Beyond Jealousy
4.25 stars
Ever since I realized that Ace,Cruz&Rachel will be together I've been (impatiently) waiting for their book to come out. So, the second I received the book I started reading it. I've finished it in a matter of hours, and then spent the next few days trying to come to terms with the book and my feelings about it. I liked it, but it simply didn't live up to my expectations. More on that later.
Rachel
The moment Rachel became an O'Kane in order to cement the alliance between her father and Dallas O'Kane, everything in her life changed. But she would pick Sector Four over Eden any time. Lately though, things haven't been going well. First there was Ace, who wasn't willing to change his hedonistic lifestyle in order to be with her. And then there was Cruz, who seemed a safer bet, yet it still didn't work out. But now, it seems that Cruz decided that it will work out. And he is a man who gets what he wants.
Cruz
Lorenzo Cruz used to be a soldier in Eden. But life threw a curveball at him and now his allegiance is with the O'Kanes. True, he doesn't trust completely, but that isn't easy for a man like him. But the true test comes in form of Rachel and Ace. Rachel is everything he could want in a woman, and all he has to do is to convince her of it. Ace, Ace is the one that confuses him. His head is telling him that there shouldn't be anything between them, but he can't help but desire Ace. But he will still do anything to make sure their ménage a trois succeeds.
Ace
And then there's Ace Santana with his hedonistic reputation, murky past and the desire to corrupt his new lovers. For all their experience, they are still innocents compared to him. Everything in him is screaming to run, not to endanger himself, but the temptation is hard to resist.
I really like Ace and Cruz. I mean, Rachel is OK too, but for me Ace and Cruz were the ones that shone. I love how different they are, but still have that awesome dynamics.
What I didn't like is their relationship in this book, or lack of thereof. Somehow, there wasn't enough of it. They were far more focused on Rachel. IMO, if the guys are going to be with each other, then the focus should be on them as well.
As for Rachel, things on her side were better, but it still lacked some spark. Maybe it was the fact that parts of their relationships were happening in previous books, but it simply failed to convince me. Not to mention: I don't like it when the characters come to terms with their feelings because they almost died - it's like cheating. There were some great moments though.
I did like seeing the rest of Sector Four, and there were some new and intriguing characters. Like Ashwin, the Makhai soldier - I love him and I do hope he gets a book.
Also there was the ending - it feels like a lot of things are up in the air. Which makes me want to read the next book even more.
As for the next book, there is [bc:Beyond Solitude|20639564|Beyond Solitude (Beyond, #4.5)|Kit Rocha|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1391205353s/20639564.jpg|39929920], a novella that will be published on April 1st and [bc:Beyond Addiction|18392414|Beyond Addiction (Beyond, #5)|Kit Rocha|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1389221455s/18392414.jpg|26014833] the next full length novel out in fall 2014 with Trix and Finn (Sector Five) as the main characters.
*ARC received from the authors in exchange for an honest review.*