Official Review: The Alphabet Game by Andie M. Long

[SharisseEM]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Alphabet Game" by Andie M. Long.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Revenge is a dish usually best served cold. Then again, when Gabriel Gregory is involved, it’s inevitable that things start to get hot and sexy. The Alphabet Game – The Complete Alpha Series: A to X, Y, Z is the scorching all-in-one edition comprising of all the sizzling books of the Alpha Series by Andie M. Long. With the traits of a hot, sexy office romance, this book is one for you reading list. Warning: this book contains A LOT of hot sex and deals with some disturbing crimes.

After two years of trying, Stella Mulroney has finally landed an interview at Gregory & Sons, the law firm that manages her stepfather’s interests. Her plan was simple. Work for Mr. Gregory, find out what her stepfather was really investing in and take him down. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for her, even a thought out plan for revenge has a few hiccups and hers came in the form of Gabriel Gregory, the son of the man she wanted to work for and the man who flirted with her in a Starbucks just moments before her interview. Hope is not lost because Gabe did not shortlist Stella for an interview by sheer coincidence. He knows what she wants and he’s willing to help her…if she plays the alphabet game with him.

While seemingly innocent in the very beginning, Stella quickly turns into quite the sex fiend through Gabe’s adult version of the alphabet game where every alphabet must have something to do with sex. Admittedly, Stella’s rather snippy attitude was more than a little annoying and her reasons for wanting to take down her stepfather seemed a bit lofty to me. To me, it seemed like she was a spoilt rich girl fixating on something that isn’t meaningless but yet, not something to want to ruin someone over. I mean, the man gives her a generous monthly allowance and yet, she holds a grudge against him and wants to bring him down because she felt like he took her mother from her and dumped her in a boarding school?

As for Gabe, he’s great at providing many innuendos throughout the story and was an almost great alpha male but I found he was sometimes lacking in the alpha department. Not to mention there were times that he came off like a common pervert. An example of that can be found when they first meet. However, as the story progresses, Gabe displays a vulnerability that just draws me in. He’s got his own reasons for wanting to help Stella and I found his own story of revenge tugged at my heartstrings more than Stella’s did.

Stella’s best friend, Ronnie, deserves a notable mention. I loved her character. I’m always one for fun secondary characters who liven up the mood and have secrets of their own. She’s that shameless flirty friend who will drink at any time of the day. Ronnie is also someone Stella depends on for sexual advice and talks to about her sexcapades. It’s hard not to like a character who walks at the beat of their own drum.

I will admit that events progressed far too quickly in the beginning, so much so that I felt like I didn’t get to know Gabe and Stella well enough before he propositioned her, which also happened too fast for my taste. Like seriously, even Anastasia Steele took time to think about and question Christian Grey’s proposition. In addition, there was too little character development and revelations were just revealed without much of a push or reasoning. Either that or it was completely avoided, holding out till the end. The sex scenes though, were on point and the alphabet game added to the intensity of it.

The dialogue did feel rather robotic at times and problems as well as reasons could have been elaborated on a little more or could have had more depth to make it seem less superficial, like Stella’s hatred towards her stepfather. The use of single quotation marks for dialogue was distracting and sometimes, it was difficult to figure out who was speaking.

The plot itself was interesting but for most of the book, the story seemed to focus more on the sexual relationship between Stella and Gabe as well as the alphabet game instead of their reasons for revenge and betrayal. However, when the momentum got going as Ms. Long began delving more into the reasons and the story, I was caught. I loved that there was a MUCH bigger story than expected and that there were so many secrets that started to come to light. Not everything was what it seemed to be and not everyone was who they appeared to be. Stella’s stepfather’s reason for sending her to boarding school was a surprise and the same can be said for the crimes committed by the real villain in this story.

Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I think Ms. Long created a unique story with the use of the alphabet game she handled the sensitive topics well without blowing over it like it didn’t have lasting effects on the people involved. There were twists and turns that I didn’t expect and that’s what I enjoy in a book. Characters like Ronnie are unforgettable and add to the charm of the book. However, I do wish Ms. Long had added more character depth and reasoning because Stella comes off a little shallow and bratty to me. Things were revealed too easily in the beginning and the book focused too much on the sexual relationship between Stella and Gabe then much of anything else until further down. Still, this is a book with a fresh adult take on an old game and I think anyone out there looking for something sexy coupled with suspense and full of twists, will enjoy this book. Those who find it difficult to watch shows like Law & Order SVU might want to give this a miss due to certain sensitive issues.

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The Alphabet Game
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Like SharisseEM's review? Post a comment saying so!

[andiemichelle]

Thank you so much for this fabulous review. Stella is definitely bratty, a result of having no proper adult boundaries when she was younger, so she's spoilt. Gabe is a definite good influence. Ronnie never stops talking as a character in my head. She has her own book The Calendar Game but I'm partway through another Ronnie story as it still wasn't enough!!! Andie x

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

SharissEM, you've handled this review wonderfully. It's full of character observations that already gives one in clear picture of The Alphabet Game. The book sounds steamy alright, and coupled with suspenseful twists, I'm sure this book will make for an excellent read to those who enjoy this genre. Hey, I've noted that the character you didn't like was Stella. If you could meet her, what would you tell her?

[SharisseEM]

Thank you so much for this fabulous review. Stella is definitely bratty, a result of having no proper adult boundaries when she was younger, so she's spoilt. Gabe is a definite good influence. Ronnie never stops talking as a character in my head. She has her own book The Calendar Game but I'm partway through another Ronnie story as it still wasn't enough!!! Andie x

I haven't finished The Calendar Game yet (if I had more time, I'd finish it in one sitting) but it's been amazing so far so kudos! I love a book full of twists and turns. Not the ones that make my head spin in a bad way but those that are a great addition to the story. Really looking forward to another Ronnie story! I can tell that once I'm finished with The Calendar Game, I'll still want more of Ronnie .

-- 04 Jan 2016, 15:54 --

SharissEM, you've handled this review wonderfully. It's full of character observations that already gives one in clear picture of The Alphabet Game. The book sounds steamy alright, and coupled with suspenseful twists, I'm sure this book will make for an excellent read to those who enjoy this genre. Hey, I've noted that the character you didn't like was Stella. If you could meet her, what would you tell her?

Sorry for the late reply and thank you for the compliments! Hmmm, what would I tell Stella if I could meet her... I suppose it would be "grow up". While Gabe has grown together with the story, Stella still remains more or less the same shallow girl in the beginning. It's true that she's been rather spoilt but after everything that's happened, I'd have expected her to have grown into a more mature woman in the end even if she still retains some bratty aspects of her pre-story self. The conflicts she and Gabe go through are not mere spats and things like that but actual life-changing events. I wouldn't say I dislike Stella. I just enjoy watching characters grow stronger and become better people from the events thrown at them.