. Liked all the characters and felt for them all. Usually in a book l tend to lean towards one or two of them but not with this.
First book l read by this author so will now look for more. Hope she does a follow up to this as there is plenty of room to do that. Loved the book. Could not put it down. Liked all the characters and felt for them all. Usually in a book l tend to lean towards one or two of them but not with this.
November 3, 2015
I had read really good reviews of this book on Amazon which is what made e get it for my Kindle. It took me a while to get round to it, buy boy am I glad I did. Very early on we meet the three men that feature in this story; there is Logan, Johnny and Nicolo. However at the beginning of the story we see them all as men and Logan is now married to Nicolo’s first love Maryanne. All three of them are extremely successful and the only fly in the ointment is the fact that Nicolo and Logan are now sworn enemies. Jessica Ruston the transports us back to the past and how the three men met as boys. It is done in such a way that the pieces are fitted together at the right time and not too quickly.
The story itself is quite intricate and at the beginning we are taken through the different layers affecting all of the people involved. The book centres heavily on the down side to being rich and having it all which made a refreshing change. Not only that but the core of it all is two men’s need for revenge and rivalry. The characters themselves, whether it be the three guys, Maryanne or Logan’s children are all seriously flawed and as the book continues you get to see just how much actions affect them all.
I found myself over halfway through in the first sitting, but sadly had to wait until the next day to carry on. I didn’t necessarily like all the characters, but they were written in such a way that you understood why they were going down the path they chose. The cover certainly doesn’t do this book justice and finishing it with a big self satisfied sigh, I couldn’t wait to read the second one.
I loved this book and although people may write it off as women’s fluffy fiction, they couldn’t be further from the truth. This was an absolutely brilliant book that I couldn’t put down. Lots of suspense and a gripping storyline means I will be looking forward to Jessica Ruston’s second book To Touch the Stars. If you are a fan of authors such as Tasmina Perry, then this is the author for you to try!
The story itself is quite intricate and at the beginning we are taken through the different layers affecting all of the people involved. The book centres heavily on the down side to being rich and having it all which made a refreshing change. Not only that but the core of it all is two men’s need for revenge and rivalry. The characters themselves, whether it be the three guys, Maryanne or Logan’s children are all seriously flawed and as the book continues you get to see just how much actions affect them all.
I found myself over halfway through in the first sitting, but sadly had to wait until the next day to carry on. I didn’t necessarily like all the characters, but they were written in such a way that you understood why they were going down the path they chose. The cover certainly doesn’t do this book justice and finishing it with a big self satisfied sigh, I couldn’t wait to read the second one.
I loved this book and although people may write it off as women’s fluffy fiction, they couldn’t be further from the truth. This was an absolutely brilliant book that I couldn’t put down. Lots of suspense and a gripping storyline means I will be looking forward to Jessica Ruston’s second book To Touch the Stars. If you are a fan of authors such as Tasmina Perry, then this is the author for you to try!
December 13, 2015
4 yıl önce bu kitabı okmuya çalışmış, sıkıldığım için okumayı bırakmıştım. Bir şans daha vermrk istedim ve sonuç gene aynıydı. Kitap hakkında çok güzel yorumlar var gakat başlangıçı o kadar kötü ki asıl olaya bir türlü geleniyor sürekli flasback sıkıldım bunaldım. Yazara tavsiyem yazmayı bırakıp başka şeylerle ilgilenmesi çünkü hiç iyi bir yazar değil. Kitap bölük pörçük bir anda nasıl olduğunu anlayamadan başka bir olayın ortasında buluyorsunuz kendinizi ve kafanız allak bullak oluyor. Başarısız!
April 12, 2010
This book started well. I enjoyed reading about the backgrounds of the main characters and their entangled histories, although I have to say that I didn't really find any of them particularly likeable. The world of the rich and famous is incredible, I can't even begin to imagine living in such luxury, but I found that the book started to drag a little in the middle and I didn't like the ending at all. Characters who have done wrong should always get their comeuppance in my mind!
January 19, 2012
I absolutely loved this book, completely swept me up into the story and the characters. I was completely engrossed in the story and every chance I could get I was picking up the book!
I will definitely be reading Jessica Ruston's next book 'Touch The Stars' and will eagerly await her new book too! She is definitely now one of my must read authors :)
I will definitely be reading Jessica Ruston's next book 'Touch The Stars' and will eagerly await her new book too! She is definitely now one of my must read authors :)
February 10, 2022
A re-read of this one. Sometimes all a gal needs is a trashy piece of escapism and this certainly delivers. Hotelier Logan is finally getting to build his dream island resort. But with an ex friend determined to derail him and a wife going off the rails with drink and drugs, this is one dream that won't end well. Great fun.
March 25, 2014
Aşk ve intikam uğruna yapabileceklerimiz... Hani böyle aslında pek beğenmediğiniz ama elinizden de bir türlü bırakamadığınız kitaplar olur ya... Lüks aynen böyle bir kitaptı. Yarım bırakmayı çok düşündüm ama sonunu merak ettiğimden inatla devam ettim. İyi ki de etmişim. Güzel bitti. :)
Want to read
June 14, 2010beach read
September 24, 2011
I put the book aside after a page or 2.
I was tempted and took it along to enjoy in the sun by the pool.
Utter rubbish. Just do not buy it.
I was tempted and took it along to enjoy in the sun by the pool.
Utter rubbish. Just do not buy it.
February 7, 2012
Very compelling. Full review here: http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.com/201...
March 2, 2012
Didnt finish, read 200 pages and gave up
April 2, 2012
Good for escapism, easy read.
August 19, 2012
unashamedly glitzy - loved it
November 7, 2012
I loved this book, took a couple of chapters to get into it, but it had a fab story and I couldnt put it down, looking forward to reading another of Jessica Rustons books
March 7, 2016
Took me a while to get into this book, but I'm glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a fab story. Full of revenge, power couples and glam locations.
July 21, 2010
Started to lose interest in this book about half way through and never finished it :(
Read
August 23, 2017Çok güzel bir girişle başlamasına rağmen ilerlemedi, bitiremedim. Belki başka bir zaman tekrardan şans veririm.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews