Not for me

Another great story by Sawyer Bennett. Wonderfully alpha rock star Cillian and straight arrow Renner should never work but they most definitely do. Highly recommend this one and can't wait for Flynn's story. ( )

SPOILERS*********


I'm always amazed at how differently we view our stories. That's what make reviews on GR so interesting and insightful. I'm grateful to have all these various opinions here, which is why I always come back for more.

This is how I know that readers love this hero. To me he is one of the worst I've come across when it comes to loving, protecting and respecting his heroine.

Maeve is the ow. His "babe", as he calls her numerous times. His "honey". His "darling".
Also in the hero's own words: “my very good friend and my former lover.".........“and we have sizzling chemistry on the stage......" ANY AND ALL crap he thinks about her after this is invalid because his actions prove that she controls him.

She is an alcoholic. Has tried to commit suicide more than once. Is obsessed with the H, stalks him and is abusive to the h. She lies about her past to hold his attention. Manipulates the H, who admittedly is easy to manipulate. Basically the book revolves around her obsession with him, with the heroine thrown in for the sex factor of the story.

Renner is the h. Not much to say here. Cos she's just...there...

Cillian is the "hero".
No alpha.
His life right now is looking after the ow, in hospital, at his flat, rehab, etc etc. He makes excuses for her. Again and again.Throughout the book. She is his first thought, his main concern, the reason that he can't have a relationship with the h. His choice. For all intents and purposes SHE is his heroine because he spends more time with her than Renner and his life revolves around her needs. Eww.

Apart from these points below there are ENDLESS other issues I'm not even touching on.

So he chooses her above the h, from beginning to end of this book.
@ start of book excerpt:
“...I couldn't follow through with anything more than that fucking fantastic kiss (with heroine) because something more important had come up: ..I got a call from Maeve......"

excerpt @ 34%
.....I curse myself a thousand times for not even thinking about being available to Maeve while I was gone. It never occurred to me she would call this soon, yet that doesn't excuse my lapse in judgment.....

excerpt @ 45%
.....Pulling my phone out, I quickly connect the call before she hangs up. My heart is beating like mad—terrified I'll miss her call and send her over the edge again......

Excerpt @ 61%
He protects her by not revealing his feelings for the h.
“She's just someone I'm seeing. No big deal.”

excerpt @ 80 %
“Brady (a complete stranger, a guy they've literally just met, who turns out to be be an abusive asshole) can you take Renner back home so I can handle this?” ("This" being Maeve, of course)


Page 306 of 363 excerpt @ 85%
“. "I'm sorry then. I don't like ultimatums but if you're sure you want to give it, I choose Maeve. Her needs are just a bit more important than yours right now.”


excerpt @ 87%
“Let me ask you this. Where's Maeve right now?"
"She's at my apartment. Why?"
"Gah, you’re daft. How in the fuck do you think it can work with Renner when you're harboring a known psychopath—who walks around half-naked from what I understand—in your home?"
Hero: "That's harsh............have a care. Maeve has serious problems I'm trying to help her with.”


Oh, he has his come-to-Jesus moment, but the cliche': "too little, too late" comes to mind. A least to MY mind cos the heroine obviously accepts his belated, unbelievable, insincere excuse-for-a-grovel. Which he immediately follows up with how much he still cares about the ow...sigh...


excerpt @ 97%
“In hindsight, I realize now that there are a million ways I could have helped Maeve that would have never caused you a minute of pain”

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED WITH:

excerpt:
“... I'll always worry about her and Father O'Grady would probably have a stroke to hear this, but I pray every night for her well-being and safety.”

Then:
Some sexy touchy stuff.....

And then....

The End.
Finito Benito

Sigh..... ( )

My Thoughts: I can't tell you enough how much I love this series. I can say without a doubt that it is one of my favorites. In Off Course we get to meet Cillian O'Bradaigh - Rock star, Irish hottie, tattooed, pierced, dominant, cocky, bad boy, and as hot as they get. Let me just say up front that Sawyer Bennett knows how to create and write about hot guys, and she has delivered yet another one of her masterpieces in Cillian O'Bradaigh. Renner Caldwell is the cousin of Nix and Linc, who we met in Sawyer Bennett's earlier books in the series (which were awesome to by the way). She first meets Cillian when she visits her cousins in Ireland when she is 17 years old. He is a good friend of her cousin Cady's, and he and his band are just starting out. Renner captures Cillian's attention when he first lays eyes on her, and he in turn, more than captures Renner's. He makes quite an impression on Renner, both good and bad, after he gives her the best kiss of her life, is completely understanding when she says no when things get too hot and start going too far, and then pisses her off royally (even though she won't admit it) when she sees him kissing another girl shortly after.

Now 5 years later, Renner is back in Dublin working at her uncle's restaurant, trying to put the pieces of her life back together after a devastating incident that occurred in relation to her job. She can't say that she hasn't thought about Cillian over the past 5 years, because she has, quite a bit. What she doesn't know and never expected, is that Cillian would remember her, very well actually, and has thought about her more than she knows, and more than he would like to admit. Cillian's band is called OTE (Over the Edge). He is the lead singer/guitarist, and over the past 5 years they have become one of the most popular rock bands

around. To say that he is a ladies man would be putting it mildly. He oozes with sex appeal and could have any woman he wants, and he has decided he wants Renner. Renner, however, remembers all too well how things went 5 years ago, and as much as she and her body would like, she refuses Cillian's advances, which only makes him more determined. The chemistry between these two is off the charts hot, and try as she may, Renner can't deny it, or how much she wants him, cocky dominant attitude and all. When she finally gives in, the results are mind blowing and explosive in nature for both of them. As much as Cillian would like to think it just about sex with Renner, he knows it isn't, and Renner knows the same thing, only Cillian is

not the type of guy that level-headed, predictable Renner would ever go for, or is he? Of course, Cillian is only in it for sex, at least that is what he tries to tell himself, but somewhere along the way the lines get really blurred, and he has to figure out just what he really wants from this beautiful girl who has invaded his thoughts in a way he never though possible.

Cillian's past catches up with him, bringing with it lies, guilt, deceit, and feelings of obligation, forcing him to make a choice between his past and a potentially very promising future. Whether the path he chooses bring him happiness, or destroys any chance he has at it remains to be seen.

I loved this story, everything about it. It captured my attention from beginning to end, and I just loved Cillian, despite his flaws, and I loved Renner to. The story is filled with passion, romance, pain, love, forgiveness, and of course, really hot sex. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between these to, and though they have really hot chemistry, they have to grow into the falling in love part. I enjoyed getting to know the other characters in the book,as well as catching glimpses of characters from the past books in the series, and I especially love the rocker aspect of the story, and I even loved to hate Maeve. The ending was so good, and yes, Sawyer Bennett gives us an epilogue, which something I just love, and at the same time sets up the scene for the final book in the series, which I absolutely cannot wait for. If you are a fan of New Adult Contemporary Romance, then Off Course and the Off Series is a must read, and something you definitely want to check out. ( )